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:
antipathy   Speak
strong feeling of aversion; dislike
Show examples and contexts    Close
aspire   Speak
seek to attain; long for; strive toward an end
Show examples and contexts    Close
confluence   Speak
act of two things flowing together; junction or meeting place where two things meet
Show examples and contexts    Close
exhort   Speak
urge on or encourage, especially by shouts; make urgent appeal
Show examples and contexts    Close
fallacious   Speak
false; tending to mislead; deceptive
Show examples and contexts    Close
folly   Speak
foolishness; lack of good sense, understanding, or foresight
Show examples and contexts    Close
This is 6 words quick view. View words of the list
4   Word meaning matching - Test words you know:
abstruse  Speak
Exercise
burden
Exercise
compromising, apologizing
Exercise
accidental; by chance; coming or occurring without any cause
Exercise
obscure; profound; difficult to understand.
accost  Speak
Exercise
approach and speak to boldly or aggressively, as with demand or request
Exercise
cheating; deceitful; planning or using fraud; given to practice of fraud
Exercise
capable of burning, corroding, dissolving, or eating away by chemical action
Exercise
deviation, not normal
amiable  Speak
Exercise
belief in equality
Exercise
refinement and delicacy of performance; skillful, subtle handling
Exercise
combine; fuse; grow together; come together so as to form one whole; unite
Exercise
good-natured and likable; lovable; warmly friendly
coalesce  Speak
Exercise
social science that studies origins and social relationships of human beings
Exercise
combine; fuse; grow together; come together so as to form one whole; unite
Exercise
critical; addicted to censure; severe in making remarks on others, or on their writings or manners; implying or expressing censure
Exercise
secret; conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
conciliate  Speak
Exercise
refinement and delicacy of performance; skillful, subtle handling
Exercise
impressive; majestic; inspiring awe or admiration
Exercise
compromising, apologizing
Exercise
calmness of temperament; steadiness of mind under stress.
demonstrative  Speak
Exercise
compromising, apologizing
Exercise
composed of elements from a variety of sources
Exercise
capable of burning, corroding, dissolving, or eating away by chemical action
Exercise
openly emotional
This is 6 words matching. Try matching quizzes of the list
5   Interactive spelling - Check your spelling skill online:
Read [Esc]
fill with horror and loathing; horrify; hate


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


Spelling Word: aspire
Read [Esc]
generous in providing aid to others; charitable


Spelling Word: benevolent
Read [Esc]
fickle; impulsive and unpredictable; apt to change opinions suddenly


Spelling Word: capricious
Read [Esc]
worthy of contempt; deserving of scorn or disdain; mean


Spelling Word: contemptible
Read [Esc]
scarcity; shortage of food; famine from failure or loss of crops


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