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 

Select Vocabulary Group:
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:
compendious   Speak
succinct
Show examples and contexts    Close
derogatory   Speak
expressing low opinion; disparaging; belittling
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disparage   Speak
belittle; speak of in a slighting or disrespectful way; reduce in esteem or rank
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elicit   Speak
draw out; bring forth or to light; generate or provoke as response or answer
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empirical   Speak
derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
Show examples and contexts    Close
gait   Speak
manner of walking or stepping; bearing or carriage while moving; walk; rate of moving
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This is 6 words quick view. View words of the list
4   Word meaning matching - Test words you know:
abhor  Speak
Exercise
compassionate
Exercise
fill with horror and loathing; horrify; hate
Exercise
bravery; force; power to attack or to resist attack
Exercise
lacking proper seriousness; speaking freely; talkative; communicative
altruistic  Speak
Exercise
extreme corruption or degradation; wickedness
Exercise
unselfishly generous; concerned for others
Exercise
feeling of contented self-satisfaction, especially when unaware of upcoming trouble
Exercise
expose as false, exaggerated, worthless; ridicule
antediluvian  Speak
Exercise
put at disadvantage; prevent progress or free movement of
Exercise
antiquated; extremely old and ancient; belonging to very ancient times
Exercise
urgent, dreadful
Exercise
hard to understand; known only in a particular group
ascendancy  Speak
Exercise
festive; occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company
Exercise
support physically; prop up; support something or someone by supplying evidence
Exercise
confuse
Exercise
superiority or decisive advantage; domination
burgeon  Speak
Exercise
sparing; economical; costing little; inexpensive
Exercise
grow forth; send out buds; grow or develop rapidly
Exercise
unselfishly generous; concerned for others
Exercise
antiquated; extremely old and ancient; belonging to very ancient times
conscientious  Speak
Exercise
huge; of a tremendous size, volume, degree
Exercise
festive; occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company
Exercise
diligent; responsible; reliable
Exercise
expose as false, exaggerated, worthless; ridicule
This is 6 words matching. Try matching quizzes of the list
5   Interactive spelling - Check your spelling skill online:
Read [Esc]
mechanism that imitates actions of humans


Spelling Word: automaton
Read [Esc]
rebuke or scold angrily and at length


Spelling Word: berate
Read [Esc]
ill humored; irritable; marked by ill-tempered contradiction or opposition; ugly; malicious


Spelling Word: cantankerous
Read [Esc]
limit narrowly; confine; draw a line around; encircle


Spelling Word: circumscribe
Read [Esc]
combine; fuse; grow together; come together so as to form one whole; unite


Spelling Word: coalesce
Read [Esc]
feeling of contented self-satisfaction, especially when unaware of upcoming trouble


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