A lot of students immediately think of vocabulary when they hear the word SAT. But are SAT vocab words really that important for doing well on the test? Kind of. If you’re aiming for a high score, you’ll definitely want to spend some time learning key SAT words.
In this guide, we give you a comprehensive list of 262 of the most common SAT vocabulary words. We also explain how vocab is tested on the SAT, what types of questions you’ll see, and how to get the most out of your vocab prep.
How Is Vocabulary Tested on the SAT?
The SAT underwent a significant redesign in 2016, and since then vocabulary has become a far less important part of the test. This is because there are fewer vocabulary questions on the current SAT than there were on the old SAT.
That said, it’ll still benefit you to study vocab, especially if you’re aiming for a high or perfect score.
All SAT words are about medium difficulty and are tested in the context of reading passages, so you’ll get not just a sentence but an entire paragraph or passage to work with.
Context clues make memorizing SAT vocab words less important on the current SAT than it was on the old SAT, back when you had to memorize dozens of obscure words and answer questions that dealt with isolated sentences (these were called Sentence Completion problems). This made vocab questions particularly hard since you were given minimal context with which to solve them.
What Do SAT Vocabulary Questions Look Like?
Purely vocabulary-based questions don’t make up a large part of the SAT. Based on our analysis of official SAT practice tests, 13% of the Reading section (or about seven questions) ask you to match a word with its correct meaning. We call these Words in Context questions.
For these questions, you’ll need to know alternative meanings of relatively common words, such as “directly” and “hold.” While you might come across slightly more difficult SAT words, you generally shouldn’t see any as hard as those on the old SAT.
Here’s an example of a Reading vocabulary question (with the relevant part of the passage shown):
In addition to Words in Context questions, you’ll get questions that require you to pick a single word or phrase in order to paraphrase or clarify part of a passage. With these questions, you must understand what all the SAT vocab words mean so that you can choose the right answer.
Here are some examples of these questions:
In these examples, you’ll need to know the definitions of a variety of SAT vocabulary words, such as “substantiated,” “freewheeling,” and “scandalous,” so that you can select the right answer choice.
Are There Any Vocab Questions on SAT Writing?
Aside from the Reading section, are there any SAT vocab questions on the Writing and Language section? The quick answer is yes—you will see vocab questions on Writing and Language.
While most questions in this section focus on grammar, transitions, and tense, you’ll also get some vocab questions that ask you to replace SAT words in a passage; we call these Precision questions. In total, you’ll get three Precision questions, making up about 7% of the SAT Writing section.
Here’s an example of a Precision question (with the relevant part of the passage shown):
262 SAT Vocab Words You’re Bound to See on Test Day
Now that you know what kinds of vocab questions are on the SAT, let’s go over the 262 words and definitions we suggest memorizing if you want to get high scores on SAT Reading and Writing.
To compile this list, we dug through all official SAT practice tests, looking at both the Reading and Writing sections (and not just the questions but the answer choices and passages, too). We also looked at SAT words from other online vocab lists.
Though you don’t need to memorize all the words below, familiarizing yourself with most of them should help you better identify the tones of passages and make you more efficient at interpreting and answering questions correctly on SAT Reading and Writing.
Below, we give you each word, its part of speech, its definition, and an example sentence (or more if the word has multiple definitions/parts of speech). All words are listed in alphabetical order.
Word |
Definition |
Example Sentence |
Abate |
v. to become less active, less intense, or less in amount |
As I began my speech, my feelings of nervousness quickly abated. |
Abstract |
adj. existing purely in the mind; not representing actual reality |
Julie had trouble understanding the appeal of the abstract painting. |
Abysmal |
adj. extremely bad |
I got an abysmal grade on my research paper! |
Accordingly |
adv. in accordance with |
All students must behave accordingly. |
Acquisition |
n. the act of gaining a skill or possession of something |
Language acquisition is easier for kids than it is for adults. |
Adapt |
v. to make suit a new purpose v. to accommodate oneself to a new condition, setting, or situation |
The US has adapted many foreign foods to better suit the tastes of Americans. Dogs are known for their ability to quickly adapt to their environments. |
Adept |
adj. having knowledge or skill (usu. in a particular area) |
Beth loves playing the piano, but she’s especially adept at the violin. |
Adequate |
adj. having sufficient qualifications to meet a specific task or purpose |
Though his resume was adequate, the company doubted whether he’d be a good fit. |
Advent |
n. the arrival or creation of something (usu. historic) |
The world has never been the same since the advent of the light bulb. |
Adversarial |
adj. relating to hostile opposition |
An adversarial attitude will make you many enemies in life. |
Advocate |
n. someone who promotes or defends something v. to defend or promote something (usu. a belief, theory, opinion, etc.) |
I am an advocate for free higher education. Environmental protesters often advocate for cleaner energy practices. |
Aesthetic |
adj. relating to beauty or refined taste |
The aesthetic decorations at the wedding reception made you feel as if you were a character in a fairy tale. |
Afford |
v. to be able to buy v. to be able to spare |
He’s saving money so he can afford to buy a new car. I can’t afford to lose any more pencils! |
Agitate |
v. to promote something (usu. a cause) |
They’re agitating for better health care. |
Allow |
v. to permit or consent to |
US law allows citizens to speak freely. |
Allude |
v. to make a secretive mention of something |
She alluded to the problem at hand but didn’t say anything more about it. |
Altercation |
n. a noisy argument or confrontation |
Greg got into an altercation with a stranger at the bar. |
Ambiguous |
adj. unclear or vague in meaning |
Her ambiguous statement made me question whether she could be trusted. |
Ambitious |
adj. having a powerful desire for success or achievement |
Penny is so ambitious, she wants to be president someday. |
Ambivalence |
n. the state of being uncertain or stuck between two or more options |
His ambivalence prevented him from immediately signing the contract. |
Analogous |
adj. similar but not identical |
Green onions are considered analogous to spring onions. |
Annihilate |
v. to destroy or cause devastating destruction |
The dictator sent orders to annihilate the group of rebels. |
Anomaly |
n. something different from the norm |
This result is an anomaly and very rarely happens. |
Anticipate |
v. assume to be likely to happen |
The party was just as fun as I had anticipated it would be. |
Antipathy |
n. a strong feeling of dislike |
Her antipathy toward the professor was obvious: she rolled her eyes whenever he entered the classroom. |
Apex |
n. the highest point of something |
The spring play was the apex of our school year. |
Apprehension |
n. fearful expectation of something |
Her apprehension to leave her house resulted in her missing the train. |
Articulate |
v. to clearly express in words |
She articulated her opinion on the price of the house. |
Artificial |
adj. something made; not occurring naturally |
Many candies use artificial flavors to make them taste fruity. |
Assertion |
n. a strong declaration |
His assertion that sharks are mammals made everyone laugh. |
Austere |
adj. extremely plain adj. stern and forbidding adj. relating to self-denial |
He lived in a small, austere cabin in the middle of the woods. My boss had an austere expression on her face. An austere lifestyle, like that of monks, isn’t for everybody. |
Authenticity |
n. the quality of being real and true instead of fake and contrived |
The police officer doubted the authenticity of the suspect’s story. |
Avenue |
n. an intangible path or approach to something |
The company has decided to pursue other avenues. |
Avid |
adj. actively interested in or enthusiastic about something |
Gerald is an avid soccer fan. |
Basic |
adj. relating to the foundation or basis of something |
You have to start with basic Russian before you can move on to the advanced level. |
Bear |
v. to have as a characteristic v. to have (a child) v. to bring forth v. to put up with |
She bears a strong resemblance to your mother. Judy will bear her first child later this year. My garden is going to bear pumpkins this year. I can’t bear her complaining any longer! |
Benevolent |
adj. kind, generous |
Many cultures believe in benevolent spirits. |
Bias |
n. a preconception that prevents objectivity |
It’s important to avoid bias when investigating a crime. |
Bittersweet |
adj. tinged with a feeling of sadness |
The ending of the romance movie was bittersweet. |
Bolster |
v. to support, strengthen, or fortify |
If we work together, we should be able to lift and then bolster the couch. |
Boost |
n. an increase or growth v. to increase or make grow |
The boost in profits was a welcome change. In order to boost profits, you need to cater to your customers. |
Brawl |
n. an intense, loud fight v. to fight loudly and disruptively |
A brawl broke out at school today after one student accused another of cheating. The two students brawled for an hour. |
Brevity |
n. the quality of being brief or terse |
The brevity of their time together made it all the more romantic. |
Candid |
adj. direct, blunt |
Josh is candid about his desire to become an actor. |
Candor |
n. the trait of being honest and frank |
I admire her candor, especially when nobody else bothers to speak up. |
Capitalize |
v. to use to your advantage |
I’d like to capitalize on your math skills by having your work the cash register. |
Capture |
v. to trap or take possession of v. to successfully represent or imitate v. to captivate, mesmerize v. to catch or seize |
The spy was captured by the enemy. Your painting beautifully captures the ephemerality of life. I was captured by her beauty. The cops captured the criminal three days after the incident. |
Civic |
adj. relating to the city or citizens |
Voting is a civic duty. |
Clinical |
adj. emotionally unattached (usu. used in medical or scientific setting) |
Her clinical approach to situations allows her to handle them more effectively. |
Clout |
n. special advantage or power |
Children of rich and famous people often believe they have a lot of clout. |
Coarse |
adj. indicating a rough texture adj. lacking refinement or sophistication |
The horse’s mane was coarse, as if it had never been washed. The queen’s coarse way of speaking surprised the other members of royalty. |
Coincide |
v. to happen at the same time |
It wasn’t until after I booked my ticket that I realized the concert coincided with my finals. |
Commission |
n. the use of payment to request something (e.g., a service or product) |
This painting was commissioned by a rich merchant in 1589. |
Comparable |
adj. able to be compared |
This novel is comparable to Huckleberry Finn. |
Competent |
adj. sufficiently qualified |
We need to hire a competent web developer to create a good website for our company. |
Complacent |
adj. satisfied, with no desire to change or improve |
Though he had never won any awards or even been published, he was complacent with his life as a poet. |
Complement |
v. to make perfect or complete |
This wine perfectly complements this platter of gourmet cheese. |
Concede |
v. to be forced to agree or surrender v. to admit to a transgression |
With no chance of winning the battle, the army at last conceded. Dan conceded to pranking his sister. |
Conceive |
v. to imagine or come up with |
The plan to build the city was originally conceived in the early 1900s. |
Condone |
v. to overlook, approve, or allow |
She couldn’t condone her daughter’s rebellious behavior. |
Conducive |
adj. able to bring about or be suitable for |
The noisy students hardly made the campus library conducive to studying. |
Conduct |
v. to control or manage v. to behave a certain way |
The group conducted their research abroad last year. Be sure to conduct yourself accordingly. |
Confide |
v. to share something secretive with someone |
She confided all of her biggest secrets in her best friend. |
Confine |
v. to put limits on; to restrict |
We are going to confine the use of this drinking fountain. |
Consensus |
n. overall agreement |
After weeks of debating, the panel finally came to a consensus. |
Constitute |
v. to form or compose (part of) something |
The desire for equality constituted the civil rights movement. |
Contemplate |
v. to think deeply about |
She contemplated telling her teacher about the cheating student. |
Contend |
v. to maintain or assert (an opinion) |
The president contends that the US government will not negotiate with terrorists. |
Contradict |
v. to be in contrast with |
The camera footage contradicts his alibi. |
Controversial |
adj. highly debatable and causing contention |
Millions of viewers watched the controversial debate take place. |
Conventional |
adj. abiding by accepted standards |
She lives a conventional life in the suburbs. |
Convey |
v. to pass on or transfer (information) |
I have trouble conveying my thoughts in French. |
Conviction |
n. a firm belief in something |
Her religious convictions prevent her from eating meat. |
Corroborate |
v. to provide evidence for; to back up (a claim) |
The note signed by her father corroborates her claim that she was absent from class that day. |
Counteract |
v. to work in opposition to |
This ingredient seems to counteract the other ones. |
Counterargument |
n. an argument used to criticize or dismantle another argument |
Make sure to include a counterargument in your essay so that you can show you’ve considered the topic from all perspectives. |
Counterproductive |
adj. hindering the achievement of a goal |
Bill’s idea to take a shortcut was ultimately counterproductive: it took us twice as long to get to the train station. |
Culmination |
n. the final act or climax |
The culmination of the performance was unforgettable. |
Cultivate |
v. to foster the growth of |
Teachers don’t just pass on new information to students—they cultivate their academic potential. |
Decree |
v. to declare formally and with authority |
The president decreed that Halloween would henceforth be a national holiday. |
Deference |
n. respect; regard |
Her deference to the elderly makes her the perfect candidate for an internship at the retirement center. |
Deficient |
adj. not enough in degree or amount |
I feel as though the sources for my paper are deficient. |
Demonstrate |
v. to do as an example v. gives evidence for |
Could you demonstrate the dance move for me? This book’s use of words such as “grim” and “bleak” demonstrates the author’s mournful tone. |
Demur |
v. to object to |
She demurred at my request to transfer to a different department. |
Deplete |
v. to (over)use over time (usu. resources) |
The lost campers quickly depleted their supply of food. |
Desolate |
adj. bare, barren, empty |
The moon is one giant, desolate landscape. |
Devise |
v. to come up with (a plan) |
Lana devised a plan to make herself famous. |
Dilemma |
n. a problem, usually requiring a choice between two options |
The main dilemma is whether to pay for a commercial or not. |
Diligence |
n. conscientiousness; the quality of being committed to a task |
Diligence and confidence will get you far in life. |
Diminish |
v. to become smaller in scope or degree |
The itchiness of mosquito bites usually starts to diminish after a few days. |
Dire |
adj. hopeless and dangerous or fearful |
When the police didn’t explain what was happening right away, Jane knew that the situation must be dire. |
Discord |
n. disagreement |
Disputes over money caused intense discord in the family. |
Disdain |
n. a lack of respect and strong dislike (toward something or someone) |
He looked at me with such disdain that I immediately knew the job wouldn’t work out. |
Dismay |
n. hopelessness, stress, or consternation v. to fill with woe or apprehension |
To Nick’s dismay, he got an F on the test. Many were dismayed by the town’s implementation of metered parking. |
Disparage |
v. to belittle or speak down to |
A good boss is stern but never disparages his or her employees. |
Dispatch |
v. to send off a message or messenger |
The mother dispatched her daughter to their neighbor’s house. |
Diversification |
n. the act of becoming diverse |
Lately, there’s been noticeable diversification of students at higher institutions. |
Doctrine |
n. a principle, theory, or position, usu. advocated by a religion or gov’t |
Devoutly religious people often live their lives according to their doctrines. |
Dominion |
n. power and authority (usu. over a territory) n. a legal territory |
The country claimed to have dominion over parts of Russia. Puerto Rico is a dominion of the US. |
Dreary |
adj. sad, gloomy, dull |
The gray clouds in the sky made the day feel dreary. |
Dubious |
adj. doubtful, questionable |
The man’s claims to the throne were dubious since nobody knew where he’d come from. |
Eccentric |
adj. peculiar or odd; deviating from the norm |
She’s a little eccentric but still fun to be around. |
Egregious |
adj. extremely bad |
After cheating on the exam, Emily began to feel as though she’d made an egregious mistake. |
Eloquent |
adj. having refined or expressive communication skills (in speaking or writing) |
His speech was not only eloquent but also extremely compelling. |
Eminent |
adj. superior or distinguished; high in position or status |
Our town made news when the eminent magician came to perform at our local theater. |
Emit |
v. to discharge, give forth, or release |
Plants consume carbon dioxide and emit oxygen. |
Emphatic |
adj. very expressive; using emphasis |
Her emphatic smile told me she was excited to ride the roller coaster. |
Empirical |
adj. derived from experience, observation, or an experiment |
You need empirical evidence to support your claim. |
Endow |
v. to equip or bestow (usu. a quality or ability) |
According to the myth, the gods endowed him with the gift of healing. |
Endure |
v. to withstand, sustain, or hold out against |
I can’t endure this wait any longer. Will Stanford accept or reject me? |
Entail |
v. to involve or include |
A doctoral program entails long nights and a heavy workload. |
Entrenched |
adj. firmly established |
Her face will forever be entrenched in my memory. |
Enumerate |
v. to specify or count |
I can’t enumerate how many times I’ve had to remind my students when their papers are due. |
Envy |
n. excessive jealousy v. to admire and be jealous of |
His envy of her is quite obvious. She envies her coworker’s social skills. |
Erratic |
adj. having no fixed course; deviating from the norm |
The car became erratic after slipping on ice. |
Establish |
v. to enact v. to found (a business, group, school, etc.) |
They established a law that made it illegal to drive after drinking any amount of alcohol. Our group established a new branch in Chicago. |
Evoke |
v. to draw forth or call up |
Horror movies are great at evoking fear. |
Exacerbate |
v. to make worse or increase the severity of |
The doctor told me not to run as it can exacerbate my knee injury. |
Excel |
v. to do something extremely well or to be superior in |
She was a well-rounded student but excelled especially in science. |
Exert |
v. to put into use (usu. as effort) |
Don’t exert all of your energy at once. |
Exhilarating |
adj. invigorating, stimulating, or exciting |
The music playing at the club was catchy and exhilarating. |
Expend |
v. to use up (as in energy or money) |
Be careful not to expend all your energy in the first half of a marathon. |
Exploit |
v. to use selfishly or for profit |
The shoddy company exploited its workers by paying them extremely low wages. |
Facilitate |
v. to aid the progress of |
In grad school, advisors facilitate students’ research and offer constructive criticism. |
Feasibility |
n. the practicality or possibility of something |
The feasibility of her project was doubtful; she’d have to go all the way to Antarctica and back before the school year ended. |
Ferocity |
n. viciousness, violence |
The lion is just one wild animal known for its ferocity. |
Fiscal |
adj. related to (government) money |
Fiscal policy is how the government uses money to influence the economy. |
Flourish |
v. to prosper, grow, or make fast progress |
After one year, the tiny plants had flourished into a breathtaking garden. |
Fluctuate |
v. to be unstable; to rise and fall |
Stocks can fluctuate on a daily basis, making it difficult to determine when to buy or sell one. |
Foment |
v. to stir up |
The civilians accused their leader of fomenting political unrest. |
Foreseeable |
adj. capable of being predicted or anticipated |
I can’t imagine aliens visiting us in the foreseeable future. |
Frankly |
adv. directly, clearly |
I frankly don’t see the point in learning to drive. |
Freewheeling |
adj. carefree |
His freewheeling attitude often got him in trouble at work. |
Fundamental |
adj. the most essential or most basic part |
A thesis is arguably the most fundamental part of an essay. |
Galvanizing |
adj. thrilling, exciting, stimulating |
The galvanizing performance left everyone spellbound. |
Geriatric |
adj. relating to old age |
I became interested in geriatric medicine shortly after my grandfather passed away from cancer. |
Hostile |
adj. harmful, dangerous |
The voices around the corner sounded angry, hostile even. |
Hypothetical |
adj. supposed; related to a hypothesis |
For my physics homework, I must come up with a hypothetical situation. |
Ignominious |
adj. publicly shameful or humiliating |
The politician’s expensive campaign ultimately ended in ignominious defeat. |
Impart |
v. to transmit, bestow, or disclose |
Parents must impart common sense to their children. |
Impartiality |
n. the equal and objective treatment of opposing views |
To ensure impartiality, we require everyone to follow these general guidelines. |
Imposing |
adj. impressive (esp. in size or appearance) |
The old mansion was imposing in its huge size and gothic architecture. |
Imposition |
n. an unnecessary burden |
If it’s not too much of an imposition, could you proofread my paper? |
Imprudent |
adj. not cautious or prudent; rash |
Backpacking abroad can be fun, but don’t be imprudent about money. |
Incite |
v. to encourage or stir up |
Her hateful words incited anger in the crowd. |
Indifference |
n. apathy, emotional detachment |
The girl’s indifference toward her brother upset their parents. |
Indiscriminately |
adv. randomly; with little or no distinction |
Lottery winners are chosen indiscriminately. |
Indulge |
v. to give into; to satisfy or gratify |
My friend loves to indulge in cheesy romance movies. |
Infer |
v. to guess, conclude, or derive by reasoning |
You can infer from this quotation that the writer didn’t care for “pretty” language. |
Innovative |
adj. novel or new (esp. as an idea or invention) |
Her invention was incredibly innovative and won her multiple awards. |
Insatiable |
adj. can’t be satisfied |
A vampire’s thirst for blood is said to be insatiable. |
Inversion |
n. a reversal |
The culture’s norms were an inversion of our own. |
Invoke |
v. to call on; to appeal to (e.g., a higher power) |
The shaman attempted to invoke a demon. |
Irreconcilable |
adj. incapable of being in harmony or agreed upon |
The couple’s differences were ultimately irreconcilable, giving them no choice but to break up. |
Lament |
v. to feel sorrow for; to mourn |
Susan lamented her missed chance at going to Europe with her high school class. |
Locomotion |
n. movement |
Physics involves the study of locomotion. |
Lucrative |
adj. capable of making a lot of money; profitable |
Writing books isn’t a particularly lucrative career, unless you’re J.K. Rowling. |
Malicious |
adj. harmful, spiteful |
The malicious spirit drove out the inhabitants from their home. |
Malleable |
adj. capable of being molded or changed |
Children’s minds are malleable but only for so long. |
Materialistic |
adj. superficial; focus on material possessions |
Many people accuse Americans of being materialistic. |
Melodramatic |
adj. extravagant or exaggerated (as of a melodrama) |
The melodramatic play was well liked by the audience. |
Modest |
adj. simple and humble adj. small in size or amount |
They moved into a modest house in the countryside. I received a modest sum of money for my help at the company event. |
Modify |
v. to change, alter, or tweak |
Dr. Nguyen modified the gene so that it wouldn’t carry the disease. |
Momentous |
adj. historically significant |
Her win in the election was momentous. |
Novel |
adj. new, innovative |
We are looking for novel ways to approach the project. |
Nuance |
n. a subtle difference in meaning |
Body-language experts even understand the nuances of facial expressions. |
Null |
adj. legally void and ineffective |
The government declared their marriage null. |
Objectivity |
n. judgment based on observations instead of emotions or opinions |
In scientific research, objectivity is of utmost importance. |
Obsolete |
adj. no longer used; rare or uncommon |
Historians assumed record players would be obsolete by now, but in fact they’re making a huge comeback. |
Omnipotent |
adj. almighty and all powerful |
Gods are omnipotent beings who can control human destiny. |
Onset |
n. the beginning or early stages |
At the onset of her career as a lawyer, things were looking up. |
Opine |
v. to openly express an opinion |
The new employee opined at the company meeting. |
Ornate |
adj. highly detailed and decorated |
That ornate silverware must be worth thousands of dollars! |
Oust |
v. to remove or force out of (usu. a position or office) |
Sick and tired of putting up with his bad moods, the pirates ousted their captain. |
Paramount |
adj. predominant, superior, most important |
Our paramount concern is the safety of our employees. |
Peculiar |
adj. strange, bizarre |
Upon entering the abandoned house, Kate experienced a peculiar feeling, as if someone was watching her. |
Perish |
v. to die; to pass away |
According to the news, nobody perished in the fire. |
Persecute |
v. to cause suffering to |
They will persecute anyone who doesn’t agree with their views of the world. |
Petulant |
adj. cranky, pouty, irritable |
Petulant children are especially difficult to care for. |
Pinnacle |
n. highest level or degree |
Many believe that composers such as Beethoven and Mozart represent the pinnacle of classical music. |
Pitiable |
adj. deserving pity |
The frail-looking dog was pitiable, so I gave it some food and took it inside to care for it. |
Plausible |
adj. reasonable and possibly true |
Her story is plausible, but that doesn’t mean she’s telling the truth. |
Postulate |
v. to assert |
The literary critic postulates that romanticism and naturalism are actually interconnected. |
Potent |
adj. having great influence adj. having a strong, chemical effect |
The bald eagle is a potent symbol of the US. The potion was definitely potent—it healed my wounds immediately! |
Pragmatic |
adj. practical, useful |
It’s not necessarily more pragmatic to study engineering than it is to study philosophy. |
Precedent |
n. an example or subject from earlier in time |
This change in law is without historical precedent. |
Predecessor |
n. someone who comes before you (usu. in position or office) |
My predecessor gave me many tips for running the office. |
Prescribe |
v. to command orders v. to issue authorization for medications |
The directions for our essay prescribe a length of at least ten pages. A doctor must prescribe you this medication before you can begin taking it. |
Principle |
n. basic truth, assumption, or rule |
Remember the universal principle: treat others as you want them to treat you. |
Prohibit |
v. to command against, to outlaw |
Alcohol was prohibited in the US in the 1920s. |
Prompt |
adj. punctual, on time n. a cue to begin something; instructions v. to incite, propel, or cause to act |
She is always prompt when it comes to turning in her homework. I had to write an essay based on a prompt. The possibility of a scholarship prompted him to apply to Harvard. |
Promulgate |
v. to put into law or formally declare |
The ruler will at last promulgate an amnesty with the neighboring countries. |
Prosecute |
v. to bring criminal action against someone (in a trial) |
The suspect was prosecuted yesterday. |
Provocative |
adj. intending to provoke, inspire, or arouse |
Her nude paintings are considered quite provocative. |
Qualitative |
adj. involving qualities of something (features and content) |
I noticed a qualitative change in her paintings. |
Quantitative |
adj. involving quantities (numbers and amounts) |
We must conduct a quantitative analysis. |
Quirk |
n. a strange habit |
His biggest quirk is his love of old marbles. |
Ramify |
v. to split into two or more branches |
Cars ramified throughout the world in the twentieth century. |
Rash |
adj. without attention to danger or risk |
Her rash decision to pass the car nearly resulted in a crash. |
Raw |
adj. unrefined adj. not processed; uncooked (as in food) |
He’s got raw talent as a singer, but he needs to work on his performance skills. In some countries, such as Japan, it is normal to eat raw fish. |
Readily |
adv. right away and without difficulty |
Water was readily available at different points in the race. |
Reconsideration |
n. thinking again about a previously made choice |
The judges’ reconsideration of her performance resulted in her victory. |
Reform |
n. a change for the better; improvement v. to improve via change |
The reform made it so that only those 18 and older can legally drive. The government reformed its vague policies on marijuana use. |
Refute |
v. to prove to be untrue, unfounded, or incorrect |
The student refuted the professor’s claim in class. |
Reinforce |
v. to strengthen or add support to |
We can use these pipes to reinforce the structure. |
Reluctantly |
adv. somewhat unwillingly |
Max reluctantly agreed to see the horror movie with his friends. |
Renounce |
v. to give up (usu. power or a position) v. to cast off |
Our CEO renounced her position yesterday. He renounced his friend after he caught her stealing money from him. |
Reproach |
v. to criticize |
The mother reproached her daughter’s school for making students come in during a blizzard. |
Repudiate |
v. to refuse to recognize as true v. to cast off |
The father repudiated his son’s marriage. She repudiated her son once she found out he’d married someone without telling her. |
Retention |
n. the act of keeping something |
Water retention can make you weigh more on certain days. |
Satiated |
adj. satisfied (usu. in hunger) |
I felt satiated after eating a snack. |
Savvy |
adj. having practical intelligence or knowledge |
My brother is not very savvy when it comes to using public transportation. |
Scandalous |
adj. morally offensive, often causing damage to one’s reputation |
The scandalous politician decided it was best to resign from office. |
Scorn |
v. to look down on with disdain |
It’s difficult for me not to scorn those who use improper grammar. |
Scrupulous |
adj. paying great attention to detail |
I am a scrupulous proofreader and never miss an error. |
Scrutinize |
v. to examine carefully and critically |
The teacher scrutinized her students’ essays. |
Secrete |
v. to produce or release (a substance) |
Trees secrete a sticky substance called sap. |
Sentiment |
n. opinion n. a tender or moving gesture |
I am of the sentiment that you should never give out your passwords to anyone. Even though I’m not a big fan of porcelain dolls, I appreciated the sentiment. |
Sheer |
adj. so thin that light can shine through |
The curtains on the window were so sheer you could clearly see inside the house. |
Simple |
adj. easy; not complex adj. undecorated |
This math problem is so simple even a first grader can solve it. The simple beauty of the ocean is what makes it memorable. |
Sinister |
adj. ominous, evil |
Medieval peasants believed sinister demons could harm humans. |
Solidarity |
n. the joining of commonalities or common purposes among a group |
I stood in solidarity with other female students by refusing to wear the school’s sexist uniform. |
Sparingly |
adv. insufficiently, meagerly, or in a restricted manner |
Due to my condition, I must eat salt sparingly. |
Spawn |
v. to release eggs v. to call forth or generate |
Frogs typically spawn in ponds. The topic spawned an ongoing debate among his family members. |
Spur |
v. to stimulate or incite |
Her bravery spurred others to act. |
Squalid |
adj. run-down, sordid, or sleazy |
The squalid cabin needed a new roof and an exterminator. |
Stark |
adj. very plain; devoid of any details or features |
Looking out at the stark landscape, I felt a keen sense of isolation. |
Static |
adj. motionless adj. changeless |
The ball is static. Her life has been static for the past three years. |
Subordinate |
adj. lower in rank n. someone lower in rank v. to make dependent on or put at a lower rank |
The subordinate officers work every day. My subordinate will check you in. You aren’t my boss—you can’t subordinate me to the role of receptionist! |
Subsequently |
adv. happening later or after something |
I subsequently went home. |
Substantial |
adj. very large in amount or degree |
I was shocked to find a substantial amount of money beneath the park bench. |
Substantiate |
v. to strengthen with new evidence or facts |
It is important for scientists to substantiate their theories whenever possible. |
Subtle |
adj. hard to detect or analyze |
I detected in her expression a subtle hint of irritation. |
Sufficient |
adj. enough; just meeting a requirement |
These boxes should be sufficient for our move. |
Surly |
adj. unfriendly; inclined to anger |
The bartender was a surly fellow who wasn’t afraid to start a fight. |
Surmount |
v. to get on top of or overcome |
They managed to surmount the language barrier by using a translation app. |
Susceptible |
adj. to be vulnerable (to something) |
Children are more susceptible to certain illnesses than adults are. |
Tactful |
adj. skilled at dealing with people |
Her tactful attitude toward our class made her one of my favorite teachers. |
Taut |
adj. pulled tight |
The rubberband was taut and ready to be fired. |
Teeming |
adj. abundantly filled (usu. with living organisms) |
Doorknobs are not as clean as they look and are often teeming with germs. |
Temperament |
n. usual mood or feelings |
She had a hostile temperament, making her intimidating to most people. |
Tentative |
adj. not yet finalized |
We haven’t made any official arrangements yet, but the tentative location for our wedding is Hawaii. |
Transparent |
adj. see-through; so thin that light can shine through adj. truthful or easy to perceive |
Stained window glass isn’t as transparent as regular window glass is. She was transparent about her plans to end her marriage. |
Treacherous |
adj. dangerous and unstable |
The journey was becoming treacherous, but they continued on regardless. |
Tremendous |
adj. very large, good, or bad in degree or size |
Tremendous news! You don’t have to repay your loans! |
Ubiquitous |
adj. being everywhere at once |
Cell phones are ubiquitous these days. |
Unadorned |
adj. undecorated, plain |
Though the dress was cheap and unadorned, it was by far her favorite one on the rack. |
Undermine |
v. to weaken or subvert (usu. gradually or secretly) |
Parents should take care not to constantly undermine their children. |
Underscore |
v. to emphasize or give additional weight to |
This sentence seems to underscore the overall meaning of the passage. |
Undulate |
v. to move as ripples or in a wavy pattern |
Belly dancers are known for their ability to skillfully undulate their stomachs. |
Unilateral |
adj. one-sided |
The unilateral decision was deemed unfair by the other party involved. |
Unjust |
adj. unfair; not justified |
The court’s decision is unjust—he should not go free. |
Unmitigated |
adj. downright, utter, total |
My speech was an unmitigated disaster! |
Unprecedented |
adj. completely new and never having happened before; historic |
The number of protestors was unprecedented. |
Unveil |
v. to make visible; to reveal |
We plan to unveil our plans for the new company project on Sunday. |
Urge |
n. desire or impulse v. to encourage or persuade |
He had the urge to tell his parents about his acceptance to Columbia but decided against it. She urged her sister to apply to Stanford. |
Validate |
v. to prove or declare valid |
Your selfish actions do not validate your feelings for me. |
Viability |
n. ability to be done in a practical or useful way |
The viability of the solution is questionable. |
Vital |
adj. urgently necessary |
It is vital that you respond by the deadline. |
Vow |
v. to promise |
My brother quickly broke his vow to never eat chocolate again. |
Warrant |
v. to prove to be reasonable |
Wanting to look cool in front of your friends doesn’t warrant breaking the law. |
Yield |
n. production of an amount v. to give way to or surrender to v. to produce or supply |
The farmer’s annual pumpkin yield exceeded 10,000. Cars turning right on red must yield to oncoming traffic. Our experiment yielded many unique-looking vegetables. |
How to Study SAT Words Effectively: 3 Essential Tips
Now that you’ve got a huge list of SAT vocabulary words you can work with, what’s the best way to study them? Here are three key tips to help you get the most out of your SAT vocab studies.
#1: Make Flashcards and Use the Waterfall Method
One of the absolute best ways to study SAT vocab words is to make flashcards. This lets you control which SAT words you study and even randomizes them so that you don’t accidentally memorize words in a predetermined order.
We recommend using the waterfall method to study your flashcards. With this method, you’ll get to see all the words in your deck, going over the most challenging words more often than the ones you already know or sort of know.
Here’s how to use the waterfall method:
Once you’ve made your flashcards, split them up into decks (you can put whatever words you want in these decks) of about 30-50 cards each. Choose one deck to be your Starting Stack.
Go through your Starting Stack, looking at each and every card. For the words you know, put them in a Know It pile. For the words you don’t know, put them in a separate Struggled pile as so:
Now, pick up your Struggled pile and go through each card in it (leave your Know It pile where it is). Put the cards you know in a second Know It pile and the ones you don’t know in a Struggled pile.
You should now have two Know It piles and one Struggled pile:
Repeat this process of picking up your Struggled pile and going through each card until you’re left with about one to five cards in your Struggled pile:
By now you should know most, if not all, cards in your deck. But it isn’t enough to just go through them once—you also have to work back up your “waterfall” of cards.
To do this, combine your Struggled pile with your last Know It pile (the pile closest to the Struggled pile). This will be your Working pile. Go through all the cards in this pile. If there are any words you forgot, go through the entire pile again and again until you’ve learned all the definitions in it.
Continue this pattern by combining your current Working pile with the next Know It pile. Go through all these cards until you know each one.
At the end, you should have made your way all the back to your original Starting Stack. You now know all the SAT words and their meanings in your deck! Repeat this waterfall method with the other decks you make so that you can learn even more critical SAT vocab words.
#2: Focus On Words You Don’t Know
If you don’t have time to study the entire list above or only want to learn some SAT words, use our list to make a new vocab list containing only the words you don’t know. So if you know a word or are fairly sure you’ll be able to recognize it on test day, skip it and instead focus on the words you’ll have the most trouble remembering. Once you have your list, use the waterfall method to study it.
If you’re not a fan of paper flashcards, you can opt for digital flashcards. Anki is a free software you can download and use to make your own flashcards. The program uses spaced-repetition software (SRS) to show you difficult cards more often than those you know (basically, a digital version of the waterfall method).
#3: Take Official SAT Practice Tests
Since the majority of the words in our list above come from official SAT practice tests, once you’ve studied these SAT words, you can put your knowledge to the test by taking a practice test. This lets you see whether you truly know the meanings of the words and whether you’ll be able to get the right answers in the context of a full-length, timed test—just like the real SAT.
If you miss any questions because you forgot the meaning of a word, go back over our SAT vocab words list using your flashcards and the waterfall method.
The Best SAT Vocab Flashcards
If you plan to make your own SAT vocab flashcards from our list, you’ll need at least 300 blank index cards and a system to keep them organized. These basic cards are an affordable option that are also available in fun colors. You can keep them organized with plastic baggies or rubber bands, or you can get an organizer. Alternatively, try these easy-flip flashcards that include binder clips.
Though we strongly recommend making your own flashcards, you can also buy pre-made ones. There aren’t a lot of options for the new SAT. We’d recommend going with Barron’s 1100 Words You Need to Know, a series of exercises to master key words and idioms, or Manhattan’s GRE flashcards if you’re looking for a challenge.
Conclusion: The Importance of Studying SAT Vocabulary
Overall, vocabulary words don’t play a huge part on the SAT. That said, you’ll definitely have some questions on both the Reading and Writing sections that test your knowledge of SAT words, so it’s important to study those most likely to appear on test day.
The best way to study SAT vocabulary is to make flashcards and use the waterfall method. This ensures you know all the words in your deck and aren’t glossing over any difficult ones.
If you don’t want to make flashcards or don’t have time to study the whole list, however, it’s a good idea to pick out the words you don’t know and study just those. With these, you can either make a smaller deck of paper flashcards or opt for digital flashcards.
No matter how you choose to study SAT vocab words, be sure to test out what you’ve learned in the context of full-length practice tests. Nearly all the words in our list above come from official SAT practice tests, so you’re guaranteed to come across them in some form!
What’s Next?
Want more tips on how to study SAT vocabulary words? Check out our expert tips for memorizing SAT words fast and learn why the waterfall method works so well.
Aiming for a high SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score? Take a peek at our in-depth guides to getting a perfect Reading score and learning how to read SAT passages.
Taking the ACT instead? Then you’ll need to know vocab for that test, too. Learn what words to expect on the ACT and how to study them.
Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?
Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don’t improve your SAT score by 160 points or more.
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Одним из главных условий успешной сдачи SAT является наличие у экзаменуемого достаточного словарного запаса.
Многие слова, с которыми Вам придется столкнуться во время экзамена, скорее всего будут малознакомыми или вообще незнакомыми, если Вы только заранее не уделите достаточно времени для их изучения и запоминания.
Важно также помнить, что одного знания слов может быть недостато. Необходимо уметь правильно анализировать отдельные предложения или отрывки текстов, чтобы точно понимать, какое именно слово является правильным ответом для данной конкретной ситуации. Для этого нужен необходимый навык, который мы отрабатываем во время наших занятий.
Насколько хорошо Вы владеете словарным запасом для SAT? Считаете ли Вы, что сможете успешно сдать этот экзамен?
Пришло время посмотреть, является ли ваша уверенность обоснованной или необоснованной. Представленные ниже 12 вопросов могут, отчасти, дать ответы на эти вопросы!
abbreviated
сокращённый, укороченный
abhor
питать отвращение; ненавидеть; презирать
abound in/with
иметься в большом количестве
abstain from
воздерживаться
abundance
изобилие; избыток богатство, достаток
account for
нести ответственность, отчитываться, принимать во внимание
account for
давать отчет; объяснять нести ответственность отчитываться принимать во внимание являться причиной
acrimony
желчность, язвительность, злость
adept at
знаток, эксперт, специалист
administer
вести дела; управлять, руководить применять (меры воздействия) прописывать, давать (лекарство)
admirable
восхитительный, замечательный, поразительный, превосходный
adulatory
льстивый; угодливый
adversity
плохая обстановка, неблагоприятная атмосфера
aftermath
последствие (бедствия, катастрофы)
agent
действующая сила; фактор; средство
agitated
взволнованный, возбуждённый
agitated
взволнованный, возбуждённый
alienate
отвращать; отдалять, заставлять отвернуться; охлаждать (чувства) отчуждать (имущество)
alleviate
ослаблять, смягчать (например, экономический кризис)
alleviate
облегчать (боль, страдания); смягчать
alliteration
аллитерация совпадение начальных согласных в словах, или озвончение
ambiguous
двусмысленный сомнительный; неопределённый, неясный; допускающий двоякое толкование; неоднозначный
amicability
дружелюбие; дружелюбность, любезность
amorphous
аморфный, бесформенный
amount to
достигать, составлять равняться, быть эквивалентным
annoying
раздражающий; досадный; надоедливый
anthropomorphize
очеловечивать (предметы); наделять человеческими качествами (животных)
appreciation
высокая, положительная оценка; благоприятный отзыв, положительная рецензияq
arbitrary
произвольный, случайны книжн. капризный книжн. деспотический
arbitration
арбитраж, третейский суд арбитражное разбирательство
ardor
пыл, жар, рвение; страсть, пылкость; энтузиазм любовный пыл, страсть, вожделение
ascending
восходящий, повышающийся, поднимающийся
aspiration
стремление; сильное желание (к достижению чего-л.)
assert
утверждать; заявлять, декларировать
assiduous
усердный, прилежный; неутомимый, старательный, трудолюбивый
attain
достигать, добираться достигать (о возрасте, времени) attain to) добиваться, достигать
attribute
объяснять (чем-л.); относить за счёт (кого-л. / чего-л.) attribute to) приписывать (кому-л /, чему-л.); относить к (чему-л.)
augment
усиливать; увеличивать, расширять прибавлять, приращивать; пополнять
augmenting
пополняющий; увеличивающий; аугментирующий
banality
банальность, избитость, пошлость
berate
бранить, разносить, ругать
betray
выдавать, открывать (тайну, секрет)
bewilder
смущать; ставить в тупик; сбивать с толку; приводить в замешательство
bipolar disorder
смена настроения
blank slate
чистая доска» (нечто чистое, нетронутое, не испорченное посторонним влиянием)
blurt out
сболтнуть, выпалить; выдавать, проговариваться
bombast
напыщенность, помпезность (в речи, письме)
brandish
махать, размахивать (мечом, палкой) выставлять напоказ в агрессивной манере; хвастаться
brazen
низкий, бесстыдный
calumny
клевета, клеветническое обвинение
carbon dioxide
углекислота, углекислый газ
centennial
вековой, столетний происходящий спустя сто лет, отмечающий столетний юбилей
challenge
ставить под сомнение, оспаривать
charge
подопечный
coaxing
задабривание, уговаривание, упрашивание
collage
комбинация разнородных элементов
commanding
побудительный, повелительный; побуждающий (к каким-л. действиям)
comprehensible
понятный, постижимый, ясный
compromise
компромисс; соглашение (на основе взаимных уступок)
concise
краткий; сжатый; лаконичный, немногословный (о речи, стиле письма) краткий, недолговременный
condemnation
неодобрение, осуждение, порицание
condescending
снисходительный
condiment
приправа, специи
condone
мириться (с чем-л.); попустительствовать, потворствовать (чему-л.)
conjecture (for)
гипотеза, догадка, предположение приходить к заключению; делать вывод; составлять мнение
conjugation
соединение, объединение
constructive
строительный творческий; созидательный; конструктивный
contemptuous of
пренебрегающий (чем-л.); презирающий (что-л.)
contentious
дискуссионный, спорный вздорный; придирчивый; любящий спорить
conventional
обычный, обыкновенный, традиционный; общепринятый консервативный
convey
сообщать, передавать (ощущения) выражать, передавать (мысль)
coolness
спокойствие, невозмутимость уверенность прохладность (по отношению к кому-л.), охлаждение (в отношениях)
corrective
исправительный, корректирующий нейтрализующий (вредное воздействие)
coterie
круг лиц, объединённых общими интересами, целями; группировка; кружок
counterculture
контркультура, альтернативная культура (образ жизни и система ценностей, противопоставляющие себя принятым в обществе стандартам)
cow
пугать; запугивать, устрашать; внушать страх
credulity
доверчивость, легковерие
culprit
преступник; виновный, правонарушитель
cumulative
последовательный (о наказании), совокупный, накопленный; интегральный, кумулятивный, общий
curtail
сокращать, укорачивать; урезывать, уменьшать
daunting
обескураживающий, приводящий в растерянность; пугающий, внушающий страх
decorous
благопристойный, порядочный, приличный, пристойный
deep
отличающийся глубиной, серьёзный, содержательный таинственный; трудный для понимания
derive
получать, извлекать выводить, получать устанавливать происхождение, возводить (к чему-л.) происходить
devise
разрабатывать, продумывать (планы, идеи); выдумывать, изобретать
diffident
неуверенный в себе, застенчивый, робкий недоверчивый скрытный
diffident
неуверенный в себе, застенчивый, робкий недоверчивый скрытный
dimension
размеры, величина; объём; протяжение степень, мера
diminutively
уменьшительно
disavow
отрекаться (от чего-л.), не признавать (что-л.); снимать с себя ответственность
disavow
отрекаться (от чего-л.), не признавать (что-л.); снимать с себя ответственность
disclaimer
отказ (от права на что-л.), отречение, оговорка о случайном характере совпадений (имён персонажей в книге или фильме с именами реально существующих людей)
discord
разногласие, несовпадение, расхождение (во взглядах), противоречие борьба; раздор; разлад; вражда
discourage
не одобрять; мешать осуществлению, препятствовать, отговаривать
dishevel
взъерошить, растрепать
disheveled
взъерошить, растрепать
dismissal
игнорирование; отказ (принять во внимание)
dismissive
пренебрежительный, не принимающий всерьёз, во внимание
disregard
пренебрегать, относиться небрежно; игнорировать, манкировать не обращать внимания, не придавать значения
disruptive
подрывающий; разрушительный; срывающий
dogmatist
догматик
domesticity
семейная или домашняя жизнь склонность к домоседству; любовь к семейной жизни, к уюту одомашненность домашние, хозяйственные дела
downright
прямой, открытый, честный полный, совершенный, абсолютный
duplicitous
двуличный
duplicity
двуличность, лживость
elitist
человек, принадлежащий к элите человек, убеждённый в том, что власть должна находиться в руках элиты
elocutionist
преподаватель ораторского мастерства или дикции оратор
elucidation
консультирование, объяснение, разъяснение
empirically
эмпирически, опытным путём, на основе опыта шарлатански
enable
давать возможность, право (что-л. сделать) делать возможным (что-л.) приспосабливать
enact
предписывать, определять, устанавливать; вводить закон; постановлять
endeavor
попытка, старание; стремление
endemic
эндемический; свойственный данной местности
endorse
подтверждать, одобрять; поддерживать, рекомендовать
entangle
запутывать вовлекать, втягивать, впутывать осложнять, запутывать
environ
окружать, охватывать
ephemeral
эфемерный, преходящий; мимолётный, недолговечный; непродолжительный
equitable
беспристрастный, непредубеждённый, объективный, справедливый
eradication
eradication искоренение, уничтожение
evade
избегать; уклоняться (от уплаты, от ответственности); обходить (закон, вопрос) озадачивать; ставить в тупик; ускользать от понимания
excavate
копать, рыть; выкапывать, откапывать
excrete
выделять, извергать
exhilaration
веселье, веселость, оживление, возбуждение радостное настроение
feeble
немощный, слабосильный, хилый слабовольный, слабохарактерный незначительный, ничтожный ; невнятный
feeble
немощный, слабосильный, хилый (о физическом состоянии человека или животного) слабовольный, слабохарактерный незначительный, ничтожный;
feign
притворяться, делать вид, симулировать, создавать ложные представления
fern
папоротник
fiscally
с финансовой точки зрения, в отношении финансов
flatter
тешить, льстить себя (надеждой); быть польщённым
folly
неосмотрительность, недальновидность, непредусмотрительность глупость; недомыслие
forage for
добывать продовольствие, обеспечивать необходимым заготавливать фураж искать
formidable
вызывающий опасения, грозный; жуткий, пугающий, чудовищный
foster
воспитывать, обучать, растить, проявлять родительскую заботу, затаить, питать (какое-л. чувство); лелеять (надежду) поощрять, побуждать, стимулировать; одобрять
founder
упасть (о лошади) разрушиться, обрушиться (о каком-л. строении) пойти ко дну (о корабле пустить ко дну (корабль) потерпеть неудачу
fraud
притворщик; обманщик, мошенник, плут, жулик
frivolity
легкомыслие, ветренность, несерьёзность; склонность к легкомысленным поступкам легкомысленный поступок
gain
прирост увеличение
gouda
гауда (сорт сыра)
grandiose
пышный, великолепный; огромный, величественный
groundbreaking
новаторский, революционный (открывающий новые пути, начинающий новую страницу)
harangue
речь (публичная); горячее обращение разглагольствование
hardy
закалённый; выносливый; крепкий, здоровый (о человеке) морозоустойчивый, зимостойкий
haughty
высокомерный, заносчивый, надменный
hodgepodge
мешанина, смесь
humble
простой, скромный; небольшой
illustrious
знаменитый; известный, прославленный
immature
незрелый, неспелый; недоразвившийся
immoderate
излишний, неумеренный, чрезмерный, непомерный неумеренный, радикальный (обычно о политических приверженностях) уст. бурный, необузданный, несдержанный
impartiality
беспристрастие, беспристрастность, объективность, справедливость
impassioned
охваченный страстью, страстный, пылкий
imperative
настоятельный, срочный; обязательный безапелляционный, не допускающий возражения; безоговорочный, категорический; подлежащий беспрекословному выполнению лингв. повелительный
incidence
сфера действия, охват; степень; процент, доля
incidental
случайный, непредвиденный
inclement
суровый (о климате, погоде)
incontrovertible
бесспорный, неопровержимый, неоспоримый, непререкаемый, несомненный
indebted
находящийся в долгу (у кого-л.), должный, задолжавший обязанный, признательный
indefatigable
неутомимый, упорный неослабный, неослабевающий, беспрестанный
indefensible
непригодный для защиты, обороны не имеющий оправдания непростительный недоказуемый
indefensible
непригодный для защиты, обороны не имеющий оправдания, непростительный
indispensable
важный, необходимый
induce
побуждать, склонять, убеждать вызывать; стимулировать; приводить (к чему-л.)
induction
введение, ознакомление умозаключение
industrious
прилежный, работящий, старательный, трудолюбивый, усердный
inescapable
неизбежный, неминуемый, неотвратимый
inexorableness
неумолимый, непреклонный, непоколебимый; суровый, безжалостный
inferior
подчинённый; младший по чину; стоящий ниже (по развитию, уму)
ingrain
фиксировать (в уме), запечатлевать (в памяти) окрашенный до начала прядения (о пряже, шерст изготовленный из подобной пряжи или шерсти
inhibit
задерживать, сдерживать, препятствовать психол. подавлять; вызывать возникновение комплексов
inhospitable
суровый, унылый; неприспособленный для жизни (о местности, о природных условиях)
inordinate
неумеренный; чрезмерный
inordinate
неумеренный; чрезмерный бурный, необузданный, несдержанный (о характере человека) беспорядочный
insecurity
страх, опасения за свою безопасность, неуверенность в себе, в своих силах
insidious
хитрый, коварный; действующий тайно
insight
проницательность, способность проникновения в суть) (insight into) понимание, догадка
insouciant
беззаботный безразличный
intelligibly
понятно; вразумительно; ясно, чётко; внятно
intimidate
пугать; запугивать, устрашать
intrinsic
присущий, свойственный важный, значительный, существенный
inundate
затоплять, наводнять
iridescent
радужный, переливчатый, переливающийся
irresolute
нерешительный, колеблющийся, неуверенный, сомневающийся
laconic
лаконичный, краткий; сжатый (о стиле)
legitimate
законный, легальный; легитимный разумный, правильный, логичный; приемлемый; допустимый
leniency
снисходительность; мягкость; терпимость
litany
литания, ектенья (молитва, которая читается или поётся во время службы; содержит многократные просьбы и обращения к Богу) литания, длинный и скучный перечень чего-л.
long
очень хотеть, страстно желать (чего-л.), испытывать потребность (в чём-л.), стремиться (к чему-л.)
manic
маниакальный
mar
портить, ухудшать
maverick
индивидуалист; независимый человек политик, не принадлежащий ни к одной из действующих партий диссидент
mediator
посредник, примиритель
melee
рукопашная схватка, свалка острый спор
mischief
озорство, проказы
misfit
человек, плохо приспособленный к окружающим условиям; неприспособленный к жизни человек, неудачник
misfortune
беда, неудача, несчастье; злоключение
moderate
умеренный, избегающий крайностей; воздержанный, сдержанный спокойный, выдержанный
momentous
важный, имеющий большое значение весомый, влиятельный
morass
болото, трясина прям. и перен.
morbidity
болезненность заболеваемость
munificence
необыкновенная щедрость
myopic
недальновидный, непредусмотрительный; ограниченный
mystification
мистификация
narcissism
нарциссизм, самовлюблённость, самолюбование
necessitate
делать необходимым; неизбежно влечь за собой вынуждать
nefarious
бесчестный; нечестный, низкий; гнусный, мерзкий, подлый
nonchalance
безразличие, бесстрастность, индифферентность
nutrients
питательные вещества
officious
назойливый; навязчивый; вмешивающийся не в свои дела неофициальный; неформальный
opportune
благоприятный; подходящий своевременный, уместный
orderliness
аккуратность, методичность; порядок подчинение законам
orderly
аккуратный, опрятный правильный, упорядоченный дисциплинированный, организованный
orderly
аккуратный, опрятный правильный, упорядоченный дисциплинированный, организованный
overarching
всеохватывающий; всеобъемлющий
pantomime
актёр пантомимы; мимический актёр, мим представление, фарс язык жестов
partisan
адепт, поборник, приверженец, сторонник ярый сторонник, фанатик
perceptive
восприимчивый, воспринимающий, ощущающий проницательный
permissive
либеральный, снисходительный, терпимый потворствующий, потакающий; ненастойчивый
pernicious
разрушительный; разорительный; наносящий ущерб; пагубный; фатальный
perspicacity
проницательность
pliant
гибкий, эластичный мягкий, податливый, покладистый, уступчивый, сговорчивый
pomp
помпа, богатство, великолепие, пышность, роскошь (pomps) суета мира, мирские заботы
populist
представитель интересов широких масс
populous
густонаселённый; (много)людный плодовитый (о времени, сезоне) многочисленный (о группе людей)
prank
проказа, выходка, шалость, проделка; шутка
preclude
предотвращать, устранять preclude from) мешать, препятствовать (чему-л.)
predetermine
назначать, предназначать, предопределять, предрешать повлиять (на кого-л.); направить (чьи-л.) действия в определённую сторону
predominant
господствующий, преобладающий, доминирующий, превалирующий
pretreat
предварительно обрабатывать
proclaim
провозглашать; объявлять объявлять чрезвычайное положение заявлять обнародовать, опубликовывать
prodigy
одарённый человек (обычно о ребёнке) чудо
profess
изображать, притворяться, делать вид, исповедовать, обучать; преподавать, заниматься какой-л. деятельностью, избрать своей профессией
profundity
глубина ума, сила интеллекта основательность, полнота
profusion
изобилие, богатство; избыток щедрость; расточительность
prokaryote
прокариот, доядерный организм (не обладающий оформленным клеточным ядром)
prolix
долгий, длительный многословный, занудный (о человеке)
promulgate
объявлять, провозглашать, опубликовывать; обнародовать пропагандировать, распространять
punctilious
педантичный, скрупулёзный, щепетильный до мелочей
purport
означать; значить, обозначать, подразумевать претендовать (на что-л.), заявлять (о чём-л.)
query
[kwɪərɪ] выражать сомнение, подвергать сомнению сомнение вопросительный знак
rambling
хаотичный, беспорядочный бессвязный, несвязный, путаный (о речи)
rancorous
враждебный, злобный, озлобленный; мстительный, злопамятный
recitation
перечисление, приведение (различных фактов, данных) рассказ, повествование
recklessness
безрассудство, неосторожность
reclaim
возвращать себе (утраченное); получать или брать обратно
reconciliation
улаживание (споров, конфликтов); урегулирование (разногласий) мир, согласие; восстановление дружественных отношений, примирение
redouble
возрастать, увеличиваться, усиливаться; усугубляться увеличивать, усиливать; усугублять повторять; делать или говорить повторно
redoubling
дублирование, повторение, сдваивание, удвоение
refute
опровергать, доказывать ложность, несостоятельность
regal
королевский, царский величественный, царственный
rejuvenate
омолаживаться, молодеть, восстанавливать силы, здоровье
remiss in
невнимательный; недобросовестный, нерадивый, беспечный
repentance
покаяние; сожаление, раскаяние
reprehensible
достойный порицания, осуждения, предосудительный
resort to
прибегать к (чему-л.), обращаться к (чему-л.)
retain
держать; удерживать, аккумулировать, вмещать сохранять; удерживать
rigors
суровые условия; строгие меры
sacrosanct
священный; неприкосновенный
sagacity
проницательность, прозорливость, дальновидность; благоразумие
scornful
презрительный, пренебрежительный; насмешливый
scrutinize
внимательно всматриваться, пристально разглядывать тщательно исследовать
sedate
спокойный, степенный, уравновешенный
self-assurance
самоуверенность, самонадеянность, апломб aуверенность в себ
sensible
чувствительный, восприимчивый благоразумный, здравомыслящий; здравый практичный, удобный; целесообразный
serendipitous
ˌ[ ser(ə)n’dɪpətəs ] связанный со счастливым случаем
serenity
неподвижность, спокойствие (в природе) безмятежность, спокойствие (о душевном состоянии)
sewage
сточные воды; нечистоты
shameful
позорный; постыдный, скандальный
shroud
прикрывать, укрывать, защищать маскировать, прятать, скрывать
sinewy
мускулистый, сильный, физически хорошо развитый жилистый
slight
проявление пренебрежительного равнодушия;неуважение, пренебрежение, игнорирование, пренебрегать, относиться небрежно
slimy
вязкий, липкий слизистый, скользкий
smallpox
оспа
smelting
выплавка, плавление, плавка плавильный
sole
единственный, одиночный исключительный, единоличный
solicitous
заботливый, внимательный, проявляющий заботу (о чём-л.) (solicitous of) жаждущий, (страстно) желающий (чего-л.); полный желания добивающийся (чего-л.)
solicitude
беспокойство, волнение забота, уход, попечение; внимательность
sophisticated
утончённый, рафинированный, изысканный искушённый, изощрённый
stagnation
застой, застойные явления; загнивание
staunch
стойкий, непреклонный, непоколебимый верный, преданный надёжный, заслуживающий доверия
stem
ствол, стебель
stilts
ходули
stoic
стоический, стойкий, мужественный
strain
вид, разновидность
sturdy
прочный, крепкий
subsist on
существовать жить, кормиться прокормить; содержать
substantiate
делать реальным, действительным; придавать конкретную форму воплощать усиливать; укреплять; делать более сильным, крепким, прочным приводить достаточные основания, доказывать, подтверждать, обосновывать
subvert
свергать, ниспровергать; низвергать, низлагать, разрушать
succinct
краткий; сжатый; короткий, лаконичный, недолгий плотно облегающий, в обтяжку (об одежде)
succumb to
погибнуть, умереть (от чего-л.); стать жертвой (чего-л.), поддаться, уступить
supplant
выжить, вытеснить; занять (чьё-л.) место (особ. хитростью
suppress
пресекать; сдерживать подавлять (сопротивление)
surreptitious
тайный, подпольный
sycophantic
льстивый
table
Brit: предлагать, выносить на обсуждение Aмер: откладывать в долгий ящик, класть под сукно
tactful
тактичный
tattle
болтать, судачить; сплетничать
temperate
воздержанный, сдержанный, умеренный
tempt
соблазнять, искушать; прельщать, привлекать, притягивать уговаривать, склонять, убеждать, увещевать
tenacious
упорный, настойчивый, упрямый вязкий, липкий, клейкий
tenacity
упорство, стойкость, твёрдость воли вязкость, липкость; сила сцепления
tendency
стремление склонность
tenet
догмат, доктрина, принцип
term
называть, обозначать, давать имя выражать, показывать
theorist
теоретик
timid
робкий; застенчивый
toehold
точка опоры поддержка, зацепка
totem
тотемный столб (у североамериканских индейцев)
tranquil
спокойный, уравновешенный; мирный; безмятежный
trivialize
опошлять; превращать в банальность, в общее место
troubadour
трубадур (провансальский поэт-певец 11-13 вв.) певец, поэт
turmoil
шум, суматоха; беспорядок
turpitude
низость, подлость; позорное поведение порочность, развращённость
twisted
запутанный; спутанный извращённый; испорченный
underlying
подразумеваемый лежащий в основе; основной
unenviable
незавидный
unintelligible
непонятный, неясный, нечёткий; неразборчивый
unmediated
непредумышленный
unobtainable
недоступный, недостижимый
unscrupulous
беспринципный, без моральных убеждений; бессовестный
utilitarian
утилитарный практический
utterly
весьма, крайне, очень, чрезвычайно
venerable
многоуважаемый, почтенный, уважаемый древний, освящённый веками
verbose
многословный
verisimilitude
[ˌverɪsɪ‘mɪlɪt(j)uːd] правдоподобие, вероятность
versatile
многосторонний, многогранный, разносторонний изменчивый, непостоянный, переменный многоцелевой, универсальный
vintner
виноторговец
voluble
говорливый, многоречивый; речистый
wetlands
заболоченная территория
wishful
желаемый; желанный, желательный; долгожданный жаждущий, желающий
woe
горе, напасть, несчастье (woes) беды, напасти, проблемы
yield
урожай
A commonplace word that occasions exclamations of «Ooh, SAT word!» when employed in normal discourse. Incidentally, those who use this moniker happen to not read enough books, not even pulp not conducive to formal education.
Get the SAT word mug.
made up words that highschool student have to know for the SAT test to sound smart because possibly important people created these words
Haley: Wanna go do something worthwhile?
Jane: Sorry girlie, I have to study my SAT words.
Haley: Who’s to say they’re «smart» words? Language was made up by mankind, so these words are made up.
Jane: Colleges clearly care about this superficial stuff.
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It is a fun game to play in any English class in school. Especially when you are learning and studying SAT words!
Basically, once you have learned the word, any time you see/hear the word used in everyday speech, novels, movies, etc., you must shout «SAT Word BAM!» first.
It makes for an intriguing competition amongst your peers and also helps to commit those important additions to your vocabulary to memory.
SAT Word: «Despot: n. A tyrant.»
«Mrs. Harrold is such a despot sometimes!» David complained in regards to his new seating arrangements.
«SAT Word BAM!!!» Travis declared upon hearing the term. Soon after, a loud sea of proclamations sounded through the classroom ending in a bout of laughter due to the little competition.
Get the SAT Word BAM! mug.
What is SAT word?
It is a fun game to play in any English class in school. Especially when you are learning and studying SAT words!
Basically, once you have learned the word, any time you see/hear the word used in everyday speech, novels, movies, etc., you must shout «SAT Word BAM!» first.
It makes for an intriguing competition amongst your peers and also helps to commit those important additions to your vocabulary to memory.
SAT Word: «Despot: n. A tyrant.»
«Mrs. Harrold is such a despot sometimes!» David complained in regards to his new seating arrangements.
«SAT Word BAM!!!» Travis declared upon hearing the term. Soon after, a loud sea of proclamations sounded through the classroom ending in a bout of laughter due to the little competition.
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SAT word — video
SAT word — what is it?
made up words that highschool student have to know for the SAT test to sound smart because possibly important people created these words
Haley: Wanna go do something worthwhile?
Jane: Sorry girlie, I have to study my SAT words.
Haley: Who’s to say they’re «smart» words? Language was made up by mankind, so these words are made up.
Jane: Colleges clearly care about this superficial stuff.
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What does «SAT word» mean?
A commonplace word that occasions exclamations of «Ooh, SAT word!» when employed in normal discourse. Incidentally, those who use this moniker happen to not read enough books, not even pulp not conducive to formal education.
discourse
incidentally
moniker
conducivewords, not ‘SAT words.’
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SAT word — what does it mean?
needlessly ‘big’ word very rarely used in the english language except in cases where you say ‘sat word’ right after it
«Oh lord you are gregarious little one.»
«HAH SAT WORD!!11»
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SAT word — meaning
N. Used sarcastically. An unnecessarily complicated word stuck in a sentence, in the manner of the SAT.
A:»Dude, you are a minuscule threat.»
B:»(sarcastically) Wow, SAT word!»
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Получить 1500 слов для экзаменов
GMAT, GRE, SAT, ACT, SSAT
Посмотреть список слов
В заданиях экзаменов SAT и ACT встречаются незнакомые слова, которые усложняют понимание текста или вопросов. Не зная значение проверяемых слов, выбрать правильный ответ практически невозможно. Не секрет, что даже носители языка специально учат редкие слова при подготовке к образовательным экзаменам. Мы предлагаем вам уникальный ресурс — список 1500 слов, знание которых поможет вам лучше подготовиться к экзаменам.
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Повысьте ваши шансы сдать экзамен на высокий балл за счет хорошего знания продвинутой академической лексики
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Не тратьте время на поиск нужных слов в разных учебниках и словарях — мы проделали эту работу за вас!
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Узнайте произношение слова, его значение и перевод — наш список содержит всю нужную информацию
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Не отвлекайтесь на слова, которые имеют аналоги в русском языке — в этом списке их нет!
Пример из экзамена SAT
The author’s attitude toward pharming is best described as one of
(A) apprehension
(B) ambivalence
(C) appreciation
(D) astonishment
(The Official SAT Study Book, page 638)
Vocabulary List
Как учить новые слова?
Традиционный способ заучивания слов – зубрежка – малоэффективен. Мы предлагаем другой подход, основанный на методе ассоциативного запоминания. При таком подходе вы представляете ситуацию с новым словом, стоите ассоциацию. Для того, чтобы добиться этого эффекта, предлагаем вам запоминать не отдельное слово, а фразу из двух слов. Например, слово venom (яд) гораздо легче запомнить в фразе deadly venom (смертельный яд). Узнайте подробнее о том, как работает эта методика.
Нужные слова для экзаменов в одном списке
Получите один компактный удобный список нужных слов, а не несколько дорогих и громоздких учебников. Наш список составлен на основе лучших учебных пособий ведущих американских издательств (Kaplan, Barrons, Princeton Review, Manhattan Prep)
Зачем смотреть каждое слово в словаре? Теперь самые нужные слова для подготовки к экзаменам вместе с транскрипцией, значением на английском языке и переводом на русский язык.
В нашем списке только действительно редкие и нужные слова для подготовки к экзаменам. Мы внимательно отсортировали список, удалив из него те слова, которые имеют аналоги в русском языке. Наш уникальный список специально адаптирован для русскоязычных студентов.
Список 1500 слов можно использовать вместе с методикой развития лексики, разработанной в TestVerbal. Знание редких слов даст вам уверенности на экзамене. Многие задания SAT и ACT содержат сложную лексику. Подготовьтесь к экзамену с сдайте его на высокий балл!