flagrant, indignant, acerbic, tractable, unpalatable: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 3 set 104. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. flagrant · adjective/ˈfleɪɡrənt/

   shockingly noticeable or evident especially in an immoral or offensive way

   The politician's flagrant disregard for the law led to widespread public outrage.

   Synonyms: blatant, egregious, outrageous

   Origin: From Latin 'flagrans', meaning 'burning' or 'blazing', derived from 'flagrare', meaning 'to burn'.

2. indignant · adjective/ɪnˈdɪɡ.nənt/

   feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment

   She felt indignant at the way her hard work was dismissed by her supervisor.

   Synonyms: outraged, offended, resentful

   Origin: from Latin 'indignans', present participle of 'indignari', meaning 'to be angry at, to regard as unworthy'

3. acerbic · adjective/əˈsɜr.bɪk/

   sharp and forthright in tone or manner

   The critic's acerbic remarks about the film left the director visibly shaken.

   Synonyms: caustic, biting, sarcastic

   Origin: from Latin 'acerbicus', meaning sour or sharp

4. tractable · adjective/ˈtræktəbl/

   easily managed or controlled

   The new software proved to be quite tractable, allowing the team to implement changes quickly with minimal effort.

   Synonyms: manageable, compliant, docile

   Origin: Late Latin 'tractabilis', from 'tractare' meaning 'to handle or manage'

5. unpalatable · adjective/ʌnˈpæl.ə.tə.bəl/

   not pleasant to taste or difficult to accept

   The new policy proposed by the government was deemed unpalatable by many citizens, who found it difficult to accept.

   Synonyms: distasteful, unpleasant, objectionable

   Origin: The word 'unpalatable' originates from the early 19th century, combining the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' with 'palatable,' which comes from the Latin 'palatum' meaning 'the palate.'