This list includes some of the most frequently tested words on the SAT. In addition, these words represent the level of vocabulary high school students should be familiar with on any grade level. 

 

List 1

 

1.   indifferent-not caring; neutral                               46.  apathy-lack of emotion or interest

2.   obscure-unclear; clouded                                     47.  ambiguous-unclear in meaning

3.   revere-to worship or honor                                   48.  discriminate-to make a distinction

4.   denounce-to speak against; condemn                    49.  subtle-not obvious

5.   candid-honest, frank, straight-up                          50.  discern-to distinguish between

6.   ironic-satiric; unexpected                                    51.  disdain-contempt; intense dislike

7.   abstract-not concrete; theoretical                        52.  inevitable-unavoidable

8.   enigma-mystery; mysterious                                53.  diverse-varied

9.   eccentric-odd; unusual; quirky                              54.  futile-hopeless; useless

10. benevolent-kind; good-hearted                             55.  pious-deeply religious

11. conciliate-to end a dispute; soothe                        56.  resolve-determination

12. servile-overly submissive                                      57.  reticent-uncommunicative

13. anarchy-lack of government; chaos                        58.  acute-sharp; intelligent

14. scrutinize-to examine closely                                59.  discord-disagreement

15. repudiate-to reject; to deny                                 60.  diligent-hard working

16. aesthetic-dealing with art; dealing with beauty         61.  prodigal-extravagant; wasteful

17. augment-to add to; increase                                 62.  complacent-self-satisfied; smug

18. eloquent-fluent and graceful in speech                    63.  extol-to praise

19. incessant-never ending; unceasing                         64.  guile-cunning; deceitfulness

20. laud-praise                                                          65.  banal-common; dull; ordinary

21. euphony-pleasant sounding                                   66.  austere-severe; without frills

22. insipid-boring; stupid; bland; dull                            67.  philanthropy-donation to charity

23. expedite-to make faster or easier                           68.  novel-new; unusual

24. tentative-not final                                               69.  vacillate-to waver between two choices

25. pragmatic-practical                                             70.  alleviate- to lessen something bad

26. profound-deep; insightful                                      71.  condone-to forgive; to overlook

27. didactic-instructive; to instruct                              72.  ephemeral-short lived

28. profuse-flowing                                                   73.  prosaic-uninspired; dull; banal

29. fastidious-finicky; overly-critical                            74.  astute-perceptive; intelligent

30. belligerent-argumentative                                     75.  censure-to blame

31. languid-slow; tired                                               76.  stagnant-not moving; still

32. mitigate-to lessen the severity of                           77.  reprehensible-shameful; bad

33. scanty-minimal; inadequate                                    78.  acclaim-praise; applause

34. incoherent-jumbled; chaotic                                   79.  repress-to hold down

35. solicit-to seek; to ask for                                       80.  reproach-to scold

36. condescend-to talk down to                                  81.  orthodox-standard; conventional

37. indolence-laziness                                                82.  arrogant-acting superior to others

38. acquiesce-to give in; to agree;                              83.  ameliorate-to make better; improve

39. apprehension-fearful; worried                                84.  efface-to rub out; erase

40. taciturn-quiet; saying little                                    85.  dubious-doubtful

41. flagrant-shocking; very bad                                   86.  credulous-believing; gullible

42. esoteric-understood by a select few                       87.  ambivalent-undecided; hot and cold

43. cryptic-mysterious; enigmatic                                88.  tedious-boring

44. incongruous-not fitting in                                     89.  innate-inborn; inherited

45. digress-to go off  the subject                                90.  appease-to satisfy; make peace with

 

 

91.    frivolous-not serious; not solemn                      136.  instigate-to cause or start trouble

92.    sage (sagacious)-a wise person                       137.  tangible-touchable; significant

93.    indulgent-pampering oneself                             138.  remorse-sadness; regret

94.    pivotal-important; critical; crucial                      139.  scrupulous-careful; diligent; moral

95.    stoic-indifferent to pleasure and pain                  140.  respite-a rest or a pause

96.    volatile-explosive; unstable                              141.  peripheral-on the edge

97.    hedonistic-pleasure seeking                             142.  benefactor-a generous donor

98.    slander-to speak badly of someone                   143.  animosity-hatred

99.    amity-friendship                                            144.  stringent-strict; harsh; severe

100.  voluminous-very large; spacious                      145.  auspicious-favorable; looking up

101.  fickle-whimsical; unpredictable                          146.  lethargic-tired; languid

102.  hackneyed-banal; overused                             147.  amass-to accumulate

103.  bastion-stronghold; fortress                             148.  trepidation-fear

104.  desecrate-to profane a holy place                    149.  fortuitous-happening by chance

105.  vehement-urgent; passionate                         150.  prodigious-very large

106.  torpid-sluggish; lethargic                                151.  furtive-secretive

107.  prudent-careful; cautious; wise                       152.  supercilious-arrogant; haughty

108.  verbose-wordy; overly talkative                       153.  innocuous-harmless

109.  enhance-to make better; augment                    154.  retract-to take back

110.  rescind-to repeal                                           155.  zeal-enthusiasm; zest

111.  benign-not causing harm                                 156.  emulate-to copy; to imitate

112.  innumerable-to many to count                        157.  meander-to wander slowly

113.  authoritarian- like a dictator                           158.  brawn-bulk; muscles

114.  contrite-deeply apologetic                               159.  facilitate-to make easier

115.  hypothetical-theoretical                                 160.  ambulatory-able to walk; walking

116.  drone-to talk on and on dully                           161.  gullible-believing anything

117.  marred-damaged; bruised                               162.  parsimony-stinginess

118.  tenacious-tough; hard to beat                         163.  blithe-free spirited

119.  dearth-a lack                                                164.  divert-to change the direction of

120.  enthrall-to thrill                                             165.  irascible-irritable

121.  heed-to listen to                                            166.  hinder-to obstruct; get in the way

122.  propriety-properness; correctness                    167.  nostalgic-yearning for the old days

123.  fanatic-one devoted to a cause                        168.  rejuvenate-to make young again

124.  exemplify-to serve as an example                     169.  saccharin-falsely sweet

125.  skeptical-doubting                                          170.  temper-to moderate; to soften

126.  assess-to estimate the value of                        171.  deride-to ridicule; make fun of

127.  trivial-unimportant                                          172.  heresy-opposed to estab. beliefs

128.  impartial-unbiased; neutral                               173.  provincial-narrow-minded

129.  innovate-create something new                         174.  provocative-attracting attention

130.  infamous-famous in a bad way                           175.  virulent-harmful like a virus

131.  lucid-clear; easy to understand                           176.  squander-to waste

132.  engender-to create; to produce                          177.  cacophony-sounding harsh

133.  superficial-on the surface                                  178.  contempt-disdain

134.  grave (gravity)-seriousness                               179.  rigor-strength; thoroughness

135.  negligence-carelessness                                    180.  embellish-add details; exaggerate

 

 

 

181.  objective-without bias

182.  relevant-important; pertinent

183.  deference (defer)-a show of respect

184.  fervor-passion

185.  ascetic-without luxuries; austere

186.  dissent-disagreement

187.  disparity-inequality

188.  disparage-to speak badly of

189.  comply-to go along with; to obey

190.  exemplary-outstanding; setting a great example

191.  relegate-to dismiss to a lower position

192.  anecdote-a brief, entertaining story

193.  fallacious (fallacy)-false

194.  uniform-constant; without variety

195.  deter-to prevent; to stop; to keep from doing something

196.  redundant-repetitive; extra; unnecessary

197.  depravity-moral corruption

198.  articulate-speaking clearly and well

199.  congenial-friendly

200.  preclude-to prevent; to make impossible; to shut out

201.  elusive (elude)-tough to catch; hard to pin down

202.  atrophy-to waste away from lack of use

203.  concise-briefly stated

204.  static-stationary; not moving (not radio fuzz)

205.  dynamic-moving; not stationary

206.  blasphemy-heretical departure from accepted practice

207.  lax-careless; without intention

208.  extraneous-irrelevant; extra; unnecessary; unimportant

209.  sycophant-a bootlicker, a brown-noser; an apple-polisher

210.  inadvertent-careless; without intention

211.  predecessor-someone who came before another

212.  jeopardy-danger

213.  refute-to disprove

214.  idiom-a peculiar, untranslatable expression

215.  apocryphal-of doubtful origin; false

216.  assuage-to soothe

217.  pedestrian-common; ordinary; banal

218.  recalcitrant-stubbornly disobedient

219.  pretentious-pompous; self-important

220.  affirm-validate; confirm