SAT vocabulary: vitiate
What does vitiate mean? Read below for the definition.
Quick vocab quiz for the word vitiate
First, before you read about the word vitiate, try this quick vocab quiz:
vitiate most nearly means
(A) corrupt
(B) slaughter
(C) enrage
(D) terrify
(E) avoid
Write your answer down, or just store it in that razor-sharp mind of yours. (If you can’t wait, the answer is below.)
Now let’s learn about the word vitiate.
Part of Speech of vitiate
vitiate is a VERB.
Pronunciation of vitiate
Here’s how to pronounce vitiate:
IPA: /’vɪ.ʃi.eɪt/
Glossary-style: [VIH-shee-ate]
Definition of vitiate
vitiate means: debase or morally corrupt (Ex: enthusiasm vitiated by years of failure). spoil, make faulty; reduce the value, quality, or effectiveness of something (Ex: to vitiate the quality of the conversation by yawning and not paying attention).
Explain more about vitiate, please
vitiate is not a terribly common word (not one that I use in my daily speech, anyway). vitiate basically means to reduce the good qualities of something. For example, if you vitiate the power of the government, you weaken it. If you vitiate the importance of something, you make it less important.
Example of vitiate
Here’s the word vitiate used in a sentence:
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