SAT VOCABULARY for ACHIEVEMENT
Study Packet
Pre-IB English 9
Ms. S. J. Bond
SAT VOCABULARY for ACHIEVEMENT
SAT vocabulary word lists for high school students are a way to help prepare students to take
this important test. The SAT, or Scholastic Achievement Test, is designed to assess how
successful high school students will be. I encourage all Pre-IB 9th graders to take the PSAT In
October. Most students take the actual SAT in the 11th grade; however, preparation can begin
much earlier. The great aspect of this test is that it has been around for many years. The Internet
contains many websites that explain the test and help students to prepare.
Preparing for the SAT
There is no way to know what words are going to be on the SAT. Therefore, students need to
experience a wide variety of words through different types of learning experiences, including
using them in daily speaking and writing, to really prepare for the test.
Ways to Learn Vocabulary
Direct Instruction
This learning strategy is where words and definitions are learned out of context. Basically,
students study a word and definition. Sometimes these words are used in sentences, used in
matching or other types of fill in the blank exercises. In addition, you will create games, puzzles,
or stories as you experience the new words.
The benefit of this type of study is that students can encounter words that they may not see in
their normal routines. However, this is not the most effective way to learn because it only
accesses the short term memory. Many students forget the words and their definitions after this
type of study.
Reading
Through reading students learn words and how they are used in context. Students can often
figure out the definitions of words based on the other words around them. Students can encounter
a wide variety of words by reading in many different genres and subjects.
The benefit to this approach is that students will remember the words because they encounter
them over time.
SAT VOCABULARY LIST 1
Word
Part of
Speech
Adulterate
v.
Ambidextrous
Adj.
augment
v.
Bereft
Adj.
Deploy
v.
Dour
Adj.
Fortitude
n.
Gape
v.
Gibe
v.
Guise
n.
Insidious
Adj.
Intimation
n.
Opulent
Adj.
Pliable
Adj.
Reiterate
v.
Stolid
Adj.
Tentative
Adj.
Unkempt
Adj.
Verbatim
Adj./adv
Warily
Adv.
Definition
To corrupt, make worse by the addition of something of
lesser value
Able to use both hands equally well
To make larger, increase
Deprived of; made unhappy through a loss
To position or arrange; to utilize
Stern, unyielding, gloomy
Courage in facing difficulties
To share with open mouth; to open the mouth
wide
To utter taunting words an expression of scorn
An external appearance, cover, mask
Designed or intended to deceive or entrap; sly treacherous
A hint, indirect suggestion
Wealthy, luxurious; ample
Easily bent, flexible; easily influenced
To say again, repeat
Not easily moved, mentally or emotionally; dull
Experimental in nature; uncertain, hesitant
Not combed; untidy
Word for word; exactly as written or spoken
Cautiously, with great care
SAT VOCABULARY LIST 2
Word
Part of
Speech
Adroit
Adj.
Amicable
Adj.
Averse
Adj.
Belligerent
Adj.
Benevolent
Adj.
Cursory
Adj.
Duplicity
n.
Extol
v.
Feasible
Adj.
Grimace
n.
Holocaust
n.
Impervious
Adj.
Impetus
n.
Jeopardy
n.
Meticulous
Adj.
Nostalgia
n.
Quintessence
n.
Retrogress
v.
Scrutinize
v.
Tepid
Adj.
Definition
Skillful, expert in the use of the hands or mind
Peaceable, friendly
Having a deep-seated distaste; opposed, unwilling
Given to fighting, warlike (n.) one at war
Kindly, charitable
Hasty, not thorough
Treachery, deceitfulness
To praise, extravagantly
Possible, able to be done
A wry face, facial distortion (v. ) to make a wry face
A large-scale destruction, especially by fire; a vast
slaughter
Not affected or hurt by; admitting of no passage or
entrance
A moving force, impulse stimulus
Danger
Extremely careful; particular about details
A longing for something past; homesickness
The purest essence or form of something; the most typical
example
To move backward; to return to a earlier condition
To examine closely
Lukewarm; unenthusiastic, marked by an absence of
interest
SAT VOCABULARY LIST 3
Word
Part of
Speech
Adversary
n.
Alienate
v.
Artifice
n.
Coerce
v.
Craven
Adj.
Culinary
Adj.
Delete
v.
Demise
n.
Exhilarate
v.
Fallow
Adj.
Harass
v.
Inclement
Adj.
Muse
v.
Negligible
Adj.
Perpetuate
v.
Precedent
n.
Punitive
Adj.
Redress
v.
Sojourn
n.
Urbane
Adj.
Definition
An enemy, opponent
to turn away; to make indifferent or hostile
A skillful or ingenious device; a clever trick
To compel, force
cowardly; (n.) a coward
of or related to cooking or to the kitchen
to erase, wipe out, cut out
A death, especially of a person in a lofty position
to enliven, cheer, give spirit or liveliness
unseeded or untilled; inactive
to disturb, worry; to trouble by repeated attacks
stormy, harsh; severe in attitude or action
to think about in a dreamy way, ponder
so unimportant that it can be disregarded
to make permanent or long lasting
An example that may serve as a basis for imitation or later
action
inflicting or aiming at punishment
to set right, remedy; (n.) relief from wrong or injury
A temporary stay (v.) to stay for a time
Refined in manner or style; suave
SAT VOCABULARY LIST 4
Word
Part of
Speech
Affiliated
Adj.
Ascertain
v.
Attainment
n.
Bequeath
v.
Cogent
Adj.
Converge
v.
Disperse
v.
Esteem
v.
Expunge
v.
Finite
Adj.
Invulnerable
Adj.
Malevolent
Adj.
Nonchalant
Adj.
Omniscient
Adj.
Panacea
n.
Scrupulous
Adj.
Uncanny
Adj.
Supercilious
Adj.
Venial
Adj.
Skulk
v.
Definition
associated, connected
to find out
An accomplishment; the act of achieving
to give or pass on as an inheritance
forceful, convincing
to move toward one point
to scatter, spread far and wide
to regard highly (n.) a highly favorable opinion or
judgment
to erase, obliterate, destroy
having limits; lasting for a limited time
not able to be wounded or hurt; shielded against attack
spiteful, showing ill will
cool and confident, unconcerned
knowing everything; having unlimited awareness or
understanding
A remedy for all ills, cure-all; an answer to all problems
exact, careful, attending thoroughly to details; having high
moral standards
strange, mysterious, weird; beyond explanation
proud and contemptuous
easily excused; pardonable
To move about stealthily; to lie in hiding
SAT VOCABULARY LIST 5
Word
Part of
Speech
Altruistic
Adj.
Assent
v.
Benefactor
n.
Chivalrous
Adj.
Clemency
n.
Dearth
n.
Diffident
Adj.
Discrepancy
n.
Embark
v.
Facile
Adj.
Indomitable
Adj.
Infallible
Adj.
Plod
v.
Pungent
Adj.
Remiss
Adj.
Repose
v.
Temerity
n.
Truculent
Adj.
Unfeigned
Adj.
Virulent
Adj.
Definition
unselfish, concerned with the welfare of others
to express agreement (n.) agreement
one who does good to others
marked by honor, fairness, courtesy, and courage
Mercy, humaneness; mildness, moderateness
A lack, scarcity, inadequate supply
shy, lacking self-confidence
A difference; a lack of agreement
to go abroad; to make a start
easily done or attained; superficial
unconquerable, refusing to yield
free from error; absolutely dependable
to trudge, walk heavily
causing a sharp sensation; stinging, biting
neglectful in performance of one’s duty, careless
to rest (n.) sleep, relaxation
rashness, boldness
fierce and cruel, harsh; aggressive
sincere, real, without pretense
Extremely poisonous; full of malice
SAT VOCABULARY LIST 6
Word
Part of
Speech
Accede
v.
Brandish
v.
Comprise
v.
Deft
Adj.
Destitute
Adj.
Explicit
Adj.
Extirpate
v.
Inopportune
Adj.
Ironic
Adj.
Musty
Adj.
Officious
Adj.
Pinnacle
n.
Premeditated
Adj.
Rampant
Adj.
Solace
n.
Stately
Adj.
Supple
Adj.
Suppress
v.
Venal
Adj.
Ominous
Adj.
Definition
to yield to; to assume an office or dignity
to wave or flourish in a menacing fashion
to include or contain; to be made up of
skillful, nimble
deprived of the necessities of life
definite, clearly stated
to tear up by the roots; to destroy totally
coming at a bad time; not appropriate
suggest in an incongruity between what might be expected
and what actually happens
stale, moldy; out-of-date
Meddling; excessively forward in offering services or
assuming authority
A high peak or point
considered beforehand, deliberately planned
growing without check, running wild
comfort, relief (v.) to comfort, console
dignified, majestic
bending easily
to stop by force, put down
open to or marked by bribery or corruption
Unfavorable, threatening, of bad omen
SAT VOCABULARY LIST 7
Word
Part of
Speech
Abhor
v.
Amend
v.
Buffet
v.
Chaos
n.
Commodious
Adj.
Corrosive
Adj.
Discern
v.
Extant
Adj.
Implicate
v.
Inter
v.
Martinet
n.
Obviate
v.
Renegade
n.
Reprehensible
Adj.
Somber
Adj.
Squalid
Adj.
Turbulent
Adj.
Vociferous
Adj.
Voluminous
Adj.
Waive
v.
Definition
to regard with horror or loathing: to hate deeply
to change in a format way; to change for the better
to slap or cuff; to strike repeatedly
great confusion, disorder
roomy, spacious
eating away gradually, acid-like
to see clearly, recognize
still existing; not exterminated, destroyed, or lost
to involve in; connect with to be related to
to bury
A strict disciplinarian; a stickler for the rules
to anticipate or prevent; to remove
One who leaves a group; a deserter, outlaw
Deserving blame or punishment
Dark, gloomy; depressed or melancholy in spirit
Filthy, wretched, debased
Disorderly, riotous, violent
Loud and noisy; compelling attention
of great size; numerous; writing or speaking at great
length
To do without, give up
SAT VOCABULARY LIST 8
Word
Part of
Speech
Animosity
n.
Apathy
n.
Apprehensive
Adj.
Commend
v.
Compatible
Adj.
Condolence
n.
Consecrate
v.
Decrepit
Adj.
Deride
v.
Ingenuous
Adj.
Multifarious
Adj.
Obsolete
Adj.
Omnivorous
Adj.
Parsimonious
Adj.
Quandary
n.
Recalcltrant
Adj.
Reprisal
n.
Revel
v.
Stultify
v.
Suave
Adj.
Definition
Strong dislike; bitter hostility
A lack of feeling, emotion, or interest
Fearful or anxious, especially about the future
to praise, express approval; to present as worth of
attention
Able to get along or work well together
An expression of sympathy
to make sacred, hallow; to set apart of a special purpose
Old and feeble
to ridicule, laugh at with contempt
Innocent, simple; frank, sincere
Having great variety; numerous and diverse
Out of date, no longer in use
Eating every kind of food; eagerly taking everything
Stingy, miserly
A state of perplexity or doubt
Stubbornly disobedient, resisting authority
An injury done in return for injury
to take great pleasure in (n.) a wild celebration
to make ineffective or useless, cripple; to have a dulling
effect on
Smoothly agreeable or polite
SAT VOCABULARY LIST 9
Word
Part of
Speech
Allocate
v.
Ardent
Adj.
Assiduous
Adj.
Brash
Adj.
Capricious
Adj.
Chastise
v.
Copious
Adj.
Deviate
v.
Emaciated
Adj.
Exult
v.
Gnarled
Adj.
Indemnity
n.
Inkling
n.
Limpid
Adj.
Omnipotent
Adj.
Palatable
Adj.
Poignant
Adj.
Rancor
n.
Sophomoric
Adj.
Spontaneous
Adj.
Definition
to set apart or designate for a special purpose; to distribute
Very enthusiastic, impassioned
Persistent, attentive, diligent
Prone to act in a hasty manner; impudent
Subject to whims or passing fancies
to inflict physical punishment as a means of correction
Abundant , plentiful
to turn aside; to stray from a norm
Made unmorally thin
to rejoice greatly
Knotted, twisted, lumpy
A payment for damage or loss
A hint; a vague notion
clear, transparent ; easily understood
Almighty, having unlimited power or authority
Agreeable to the taste or one’s sensibilities
Deeply affecting, touching; keen or sharp in taste or smell
Bitter resentment or ill-will
Immature but overconfident; conceited
Arising naturally; not planned or engineered in advance
SAT VOCABULARY LIST 10
Word
Part of
Speech
Acquiesce
v.
Allure
v.
Askew
Adj/adv
Blithe
Adj.
Contentious
Adj.
Covet
v.
Crestfallen
Adj.
Disheveled
Adj.
Exponent
n.
Garrulous
Adj.
Insuperable
Adj.
Lamentable
Adj.
Misnomer
(n.)
Profess
v.
Respite
n.
Retribution
n.
Sinuous
Adj.
Sonorous
Adj.
Vanguard
n.
Wastrel
n.
Definition
to accept without protest; to agree or submit
to entice, tempt (n.) strong attraction
Twisted to one side, crooked; disapprovingly
Cheerful, lighthearted; casual, unconcerned
Quarrelsome, inclined to argue
to wish for enviously; to desire something belong to
another
Discouraged, dejected, downcast
Rumpled, mussed; hanging in disorder
One who advocates, speaks for or explains
Given to much talking, tediously chatty
Incapable of being overcome
to be regretted or pitied
An unsuitable or misapplied name
to affirm openly; to state belief in; to claim, make pretense
A period of relief and rest
A repayment; a deserved punishment
Winding, having many curves; lithe and flexible
Full, deep, or rich in sound; impressive in style
The foremost part of any army; the leading position in any
field
A wasteful person, spendthrift; a good-for-nothing