SAT Vocabulary: Understanding ‘Gluttonous’
Learn the meaning, history, and usage of ‘gluttonous’ for SAT prep. Explore synonyms, antonyms, and example sentences to master this vocabulary word and improve your language skills for the exam.
Imagine a person devouring an entire pizza in one sitting, unable to stop despite being full. This behavior perfectly embodies our SAT vocabulary word of the day: gluttonous.
Word type: Gluttonous is an adjective.
Meaning: Gluttonous describes someone or something excessively greedy, especially with food or drink.
It refers to consuming far more than necessary or appropriate.
Word history: The term gluttonous comes from the Latin word gluttonem, meaning glutton, which itself derives from gluttire, to swallow or gulp down.
This word has been part of the English language since the fourteenth century, consistently describing excessive consumption.
Antonyms: Some opposites of gluttonous include abstemious, moderate, temperate, and restrained. These words all describe controlled or limited consumption, in contrast to the excess of gluttony.
Synonyms: Words with similar meanings to gluttonous include voracious, insatiable, ravenous, and greedy.
These terms all convey an intense, often uncontrolled desire for more, particularly in the context of eating.
Examples use in sentences: Let’s explore how to use gluttonous in context. The gluttonous king’s feast lasted for days, with mountains of food continuously brought to the table.
Despite her normally healthy habits, Sarah felt gluttonous after consuming an entire box of chocolates in one sitting.
The corporation’s gluttonous appetite for resources led to significant environmental damage. Common errors in use: While gluttonous primarily relates to overconsumption of food and drink, it’s important to note that it can be used metaphorically for other forms of excess.
However, be careful not to use it for simple enjoyment or appreciation of food. For example, saying Someone who savors a gourmet meal is gluttonous would be incorrect.
Gluttony implies excess, not just pleasure. To recap, gluttonous is an adjective describing excessive greed or consumption, particularly with food and drink.
It stems from Latin, has various synonyms like voracious and antonyms like moderate, and can be used both literally and figuratively to describe overconsumption.
Remember, on the SAT, understanding nuanced vocabulary like gluttonous can help you better comprehend complex passages and express your ideas more precisely in the essay section.

