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:
amicable   Speak
exhibiting friendliness or goodwill; not quarrelsome
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apt   Speak
likely; exactly suitable; appropriate; quick to learn or understand
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bitartisanship   Speak
supported by two opposing parties
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conflagration   Speak
large destructive fire; burning; large-scale military conflict
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didactic   Speak
excessively morally instructive
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garish   Speak
over-bright in color; tastelessly showy
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This is 6 words quick view. View words of the list
4   Word meaning matching - Test words you know:
abate  Speak
Exercise
dislike, aversion
Exercise
subside; decrease; become less in amount or intensity
Exercise
deceptive or false appearance; false notion; deception
Exercise
friendly; cordial; having a pleasant or friendly disposition or manner
adamant  Speak
Exercise
short-lived; enduring a very short time
Exercise
skillful and adept under pressing conditions
Exercise
attended by favorable circumstances; marked by success; prosperous
Exercise
extremely hard; inflexible; stubbornly unyielding
apathetic  Speak
Exercise
feeling or showing a lack of interest or concern; indifferent
Exercise
tending to waste time
Exercise
opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion contrary to accepted religion
Exercise
lacking proper seriousness; speaking freely; talkative; communicative
contentious  Speak
Exercise
responsive to advice or suggestion; responsible to higher authority; willing to comply with; agreeable
Exercise
quarrelsome; disagreeable; marked by heated arguments or controversy
Exercise
expose as false, exaggerated, worthless; ridicule
Exercise
skillful and adept under pressing conditions
copious  Speak
Exercise
friendly; cordial; having a pleasant or friendly disposition or manner
Exercise
having harmful effect; injurious; having quality of destroying life; noxious; poisonous
Exercise
plentiful; containing plenty; affording ample supply
Exercise
shy
culpable  Speak
Exercise
over-bright in color; tastelessly showy
Exercise
blameworthy
Exercise
lacking proper seriousness; speaking freely; talkative; communicative
Exercise
skillful and adept under pressing conditions
This is 6 words matching. Try matching quizzes of the list
5   Interactive spelling - Check your spelling skill online:
Read [Esc]
cheerful promptness or willingness; eagerness; speed or quickness


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


Spelling Word: amicable
Read [Esc]
likely; exactly suitable; appropriate; quick to learn or understand


Spelling Word: apt
Read [Esc]
seek to attain; long for; strive toward an end


Spelling Word: aspire
Read [Esc]
wasting away; decrease in size; reduction in the functionality of an organ caused by disease


Spelling Word: atrophy
Read [Esc]
marsh, swamp


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