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:
antediluvian   Speak
antiquated; extremely old and ancient; belonging to very ancient times
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banal   Speak
obvious and dull; commonplace; lacking originality
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depravity   Speak
extreme corruption or degradation; wickedness
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discount   Speak
give reduction in price on
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fortitude   Speak
bravery; force; power to attack or to resist attack
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hackneyed   Speak
repeated too often; over familiar through overuse
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This is 6 words quick view. View words of the list
4   Word meaning matching - Test words you know:
aloocate  Speak
Exercise
make uneasy or anxious; trouble
Exercise
state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace; disobedience to, or open disrespect of
Exercise
assign, portion
Exercise
wasting away; decrease in size; reduction in the functionality of an organ caused by disease
apathetic  Speak
Exercise
feeling or showing a lack of interest or concern; indifferent
Exercise
unoriginal; derived from another source
Exercise
support physically; prop up; support something or someone by supplying evidence
Exercise
seek to attain; long for; strive toward an end
august  Speak
Exercise
cheating; deceitful; planning or using fraud; given to practice of fraud
Exercise
argumentative; fond of arguing; inclined to dispute
Exercise
assign, portion
Exercise
impressive; majestic; inspiring awe or admiration
buttress  Speak
Exercise
willingness to carry out the wishes of others; great respect
Exercise
feeling or showing a lack of interest or concern; indifferent
Exercise
responsive to advice or suggestion; responsible to higher authority; willing to comply with; agreeable
Exercise
support physically; prop up; support something or someone by supplying evidence
circumscribe  Speak
Exercise
speaking or behaving in artificial way; emotionally stirred or moved; infected or attacked
Exercise
disenchantment, disappointment
Exercise
limit narrowly; confine; draw a line around; encircle
Exercise
learned; scholarly, with emphasis on knowledge gained from books
contempt  Speak
Exercise
festive; occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company
Exercise
deceptive or false appearance; false notion; deception
Exercise
state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace; disobedience to, or open disrespect of
Exercise
calm; impartial; unaffected by strong emotion or prejudice
This is 6 words matching. Try matching quizzes of the list
5   Interactive spelling - Check your spelling skill online:
Read [Esc]
good-natured and likable; lovable; warmly friendly


Spelling Word: amiable
Read [Esc]
exhibiting friendliness or goodwill; not quarrelsome


Spelling Word: amicable
Read [Esc]
strong feeling of aversion; dislike


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


Spelling Word: berate
Read [Esc]
discordant; inharmonious; sounding harshly; ill-sounding


Spelling Word: cacophonous
Read [Esc]
festive; occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company


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