201 Words You Absolutely, Positively Have to Know for the SAT

LIST 1: The Great Eight

For blocks that have multiple words, the bolded words will appear on the test.

Word / Definition / Synonym/Antonym / Example / Note
Curtail / To cut short / Syn: curb, inhibit
Ant: extend; prolong / Verb, must show action
Meager / Scanty, sparse, not abundant / Ant: plentiful, abundant, ample, lavish / Adjective, must describe
Somber / Gloomy, cheerless, grave / Ant: lively, vivid, upbeat / Adjective, must describ
Flourish / To prosper, thrive / Ant: deteriorate, wane, fade / Verb, must show action
Rejuvenate, Reinvigorate / To make youthful again, revitalize, revive / Ant: wear out, exhaust, drain / Verb, must show action
Rebuke, Censure, Reprimand, Reprove, Remonstrate, Reproach, Admonish / To scold / Ant: agree, settle, approve, harmonize / Verb, must show action
Lethargic, Slothful, Languid, Indolent, Torpid, Wan, Anemic, Phlegmatic, Enervated / To lack energy, vigor, and vitality; to be sluggish / Ant: energetic, peppy, spirited / Verb, must show action
Acclaim, Adulation, Hail, Extol, Laud, Eulogize, Plaudit / To win praise / Ant: denigrate, degrade, vilify / Verb, must show action

LIST 2: The Golden DozenFor blocks that have multiple words, the bolded words will appear on the test.

Word / Definition / Synonym/Antonym / Example
Note
Aesthetic / Appealing to the sense of beauty / Describes something pretty.
Eclectic / Choosing from a variety of sources / Describes; tastes or choices
Anomalous / Deviating from a general rule, an irregularity, something that is incongruous / Different from normal; describes
Paradox / A seemingly contradictory statement that may be true
Alleviate,Mitigate,Mollify, Assuage,Allay / To relieve, to lessen pain, anxiety / Military; medicine; pain killers
Innocuous / Harmless, not damaging / Describes
Venerate,Revere / To hold in high esteem, to honor, admire / Action
Trite, Banal, Cliché, Hackneyed, Platitude, Vapid,Prosaic / Commonplace, unimaginative, ordinary / Describes
Elusive / Hard to catch, evasive / Describes
Procrastinate, Dilatory, Temporize, Dawdle / To delay, to be tardy / Action
Conventional / A traditional, customary way of doing things / Describes
Obstinate, obdurate,recalcitrant,Intransigent, Intractable / Stubborn / Describes

Test will cover 15 Total Words!!

LIST 3: The Most Interesting People List 1

Term / Definition / Synonym/Antonym / Example / Note
Egoist / A person who is concerned with himself/herself / A—philanthropist; humanitarian
Zealot / A person who is filled with zeal and enthusiasm for a cause / S-advocate; fanatic; enthusiast
A-skeptic
Malefactor / A person who does ill to others; an evil person / S-scoundrel; reprobate; villain
A-hero
Pacifist / A person who promotes peace / S-peacekeeper; conscientious objector
A-warmonger
Reveler / A person who engages in merrymaking (partying) / A-- recluse
Prodigy / A person with great talent; a genius / S-genius; phenomenon
Stalwart / A loyal supporter, an adherent, someone who stands by you / A – coward
Skinflint / A person who is overly thrifty with money; a miser / S- miser
Savant / A person with detailed knowledge in a specific field; a sage / S—sage;
A – dunce;
Jingoist / An extreme nationalist; a chauvinist / S-loyalist; nationalist; compatriot
A-turncoat
Benefactor / A person who helps others, often by giving generous gifts / S-sponsor; patron

LIST 4: The Most Interesting People on the SAT

Term / Definition / Synonym/Antonym / Example / Note
Recluse / A person who leads a secluded or solitary life; a hermit / S-hermit; outsider
Seer / A person who can predict future events / S-prophet; soothsayer; clairvoyant; oracle
Pragmatist / A person who is practical and thus not given to flights of fancy / S-realist
A-idealist
Devotee / An ardent follower; supporter, or enthusiast / S-fan; aficionado; supporter
Nomad / A person who wanders and is thus itinerant / S-wanderer; traveler; itinerant; drifter
Dilettante / A dabbler; a person having superficial interest in a variety of fields or endeavors / S-amateur; dabbler
Demagogue / A person who arouses popular passions and prejudices
Supplicant / A person who is overly humble, who pleads for favor / S-petitioner; lobbyist; activist
Hedonist / A person who seeks pleasure and gratification
Virtuoso / A person with great artistic talent / S-prodigy; expert; genius; maestro
Boor / A person who is rude and insensitive; a person who lacks refinement / S-lout; oaf; klutz

List 5: Law and Order

Word / Definition / Synonym / Antonym / Example / Note
Censure / An official reprimand / V: reprimand; condemn; scorn, denounce
N: contempt, denunciation, deprecation, scorn / V- praise, laud, extol
N – approval, esteem, appreciation / MAY be a VERB or a NOUN
Germane / Relevant, pertinent / Relevant, useful, connected / Irrelevant, immaterial, extraneous / ADJECTIVE
Collusion / Secret agreement, usually for illegal or deceitful purposes / Conspiracy, complicity, approval / NOUN
Incorrigible / Can’t be reformed / Inveterate, irredeemable, persistent, hopeless / Tractable, docile, compliant / ADJECTIVE
Edict / An official proclamation; a decree / Proclamation, announcement, law, decree, statute, diktat / NOUN
Adjudicate / To settle a dispute in court / Arbitrate, judge, umpire, referee; pass/deliver/sit in judgment / VERB --- NOT a noun!
Spurious / A falsehood; cannot be proven / False, bogus, counterfeit, specious, sham / Genuine, authentic, undisputable / ADJECTIVE
Expurgate / To delete or remove from the record / Purge, abridge, cut, clean up / VERB

List 6: The Toughest Words on the SAT

Word / Definition / Synonym/Antonym / Example / Note
Quandary / A state of perplexity or doubt; a dilemma / S- dilemma; stalemate; perplexity
A-Understanding; epiphany; elightenment
Ameliorate / To make better / S-amend; calm; improve
A-exacerbate; deteriorate; aggravate
Exacerbate / To make worse / S-worsen; egg-on; irritate; aggravate
A-ameliorate;
Querulous / Complaining / S-cantankerous; petulant; confrontational
A-good natured; happy; amiable; pacified
Elucidate / To make clear / S-clarify; expound; illuminate
A-confuse; perplex; vague
Astute / Shrewd, smart, keen-minded / S-shrewd; wise; intelligent; witty; perspicacious
A-dense; illiterate; obtuse; daft; dim-witted
Incipient / In the early stages; embryonic / S-embryonic; developing; budding; initial
A-decaying; final; concluding
Vicariously / To live through another’s experience / S-second-hand; secondary;
A-first-hand; primary; direct
Rectitude / High standards of personal conduct / S-integrity; honor; morality; scruple
A-immorality; unscrupulous; depravity

List 7: Degree Words

Degree Words

Word / Definition / Synonym/Antonym / Example / Note
Mercurial / Very changeable
Venal / Very corrupt, dishonest
Fastidious / Very neat
Assiduous / Very hard working, diligent
Garish / Very loud, very bright colors
Auspicious / Very favorable
Fractious / Very divisive
Pugnacious / Very quarrelsome, combative
Discerning / Very insightful
Egregious / Very bad error