To reduce in intensity, amount, or degree; to diminish or lessen.
“The fever began to abate after she took the medication.”
Origin: From Old French abattre, to beat down or knock down.
🎓 Test Prep & ESL
100 Essential SAT Vocabulary Words
The 100 most-tested SAT vocabulary words with definitions, pronunciation, memorable examples, and Latin/Greek roots to help you remember them on test day.
94 entries · Last updated 2026-04-19
The SAT's verbal sections punish vague vocabulary knowledge. Test makers don't ask what a word means; they ask what it does in context, how it shifts tone, whether it fits the logic of a passage. This list collects the 100 words that appear most frequently in released SAT materials and real test administrations over the past decade. These aren't obscure museum pieces. They're working words: words that appear in The Economist, in college admissions essays, in the kind of writing you'll encounter at university.
The vocabulary tested on the SAT has shifted. Ten years ago, the exam favored ornate, low-frequency words. Now it tests precision and nuance. A word like "pragmatic" matters not because it's fancy but because students often confuse it with "practical." Words like "ephemeral" and "volatile" appear because they carry weight in contemporary discourse. The test rewards students who understand shades of meaning, who can distinguish between "reticent" and "reluctant," between "fortuitous" and "fortunate."
Use this list if you're scoring in the 600-750 range and want to break through. Use it if you're taking the SAT for a second or third time and need strategic reinforcement. Use it to build the kind of active vocabulary that serves you in essays, seminars, and conversations beyond the test. Each entry includes pronunciation, a clean definition, a real-world example, and the Latin or Greek root that anchors the word in your memory. Memorize patterns, not lists. Learn the roots. The SAT rewards students who think like linguists.
Departing from the norm; deviating from what is expected or standard.
“His aberrant behavior at the meeting raised concerns among his colleagues.”
Origin: From Latin aberrare, to wander away from.
Bitter, harsh, or caustic in tone; marked by ill will or resentment.
“The acrimonious debate between the two candidates dominated the evening news.”
Origin: From Latin acrimonious, sharp or bitter in taste.
Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty; relating to artistic taste or principles.
“The designer's aesthetic favored minimalism and clean lines.”
Origin: From Greek aisthetikos, of sense perception.
To make something less severe or more bearable; to ease or reduce pain or distress.
“The new policy aims to alleviate poverty in rural communities.”
Origin: From Latin alleviare, to lighten.
Having mixed or contradictory feelings or attitudes about something; uncertain.
“She felt ambivalent about accepting the job offer, torn between security and adventure.”
Origin: From Latin ambi-, both, and valent-, strong.
Something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected; an irregularity.
“The scientist discovered an anomaly in the data that warranted further investigation.”
Origin: From Greek anomalos, uneven or irregular.
Understood by few; mysterious or secret; known only to those with specialized knowledge.
“The professor explained the arcane rules of medieval heraldry to the bemused class.”
Origin: From Latin arcanus, secret.
Severe or strict in appearance or manner; lacking comfort or decoration; stern.
“The austere monastery contained only the bare essentials for living.”
Origin: From Greek austeros, harsh or severe.
To contradict or give a false impression of; to fail to give a true picture of something.
“Her cheerful smile belied the sadness she felt deep inside.”
Origin: From Old English, to mislead or tell lies about.
Given to sudden, unpredictable changes of mood or behavior; impulsive and fickle.
“The capricious weather made it impossible to plan the outdoor event.”
Origin: From Italian capriccioso, from capra, goat, suggesting erratic movement.
Secret or hidden; conducted in secrecy, often for an illicit purpose.
“The underground network operated clandestine meetings to avoid detection.”
Origin: From Latin clandestinus, secret.
Aware of or having knowledge of something; informed or conscious.
“The board was cognizant of the risks involved in the merger.”
Origin: From Latin cognoscere, to know.
To admit or acknowledge something reluctantly; to grant or yield.
“After reviewing the evidence, the defendant decided to concede the argument.”
Origin: From Latin concedere, to give way.
An opinion or conclusion based on incomplete information; a guess or supposition.
“Without hard evidence, any conclusion would be mere conjecture.”
Origin: From Latin conjectura, from conicere, to throw together.
Respectful submission or yielding to the opinion or wishes of another.
“Out of deference to her elders, she remained silent during the discussion.”
Origin: From Latin deferre, to carry down or submit.
Harmful or damaging; having a negative effect on health or wellbeing.
“Smoking has deleterious effects on the lungs and cardiovascular system.”
Origin: From Greek deletarios, hurtful.
A division or contrast between two things that are sharply opposed or entirely different.
“The film explores the dichotomy between civilization and wilderness.”
Origin: From Greek dichotomia, a cutting in two.
To speak negatively about; to express disapproval of or belittle.
“She refused to disparage her opponent despite their personal disagreements.”
Origin: From Old French disparager, to match unequally.
Deriving from or composed of elements from various sources; selecting from many different styles.
“The restaurant's eclectic menu combined dishes from five different cuisines.”
Origin: From Greek eclektikos, selecting or chosen.
Fluent, persuasive, and expressive in speaking or writing; powerfully moving.
“The senator's eloquent speech moved many listeners to tears.”
Origin: From Latin eloquens, speaking out.
Based on observation, experience, or experiment rather than theory; derived from evidence.
“The study relies on empirical data collected over a five-year period.”
Origin: From Greek empirikos, experienced.
Mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand; ambiguous in meaning.
“The artist's enigmatic paintings left viewers debating their true meaning.”
Origin: From Greek ainigma, a riddle.
Lasting for a very short time; transitory or fleeting.
“The beauty of cherry blossoms is ephemeral, lasting only a few weeks each spring.”
Origin: From Greek ephemeros, lasting only a day.
Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous or unclear in meaning.
“His equivocal response left everyone unsure about his true position.”
Origin: From Latin aequivocus, having equal voice.
Characterized by extensive scholarly knowledge; learned and intellectual.
“The erudite professor impressed students with her detailed knowledge of ancient history.”
Origin: From Latin eruditus, polished or learned.
Intended for or understood by only a small group with specialized knowledge; obscure.
“The esoteric philosophy of the sect was known only to its members.”
Origin: From Greek esoterikos, inner or secret.
A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one that is blunt or harsh.
“Saying someone 'passed away' is a euphemism for died.”
Origin: From Greek euphemismos, use of auspicious words.
To praise enthusiastically or lavishly; to glorify or commend highly.
“The critic extolled the director's vision throughout her glowing review.”
Origin: From Latin extollere, to lift up.
Very concerned with cleanliness or details; hard to please; meticulous.
“The fastidious accountant checked every number twice before submitting the report.”
Origin: From Latin fastidiosus, disgusted.
Happening by chance or accident; fortunate or lucky, often by coincidence.
“It was fortuitous that she ran into her old friend at the airport.”
Origin: From Latin fortuitus, happening by chance.
Excessively talkative; prone to talking at great length, often about trivial matters.
“The garrulous neighbor spent hours discussing the weather and local gossip.”
Origin: From Latin garrulus, talkative.
Worn out or made trite by overuse; lacking originality or freshness.
“The movie relied on hackneyed plot devices that felt predictable and stale.”
Origin: From Hackney, a London district where horses were rented.
Leadership or dominance, especially of one group, nation, or ideology over others.
“The superpower sought to maintain its hegemony in the region through military presence.”
Origin: From Greek hegemon, leader.
A person who holds beliefs that contradict established doctrine; a dissenter from orthodoxy.
“Galileo was branded a heretic for challenging the Church's teachings about astronomy.”
Origin: From Greek hairetikos, able to choose.
A person who attacks or criticizes established beliefs, traditions, or institutions.
“The young entrepreneur was an iconoclast who challenged conventional business practices.”
Origin: From Greek eikon, image, and klastes, breaker.
Peculiar or distinctive to an individual; reflecting unique personal characteristics or habits.
“The author's idiosyncratic writing style made her work instantly recognizable.”
Origin: From Greek idios, personal, and synkrasis, mixture.
Flawless, faultless, or without defect; meeting the highest standards.
“The lawyer presented an impeccable case built on irrefutable evidence.”
Origin: From Latin impeccabilis, not sinful.
Not allowing liquid or gas to pass through; not affected by or responsive to something.
“The waterproof jacket was impervious to rain and snow.”
Origin: From Latin impermeabilis, not passable.
Just beginning to form or develop; incomplete or rudimentary; not yet fully formed.
“The artist's inchoate ideas gradually took shape as she worked on the canvas.”
Origin: From Latin incohatus, begun.
Mentally sharp or keen; penetrating and clear; cutting sharply into a subject.
“The critic's incisive analysis revealed flaws in the theory that others had overlooked.”
Origin: From Latin incidere, to cut into.
Lazy or unwilling to work; avoiding exertion or effort.
“The indolent student rarely completed homework assignments on time.”
Origin: From Latin indolens, not suffering pain.
Impossible to stop or prevent; relentless and unstoppable; unyielding.
“The inexorable march of technology continues to reshape society.”
Origin: From Latin inexorabilis, not to be moved by prayer.
Innocent, naive, or candid; frank and open; lacking deception or cunning.
“The ingenuous child believed every word of the tall tale.”
Origin: From Latin ingenuus, freeborn or candid.
Proceeding in a subtle, gradual way; treacherous or deceptive; operating stealthily.
“The insidious effects of climate change became apparent only over decades.”
Origin: From Latin insidiosus, lying in wait.
To place two things side by side, especially for contrasting effect or comparison.
“The photographer juxtaposed images of nature and urban decay.”
Origin: From Latin iuxta, near, and ponere, to place.
Using very few words; brief and concise, often to the point of seeming curt.
“The laconic reply, 'No,' gave no hint of his true feelings.”
Origin: From Laconia, region of ancient Greece known for terse speech.
Generous, forgiving, and noble in spirit; showing high moral character.
“The magnanimous leader forgave his enemies and worked toward reconciliation.”
Origin: From Latin magnus, great, and animus, soul.
Sweet-sounding or musical; pleasant to hear; smooth and flowing in tone.
“The singer's mellifluous voice captivated the entire audience.”
Origin: From Latin mel, honey, and fluere, to flow.
Dishonest or deceitful; given to or characterized by falsehood or lying.
“The mendacious witness was caught in multiple contradictions on the stand.”
Origin: From Latin mendacious, lying.
A person who dislikes or distrusts humankind; someone who avoids human company.
“The reclusive misanthrope avoided all social gatherings.”
Origin: From Greek misos, hatred, and anthropos, human.
The lowest point or depth; the time of greatest despair or failure.
“His career reached its nadir when he was fired for misconduct.”
Origin: From Arabic nazir, opposite.
Hazy, vague, or ill-defined; cloudy or clouded; unclear in form or concept.
“The nebulous plan lacked specific details about implementation.”
Origin: From Latin nebulosus, cloudy.
Wicked, evil, or criminal; marked by villainy or harmful intent.
“The spy uncovered a nefarious plot to undermine the government.”
Origin: From Latin nefarius, impious.
To confuse or make unclear; to deliberately obscure or make something hard to understand.
“The defendant's lawyer tried to obfuscate the facts to confuse the jury.”
Origin: From Latin obfuscare, to darken.
Excessively eager to please or obey; servile or fawning in manner.
“The obsequious employee agreed with every word the boss said.”
Origin: From Latin obsequiosus, compliant.
A typical example or pattern of something; a model or framework for understanding.
“The scientific paradigm shifted when Einstein introduced relativity theory.”
Origin: From Greek paradeigma, pattern.
A person who is rejected or excluded from society; an outcast or social outsider.
“After the scandal, he became a pariah in his professional community.”
Origin: From Tamil paraiyar, drummer.
Scarcity or lack of something; an insufficiently small quantity.
“The paucity of evidence made it difficult to prosecute the case.”
Origin: From Latin paucitas, fewness.
A strong or habitual liking for something; a tendency or inclination.
“She had a penchant for collecting vintage records.”
Origin: From French penchant, leaning.
Done routinely without care or attention; superficial or halfhearted.
“The manager gave the presentation a perfunctory review and approved it.”
Origin: From Latin perfunctori, careless.
Harmful or destructive, especially in a subtle or gradual way; deadly or poisonous.
“The pernicious rumor spread through the office, damaging her reputation.”
Origin: From Latin perniciosus, destructive.
Dealing with things in a practical, realistic way based on actual circumstances rather than theory.
“The pragmatic approach focused on solving immediate problems first.”
Origin: From Greek pragmatikos, concerning deeds.
Exhibiting mature qualities at an unusually early age; developed beyond one's years.
“The precocious child read novels written for teenagers at age seven.”
Origin: From Latin praecox, ripening early.
Wastefully extravagant; spending money or resources excessively and foolishly.
“His prodigal spending habits quickly depleted his inheritance.”
Origin: From Latin prodigus, wasteful.
Producing or creating much fruit, foliage, or growth; highly productive or fertile.
“The prolific author published three novels in a single year.”
Origin: From Latin prolificus, producing offspring.
Favorable or advantageous; showing signs of future success or good fortune.
“The propitious weather conditions were perfect for the outdoor ceremony.”
Origin: From Latin propitius, favorable.
A person authorized to act for another; a substitute or agent; a measure or indicator of something else.
“She voted by proxy since she couldn't attend the shareholder meeting.”
Origin: From Latin procuratio, procuration.
Representing the perfect or most typical example of something; the purest form.
“New York City is the quintessential American metropolis.”
Origin: From Latin quinta essentia, fifth essence.
Stubbornly resistant to authority or control; unwilling to comply or cooperate.
“The recalcitrant student refused to follow classroom rules.”
Origin: From Latin recalcitrare, to kick back.
Unwilling or reluctant to speak; reserved or taciturn; reluctant to share information.
“The reticent witness gave minimal answers to the attorney's questions.”
Origin: From Latin reticens, remaining silent.
Having keen judgment or discernment; wise and perceptive in understanding.
“The sagacious mentor offered insightful advice based on years of experience.”
Origin: From Latin sagax, keen-scented.
Most noticeable or important; standing out prominently; conspicuous.
“The salient points of the argument were clearly outlined in the summary.”
Origin: From Latin saliens, leaping.
Optimistic or positive in outlook; hopeful about the future.
“Despite the difficulties, she remained sanguine about their chances of success.”
Origin: From Latin sanguineus, blood-red.
Bitterly mocking or ironic; showing scorn or contempt with dark humor.
“His sardonic comments about the situation revealed his true skepticism.”
Origin: From Latin sardonicus, from Sardinia.
Very careful and precise; conscientious and meticulous in matters of right and wrong.
“The scrupulous accountant verified every transaction before finalizing the books.”
Origin: From Latin scrupulosus, troubled by scruples.
Diligent, careful, and persistent in effort; showing dedication and hard work.
“Through sedulous practice, the musician mastered the difficult composition.”
Origin: From Latin sedulus, diligent.
Causing or tending to cause sleep; drowsy or sleepy; tediously dull.
“The soporific lecture put half the class to sleep.”
Origin: From Latin sopor, sleep, and facere, to make.
Immature or overconfident; showing lack of judgment or sophistication.
“The sophomoric humor in the film appealed mainly to teenagers.”
Origin: From Greek sophos, wise, and moros, foolish.
Appearing plausible but actually false or misleading; deceptively attractive.
“The specious argument sounded convincing but contained logical fallacies.”
Origin: From Latin speciosus, showy.
To block, thwart, or hinder; to prevent someone from achieving a goal.
“Budget cuts stymied the research team's progress on the project.”
Origin: From golf term for a blocked ball.
Briefly and clearly expressed; concise and to the point without unnecessary words.
“The executive's succinct memo summarized the key decisions in two paragraphs.”
Origin: From Latin succinctus, tucked up.
Unnecessary or more than what is needed; excessive or redundant.
“The superfluous details cluttered the report and obscured the main points.”
Origin: From Latin superfluus, overflowing.
Done secretly or stealthily, often to avoid detection; sneaky or clandestine.
“The surreptitious glance between the conspirators revealed their connection.”
Origin: From Latin surrepticius, stolen.
A person who acts obsequiously to someone important; a flatterer or yes-man.
“The boss was surrounded by sycophants who praised his every decision.”
Origin: From Greek sykophantes, informer.
Thin or slender; having little substance or strength; weak or insubstantial.
“The tenuous connection between the two events was hardly worth investigating.”
Origin: From Latin tenuis, thin.
Fear or anxiety about something that might happen; apprehension or nervousness.
“She approached the interview with some trepidation despite her qualifications.”
Origin: From Latin trepidatio, alarm.
Present, appearing, or found everywhere; omnipresent or constantly encountered.
“Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern society.”
Origin: From Latin ubique, everywhere.
To waver or hesitate between different opinions or courses of action; to be indecisive.
“She vacillated between accepting and declining the job offer.”
Origin: From Latin vacillare, to sway.
To regard with deep respect, reverence, or awe; to honor as sacred.
“The culture venerates its ancestors and honors their memory.”
Origin: From Latin venerari, to revere.
A change of circumstances or fortune, often unexpected; the ups and downs of life.
“The vicissitudes of his career included both triumph and disappointment.”
Origin: From Latin vicissitudo, alternation.
To clear from blame or suspicion; to prove or justify something as correct.
“The new evidence vindicated the defendant, proving his innocence.”
Origin: From Latin vindicare, to claim or avenge.
Liable to change rapidly or unpredictably; prone to sudden emotional outbursts; unstable.
“The volatile stock market made investors nervous about their holdings.”
Origin: From Latin volatilis, flying.
Filled with or showing great energy or enthusiasm; fervent or passionate about something.
“The zealous volunteers worked tirelessly to support the cause.”
Origin: From Greek zelos, ardor.