Notesale: Turn your study into money

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The 1000 Most
Common SAT
Words
A
abase (v
...
)
abate (v
...
)

abduct (v
...
)
aberration (n
...
)
abet (v
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

abdicate (v
...
)

A
abhor (v
...
)
abide 1
...
) to put up with (Though he did not agree with the decision, Chuck decided
to abide by it
...
(v
...
)
abject (adj
...
)
abjure (v
...
)
abnegation (n
...
)
abort (v
...
)
abridge 1
...
) to cut down, shorten (The publisher thought the dictionary was too long
and abridged it
...
(adj
...
)
abrogate (v
...
)
abscond (v
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

absolution (n
...
)
abstain (v
...
)
abstruse (adj
...
)
accede (v
...
)
accentuate (v
...
)

A
accessible (adj
...
)
acclaim (n
...
)
accolade (n
...
)
accommodating (adj
...
)
accord (n
...
)
accost (v
...
)
accretion (n
...
)
acerbic (adj
...
)
acquiesce (v
...
Correlli wanted to stay outside
and work in his garage, when his wife told him that he had better come in to dinner,
he acquiesced to her demands
...
) keen insight (Because of his mathematical acumen, Larry was able to figure
out in minutes problems that took other students hours
...
(adj
...
) 2
...
) having keen insight (Because she was so acute, Libby instantly
figured out how the magician pulled off his “magic
...
) impervious, immovable, unyielding (Though public pressure was
intense, the President remained adamant about his proposal
...
) extremely skilled (Tarzan was adept at jumping from tree to tree like a
monkey
...
) bitterness, discord (Though they vowed that no girl would ever come
between them, Biff and Trevor could not keep acrimony from overwhelming their
friendship after they both fell in love with the lovely Teresa
...
(n
...
) 2
...
)
to follow devoutly (He adhered to the dictates of his religion without question
...
) to caution, criticize, reprove (Joe’s mother admonished him not to ruin
his appetite by eating cookies before dinner
...
) to decorate (We adorned the tree with ornaments
...
) skillful, dexterous (The adroit thief could pick someone’s pocket without
attracting notice
...
) extreme praise (Though the book was pretty good, Marcy did not believe
it deserved the adulation it received
...
) to sketch out in a vague way (The coach adumbrated a game plan, but
none of the players knew precisely what to do
...
) antagonistic, unfavorable, dangerous (Because of adverse conditions, the
hikers decided to give up trying to climb the mountain
...
(v
...
) 2
...
) a person
who argues in favor of something (In addition to wanting to turn left at every stop
sign, Arnold was also a great advocate of increasing national defense spending
...
) somehow related to the air (We watched as the fighter planes conducted
aerial maneuvers
...
) artistic, related to the appreciation of beauty (We hired Susan as our
interior decorator because she has such a fine aesthetic sense
...
) friendly, amiable (People like to be around George because he is so affable
and good-natured
...
)a spontaneous feeling of closeness (Jerry didn’t know why, but he felt an
incredible affinity for Kramer the first time they met
...
) rich, wealthy (Mrs
...
)
affront (n
...
)
aggrandize (v
...
)

A
aggregate 1
...
) a whole or total (The three branches of the U
...
Government form an
aggregate much more powerful than its individual parts
...
(v
...
)
aggrieved (adj
...
)
agile (adj
...
)
agnostic (adj
...
)
agriculture (n
...
)
aisle (n
...
)
alacrity (n
...
)
alias (n
...
)
allay (v
...
)

alleviate (v
...
)
allocate (v
...
)
aloof (adj
...
)
altercation (n
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

allege (v
...
)

A
amalgamate (v
...
)
ambiguous (adj
...
His actual
reasons are ambiguous
...
) having opposing feelings (My feelings about Calvin are ambivalent
because on one hand he is a loyal friend, but on the other, he is a cruel and vicious
thief
...
) to improve (The tense situation was ameliorated when Sam proposed a
solution everyone could agree upon
...
) willing, compliant (Our father was amenable when we asked him to
drive us to the farm so we could go apple picking
...
) an item that increases comfort (Bill Gates’s house is stocked with so many
amenities, he never has to do anything for himself
...
) friendly (An amiable fellow, Harry got along with just about everyone
...
) friendly (Claudia and Jimmy got divorced, but amicably and without
hard feelings
...
) showing love, particularly sexual (Whenever Albert saw Mariah wear
her slinky red dress, he began to feel quite amorous
...
) without definite shape or type (The effort was doomed from the start,
because the reasons behind it were so amorphous and hard to pin down
...
) being out of correct chronological order (In this book you’re
writing, you say that the Pyramids were built after the Titanic sank, which is
anachronistic
...
) something that reduces pain (Put this analgesic on the wound so that the
poor man at least feels a little better
...
) similar to, so that an analogy can be drawn (Though they are unrelated
genetically, the bone structure of whales and fish is quite analogous
...
) one who wants to eliminate all government (An anarchist, Carmine
wanted to dissolve every government everywhere
...
) a cursed, detested person (I never want to see that murderer
...
)

A
anecdote (n
...
)
anesthesia (n
...

Hollins suffered anesthesia in his legs
...
) extreme sadness, torment (Angelos suffered terrible anguish when he
learned that Buffy had died while combating a strange mystical force of evil
...
) lively (When he begins to talk about drama, which is his true passion, he
becomes very animated
...
(v
...
) 2
...
) a room attached to a larger room or space (He
likes to do his studying in a little annex attached to the main reading room in the
library
...
) to make void or invalid (After seeing its unforeseen and catastrophic effects,
Congress sought to annul the law
...
) something that does not fit into the normal order (“That rip in the spacetime continuum is certainly a spatial anomaly,” said Spock to Captain Kirk
...
) being unknown, unrecognized (Mary received a love poem from an
anonymous admirer
...
) hostility (Superman and Bizarro Superman shared a mutual
antagonism, and often fought
...
) something that came before (The great tradition of Western culture had
its antecedent in the culture of Ancient Greece
...
) a selected collection of writings, songs, etc
...
)
antipathy (n
...
)
antiquated (adj
...
)
antiseptic (adj
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

antediluvian (adj
...
)

A
antithesis (n
...
)
anxiety (n
...
)
apathetic (adj
...
)
apocryphal (adj
...
)
appalling (adj
...
)
appease (v
...
)
appraise (v
...
)
apprehend 1
...
) to seize, arrest (The criminal was apprehended at the scene
...
(v
...
)
approbation (n
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

appropriate (v
...
)
aquatic (adj
...
)
arable (adj
...
)
arbiter (n
...
)
arbitrary (adj
...
)
arbitration (n
...
)
arboreal (adj
...
)

A
arcane (adj
...
)
archaic (adj
...
)
archetypal (adj
...
)
ardor (n
...
)
arid (adj
...
)
arrogate (v
...
)
artifact (n
...
)
artisan (n
...
)
ascertain (v
...
)
ascetic (adj
...
)
ascribe (v
...
)

aspire (v
...
)
assail (v
...
)
assess (v
...
)
assiduous (adj
...
)
assuage (v
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

aspersion (n
...
)

A
astute (adj
...
)
asylum 1
...
) a place of refuge, protection, a sanctuary (For Thoreau, the forest served
as an asylum from the pressures of urban life
...
(n
...
)
atone (v
...
)
atrophy (v
...
)
attain (v
...
)
attribute 1
...
) to credit, assign (He attributes all of his success to his mother’s undying
encouragement
...
(n
...
)
atypical (adj
...
)
audacious (adj
...
)
audible (adj
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

augment (v
...
)
auspicious (adj
...
)
austere (adj
...
)
avarice (n
...
)
avenge (v
...
)
aversion (n
...
)

B

B
balk (v
...
)
ballad (n
...
)
banal (adj
...
)
bane (n
...
)
bard (n
...
)
bashful (adj
...
)
battery 1
...
) a device that supplies power (Most cars run on a combination of power
from a battery and gasoline
...
(n
...
)
beguile (v
...
)
behemoth (n
...
)
benevolent (adj
...
)

bequeath (v
...
)
berate (v
...
)
bereft (adj
...
)
beseech (v
...
)
bias (n
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

benign (adj
...
)

C
bilk (v
...
)
blandish (v
...
)
blemish (n
...
)
blight 1
...
) a plague, disease (The potato blight destroyed the harvest and bankrupted
many families
...
(n
...
)
boisterous (adj
...
)
bombastic (adj
...
)
boon (n
...
)
bourgeois (n
...
)
brazen (adj
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

brusque (adj
...
)
buffet 1
...
) to strike with force (The strong winds buffeted the ships, threatening to
capsize them
...
(n
...
)
burnish (v
...
)
buttress 1
...
) to support, hold up (The column buttresses the roof above the statue
...

(n
...
)

C
cacophony (n
...
)

C
cadence (n
...
)
cajole (v
...
)
calamity (n
...
)
calibrate (v
...
)
callous (adj
...
)
calumny (n
...
)
camaraderie (n
...
)
candor (n
...
)
canny (adj
...
)
canvas 1
...
) a piece of cloth on which an artist paints (Picasso liked to work on canvas
rather than on bare cement
...
(v
...
)
capacious (adj
...
)

capricious (adj
...
)
captivate (v
...
)
carouse (v
...
)
carp (v
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

capitulate (v
...
)

C
catalog 1
...
) to list, enter into a list (The judge cataloged the victim’s injuries before
calculating how much money he would award
...
(n
...
Crew that displayed all of their new items
...
) to charge, inspire (The president’s speech catalyzed the nation and
resuscitated the economy
...
) a meeting usually held by people working toward the same goal (The
ironworkers held a caucus to determine how much of a pay increase they would
request
...
) bitter, biting, acidic (The politicians exchanged caustic insults for over an
hour during the debate
...
) to leap about, behave boisterously (The adults ate their dinners on the patio,
while the children cavorted around the pool
...
(n
...
) 2
...
) to rebuke formally (The principal censured
the head of the English Department for forcing students to learn esoteric
vocabulary
...
) related to the intellect (The books we read in this class are too cerebral—
they don’t engage my emotions at all
...
) absolute disorder (Mr
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

chastise (v
...
)
cherish (v
...
)
chide (v
...
)
choreography (n
...
)
chronicle 1
...
) a written history (The library featured the newly updated chronicle of
World War II
...
(v
...
)
chronological (adj
...
)

C
circuitous (adj
...
)
circumlocution (n
...
)
circumscribed (adj
...
)
circumspect (adj
...
)
circumvent (v
...
)
clairvoyant (adj
...
)
clamor 1
...
) loud noise (Each morning the birds outside my window make such a
clamor that they wake me up
...
(v
...
)
clandestine (adj
...
)
cleave 1
...
) to divide into parts (Following the scandalous disgrace of their leader, the
entire political party cleaved into warring factions
...
(v
...
)

clergy (n
...
)
cloying (adj
...
)
coagulate (v
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

clemency (n
...
)

C
coalesce (v
...
)
cobbler (n
...
)
coerce (v
...
)
cogent (adj
...
)
cognizant (adj
...
)
coherent (adj
...
)
collateral 1
...
) secondary (Divorcing my wife had the collateral effect of making me
poor, as she was the only one of us with a job or money
...
(n
...
)
colloquial (adj
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

collusion (n
...
)
colossus (n
...
)
combustion (n
...
)
commendation (n
...
)
commensurate (adj
...
)
commodious (adj
...
)

C
compelling (adj
...
)
compensate (v
...
)
complacency (n
...
)
complement (v
...
)
compliant (adj
...
)
complicit (adj
...
)
compliment (n
...
)
compound 1
...
) to combine parts (The difficulty of finding a fire escape amid the smoke
was compounded with the dangers posed by the panicking crowds
...
(n
...
) 3
...
) a
walled area containing a group of buildings (When the fighting started, Joseph
rushed into the family compound because it was safe and well defended
...
) to apply pressure, squeeze together (Lynn compressed her lips into a
frown
...
) distress caused by feeling guilty (He felt compunction for the shabby
way he’d treated her
...
) to accept as valid (Andrew had to concede that what his mother said about
Diana made sense
...
) friendly, agreeable (I took Amanda’s invitation to dinner as a very
conciliatory gesture
...
) including everything (She sent me a comprehensive list of the
ingredients needed to cook rabbit soufflé
...
) brief and direct in expression (Gordon did not like to waste time, and his
instructions to Brenda were nothing if not concise
...
) to fabricate, make up (She concocted the most ridiculous story to explain her
absence
...
) accompanying in a subordinate fashion (His dislike of hard work
carried with it a concomitant lack of funds
...
) harmonious agreement (Julie and Harold began the evening with a
disagreement, but ended it in a state of perfect concord
...
) an expression of sympathy in sorrow (Brian lamely offered his
condolences on the loss of his sister’s roommate’s cat
...
) to pardon, deliberately overlook (He refused to condone his brother’s
crime
...
) a pipe or channel through which something passes (The water flowed
through the conduit into the container
...
) a sweet, fancy food (We went to the mall food court and purchased a
delicious confection
...
) a person entrusted with secrets (Shortly after we met, she became my
chief confidant
...
) great fire (The conflagration consumed the entire building
...
) a gathering together (A confluence of different factors made tonight the
perfect night
...
) one who behaves the same as others (Julian was such a conformist that
he had to wait and see if his friends would do something before he would commit
...
) to frustrate, confuse (MacGuyver confounded the policemen pursuing
him by covering his tracks
...
) to thicken into a solid (The sauce had congealed into a thick paste
...
) pleasantly agreeable (His congenial manner made him popular
wherever he went
...
) a gathering of people, especially for religious services (The priest told
the congregation that he would be retiring
...
) the quality of being in agreement (Bill and Veronica achieved a perfect
congruity of opinion
...
) to plot, scheme (She connived to get me to give up my vacation plans
...
) to dedicate something to a holy purpose (Arvin consecrated his spare
bedroom as a shrine to Christina
...
) an agreement of opinion (The jury was able to reach a consensus only
after days of deliberation
...
) to give something over to another’s care (Unwillingly, he consigned his
mother to a nursing home
...
) an act of comforting (Darren found Alexandra’s presence to be a
consolation for his suffering
...
) in harmony (The singers’ consonant voices were beautiful
...
) an essential part (The most important constituent of her perfume is
something called ambergris
...
)to forcibly restrict (His belief in nonviolence constrained him from taking
revenge on his attackers
...
) to interpret (He construed her throwing his clothes out the window as a
signal that she wanted him to leave
...
) to complete a deal; to complete a marriage ceremony through sexual
intercourse (Erica and Donald consummated their agreement in the executive
boardroom
...
) the act of consuming (Consumption of intoxicating beverages is not
permitted on these premises
...
) having a tendency to quarrel or dispute (George’s contentious
personality made him unpopular with his classmates
...
) to contradict, oppose, violate (Edwidge contravened his landlady’s rule
against overnight guests
...
) penitent, eager to be forgiven (Blake’s contrite behavior made it
impossible to stay angry at him
...
) bruise, injury (The contusions on his face suggested he’d been in a fight
...
) existing during the same time (Though her novels do not
feature the themes of Romanticism, Jane Austen’s work was contemporaneous with
that of Wordsworth and Byron
...
) puzzle, problem (Interpreting Jane’s behavior was a constant
conundrum
...
) to call together (Jason convened his entire extended family for a
discussion
...
(n
...
) 2
...
) a rule, custom (The cattle-ranchers have a convention
that you take off your boots before entering their houses
...
) characterized by feasting, drinking, merriment (The restaurant’s
convivial atmosphere put me immediately at ease
...
) intricate, complicated (Grace’s story was so convoluted that I couldn’t
follow it
...
) profuse, abundant (Copious amounts of Snapple were imbibed in the
cafeteria
...
) warm, affectionate (His cordial greeting melted my anger at once
...
) the act of crowning (The new king’s coronation occurred the day after
his father’s death
...
)extreme fatness (Henry’s corpulence did not make him any less
attractive to his charming, svelte wife
...
) to support with evidence (Luke’s seemingly outrageous claim was
corroborated by witnesses
...
) having the tendency to erode or eat away (The effect of the chemical
was highly corrosive
...
) sophisticated, worldly (Lloyd’s education and upbringing were
cosmopolitan, so he felt right at home among the powerful and learned
...
) to neutralize, make ineffective (The antidote counteracted the effect of
the poison
...
(n
...
) 2
...
) the overthrow of
a government and assumption of authority (In their coup attempt, the army officers
stormed the Parliament and took all the legislators hostage
...
) to desire enviously (I coveted Moses’s house, wife, and car
...
) secretly engaged in (Nerwin waged a covert campaign against his enemies,
while outwardly appearing to remain friendly
...
) readiness to believe (His credulity made him an easy target for con men
...
) a steady increase in intensity or volume (The crescendo of the brass
instruments gave the piece a patriotic feel
...
) standards by which something is judged (Among Mrs
...
)
culmination (n
...
)
culpable (adj
...
)
cultivate (v
...
)
cumulative (adj
...
)
cunning (adj
...
)
cupidity (n
...
)
cursory (adj
...
)

curtail (v
...
)

D
daunting (adj
...
)
dearth (n
...
)
debacle (n
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

curt (adj
...
)

D
debase (v
...
)
debauch (v
...
)
debunk (v
...
)
decorous (adj
...
)
decry (v
...
)
deface (v
...
)
defamatory (adj
...
)
defer (v
...
)
deferential (adj
...
)
defile (v
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

deft (adj
...
)
defunct (adj
...
)
delegate (v
...
)
deleterious (adj
...
)
deliberate (adj
...
)
delineate (v
...
)

D
demagogue (n
...
)
demarcation (n
...
)
demean (v
...
)
demure (adj
...
)
denigrate (v
...
)
denounce (v
...
)
deplore (v
...
)
depravity (n
...
)
deprecate (v
...
)
derelict (adj
...
)
deride (v
...
)

desecrate (v
...
)
desiccated (adj
...
)
desolate (adj
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

derivative (adj
...
)

D
despondent (adj
...
)
despot (n
...
)
destitute (adj
...
)
deter (v
...
)
devious (adj
...
)
dialect (n
...
)
diaphanous (adj
...
)
didactic 1
...
) intended to instruct (She wrote up a didactic document showing new
employees how to handle the company’s customers
...
(adj
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

diffident (adj
...
)
diffuse 1
...
) to scatter, thin out, break up (He diffused the tension in the room by
making in a joke
...
(adj
...
)
dilatory (adj
...
)
diligent (adj
...
)
diminutive (adj
...
)
dirge (n
...
)

D
disaffected (adj
...
)
disavow (v
...
)
discern (v
...
)
disclose (v
...
)
discomfit (v
...
)
discordant (adj
...
)
discrepancy (n
...
)
discretion (n
...
)
discursive (adj
...
)

disgruntled (adj
...
)
disheartened (adj
...
)
disparage (v
...
)
disparate (adj
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

disdain 1
...
) to scorn, hold in low esteem (Insecure about their jobs, the older
employees disdained the recently hired ones, who were young and capable
...
(n
...
)

D
dispatch (v
...
)
dispel (v
...
)
disperse (v
...
)
disrepute (n
...
)
dissemble (v
...
)
disseminate (v
...
)
dissent 1
...
) to disagree (The principal argued that the child should repeat the fourth
grade, but the unhappy parents dissented
...
(n
...
)
dissipate 1
...
) to disappear, cause to disappear (The sun finally came out and
dissipated the haze
...
(v
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

dissonance (n
...
)
dissuade (v
...
)
distend (v
...
)
dither (v
...
)
divine (adj
...
)
divisive (adj
...
)

E
divulge (v
...
)
docile (adj
...
)
dogmatic (adj
...
)
dormant (adj
...
)
dour (adj
...
)
dubious (adj
...
)
duplicity (n
...
)
duress (n
...
)
dynamic (adj
...
)

ebullient (adj
...
)
eclectic (adj
...
)
ecstatic (adj
...
)
edict (n
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

E

E
efface (v
...
)
effervescent (adj
...
)
efficacious (adj
...
)
effrontery (n
...
)
effulgent (adj
...
)
egregious (adj
...
)
elaborate (adj
...
)
elated (adj
...
)
elegy (n
...
)
elicit (v
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

eloquent (adj
...
)
elucidate (v
...
)
elude (v
...
)
emaciated (adj
...
)
embellish 1
...
) to decorate, adorn (My mom embellished the living room by adding
lace curtains
...
(v
...
)

E
embezzle (v
...
)
emend (v
...
)
eminent 1
...
) distinguished, prominent, famous (Mr
...
) 2
...
)
conspicuous (There is an eminent stain on that shirt
...
) soothing (This emollient cream makes my skin very smooth
...
) to express emotion (The director told the actor he had to emote, or else the
audience would have no idea what his character was going through
...
) sensitivity to another’s feelings as if they were one’s own (I feel such
empathy for my sister when she’s in pain that I cry too
...
(adj
...
)
2
...
) capable of being proved or disproved by experiment (That all cats hate
getting wet is an empirical statement: I can test it by bathing my cat, Trinket
...
) to imitate (I idolize Britney Spears so much that I emulate everything she
does: I wear her outfits, sing along to her songs, and date a boy named Justin
...
) to fill with love, fascinate, usually used in passive form followed by “of” or
“with” (I grew enamored of that boy when he quoted my favorite love poem
...
) to weigh down, burden (At the airport, my friend was encumbered by
her luggage, so I offered to carry two of her bags
...
) to weaken, exhaust (Writing these sentences enervates me so much that I
will have to take a nap after I finish
...
) to grant the vote to (The Nineteenth Amendment enfranchised
women
...
) to bring about, create, generate (During the Olympics, the victories of
U
...
athletes engender a patriotic spirit among Americans
...
) mystifying, cryptic (That man wearing the dark suit and dark glasses is
so enigmatic that no one even knows his name
...
) the audience’s demand for a repeat performance; also the artist’s
performance in response to that demand (At the end of the concert, all the fans
yelled, “Encore! Encore!” but the band did not come out to play again
...
) ill will, hatred, hostility (Mark and Andy have clearly not forgiven each
other, because the enmity between them is obvious to anyone in their presence
...
) boredom, weariness (I feel such ennui that I don’t look forward to anything,
not even my birthday party
...
) to include as a necessary step (Building a new fence entails tearing down the
old one
...
) to charm, hold spellbound (The sailor’s stories of fighting off sharks and
finding ancient treasures enthralled his young son
...
) short-lived, fleeting (She promised she’d love me forever, but her
“forever” was only ephemeral: she left me after one week
...
) relating to or contained in letters (Some people call me “Auntie’s boy,”
because my aunt and I have such a close epistolary relationship that we write each
other every day
...
) a perfect example, embodiment (My mother, the epitome of good taste,
always dresses more elegantly than I do
...
) composure (Even though he had just been fired, Mr
...
)
equivocal (adj
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

erudite (adj
...
)
eschew (v
...
)
esoteric (adj
...
)
espouse (v
...
)
ethereal (adj
...
)
etymology (n
...
)

E
euphoric (adj
...
)
evanescent (adj
...
)
evince (v
...
)
exacerbate (v
...
)
exalt (v
...
)
exasperate (v
...
)
excavate (v
...
)
exculpate (v
...
)
excursion (n
...
)
execrable (adj
...
)
exhort (v
...
)

exonerate (v
...
)
exorbitant (adj
...
)
expedient (adj
...
)
expiate (v
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

exigent (adj
...
)

F
expunge (v
...
)
expurgate (v
...
)
extant (adj
...
)
extol (v
...
)
extraneous (adj
...
)
extricate (v
...
)
exult (v
...
)

F
fabricate (v
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

façade 1
...
) the wall of a building (Meet me in front of the museum’s main façade
...

(n
...
)
facile 1
...
) easy, requiring little effort (This game is so facile that even a four-yearold can master it
...
(adj
...
)
fallacious (adj
...
)
fastidious (adj
...
)
fathom (v
...
)

F
fatuous (adj
...
)
fecund (adj
...
)
felicitous 1
...
) well suited, apt (While his comments were idiotic and rambling, mine
were felicitous and helpful
...
(adj
...
)
feral (adj
...
)
fervent (adj
...
)
fetid (adj
...
)
fetter (v
...
)
fickle (adj
...
)
fidelity (n
...
)
figurative (adj
...
)
flabbergasted (adj
...
)

flagrant (adj
...
)
florid (adj
...
)
flout (v
...
)
foil (v
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

flaccid (adj
...
)

F
forage (v
...
)
forbearance (n
...
)
forestall (v
...
)
forlorn (adj
...
)
forsake (v
...
)
fortitude (n
...
)
fortuitous (adj
...
)
forum (n
...
)
foster (v
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

fractious (adj
...
)
fraught (adj
...
)
frenetic (adj
...
)
frivolous (adj
...
)
frugal (adj
...
)

G
furtive (adj
...
)

G
garish (adj
...
Watson has poor taste and covers every object in
her house with a garish gold lamé
...
) talkative, wordy (Some talk show hosts are so garrulous that their
guests can’t get a word in edgewise
...
) friendly, affable (Although he’s been known to behave like a real jerk, I
would say that my brother is an overall genial guy
...
) overindulgence in food or drink (Ada’s fried chicken tastes so divine, I
don’t know how anyone can call gluttony a sin
...
) to urge, spur, incite to action (Jim may think he’s not going to fight Billy, but
Billy will goad Jim on with insults until he throws a punch
...
) someone fond of eating and drinking (My parents, who used to eat little
more than crackers and salad, have become real gourmands in their old age
...
) lofty, pompous language (The student thought her grandiloquence
would make her sound smart, but neither the class nor the teacher bought it
...
) on a magnificent or exaggerated scale (Margaret planned a grandiose
party, replete with elephants, trapeze artists, and clowns
...
) uncalled for, unwarranted (Every morning the guy at the donut shop
gives me a gratuitous helping of ketchup packets
...
) injurious, hurtful; serious or grave in nature (Electrocuting the inmate
without being sure of his guilt would be a truly grievous mistake
...
) deceitful, cunning, sly behavior (Because of his great guile, the politician was
able to survive scandal after scandal
...
) unoriginal, trite (A girl can only hear “I love you” so many times
before it begins to sound hackneyed and meaningless
...
) drawn to the company of others, sociable (Well, if you’re not
gregarious, I don’t know why you would want to go to a singles party!)

H
hallowed (adj
...
)
hapless (adj
...
)
harangue 1
...
) a ranting speech (Everyone had heard the teacher’s harangue about
gum chewing in class before
...
(v
...
)
hardy (adj
...
)
harrowing (adj
...
)
haughty (adj
...
)
hedonist (n
...
)
hegemony (n
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

heinous (adj
...
)
heterogeneous (adj
...
)
hiatus (n
...
)
hierarchy (n
...
)
hypocrisy (n
...
)

I
hypothetical (adj
...
)

I
iconoclast (n
...
)
idiosyncratic (adj
...
)
idolatrous (adj
...
)
ignominious (adj
...
)
illicit (adj
...
)
immerse (v
...
)
immutable (adj
...
)
impassive (adj
...
)

impecunious (adj
...
)
imperative 1
...
) necessary, pressing (It is imperative that you have these folders
organized by midday
...
(n
...
)
imperious (adj
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

impeccable (adj
...
)

I
impertinent (adj
...
)
impervious (adj
...
)
impetuous (adj
...
)
impinge 1
...
) to impact, affect, make an impression (The hail impinged the roof,
leaving large dents
...
(v
...
Now
...
) incapable of being appeased or mitigated (Watch out: once you shun
Grandma’s cooking, she is totally implacable
...
(n
...
(v
...
)
implicate (v
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

implicit (adj
...
)
impregnable (adj
...
)
impudent (adj
...
)
impute (v
...
)
inane (adj
...
)
inarticulate (adj
...
)

I
incarnate 1
...
) existing in the flesh, embodied (In the church pageant, I play the role
of greed incarnate
...
(v
...
)
incendiary 1
...
) a person who agitates (If we catch the incendiary who screamed
“bomb” in the middle of the soccer match, we’re going to put him in jail
...
(adj
...
)
incessant (adj
...
)
inchoate (adj
...
)
incisive (adj
...
)
inclination (n
...
)
incontrovertible (adj
...
)
incorrigible (adj
...
)
increment (n
...
)

indefatigable (adj
...
)
indigenous (adj
...
)
indigent (adj
...
)
indignation (n
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

incumbent 1
...
) one who holds an office (The incumbent senator is already serving his
fifth term
...
(adj
...
)

I
indolent (adj
...
) not capable of being conquered (To be honest, Jim, my indomitable
nature means I could never take orders from anyone, and especially not from a jerk
like you
...
) to bring about, stimulate (Who knew that our decision to boycott school
lunch would induce a huge riot?)
ineffable (adj
...
)
inept (adj
...
)
inexorable (adj
...
)
inextricable (adj
...
)
infamy (n
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

infusion (n
...
)
ingenious (adj
...
)
ingenuous (adj
...
)
inhibit (v
...
)
inimical (adj
...
)
iniquity (n
...
”)

I
injunction (n
...
)
innate (adj
...
)
innocuous (adj
...
)
innovate (v
...
)
innuendo (n
...
)
inoculate (v
...
)
inquisitor (n
...
)
insatiable (adj
...
)
insidious (adj
...
) dull, boring (The play was so insipid, I fell asleep halfway through
...
) rude, arrogant, overbearing (That celebrity is so insolent, making fun of
his fans right to their faces
...
) to urge, goad (The demagogue instigated the crowd into a fury by telling
them that they had been cheated by the federal government
...
) separated and narrow-minded; tight-knit, closed off (Because of the
sensitive nature of their jobs, those who work for the CIA must remain insular and
generally only spend time with each other
...
) to suggest indirectly or subtly (I wish Luke and Spencer would stop
insinuating that my perfect report card is the result of anything other than my
superior intelligence and good work habits
...
) one who rebels (The insurgent snuck into and defaced a different
classroom each night until the administration agreed to meet his demands
...
) necessary for completeness (Without the integral ingredient of flour, you
wouldn’t be able to make bread
...
) to insert between other things (During our conversation, the cab driver
occasionally interjected his opinion
...
) someone who participates in a dialogue or conversation (When the
officials could not come to an agreement over the correct cover of the flags, the prime
minister acted as an interlocutor
...
) without possibility of end (The fact that biology lectures came just
before lunch made them seem interminable
...
) an indirect suggestion (Mr
...
)
intractable (adj
...
)
intransigent (adj
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

intrepid (adj
...
)
inundate (v
...
)
inure (v
...
)
invective (n
...
)
inveterate (adj
...
)
inviolable (adj
...
)
irascible (adj
...
)

J
iridescent (adj
...
)
irreverence (n
...
)
irrevocable (adj
...
)

J
jubilant (adj
...
)
judicious (adj
...
)
juxtaposition (n
...
)

K
knell (n
...
)
kudos (n
...
)

L

laconic (adj
...
)
languid (adj
...
)
larceny (n
...
)
largess (n
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

laceration (n
...
)

L
latent (adj
...
)
laudatory (adj
...
)
lavish 1
...
) given without limits (Because they had worked very hard, the
performers appreciated the critic’s lavish praise
...
(v
...
)
legerdemain (n
...
)
lenient (adj
...
)
lethargic (adj
...
)
liability 1
...
) something for which one is legally responsible, usually involving a
disadvantage or risk (The bungee-jumping tower was a great liability for the
owners of the carnival
...
(n
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

libertarian (adj
...
)
licentious (adj
...
)
limpid (adj
...
Johnson’s limpid writing style greatly pleased
readers who disliked complicated novels
...
) something that holds separate parts together (The linchpin in the
prosecution’s case was the hair from the defendant’s head, which was found at the
scene of the crime
...
) graceful, flexible, supple (Although the dancers were all outstanding, Jae
Sun’s control of her lithe body was particularly impressive
...
) someone engaged in a lawsuit (When the litigants began screaming at each
other, Judge Koch ordered them to be silent
...
) clear, easily understandable (Because Guenevere’s essay was so lucid, I only
had to read it once to understand her reasoning
...
) brightly shining (The light of the luminous moon graced the shoulders
of the beautiful maiden
...
) ghastly, sensational (Gideon’s story, in which he described a character
torturing his sister’s dolls, was judged too lurid to be printed in the school’s literary
magazine
...
) a destructive whirlpool which rapidly sucks in objects (Little did the
explorers know that as they turned the next bend of the calm river a vicious
maelstrom would catch their boat
...
) noble, generous (Although I had already broken most of her
dishes, Jacqueline was magnanimous enough to continue letting me use them
...
) a curse (When I was arrested for speeding, I screamed maledictions
against the policeman and the entire police department
...
) wanting harm to befall others (The malevolent old man sat in the park
all day, tripping unsuspecting passersby with his cane
...
) capable of being shaped or transformed (Maximillian’s political
opinions were so malleable that anyone he talked to was able to change his mind
instantly
...
) an authoritative command (In the Old Testament, God mandates that no
one should steal
...
) diverse, varied (The popularity of Dante’s Inferno is partly due to the
fact that the work allows for manifold interpretations
...
) weakly sentimental (Although many people enjoy romantic comedies, I
usually find them maudlin and shallow
...
) an independent, nonconformist person (Andreas is a real maverick and
always does things his own way
...
(adj
...
) 2
...
) to show plainly (His illness first manifested itself with particularly violent
hiccups
...
) characterized by sick sentimentality (Although some nineteenthcentury critics viewed Dickens’s writing as mawkish, contemporary readers have
found great emotional depth in his works
...
) a common saying expressing a principle of conduct (Miss Manners’s
etiquette maxims are both entertaining and instructional
...
) deficient in size or quality (My meager portion of food did nothing to
satisfy my appetite
...
) a mixture of differing things (Susannah’s wardrobe contained an
astonishing medley of colors, from olive green to fluorescent pink
...
) having a lying, false character (The mendacious content of the tabloid
magazines is at least entertaining
...
) characterized by rapid change or temperamentality (Though he was
widely respected for his mathematical proofs, the mercurial genius was impossible to
live with
...
) worthy of esteem or reward (Manfred was given the congressional
medal of honor for his meritorious actions
...
) the change of form, shape, substance (Winnifred went to the gym
every day for a year and underwent a metamorphosis from a waiflike girl to an
athletic woman
...
) extremely careful with details (The ornate needlework in the bride’s
gown was a product of meticulous handiwork
...
) to make less violent, alleviate (When I had an awful sore throat, only
warm tea would mitigate the pain
...
(adj
...
) 2
...
) one who expresses moderate opinions (Because
he found both the liberal and conservative proposals too excessive, Mr
...
)
modicum (n
...
)
modulate (v
...
)
mollify (v
...
)

N
morass (n
...
)
mores (n
...
(Mores change
over time; many things that were tolerated in 1975 are no longer seen as being
socially acceptable
...
) gloomy or sullen (Jason’s morose nature made him very unpleasant to
talk to
...
) having great diversity or variety (This Swiss Army knife has
multifarious functions and capabilities
...
)
mundane (adj
...
)
munificence (n
...
)
mutable (adj
...
)
myriad (adj
...
)

N
nadir (n
...
)

nebulous (adj
...
)
nefarious (adj
...
Meanman’s nefarious plot to melt
the polar icecaps was terrifying, it was so impractical that nobody really worried
about it
...
) habitually careless, neglectful (Jessie’s grandfather called me a
negligent fool after I left the door to his apartment unlocked even though there had
been a recent string of robberies
...
) in the process of being born or coming into existence (Unfortunately,
my brilliant paper was only in its nascent form on the morning that it was due
...
) someone who is young or inexperienced (As a neophyte in the literary
world, Malik had trouble finding a publisher for his first novel
...
) relating to or occurring during the night (Jackie was a nocturnal
person; she would study until dawn and sleep until the evening
...
) unpleasant, offensive, especially to the sense of smell (Nobody would
enter the stalls until the horse’s noisome leavings were
taken away
...
) wandering from place to place (In the first six months after college, Jose
led a nomadic life, living in New York, California, and Idaho
...
) trifling, insignificant (Because he was moving the following week and
needed to get rid of his furniture more than he needed money, Jordan sold
everything for a nominal fee
...
) having a lack of concern, indifference (Although deep down she was
very angry, Marsha acted in a nonchalant manner when she found out that her best
friend had used her clothing without asking
...
) lacking a distinctive character (I was surprised when I saw the movie
star in person because she looked nondescript
...
) widely and unfavorably known (Jacob was notorious for always
arriving late at parties
...
) a beginner, someone without training or experience (Because we were all
novices at yoga, our instructor decided to begin with the basics
...
) harmful, unwholesome (Environmentalists showed that the noxious
weeds were destroying the insects’ natural habitats
...
) a slight variation in meaning, tone, expression (The nuances of the poem
were not obvious to the casual reader, but the professor was able to point them out
...
) to assist the development of (Although Serena had never watered the plant,
which was about to die, Javier was able to nurture it back to life
...
) unyielding to persuasion or moral influences (The obdurate old man
refused to take pity on the kittens
...
) to render incomprehensible (The detective did want to answer the
newspaperman’s questions, so he obfuscated the truth
...
) diverging from a straight line or course, not straightforward (Martin’s
oblique language confused those who listened to him
...
) lacking consciousness or awareness of something (Oblivious to the
burning smell emanating from the kitchen, my father did not notice that the rolls in
the oven were burned until much too late
...
) unclear, partially hidden (Because he was standing in the shadows, his
features were obscure
...
) excessively compliant or submissive (Mark acted like Janet’s servant,
obeying her every request in an obsequious manner
...
) no longer used, out of date (With the inventions of tape decks and CDs,
which both have better sound and are easier to use, eight-track players are now
entirely obsolete
...
) not yielding easily, stubborn (The obstinate child refused to leave the
store until his mother bought him a candy bar
...
) noisy, unruly (Billy’s obstreperous behavior prompted the librarian
to ask him to leave the reading room
...
) lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect (Political opponents warned
that the prime minister’s obtuse approach to foreign policy would embroil the nation
in mindless war
...
) instilling hatred or intense displeasure (Mark was assigned the odious task
of cleaning the cat’s litter box
...
) foreboding or foreshadowing evil (The fortuneteller’s ominous words
flashed through my mind as the hooded figure approached me in the alley
...
) burdensome (My parents lamented that the pleasures of living in a
beautiful country estate no longer outweighed the onerous mortgage payments
...
) characterized by rich abundance verging on ostentation (The opulent
furnishings of the dictator’s private compound contrasted harshly with the meager
accommodations of her subjects
...
) offering one’s services when they are neither wanted nor needed
(Brenda resented Allan’s officious behavior when he selected colors that might best
improve her artwork
...
) a speech delivered in a formal or ceremonious manner (The prime minister
was visibly shaken when the unruly parliament interrupted his oration about failed
domestic policies
...
) highly elaborate, excessively decorated (The ornate styling of the new
model of luxury car could not compensate for the poor quality of its motor
...
) conventional, conforming to established protocol (The company’s
profits dwindled because the management pursued orthodox business policies that
were incompatible with new industrial trends
...
) to sway from one side to the other (My uncle oscillated between buying a
station wagon to transport his family and buying a sports car to satisfy his boyhood
fantasies
...
) appearing as such, seemingly (Jack’s ostensible reason for driving was
that airfare was too expensive, but in reality, he was afraid of flying
...
) excessively showy, glitzy (On the palace tour, the guide focused on
the ostentatious decorations and spoke little of the royal family’s history
...
) exclusion from a group (Beth risked ostracism if her roommates
discovered her flatulence
...
) soothing (The chemistry professor’s pacific demeanor helped the class
remain calm after the experiment exploded
...
) agreeable to the taste or sensibilities (Despite the unpleasant smell, the
exotic cheese was quite palatable
...
) a range of colors or qualities (The palette of colors utilized in the painting
was equaled only by the range of intense emotions the piece evoked
...
) to reduce the severity of (The doctor trusted that the new medication
would palliate her patient’s discomfort
...
) lacking color (Dr
...
)
panacea (n
...
)
paradigm (n
...
)

P
paradox (n
...
)
paragon (n
...
)
paramount (adj
...
)
pariah (n
...
)
parody (n
...
)
parsimony (n
...
)
partisan (n
...
)
patent (adj
...
)
pathology (n
...
Hastings had difficulty identifying the
precise nature of Brian’s pathology
...
) an emotion of sympathy (Martha filled with pathos upon discovering the
scrawny, shivering kitten at her door
...
) derogatory, uncomplimentary (The evening’s headline news covered
an international scandal caused by a pejorative statement the famous senator had
made in reference to a foreign leader
...
) easily intelligible, clear (Wishing his book to be pellucid to the common
man, Albert Camus avoided using complicated grammar when composing The
Stranger
...
) a tendency, partiality, preference (Jill’s dinner parties quickly became
monotonous on account of her penchant for Mexican dishes
...
) remorseful, regretful (The jury’s verdict may have been more lenient if
the criminal had appeared penitent for his gruesome crimes
...
) small in quantity (Gilbert lamented the paucity of twentieth century
literature courses available at the college
...
) next to last (Having smoked the penultimate cigarette remaining in
the pack, Cybil discarded the last cigarette and resolved to quit smoking
...
) miserly, stingy (Stella complained that her husband’s penurious ways
made it impossible to live the lifestyle she felt she deserved
...
) disloyal, unfaithful (After the official was caught selling government
secrets to enemy agents, he was executed for his perfidious ways
...
) showing little interest or enthusiasm (The radio broadcaster
announced the news of the massacre in a surprisingly perfunctory manner
...
) to spread throughout, saturate (Mrs
...
)
pernicious (adj
...
)
perplex (v
...
)
perspicacity (adj
...
)
pert (adj
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

pertinacious (adj
...
Then they opened the closet
door and were eaten
...
) a careful examination, review (The actor agreed to accept the role after a
two-month perusal of the movie script
...
) having the tendency to spread throughout (Stepping off the plane in
Havana, I recognized the pervasive odor of sugar cane fields on fire
...
) rudeness, irritability (The Nanny resigned after she could no longer
tolerate the child’s petulance
...
) charitable, giving (Many people felt that the billionaire’s decision to
donate her fortune to house the homeless was the ultimate philanthropic act
...
) uninterested, unresponsive (Monique feared her dog was ill after the
animal’s phlegmatic response to his favorite chew toy
...
) to seize or plunder, especially in war (Invading enemy soldiers pillaged the
homes scattered along the country’s border
...
) the highest point (Book reviewers declared that the author’s
new novel was extraordinary and probably the pinnacle of
Western literature
...
) concisely meaningful (My father’s long-winded explanation was a stark
contrast to his usually pithy statements
...
) a very small amount, especially relating to money (Josh complained that
he was paid a pittance for the great amount of work he did at the firm
...
) to ease the anger of, soothe (The man purchased a lollipop to placate his
irritable son
...
) calm, peaceful (The placid lake surface was as smooth as glass
...
) an uninspired remark, cliché (After reading over her paper, Helene
concluded that what she thought were profound insights were actually
just platitudes
...
) enthusiastic approval, applause (The controversial new film received
plaudits from even the harshest critics
...
) believable, reasonable (He studied all the data and then came up with a
plausible theory that took all factors into account
...
) an abundance (My grandmother was overwhelmed by the plenitude of
tomatoes her garden yielded this season
...
) flexible (Aircraft wings are designed to be somewhat pliable so they do not
break in heavy turbulence
...
) deeply affecting, moving (My teacher actually cried after reading to us
the poignant final chapter of the novel
...
) an aggressive argument against a specific opinion (My brother
launched into a polemic against my arguments that capitalism was an unjust
economic system
...
) an omen (When a black cat crossed my sister’s path while she was walking to
school, she took it as a portent that she would do badly on her spelling test
...
) an abundance, excess (The wedding banquet included a plethora of oysters
piled almost three feet high
...
) suitable for drinking (During sea voyages it is essential that ships carry a
supply of potable water because salty ocean water makes anyone who drinks it sick
...
) one who has great power, a ruler (All the villagers stood along the town’s
main road to observe as the potentate’s procession headed towards
the capital
...
) practical (The politician argued that while increased security measures
might not fit with the lofty ideals of the nation, they were a pragmatic necessity to
ensure everyone’s safety
...
) the face of a cliff, a steep or overhanging place (The mountain climber
hung from a precipice before finding a handhold and pulling himself up
...
) to prevent (My grandfather’s large and vicious guard dog precluded
anyone from entering the yard
...
) advanced, developing ahead of time (Derek was so academically
precocious that by the time he was 10 years old, he was already in the ninth grade
...
) a preference or inclination for something (Francois has a predilection
for eating scrambled eggs with ketchup, though I prefer to eat eggs without any
condiments
...
) superiority in importance or quantity (Britain’s preponderance of
naval might secured the nation’s role as a military power
...
) occupying the mind to the exclusion of other thoughts or feelings
(His prepossessing appearance made it impossible for me to think of anything else
...
) an omen (When my uncle’s old war injury ached, he interpreted it as a
presage of bad weather approaching
...
) to have foreknowledge of events (Questioning the fortune
cookie’s prediction, Ray went in search of the old hermit who was rumored to be
prescient
...
) to lay down a rule (The duke prescribed that from this point further all of
the peasants living on his lands would have to pay higher taxes
...
) disrespectfully bold (The princess grew angry after the
presumptuous noble tried to kiss her, even though he was far below her in social
status
...
)an appearance or action intended to deceive (Though he actually wanted
to use his parents’ car to go on a date, Nick borrowed his parents’ car under the
pretense of attending a group study session
...
) original, ancient (The first primates to walk on two legs, called
Australopithecus, were the primeval descendants of modern man
...
) lacking basic necessities (After decades of rule by an oppressive
government that saw nothing wrong with stealing from its citizens, the recent
drought only increased the people’s privation
...
) virtue, integrity (Because he was never viewed as a man of great probity, no
one was surprised by Mr
...
)
proclivity (n
...
)
procure (v
...
)
profane (adj
...
)
profligate (adj
...
)
profuse (adj
...
)

propagate (v
...
)
propensity (n
...
)
propitious (adj
...
)
propriety (n
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

promulgate (v
...
)

Q
prosaic (adj
...
)
proscribe (v
...
)
protean (adj
...
)
prowess (n
...
)
prudence (n
...
)
prurient (adj
...
)
puerile (adj
...
)
pugnacious (adj
...
)
pulchritude (n
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

punctilious (adj
...
)
pungent (adj
...
)
punitive (adj
...
)
putrid (adj
...
)

Q
quagmire (n
...
)
quaint (adj
...
)

R
quandary (n
...
) to control or diffuse a potentially explosive situation (The skilled leader
deftly quelled the rebellion
...
) whiny, complaining (If deprived of his pacifier, young Brendan
becomes querulous
...
) idealistic, impractical (Edward entertained a quixotic desire to fall in
love at first sight in a laundromat
...
) daily (Ambika’s quotidian routines include drinking two cups of coffee
in the morning
...
) to scold, protest (The professor railed against the injustice of the college’s tenure
policy
...
) having a terrible taste or smell (Rob was double-dog-dared to eat the
rancid egg salad sandwich
...
) deep, bitter resentment (When Eileen challenged me to a fight, I could see
the rancor in her eyes
...
) mutual understanding and harmony (When Margaret met her paramour,
they felt an instant rapport
...
) hasty, incautious (It’s best to think things over calmly and thoroughly, rather
than make rash decisions
...
) to demolish, level (The old tenement house was razed to make room for the
large chain store
...
) to scold, criticize (When the cops showed up at Sarah’s party, they rebuked
her for disturbing the peace
...
) defiant, unapologetic (Even when scolded, the recalcitrant young girl
simply stomped her foot and refused to finish her lima beans
...
) to sum up, repeat (Before the final exam, the teacher recapitulated the
semester’s material
...
) loud, boisterous (Sarah’s neighbors called the cops when her house party
got too raucous
...
) to give in return (When Steve gave Samantha a sweater for Christmas,
she reciprocated by giving him a kiss
...
) solitary, shunning society (Reclusive authors such as J
...
Salinger do
not relish media attention and sometimes even enjoy holing up in remote cabins in
the woods
...
(v
...
) 2
...
) to make consistent
with existing ideas (Alou had to reconcile his skepticism about the existence of aliens
with the fact that he was looking at a flying saucer
...
) uprightness, extreme morality (The priest’s rectitude gave him the moral
authority to counsel his parishioners
...
(adj
...
) 2
...
) commanding respect (The audience greeted the redoubtable speaker
with a standing ovation
...
) to distort, change (The light was refracted as it passed through the prism
...
) to restore, clean up (The dingy old chair, after being refurbished,
commanded the handsome price of $200
...
) to prove wrong (Maria refuted the president’s argument as she yelled and
gesticulated at the TV
...
(v
...
) 2
...
) to
throw back exactly (Margaret rushed through the test, regurgitating all of the facts
she’d memorized an hour earlier
...
(v
...
) 2
...
) to assign to an inferior place (After spilling a
drink on a customer’s shirt, the waiter found himself relegated to the least lucrative
shift
...
) to enjoy (Pete always relished his bedtime snack
...
) intended to repair gaps in students’ basic knowledge (After his teacher
discovered he couldn’t read, Alex was forced to enroll in remedial English
...
) negligent, failing to take care (The burglar gained entrance because the
security guard, remiss in his duties, forgot to lock the door
...
(v
...
) 2
...
) to enlarge and make prettier, especially a house (After
getting renovated, the house was twice as big and much more attractive
...
) honor, acclaim (The young writer earned international renown by winning
the Pulitzer Prize
...
) to reject (Fiona’s renunciation of red meat resulted in weight loss, but
confused those people who thought she’d been a vegetarian for years
...
) penitent, sorry (The repentant Dennis apologized profusely for
breaking his mother’s vase
...
) full, abundant (The unedited version was replete with naughty words
...
) to rest, lie down (The cat, after eating an entire can of tuna fish, reposed in
the sun and took a long nap
...
) deserving rebuke (Jean’s cruel and reprehensible attempt to dump
her boyfriend on his birthday led to tears and recriminations
...
) a temporary delay of punishment (Because the governor woke up in a
particularly good mood, he granted hundreds of reprieves to prisoners
...
) to scold, disapprove (Brian reproached the customer for failing to rewind
the video he had rented
...
) evil, unprincipled (The reprobate criminal sat sneering in the cell
...
) to scold, rebuke (Lara reproved her son for sticking each and every one of
his fingers into the strawberry pie
...
(v
...
) 2
...
) to push back (With a deft movement of her wrist and a punch to
the stomach, Lacy repulsed Jack’s attempt to kiss her
...
) of good reputation (After the most reputable critic in the industry gave
the novel a glowing review, sales took off
...
) a demand for goods, usually made by an authority (During the war, the
government made a requisition of supplies
...
) to take back, repeal (The company rescinded its offer of employment after
discovering that Jane’s resume was full of lies
...
) to reject, refuse to accept (Kwame made a strong case for an extension of
his curfew, but his mother repudiated it with a few biting words
...
(n
...
) 2
...
) a body of water used for storing
water (After graduation, the more rebellious members of the senior class jumped
into the town reservoir used for drinking water
...
) able to recover from misfortune; able to withstand adversity (The
resilient ballplayer quickly recovered from his wrist injury
...
) firm, determined (With a resolute glint in her eye, Catherine announced
that she was set on going to college in New York City even though she was a little
frightened of tall buildings
...
(v
...
) 2
...
) to firmly decide (Lady Macbeth resolved to whip her husband into
shape
...
) a break, rest (Justin left the pub to gain a brief respite from the smoke and
noise
...
) shiny, glowing (The partygoers were resplendent in diamonds and
fancy dress
...
) restoration to the rightful owner (Many people feel that descendants of
slaves should receive restitution for the sufferings of their ancestors
...
) resistant, stubborn, impatient (The restive audience pelted the band with
mud and yelled nasty comments
...
) withdraw (As the media worked itself into a frenzy, the publicist hurriedly
retracted his client’s sexist statement
...
) to enjoy intensely (Theodore reveled in his new status as Big Man
on Campus
...
) to esteem, show deference, venerate (The doctor saved countless lives with
his combination of expertise and kindness and became universally revered
...
) to take back (After missing the curfew set by the court for eight nights in a
row, Marcel’s freedom of movement was revoked
...
) to engage in excessive enthusiasm (The critic rhapsodized about the
movie, calling it an instant classic
...
) coarsely, crudely humorous (While some giggled at the ribald joke
involving a parson’s daughter, most sighed and rolled their eyes
...
) abundant (Surprisingly, the famous novelist’s writing was rife with
spelling errors
...
) to contemplate, reflect (Terry liked to ruminate while sitting on the banks
of the river, staring pensively into the water
...
) a trick (Oliver concocted an elaborate ruse for sneaking out of the house to
meet his girlfriend while simultaneously giving his mother the impression that he
was asleep in bed
...
) sickeningly sweet (Tom’s saccharine manner, although intended to
make him popular, actually repelled his classmates
...
) holy, something that should not be criticized (In the United States,
the Constitution is often thought of as a sacrosanct document
...
) shrewdness, soundness of perspective (With remarkable sagacity, the wise
old man predicted and thwarted his children’s plan to ship him off to a nursing
home
...
) significant, conspicuous (One of the salient differences between Alison
and Nancy is that Alison is a foot taller
...
) a greeting (Andrew regularly began letters with the bizarre salutation
“Ahoy ahoy
...
) a soothing balm (After Tony applied a salve to his brilliant red sunburn, he
soon felt a little better
...
) optimistic, cheery (Polly reacted to any bad news with a sanguine smile
and the chirpy cry, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!”)
satiate (v
...
)
scathing (adj
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

sanctimonious (adj
...
)

S
scintillating (adj
...
)
scrupulous (adj
...
)
scurrilous (adj
...
)
sedentary (adj
...
)
semaphore (n
...
)
seminal (adj
...
)
sensual (adj
...
)
sensuous (adj
...
)
serendipity (n
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

serene (adj
...
)
servile (adj
...
)
sinuous (adj
...
)
sobriety (n
...
)
solicitous (adj
...
)
solipsistic (adj
...
)

S
soluble (adj
...
)
solvent 1
...
) a substance that can dissolve other substances (Water is sometimes called
the universal solvent because almost all other substances can dissolve into it
...

(adj
...
)
somnolent (adj
...
)
sophomoric (adj
...
)
sovereign (adj
...
)
speculative (adj
...
)
spurious (adj
...
)
stagnate (v
...
)
staid (adj
...
)
stingy (adj
...
)

stolid (adj
...
)
strenuous (adj
...
So is watching an entire Star Trek marathon
...
) harsh, loud (A strident man, Captain Von Trapp yelled at his daughter
and made her cry
...
) to astonish, make insensible (Veronica’s audacity and ungratefulness
stupefied her best friend, Heather
...
) unaffected by passion or feeling (Penelope’s faithfulness to Odysseus
required that she be stoic and put off her many suitors
...
) to bring under control, subdue (The invading force captured and
subjugated the natives of that place
...
) lofty, grand, exalted (The homeless man sadly pondered his former
wealth and once sublime existence
...
) easily yielding to authority (In some cultures, wives are supposed to
be submissive and support their husbands in all matters
...
) marked by compact precision (The governor’s succinct speech energized
the crowd while the mayor’s rambled on and on
...
) exceeding what is necessary (Tracy had already won the campaign so
her constant flattery of others was superfluous
...
) an overabundant supply or indulgence (After partaking of the surfeit of
tacos and tamales at the All-You-Can-Eat Taco Tamale Lunch Special, Beth felt
rather sick
...
) to infer with little evidence (After speaking to only one of the students, the
teacher was able to surmise what had caused the fight
...
) stealthy (The surreptitious CIA agents were able to get in and out of
the house without anyone noticing
...
) one acting in place of another (The surrogate carried the child to term for
its biological parents
...
) of dark color or complexion (When he got drunk, Robinson’s white skin
became rather swarthy
...
) one who flatters for self-gain (Some see the people in the cabinet as the
president’s closest advisors, but others see them as sycophants
...
) expressed without words (I interpreted my parents’ refusal to talk as a tacit
acceptance of my request
...
) not inclined to talk (Though Jane never seems to stop talking, her brother
is quite taciturn
...
) incidental, peripheral, divergent (I tried to discuss my salary, but the
boss kept veering off into tangential topics
...
) equivalent in value or significance (When it comes to sports, fearing
your opponent is tantamount to losing
...
) dull, boring (As time passed and the history professor continued to drone
on and on, the lecture became increasingly tedious
...
) audacity, recklessness (Tom and Huck entered the scary cave armed with
nothing but their own temerity
...
) moderation in action or thought (Maintaining temperance will ensure
that you are able to think rationally and objectively
...
) able to be defended or maintained (The department heads tore
down the arguments in other people’s theses, but Johari’s work proved to be quite
tenable
...
) having little substance or strength (Your argument is very tenuous, since
it relies so much on speculation and hearsay
...
) relating to the land (Elephants are terrestrial animals
...
) timid, fearful (When dealing with the unknown, timorous Tallulah
almost always broke into tears
...
) a long speech marked by harsh or biting language (Every time Jessica was
late, her boyfriend went into a long tirade about punctuality
...
) one who flatters in the hope of gaining favors (The other kids referred to the
teacher’s pet as the Tenth Grade Toady
...
) a large book (In college, I used to carry around an anatomy book that was the
heaviest tome in my bag
...
) lethargic, dormant, lacking motion (The torpid whale floated, wallowing
in the water for hours
...
) winding (The scary thing about driving in mountains are the narrow,
tortuous roads
...
) easily controlled (The horse was so tractable, Myra didn’t even need a
bridle
...
) calm (There is a time of night when nothing moves and everything
is tranquil
...
) to violate, go over a limit (The criminal’s actions transgressed morality
and human decency
...
) giving off intense heat, passionate (I didn’t want to witness the neighbor’s
torrid affair through the window
...
) passing through briefly; passing into and out of existence (Because
virtually everyone in Palm Beach is a tourist, the population of the town is quite
transient
...
) to change or alter in form (Ancient alchemists believed that it was
possible to transmute lead into gold
...
) a grossly inferior imitation (According to the school newspaper’s merciless
theater critic, Pacific Coast High’s rendition of the musical Oklahoma was a
travesty of the original
...
) fearful (I always feel a trifle tremulous when walking through
a graveyard
...
) effective, articulate, clear-cut (The directions that accompanied my new
cell phone were trenchant and easy to follow
...
) fear, apprehension (Feeling great trepidation, Anya refused to jump into
the pool because she thought she saw a shark in it
...
) not original, overused (Keith thought of himself as being very learned, but
everyone else thought he was trite because his observations about the world were
always the same as David Letterman’s
...
) ready to fight, cruel (This club doesn’t really attract the dangerous
types, so why was that bouncer being so truculent?)

SAT Vocabulary

truncate (v
...
)
turgid (adj
...
)
turpitude (n
...
)

U
ubiquitous (adj
...
The technology is ubiquitous here
...
) resentment, offense (He called me a lily-livered coward, and I took
umbrage at the insult
...
) of supernatural character or origin (Luka had an uncanny ability to
know exactly what other people were thinking
...
)
unctuous (adj
...
)
undulate (v
...
)
upbraid (v
...
)
usurp (v
...
)
utilitarian (adj
...
)
utopia (n
...
)

V
vacillate (v
...
)
vacuous (adj
...
)

vapid (adj
...
)
variegated (adj
...
)
vehemently (adv
...
)

SAT Vocabulary

validate (v
...
)

V
veneer (n
...
)
venerable (adj
...
)
venerate (v
...
)
veracity (n
...
)
verbose (adj
...
)
verdant (adj
...
)
vestige (n
...
) to confuse or annoy (My little brother vexes me by poking me in the ribs for
hours on end
...
) experiencing through another (All of my lame friends learned to be
social through vicarious involvement in my amazing experiences
...
) event that occurs by chance (The vicissitudes of daily life prevent me
from predicting what might happen from one day to the next
...
) watchful, alert (The guards remained vigilant throughout the night, but
the enemy never launched the expected attack
...
) to lower in importance, defame (After the Watergate scandal, almost any story
written about President Nixon sought to vilify him and criticize his behavior
...
) to avenge; to free from allegation; to set free (The attorney had no chance
of vindicating the defendant with all of the strong evidence presented by the state
...
) vengeful (The vindictive madman seeks to exact vengeance for any
insult that he perceives is directed at him, no matter how small
...
) one who excels in an art; a highly skilled musical performer (Even though
Lydia has studied piano for many years, she’s only average at it
...
)

W
viscous (adj
...
)
vitriolic (adj
...
)
vituperate (v
...
)
vivacious (adj
...
)
vocation (n
...
)
vociferous (adj
...
)

W
wallow (v
...
)
wane (v
...
)
wanton (adj
...
)

wily (adj
...
)
winsome (adj
...
)
wistful (adj
...
)
wizened (adj
...
)
wrath (n
...
) fanciful, full of whims (The whimsical little girl liked to pretend that
she was an elvin princess
...
) to join, link (We yoked together the logs by tying a string around them
...
) fervent, filled with eagerness in pursuit of something (If he were any
more zealous about getting his promotion, he’d practically live at the office
...
) the highest point, culminating point (I was too nice to tell Nelly that she had
reached the absolute zenith of her career with that one hit of hers
...
) a gentle breeze (If not for the zephyrs that were blowing and cooling us, our
room would’ve been unbearably hot

---