How Is Vocabulary Assessed on the SAT?
When it comes to SAT vocabulary assessment, a dynamic landscape has emerged in recent years. Understanding how vocabulary is tested on the SAT is crucial for any test-taker. The SAT underwent a significant transformation in 2016, leading to a reevaluation of the role vocabulary plays in this pivotal exam. In this section, we delve into the specifics of vocabulary testing on the SAT, shedding light on the changes and nuances that have emerged. You can calculate your SAT language raw score here.
What Do SAT Vocabulary Questions Look Like?
Unraveling the intricacies of SAT vocabulary questions is essential for effective preparation. The SAT doesn’t just test your knowledge of words in isolation but challenges you to comprehend them in the context of reading passages. This section provides insight into the diverse forms and structures of SAT vocabulary questions. By understanding what these questions look like, you’ll be better equipped to navigate them with confidence.
Are There Any Vocab Questions on SAT Writing?
Aspiring SAT test-takers often wonder if vocabulary questions make an appearance on the SAT Writing section. The answer is affirmative, and this section delves into the presence of vocabulary questions within SAT Writing. While this section predominantly focuses on grammar and language conventions, it also presents a distinct category of questions known as ‘Precision questions.’ Here, we explore the nature of these questions and how they contribute to your overall SAT experience.
300 SAT Vocabulary Words List
| Number | Word | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aberration | A deviation from the normal or typical. |
| 2 | Abhor | To regard with disgust or hatred. |
| 3 | Abridge | To shorten or condense. |
| 4 | Acumen | The ability to make good judgments and quick decisions. |
| 5 | Adamant | Unyielding, firm in one’s opinion. |
| 6 | Adroit | Skillful and clever in using the hands or mind. |
| 7 | Alacrity | Brisk and cheerful readiness. |
| 8 | Amiable | Friendly and pleasant. |
| 9 | Anecdote | A short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person. |
| 10 | Aplomb | Self-confidence or assurance, especially in a demanding situation. |
| 11 | Arcane | Understood by few; mysterious or secret. |
| 12 | Astute | Having the ability to accurately assess situations or people. |
| 13 | Audacity | Boldness or daring, often with disregard for personal safety. |
| 14 | Avarice | Extreme greed for wealth or material gain. |
| 15 | Belie | To fail to give a true notion or impression of something; to contradict. |
| 16 | Belligerent | Hostile and aggressive. |
| 17 | Benevolent | Well-meaning and kindly. |
| 18 | Brevity | Concise and exact use of words in writing or speech. |
| 19 | Cacophony | A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds. |
| 20 | Camaraderie | Mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together. |
| 21 | Capitulate | To surrender or give in to demands. |
| 22 | Censure | To express severe disapproval of, typically in a formal statement. |
| 23 | Chicanery | The use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose. |
| 24 | Coalesce | To come together to form one mass or whole. |
| 25 | Cogent | Clear, logical, and convincing. |
| 26 | Colloquial | Used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary. |
| 27 | Confluence | The coming together of two or more things. |
| 28 | Conundrum | A confusing and difficult problem or question. |
| 29 | Copious | Abundant in supply or quantity. |
| 30 | Credulous | Gullible and easily deceived. |
| 31 | Cryptic | Having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure. |
| 32 | Debilitate | To weaken or make feeble. |
| 33 | Debunk | To expose the falseness or hollowness of a myth, idea, or belief. |
| 34 | Decry | To publicly denounce or criticize. |
| 35 | Defunct | No longer existing or functioning. |
| 36 | Demure | Reserved, modest, and shy. |
| 37 | Deride | To express contempt or ridicule. |
| 38 | Desecrate | To treat a sacred place or thing with violent disrespect. |
| 39 | Diligent | Having or showing care and conscientiousness in one’s work or duties. |
| 40 | Disparage | To belittle or criticize someone or something. |
| 41 | Divulge | To make known (private or sensitive information). |
| 42 | Ebullient | Cheerful and full of energy. |
| 43 | Eccentric | Unconventional and slightly strange. |
| 44 | Elucidate | To make something clear; to explain. |
| 45 | Emulate | To match or surpass (a person or achievement) by imitation. |
| 46 | Enervate | To cause someone to feel drained of energy; to weaken. |
| 47 | Enigmatic | Difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious. |
| 48 | Ephemeral | Lasting for a very short time. |
| 49 | Esoteric | Intended for or understood by only a small group with specialized knowledge. |
| 50 | Euphemism | A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered too harsh or blunt. |
| 51 | Exacerbate | To make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse. |
| 52 | Exonerate | To absolve someone from blame for a fault or wrongdoing. |
| 53 | Fastidious | Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail. |
| 54 | Feasible | Possible to do easily or conveniently. |
| 55 | Flabbergasted | Extremely surprised or shocked. |
| 56 | Garrulous | Excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters. |
| 57 | Gratuitous | Uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted. |
| 58 | Guile | Sly or cunning intelligence. |
| 59 | Harangue | A lengthy and aggressive speech. |
| 60 | Hedonist | A person who believes that the pursuit of pleasure is the most important thing in life. |
| 61 | Heretic | A person believing in or practicing religious heresy. |
| 62 | Hubris | Excessive pride or self-confidence. |
| 63 | Ignominious | Deserving or causing public disgrace or shame. |
| 64 | Impertinent | Not showing proper respect; rude. |
| 65 | Ineffable | Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words. |
| 66 | Inexorable | Impossible to stop or prevent. |
| 67 | Innocuous | Not harmful or offensive. |
| 68 | Insidious | Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects. |
| 69 | Insipid | Lacking flavor; lacking vigor or interest. |
| 70 | Intrepid | Fearless; adventurous. |
| 71 | Inundate | To overwhelm with things or people to be dealt with. |
| 72 | Juxtapose | To place or deal with close together for contrasting effect. |
| 73 | Languid | Displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed. |
| 74 | Laconic | Using very few words. |
| 75 | Lethargic | Affected by laziness; sluggish and apathetic. |
| 76 | Loquacious | Talkative or chatty. |
| 77 | Lugubrious | Looking or sounding sad and dismal. |
| 78 | Magnanimous | Very generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person. |
| 79 | Malfeasance | Wrongdoing, especially by a public official. |
| 80 | Malleable | Easily influenced; pliable. |
| 81 | Maverick | An unorthodox or independent-minded person. |
| 82 | Mendacious | Not telling the truth; lying. |
| 83 | Meticulous | Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise. |
| 84 | Mitigate | To make less severe, serious, or painful. |
| 85 | Morose | Sullen and ill-tempered. |
| 86 | Multifarious | Many and of various types. |
| 87 | Munificent | More generous than is usual or necessary. |
| 88 | Nefarious | (typically of an action or activity) wicked, villainous, or criminal. |
| 89 | Nonchalant | Feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm. |
| 90 | Obfuscate | To render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible. |
| 91 | Obliterate | To destroy utterly; wipe out. |
| 92 | Obstinate | Stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so. |
| 93 | Ominous | Giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen; threatening. |
| 94 | Opulent | Rich and luxurious or lavish. |
| 95 | Pernicious | Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way. |
| 96 | Peruse | To read (something), typically in a thorough or careful way. |
| 97 | Pervasive | (especially of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people. |
| 98 | Placate | To make (someone) less angry or hostile. |
| 99 | Precarious | Not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse. |
| 100 | Precocious | (of a child) having developed certain abilities or inclinations at an earlier age than is usual or expected. |
| 101 | Prodigal | Spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant. |
| 102 | Profound | (of a state, quality, or emotion) very great or intense. |
| 103 | Prolific | (of an artist, author, or composer) producing many works. |
| 104 | Quixotic | Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical. |
| 105 | Recalcitrant | Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude towards authority or discipline. |
| 106 | Redolent | Strongly reminiscent or suggestive of something; fragrant or sweet-smelling. |
| 107 | Resilient | Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. |
| 108 | Reticent | Not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily. |
| 109 | Sardonic | Grimly mocking or cynical. |
| 110 | Scrutinize | To examine or inspect closely and thoroughly. |
| 111 | Serendipity | The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way. |
| 112 | Solace | Comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness. |
| 113 | Stoic | A person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining. |
| 114 | Superfluous | Unnecessary, especially through being more than enough. |
| 115 | Surreptitious | Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of. |
| 116 | Taciturn | (of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little. |
| 117 | Tenacious | Tending to keep a firm hold of something; clinging or adhering closely. |
| 118 | Truncate | To shorten (something) by cutting off the top or the end. |
| 119 | Ubiquitous | Present, appearing, or found everywhere. |
| 120 | Unanimous | (of two or more people) fully in agreement. |
| 121 | Unfettered | Release from restraint or inhibition. |
| 122 | Unpalatable | Not pleasant to taste. |
| 123 | Vacillate | To waver in one’s mind or opinions; be indecisive. |
| 124 | Vehement | Showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or intense. |
| 125 | Verbose | Using or expressed in more words than are needed. |
| 126 | Vex | To make (someone) feel annoyed, frustrated, or worried. |
| 127 | Vindicate | To clear (someone) of blame for a fault or wrongdoing. |
| 128 | Vitriolic | Filled with bitter criticism or malice. |
| 129 | Voracious | Wanting or devouring great quantities of food; having a very eager approach to an activity. |
| 130 | Wane | To decrease in vigor, power, or extent; become weaker. |
| 131 | Wistful | Having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing. |
| 132 | Zealot | A person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals. |
| 133 | Abate | To become less intense or widespread; to subside. |
| 134 | Alleviate | To make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe. |
| 135 | Antagonize | To cause someone to become hostile; to make an enemy of. |
| 136 | Augment | To make (something) greater by adding to it; increase. |
| 137 | Bellicose | Demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight. |
| 138 | Callous | Showing a complete disregard for others’ feelings; insensitive. |
| 139 | Capricious | Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior. |
| 140 | Castigate | To reprimand (someone) severely. |
| 141 | Chide | To scold or rebuke. |
| 142 | Clandestine | Kept secret or done secretly, often because it is not approved of. |
| 143 | Cognizant | Having knowledge or awareness. |
| 144 | Concur | To be of the same opinion; to agree. |
| 145 | Confound | To cause surprise or confusion in (someone), especially by acting against their expectations. |
| 146 | Convoluted | Extremely complex and difficult to follow. |
| 147 | Debacle | A sudden and ignominious failure; a fiasco. |
| 148 | Deprecate | To express disapproval of. |
| 149 | Derogatory | Showing a critical or disrespectful attitude. |
| 150 | Dilapidated | In a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or neglect. |
| 151 | Disparate | Essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison. |
| 152 | Disseminate | To spread or disperse (something, especially information) widely. |
| 153 | Divergent | Tending to be different or develop in different directions. |
| 154 | Elusive | Difficult to find, catch, or achieve. |
| 155 | Emaciated | Abnormally thin or weak, especially because of illness or a lack of food. |
| 156 | Enmity | A state or feeling of active opposition or hostility. |
| 157 | Enthrall | To capture the fascinated attention of. |
| 158 | Equivocal | Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous. |
| 159 | Eschew | To deliberately avoid using; abstain from. |
| 160 | Evanescent | Soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing. |
| 161 | Exacerbate | To make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse. |
| 162 | Exculpate | To show or declare that (someone) is not guilty of wrongdoing. |
| 163 | Exemplary | Serving as a desirable model; representing the best of its kind. |
| 164 | Facetious | Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant. |
| 165 | Fathom | To understand (a difficult problem or an enigmatic person) after much thought. |
| 166 | Flagrant | (of something considered wrong or immoral) conspicuously or obviously offensive. |
| 167 | Garrulous | Excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters. |
| 168 | Gratuitous | Uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted. |
| 169 | Hackneyed | Lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite. |
| 170 | Harbinger | A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another. |
| 171 | Iconoclast | A person who attacks or criticizes cherished beliefs or institutions. |
| 172 | Ignominy | Public shame or disgrace. |
| 173 | Illicit | Forbidden by law, rules, or custom. |
| 174 | Impervious | Not allowing fluid to pass through; unable to be affected by. |
| 175 | Ineffable | Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words. |
| 176 | Inherent | Existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute. |
| 177 | Insipid | Lacking flavor; lacking vigor or interest. |
| 178 | Inveterate | Having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change. |
| 179 | Laconic | Using very few words. |
| 180 | Languish | (of a person, animal, or plant) lose or lack vitality; grow weak. |
| 181 | Latent | Existing but not yet developed or manifest; hidden or concealed. |
| 182 | Maladroit | Ineffective or bungling; clumsy. |
| 183 | Melancholy | A feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause. |
| 184 | Mollify | To appease the anger or anxiety of (someone). |
| 185 | Nefarious | (typically of an action or activity) wicked, villainous, or criminal. |
| 186 | Nostalgia | A sentimental longing or affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations. |
| 187 | Obdurate | Stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action. |
| 188 | Obfuscate | To render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible. |
| 189 | Odious | Extremely unpleasant; repulsive. |
| 190 | Officious | Assertive of authority in an annoyingly domineering way, especially with regard to petty or trivial matters. |
| 191 | Opaque | Not able to be seen through; not transparent. |
| 192 | Paradigm | A typical example or pattern of something; a model. |
| 193 | Parsimonious | Unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy or frugal. |
| 194 | Paucity | The presence of something only in small or insufficient quantities or amounts. |
| 195 | Pejorative | Expressing contempt or disapproval. |
| 196 | Perfunctory | (of an action or gesture) carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection. |
| 197 | Petulant | (of a person or their manner) childishly sulky or bad-tempered. |
| 198 | Philistine | A person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts. |
| 199 | Pinnacle | The most successful point; the culmination. |
| 200 | Placate | To make (someone) less angry or hostile. |
| 201 | Precarious | Not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse. |
| 202 | Proclivity | A tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition. |
| 203 | Prolific | (of an artist, author, or composer) producing many works. |
| 204 | Quell | To put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force. |
| 205 | Querulous | Complaining in a rather petulant or whining manner. |
| 206 | Quixotic | Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical. |
| 207 | Rancor | Bitterness or resentfulness, especially when long-standing. |
| 208 | Reclusive | Avoiding the company of other people; solitary. |
| 209 | Reprehensible | Deserving censure or condemnation. |
| 210 | Resilient | Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. |
| 211 | Sycophant | A person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage. |
| 212 | Taciturn | (of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little. |
| 213 | Tenacious | Tending to keep a firm hold of something; clinging or adhering closely. |
| 214 | Unprecedented | Never done or known before. |
| 215 | Venerable | Accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character. |
| 216 | Vex | To make (someone) feel annoyed, frustrated, or worried. |
| 217 | Viable | Capable of working successfully; feasible. |
| 218 | Wistful | Having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing. |
| 219 | Xenophobia | Dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries. |
| 220 | Zephyr | A soft, gentle breeze. |
| Number | Word | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 221 | Zealot | A person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals. |
| 222 | Zephyr | A soft, gentle breeze. |
| 223 | Abate | To become less intense or widespread; to subside. |
| 224 | Alleviate | To make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe. |
| 225 | Antagonize | To cause someone to become hostile; to make an enemy of. |
| 226 | Augment | To make (something) greater by adding to it; increase. |
| 227 | Bellicose | Demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight. |
| 228 | Callous | Showing a complete disregard for others’ feelings; insensitive. |
| 229 | Capricious | Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior. |
| 230 | Castigate | To reprimand (someone) severely. |
| 231 | Chide | To scold or rebuke. |
| 232 | Clandestine | Kept secret or done secretly, often because it is not approved of. |
| 233 | Cognizant | Having knowledge or awareness. |
| 234 | Concur | To be of the same opinion; to agree. |
| 235 | Confound | To cause surprise or confusion in (someone), especially by acting against their expectations. |
| 236 | Convoluted | Extremely complex and difficult to follow. |
| 237 | Debacle | A sudden and ignominious failure; a fiasco. |
| 238 | Deprecate | To express disapproval of. |
| 239 | Derogatory | Showing a critical or disrespectful attitude. |
| 240 | Dilapidated | In a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or neglect. |
| 241 | Disparate | Essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison. |
| 242 | Disseminate | To spread or disperse (something, especially information) widely. |
| 243 | Divergent | Tending to be different or develop in different directions. |
| 244 | Elusive | Difficult to find, catch, or achieve. |
| 245 | Emaciated | Abnormally thin or weak, especially because of illness or a lack of food. |
| 246 | Enmity | A state or feeling of active opposition or hostility. |
| 247 | Enthrall | To capture the fascinated attention of. |
| 248 | Equivocal | Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous. |
| 249 | Eschew | To deliberately avoid using; abstain from. |
| 250 | Evanescent | Soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing. |
| 251 | Exacerbate | To make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse. |
| 252 | Exculpate | To show or declare that (someone) is not guilty of wrongdoing. |
| 253 | Exemplary | Serving as a desirable model; representing the best of its kind. |
| 254 | Facetious | Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant. |
| 255 | Fathom | To understand (a difficult problem or an enigmatic person) after much thought. |
| 256 | Flagrant | (of something considered wrong or immoral) conspicuously or obviously offensive. |
| 257 | Garrulous | Excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters. |
| 258 | Gratuitous | Uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted. |
| 259 | Hackneyed | Lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite. |
| 260 | Harbinger | A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another. |
| 261 | Iconoclast | A person who attacks or criticizes cherished beliefs or institutions. |
| 262 | Ignominy | Public shame or disgrace. |
| 263 | Illicit | Forbidden by law, rules, or custom. |
| 264 | Impervious | Not allowing fluid to pass through; unable to be affected by. |
| 265 | Ineffable | Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words. |
| 266 | Inherent | Existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute. |
| 267 | Insipid | Lacking flavor; lacking vigor or interest. |
| 268 | Inveterate | Having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change. |
| 269 | Laconic | Using very few words. |
| 270 | Languish | (of a person, animal, or plant) lose or lack vitality; grow weak. |
| 271 | Latent | Existing but not yet developed or manifest; hidden or concealed. |
| 272 | Maladroit | Ineffective or bungling; clumsy. |
| 273 | Melancholy | A feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause. |
| 274 | Mitigate | To make less severe, serious, or painful. |
| 275 | Mollify | To appease the anger or anxiety of (someone). |
| 276 | Nefarious | (typically of an action or activity) wicked, villainous, or criminal. |
| 277 | Nostalgia | A sentimental longing or affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations. |
| 278 | Obdurate | Stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action. |
| 279 | Obfuscate | To render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible. |
| 280 | Odious | Extremely unpleasant; repulsive. |
| 281 | Officious | Assertive of authority in an annoyingly domineering way, especially with regard to petty or trivial matters. |
| 282 | Opaque | Not able to be seen through; not transparent. |
| 283 | Paradigm | A typical example or pattern of something; a model. |
| 284 | Parsimonious | Unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy or frugal. |
| 285 | Paucity | The presence of something only in small or insufficient quantities or amounts. |
| 286 | Pejorative | Expressing contempt or disapproval. |
| 287 | Perfunctory | (of an action or gesture) carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection. |
| 288 | Pernicious | Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way. |
| 289 | Pervasive | (especially of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people. |
| 290 | Placate | To make (someone) less angry or hostile. |
| 291 | Ponderous | Slow and clumsy because of great weight. |
| 292 | Querulous | Complaining in a rather petulant or whining manner. |
| 293 | Quixotic | Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical. |
| 294 | Rancor | Bitterness or resentfulness, especially when long-standing. |
| 295 | Reclusive | Avoiding the company of other people; solitary. |
| 296 | Reiterate | To say something again or a number of times, typically for emphasis or clarity. |
| 297 | Sardonic | Grimly mocking or cynical. |
| 298 | Scrutinize | To examine or inspect closely and thoroughly. |
| 299 | Sycophant | A person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage. |
| 300 | Unscrupulous | Having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair. |
