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utopian

adjective/juˈtoʊpiən/

relating to or having the characteristics of an ideal or perfect society

The author envisioned a utopian society where everyone lived in harmony and abundance.

idealisticvisionaryperfect
word origin — The word 'utopian' is derived from 'Utopia', the title of a work written by Sir Thomas More in 1516, which describes an imaginary island with a perfect socio-political and legal system. The prefix 'u-' is from Greek 'ou' meaning 'not', and 'topos' meaning 'place', together signifying 'no place' or 'nowhere'.

SAT Vocabulary Level 3 — Set 72

Set 72 of SAT Vocabulary Level 3 covers 5 words: utopian, saccharine, virile, disagreeable, impermeable. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

  1. utopian · adjective/juˈtoʊpiən/

    relating to or having the characteristics of an ideal or perfect society

    The author envisioned a utopian society where everyone lived in harmony and abundance.

    Synonyms: idealistic, visionary, perfect

    Origin: The word 'utopian' is derived from 'Utopia', the title of a work written by Sir Thomas More in 1516, which describes an imaginary island with a perfect socio-political and legal system. The prefix 'u-' is from Greek 'ou' meaning 'not', and 'topos' meaning 'place', together signifying 'no place' or 'nowhere'.

  2. saccharine · adjective/ˈsæk.ə.riːn/

    excessively sweet or sentimental

    The movie was criticized for its saccharine dialogue, which felt forced and overly sentimental.

    Synonyms: sweet, sentimental, cloying

    Origin: derived from the French 'saccharine,' from the Latin 'saccharum,' meaning sugar

  3. virile · adjective/ˈvɪr.əl/

    having strength, energy, and masculine vigor

    He was known for his virile presence at the gym, where his strength and energy inspired many.

    Synonyms: manly, strong, muscular

    Origin: from Latin 'virilis', meaning 'manly' or 'masculine', derived from 'vir', meaning 'man'

  4. disagreeable · adjective/ˌdɪsəˈɡriːəbl/

    unpleasant or offensive in nature

    The disagreeable odor from the garbage made it difficult to enjoy the outdoor picnic.

    Synonyms: unpleasant, offensive, distasteful

    Origin: from the prefix 'dis-' meaning 'not' combined with 'agreeable', which originates from the Latin 'adgratus', meaning 'pleasing'.

  5. impermeable · adjective/ɪmˈpɝːmiəbl/

    not allowing fluid to pass through

    The construction team used an impermeable barrier to prevent water from seeping into the foundation.

    Synonyms: unpenetrable, waterproof, impassable

    Origin: From late Middle English, from Latin 'impermeabilis', from 'in-' meaning 'not' + 'permeabilis' meaning 'that can be passed through'.