101 SAT Words | Vocabulary To Study
The SAT is notorious for testing students’ vocabulary. To make things easier, practice using these SAT words that are likely to show up on the test or in college later.
Here’s a vocabulary tip that will help you on the SAT Essay.
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Vocabulary Still Counts On The SAT
Even though it doesn’t test vocabulary specifically, the SAT still requires you to have one.
The Reading and Writing sections, in particular, pushes test-takers with comprehending so-called “high-utility academic words and phrases”. In short, these are SAT words that you’ll come across in college readings later on.
To give you some extra help and not get caught on test day, we’ve pulled together a list of some high-utility SAT words to study. Even if you don’t come across them now, sooner or later, you will in college.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| abolish | to officially put an end to |
| abrupt | sudden or curt |
| agitation | anxiety; the fast stirring of a liquid |
| alteration | change from a previous norm |
| ambiguous | open to more than one interpretation; unclear |
| ambivalent | having mixed feelings |
| arcane | difficult to understand |
| aromatic | having a pleasant smell |
| assumption | an idea accepted as fact without proof |
| begrudging | to envy; to give reluctantly |
| belligerent | war-like, inclined to fight |
| bias | inclination for or against a group of people or a particular outcome |
| characterize | describe distinctive features; to be typical of |
| condescension | disdain |
| consequently | as a result |
| conserve | protect |
| contentious | controversial |
| conventional | aligned with general beliefs |
| convey | express |
| corroborate | confirm; support |
| corrupt | dishonest for personal gain |
| counterargument | an argument opposing an idea set forth elsewhere |
| curtail | cut short |
| deplete | use up |
| dismay | disappointment and distress |
| ebullient | highly enthusiastic |
| eloquent | well-spoken |
| emerging | beginning; new |
| empathetic | feeling sympathy |
| engagement | participation; an appointment |
| enigmatic | mysterious |
| entrenched | solidly established |
| enumerate | to list |
| ephemeral | short-lived |
| equivocal | vague |
| esoteric | known only to a select group |
| exertion | effort |
| exhilarating | wildly exciting |
| exonerate | free from blame |
| fastidious | nit-picky, fussing over details |
| fluctuate | to change irregularly |
| foreshadow | to allude to coming events |
| fundamentally | centrally |
| garner | gather |
| garrulous | talkative |
| gregarious | flocking, sociable |
| hasten | to do something quickly |
| hypothetical | based on a hypothesis; theoretical |
| imperative | absolutely necessary |
| indifferent | expressing no opinions on a matter |
| indigenous | native to a certain area |
| indiscriminate | without consideration |
| indispensable | vital |
| indistinct | unclear |
| infrastructure | the organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or project |
| keen | eager; incisive; to wail |
| magnanimous | kind-hearted, likely to forgive |
| malevolence | hostility |
| melodramatic | exaggerated |
| menacing | inspiring fear |
| modification | change |
| naïve | innocent; likely to believe anything |
| neglect | fail to care for |
| null | invalid; related to zero |
| obsolete | no longer useful |
| omnipotence | having unlimited power |
| opaque | not transparent |
| oppress | to keep in a state of hardship |
| ornate | highly decorated |
| pantheon | the group of gods of a people |
| pending | awaiting decision |
| preclude | to prevent from happening |
| profuse | excessive |
| regression | return to an earlier state |
| reinforce | strengthen; back up |
| render | to provide; to make |
| renounce | to declare the abandonment of something formally |
| repeal | to revoke |
| repose | rest |
| reproach | express disapproval |
| restorative | possessing characteristics that allow it to return health or well-being |
| reticent | not saying much |
| revere | respect deeply |
| sampling | a representative group |
| scope | the extent to which something is relevant |
| secession | formally withdrawing from membership |
| selfless | unselfish |
| soporific | causing sleep |
| spawn | produce, often in terms of offspring |
| spectacle | a visually impressive performance |
| stimulate | build interest in |
| subsequent | following |
| supremacy | predominance; the state of being in control of all others |
| synchronized | occurring at the same time |
| tenacious | not giving in easily |
| undermine | make less effective |
| urbane | refined, of the city |
| venerable | deserving of respect |
| verbose | using too many words |
| warrant | justification; to justify |
| yield | to produce; to give way |
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Written by Dr. Shaan Patel MD MBA
Prep Expert Founder & CEO
Shark Tank Winner, Perfect SAT Scorer, Dermatologist, & #1 Bestselling AuthorMore from Dr. Shaan Patel MD MBA
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