SAT Vocabulary Level 3 — Set 25

Set 25 of SAT Vocabulary Level 3 covers 5 words: unwarranted, cursory, queasy, threadbare, blithe. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. unwarranted · adjective/ʌnˈwɔr.ən.tɪd/

   not justified or authorized

   The manager's unwarranted criticism of the team members demotivated everyone and created a negative atmosphere.

   Synonyms: unjustified, unwelcome, unmerited

   Origin: The word 'unwarranted' comes from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and 'warranted,' which is the past participle of 'warrant,' derived from the Old French 'garanir,' meaning 'to guarantee or ensure.'

2. cursory · adjective/ˈkɜr.sɚ.i/

   hasty and not thorough or detailed

   After a cursory glance at the report, she missed several important details that could have affected her analysis.

   Synonyms: superficial, perfunctory, hasty

   Origin: from Latin 'cursorius', meaning 'running, hasty', from 'currere', which means 'to run'

3. queasy · adjective/ˈkwizi/

   feeling uneasy or nauseated

   After eating that questionable seafood, I felt queasy for the rest of the evening.

   Synonyms: nauseated, unsettled, uneasy

   Origin: The word 'queasy' comes from Middle English 'cwasy', which is of uncertain origin, possibly derived from the Old Norse 'kvísa' meaning 'to be sick or nauseous'.

4. threadbare · adjective/ˈθrɛdˌbɛr/

   worn out and tattered from use or overuse

   After years of use, the couch's once vibrant upholstery became threadbare and faded, exposing the underlying fabric.

   Synonyms: worn, ragged, shabby

   Origin: The term 'threadbare' originates from Middle English 'thrādebær,' meaning literally 'bare of threads,' with 'thread' from Old English 'þrēad' and 'bare' from Old English 'bær.'

5. blithe · adjective/blaɪθ/

   lighthearted and carefree

   Her blithe spirit lifted everyone's mood at the party, making it a joyful celebration.

   Synonyms: cheerful, carefree, happy

   Origin: Middle English, from Old English 'blīðe' meaning 'joyful' or 'happy'