nefarious, natty, unvaried, opportune, salvageable: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 3 set 196. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. nefarious · adjective/nəˈfɛriəs/

   wickedly villainous or criminal

   The detective uncovered a nefarious plan to smuggle precious artifacts out of the country.

   Synonyms: wicked, villainous, malevolent

   Origin: from Latin 'nefarious', meaning 'unlawful' or 'wicked', derived from 'nefas', meaning 'wrong' or 'crime'.

2. natty · adjective/ˈnæti/

   having a clean, neat, and stylish appearance

   He always dresses in a natty manner, impressing everyone with his sharp suits and polished shoes.

   Synonyms: dapper, stylish, smart

   Origin: The word 'natty' originated in the early 19th century, likely derived from the word 'natural', and it is believed to have connections to the Scottish word 'natty', meaning 'neat' or 'trim'.

3. unvaried · adjective/ʌnˈvɛrɪd/

   not changing or differing in any way

   The unvaried routine of her daily life left her feeling bored and dissatisfied.

   Synonyms: uniform, constant, stable

   Origin: from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' + 'varied', which comes from the Latin 'variare' meaning 'to change'

4. opportune · adjective/ˌɑː.pɚˈtuːn/

   well-timed or appropriate for a particular situation

   Her opportune comments during the meeting helped to steer the discussion in a positive direction.

   Synonyms: timely, suitable, appropriate

   Origin: The word 'opportune' comes from the Latin 'opportunus', meaning 'favorable' or 'suitable', which is derived from 'ob-' (in the direction of) and 'portus' (harbor).

5. salvageable · adjective/ˈsælvɪdʒəbl/

   capable of being saved or repaired

   Despite the extensive fire damage, the firefighters insisted that the building was salvageable and could be repaired with proper restoration efforts.

   Synonyms: recoverable, retrievable

   Origin: from Middle English 'salvage' meaning to save, plus '-able' indicating capability