unctuous, garrulous, banal, unimpressed, chimerical: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 3 set 247. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. unctuous · adjective/ˈʌŋkʧuəs/

   excessively flattering or ingratiating

   The salesman's unctuous demeanor made it difficult to trust his recommendations.

   Synonyms: insincere, oily, servile

   Origin: The word 'unctuous' originates from the Latin 'unctuosus', meaning 'oily', from 'ungere', meaning 'to anoint'.

2. garrulous · adjective/ˈɡɛr.ə.ləs/

   excessively talkative especially on trivial matters

   During the long train ride, I found myself seated next to a garrulous man who shared every detail about his daily routine and favorite television shows.

   Synonyms: talkative, chatty, loquacious

   Origin: Derived from Latin 'garrulus', meaning 'talkative', from 'garrire', meaning 'to chatter'.

3. banal · adjective/bəˈnæl/

   lacking in originality or freshness; cliché

   His speech was filled with banal phrases that failed to inspire the audience.

   Synonyms: trite, clichéd

   Origin: The word 'banal' comes from the Middle French 'banal', meaning 'belonging to a lord', which is derived from 'ban', meaning 'open or public'.

4. unimpressed · adjective/ˌənɪmˈprɛst/

   not affected by something or not impressed

   Despite the hype surrounding the new movie, I was completely unimpressed by its plot and characterization.

   Synonyms: disinterested, indifferent

   Origin: The word 'unimpressed' is formed from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not,' and the past participle 'impressed' derived from the verb 'impress,' which comes from the Latin 'impressus', past participle of 'imprimere' meaning 'to press into or onto.'

5. chimerical · adjective/kaɪˈmɛrɪkəl/

   highly improbable or wildly fanciful

   His chimerical ideas about building a city on Mars seemed far-fetched and unrealistic to most people.

   Synonyms: fantastical, imaginary, fanciful

   Origin: Derived from 'chimera', a mythological creature from Greek mythology, combined with the suffix '-ical'.