SAT Essay Vocabulary

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 SAT Essay Vocabulary
1   Overview:
SAT essay vocabulary consists of 500 moderately difficult words; many high school students may learn them somehow but cannot use them confidently. This SAT word list includes examples, contexts, and interactive spelling exercises to build a solid essay vocabulary and sharpen writing skills.

If an essay is only done in plain or simple words in SAT writing, the chance to shoot a high score is relatively low. As a general rule, better vocabulary rewards a higher score. Unlike big-size reading vocabulary, writing vocabulary relies on your choice. You can prepare a set of words, then just use them in the right place, in the right way, and with the right spelling.

Most students can study or review the 500 SAT essay vocabulary in 2 weeks; some can even finish in 1 week. Nevertheless, in a real writing test, several hard words are enough; you should avoid using too many difficult words in a short essay. For example, if you have 5-7 uncommon but proper words in your essay, it will definitely impress readers.

If your time is tight and you feel the vocabulary big or hard, you may shrink the list to 200-300 words by excluding some relatively rare words. Only a doable task can bring your future writing with both confidence and skill.
2   View all words by groups:        
Go to Word List by Group:
1  2 

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1  2 

Words of Group 2 (Part of words, select list to view all.):
idiosyncrasy
idyllic
ignominy
illicit
impasse
imperious
impetuous
impudence
inane
incongruity
incredulous
incriminate
incubate
indeterminate
indictment
indigenuous
indignant
indiscriminate
indolent
indomitable
induce
indulgent
ineffable
ineptitude
inert
ingenuous
inherent
inhibit
innate
innocuous
innuendo
inscrutable
insipid
insolence
instigate
insular
intrepid
inundate
invoke
irate
irony
irreverent
jaded
jocular
jovial
judicious
lackadaisical
laconic
laggard
languid
latent
laud
listless
lithe
lucid
lucrative
lull
lurid
luxuriant
magnanimous
malleable
marred
maudlin
melancholy
mercenary
mercurial
miserly
mitigate
modicum
morose
motley
multifarious
nebulous
nefarious
neophyte
notoriety
noxious
nuance
obdurate
obstinate
officious
onerous
opportunist
oracle
orthodox
ostensible
oversight
pacifist
pacify
painstaking
palliate
paradigm
parch
parody
partisan
patronize
paucity
pedant
peevish
penchant
penurious
peremptory
perfunctory
peripheral
perquisite
petulant
philanthropist
piety
...
3   Demonstrate word list style:
altruistic   Speak
unselfishly generous; concerned for others
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discern   Speak
detect; perceive
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empirical   Speak
derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
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enigma   Speak
puzzle; difficult problem
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exemplar   Speak
representative example
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expedient   Speak
suitable; appropriate to a purpose; serving to promote your interest
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This is 6 words quick view. View words of the list
4   Word meaning matching - Test words you know:
aura  Speak
Exercise
air, feeling
Exercise
violate the sacredness of
Exercise
limit narrowly; confine; draw a line around; encircle
Exercise
obscure; profound; difficult to understand.
belie  Speak
Exercise
bubble, fizz
Exercise
contradict; give a false impression
Exercise
ridicule; make fun of; laugh at with contempt
Exercise
speaking or behaving in artificial way; emotionally stirred or moved; infected or attacked
buttress  Speak
Exercise
excessive zeal; extreme devotion to a belief or cause
Exercise
support physically; prop up; support something or someone by supplying evidence
Exercise
scold mildly so as to correct or improve; express disapproval
Exercise
belief in equality
charlatan  Speak
Exercise
quack; one who pretends to knowledge, skill, or importance
Exercise
bubble, fizz
Exercise
rub or wipe out; make indistinct as if by rubbing
Exercise
compatible
chide  Speak
Exercise
expressing low opinion; disparaging; belittling
Exercise
disenchantment, disappointment
Exercise
support physically; prop up; support something or someone by supplying evidence
Exercise
scold mildly so as to correct or improve; express disapproval
congenial  Speak
Exercise
scarcity; shortage of food; famine from failure or loss of crops
Exercise
shy
Exercise
compatible
Exercise
support physically; prop up; support something or someone by supplying evidence
This is 6 words matching. Try matching quizzes of the list
5   Interactive spelling - Check your spelling skill online:
Read [Esc]
exhibiting friendliness or goodwill; not quarrelsome


Spelling Word: amicable
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strong feeling of aversion; dislike


Spelling Word: antipathy
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secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated


Spelling Word: arcane
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relating to the brain or cerebrum; intellectual rather than emotional


Spelling Word: cerebral
Read [Esc]
being or taking a roundabout, lengthy course; going round in a circuit; not direct


Spelling Word: circuitous
Read [Esc]
establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts; support with evidence


Spelling Word: corroborate
This is 6 words spelling. Try spelling exercises of the list