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SAT Vocabulary Words

The literary, rhetorical vocabulary the SAT actually tests — words that show up repeatedly in real reading passages, not a random word dump.

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26 Words

  1. 1 ostentatious Showy or over-the-top, designed mainly to impress or attract attention.
  2. 2 pretentious Trying too hard to seem impressive, intelligent, or important, in a way that comes across as fake or overblown...
  3. 3 pernicious Causing harm gradually or in a way that is not immediately obvious.
  4. 4 capricious Changing mood or behavior suddenly and unpredictably, without an obvious reason.
  5. 5 magnanimous Generous and noble-minded, especially in forgiving an insult or overlooking a wrong.
  6. 6 vindictive Wanting revenge; inclined to punish or hurt someone who has wronged you.
  7. 7 austere Plain, strict, and without luxury or decoration.
  8. 8 esoteric Understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge or interest.
  9. 9 enigmatic Difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious.
  10. 10 ambivalent Having mixed or contradictory feelings about someone or something.
  11. 11 arduous Requiring great effort or endurance; difficult and tiring.
  12. 12 wistful Filled with a gentle sadness or longing, especially for something in the past.
  13. 13 prudent Careful and sensible, especially about avoiding unnecessary risk.
  14. 14 resolute Firmly determined and not easily swayed from a decision or course of action.
  15. 15 tenacious Refusing to give up or let go, even when things get difficult.
  16. 16 vigilant Watchful and alert, especially for danger, trouble, or wrongdoing.
  17. 17 fortuitous Happening by chance, especially in a lucky or fortunate way.
  18. 18 incorrigible So set in bad habits or behaviour that it seems impossible to correct or reform.
  19. 19 insipid Lacking flavor; bland.
  20. 20 notorious Famous or well known for something bad.
  21. 21 obstinate Refusing to change one's opinion or course of action, often unreasonably so.
  22. 22 plausible Seeming reasonable or believable, even if not proven true.
  23. 23 reticent Unwilling to share thoughts, feelings, or information freely.
  24. 24 superfluous More than is needed; unnecessary or excess.
  25. 25 tangible Able to be touched or physically felt.
  26. 26 volatile Likely to change suddenly and unpredictably, especially for the worse.