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censorious

adjective/sənˈsɔrɪəs/

definition

expressing strong criticism or disapproval

example

The censorious tone of the critics made it clear that they were unimpressed with the artist's latest work.

synonyms
criticalscathingjudgmental
word origin — from Latin 'censorius', meaning 'of a censor', related to the role of a Roman censor who was responsible for public morals and conduct.

SAT Vocabulary Level 3 — Set 97

Set 97 of SAT Vocabulary Level 3 covers 5 words: censorious, unverified, expendable, lackadaisical, prodigal. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

  1. censorious · adjective/sənˈsɔrɪəs/

    expressing strong criticism or disapproval

    The censorious tone of the critics made it clear that they were unimpressed with the artist's latest work.

    Synonyms: critical, scathing, judgmental

    Origin: from Latin 'censorius', meaning 'of a censor', related to the role of a Roman censor who was responsible for public morals and conduct.

  2. unverified · adjective/ʌnˈvɛrɪfaɪd/

    not confirmed or validated

    The report contained several unverified claims that raised concerns among the researchers.

    Synonyms: unconfirmed, unvalidated, unsubstantiated

    Origin: The word 'unverified' is formed by adding the prefix 'un-' (meaning 'not') to 'verified,' which derives from the Latin 'verificare,' meaning 'to make true or prove.'

  3. expendable · adjective/ɪkˈspɛndəbl/

    not essential and able to be used up or replaced

    In a military operation, certain resources are considered expendable, allowing teams to focus on their primary objectives without concern for minor losses.

    Synonyms: dispensable, replaceable, nonessential

    Origin: from Latin 'expendabilis', from 'expendere' meaning 'to expend'.

  4. lackadaisical · adjective/ˌlæk.əˈdeɪ.zɪ.kəl/

    showing a lack of enthusiasm and determination

    His lackadaisical attitude towards his studies led to poor grades and a lack of interest in his future.

    Synonyms: careless, lazy, indifferent

    Origin: The term 'lackadaisical' is derived from 'lackadaisy', a variant of 'lack-a-day', a phrase expressing regret or lamentation, which itself comes from the earlier expression 'lackaday' used in the 18th century.

  5. prodigal · adjective/ˈprɑːdɪɡəl/

    spending money or resources freely and recklessly

    Despite his prodigal lifestyle, he found it difficult to make ends meet at the end of each month.

    Synonyms: dissolute, extravagant, wasteful

    Origin: From Latin 'prodigalis', from 'prodigere', meaning 'to drive away, waste'.