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:
callous   Speak
emotionally hardened; unfeeling; toughened
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chagrin   Speak
anxiety caused by humiliation or injured pride; disappointment
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contempt   Speak
state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace; disobedience to, or open disrespect of
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contemptible   Speak
worthy of contempt; deserving of scorn or disdain; mean
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demure   Speak
modest and reserved in manner or behavior
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exemplar   Speak
representative example
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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
sophisticated; of worldwide scope
Exercise
likely; exactly suitable; appropriate; quick to learn or understand
Exercise
assign, portion
Exercise
feeling of contented self-satisfaction, especially when unaware of upcoming trouble
arcane  Speak
Exercise
discordant; inharmonious; sounding harshly; ill-sounding
Exercise
grow forth; send out buds; grow or develop rapidly
Exercise
giving a false appearance of frankness; not straightforward or candid; insincere or calculating
Exercise
secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated
atrophy  Speak
Exercise
wasting away; decrease in size; reduction in the functionality of an organ caused by disease
Exercise
giving a false appearance of frankness; not straightforward or candid; insincere or calculating
Exercise
derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
Exercise
expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism; blame
banal  Speak
Exercise
open to two or more interpretations and often intended to mislead
Exercise
obvious and offensive, blatant, scandalous; flaming into notice
Exercise
obvious and dull; commonplace; lacking originality
Exercise
agree
barrage  Speak
Exercise
shy
Exercise
manner of walking or stepping; bearing or carriage while moving; walk; rate of moving
Exercise
urgent, dreadful
Exercise
artificial obstruction; heavy curtain of artillery fire; rapid, concentrated discharge of missiles
byzantine  Speak
Exercise
open to two or more interpretations and often intended to mislead
Exercise
convoluted, complex
Exercise
make slender, fine, or small; weaken; lessen density of
Exercise
extremely poor; utterly lacking; devoid
This is 6 words matching. Try matching quizzes of the list
5   Interactive spelling - Check your spelling skill online:
Read [Esc]
mental keenness; quickness of perception


Spelling Word: acumen
Read [Esc]
obvious and dull; commonplace; lacking originality


Spelling Word: banal
Read [Esc]
pompous; using inflated language; high-sounding but with little meaning


Spelling Word: bombastic
Read [Esc]
convoluted, complex


Spelling Word: byzantine
Read [Esc]
scold mildly so as to correct or improve; express disapproval


Spelling Word: chide
Read [Esc]
quarrelsome; disagreeable; marked by heated arguments or controversy


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