S.A.T. Vocabulary

• This document contains vocabulary words commonly found on the SAT.
• Each word is followed by its definition and/or synonyms to aid in understanding.

S.A.T. Vocabulary 1

• Abstract: Theoretical, based on beliefs or emotions rather than concrete concepts.
• Anarchy: A state of chaos due to the absence of government.
• Arrogant: Displaying a sense of superiority.
• Atrophy: The wasting away of muscle tissue.
• Banal: Common, dull, and boring.
• Censure: To criticize severely or assign blame.
• Condone: To forgive or imply acceptance of something.
• Digress: To stray from the main subject.
• Engender: To produce or create.
• Enigma: A mystery or puzzle.
• Gullible: Easily deceived.
• Fickle: Unpredictable and prone to changing allegiances.
• Inevitable: Unavoidable and certain to happen.
• Marred: Damaged or bruised.
• Pedestrian: Lacking inspiration or excitement; also refers to someone on foot.
• Prodigal: Extravagant and wasteful.
• Relegate: To demote or assign to a lower position.
• Reticent: Quiet and reluctant to speak.
• Slander: To defame someone through untrue statements.
• Sycophant: A servile flatterer or "boot licker".

S.A.T. Vocabulary 2

• Ambiguous: Having multiple possible meanings.
• Articulate: Able to speak clearly and effectively.
• Biased: Prejudiced and favoring one side.
• Conciliate: To soothe or resolve a dispute.
• Depravity: Moral corruption.
• Dogmatic: Stubbornly opinionated.
• Emulate: To copy or model oneself after someone admired.
• Expository: Explanatory; intended to explain.
• Fallacious: False or untrue.
• Guile: Deceit or trickery.
• Inadvertent: Unintentional.
• Languid: Slow and lazy.
• Orthodox: Traditional and commonly accepted.
• Prodigious: Very large or impressive.
• Reprove: To scold or find fault with.
• Revere: To worship or deeply respect.
• Stoic: Indifferent to pain or pleasure; showing no emotion.
• Unprecedented: Never having occurred before.
• Virulent: Very harmful or infectious.
• Preclude: To prevent or make impossible.

S.A.T. Vocabulary 3

• Acquiesce: To give in or agree passively.
• Ameliorate: To improve or make better.
• Avarice: Greed.
• Bolster: To support or strengthen.
• Condescend: To talk down to someone.
• Cursory: Hasty and not thorough.
• Disdain: Contempt.
• Embellish: To add details or exaggerate.
• Euphony: Pleasant sounds.
• Expedite: To speed up or make more efficient.
• Fracas: A noisy disturbance or brawl.
• Heresy: Beliefs that contradict religious or traditional values.
• Hypothetical: Based on a situation that does not exist.
• Impartial: Fair, neutral, and unbiased.
• Indulge: To pamper or spoil.
• Innocuous: Harmless.
• Lax: Careless or negligent.
• Lethargic: Tired and sluggish.
• Monotonous: Boring and dull.
• Ostentatious: Showy and pretentious.

S.A.T. Vocabulary 4

• Benevolent: Kind, good-hearted, and generous.
• Complacent: Self-satisfied and confident of success.
• Deference: Respect and submission.
• Elusive: Difficult to catch or understand.
• Esoteric: Understood by a select few with specialized knowledge.
• Fastidious: Fussy about details and overly critical.
• Frivolous: Silly and lacking seriousness.
• Incongruous: Out of place or not fitting.
• Jeopardy: Danger.
• Lucid: Clear and easily understood.
• Oblivious: Unaware.
• Profligate: Wildly extravagant and wasteful.
• Provincial: Narrow-minded and old-fashioned.
• Rescind: To take back or repeal.
• Pious: Devout and deeply religious.
• Pretentious: Pompous and self-important.
• Prolific: Abundantly fruitful or productive.
• Redundant: Unnecessarily repetitive.
• Reprehensible: Shameful and disgusting.
• Respite: A break or pause.

S.A.T. Vocabulary 5

• Advocate: To support or speak in favor of.
• Ambivalent: Undecided or having mixed feelings.
• Apathy: Lack of emotion or concern.
• Benefactor: A generous donor.
• Caricature: A cartoon-like representation exaggerating personal characteristics.
• Contentious: Quarrelsome and difficult.
• Discriminate: To distinguish between two things.
• Eccentric: Odd or unusual.
• Extol: To praise highly.
• Fervor: Passion.
• Hypocritical: Insincere; saying one thing but doing another.
• Indifferent: Uncaring.
• Intangible: Abstract and cannot be touched.
• Laud: To praise.
• Mitigate: To make less severe.
• Peripheral: On the edge or not central.
• Precarious: Dangerously unstable.
• Remorse: Sadness and regret.
• Solicit: To ask for help or aid.
• Tyranny: Unfair rule by one in power.