Fun & Free SAT Words Starting with “E”

The Seinfeld lawyer Jackie Chiles embraces SAT words. In Jackie's vocabulary, a defendant's behavior isn't simply illegal: It's outrageous, egregious and preposterous and possibly lewd, lascivious and salacious too. Check in with Jackie Chiles and other Seinfeld characters to get extra SAT practice.

This article focuses on SAT-level words that start with "E" including egregious, enigma and ephemeral. Other potential SAT words are defined after the sample questions.

Sample Sentences Using Egregious

• Jackie Chiles describes a movie theater's "no outside beverages" policy as outrageous, egregious and preposterous.
• George Costanza, an egregious liar, knows how to defeat lie detector tests.

Sample SAT Question Using Egregious

Fill in the blank.

As managing editor of the J. Peterman catalog, Elaine Benes's most ___________ mistakes include purchasing an $8000 hat and marketing a sombrero to city dwellers.

(A) phlegmatic

(B) supercilious

(C) egregious

(D) meritorious

The best answer is C, egregious, because these mistakes were extraordinarily bad. On the other hand:

• Something that's phlegmatic might actually involve phlegm, but usually phlegmatic is used metaphorically to describe a person who is calm, sluggish, or not easily excited into taking action or showing emotion.
• Synonyms for supercilious are "arrogant" and "scornful."
• Meritorious means "praiseworthy."

On to the next word: Enigma.

Sentences Using Enigma

• Elaine described Newman as "an enigma, a mystery wrapped in a riddle."
• The enigmatic man in a cape slipped an envelope to Frank Costanza.

Sample SAT Question Using Enigma

Kramer's first name remained an _________ until Seinfeld's sixth season.

(A) anomaly

(B) anachronism

(C) enigma

(D) imbroglio

The best answer is C, enigma, because Kramer's first name was a mystery. As for the other choices, an anomaly is an exception or a deviation. An anachronism is something that's in the wrong time. For example, telephone wires would be anachronistic in a film set in the Old West. Finally, an imbroglio is a complicated situation. It may involve a misunderstanding or a disagreement and be accompanied by bitter feelings between people or nations.

Sentences with Ephemeral

• Jackie Chiles was dismayed when Kramer settled for an ephemeral appearance in Times Square in lieu of a major cash payment.
• Jerry Seinfeld's romantic relationships are ephemeral, rarely lasting for more than an episode or two.

Sample SAT Question with Ephemeral

Fill in the blanks.

Like ________ adolescents, George and Jerry rarely seem to realize that life is ____________.

(A) ephemeral, perpetual

(B) perpetual, ephemeral

(C) wizened, euphemistic

(D) sagacious, immutable

The best answer is (B). "Like perpetual adolescents, George and Jerry rarely seem to realize that life is ephemeral." They are neither wizened (shriveled like old men) nor sagacious (shrewd or especially mentally discerning).

As for the other word choices, something that's euphemistic avoids being blunt. If something is immutable, it's unchangeable or changeless.

_{That concludes this SAT "E" words lesson. Feel free to add your own sample sentences in the comments section below.}

_{Like this? Please share. It will show your benevolence :-).}