SAT vocabulary list: 100 words you should know

This list covers 100 SAT vocabulary words you’re likely to encounter in the Reading & Writing section, each with a clear definition and example sentence to help you study smarter and score higher. Read on for a section-by-section breakdown of the exam, proven study strategies, and the complete word list.

The SAT, a widely recognized college entrance exam provided by the College Board, plays a crucial role in undergraduate admissions in the U.S. A key element of the SAT is its two main, equally weighted sections: Reading & Writing and Math. Both sections assess students on content typically covered through grade 11 of standard high school coursework.

The Reading & Writing section serves as the primary test site for SAT vocabulary and word mastery. Integrating strong practices into your preparation can dramatically impact your performance:

• Effective SAT reading skills are essential for understanding advanced words in context within given passages.
• Challenging SAT vocabulary words appear not only in fill-in-the-blank items but are woven throughout reading passages and related questions.
• Building SAT vocabulary proficiency means more than rote memorization; deep comprehension of words, context, and usage is vital.

With a strategic study plan built around proven strategies for improving vocabulary, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle vocabulary-driven questions and confidently approach advanced terminology in the Reading & Writing section.

Overview of the SAT Reading & Writing Section

The Reading & Writing section of the SAT assesses a wide range of reading and vocabulary skills across four major content domains: Craft and Structure, Information and Ideas, Standard English Conventions, and Expression of Ideas. These domains measure essential competencies, including comprehension, critical analysis, editing proficiency, and the ability to interpret and use academic language accurately.

Throughout this section, students encounter literary or informational passages, sometimes grouped in pairs, accompanied by questions that assess analytical skills in the context of vocabulary-rich texts.

Each domain contains specific question types, intentionally grouped to help students manage their time efficiently:

Craft and Structure: 13–15 questions (28%)

• Words in context (focused on interpreting SAT vocabulary)
• Text structure and purpose
• Cross-text connections

Information and Ideas: 12–14 questions (26%)

• Central ideas and supporting details
• Command of evidence
• Inferences and interpretations

Standard English Conventions: 11–15 questions (26%)

• Form, structure, and sense (subject-verb agreement, pronouns, sentence clarity)
• Boundaries (punctuation and sentence structure)

Expression of Ideas: 8–12 questions (20%)

• Rhetorical synthesis and effectiveness
• Transitions between ideas

Craft and Structure accounts for the largest share of Reading & Writing questions, making strong vocabulary knowledge essential. Vocabulary-in-context questions ask students to identify the most appropriate word to complete a sentence based on clues from the passage.

For example:

George is an ____ person who makes friends easily.

Given choices like affable, articulate, frugal, and tenacious, affable is the correct answer because it describes someone easy to get along with and likely to make many friends.

On the Reading & Writing section, acing vocab comes less from memorizing definitions and more from understanding how words function in context. That said, relying solely on educated guesses is insufficient, since many passages contain high-level vocabulary that requires prior exposure for confident comprehension.

The list below offers a sample of terms frequently encountered on the SAT to help you begin your preparation in a focused, organized way.

100 SAT words

Below are 100 SAT vocabulary words frequently encountered in SAT questions and reading passages. Each word includes a clear definition and an example sentence to help you understand how these words appear in real writing. Use this list to create flashcards, mind maps, or other effective study tools as you prepare for the test.

1. Abate (verb): To become less intense; to reduce. The storm began to abate after several hours of heavy rain.
2. Aberration (noun): A departure from what is normal or expected. Her low test score was an aberration, since she usually performed very well.
3. Abstain (verb): To choose not to do something. Several students chose to abstain from voting.
4. Abstruse (adjective): Difficult to understand; obscure. The professor’s abstruse explanation confused most of the class.
5. Accede (verb): To agree to a request or take on a position. The council finally acceded to the residents’ demands.
6. Acquiesce (verb): To accept or comply without protest. Though she disagreed, Maya acquiesced to the group’s decision.
7. Adamant (adjective): Refusing to change one’s mind; firm. He was adamant that the meeting should not be postponed.
8. Adept (adjective): Highly skilled or capable. She is adept at solving complex math problems.
9. Admonish (verb): To warn, advise, or criticize firmly. The coach admonished the players for arriving late.
10. Adverse (adjective): Harmful; unfavorable. The medicine caused adverse side effects in some patients.
11. Advocate (verb/noun): To publicly support; a supporter. Many scientists advocate for stronger environmental protections.
12. Aesthetic (adjective/noun): Related to beauty or artistic taste. The building’s simple aesthetic appealed to modern designers.
13. Affable (adjective): Friendly; easy to talk to. The affable host made every guest feel welcome.
14. Alleviate (verb): To make less severe or painful. The new policy helped alleviate overcrowding in the schools.
15. Ambiguous (adjective): Open to more than one interpretation. The ambiguous instructions led to several different answers.
16. Ambivalent (adjective): Having mixed or conflicting feelings. She felt ambivalent about moving to a new city.
17. Ameliorate (verb): To improve; to make better. The charity worked to ameliorate conditions in the shelter.
18. Amenable (adjective): Willing to cooperate; responsive to suggestion. The manager was amenable to changing the schedule.
19. Analogous (adjective): Similar in important ways; comparable. The teacher used an analogous situation to explain the concept.
20. Anecdote (noun): A short story about an incident or event. He began his speech with a humorous anecdote about his childhood.
21. Anomaly (noun): Something unusual or out of the ordinary. The sudden temperature drop was an anomaly for July.
22. Antagonist (noun): An opponent or opposing force. In the novel, the antagonist tries to stop the hero’s progress.
23. Arduous (adjective): Difficult; requiring great effort. The hikers completed the arduous climb before sunset.
24. Articulate (verb/adjective): To express clearly; able to express ideas clearly. She was able to articulate her argument with confidence.
25. Assiduous (adjective): Hardworking; persistent and careful. His assiduous preparation helped him succeed on the exam.
26. Austere (adjective): Plain, strict, or severe; without luxury. The monastery was known for its austere living conditions.
27. Benevolent (adjective): Kind; generous; well-meaning.The benevolent donor funded scholarships for local students.
28. Bolster (verb): To support or strengthen. The evidence helped bolster the scientist’s claim.
29. Candor (noun): Honesty; openness; frankness. Her candor made the discussion more productive.
30. Capricious (adjective): Changing unpredictably; impulsive. The capricious weather made it hard to plan the picnic.
31. Censure (verb/noun): To strongly criticize; strong criticism or disapproval. The committee voted to censure the official for misconduct.
32. Circumspect (adjective): Cautious; careful to consider consequences. Investors became more circumspect after the market decline.
33. Coherent (adjective): Logical, consistent, and easy to understand. Her essay was clear, coherent, and well-organized.
34. Complacent (adjective): Self-satisfied, often while ignoring danger or problems. The team became complacent after winning several games in a row.
35. Conciliatory (adjective): Intended to calm, soothe, or reconcile. His conciliatory tone helped end the argument.
36. Conjecture (noun/verb): A guess or theory based on incomplete evidence. The historian’s claim was based on conjecture rather than proof.
37. Conspicuous (adjective): Easily noticed; obvious. The bright red sign was conspicuous from across the street.
38. Corroborate (verb): To confirm or support with evidence. The witness’s account corroborated the video footage.
39. Credible (adjective): Believable; trustworthy. The article cited several credible sources.
40. Cursory (adjective): Hasty; superficial; not thorough. A cursory review of the report missed several errors.
41. Deference (noun): Respectful submission to another’s judgment or opinion. Out of deference to her mentor, she listened carefully before responding.
42. Deleterious (adjective): Harmful; damaging. Pollution can have deleterious effects on public health.
43. Demagogue (noun): A leader who gains support by appealing to emotions or prejudices. The demagogue used fear to gain political power.
44. Denounce (verb): To publicly condemn or criticize. The activists denounced the unfair policy.
45. Deride (verb): To mock; to ridicule. Critics derided the plan as unrealistic.
46. Despondent (adjective): Deeply discouraged; hopeless. After the defeat, the players felt despondent.
47. Diligent (adjective): Hardworking, careful, and persistent. The diligent researcher checked every source twice.
48. Disdain (noun/verb): Contempt; scorn; to regard with contempt. She looked with disdain at the poorly written proposal.
49. Divergent (adjective): Moving apart; differing from one another. The two scholars reached divergent conclusions from the same data.
50. Eclectic (adjective): Drawn from a variety of sources or styles. Her eclectic playlist included jazz, pop, classical, and hip-hop.
51. Eloquent (adjective): Fluent, clear, and persuasive in speech or writing. The speaker gave an eloquent defense of free expression.
52. Emulate (verb): To imitate with the goal of matching or surpassing. Young athletes often try to emulate their heroes.
53. Empirical (adjective): Based on observation, experience, or data. The theory was supported by empirical evidence.
54. Enervate (verb): To weaken; to drain energy. The intense heat seemed to enervate the runners.
55. Ephemeral (adjective): Lasting for a very short time. The beauty of the sunset was ephemeral.
56. Equivocal (adjective): Ambiguous; unclear; open to multiple meanings. His equivocal response made it hard to know where he stood.
57. Eradicate (verb): To eliminate completely. Scientists hope to eradicate the disease through vaccination.
58. Erudite (adjective): Learned; scholarly; well-educated. The erudite professor referenced literature, history, and philosophy.
59. Exacerbate (verb): To make a problem worse. Delaying repairs will only exacerbate the damage.
60. Exemplary (adjective): Outstanding; serving as a model. Her exemplary conduct earned praise from the principal.
61. Exonerate (verb): To clear from blame or accusation. New evidence helped exonerate the defendant.
62. Explicit (adjective): Clear, direct, and fully stated. The teacher gave explicit instructions for the assignment.
63. Extenuate (verb): To make a fault or offense seem less serious. The lawyer argued that stress could extenuate his client’s actions.
64. Fortuitous (adjective): Happening by chance, often luckily. Their fortuitous meeting led to a lasting friendship.
65. Frugal (adjective): Economical; avoiding waste. A frugal shopper compares prices before buying anything.
66. Garrulous (adjective): Excessively talkative. The garrulous passenger talked throughout the entire flight.
67. Hackneyed (adjective): Overused; clichéd; lacking originality. The movie relied on a hackneyed plot about mistaken identity.
68. Haughty (adjective): Arrogantly superior; proud in a rude way. His haughty attitude annoyed his classmates.
69. Hypothesis (noun): A proposed explanation that can be tested. The scientist designed an experiment to test her hypothesis.
70. Imminent (adjective): About to happen very soon. Dark clouds warned that a storm was imminent.
71. Impartial (adjective): Unbiased; fair. A judge must remain impartial during a trial.
72. Impede (verb): To hinder, block, or slow down. Heavy traffic impeded the ambulance’s progress.
73. Impetuous (adjective): Acting rashly or without careful thought. His impetuous decision caused unnecessary problems.
74. Implicit (adjective): Implied but not stated directly. The novel contains an implicit criticism of greed.
75. Incongruous (adjective): Out of place; not fitting with the surroundings or situation. The clown costume looked incongruous at the formal dinner.
76. Inevitable (adjective): Certain to happen; unavoidable. Given the evidence, the conclusion seemed inevitable.
77. Integrity (noun): Honesty and strong moral principles; wholeness. She was admired for her integrity and fairness.
78. Intrepid (adjective): Fearless; bold; adventurous. The intrepid explorer crossed the desert alone.
79. Intuitive (adjective): Understood instinctively, without conscious reasoning. The app’s intuitive design made it easy to use.
80. Jubilation (noun): Great joy or celebration. There was jubilation in the crowd after the victory.
81. Lethargic (adjective): Sluggish; lacking energy. After staying up late, he felt lethargic all morning.
82. Lucid (adjective): Clear and easy to understand. Her lucid explanation helped everyone understand the issue.
83. Meticulous (adjective): Extremely careful and precise. The artist was meticulous in painting every detail.
84. Mitigate (verb): To make less severe or harmful. Planting trees can help mitigate the effects of heat in cities.
85. Mundane (adjective): Ordinary; everyday; commonplace. The essay transformed a mundane event into something meaningful.
86. Novice (noun): A beginner; someone new to a field or activity. As a novice chess player, he still made simple mistakes.
87. Obscure (adjective/verb): Unclear or not well known; to hide or make unclear. The author referenced an obscure myth that few readers recognized.
88. Obsolete (adjective): No longer used; outdated. Many once-popular technologies are now obsolete.
89. Ostentatious (adjective): Showy in a way meant to impress others. The mansion’s ostentatious design included gold ceilings and marble floors.
90. Pragmatic (adjective): Practical; focused on results. Her pragmatic solution saved both time and money.
91. Precedent (noun): An earlier example used as a guide for later cases. The court’s decision set an important precedent.
92. Prudent (adjective): Wise, cautious, and showing good judgment. It is prudent to save money for emergencies.
93. Redundant (adjective): Unnecessarily repetitive; more than needed. The final paragraph was redundant because it repeated earlier points.
94. Resilient (adjective): Able to recover quickly from difficulty. The resilient community rebuilt after the flood.
95. Scrutinize (verb): To examine very carefully. The editor scrutinized the article for errors.
96. Spurious (adjective): False; fake; not genuine. The scientist rejected the spurious claim because it lacked evidence.
97. Subtle (adjective): Not obvious; delicate, indirect, or nuanced. The painting uses subtle changes in light to create depth.
98. Surreptitious (adjective): Secretive; done stealthily. He took a surreptitious glance at the answer key.
99. Tenacious (adjective): Persistent; determined; not giving up easily. Her tenacious effort helped her overcome every obstacle.
100. Vindicate (verb): To clear from blame; to justify. The new findings vindicated the researcher’s controversial theory.

Important note: This selection of SAT vocabulary words is just a starting point. Expanding your SAT vocabulary and improving your overall communication and writing skills requires consistent practice and exposure to new words beyond this list. Consider integrating additional methods and resources to further enhance your mastery for optimal test performance.

Improving SAT vocabulary: active study strategies

When it comes to learning vocabulary, passive methods like scanning an online list are less effective than active recall. Use word lists as a supplement to:

• Flashcards and memory tools
• Realistic SAT Craft and Structure practice questions
• Easy-to-reference tools like a pocket dictionary or app

Once you study vocabulary more actively, you’ll start recognizing patterns that make learning new words easier and help them stick for the long term.

SAT English tips

When preparing for any vocabulary-heavy test like the SAT, these tips will improve retention, sharpen recall, and boost overall performance:

1. Use prefixes and suffixes as decoding tools. Recognizing how they alter a word’s meaning is a key vocabulary strategy. For instance, the prefix “re-” often signals “again,” which can help you decode unfamiliar words.
2. Study common word roots. The Latin root “bene” (meaning “good”) appears in benefit and benefactor, and spotting roots across words can accelerate learning. That said, roots can shift in meaning across contexts. Treat them as helpful clues, not guaranteed shortcuts.
3. Look up new words as you encounter them. Reading outside traditional SAT prep materials exposes you to real-world contexts that reinforce vocabulary learning naturally.
4. Choose high-quality reading material consistently. Classic literature, respected magazines, reputable news sources, and advanced scholarly writing all enhance the comprehension skills that matter on the Reading & Writing section.

Integrating daily vocabulary practice sharpens more than your SAT performance: it strengthens your ability to express ideas clearly and reason through complex arguments, skills that matter long after test day.

How to study for the SAT

Preparing for a rigorous standardized exam like the SAT is often a months-long process. A few key strategies can help you make the most of your study time:

• Start early by building a study calendar that balances SAT prep with schoolwork, extracurriculars, and other responsibilities.
• Familiarize yourself with the exam format and scoring guidelines section by section so you know what to expect on test day.
• Set aside dedicated time for vocabulary and reading comprehension practice.
• Take full-length practice tests under realistic conditions to build stamina and confidence.
• Use a combination of official SAT resources and reputable third-party materials that closely align with the test.

Planning ahead and following a structured schedule that covers each part of the test, while leaving room to target weak areas, is the clearest path to reaching your SAT goals.

Final thoughts

Mastering SAT vocabulary is a vital component of achieving a high score on the Reading & Writing section. Many SAT vocabulary words extend beyond everyday conversation and appear in academic texts and classic literature. The Reading & Writing section is specifically designed to gauge your understanding of advanced vocabulary in context, rather than your ability to recall isolated definitions.

Fortunately, you don’t have to memorize every SAT vocabulary word to perform well. Applying proven SAT vocab tips. such as analyzing context clues and identifying word patterns, offers the most effective strategy for tackling challenging vocabulary questions and boosting your SAT results.