Free SAT Vocabulary Words with StudyMinder Flash Cards

The Free Trial version of StudyMinder Flash Cards comes with 1,000 SAT vocabulary words and definitions that you can print out or study on your computer with the Flash Cards program.

When you order the registered version of StudyMinder Flash Cards, you get another 4,200 words, for a total of 5,200 SAT vocabulary words. 

The SAT vocabulary words are arranged in order from most common to least common. As you go through the words they become gradually more difficult, as they are less frequently used in modern American English. The first 1,000 SAT words and definitions - the most common  - are the ones included with the Free Trial version of StudyMinder Flash Cards.

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SAT Vocabulary Words 1 to 1,000

SAT Words Set 1

• course - n. a connected series of events or actions or developments
• campaign - n. a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end
• financial - j. involving money matters
• corporate - j. of or belonging to a corporation
• personal - j. concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
• foreign - j. relating to or originating in or characteristic of another place or part of the world
• similar - j. having close to the same characteristics
• editorial - n. an article giving opinions or perspectives
• technology - n. the practical application of science to commerce or industry
• conservative - j. avoiding excess
• difference - n. the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
• further - v. promote the growth of
• effect - n. a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
• account - v. furnish a justifying analysis or explanation
• network - n. an interconnected system of things or people
• minute - j. infinitely or immeasurably small
• version - n. something a little different from others of the same type
• expect - v. regard something as probable or likely
• reform - v. make changes for improvement in order to remove abuse and injustices
• opportunity - n. a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
• access - v. reach or gain access to
• opinion - n. a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
• potential - j. existing in possibility
• professor - n. someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
• commission - n. a special group delegated to consider some matter
• material - j. concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests
• complex - j. complicated in structure; consisting of interconnected parts
• benefit - n. something that aids or promotes well-being
• necessary - j. absolutely essential
• instance - n. an occurrence of something
• excellent - j. very good; of the highest quality
• positive - j. characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.
• annual - j. occurring or payable every year
• influence - n. a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
• effective - j. works well as a means or remedy
• forth - a. forward in time or order or degree
• consumer - n. a person who uses goods or services
• sentence - n. the period of time a prisoner is imprisoned
• accept - v. consider or hold as true
• significant - j. important in effect or meaning
• prudence - n. knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress
• ford - v. cross a river where it's shallow
• penalty - n. a punishment for a crime or offense
• confidence - n. a state of confident hopefulness that events will be favorable
• alternative - j. serving or used in place of another
• protection - n. the activity of protecting someone or something
• counsel - n. something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action
• intelligence - n. the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
• discussion - n. an exchange of views on some topic
• august - j. profoundly honored

SAT Words Set 2

• apparel - n. clothing in general
• judgment - n. the capacity to assess situations or circumstances shrewdly and to draw sound conclusions
• typical - j. exhibiting the qualities or characteristics that identify a group or kind or category
• prefer - v. like better; value more highly
• urban - j. located in or characteristic of a city or city life
• profile - n. an outline of something (especially a human face as seen from one side)
• appropriate - j. suitable for a particular person or place or condition etc
• option - n. one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen
• bomb - n. an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions
• medicine - n. something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease
• principle - n. a basic truth or law or assumption
• massive - j. imposing in size or bulk or solidity
• intellectual - j. appealing to or using the intellect
• resort - v. have recourse to
• species - n. (biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed
• academic - j. associated with school or learning
• reaction - n. a response that reveals a person's feelings or attitude
• commitment - n. the act of binding yourself (intellectually or emotionally) to a course of action
• contemporary - j. belonging to the present time
• recognize - v. detect with the senses
• invasion - n. any entry into an area not previously occupied
• unique - j. the single one of its kind
• bid - n. a formal proposal to buy at a specified price
• maintain - v. state or assert
• coalition - n. an organization of people (or countries) involved in a pact or treaty
• dialogue - n. a discussion intended to produce an agreement
• minority - n. being or relating to the smaller in number of two parts
• competitive - j. involving competition or competitiveness
• analyst - n. someone who is skilled at analyzing data
• alcohol - n. a liquor or brew containing alcohol as the active agent
• ridiculous - j. incongruous; absurd; nonsensical
• biography - n. an account of the series of events making up a person's life
• expense - n. money spent to perform work and usually reimbursed by an employer
• album - n. a book of blank pages with pockets or envelopes; for organizing photographs or stamp collections etc
• employee - n. a worker who is hired to perform a job
• literature - n. creative writing of recognized artistic value
• conspiracy - n. a plot to carry out some harmful or illegal act (especially a political plot)
• philosophy - n. any personal belief about how to live or how to deal with a situation
• flag - n. emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
• summary - n. a brief statement that presents the main points in a concise form
• encourage - v. inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to
• rural - j. living in or characteristic of farming or country life
• permanent - j. continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place
• collapse - v. break down, literally or metaphorically
• missile - n. a rocket carrying a warhead of conventional or nuclear explosives
• metal - n. any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids
• landscape - n. an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
• episode - n. a brief section of a literary or dramatic work that forms part of a connected series
• desert - n. arid land with little or no vegetation
• enormous - j. extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree

SAT Words Set 3

• lying - n. the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
• assets - n. anything of material value or usefulness that is owned by a person or company
• existence - n. everything that exists anywhere
• corruption - n. destroying someone's (or some group's) honesty or loyalty; undermining moral integrity
• affirmative - j. affirming or giving assent
• regional - j. related or limited to a particular region
• decent - j. socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous
• broadcast - n. message that is transmitted by radio or television
• foster - v. promote the growth of
• affect - n. the conscious subjective aspect of feeling or emotion
• principal - n. the educator who has executive authority for a school
• radical - j. markedly new or introducing extreme change
• cabinet - n. persons appointed by a head of state to head executive departments of government and act as official advisers
• diversity - n. noticeable heterogeneity
• bureau - n. an administrative unit of government
• error - n. a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
• depression - n. a long-term economic state characterized by unemployment and low prices and low levels of trade and investment
• personality - n. the complex of all the attributes--behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental--that characterize a unique individual
• harbor - v. hold back a thought or feeling about
• perform - v. carry out or perform an action
• renaissance - n. the period of European history at the close of the Middle Ages and the rise of the modern world; a cultural rebirth from the 14th through the middle of the 17th centuries
• alliance - n. a formal agreement establishing an association or alliance between nations or other groups to achieve a particular aim
• prescription - n. written instructions from a physician or dentist to a druggist concerning the form and dosage of a drug to be issued to a given patient
• sophisticated - j. having or appealing to those having worldly knowledge and refinement
• prominent - j. having a quality that thrusts itself into attention
• discipline - n. a system of rules of conduct or method of practice
• incident - n. a public disturbance
• expansion - n. the act of increasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope
• ultimate - j. furthest or highest in degree or order; utmost or extreme
• consensus - n. agreement in the judgment or opinion reached by a group as a whole
• medieval - j. as if belonging to the Middle Ages; old-fashioned and unenlightened
• efficient - j. able to accomplish a purpose; functioning effectively
• document - n. writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
• participate - v. become a participant; be involved in
• apparent - j. clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
• plea - n. a humble request for help from someone in authority
• pleasant - j. affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
• pentagon - n. a five-sided polygon
• logic - n. the principles that guide reasoning within a given field or situation
• academy - n. a school for special training
• sensitive - j. responsive to physical stimuli
• elaborate - v. add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing
• parliament - n. a legislative assembly in certain countries
• ken - n. range of what one can know or understand
• eliminate - v. terminate, end, or take out
• discover - v. see for the first time; make a discovery
• legitimate - j. in accordance with recognized or accepted standards or principles
• commentary - n. a written explanation or criticism or illustration that is added to a book or other textual material
• pundit - n. someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field
• expand - v. become larger in size or volume or quantity

SAT Words Set 4

• occasion - n. a vaguely specified social event
• comparison - n. the act of examining resemblances
• fundamental - j. being or involving basic facts or principles
• facility - n. something designed and created to serve a particular function and to afford a particular convenience or service
• evolution - n. a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage)
• incentive - n. a positive motivational influence
• visual - j. relating to or using sight
• monetary - j. relating to or involving money
• autonomous - j. existing as an independent entity
• legacy - n. (law) a gift of personal property by will
• equivalent - j. being essentially equal to something
• magnificent - j. characterized by grandeur
• collective - j. set up on the principle of collectivism or ownership and production by the workers involved usually under the supervision of a government
• casual - j. without or seeming to be without plan or method; offhand
• accurate - j. conforming exactly or almost exactly to fact or to a standard or performing with total accuracy
• judicial - j. belonging or appropriate to the office of a judge
• adjacent - j. having a common boundary or edge; abutting; touching
• extraordinary - j. beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
• heritage - n. practices that are handed down from the past by tradition
• narrative - n. a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
• transfer - v. move from one place to another
• naturally - a. according to nature; by natural means; without artificial help
• absence - n. the state of being absent
• conscious - j. knowing and perceiving; having awareness of surroundings and sensations and thoughts
• fiscal - j. involving financial matters
• integrity - n. moral soundness
• element - n. any of the more than 100 known substances (of which 92 occur naturally) that cannot be separated into simpler substances and that singly or in combination constitute all matter
• intervention - n. the act of intervening (as to mediate a dispute, etc.)
• mandatory - j. required by rule
• contribution - n. a voluntary gift (as of money or service or ideas) made to some worthwhile cause
• cynical - j. believing the worst of human nature and motives; having a sneering disbelief in e.g. selflessness of others
• temporary - j. not permanent; not lasting
• extensive - j. large in spatial extent or range or scope or quantity
• phenomenon - n. any state or process known through the senses rather than by intuition or reasoning
• lifetime - n. the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death)
• pension - n. a regular payment to a person that is intended to allow them to subsist without working
• rapid - j. characterized by speed; moving with or capable of moving with high speed
• dignity - n. the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect
• conviction - n. an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence
• disagree - v. be of different opinions
• technique - n. skillfulness in the command of fundamentals deriving from practice and familiarity
• nevertheless - a. despite anything to the contrary (usually following a concession)
• tremendous - j. extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
• opponent - n. a contestant that you are matched against
• metropolitan - j. relating to or characteristic of a densely populated urban area
• nomination - n. the condition of having been proposed as a suitable candidate for appointment or election
• emphasis - n. intensity or forcefulness of expression
• confident - j. having or marked by confidence or assurance
• personnel - n. persons collectively in the employ of a business
• tribune - n. a protector of the people

SAT Words Set 5

• inevitable - j. incapable of being avoided or prevented
• operate - v. handle and cause to function
• restore - v. bring back into original existence, use, function, or position
• transition - v. make or undergo a transition (from one state or system to another)
• subtle - j.  difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
• consecutive - j. one after the other
• script - n. a written version of a play or other dramatic composition; used in preparing for a performance
• predict - v. make a prediction about; tell in advance
• investor - n. someone who commits capital in order to gain financial returns
• procedure - n. a process or series of acts especially of a practical or mechanical nature involved in a particular form of work
• profession - n. an occupation requiring special education (especially in the liberal arts or sciences)
• regime - n. the government or governing authority of a political unit
• advocate - v. speak, plead, or argue in favor of
• triple - v. increase threefold
• generate - v. bring into existence
• resistance - n. the action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with
• ambitious - j. having a strong desire for success or achievement
• partisan - n. an ardent and enthusiastic supporter of some person or activity
• monopoly - n. (economics) a market in which there are many buyers but only one seller
• convenience - n. the quality of being useful and convenient
• tactics - n. the branch of military science dealing with detailed maneuvers to achieve objectives set by strategy
• defensive - j. attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing
• outrage - n. a feeling of righteous anger
• reluctant - j. not eager
• physics - n. the science of matter and energy and their interactions
• premise - v. set forth beforehand, often as an explanation
• tendency - n. a characteristic likelihood of or natural disposition toward a certain condition or character or effect
• desperate - j. showing extreme urgency or intensity especially because of great need or desire
• exposure - n. vulnerability to the elements; to the action of heat or cold or wind or rain
• myth - n. a traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view of a people
• orthodox - j. adhering to what is commonly accepted
• rhetoric - n. using language effectively to please or persuade
• denominator - n. the divisor of a fraction
• involve - v. engage as a participant
• marine - j. native to or inhabiting the sea
• depth - n. the attribute or quality of being deep, strong, or intense
• wherever - a. where in the world
• diplomatic - j. using or marked by tact in dealing with sensitive matters or people
• absurd - j. inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
• relevant - j. having a bearing on or connection with the subject at issue
• distinction - n. a distinguishing difference
• apology - n. an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
• refer - v. send or direct for treatment, information, or a decision
• irony - n. incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs
• progressive - j. favoring or promoting progress
• notorious - j. known widely and usually unfavorably
• extension - n. an addition to the length of something
• embrace - n. the act of clasping another person in the arms (as in greeting or affection)
• employer - n. a person or firm that employs workers
• insight - n. the clear (and often sudden) understanding of a complex situation

SAT Words Set 6

• soldier - n. an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
• formula - n. directions for making something
• emerge - v. come out into view, as from concealment
• ministry - n. a government department under the direction of a minister
• arrival - n. the act of arriving at a certain place
• deterrent - j. tending to deter
• comprehensive - j. broad in scope
• vulnerable - j. capable of being wounded or hurt
• logical - j. capable of thinking and expressing yourself in a clear and consistent manner
• secular - j. not concerned with or devoted to religion
• impose - v. compel to behave in a certain way
• distant - j. separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
• privilege - n. a special advantage or immunity or benefit not enjoyed by all
• veto - n. the power or right to prohibit or reject a proposed or intended act (especially the power of a chief executive to reject a bill passed by the legislature)
• significance - n. the quality of being important in effect or meaning
• sheer - j. complete and without restriction or qualification
• instant - n. a very short time
• pine - n. straight-grained white to yellowish tree
• ally - n. an associate who provides cooperation or assistance
• explicit - j. precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable; leaving nothing to implication
• alien - j. being or from or characteristic of another place or part of the world
• bass - n. the lowest adult male singing voice
• efficiency - n. skillfulness in avoiding wasted time and effort
• maintenance - n. activity involved in maintaining something in good working order
• perception - n. becoming aware of something via the senses
• superb - j. of surpassing excellence
• chaos - n. a state of extreme confusion and disorder
• excess - j. more than is needed, desired, or required
• generic - j. applicable to an entire class or group
• metric - j. based on the meter as a standard of measurement
• epic - j. very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary (especially in size or scale)
• dominant - j. exercising influence or control
• anxious - j. causing or fraught with or showing anxiety
• fleet - n. a group of warships organized as a tactical unit
• panic - n. an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
• influential - j. having or exercising influence or power
• resist - v. withstand the force of something
• accessible - j. easily obtained
• suspicious - j. openly distrustful and unwilling to confide
• protestant - j. of or relating to Protestants or Protestantism
• massacre - n. the savage and excessive killing of many people
• persuade - v. cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody's arm
• slight - n. a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
• perspective - n. the appearance of things relative to one another as determined by their distance from the viewer
• legislative - j. relating to a legislature or composed of members of a legislature
• epidemic - n. a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease; many people are infected at the same time
• peaceful - j. not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war
• transmission - n. the act of sending a message; causing a message to be transmitted
• acquire - v. come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
• consumption - n. the process of taking food into the body through the mouth

SAT Words Set 7

• sympathetic - j. expressing or feeling or resulting from sympathy or compassion or friendly fellow feelings; disposed toward
• diverse - j. many and different
• eligible - j. qualified for or allowed or worthy of being chosen
• gesture - n. motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
• morality - n. concern with the distinction between good and evil or right and wrong; right or good conduct
• immigrant - n. a person who comes to a country where they were not born in order to settle there
• equity - n. the difference between the market value of a property and the claims held against it
• metaphor - n. a figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity
• exotic - j. strikingly strange or unusual
• momentum - n. an impelling force or strength
• comparable - j. able to be compared or worthy of comparison
• debut - v. appear for the first time in public
• intention - n. an act of intending; a volition that you intend to carry out
• variation - n. an artifact that deviates from a norm or standard
• precise - j. sharply exact or accurate or delimited
• optimism - n. a general disposition to expect the best in all things
• petty - j. contemptibly narrow in outlook
• mandate - n. an authorization to act given to a representative
• subsequent - j. following in time or order
• essence - n. the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work
• authentic - j. not counterfeit or copied
• sequence - n. serial arrangement in which things follow in logical order or a recurrent pattern
• successor - n. a person who follows next in order
• bureaucracy - n. non elected government officials
• anonymous - j. having no known name or identity or known source
• mechanics - n. the technical aspects of doing something
• violation - n. an act that disregards an agreement or a right
• outrageous - j. grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
• perjury - n. criminal offense of making false statements under oath
• objective - j. undistorted by emotion or personal bias; based on observable phenomena
• oral - j. of or relating to or affecting or for use in the mouth
• terminal - j. being or situated at an end
• assassination - n. murder of a public figure by surprise attack
• recover - v. get or find back; recover the use of
• operator - n. an agent that operates some apparatus or machine
• tenure - v. give life-time employment to
• explosion - n. the act of exploding or bursting
• necessity - n. anything indispensable
• equilibrium - n. a stable situation in which forces cancel one another
• prevention - n. the act of preventing
• conscience - n. a feeling of shame when you do something immoral
• acid - j. biting, sarcastic, or scornful
• ideology - n. an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group or nation
• immune - j. (usually followed by 'to') not affected by a given influence
• unanimous - j. acting together as a single undiversified whole
• arrangement - n. an orderly grouping (of things or persons) considered as a unit; the result of arranging
• grief - n. something that causes great unhappiness
• emergence - n. the gradual beginning or coming forth
• plausible - j. apparently reasonable and valid, and truthful
• propaganda - n. information that is spread for the purpose of promoting some cause

SAT Words Set 8

• fabulous - j. extremely pleasing
• demonstrate - v. establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment
• enthusiastic - j. having or showing great excitement and interest
• exceed - v. be greater in scope or size than some standard
• grave - j. of great gravity or crucial import; requiring serious thought
• revelation - n. communication of knowledge to man by a divine or supernatural agency
• icon - n. a conventional religious painting in oil on a small wooden panel; venerated in the Eastern Church
• Madonna - n. the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
• preference - n. a strong liking
• irrelevant - j. having no bearing on or connection with the subject at issue
• fray - v. wear away by rubbing
• rue - n. sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment
• defendant - n. a person or institution against whom an action is brought in a court of law; the person being sued or accused
• acknowledge - v. declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
• alter - v. cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
• hypothesis - n. a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena
• neutral - j. having no personal preference
• utility - n. the quality of being of practical use
• possession - n. the act of having and controlling property
• probe - v. question or examine thoroughly and closely
• conservatism - n. a political or theological orientation advocating the preservation of the best in society and opposing radical changes
• colleague - n. an associate that one works with
• refusal - n. the act of not accepting something that is offered
• productive - j. producing or capable of producing (especially abundantly)
• accuse - v. blame for, make a claim of wrongdoing or misbehavior against
• determination - n. the quality of being determined to do or achieve something; firmness of purpose
• mileage - n. the ratio of the number of miles traveled to the number of gallons of gasoline burned; miles per gallon
• obtain - v. come into possession of
• flexible - j. able to flex; able to bend easily
• spectrum - n. a broad range of related objects or ideas or activities
• shallow - j. lacking depth of intellect or knowledge; concerned only with what is obvious
• dilemma - n. state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options
• scope - n. an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control
• portfolio - n. a set of pieces of creative work collected to be shown to potential customers or employers
• masterpiece - n. the most outstanding work of a creative artist or craftsman
• juvenile - j. of or relating to or characteristic of or appropriate for children or young people
• inexpensive - j. relatively low in price or charging low prices
• administrator - n. someone who manages a government agency or department
• inland - a. towards or into the interior of a region
• lucrative - j. producing a sizeable profit
• acquisition - n. something acquired or received
• liquor - n. an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
• skepticism - n. the disbelief in any claims of ultimate knowledge
• readily - a. without much difficulty
• altar - n. a raised structure on which gifts or sacrifices to a god are made
• unprecedented - j. having no previous example; novel
• makeup - n. the way in which someone or something is composed
• dominate - v. be in control
• leisure - n. time available for ease and relaxation
• exit - v. move out of or depart from

SAT Words Set 9

• parody - v. make a spoof of or make fun of
• felony - n. a serious crime (such as murder or arson)
• thesis - n. a formal paper advancing a new point of view resulting from research; usually a requirement for an advanced academic degree
• protective - j. intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind
• glimpse - n. a brief or incomplete view
• undermine - v. destroy property or hinder normal operations
• reign - v. have sovereign power
• accomplish - v. to gain with effort
• hale - j. exhibiting or restored to vigorous good health
• expertise - n. skillfulness by virtue of possessing special knowledge
• norm - n. a standard or model or pattern regarded as typical
• cardinal - j. serving as an essential component
• amateur - j. lacking professional skill or expertise
• critique - n. a serious examination and judgment of something
• dubious - j. open to doubt or suspicion
• humanitarian - n. someone devoted to the promotion of human welfare and to social reforms
• cynicism - n. a cynical feeling of distrust
• memorable - j. worth remembering
• prohibition - n. the action of prohibiting or inhibiting or forbidding (or an instance thereof)
• tolerance - n. willingness to recognize and respect the beliefs or practices of others
• martial - j. suggesting war or military life
• qualify - v. make fit or prepared
• autonomy - n. immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independence
• forecast - n. a prediction about how something (as the weather) will develop
• testament - n. a profession of belief
• courtesy - n. a courteous or respectful or considerate act
• biology - n. the science that studies living organisms
• credible - j. appearing to merit belief or acceptance
• narrator - n. someone who tells a story
• disappear - v. become invisible or unnoticeable
• valid - j. well grounded in logic or truth or having legal force
• plead - v. appeal or request earnestly
• vacuum - n. a region that is devoid of matter
• liberalism - n. a political orientation that favors social progress by reform and by changing laws rather than by revolution
• advocacy - n. active support of an idea or cause etc.; especially the act of pleading or arguing for something
• abbey - n. a monastery ruled by an abbot
• monastery - n. the residence of a religious community
• grove - n. a small growth of trees without underbrush
• reckless - j. characterized by careless unconcern
• resource - n. a source of aid or support that may be drawn upon when needed
• descent - n. properties attributable to your ancestry
• nominee - n. a politician who is running for public office
• statute - n. an act passed by a legislative body
• advisory - n. an announcement that usually advises or warns the public of some threat
• endorse - v. be behind; approve of
• submission - n. something (manuscripts or architectural plans and models or estimates or works of art of all genres etc.) submitted for the judgment of others (as in a competition)
• naval - j. connected with or belonging to or used in a navy
• inclined - j. at an angle to the horizontal or vertical position
• butt - v. to strike, thrust or shove against
• enduring - j. patiently bearing continual wrongs or trouble

SAT Words Set 10

• irresponsible - j. showing lack of care for consequences
• excerpt - n. a passage selected from a larger work
• curriculum - n. an integrated course of academic studies
• confront - v. oppose, as in hostility or a competition
• sacrifice - v. kill or destroy
• symphony - n. a large orchestra; can perform symphonies
• landmark - n. the position of a prominent or well-known object in a particular landscape
• nude - n. without clothing (especially in the phrase 'in the nude')
• jurisdiction - n. (law) the right and power to interpret and apply the law
• obstruction - n. something that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted
• lavish - j. very generous
• hilarious - j. marked by or causing boisterous merriment or convulsive laughter
• pact - n. a written agreement between two states or sovereigns
• intensive - j. characterized by a high degree or intensity; often used as a combining form
• intervene - v. get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action, or through force or threat of force
• formidable - j. extremely impressive in strength or excellence
• miniature - j. being on a very small scale
• drought - n. a shortage of rainfall
• turmoil - n. a violent disturbance
• sober - v. become more realistic
• autobiography - n. a biography of yourself
• parish - n. a local church community
• preparation - n. the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
• detect - v. discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
• knit - n. needlework created by interlacing yarn in a series of connected loops using straight eyeless needles or by machine
• justification - n. something (such as a fact or circumstance) that shows an action to be reasonable or necessary
• severely - a. with sternness; in a severe manner
• tolerate - v. recognize and respect (rights and beliefs of others)
• antique - j. made in or typical of earlier times and valued for its age
• renowned - j. widely known and esteemed
• protagonist - n. the principal character in a work of fiction
• fetus - n. an unborn or unhatched vertebrate in the later stages of development showing the main recognizable features of the mature animal
• indigenous - j. originating where it is found
• municipal - j. relating to city government
• realism - n. the attribute of accepting the facts of life and favoring practicality and literal truth
• censure - n. harsh criticism or disapproval
• plunge - v. fall abruptly
• beneficial - j. promoting or enhancing well-being
• competent - j. properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient
• glorious - j. having great beauty and splendor
• exempt - v. grant relief or an exemption from a rule or requirement to
• earnest - j. characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
• vogue - n. the popular taste at a given time
• characteristic - n. a distinguishing quality
• competitor - n. the contestant you hope to defeat
• emphasize - v. to stress, single out as important
• parallel - j. being everywhere equidistant and not intersecting
• exploit - v. use or manipulate to one's advantage
• precedent - n. an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time
• impulse - n. a sudden desire

SAT Words Set 11

• menace - v. act in a threatening manner
• improper - j. not suitable or right or appropriate
• chronic - j. being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering
• prediction - n. a statement made about the future
• prejudice - n. a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation
• consistency - n. a harmonious uniformity or agreement among things or parts
• prone - j. having a tendency (to); often used in combination
• outright - a. without reservation or concealment
• rampant - j. unrestrained and violent
• playwright - n. someone who writes plays
• specialty - n. an asset of special worth or utility
• secondary - j. not of major importance
• reflection - n. the image of something as reflected by a mirror (or other reflective material)
• reminiscent - j. serving to bring to mind
• dissent - n. a difference of opinion
• exterior - n. the outer side or surface of something
• boycott - n. a group's refusal to have commercial dealings with some organization in protest against its policies
• arrange - v. put into a proper or systematic order
• cite - v. refer to for illustration or proof
• commodity - n. articles of commerce
• warrant - v. stand behind and guarantee the quality, accuracy, or condition of
• alley - n. a narrow street with walls on both sides
• redemption - n. (theology) the act of delivering from sin or saving from evil
• proceed - v. move ahead; travel onward in time or space
• accommodate - v. provide with something desired or needed
• composer - n. someone who composes music as a profession
• likelihood - n. the probability of a specified outcome
• implicit - j. implied though not directly expressed; inherent in the nature of something
• fragile - j. easily broken or damaged or destroyed
• allegiance - n. the loyalty that citizens owe to their country (or subjects to their sovereign)
• probation - n. (law) a way of dealing with offenders without imprisoning them; a defendant found guilty of a crime is released by the court without imprisonment subject to conditions imposed by the court
• anchor - v. fix firmly and stably
• crusade - v. exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or person; be an advocate for
• gamble - v. take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
• lax - j. lacking in rigor or strictness
• continuous - j. continuing in time or space without interruption
• sensation - n. a perception associated with stimulation of a sensory organ
• gravity - n. a manner that is serious and solemn
• analogy - n. drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity in some respect
• bore - n. a person who evokes boredom
• imminent - j. close in time; about to occur
• dynamics - n. the branch of mechanics concerned with the forces that cause motions of bodies
• intricate - j. having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate
• assess - v. set or determine the amount of (a payment such as a fine)
• concede - v. admit (to a wrongdoing)
• brass - n. an alloy of copper and zinc
• suspension - n. an interruption in the intensity or amount of something
• inherent - j. in the nature of something though not readily apparent
• spectator - n. a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
• collision - n. an accident resulting from violent impact of a moving object

SAT Words Set 12

• diplomacy - n. subtly skillful handling of a situation
• conversion - n. the act of changing from one use or function or purpose to another
• domain - n. territory over which rule or control is exercised
• premier - v. be performed for the first time
• donor - n. person who makes a gift of property
• vigorous - j. strong and active physically or mentally
• titanic - j. of great force or power
• theoretical - j. concerned with theories rather than their practical applications
• subsidiary - j. functioning in a supporting capacity
• provincial - j. characteristic of the provinces or their people
• aggression - n. violent action that is hostile and usually unprovoked
• premature - j. too soon or too hasty
• imaginary - j. not based on fact; unreal
• volatile - j. liable to lead to sudden change or violence
• quarterly - a. in three month intervals
• hypocrisy - n. insincerity by virtue of pretending to have qualities or beliefs that you do not really have
• abusive - j. characterized by physical or psychological maltreatment
• enhance - v. make better or more attractive
• immense - j. unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
• patron - n. someone who supports or champions something
• arbitrary - j. based on or subject to individual discretion or preference or sometimes impulse or caprice
• pioneer - v. open up and explore a new area
• poised - j. in full control of your faculties
• bumper - n. a mechanical device consisting of bars at either end of a vehicle to absorb shock and prevent serious damage
• socialist - j. advocating or following the socialist principles of state ownership
• competence - n. the quality of being adequately or well qualified physically and intellectually
• heir - n. a person who is entitled by law or by the terms of a will to inherit the estate of another
• crush - v. to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition
• investigator - n. a police officer who investigates crimes
• trivial - j. of little substance or significance
• potent - j. having a strong physiological or chemical effect
• dismal - j. causing dejection
• mentality - n. a habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations
• myriad - n. a large indefinite number
• definite - j. known for certain
• predecessor - n. one who precedes you in time (as in holding a position or office)
• revive - v. be brought back to life, consciousness, or strength
• spontaneous - j. said or done without having been planned or written in advance
• deter - v. try to prevent; show opposition to
• superficial - j. concerned with or comprehending only what is apparent or obvious; not deep or penetrating emotionally or intellectually
• militant - j. disposed to warfare or hard-line policies
• perennial - j. lasting an indefinitely long time; suggesting self-renewal
• formation - n. an arrangement of people or things acting as a unit
• inspector - n. a high ranking police officer
• machinery - n. machines or machine systems collectively
• hostility - n. violent action that is hostile and usually unprovoked
• primitive - j. belonging to an early stage of technical development; characterized by simplicity and (often) crudeness
• illusion - n. an erroneous mental representation
• accusation - n. an assertion that someone is guilty of a fault or offence
• incidentally - a. of a minor or subordinate nature

SAT Words Set 13

• refuge - n. a shelter from danger or hardship
• preservation - n. the activity of protecting something from loss or danger
• coincidence - n. the temporal property of two things happening at the same time
• feminine - j. associated with women and not with men
• rigorous - j. demanding strict attention to rules and procedures
• hollow - j. not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
• prevalent - j. most frequent or common
• decency - n. the quality of conforming to standards of propriety and morality
• vegetarian - n. eater of fruits and grains and nuts; someone who eats no meat or fish or (often) any animal products
• fidelity - n. the quality of being faithful
• deposition - n. (law) a pretrial interrogation of a witness; usually conducted in a lawyer's office
• ubiquitous - j. being present everywhere at once
• patriotism - n. love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it
• compassionate - j. showing or having compassion
• external - j. happening or arising or located outside or beyond some limits or especially surface
• diagnosis - n. identifying the nature or cause of some phenomenon
• passive - j. lacking in energy or will
• census - n. a periodic count of the population
• literacy - n. the ability to read and write
• legitimacy - n. lawfulness by virtue of being authorized or in accordance with law
• apt - j. being of striking appropriateness and pertinence
• altitude - n. elevation especially above sea level or above the earth's surface
• catastrophe - n. an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
• overweight - n. the property of excessive fatness
• sequel - n. a part added to a book or play that continues and extends it
• avid - j. marked by active interest and enthusiasm
• mediocre - j. moderate to inferior in quality
• component - n. an artifact that is one of the individual parts of which a composite entity is made up; especially a part that can be separated from or attached to a system
• entity - n. that which is perceived or known or inferred to have its own distinct existence (living or nonliving)
• frontier - n. a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country
• insufficient - j. of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement
• solar - j. relating to or derived from the sun or utilizing the energies of the sun
• decisive - j. characterized by decision and firmness
• paradox - n. (logic) a statement that contradicts itself
• gauge - n. a measuring instrument for measuring and indicating a quantity such as the thickness of wire or the amount of rain etc.
• unlimited - j. having no limits in range or scope
• handwriting - n. something written by hand
• extravagant - j. unrestrained, especially with regard to feelings
• hack - n. a mediocre and disdained writer
• bolster - v. support and strengthen
• ornate - j. marked by elaborate rhetoric and elaborated with decorative details
• vista - n. the visual percept of a region
• inadequate - j. not sufficient to meet a need
• counterpart - n. a person or thing having the same function or characteristics as another
• substantive - j. having a firm basis in reality and being therefore important, meaningful, or considerable
• siege - n. the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack
• domination - n. social control by dominating
• intimacy - n. close or warm friendship
• gigantic - j. so exceedingly large or extensive as to suggest a giant or mammoth
• infamous - j. known widely and usually unfavorably

SAT Words Set 14

• seize - v. take hold of; grab
• junction - n. something that joins or connects
• magnitude - n. the property of relative size or extent (whether large or small)
• humane - j. marked or motivated by concern with the alleviation of suffering
• gist - n. the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience
• taxation - n. the imposition of taxes; the practice of the government in levying taxes on the subjects of a state
• outbreak - n. a sudden violent spontaneous occurrence (usually of some undesirable condition)
• interact - v. act together or towards others or with others
• speculate - v. consider in an idle or casual way and with an element of doubt or without sufficient reason to reach a conclusion
• arrogance - n. overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors
• irrational - j. not consistent with or using reason
• hysteria - n. excessive or uncontrollable fear
• mentor - v. serve as a teacher or trusted counselor
• bogus - j. fraudulent; having a misleading appearance
• analyze - v. break down into components or essential features
• preposterous - j. incongruous; inviting ridicule
• brokerage - n. the business of a broker; charges a fee to arrange a contract between two parties
• contradiction - n. opposition between two conflicting forces or ideas
• compensate - v. make payment to; compensate
• fringe - n. a social group holding marginal or extreme views
• bleak - j. unpleasantly cold and damp
• tense - j. taut or rigid; stretched tight
• infinite - j. having no limits or boundaries in time or space or extent or magnitude
• explosive - n. a chemical substance that undergoes a rapid chemical change (with the production of gas) on being heated or struck
• pavilion - n. large and often sumptuous tent
• arrogant - j. having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance out of overbearing pride
• retrospective - j. concerned with or related to the past
• ludicrous - j. broadly or extravagantly humorous; resembling farce
• involuntary - j. not subject to the control of the will
• promenade - n. a public area set aside as a pedestrian walk
• ceremonial - j. marked by pomp or ceremony or formality
• observatory - n. a building designed and equipped to observe astronomical phenomena
• grotesque - j. distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous
• translate - v. restate (words) from one language into another language
• despair - n. a state in which all hope is lost or absent
• coherent - j. marked by an orderly, logical, and aesthetically consistent relation of parts
• monarchy - n. an autocracy governed by a monarch who usually inherits the authority
• ambiguous - j. having more than one possible meaning
• dedication - n. complete and wholehearted fidelity
• prominence - n. relative importance
• scholarly - j. characteristic of learning or studying
• alternate - j. serving or used in place of another
• maze - n. complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is easy to get lost
• aura - n. a distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing
• specter - n. a ghostly appearing figure
• imply - v. express or state indirectly
• perceive - v. to become aware of or conscious of
• selective - j. characterized by very careful or fastidious choices
• dominance - n. the state that exists when one person or group has power over another
• reluctance - n. a certain degree of unwillingness

SAT Words Set 15

• diplomat - n. a person who deals tactfully with others
• transparent - j. transmitting light; able to be seen through with clarity
• indifferent - j. showing no care or concern in attitude or action
• militia - n. civilians trained as soldiers but not part of the regular army
• lifelong - j. continuing through life
• commute - n. a regular journey of some distance to and from your place of work
• convertible - j. designed to be changed from one use or form to another
• exclude - v. prevent from being included or considered or accepted
• absorb - v. assimilate or take in
• provoke - v. evoke or provoke to appear or occur
• collector - n. a person who collects things
• donate - v. give to a charity or good cause
• prophet - n. someone who speaks by divine inspiration; someone who is an interpreter of the will of God
• oversee - v. watch and direct
• magnet - n. (physics) a device that attracts iron and produces a magnetic field
• daring - n. the trait of being willing to undertake things that involve risk or danger
• futile - j. producing no result or effect
• stature - n. high level of respect gained by impressive development or achievement
• poignant - j. arousing emotions; touching
• stealth - n. avoiding detection by moving carefully
• auburn - j. (of hair) colored a moderate reddish-brown
• vertical - j. at right angles to the plane of the horizon or a base line
• usage - n. the act of using
• flourish - n. a showy gesture
• advent - n. arrival that has been awaited (especially of something momentous)
• robust - j. sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction
• sinister - j. stemming from evil characteristics or forces; wicked or dishonorable
• physicist - n. a scientist trained in physics
• grandeur - n. the quality of being magnificent or splendid or grand
• evangelical - j. relating to or being a Christian church believing in personal conversion and the inerrancy of the Bible especially the 4 Gospels
• penchant - n. a strong liking
• servitude - n. state of subjection to an owner or master or forced labor imposed as punishment
• consume - v. use up (resources or materials)
• precision - n. the quality of being reproducible in amount or performance
• knight - n. originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit
• corps - n. a body of people associated together
• noisy - j. full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds
• insistence - n. the state of demanding notice or attention
• abundant - j. present in great quantity
• perpetual - j. continuing forever or indefinitely
• melodrama - n. an extravagant comedy in which action is more salient than characterization
• territorial - j. displaying territoriality; defending an area from intruders
• feasible - j. capable of being done with means at hand and circumstances as they are
• contributor - n. someone who contributes (or promises to contribute) a sum of money
• inconsistent - j. displaying a lack of consistency
• curator - n. the custodian of a collection (as a museum or library)
• facial - j. of or concerning the face
• resurrection - n. (New Testament) the rising of Christ on the third day after the Crucifixion
• tolerant - j. showing respect for the rights or opinions or practices of others
• marvel - v. be amazed at

SAT Words Set 16

• suspense - n. excited anticipation of an approaching climax
• obesity - n. more than average fatness
• pantheon - n. all the gods of a religion
• render - v. give or supply
• dismissal - n. the termination of someone's employment (leaving them free to depart)
• indulge - v. enjoy to excess
• pedestrian - j. lacking wit or imagination
• drastic - j. forceful and extreme and rigorous
• blaze - n. a strong flame that burns brightly
• eccentric - n. a person with an unusual or odd personality
• generosity - n. the trait of being willing to give your money or time
• pinch - n. a squeeze with the fingers
• pervasive - j. spreading or spread throughout
• dishonest - j. deceptive or fraudulent; disposed to cheat or defraud or deceive
• finale - n. the concluding part of any performance
• forte - n. an asset of special worth or utility
• asylum - n. a shelter from danger or hardship
• energetic - j. possessing or exerting or displaying energy
• uncommon - j. not common or ordinarily encountered; unusually great in amount or remarkable in character or kind
• demise - v. transfer by a lease or by a will
• disregard - n. willful lack of care and attention
• transplant - n. the act of removing something from one location and introducing it in another location
• psychic - j. outside the sphere of physical science
• homage - n. respectful deference
• sensibility - n. refined sensitivity to pleasurable or painful impressions
• cosmetic - j. serving an esthetic rather than a useful purpose
• proxy - n. a person authorized to act for another
• ambivalent - j. uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow
• banal - j. repeated too often; over familiar through overuse
• playful - j. full of fun and high spirits
• eclectic - j. selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas
• contradictory - j. unable for both to be true at the same time
• savage - v. criticize harshly or violently
• contentious - j. inclined or showing an inclination to dispute or disagree, even to engage in law suits
• minimize - v. make small or insignificant
• foil - n. anything that serves by contrast to call attention to another thing's good qualities
• ominous - j. threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
• defiance - n. a hostile challenge
• overhaul - v. make repairs, renovations, revisions or adjustments to
• cosmopolitan - j. of worldwide scope or applicability
• constituency - n. the body of voters who elect a representative for their area
• wholly - a. to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent ('whole' is often used informally for 'wholly')
• liable - j. held legally responsible
• recruit - v. cause to assemble or enlist in the military
• secrecy - n. the trait of keeping things secret
• ordeal - n. a severe or trying experience
• feudal - j. of or relating to or characteristic of feudalism
• mundane - j. concerned with the world or worldly matters; ordinary
• zeal - n. excessive fervor to do something or accomplish some end
• venerable - j. impressive by reason of age

SAT Words Set 17

• caucus - n. a closed political meeting
• explode - v. drive from the stage by noisy disapproval
• invoke - v. cite as an authority; resort to
• evoke - v. call to mind
• decay - n. the organic phenomenon of rotting
• enact - v. order by virtue of superior authority; decree
• theological - j. of or relating to or concerning the study of religion
• contender - n. the contestant you hope to defeat
• souvenir - n. a reminder of past events
• overthrow - n. the termination of a ruler or institution (especially by force)
• sergeant - n. any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
• systematic - j. characterized by order and planning
• interim - n. the time between one event, process, or period and another
• integral - j. essential to completeness; lacking nothing
• articulate - j. expressing yourself easily or characterized by clear expressive language
• resistant - j. impervious to being affected
• meditation - n. continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature
• irresistible - j. impossible to resist; overpowering
• literal - j. avoiding embellishment or exaggeration (used for emphasis)
• phenomenal - j. exceedingly or unbelievably great
• flamboyant - j. marked by ostentation but often tasteless
• frivolous - j. not serious in content or attitude or behavior
• citadel - n. a stronghold into which people could go for shelter during a battle
• debacle - n. a sudden and violent collapse
• caliber - n. a degree or grade of excellence or worth
• accompany - v. go or travel along with
• persist - v. be persistent, refuse to stop
• contemplate - v. look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
• theology - n. the rational and systematic study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truth
• designate - v. give an assignment to (a person) to a post, or assign a task to (a person)
• poetic - j. of or relating to poetry
• tangible - j. perceptible by the senses especially the sense of touch
• batter - n. a liquid or semiliquid mixture, as of flour, eggs, and milk, used in cooking
• faulty - j. characterized by errors; not agreeing with a model or not following established rules
• trinity - n. the union of the Father and Son and Holy Ghost in one Godhead
• rave - v. praise enthusiastically
• primer - n. an introductory textbook
• feud - n. a bitter quarrel between two parties
• slack - j. not tense or taut
• disdain - n. lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
• discourse - n. extended verbal expression in speech or writing
• incidence - n. the relative frequency of occurrence of something
• distress - n. extreme physical pain
• reproduction - n. the act of making copies
• resemblance - n. similarity in appearance or external or superficial details
• levy - v. impose and collect
• reconsider - v. consider again; give new consideration to; usually with a view to changing
• clumsy - j. not elegant or graceful in expression
• courageous - j. able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
• lapse - n. a break or intermission in the occurrence of something

SAT Words Set 18

• liking - n. a feeling of pleasure and enjoyment
• invincible - j. incapable of being overcome or subdued
• possess - v. have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill
• hazard - n. a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
• excursion - n. a journey taken for pleasure
• inefficient - j. not producing desired results; wasteful
• abound - v. be abundant or plentiful; exist in large quantities
• partition - v. divide into parts, pieces, or sections
• retrospect - n. contemplation of things past
• embargo - n. a government order imposing a trade barrier
• obsolete - j. no longer in use
• immoral - j. not adhering to ethical or moral principles
• reliant - j. depending on another for support
• implausible - j. having a quality that provokes disbelief
• secession - n. formal separation from an alliance or federation
• encyclopedia - n. a reference work (often in several volumes) containing articles on various topics
• laureate - n. someone honored for great achievements; figuratively someone crowned with a laurel wreath
• socialism - n. a political theory advocating state ownership of industry
• intermediate - j. lying between two extremes in time or space or state
• tentative - j. unsettled in mind or opinion
• benign - j. not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive (especially of a tumor)
• incompetence - n. lack of physical or intellectual ability or qualifications
• authenticity - n. undisputed credibility
• woo - v. seek someone's favor
• acclaim - n. enthusiastic approval
• airy - j. not practical or realizable; speculative
• flop - n. a complete failure
• inventive - j. (used of persons or artifacts) marked by independence and creativity in thought or action
• metropolis - n. a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
• abstinence - n. practice of refraining from indulging an appetite especially alcohol
• lovable - j. having characteristics that attract love or affection
• frequency - n. the number of occurrences within a given time period
• participant - n. someone who takes part in an activity
• stimulate - v. cause to be alert and energetic
• faction - n. a dissenting clique
• recipient - n. a person who receives something
• commemorate - v. mark by some ceremony or observation
• authoritarian - n. a person who behaves in a tyrannical manner
• arcade - n. a covered passageway with shops and stalls on either side
• apartheid - n. a social policy or racial segregation involving political and economic and legal discrimination against people who are not Whites
• inconvenient - j. not suited to your comfort, purpose or needs
• austere - j. of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
• extradition - n. the surrender of an accused or convicted person by one state or country to another (usually under the provisions of a statute or treaty)
• grandiose - j. impressive because of unnecessary largeness or grandeur; used to show disapproval
• caricature - n. a representation of a person that is exaggerated for comic effect
• philharmonic - j. composing or characteristic of an orchestral group
• principled - j. based on or manifesting objectively defined standards of rightness or morality
• antichrist - n. the adversary of Christ (or Christianity) mentioned in the New Testament
• derive - v. come from
• surround - v. extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle

SAT Words Set 19

• breach - n. an opening (especially a gap in a dike or fortification)
• concession - n. a point conceded or yielded
• suppress - v. reduce the incidence or severity of or stop
• promoter - n. someone who is an active supporter and advocate
• adverse - j. contrary to your interests or welfare
• theorist - n. someone who theorizes (especially in science or art)
• injunction - n. (law) a judicial remedy issued in order to prohibit a party from doing or continuing to do a certain activity
• resent - v. feel bitter or indignant about
• diversion - n. an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates
• finite - j. bounded or limited in magnitude or spatial or temporal extent
• buffet - n. a meal set out on a buffet at which guests help themselves
• eminent - j. of imposing height; especially standing out above others
• doe - n. mature female of mammals of which the male is called 'buck'
• impending - j. close in time; about to occur
• influx - n. the process of flowing in
• disparity - n. inequality or difference in some respect
• emblem - n. a visible symbol representing an abstract idea
• repeal - n. cancel officially
• botanical - j. of or relating to plants or botany
• juicy - j. lucrative
• pivotal - j. being of crucial importance
• rustic - j. characteristic of the fields or country
• maneuver - v. act in order to achieve a certain goal
• archbishop - n. a bishop of highest rank
• divert - v. turn aside; turn away from
• vegetation - n. all the plant life in a particular region or period
• urgency - n. an urgent situation calling for prompt action
• foresee - v. act in advance of; deal with ahead of time
• discriminate - v. treat differently on the basis of sex or race
• frantic - j. excessively agitated; distraught with fear or other violent emotion
• dismay - v. fill with apprehension or alarm; cause to be unpleasantly surprised
• maritime - j. relating to or involving ships or shipping or navigation or seamen
• canon - n. a rule or especially body of rules or principles generally established as valid and fundamental in a field or art or philosophy
• emulate - v. imitate the function of (another system), as by modifying the hardware or the software
• stringent - j. demanding strict attention to rules and procedures
• mythology - n. myths collectively; the body of stories associated with a culture or institution or person
• abide - v. dwell; inhabit or live in
• hybrid - n. (genetics) an organism that is the offspring of genetically dissimilar parents or stock; especially offspring produced by breeding plants or animals of different varieties or breeds or species
• distrust - v. regard as untrustworthy; regard with suspicion; have no faith or confidence in
• requisite - n. anything indispensable
• pretentious - j. making claim to or creating an appearance of (often undeserved) importance or distinction
• pageant - n. a rich and spectacular ceremony
• confederate - j. united in a group or league
• pennant - n. a long flag; often tapering
• fervor - n. the state of being emotionally aroused and worked up
• unconscious - j. not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead
• causal - j. involving or constituting a cause; causing
• decree - n. a legally binding command or decision entered on the court record (as if issued by a court or judge)
• morale - n. the spirit of a group that makes the members want the group to succeed
• galaxy - n. (astronomy) a collection of star systems; any of the billions of systems each having many stars and nebulae and dust

SAT Words Set 20

• conspicuous - j. obvious to the eye or mind
• imitation - n. something copied or derived from an original
• telescope - n. a magnifier of images of distant objects
• indefinitely - a. to an indefinite extent; for an indefinite time
• shrewd - j. marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
• contingent - j. possible but not certain to occur
• delicacy - n. something considered choice to eat
• motto - n. a favorite saying of a sect or political group
• ingenious - j. showing inventiveness and skill
• exuberant - j. joyously unrestrained
• truthful - j. expressing or given to expressing the truth
• lenient - j. not strict
• juror - n. someone who serves (or waits to be called to serve) on a jury
• apocalyptic - j. prophetic of devastation or ultimate doom
• somber - j. grave or even gloomy in character
• indicator - n. a device for showing the operating condition of some system
• seminar - n. any meeting for an exchange of ideas
• conceive - v. have the idea for
• reconcile - v. come to terms
• cereal - n. grass whose starchy grains are used as food: wheat; rice; rye; oats; maize; buckwheat; millet
• discomfort - n. the state of being tense and feeling pain
• maternal - j. relating to or derived from one's mother
• expectancy - n. something expected (as on the basis of a norm)
• discern - v. detect with the senses
• expressive - j. characterized by expression
• guise - n. an artful or simulated semblance
• adamant - j. impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, reason
• outcry - n. a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
• belle - n. a young woman who is the most charming and beautiful of several rivals
• appease - v. make peace with
• inept - j. generally incompetent and ineffectual
• pristine - j. completely free from dirt or contamination
• hush - v. become quiet or still; fall silent
• esquire - n. a title of respect for a member of the English gentry ranking just below a knight; placed after the name
• sentinel - n. a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
• barring - n. the act of excluding someone by a negative vote or veto
• quake - v. shake with fast, tremulous movements
• misdemeanor - n. a crime less serious than a felony
• odor - n. the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
• sociology - n. the study and classification of human societies
• static - j. showing little if any change
• default - n. loss due to not showing up
• manifesto - n. a public declaration of intentions (as issued by a political party or government)
• verify - v. confirm the truth of
• genesis - n. the first book of the Old Testament: tells of Creation; Adam and Eve; Cain and Abel
• vitality - n. an energetic style
• transcript - n. something that has been transcribed; a written record (usually typewritten) of dictated or recorded speech
• muster - v. gather or bring together
• prolific - j. bearing in abundance especially offspring
• lament - v. regret strongly

About the Words 

The words have been gathered from numerous SAT word lists and compiled into one master list. The definitions for the words are from the WordNet lexical database of English.

WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University.
http://wordnet.princeton.edu/

The word frequency data is from The American National Corpus project, which maintains a database of documents in modern American English.

Copyright © 2002-2005 American National Corpus Project.
http://americannationalcorpus.org/index.html