specious, lurid, impassive, torpid, superfluous: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 3 set 113. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. specious · adjective/ˈspiːʃəs/

   having a false look of truth or genuineness

   The politician's specious arguments seemed convincing at first, but they fell apart under scrutiny.

   Synonyms: deceptive, misleading, spurious

   Origin: Late Latin 'speciosus', meaning 'beautiful, good-looking', from 'species' meaning 'appearance'.

2. lurid · adjective/ˈlʊrɪd/

   very vivid in color, especially in a way that creates an unpleasantly harsh or unnatural effect

   The artist's painting was filled with lurid colors that made the scene feel more like a nightmare than a dream.

   Synonyms: vivid, bright, gaudy

   Origin: From Latin 'luridus', meaning 'pale' or 'dismal'; related to 'luridus' meaning 'ghastly' in appearance.

3. impassive · adjective/ɪmˈpæs.ɪv/

   showing no emotion or feeling

   Despite the chaos around him, he remained impassive, showing no sign of distress or concern.

   Synonyms: emotionless, stoic, indifferent

   Origin: Derived from the Latin 'impassivus', meaning 'not suffering, unfeeling', from 'in-' (not) + 'passivus' (passive)

4. torpid · adjective/ˈtɔːr.pɪd/

   having little to no energy or alertness

   After staying up late the night before, I felt torpid and struggled to concentrate during the meeting.

   Synonyms: lethargic, sluggish, inactive

   Origin: from Latin 'torpidus', meaning 'numb' or 'inactive'

5. superfluous · adjective/suˈpɜr.flu.əs/

   beyond what is necessary or required

   The report included several superfluous details that did not contribute to the main argument.

   Synonyms: unnecessary, excess, redundant

   Origin: from the Latin 'superfluus', meaning 'overflowing' or 'excessive', composed of 'super-' meaning 'above' and 'fluere' meaning 'to flow'.