SAT vocabulary words: 25 high-frequency terms with definitions
B2–C125 words
The modern SAT tests words in context rather than in isolation, so the useful list is not the longest one — it is the set of mid-difficulty words that keep turning up in reading passages and answer choices. These twenty-five are that kind of word: common enough to appear, abstract enough to trip you up.
Where you will use it: SAT reading, writing and language questions.
SAT Vocabulary — The word list
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ambiguous | Open to more than one interpretation.“The author's final line is deliberately ambiguous.” |
| advocate | To publicly support an idea; a person who does so.“She advocates for smaller class sizes.” |
| undermine | To weaken something gradually.“The new data undermines his conclusion.” |
| pragmatic | Dealing with things practically rather than ideally.“They took a pragmatic approach to the budget.” |
| nuance | A subtle difference in meaning or tone.“The translation loses the nuance of the original.” |
| compelling | Convincing, or holding your attention strongly.“The essay makes a compelling case.” |
| arbitrary | Based on chance or personal whim, not reason.“The deadline felt arbitrary.” |
| skeptical | Doubting that something is true.“Readers remain skeptical of the claim.” |
| articulate | To express an idea clearly.“He articulated the problem in one sentence.” |
| inevitable | Certain to happen and impossible to avoid.“Conflict between the two groups was inevitable.” |
| novel | New and original.“The study proposes a novel explanation.” |
| substantiate | To provide evidence for a claim.“No source substantiates the figure.” |
| concede | To admit that something is true.“The author concedes that the method has limits.” |
| conventional | Following accepted ideas or methods.“The design rejects conventional expectations.” |
| detrimental | Causing harm or damage.“The change was detrimental to small farms.” |
| empirical | Based on observation or experiment.“The claim is supported by empirical evidence.” |
| exemplify | To be a clear example of something.“The poem exemplifies the Romantic style.” |
| implicit | Suggested but not stated directly.“The criticism remains implicit.” |
| indifferent | Not interested or concerned.“The narrator seems indifferent to the outcome.” |
| paradox | A statement that seems impossible but may be true.“The result presents an interesting paradox.” |
| plausible | Reasonable and likely to be true.“Both explanations sound plausible.” |
| reinforce | To strengthen an idea or feeling.“The final detail reinforces the main argument.” |
| tentative | Not certain or final.“The researchers reached a tentative conclusion.” |
| validate | To show that something is sound or correct.“Later studies validate the original finding.” |
| wary | Careful because of possible danger or problems.“Consumers remain wary of the new technology.” |
Useful learning tips
- Learn in small groupsTake five words at a time and review them before adding more.
- Say the examples aloudReading each sentence aloud connects spelling, sound and meaning.
- Write your own sentenceUse each word in a true sentence about your life or work.
How to study this list
Add five or six of these words a day rather than the whole list at once, keep the example sentence on the card, and review them when they come due. WordNest schedules each word across seven growing intervals — same day, then 1, 3, 7, 14, 30 and 60 days — so the list is still with you months later. Read how spaced repetition works if you want the reasoning behind those numbers.
Studying sat vocabulary pairs well with our GRE vocabulary list, Academic Word List (AWL) vocabulary and B2 English vocabulary list, or browse all free English word lists.
Related guides
Questions about this list
How can I practise SAT Vocabulary?
Start with five words and say each example aloud. Then recall the word from its meaning and review it over several days.
Where can I use SAT Vocabulary?
SAT reading, writing and language questions.
How many words are in this list?
This list contains 25 English words with definitions and example sentences. It is a starting set, not a complete syllabus.
Turn this list into flashcards
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