SAT Word Roots Matching Quiz

Word Roots and SAT Vocabulary

• Ab-: away

  • abrogate: deny, repeal
  • abstain: do away with

• Ambi-: both

  • ambidextrous: able to use both hands
  • ambivalent: undecided, could go both ways

• Ambul-: move or walk

  • ambulate: walk around
  • somnambulate: walk while sleeping

• Ami-: love

  • amiable: pleasant and friendly
  • amicable: done in a friendly way
  • amity: friendship

• Contra-: against

  • contradict: claim the opposite of another statement
  • contraposition: opposition

• Cred-: believe

  • credible: believable
  • credulous: overly eager to believe, gullible
  • incredulous: unwilling to believe

• Crypt-: hidden

  • cryptic: having a mysterious meaning
  • decrypt: decode a secret message
  • encrypt: convert into a secret code

• Cycl-: circle or ring

  • cycloid: circular
  • cyclone: circular storm
  • cyclotron: circular machine to accelerate particles

• Dem-: people

  • demagogue: leader appealing to popular prejudice
  • democracy: government elected by the people
  • demography: study of human population

• Derm-: skin

  • dermatology: branch of medicine for skin treatment
  • hypodermic: related to parts beneath the skin
  • intradermal: between layers of skin

• Dict-: speak

  • edict: order from an authority
  • indict: formally accuse of a crime
  • malediction: a curse

• Domin-: master

  • dominant: most powerful
  • domineering: controlling and overbearing
  • dominion: area of control

• Dur-: hard

  • durable: able to withstand damage
  • endurance: capacity to last
  • obdurate: stubborn

• Ego-: I, self

  • alter ego: second version of oneself
  • egomaniacal: obsessed with oneself
  • egotistical: self-centered

• Esth-: feeling

  • aesthetic: associated with beauty
  • anesthetic: reducing painful sensations

• Extra-: outside

  • extralegal: outside of the law
  • extraneous: outside of what is needed
  • extrapolate: to predict based on past data

• Fid-: faith

  • confidant: a person you trust
  • fidelity: being faithful/loyal
  • perfidy: faithless/ disloyal

• Flect/Flex-: bend

  • deflect: to divert something
  • genuflect: bend the knee to show respect
  • inflection: tone variation in speech

• Flor-: flower

  • efflorescence: blossoming
  • florid: flowery

• Fract/Frag-: break

  • fracture: to break
  • fragile: breakable
  • refract: to alter waves/light

• Fug-: run away

  • fugitive: running away
  • refugee: forced to leave home
  • subterfuge: evasion, deceit

• Gen-: birth, production

  • genesis: creation
  • genteel: well-bred, refined
  • progeny: descendants

• Gram-: something written

  • epigram: witty saying
  • monogram: decorative design of letters
  • phonogram: symbol representing spoken sound

• Graph-: to write

  • bibliography: list of sources
  • cosmography: description of the universe
  • typography: style of printed material

• Grat-: pleasing

  • gratify: to give satisfaction
  • gratuitous: done freely, often unwarranted
  • ingratiate: to gain favor by helping

• Gress-: to step, to go

  • digress: go away from the main topic
  • egress: exit
  • transgress: violate a law

• Hetero-: different

  • heterodox: nonconformist
  • heterogeneous: diverse
  • heteromorphic: having different forms

• Homo-: same

  • homogeneous: of the same type
  • homologous: similar, biologically
  • homophone: same pronunciation, different meanings

• Idio-: peculiar, distinct

  • idiom: distinct expression
  • idiosyncrasy: peculiar characteristic

• Judi-: judge, lawyer

  • adjudicate: to make a judgment
  • judicial: concerning justice
  • judicious: possessing sound judgment

• Ling-: language

  • linguist: person who studies languages
  • linguistics: study of languages

• Loqu-: speak

  • colloquial: used in informal conversation
  • eloquent: able to express oneself well
  • loquacious: talkative

• Magn-: large, great

  • magnanimous: greatly noble in spirit
  • magnate: greatly influential person
  • magnitude: greatness, size

• Mal-: bad

  • malcontent: difficult person
  • malevolent: showing evil intent
  • malign: evil

• Mut-: change

  • immutable: unchangeable
  • permutation: change in arrangement
  • transmute: change in form

• Ob-: against

  • obdurate: stubborn
  • obtrusive: unpleasantly noticeable

• Phil-: love

  • philanthropist: loves helping others
  • philosophy: study of knowledge/way of thinking
  • technophile: loves advanced technology

• Plac-: calm

  • complacent: unconcerned, self-satisfied
  • placate: make someone less angry
  • placid: calm, peaceful

• Re-: back, again

  • relegate: downgrade, lower
  • remunerate: pay back for services
  • renege: go back on a promise

• Sagac-: wise

  • sagacious: having wisdom, good judgment
  • sagacity: wisdom

• Sang-: blood

  • sanguinary: bloody or bloodthirsty
  • sanguine: cheerful and optimistic

• Sequ-: follow

  • consequently: as a result
  • obsequious: excessively obedient
  • subsequent: following in time

• Somn-: sleep

  • insomnia: inability to sleep
  • somnambulate: sleepwalk
  • somnolent: sleepy

• Tac/Tic-: be silent

  • reticent: reluctant to speak
  • tacit: unspoken
  • taciturn: uncommunicative

• Troph-: feed, grow

  • autotroph: organism makes its own food
  • heterotroph: organism obtains food from outside

• Ultim-: last

  • penultimate: second to last
  • ultimate: last
  • ultimatum: final demand

• Vener-: respectful

  • venerable: worthy of respect
  • venerate: to show respect
  • veneration: great respect

• Vit-: life

  • vitality: life force, energy

• Voc-: voice

  • advocate: voice support
  • invocation: summoning divine help
  • vociferous: loudly/repeatedly expressive

• Vol-: fly, wish

  • benevolent: wishing kindness
  • volition: ability to choose
  • voluntary: freely chosen

Test your knowledge of SAT vocabulary by matching words with their corresponding roots and definitions. This quiz will help reinforce your understanding of etymology and enhance your vocabulary skills for the SAT. Perfect for students preparing for SAT exams or anyone looking to improve their language proficiency.