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:
barrage   Speak
artificial obstruction; heavy curtain of artillery fire; rapid, concentrated discharge of missiles
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chagrin   Speak
anxiety caused by humiliation or injured pride; disappointment
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circumscribe   Speak
limit narrowly; confine; draw a line around; encircle
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culpable   Speak
blameworthy
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fallacious   Speak
false; tending to mislead; deceptive
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florid   Speak
reddish; elaborately or excessively ornamented
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This is 6 words quick view. View words of the list
4   Word meaning matching - Test words you know:
acrimony  Speak
Exercise
exhibiting friendliness or goodwill; not quarrelsome
Exercise
making severe demands; rigorous; requiring great care, effort, or attention
Exercise
limit narrowly; confine; draw a line around; encircle
Exercise
bitter animosity
amicable  Speak
Exercise
surround an enemy; enclose or entrap; beat by cleverness and wit
Exercise
ridicule; make fun of; laugh at with contempt
Exercise
exhibiting friendliness or goodwill; not quarrelsome
Exercise
excessively morally instructive
apathetic  Speak
Exercise
speaking or behaving in artificial way; emotionally stirred or moved; infected or attacked
Exercise
feeling or showing a lack of interest or concern; indifferent
Exercise
useless; having no useful result; vain
Exercise
large destructive fire; burning; large-scale military conflict
ascendancy  Speak
Exercise
superiority or decisive advantage; domination
Exercise
feeling or showing a lack of interest or concern; indifferent
Exercise
great excitement; public disorder or uproar
Exercise
tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; eastern Orthodox bishop
ascetic  Speak
Exercise
speaking or behaving in artificial way; emotionally stirred or moved; infected or attacked
Exercise
leading a life of self-discipline and self-denial; austere
Exercise
violate the sacredness of
Exercise
spread out widely; scatter freely; pour out and cause to spread freely
aspire  Speak
Exercise
responsive to advice or suggestion; responsible to higher authority; willing to comply with; agreeable
Exercise
unselfishly generous; concerned for others
Exercise
seek to attain; long for; strive toward an end
Exercise
marsh, swamp
This is 6 words matching. Try matching quizzes of the list
5   Interactive spelling - Check your spelling skill online:
Read [Esc]
bitter animosity


Spelling Word: acrimony
Read [Esc]
responsive to advice or suggestion; responsible to higher authority; willing to comply with; agreeable


Spelling Word: amenable
Read [Esc]
feeling or showing a lack of interest or concern; indifferent


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


Spelling Word: atrophy
Read [Esc]
mechanism that imitates actions of humans


Spelling Word: automaton
Read [Esc]
artificial obstruction; heavy curtain of artillery fire; rapid, concentrated discharge of missiles


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