.svg)
It is normal enough for students to think of vocabulary when they hear SAT. So the question is, how essential are SAT vocab words for doing well on the test? If you plan for a high score, you will surely want to allocate more time for learning key SAT words.
This guide gives you a complete list of the most important and common SAT vocabulary words.
In , the SAT received a severe redesign, and after that, the vocabulary has become a far less critical part of the test. This all happened because fewer vocabulary questions on the current SAT compare to those on the old SAT. This does not matter if you are targeting a high or a perfect score. Learning SAT vocab words is only going to benefit you.
All SAT vocab words we have mentioned are about the medium difficulty and are tested in the context of reading passages.
Context clues make remembering SAT vocab words less critical on the current SAT than on the old SAT. Earlier, you had to memorize several mysterious words and answer questions that dealt with isolated sentences, also known as “Sentence Completion problems.” This all made vocab questions hard since you were given minimal context to solve them.
Have a look at the Official SAT Practice Test see vocab questions on Writing and Language
Our team has dug through the official SAT practice test to compile the list. We look into the Reading and Writing sections, not just the questions but also the answer choices and passages. We have also mentioned SAT words from other online vocab lists.
However, it is difficult to memorize all the words mentioned below. Still, you can get familiar with most of the terms, which will help you better identify the tones of passages and make you effective at answering questions correctly on SAT Reading and Writing.
Our list includes words that are important and quite difficult in SAT Reading and Writing.
of the most shameful kind
a state or condition markedly different from the norm
formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief
the denial and rejection of a doctrine or belief
revoke formally
run away, often taking something or somebody along
difficult to understand
yield to another's wish or opinion
approach and speak to someone aggressively or insistently
an increase by natural growth or addition
shrewdness showed by keen insight
impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, or reason
scold or reprimand; take to task
describe roughly or give the main points or summary of
in an opposing direction
a person who pleads for a person, cause, or idea
having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
embellish; increase the scope, power, or importance of
liveliness and eagerness
a name that has been assumed temporarily
uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow
disposed or willing to comply
having no definite form or distinct shape
chronologically misplaced
a formal ecclesiastical curse accompanied by ex-communication
attach to
of or relating to the period before the biblical flood
thoroughly clean and free of disease-causing organisms
showing little or no emotion or animation
exact opposite
being of questionable authenticity
official acceptance or agreement.
based on or subject to individual discretion or preference
of or relating to or formed by trees
requiring secret or mysterious knowledge
of an original type after which other things are patterned
seize and take control without authority
someone who practices self-denial as a spiritual discipline
a disparaging remark
marked by care and persistent effort
a decrease in size of an organ caused by disease or disuse
something causing misery or death
self-consciously timid
influence by slyness
lacking or deprived of something
flattery intended to persuade
cheat somebody out of what is due, especially money
ostentatiously lofty in style
influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
emotionally hardened
a false accusation of an offense
the quality of affording comfortable familiarity and sociability
the quality of being honest and straightforward
engage in boisterous, drunken merrymaking
any of various freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae
meet to select a candidate or promote a policy
play boisterously.
an indirect way of expressing something
draw a geometric figure around another figure
surround so as to force to give up
utter or proclaim insistently and noisily
separate or cut with a tool, such as a sharp instrument
a person who makes or repairs shoes
powerfully persuasive
having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization
corresponding in size or degree, or extent
something added to embellish or make perfect
a feeling of deep regret, usually for some misdeed
following or accompanying as a consequence
a passage through which water or electric wires can pass
a very intense and uncontrolled fire
the quality of agreeing; being suitable and appropriate
form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner
give over to another for care or safekeeping
one of the individual parts making up a composite entity
make sense of; assign a meaning to
an injury in which the skin is not broken
feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses
showing an inclination to disagree
go against, as of rules and laws
occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company
the property of excessive fatness
wish, long, or crave for
extreme greed for material wealth
an insufficient quantity or number
a sudden and complete disaster
a wild gathering involving excessive drinking
expose while ridiculing
no longer in force or use; inactive
a leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions
attack the good name and reputation of someone
a compound obtained from another compound
a cruel and oppressive dictator
so thin as to transmit light
instructive, especially excessively
a song or hymn of mourning as a memorial to a dead person
discontented as toward authority
cause to lose one's composure
fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind
cause to separate and go in different directions
the state of being held in low esteem
causing or characterized by disagreement or disunity
pertaining to a code of beliefs accepted as authoritative
showing a brooding ill humor
the act of deceiving or acting in bad faith
compulsory force or threat
selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas
a formal or authoritative proclamation
joyously unrestrained
conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
a mournful poem; a lament for the dead
call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
the fraudulent appropriation of funds or property
make corrections to
a substance with a soothing effect when applied to the skin
derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
strive to equal or match, especially by imitating
weaken physically, mentally, or morally
grant freedom to, as from slavery or servitude
call forth
anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day
written in the form of letters or correspondence
steadiness of mind under stress
open to two or more interpretations
choose and follow a theory, idea, policy, etc.
short-lived; tending to vanish or disappear
give expression to
make worse
spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts
unequivocally detestable
demanding immediate attention
appropriate to a purpose
make amends for
remove by erasing or crossing out or as if by drawing a line
not belonging to that in which it is contained
praise, glorify, or honor
still in existence; not extinct or destroyed or lost
edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
containing or based on incorrect reasoning
devoid of intelligence
a shackle for the ankles or feet
conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
lucky; occurring by happy chance
easily irritated or annoyed
full of trivial conversation
a person who is devoted to eating and drinking to excess
lofty in style
unnecessary and unwarranted
unfortunate and deserving pity
the dominance or leadership of one social group over others
consisting of elements that are not of the same kind
someone who attacks cherished ideas or institutions
peculiar to the individual
not having enough money to pay for necessities
characterized by undue haste and lack of thought
infringe upon
attribute or credit to
devoid of intelligence
only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
impossible to deny or disprove
necessary as a duty or responsibility; morally binding
impossible to prevent, resist, or stop
not friendly
a judicial remedy to prohibit a party from doing something
inject or treat with the germ of a disease to render immune
working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way
provoke or stir up
in opposition to a civil authority or government
a person who takes part in a conversation
a slight suggestion or vague understanding
cause to accept or become hardened to
abusive language used to express blame or censure
impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, or reason
Habitual
a mental attitude showing lack of due respect
the sound of a bell rung slowly to announce a death
brief and to the point
liberality in bestowing gifts
an illusory feat
an advocate of freedom of thought and speech
lacking moral discipline
a central cohesive source of support and stability
a party to a lawsuit
a powerful circular current of water
effusively or insincerely emotional
someone who exhibits independence in thought and action
effusively or insincerely emotional
a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits
given to lying
a small or moderate or token amount
a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot
the conventions embodying the fundamental values of a group
very generous
having many aspects
the lowest point of anything
characterized by undue lack of attention or concern
any new participant in some activity
offensively malodorous
injurious to physical or mental health
stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing
make obscure or unclear
noisily and stubbornly defiant
intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
burdensome or difficult to endure
appearing as such but not necessarily so
the act of excluding someone from society by general consent
lessen or to try to reduce the seriousness or extent of
hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases
a standard or typical example
a person who is rejected from society or home
a fervent and even militant proponent of something
an insufficient quantity or number
expressing disapproval
transparently clear; easily understandable
a strong liking
excessively unwilling to spend
characterized by a lightly saucy or impudent quality
exceedingly harmful
stubbornly unyielding
showing little emotion
of or relating to charitable giving
concise and full of meaning
a trite or obvious remark
enthusiastic approval
a full supply
extreme excess
a sign of something about to happen
a powerful ruler, especially one who is unconstrained by law
make impossible, especially beforehand
a predisposition in favor of something
exceeding in heaviness; having greater weight
a foreboding about what is about to happen
complete and confirmed integrity
a natural inclination
unrestrained by convention or morality
state or announce
command against
taking on different forms
characterized by lust
displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity
ready and able to resort to force or violence
physical beauty, especially of a woman
marked by precise accordance with details
attractively old-fashioned
not sensible about practical matters
state of uncertainty in a choice between unfavorable options
stubbornly resistant to authority or control
inspiring fear
assign to a lower position
failing in what duty requires
postpone the punishment of a convicted criminal
a person without moral scruples
cancel officially
an authoritative demand
excessively abundant
excessively or hypocritically pious
confidently optimistic and cheerful
expressing offensive, insulting, or scandalous criticism
an apparatus for visual signaling
good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries
the state of being unaffected or not intoxicated by alcohol
full of anxiety and concern
the philosophical theory that the self is all that exists
plausible but false
characterized by dignity and propriety
having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
make subservient; force to submit or subdue
indulge (one's appetite) to satiety
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
naturally having the skin of a dark color
of superficial relevance, if any
an extensive and scholarly book
a person who tries to please someone to gain an advantage
in a condition of biological rest or suspended animation
a composition that imitates or misrepresents a style
having keenness and forcefulness and penetration in thought
repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
defiantly aggressive
a corrupt or depraved or degenerate act or practice
being present everywhere at once
a feeling of anger caused by being offended
express criticism towards
having a useful function
unwillingness to tell lies
an indication that something has been present
a variation in circumstances or fortune
spread negative information about
someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
harsh, bitter, or malicious in tone
spread negative information about
conspicuously and offensively loud
a lewd or immoral person
charming in a childlike or naive way
join with stable gear, as two draft animals
a slight wind
marked by skill in deception
a speech of violent denunciation
You have got your long list of the words, now what is the best way to study them.
The best way to study SAT vocab words is to use flashcards; with this, you can control which SAT words you study and even randomizes them not accidentally to memorize words in a predetermined order.
We also suggest using the waterfall method to study your flashcards. With this technique, you will get to easily 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.
We recommend making your flashcards, and you can also buy pre-made ones. We suggest buying Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know, a series of exercises to master keywords and idioms, or Manhattan's GRE flashcards if you are looking for a challenge.
If you do not want to study the whole list and only want to focus on the SAT words you do not know, you can prepare your vocab list.
So if you know a word on test day, skip it and instead focus on the info you have the most trouble remembering. After creating your list, use the waterfall method to study it.
After you have studied all SAT words, you can put your knowledge to the test by taking an Official SAT practice test. This will help you know the meanings of the words and whether you can get the right answers in the context of a full-length real SAT.
You will indeed have some questions on both the Reading and Writing sections that will test your knowledge of SAT words, so it is crucial to study those most likely to appear on test day.
The perfect way to study SAT vocabulary is to make flashcards and use the waterfall method.
The vast list of words we have mentioned above comes from official SAT practice tests, so you are guaranteed to come across them in some form. Regardless of how you set to study SAT vocab words, be sure to test out what you have learned in the situation of full-length practice tests.
Take a look at AP Guru’s Free SAT Training.
If you like our article, then you will surely love AP Guru’s Flagship SAT Prep Program
The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!
Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.
