SAT Verbal sections terms & vocabulary

SAT Verbal Sections – Vocabulary
Assessment	SAT (Digital)
Page type	Vocabulary and terminology list
Audience	Students · Educators
Coverage	Reading and Writing section terminology
Primary use	Vocabulary building · Review · Reference
Status	Structure complete; additional terms are being added
Collaboration	Suggestions for additional terms, corrections, or student assistance are welcome via the contact page.

Terms and definitions useful for answer questions on the Digital SAT Reading and Writing sections, including a list of difficult or unfamiliar terms used in vocabulary questions.

These lists are mostly taken from the College Board Digital SAT practice tests 1-10 (linear versions), but are also informed by prior SAT paper tests.

Here for

Key SAT vocabulary and terms to know

Effective test-taking requires full comprehension of the questions themselves.

Some key terms that will show up in test questions or passages include:

agency (n)

a medium, method, or abilty to do something

altruistic (adj)

care or help for another without concern or benefit for oneself

ambiguous (adj.)

unclear, no distinction between things, options or alternatives
from ambi- for "both", "two or more", "wandering"
- "ambiguity" is a state of indecision, lack of clarity

ambivalence (n.)

unconcern with a situation or choice
state of not caring between options
ambivalent (adj)

ameliorate (v)

to make better

analysis (n.)

detailed examination to determine the features or parts of something or some idea
analysis separates the whole into the components (parts)
- analysis wants to know "how" something works, etc., whereas, "evaluation" seeks its overall worth or value

anomaly (n)

not normal, a deviation from what is usual or expected
note, the adverb anomalously (with deviation) is not to be confused with "anonymously" (without being identified)

antecedent

what comes before, as a prior event or condition (not necessarily a cause)

assert / assertion

assert (v): to make a claim
assertion (n): a claim

augment (v)

to make larger, to add to or build up

autonomous (adj)

subject to its own law (according to its own rules, not subject to other rules/ rule)
autonomy (n)

bias (n), biased/ unbiased (adj)

bias= prejudicial, opiniated, having a prior opinion
unbiased = not having or not from an opinion

catalyst (n)

a trigger or causal event that makes something else happen

characterize (v.)

to generalize regarding the distinctive nature or key features of someone/something
to state in a general sense, categorize according to core features

complementary (adj)

com- = with + plere "to fill"
- so fulfilling, coming together
a "complement" goes with the other
"complementary" agrees, aligns, or goes with

control (n.)

an element in an experiment that does not change
as opposed to the "variable," which does change
- note that in the SAT these words will be used to evaluate experiments or studies

some of which have faults because of faulty "controls" or unclear or multiple "variables"

concede (v.)

to admit, yield, or accept
- used on SAT as in "to accept for the sake of the argument"

constant (n)

a number or part of an experiment that does not change
- as opposed to the "variable" which does change

contend (v)

to hold an opinion or to make a claim
(note: "contend" can also mean to oppose, but the SAT will usually refer to it in the sense of "scientists contend" meaning they argue...)

context, contextual(n, adj)

in relation to a situation or place
literally "with" (con-) "what is woven together" (text)
"text" comes from the Latin texere for "to weave, what is woven"
words and situations have "context"

convention (n), conventional (adj)

that which is common, or expected (from "convene" for together)
conventional wisdom = what is commonly thought of as true

correlate (v.)

to connect, to relate
correlated means "related to but not directly"
correlation (n)

corollary (n.)

a parallel or connected proposition or situation
such as the "Roosevelt corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine, which added a new angle to it

credulous

to believe too readily
as opposed to incredulous

critical (adj.)

important, of an emergency situation
analytical, investigated thoughtfully
also, negative, inclined to judgement

derogatory (adj)

negative in aspect
putting down or diminishing of
syn: disparaging

discount (n or v)

v: to lessen in worth, value or importance
n: below or less than normal price;
n: in finance, a fee taken as interest or other transaction charges

disparate (adj)

dis- (not) pare (each, other)
- i.e. not the same, distinct

diverge (v)

to move in a different direction, usually in terms of two or more things separating from one another

divergent (adj) = going in different directions; away from one another

earnest (adj)

sincere or serious in intent or belief
honestly trying hard

epitomize (v)

to make the ultimate or best example of

evaluate

to measure, assess, determine value or significance of
"evaluate" deals with holistic (overall) understanding, whereas "analysis" deals with detailed, dissected understanding

hierarchy, hierarchical (n., adv.)

an organization or system of ranking
levels of importance, authority or significance
classification

hypothetical, hypothetically (n., adv.)

= an estimate, theory
or, an idea or situation that is not real but could be
used to test a "hypothesis" or theoretical prediction or observation that has not been tested in reality
SAT Reading section uses it frequently for inference questions
i.e., "Given the hypothetical condition, then..." = "if this were true, then..."

incongruent (adj), incongruence (n), incongruity (n)

incompatible, not in union, not going together

innocuous (adj)

not harmful, not injurious (causing harm)

irony (n)

the opposite of what it seems or means on the surface/literally;

ironic (adj)

something that is or appears to be the opposite of what would be expected or appears as

mandatory (adj)

required

merely (adj.)

= "only"
the SAT frequently measures student comprehension of this word
note that "merely" is different from "a little," "a few" or "few"

methodology

the means or procedures by which something is done
in the SAT, usually refers to the way an experiment or study is set up and conducted (as opposed to the hypothesis, goals or results of the study)

mitigate (v)

to make less severe, or to lessen (an impact or problem)

nevertheless (adv.)

= "yes, but..."
used to accept a prior argument or statement, then deflect, negate, or contradict it.
for Reading section, transition words mark important statements an author wants to make or emphasize

novel (adj.)

new, unusual
different from what is common
note that as a noun, "a novel" is a popular genre (form) of fiction
novels are called "novel" because the genre was "novel" (new) when it was introduced in the 19th century)

nuance (n.)

small or subtle difference(s); fine distinction
- implies careful, close understanding, as opposed to broad generalizations or unspecific distinctions
"nuanced" (past participle adjective) means a carefully considered, thoughtful distinction

obscure (v, adj)

v: to make unclear, to conceal
adj: unclear, uncertain, dark, remote

plausible (adj) / plausibility (n)

seemingly possible or reasonable
indicates not possibility but the appearance of possibility

posit

to propose, hypothesize

present participle adjective "positing" is used in the SAT to create participle phrase indicating a proposed idea.

postulate (v or n)

verb: to theorize or hypothesize' to put forth a proposition, usually based on logic
noun: a hypothesis or proposal, usually based on logic

preclude (v)

to make not possible; to prevent from happening;

proficient

adj: competent, good, but not perfect

proponent (n)

one who supports or favors something; an advocate

relevant (adj)

related, in context to
"associated with", "connected to", "important for"
"matters" (as in, "what matters" = "what is relevant")
antonym: irrelevant (not related, not in context)

rigor / rigorous

exacting
can be positive or negative

sanction (v or n)

the word "sanction" means "authorize" or "authorization", but that authorization can be positive (endorsement) or negative (punishment):
as verb: 1) to require or give approval to; or 2) to impose a penalty upon

as noun: a rule or decree, either in the form of a penalty or an authorization

satirical (adj)

making fun of, ridiculing

scrutiny (n), scrutinize (v)

looked at (n), or to look at (v) carefully or in detail

cskeptical, skeptic (adj., noun)

= doubtful, uncertain of, seeing as unproven
a "skeptic" is one who doubts or questions the veracity of something
on the SAT, the word "skeptical" may be used to indicate a perspective of doubt
ex., if the question asks, "Scholars are skeptical of the idea that people would behave that way"
= scholars doubt people would behave that way
- i.e., use "backwards thought" or "inversion" to make sense of the question

succinct (adj)

concise, short

standard (n.)

a baseline measurement
what is common or commonly accepted

structure (n.)

the arrangement of an organization or object
- esp. in terms of the inter-relationship of its parts and underlying elements

synopsis (n)

a brief summary of a written work

temper

(v) to test, to make strong
- ( adj "tested" as in "tempered")
(v) to calm or to restrain
(n) emotion, passion, mood

tenuous (adj)

not firm, weak, "drawn out" & thus weakened

tone (n.) as in "author tone"

"author's tone" or "passage's tone'" refers to the "feeling" or "atmosphere" of a passage
different "tones" may include:
- academic, authoritative, definitive
- character study, psychological
- detailed, descriptive
- informal, conversational
- journalistic, reporting
- light-hearted, amusing, cheerful
- narrative (story-telling)
- satirical, comedic, ironic

undermine

to make weaker, less capable, or lessened
to subvert, or to subvert intentionally

Inversion phrases

it is by no means
would not agree with
skeptical about
have mixed feelings
inversely correlates with

Other terms to know

Historical terms

see SAT Reading section historical timeline & themes

Transition words (conjunctive adverbs)

see:Transition words translations

Homophones

ad, add

affect v effect

assure v. ensure

bare, bear

cite, site, sight

complement, compliment

ensure, insure

it's, its

past, passed

principal, principle

prey, pray

their, there, they're

to, too, two

waist, waste

weather, whether

whose, who's

your, you're

Digital SAT Vocabulary terms from official practice tests 1-4 (2023)

Words taken from Vocabulary questions (selected not inclusive of all):

abrupt

adhere

ambivalence

antagonistic

atypical

biased / unbiased

buttress

catastrophic

characterization

circumvent

collaboration

commercialization

coincidental

concede

conceptualize

conform

connive

contrive

conviction

critical

delegate

discern / discernable

disconcerting

disengage

disorienting

disparate

diverge

diverse

dynamic

eclipse

elaborate

elusive

empirical

evaluate

exemplify

fabricate

foretell

grapple

haphazard

imminent

impartial / impartiality

imperceptible

improvise

inadequate

inconclusive

incongruity

indecipherable

indifference

inexplicable

infallible

innocuous

interjected

intricate

intriguing

invalidate

inventive

irrelevant

latent

localized

lucrative

mandatory

mimic

moderate / moderation

mystifying

neglect

negligible

novel

nuanced

obscure

off-hand

operative

ornamental

overshadowed

paucity

peripheral

persistent

predatory

predetermined

prescribed

presume

profusion (of)

proponent

quarrel

recant

reciprocate

refute

renounce

renunciation

replicable

repudiate

resilient

restrained

satisfactory

secretive

skeptical

speculate

strenuously

substantial

succumb

surmise

synchronize

tedious

tenuous

underestimate

underscore

unobtrusive

validated

verisimilitude

waive

zealous

Digital SAT Vocabulary terms from official practice tests 5-6 (2024-2025)

Words taken from Vocabulary questions (selected not inclusive of all):

acquired

adjust

accidental / accidentally

ameliorate

antagonistic

antecedent

common

compliment

controversial

cordial / cordially

determine /-ed

discounted

epitomize

evaluate /-ed

exacerbate

exploited

fragile

hoard

hypothesize/-ed

impending

inadvertent / inadvertenly

inconsequential

indicate / indication

innocuous

insensible

intriguing

manifest (verb or adj)

obtain

observable

occupy

overt / overtly

perpetual

postulate

preclude

prominent

prudent / prudently

rationalize

recognizable

redefined

redress

reserve

sanction

scrutinize

sketch

sophisticated

summarize

tentative

trace

warranted

Digital SAT Vocabulary terms from official practice tests 7-10 (2024-2025)

Words taken from Vocabulary questions (selected not inclusive of all):

approximate (v or n)

characterization

circumvent

coincidence

collaboration

commercialization

compelling

confine (-d)

conflate (-d)

constant

controversy / controversial

corroborate

costly

critical

delegate (v)

demarcate (-d)

derive (-d)

disseminate

disconcerting

disparage

distract (-d)

dogmatic

doubt

dynamic

earnest

esteem

exhaustive

extensive

highlight

hybrid

impartial

impenetrable

imperceptible

implement

inadequate

indecipherable

indifference

infrequent

interim

interpret

involuntarily / involuntary

isolate

latent

legitimate

mandatory

misanthropic

moderation

observant

oddity

offhand

operative

outstrip

peripheral / periphery

persistent

pragmatic

predetermined

prolong

questionable

recalcitrant

rectify

reconstituted

renounce

reprieve

replicable

resilient

retain

sanguine

satisfactory

secretive

sincerity

skeptical

speculate

strenuously / strenuous

stymie

substantial

superficial

synchronization / synchonrize

undeniable

unobtrusive

transparent

tranquil

unintended

universal

widespread

Digital SAT Vocabulary terms used in passages or questions (general vocab)

ablation (in science)

adaptation

ambient

analysis

annotate

antiquity

apparatus

artifact

artificial

assess / assessment

assume

attribute (noun and verb)

bias / biased

capitalize

clinch

collaborate/ collaboration

concede/ concession

conceptual

confer

conflicted

conformed / conforming

conjecture

contaminate

contemporary

contend

contrived

convention/s

conventional

contentious

conversely

correlate

corrugation(s)

criteria

cultivate

cultivate / cultivation

curator

deference

depleted

disparage / disparagement

disparate

disparity / disparities

disperse

disposed/ disposition

diverge / divergence

diverse

divert

domestic / domesticated

dormant

downplay / downplaying

elaborate

ensured

equivalent

evocative

exacerbate

exasperate / exasperated

excerpt (n or v)

factors

fallible

fanciful

fluctuate / fluctuation

foliage

foreground (as a literary technique)

forge / forged

fragile

fragment

genre

germinate / germination

implement (verb)

incorporate / incorporating

indiscriminate

indigenous

inexplicable

infrequent

inordinate

institution

languish

legitimate / legitimacy / legitimately

macro-/ micro-

memoir

memoir(s)

methodology

miniscule

mitigate

momentous

monitor

narrative (usually "historical narrative)

nominal

obstinate

obtuse

orientation (usually, "political orientation")

percolate

precarious

pretentious / unpretentious

prevalent

pristine

profuse

quilt (verb)

reciprocate

redress

relevant

replenish

replicable

revelation

revenue

saturated

standard

sturdy/ sturdily

stylistic

substantial

substantially

substantiate / substantiated

subtle

susceptible

symbolic

synchronized

synthesis / synthesize

tender

unprecedented

unsympathetic

validate / validated

volition

Other words

accolade

allay

arbitrary / arbitrariness

assiduous

boisterous

clemency

conspicuous

contempt

contentious

contrite

defamatory

deleterious

depravity

derivative

disparate

disparity

egregious

elicit

ends

enmity

exigence/ exigency

exonerate

expedient

fortuitous

grievance

hackneyed

implacable

ingratiating

insipid

lurid

mitigate

outstrip

patronize/ patronizing

pedantic

predator

putative / putatively

readily

remedy

remiss

salient

statistically

statistically significant

syndrome

thread

traits