Core SAT Vocabulary Words (50+)
Strong vocabulary supports both the Reading and Writing & Language sections of the SAT. The list below focuses on high‑yield words students often meet in passages and answer choices. For each entry you’ll see:
- the word sense (a quick essence),
- a simple definition,
- a natural example sentence,
- and a one‑question practice check.
aberration
Example: The test results were an aberration compared to her usual performance.
What does 'aberration' mean?
abhor
Example: She abhors any form of animal cruelty.
To 'abhor' something is to:
acumen
Example: His political acumen was evident during the debate.
What does 'acumen' mean?
adamant
Example: She was adamant about her decision to study abroad.
If someone is adamant, they are:
alacrity
Example: He accepted the scholarship with alacrity.
What best defines 'alacrity'?
alleviate
Example: Meditation can alleviate stress and anxiety.
What does 'alleviate' mean?
ambiguous
Example: The instructions were ambiguous and confusing.
An ambiguous statement is:
ambivalent
Example: He felt ambivalent about moving to a new city.
What does 'ambivalent' mean?
amenable
Example: She was amenable to the idea of a compromise.
If someone is 'amenable', they are:
anomaly
Example: His calm behavior during the storm was an anomaly.
What does 'anomaly' mean?
antipathy
Example: There was clear antipathy between the two candidates.
What is 'antipathy'?
arduous
Example: Climbing the mountain was an arduous task.
What does 'arduous' mean?
assiduous
Example: Her assiduous research impressed the committee.
An assiduous student is:
astute
Example: He is an astute observer of human behavior.
What does 'astute' mean?
austere
Example: The teacher's austere expression silenced the class.
An austere person is:
avarice
Example: His avarice led him to exploit his workers.
What does 'avarice' mean?
belligerent
Example: The belligerent tone of his speech alarmed the audience.
A belligerent person is:
benevolent
Example: The benevolent donor funded scholarships for students.
What does 'benevolent' mean?
boisterous
Example: The boisterous crowd cheered loudly for the team.
What best describes 'boisterous'?
bolster
Example: Her evidence bolstered his argument.
To 'bolster' something is to:
cajole
Example: She managed to cajole him into attending the event.
To 'cajole' someone is to:
candor
Example: His candor during the interview impressed the panel.
What does 'candor' mean?
capitulate
Example: The army capitulated after months of siege.
To 'capitulate' means to:
caustic
Example: Her caustic remarks hurt his confidence.
A 'caustic' comment is:
chicanery
Example: He used political chicanery to win support.
What does 'chicanery' mean?
coerce
Example: The rebels coerced villagers into supporting them.
To 'coerce' someone is to:
cogent
Example: She made a cogent argument for policy reform.
What does 'cogent' mean?
commensurate
Example: Salary should be commensurate with experience.
What does 'commensurate' mean?
compelling
Example: The documentary presented a compelling story.
What does 'compelling' mean?
concur
Example: The judges concurred with the verdict.
To 'concur' means to:
condone
Example: The school cannot condone bullying.
What does 'condone' mean?
conspicuous
Example: She wore a conspicuous red dress.
Something conspicuous is:
contrite
Example: He looked contrite after his mistake.
A contrite person is:
conundrum
Example: Choosing a career path can be a conundrum.
What does 'conundrum' mean?
convivial
Example: The party had a convivial atmosphere.
A convivial gathering is:
copious
Example: She took copious notes during the lecture.
What does 'copious' mean?
credulous
Example: The credulous tourist fell for the scam.
A credulous person is:
cursory
Example: He gave the document only a cursory glance.
What does 'cursory' mean?
daunting
Example: Starting college in a new country can be daunting.
What does 'daunting' mean?
dearth
Example: There was a dearth of skilled workers in the region.
A 'dearth' of something means:
debacle
Example: The product launch was a complete debacle.
What does 'debacle' mean?
debilitate
Example: The illness debilitated him for weeks.
To 'debilitate' means to:
decorum
Example: He showed great decorum at the formal dinner.
What does 'decorum' mean?
deleterious
Example: Smoking has deleterious effects on health.
What does 'deleterious' mean?
delineate
Example: The contract delineates the responsibilities of each party.
To 'delineate' means to:
demagogue
Example: The demagogue stirred the crowd with emotional speeches.
A 'demagogue' is:
denounce
Example: They denounced the policy as unjust.
To 'denounce' something is to:
deride
Example: The critic derided the play as amateurish.
To 'deride' someone means to:
desecrate
Example: The vandals desecrated the church.
What does 'desecrate' mean?
despot
Example: The country was ruled by a ruthless despot.
A 'despot' is a:
FAQ
Quick answers to common questions.