gregarious, picayune, uncritical, ponderous, unsightly: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 3 set 228. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. gregarious · adjective/ɡrɪˈɡɛr.i.əs/

   fond of company and socializing

   Mark has always been a gregarious person, thriving in social gatherings and enjoying the company of friends.

   Synonyms: sociable, outgoing, extroverted

   Origin: from Latin 'gregarius' meaning 'of a flock or herd', from 'grex' meaning 'flock'.

2. picayune · adjective/ˌpɪkəˈjun/

   of little value or importance

   He was frustrated by the picayune details in the report that seemed to detract from the more important findings.

   Synonyms: petty, trivial, insignificant

   Origin: The word 'picayune' originates from the Spanish word 'pica', referring to a small coin, particularly in the context of the small value of something.

3. uncritical · adjective/ʌnˈkrɪtɪkəl/

   lacking critical judgment or assessment

   The uncritical acceptance of the marketing claims led many consumers to make uninformed purchases.

   Synonyms: unjudging, gullible, undiscriminating

   Origin: The word 'uncritical' is formed from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' combined with the root 'critical,' which comes from the Greek 'kritikos' meaning 'able to judge.'

4. ponderous · adjective/ˈpɑːndərəs/

   slow and clumsy due to weight or size

   The ponderous elephant trudged through the dense forest, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground beneath it.

   Synonyms: heavy, cumbersome, unwieldy

   Origin: Originates from the Latin word 'ponderosus', meaning 'heavy', from 'pondus' meaning 'weight'.

5. unsightly · adjective/ʌnˈsaɪtli/

   not pleasant to look at

   The unsightly piles of garbage in the park ruined the natural beauty of the area.

   Synonyms: ugly, unsavory, unappealing

   Origin: The word 'unsightly' is formed from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not', and 'sightly', which comes from the Middle English 'sightli', meaning 'pleasant to look at'.