Everyone wants an opportunity to make it into the best of the colleges. We all know, though, that the SAT plays a significant role in the same. When we speak of this entrance exam, it is almost impossible that we skip the mention of the SAT vocabulary. Even though the questions on vocabulary aren’t very direct, there are many ways these multiple-choice questions will leave you gasping for words.
The Reading section and the Writing section both take vocabulary into account. While there are no direct questions, indirectly, you would have to know the meanings of several words. The good thing is that they place the word within a sentence, which helps conclude the meaning. But, that does not help always. What helps is, knowing several words that are common in the SAT Vocabulary.
Let us jump right to 12 Common SAT Vocabulary Words that every learner should know!
SAT Vocabulary- 12 Common Words
1. Ambiguous
Let’s begin with the letter A, with the first word being ambiguous.
Definition: open to more than one interpretation; not having one obvious meaning; not clear or decided.
Synonyms: equivocal, ambivalent, open to debate, open to argument, arguable, debatable, Delphic, cryptic, enigmatic, gnomic, etc.
Let us also take a look at some antonyms.
Antonyms: unambiguous, clear.
Example Sentence: My boss gave us ambiguous instructions, and that too, one day before the D-day. No wonder, the presentation was a total failure.
2. Belligerent
Let’s take the next word from our list of SAT Vocabulary words with letter B.
Definition: hostile and aggressive
Synonyms: hostile, aggressive, threatening, antagonistic, pugnacious, bellicose, truculent, confrontational, argumentative, quarrelsome, disputatious, contentious, militant, combative, etc.
Antonyms: friendly, peaceable
Example Sentence: There is no point in talking to my belligerent landlord for an extension on rent. It will make matters worse.
3. Corroborate
As we progress forward, remember that reading so many aspects of every word more than once is sure to help retain them for long.
Definition: confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding).
Synonyms: confirm, verify, endorse, ratify, authenticate, validate, certify, support, back up, back, uphold, stand by, etc.
Antonyms: contradict
Example Sentence: Alan claimed that he did his project himself; his best friend corroborated his statement.
4. Deplete
Here is the next word to move on further for comprehensive learning.
Definition: use up the supply or resources of
Synonyms: exhaust, use up, consume, expend, spend, drain, empty, sap, milk, suck dry, evacuate, reduce, decrease, diminish, lessen, etc.
Antonyms: augment, increase
Example Sentence: By the time Nancy drove her way uphill, the gas in her car had completed depleted.
5. Esoteric
Definition: Intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge or interest.
Synonyms: abstruse, obscure, arcane, recherché, rarefied, recondite, abstract, difficult, hard, puzzling, perplexing, enigmatic, inscrutable, cryptic, Delphic, complex, etc.
Antonyms: simple, familiar
Example Sentence: The information we will discuss in this meeting is esoteric. We request you all to maintain it the same way.
6. Fastidious
This SAT Vocabulary is getting interesting and challenging as we go ahead.
Definition: very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
Synonyms: scrupulous, punctilious, painstaking, meticulous, assiduous, sedulous, perfectionist, fussy, finicky, dainty, over-particular, critical, overcritical, etc.
Antonyms: easy-going, sloppy, etc.
Example Sentence: My grandmother is so fastidious; she won’t even allow me to keep a glass of water without a coaster.
Say, have you heard of this word before.
Definition: suggesting the presence of danger; threatening.
Synonyms: threaten, be a danger to, put at risk, jeopardize, imperil, loom over, bully, intimidate, issue threats to, frighten, scare, alarm, terrify, etc.
Antonyms: friendly, auspicious
Example Sentence: The grey sky was menacing, and I was sure it would rain later.
8. Ornate
Not just for the sake of learning the SAT vocabulary, even otherwise, this word is something that is helpful in regular communication.
Definition: elaborately or highly decorated.
Synonyms: elaborate, decorated, embellished, adorned, ornamented, fancy, over-elaborate, fussy, busy, ostentatious, showy, etc.
Antonyms: plain, austere, simple
Example Sentence: My parents always insist on us having an ornate Christmas eve; personally, I like it simple.
9. Reticent
Definition: not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily.
Synonyms: reserved, withdrawn, introverted, restrained, inhibited, diffident, shy, modest, unassuming, shrinking, distance, undemonstrative, etc.
Antonyms: expansive, garrulous
Example Sentence: She was extremely reticent about her personal affairs
10. Simulate
Undoubtedly, the SAT vocabulary helps one cope with so many words at once.
Definition: imitate the appearance or character of.
Synonyms: imitate, reproduce, replicate, duplicate, mimic, parallel, be a mock-up of, artificial, imitation, fake, false, faux, etc.
Antonyms: real
Example Sentence: The program was meant to simulate what it was like to be in space, but I didn’t feel like I was there at all.
11. Tenacious
Definition: tending to keep a firm hold of something; clinging or adhering closely
Synonyms: firm, tight, fast, clinging, strong, forceful, powerful, unshakeable, immovable, iron, sticky, adhesive, gluey, etc.
Antonyms: loose, weak
Example Sentence: Jack kept a tenacious grip to hold on to the pipe until someone could help him down.
12. Verbose
Here’s the last one on our list of SAT vocabulary.
Definition: using or expressed in more words than are needed.
Synonyms: wordy, loquacious, garrulous, talkative, voluble, orotund, expansive, babbling, blathering, prattling, prating, jabbering, gushing, etc.
Antonyms: succinct, laconic
Example Sentence: Much academic language is obscure and verbose.
Start practicing these words, at least three on each day. We’ll come back with another lesson of the same, just so that you can get another dose of this expansive vocabulary. Until then, we’re sure you will be versed in these words.
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