Human Qualities and Appearance · SAT Humanities Vocabulary List

the ability to use one's hands or body skillfully and quickly to perform tasks

"Great manual dexterity."

"The surgeon needs great manual dexterity to perform delicate operations successfully."

the feeling of wanting food

"I worked up a huge appetite after the long hike."

"My appetite for delicious food grows stronger with every meal I eat."

the preference for using one hand over the other for tasks and activities, typically resulting in a dominance of either the right or left hand

"Handedness refers to being left or right handed."

"Right handedness is more common than left handedness in most populations."

the physical or mental strength and energy that someone possesses

"Full of vigor."

"The old man is still full of vigor and walks several kilometers every morning."

the quality of being full of life and energy

"Her vivacity made her the life of the party."

"Her vivacity and infectious laugh made her the center of attention at every party she attended."

mental and emotional strength and resilience in facing adversity, challenges, or difficult situations

"She showed great fortitude during the crisis."

"She showed great fortitude and courage during her long illness."

the mental or physical strength that makes one continue doing something hard for a long time

"Regular exercise improves physical stamina over time"

"Marathon runners need incredible stamina to keep running for over forty two kilometers."

the way a person treats others

"Kind demeanor shown."

"He maintained a calm demeanor even in very stressful situations."

the ability to effectively and creatively solve problems and overcome challenges using available resources

"Her resourcefulness solved the problem."

"Her great resourcefulness helped the team solve the difficult problem quickly."

a deep and personal connection between individuals, often emotional or psychological

"The couple valued their intimacy."

"They developed deep emotional intimacy after many years of marriage."

very good at or quick in noticing small details in someone or something

"You are observant."

"The observant security guard noticed that the same car had been circling the parking lot for an hour so he investigated further."

hard-working and productive

"She is industrious."

"The industrious bee works all day collecting nectar and it returns to the hive to make honey for the colony."

based on reasonable and practical considerations rather than theory

"He is pragmatic."

"The pragmatic solution was not perfect but it solved the immediate problem and the team could fix the rest later."

describing an unmarried girl or woman

"The maiden spoke softly."

"The young maiden, dressed in simple homespun, shyly accepted the bouquet of wildflowers from the village elder."

feeling or displaying deep exhaustion

"I am weary after the long trip."

"After working twelve hours straight without a break she felt weary and fell asleep as soon as she got home."

experiencing extreme exhaustion

"The soldier was fatigued."

"The fatigued soldier could barely keep his eyes open after three days of fighting without any sleep at all."

(of a person) having a tendency to hide feelings, thoughts, etc.

"She is secretive."

"The secretive government agency refused to release any information about the project and journalists tried to uncover the truth for years."

having or showing a high level of knowledge, skill, and aptitude in a particular area

"He is proficient at coding."

"After years of dedicated practice, she became highly proficient in playing the violin."

extremely enthusiastic and interested in something one does

"He is an avid reader."

"The avid reader finished three books every week and she had a library of over a thousand titles in her home."

eating or craving food in large amounts and with great enthusiasm

"She has a voracious appetite."

"The voracious reader devoured the entire trilogy in a single weekend, completely engrossed in the captivating storyline."

behaving in an unconcerned and calm manner

"He acted nonchalant."

"The nonchalant teenager shrugged when he heard that he had won the award and he acted as if it did not matter at all."

marked by a lack of control or discipline

"The crowd is boisterous."

"The boisterous children ran through the house shouting and laughing and their mother asked them to play outside instead."

(of a person) resistant to authority or control, often challenging established norms or rules

"The teenager is rebellious."

"The rebellious teenager dyed her hair bright purple and got a nose piercing without asking her parents for permission first."

calm and not easily worried or upset

"She is easygoing."

"The easygoing teacher did not mind when students asked questions during class and she encouraged everyone to participate."

staying calm and displaying little or no interest or emotions

"He is stolid."

"The stolid soldier showed no emotion even when he heard that his best friend had been injured in the battle."

lively, bold, and confident in a playful or appealing way

"Her reply was pert."

"The pert student gave a cheeky answer to the teacher's question and the class laughed at her clever response."

intimidating or frightening in appearance or nature

"The dragon looks fearsome."

"The fearsome dragon breathed fire and protected its treasure from anyone who tried to steal it."

having a physical or mental condition that limits one's movements, senses, or activities

"The parking is for handicapped."

"The handicapped parking space is reserved for people with disabilities and others who park there can receive a fine."

having a strong sense of love, loyalty, and devotion to one's country

"He is patriotic."

"The patriotic citizens waved flags and sang the national anthem on Independence Day celebrating their country's freedom."

feeling or showing caution and attentiveness regarding possible dangers or problems

"Be wary of strangers."

"The wary cat approached the new person slowly and stopped every few steps to sniff the air before getting closer."

unhappy because of loneliness

"I feel lonesome."

"The lonesome cowboy rode across the empty prairie and he missed his family who lived hundreds of miles away."

showing sensibility and wisdom, especially in avoiding risks or making decisions

"It is prudent to save money."

"It is prudent to save some money every month for unexpected emergencies like car repairs or medical bills."

the state of being slender or thin in a way that is considered attractive or healthy

"Slimness of figure."

"She maintained the slimness of her figure through regular exercise and healthy eating."

a twisted facial expression indicating pain, disgust or disapproval

"A grimace of pain crossed his face."

"He made a painful grimace when the doctor touched his injured shoulder."

(of body parts) having a discolored mark due to broken blood vessels, typically caused by an injury or pressure

"My arm is bruised."

"The child's knee was badly bruised after falling off his bicycle, leaving a dark purple mark."

lacking of cleanliness and neatness, often implying a disregard for personal hygiene or grooming

"He is slovenly."

"The slovenly student never cleaned his desk and papers books and empty coffee cups piled up around his computer."

all the qualities that shape a person's character and make them different from others

"She has a warm and outgoing personality."

"A psychometric test aims to objectively measure various facets of an individual's unique personality."

the state of being in the transitional phase childhood and adulthood characterized by significant physical, emotional, and psychological changes

"Adolescence is a tough time."

"During adolescence, individuals experience profound physical and psychological transformations."

preferring to be alone or avoiding social contact

"He lived reclusive."

"After years of public life, the famous actor became reclusive, preferring the solitude of his remote mountain home."

difficult to move or manage due to bulk

"His walk is ponderous."

"The ponderous elephant walked slowly through the jungle while the tourists watched from a safe distance in their open vehicle."

pleasant and friendly

"The greeting was cordial."

"The cordial greeting between the former rivals surprised everyone and they shook hands warmly before the meeting began."

moving in a slow, effortless, and attractive manner

"Her movement is languid."

"The languid movements of the cat showed that it was relaxed and comfortable and it stretched slowly before curling up for a nap."

showing determination and ambition to achieve one's goals

"He is driven."

"The driven young woman worked two jobs while attending university because she was determined to graduate without any student loan debt."

possessing a friendly personality and willing to spend time with people

"He is very sociable."

"The sociable puppy loved meeting new people at the park and wagged its tail at everyone who passed by."

the state or condition of a person's physical alignment, balance, and coordination

"Good posture prevents back pain."

"Good posture is important for preventing back pain and keeping your spine properly aligned."

someone's face or facial expression

"His sad countenance worried me."

"He kept a calm countenance even when receiving bad news."

the height of a person or animal when standing upright

"The leader was a man of great stature."

"His tall stature made him stand out in any crowd of people."

having little body fat

"He is lean."

"The lean meat had very little fat and it was healthier than a fatty cut but it needed careful cooking to stay moist."

(of hair) long, thin and straight

"His hair is lank."

"His lank hair hung limply over his forehead and he looked tired because he had not slept well for days."

(of a person) dressed in worn and old clothes

"The man looked shabby."

"The once-proud gentleman now appeared shabby, his suit threadbare and his shoes scuffed."