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 

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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:
adamant   Speak
extremely hard; inflexible; stubbornly unyielding
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alacrity   Speak
cheerful promptness or willingness; eagerness; speed or quickness
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bog   Speak
marsh, swamp
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delineate   Speak
portray; depict; draw or trace outline of; sketch out
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elicit   Speak
draw out; bring forth or to light; generate or provoke as response or answer
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fathom   Speak
measure the depth; come to understand
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This is 6 words quick view. View words of the list
4   Word meaning matching - Test words you know:
abate  Speak
Exercise
in low spirits from loss of hope or courage
Exercise
subside; decrease; become less in amount or intensity
Exercise
repeated too often; over familiar through overuse
Exercise
expose as false, exaggerated, worthless; ridicule
accost  Speak
Exercise
approach and speak to boldly or aggressively, as with demand or request
Exercise
set forth; set out to public view
Exercise
characteristic of acting or stage performance
Exercise
limit narrowly; confine; draw a line around; encircle
adroit  Speak
Exercise
intense state of fear or dismay; astonishment combined with terror
Exercise
rub or wipe out; make indistinct as if by rubbing
Exercise
skillful and adept under pressing conditions
Exercise
making severe demands; rigorous; requiring great care, effort, or attention
amenable  Speak
Exercise
tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; eastern Orthodox bishop
Exercise
responsive to advice or suggestion; responsible to higher authority; willing to comply with; agreeable
Exercise
marked by or having equity; just and impartial
Exercise
reddish; elaborately or excessively ornamented
anthropology  Speak
Exercise
social science that studies origins and social relationships of human beings
Exercise
rash; marked by unthinking boldness
Exercise
easily deceived person; duplicate of photographic image
Exercise
rub or wipe out; make indistinct as if by rubbing
atrophy  Speak
Exercise
in low spirits from loss of hope or courage
Exercise
expressing low opinion; disparaging; belittling
Exercise
wasting away; decrease in size; reduction in the functionality of an organ caused by disease
Exercise
tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; eastern Orthodox bishop
This is 6 words matching. Try matching quizzes of the list
5   Interactive spelling - Check your spelling skill online:
Read [Esc]
expert at; very skilled; having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude


Spelling Word: adept
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limit narrowly; confine; draw a line around; encircle


Spelling Word: circumscribe
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yielding to request or desire; ready to accommodate; disposed or willing to comply


Spelling Word: compliant
Read [Esc]
blameworthy


Spelling Word: culpable
Read [Esc]
bold; incapable of being discouraged; fearless


Spelling Word: dauntless
Read [Esc]
make weak; enfeeble; impair the strength of


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