coterie, superficiality, shyster, snob, nihilist: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 3 set 187. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. coterie · noun/ˈkoʊtəˌri/

   a small group of people with shared interests or tastes

   The coterie of artists gathered every Friday to discuss their latest projects and share inspiration.

   Synonyms: clique, circle, group

   Origin: French coterie, from Old French cote, meaning 'hut' or 'shelter', referring to a group of people who gather together.

2. superficiality · noun/ˌsuːpərˈfɪʃiˌælɪti/

   lack of depth or meaning

   The superficiality of the conversation left me feeling unsatisfied and longing for a deeper connection.

   Synonyms: shallowness, insubstantiality, surface

   Origin: From Latin 'superficialis', from 'superficies' meaning 'surface'.

3. shyster · noun/ˈʃaɪstər/

   a person who engages in dishonest or unscrupulous behavior, especially in business or legal matters

   The businessman turned out to be nothing more than a shyster, swindling his clients with false promises and shady contracts.

   Synonyms: fraudster, swindler, con artist

   Origin: The term 'shyster' is believed to have originated in the mid-19th century, possibly derived from the Yiddish word 'shayster,' which means 'to act dishonestly' or 'a disreputable lawyer.'

4. snob · noun/snɑb/

   a person who believes that their tastes in a particular area are superior to those of others

   He is such a wine snob that he refuses to drink anything that isn't from a top vineyard in France.

   Synonyms: elitist, connoisseur, snobbish

   Origin: The word 'snob' originated in the 18th century, originally referring to a shoemaker or a lower-class person before evolving to describe someone who believes in their superiority based on social class or taste.

5. nihilist · noun/ˈnaɪ.ɪ.lɪst/

   a person who believes that life is meaningless and rejects all religious and moral principles

   As a professed nihilist, he often argued that traditional values were nothing more than social constructs with no real meaning.

   Synonyms: skeptic, cynic, pessimist

   Origin: The word 'nihilist' originates from the Latin word 'nihil', meaning 'nothing'. It was first used in the mid-19th century in a political context referring to a group of anarchists in Russia.