The team's lackluster performance during the tournament disappointed their fans.
synonyms
dulluninspiredmediocre
word origin — The word 'lackluster' originates from the combination of 'lack' (meaning absence) and 'luster' (meaning shine or brilliance), first recorded in the mid-19th century.
SAT Vocabulary Level 3 — Set 101
Set 101 of SAT Vocabulary Level 3 covers 5 words: lackluster, aghast, visceral, berserk, callow. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
lackluster · adjective/ˈlæklʌstɚ/
lacking in vitality, force, or conviction
The team's lackluster performance during the tournament disappointed their fans.
Synonyms: dull, uninspired, mediocre
Origin: The word 'lackluster' originates from the combination of 'lack' (meaning absence) and 'luster' (meaning shine or brilliance), first recorded in the mid-19th century.
aghast · adjective/əˈɡæst/
filled with shock or horror
She was aghast at the shocking news that her childhood friend had passed away unexpectedly.
Synonyms: appalled, astonished, shocked
Origin: The word 'aghast' originates from the Old English 'āgæst,' which means 'to frighten' or 'to terrify,' derived from 'a-' (a prefix indicating a state) + 'gæst' (ghost or spirit).
visceral · adjective/ˈvɪs.ɚ.əl/
relating to deep inward feelings rather than to the intellect
Her visceral reaction to the movie's climax left everyone in the theater speechless.
Synonyms: intuitive, instinctive, gut
Origin: from Latin 'visceralis', from 'viscera' meaning 'internal organs'
berserk · adjective/bərˈzɜrk/
out of control with anger or excitement
When he found out that his colleague had taken credit for his project, he went berserk with anger.
Synonyms: wild, frenzied, maniacal
Origin: The word 'berserk' comes from the Old Norse term 'berserkr', meaning 'bear shirt' which referred to a warrior who fought with uncontrollable fury.
callow · adjective/ˈkæl.oʊ/
immature or inexperienced
The callow youth made several naive mistakes during his first year at college, struggling to adapt to the new environment.
Synonyms: immature, naive, inexperienced
Origin: The word 'callow' originates from Middle English 'calu', meaning 'bald', and is related to Old English 'calu', symbolizing a lack of feathers or maturity.