Easier Words

The SAT doesn’t test many easy words, alas. However, the following list is fairly
straightforward, both in presenting words you might have encountered before and in
definitions that are simple and without much ambiguity. On a few occasions, the words
can be more than one part of speech. We’ve provided notes to make that clear.

Word Definition Word Definition

Following someone
Abate (v.) To reduce, to lessen Emulate (v.)
else's example
Feeling what
Abstain (v.) To refrain from doing something Empathy (n.) someone else is
feeling
Adversity (n.) Hardship, misfortune Exemplary (adj.) Outstanding
Arid (v.) Very dry Florid (adj.) Ornate
Benevolent (adj.) Well-meaning, helpful Fortitude (n.) Strength
Prejudice for or against
something, or to prejudice
Bias (v., n.) Fortuitous (adj.) Lucky
someone for or against
something
Brazen (adj.) Bold Foster (v.) Promote, aid
Collaborate (v.) Work together Frugal (adj.) Thrifty
Without
Inconsequential (adj.
Compassion (n.) Sympathy consequence, trivial,
)
doesn't matter
To meet in the middle, to settle
Compromise (v., n.) Longevity (n.) Long, esp. of life
differences
Condescending (adj.
Patronizing, talking down to Mundane (adj.) Boring, ordinary
)
Someone who follows the
Conformist (adj., n.) Nonchalant (adj.) Casual, calm, at ease
majority
To delay, often
Convergence (n.) Coming together Procrastinate (v.)
unnecessarily
Diligent (adj.) Hardworking, dedicated Prosperity (n.) Wealth
To dishonor someone, or prove
Discredit (v.) Prudent (adj.) Careful, wise
something untrue
Disdain (n., v.) To regard with scorn Restrained (adj.) Controlled, not free
Divergent (adj.) Moving apart, going in different Reverence (n.) Deep respect
 directions
Intermediate Words
These are a bit tougher. The definitions are still fairly straightforward, but the words
themselves are less commonly used. Again, when it’s possible a word might appear on
the test in either of two parts of speech in the same form, we’ve noted it for you.
Word Definition Word Definition
About beauty, or a particular
Aesthetic (adj., n.)  Intrepid (adj.) Fearless
perspective on beauty
Knowing something by
Amicable (adj.) Agreeable Intuitive (adj.): 
instinct
One who represents an
Boisterous (adj.):  Enthusiastic, loud Lobbyist (n.):  interest group to government
officials
Brusque (adj.):  Short, rude Opulent (adj.):  Wealthy
Togetherness, trust,
Camaraderie (n.):  Orator (n.):  Speaker
friendship
To have removed water from,
Careful, showing good
Canny (adj.):  Parched (v., adj.):  or when something is dried
judgment
up
Able to predict the future, or
Clairvoyant (adj.,
one who can predict the Pragmatic (adj.):  Practical
n.): 
future
Contingent upon something Thinking yourself better than
Conditional (adj.):  Pretentious (adj.): 
else others
Causes a fuss, inflammatory,
Demagogue (n.) Rabble-rousing leader Provocative (adj.): 
likely to get people riled up
Digression (n.):  Straying from the main pointReclusive (adj.):  Hermit, withdrawn
The act of bringing people
Filled with, especially of
Fraught (adj.) Reconciliation (n.): together or making an
tension or negative emotion
agreement
Being arrogant, talking
Haughty (n.):  Renovation (n.):  Being new, being redone
down to people
Unproven theory, educated
Hypothesis (n.):  Sagacity (n.) Wisdom
guess
Unavoidable, definitely
Inevitable (adj.):  Scrutinize (v.):  To look at carefully
going to happen
Inspect (v.) To look at closely, to assess Spontaneous (adj.): Being impulsive, acting
 without thinking 

Challenging Words

These are the toughest words we’re presenting. Don’t despair! There’s nothing
intrinsically mysterious about these words. They’re just uncommon in everyday
conversation and on occasion their definitions are a bit ambiguous.

Word Definition Word Definition

Something unusual,
Aberration (n.) Hackneyed (adj.)  Clichéd
different from the norm
Person who acts in
Abdicate (v.)  Give up a position Hedonist (n., adj.) 
pursuit of pleasure
Abhor (v.) To really hate Impetuous (adj.)  Rash, impulsive
Out of the context of To assign or attribute to
Anachronistic (adj.)  Impute (v.)
time, out of date someone
Something out of place,
Anomaly (n.) Jubilation (n.) Extreme happiness, joy
a strangeness
Apex (n.) Peak Melodramatic (adj.)  Exaggerated, extreme
Sanctuary, place of
Asylum (n.) Null (adj.) Void, meaningless
safety
Capacious (adj.) Very large, spacious Ostentatious (adj.)  Flaunting wealth
Capitulate (v.)  Surrender Perfidious (adj.)  Disloyal
Gifted or talented
Corroborate (v.) To back up a claim Precocious (adj.) 
beyond one's years
Irritable, prone to
Deleterious (adj.)  Harmful Querulous (adj.)
argument
Demur (v.) Object to Rancorous (adj.)  Hateful, unpleasant
Enervating (adj.) Tiring Spurious (adj.) False, untrue
Entail (v.)  To involve or include Substantiate (v.) To confirm, prove
Ephemeral (adj.)  Fleeting, temporary Superfluous (adj.)  Unnecessary, too much
Evanescent (adj.)  Not lasting long Surreptitious (adj.)  Secret
Something that makes Respectable because of
Extenuating (adj.) Venerable (adj.) 
the situation not as bad its age
To free from blame, to
Forbearance (n.):  Patience, restraint Vindicate (v.)
justify in a belief
Tips for Learning SAT Vocabulary Words
Learning vocabulary words can be difficult. Here are some tips to help learn these 100
words, and any other SAT vocabulary words you may come across in the future.

Create Flashcards With Unfamiliar Words

Memorizing words with flashcards is a classic way to study up on unfamiliar vocabulary.

You can even use our editable flashcard template PDF for the purpose.

View & Download PDF

Make an Audio Recording

This is a great tip for auditory learners. If you find it easiest to remember a word and its
definition when you’ve heard it out loud, simply read it out loud! Put together a recording
with each word and its definition, and you’ll be well on your way.

Use New Words in a Sentence

The most important trick to learning new words is context. The best way to get that
context is the same way it will be presented to you on the SAT: in a sentence. We’ve
provided a few examples here:
 The student procrastinated until just before the SAT to start studying;
he didn’t do as well as he had hoped.
 Her admission to college was conditional on her performance on the
SAT Verbal, so she studied hard.
 There was much jubilation in class after all the students scored high on
the SAT.

List the Words in Logical Groups

Breaking our lists into smaller groups makes them easier to grasp. Consider making
your own lists based on parts of speech, degree of difficulty, positive or negative
connotation, categories of context, or any other logical grouping.