SAT Vocabulary Words

Why This Matters

The SAT doesn't just test whether you've memorized dictionary definitions—it tests whether you can recognize how words function in context. You'll encounter these vocabulary words embedded in complex passages about science, history, literature, and social studies, and you'll need to understand not just what they mean but how they shape tone, reveal character, and build arguments. The reading and writing sections reward students who can distinguish between similar words and identify subtle shifts in meaning.

Think of these words as tools for unlocking passages. When an author describes a character as tenacious rather than simply "stubborn," that word choice signals admiration. When a passage uses surreptitious instead of "secret," it implies disapproval or suspicion. Don't just memorize definitions—know what emotional weight and connotation each word carries, and be ready to explain why an author might choose one word over another.

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Words Describing Clarity and Communication

These words help you analyze how effectively ideas are expressed—a core skill for evaluating arguments and identifying author's purpose.

Ambiguous

• Open to multiple interpretations—often signals that a passage is testing your ability to identify unclear or deliberately vague language
• Connotation is neutral to negative; ambiguity in arguments is typically a weakness the SAT wants you to spot
• Opposite of precise or explicit—knowing this contrast helps with "words in context" questions

Lucid

• Clear and easy to understand—describes writing or thinking that is transparent and logical
• Positive connotation; a lucid argument is one that succeeds in communicating its point
• Related to "elucidate" (to make clear), which often appears in similar contexts

Eloquent

• Fluent, persuasive, and graceful in expression—goes beyond mere clarity to suggest beauty or power in language
• Often describes speakers or writers who move audiences through skillful word choice
• Key distinction from "lucid": eloquence adds artistry, while lucidity emphasizes simplicity

Obscure

• Unclear, hidden, or difficult to understand—can describe both ideas and physical things that are hard to see
• Negative connotation in arguments; obscure reasoning is a flaw
• Also means "not well-known"—context determines which meaning applies

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Words Describing Character and Personality

The SAT frequently tests your ability to analyze characters and their motivations. These words describe how people behave and interact.

Benevolent

• Kind, charitable, and well-meaning—describes people or actions motivated by goodwill
• Root: "bene" (good) + "volent" (wishing)—recognizing this root helps with related words like "beneficial"
• Often contrasted with "malevolent" (ill-wishing) in character analysis questions

Candid

• Honest, open, and straightforward—describes communication without hidden agendas
• Can have slightly negative connotation when candor is blunt or tactless
• Key for dialogue analysis—candid characters often reveal important truths

Gregarious

• Sociable and fond of company—describes people who thrive in groups
• Positive connotation; suggests warmth and friendliness rather than neediness
• Opposite of "solitary" or "reclusive"—useful for character contrast questions

Surreptitious

• Secret, stealthy, done to avoid notice—implies the action wouldn't be approved if discovered
• Strongly negative connotation; suggests deception or wrongdoing
• Often appears in passages about intrigue, politics, or hidden motives

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Words Describing Effort and Persistence

These words appear frequently in passages about achievement, struggle, and character development—common SAT themes.

Diligent

• Hardworking and careful in one's efforts—emphasizes consistent, steady work
• Positive connotation; diligence is presented as a virtue in academic and professional contexts
• Distinct from "talented"—diligence is about effort, not natural ability

Meticulous

• Extremely careful and precise about details—suggests thoroughness to an almost excessive degree
• Can be positive or slightly negative depending on context (admirable precision vs. obsessive perfectionism)
• Often describes research, craftsmanship, or planning in SAT passages

Tenacious

• Persistent and determined, refusing to give up—implies holding on tightly despite obstacles
• Strongly positive connotation; tenacity is celebrated in narratives about overcoming adversity
• Root: "tenere" (to hold)—connects to words like "retain" and "maintain"

Resilient

• Able to recover quickly from setbacks—emphasizes bouncing back rather than never falling
• Positive connotation; resilience is a key theme in passages about personal growth
• Distinct from "tenacious": resilience is about recovery; tenacity is about not letting go

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Words Describing Thinking and Reasoning

The SAT loves testing your ability to analyze arguments and reasoning styles. These words describe how people approach problems and ideas.

Pragmatic

• Practical and focused on realistic solutions—prioritizes what works over what's ideal
• Often contrasted with "idealistic" in passages about policy or decision-making
• Neutral to positive connotation; pragmatism is valued in problem-solving contexts

Hypothetical

• Based on assumption or conjecture rather than fact—describes imagined scenarios
• Neutral connotation; hypotheticals are useful thinking tools, not inherently flawed
• Key for identifying argument structure—hypothetical examples support but don't prove claims

Imperative

• Absolutely necessary or urgent—as an adjective, describes something that must happen
• Also a grammar term: imperative sentences give commands ("Study these words!")
• Strong connotation of urgency—signals high stakes in persuasive passages

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Words Describing Value and Resources

These words help analyze themes of worth, economy, and what characters prioritize.

Frugal

• Economical and avoiding waste—describes careful use of resources
• Generally positive connotation, though can suggest excessive cheapness in some contexts
• Often appears in passages about economics, sustainability, or character values

Quintessential

• The most perfect or typical example of something—represents the purest form of a category
• Strongly positive connotation; being quintessential means embodying the best qualities
• Useful for identifying archetypes and central examples in analytical passages

Nostalgia

• Sentimental longing for the past—a bittersweet emotion mixing fondness with loss
• Can be positive or cautionary depending on whether the passage celebrates or critiques looking backward
• Common in passages about memory, tradition, and cultural change

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Words Describing Comparison and Contrast

These words are essential for analyzing how authors structure arguments and develop themes.

Juxtapose

• Place side by side for comparison or contrast—a deliberate authorial technique
• Neutral connotation; the word describes a method, not a judgment
• Extremely common in literary analysis—if you're asked how an author develops a theme, juxtaposition is often the answer

Kinetic

• Relating to motion or movement—describes energy in action rather than stored
• Often contrasted with "static" or "potential" in both scientific and literary contexts
• Useful for describing dynamic passages with action, change, or physical description

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Quick Reference Table

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Self-Check Questions

1. Which two words both describe persistence but differ in whether they emphasize holding on versus bouncing back? How would you use each in a sentence about a character facing obstacles?

2. If a passage describes a politician's speech as "eloquent but ambiguous," what is the author suggesting about its strengths and weaknesses?

3. Compare and contrast candid and surreptitious. How might an author juxtapose characters with these traits to develop a theme about honesty?

4. A science passage describes a researcher's "meticulous and diligent" approach. What specific qualities is the author emphasizing, and how do these words differ in meaning?

5. If an FRQ asks you to analyze how an author uses word choice to convey tone, which words from this list would help you describe a passage that criticizes impractical thinking while praising realistic solutions?