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SAT Vocabulary 005: All 120 Words
Every word in this quiz with its definition, pronunciation, and the completed SAT-style passage. Tap a word to open its flashcard.
Show all 120 words
| Word | Definition | In context |
|---|---|---|
| preliminary | coming before a more important action or event \pri-ˈli-mə-ˌner-ē\ | The preliminary results look promising, but researchers will need two more years of testing before the drug can be approved. |
| premise | a statement or idea on which an argument is based \ˈpre-məs\ | The entire argument rests on a single premise: that people always act in their own financial interest, which many economists now doubt. |
| prescient | having knowledge of events before they take place \ˈpre-sh(ē-)ənt\ | His 1960 warning that computers would one day fit in our pockets proved prescient; few people believed him at the time. |
| prescriptive | telling people what they should do; giving rules \pri-ˈskrip-tiv\ | Older grammar books were highly prescriptive, telling readers exactly which forms were "correct" rather than describing how people actually speak. |
| presume | to suppose that something is true without proof \pri-ˈzüm\ | In many legal systems, courts presume that a person is innocent until the prosecution proves otherwise. |
| pretext | a false reason given to hide the real one \ˈprē-ˌtekst\ | The king used a minor border dispute as a pretext for invading his neighbor, whose rich farmland he had wanted for years. |
| prevail | to prove more powerful; to win; to be widespread \pri-ˈvāl\ | In most fairy tales, good prevails over evil: the wicked witch is defeated and the kind hero lives happily ever after. |
| pristine | in its original condition; spotlessly clean \ˈpri-ˌstēn\ | Because no humans had ever lived on the island, its forests and beaches were pristine, untouched by roads, trash, or pollution. |
| proficient | competent or skilled in doing something \prə-ˈfi-shənt\ | Applicants must be proficient in at least two languages, able to read, write, and speak each one at a professional level. |
| profuse | plentiful; abundant; exaggerated \prə-ˈfyüs\ | He offered profuse apologies after the accident, saying "I’m so sorry" again and again and sending flowers every day for a week. |
| prohibitive | so high as to prevent purchase or use \prō-ˈhi-bə-tiv\ | For most families, the cost of private space travel is prohibitive: a single ticket costs more than an average house. |
| proliferate | to increase rapidly in number \prə-ˈli-fə-ˌrāt\ | In warm, still water, algae can proliferate so quickly that they cover an entire pond in just a few days. |
| prominent | important or famous; standing out \ˈprä-mə-nənt\ | Several prominent writers, including two Nobel Prize winners, signed the letter supporting the jailed journalist. |
| prosaic | lacking imagination; ordinary and dull \prō-ˈzā-ik\ | Fans expected a dramatic ending, but the writer chose something far more prosaic: the hero simply goes home and makes dinner. |
| proscribe | to forbid, especially by law \prō-ˈskrīb\ | The new rules proscribe smoking in all public buildings, with fines for anyone who breaks them. |
| provocative | causing anger or strong reaction, especially deliberately \prə-ˈvä-kə-tiv\ | The artist’s provocative painting caused protests outside the museum and heated debates in newspapers across the country. |
| proximity | nearness in space, time, or relationship \präk-ˈsi-mə-tē\ | Many families choose the neighborhood for its proximity to good schools; three are within a ten-minute walk. |
| prudent | acting with care and thought for the future \ˈprü-dᵊnt\ | It is prudent to save part of each paycheck so that you will have money if you suddenly lose your job. |
| quandary | a state of uncertainty over what to do \ˈkwän-d(ə-)rē\ | Offered two dream jobs on the same day, Maya was in a quandary: she could not decide whether to move to Paris or stay in New York. |
| quell | to put an end to, usually by force; to calm \ˈkwel\ | The government sent troops to quell the uprising, and within a week the streets were quiet again. |
| rampant | spreading or growing without control \ˈram-pənt\ | Corruption was rampant in the old government: almost every official expected a bribe for even the simplest service. |
| rapport | a close, harmonious relationship of understanding \ra-ˈpȯr\ | The new teacher quickly built rapport with her students, learning their names on the first day and listening closely to their ideas. |
| rebuke | to express sharp disapproval of \ri-ˈbyük\ | The coach rebuked the players for arriving late, telling them sharply that such behavior would not be tolerated again. |
| recalcitrant | stubbornly uncooperative \ri-ˈkal-sə-trənt\ | Even the most recalcitrant students began to cooperate once the teacher let them choose their own projects. |
| reciprocal | given or felt by each toward the other; mutual \ri-ˈsi-prə-kəl\ | The relationship between bees and flowers is reciprocal: the bees get nectar, and the flowers get their pollen carried to other plants. |
| reclusive | avoiding the company of other people \ri-ˈklü-siv\ | The reclusive poet Emily Dickinson rarely left her house and spoke to visitors only through a closed door. |
| recount | to give an account of an event; to tell \ri-ˈkau̇nt\ | In her memoir, the former astronaut recounts her first spacewalk in vivid detail, from the silence to the view of Earth below. |
| rectify | to put right; to correct \ˈrek-tə-ˌfī\ | The company apologized for the billing error and promised to rectify it by refunding every overcharged customer. |
| redeem | to make up for faults; to exchange for something \ri-ˈdēm\ | After losing the first game for his team, the goalkeeper redeemed himself with three brilliant saves in the final. |
| redolent | strongly reminiscent or suggestive of; fragrant \ˈre-də-lənt\ | The old house was redolent of the past, with faded photographs, ticking clocks, and the smell of lavender in every room. |
| refurbish | to renovate and redecorate \ri-ˈfər-bish\ | The city spent two years and ten million dollars to refurbish the old theater, repairing its roof, restoring its paintings, and installing new seats. |
| reiterate | to say something again for emphasis \rē-ˈi-tə-ˌrāt\ | At the end of the meeting, the principal reiterated her main point so that no one could forget it: phones must be turned off during class. |
| relegate | to move to a lower or less important position \ˈre-lə-ˌgāt\ | Once the new star player arrived, the veteran was relegated to the bench, playing only a few minutes each game. |
| relentless | never stopping or weakening \ri-ˈlent-ləs\ | The relentless rain continued for forty days, never stopping long enough for the ground to dry. |
| reluctant | unwilling and hesitant \ri-ˈlək-tənt\ | The shy boy was reluctant to sing in front of the class, but after his friends cheered, he finally stepped forward. |
| remedy | to set right an undesirable situation \ˈre-mə-dē\ | To remedy the shortage of teachers, the state offered free university tuition to anyone who agreed to teach for five years. |
| renowned | known and admired by many people \ri-ˈnau̇nd\ | The renowned chef, whose restaurants hold six Michelin stars, began her career washing dishes. |
| replenish | to fill something up again \ri-ˈple-nish\ | During long hikes, it is important to replenish the salt and water your body loses through sweating. |
| repudiate | to refuse to accept or be associated with \ri-ˈpyü-dē-ˌāt\ | After the scandal, the party leaders publicly repudiated the senator’s remarks, saying they did not represent the party’s values. |
| resolute | admirably determined; unwavering \ˈre-zə-ˌlüt\ | Despite years of setbacks, Nelson Mandela remained resolute in his fight for equality, never giving up even during 27 years in prison. |
| resurgence | an increase or revival after a period of little activity \ri-ˈsər-jən(t)s\ | Vinyl records have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years; sales now exceed what they were in the 1980s. |
| revere | to feel deep respect or admiration for \ri-ˈvir\ | Many Indians revere Gandhi as the father of their nation, and his birthday is a national holiday. |
| rigid | unable to bend; not flexible \ˈri-jəd\ | The school’s rigid schedule allowed no changes at all, even for students with serious family emergencies. |
| rigorous | extremely thorough and careful \ˈri-gə-rəs\ | Before publication, the study underwent rigorous review, with five experts checking every calculation and experiment. |
| robust | strong and healthy; able to withstand difficulty \rō-ˈbəst\ | The new bridge is robust enough to survive earthquakes of magnitude 9, the strongest ever recorded. |
| sagacious | having good judgment and wisdom \sə-ˈgā-shəs\ | The sagacious old queen settled the dispute in a way that satisfied both sides, earning praise across the kingdom. |
| salient | most noticeable or important \ˈsā-lē-ənt\ | The summary lists only the salient points of the report, so busy readers can understand the key findings in two minutes. |
| sanction | to give official permission or approval for \ˈsaŋ(k)-shən\ | The league refused to sanction the new tournament, so its results will not count in official rankings. |
| scant | barely sufficient \ˈskant\ | There is scant evidence that the herbal remedy works; only one small study has ever tested it. |
| scrupulous | very careful and honest; diligent \ˈskrü-pyə-ləs\ | The accountant was scrupulous about her records, checking every receipt twice and never rounding a number. |
| sedentary | involving much sitting and little physical activity \ˈse-dᵊn-ˌter-ē\ | People with sedentary jobs, such as office workers, should take short walks every hour to protect their health. |
| serene | calm, peaceful, and untroubled \sə-ˈrēn\ | Even as the storm raged outside, the old monk remained serene, sitting quietly with his eyes closed. |
| shrewd | having sharp powers of judgment; clever \ˈshrüd\ | A shrewd businesswoman, she bought land near the planned train station years before anyone else realized its value. |
| simulate | to imitate the appearance or conditions of \ˈsim-yə-ˌlāt\ | Pilots train in machines that simulate real flights, including storms and engine failures, without leaving the ground. |
| solicit | to ask for or try to obtain from someone \sə-ˈli-sət\ | The mayor solicited ideas from residents, inviting everyone to submit suggestions for the new park. |
| soporific | tending to induce drowsiness or sleep \ˌsä-pə-ˈri-fik\ | The lecturer’s soporific voice, slow and flat, put half the audience to sleep within twenty minutes. |
| sparse | thinly scattered \ˈspärs\ | Vegetation in the desert is sparse: only a few cactuses and dry shrubs grow across miles of sand. |
| speculate | to form a theory without firm evidence \ˈspe-kyə-ˌlāt\ | Without more data, scientists can only speculate about why the ancient city was suddenly abandoned. |
| spontaneous | performed as a result of a sudden impulse; unplanned \spän-ˈtā-nē-əs\ | The crowd’s singing was spontaneous: no one had organized it, but suddenly thousands of fans began the same song together. |
| sporadic | occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places \spə-ˈra-dik\ | Fighting was sporadic during the ceasefire, with only a few short clashes reported over the month. |
| spur | to encourage or stimulate an activity \ˈspər\ | Lower taxes on small businesses helped spur growth, and hundreds of new shops opened within a year. |
| stark | severe or bare in appearance; sharply clear \ˈstärk\ | The two neighborhoods stand in stark contrast: one has mansions and private gardens, while the other has crumbling apartment buildings. |
| steadfast | firm and unwavering in loyalty or purpose \ˈsted-ˌfast\ | Through every hardship, the dog remained steadfast in its devotion, waiting at the train station for its owner every day for ten years. |
| stimulate | to raise levels of activity or interest \ˈstim-yə-ˌlāt\ | Puzzles and new languages stimulate the brain, helping older people keep their memories sharp. |
| stipulate | to demand or specify as part of an agreement \ˈsti-pyə-ˌlāt\ | The contract stipulates that the house must be finished by June 1, with a penalty for every day of delay. |
| stoic | enduring pain or hardship without showing feelings or complaining \ˈstō-ik\ | The wounded soldier remained stoic as the doctor treated him, never crying out despite the terrible pain. |
| stringent | strict, precise, and exacting \ˈstrin-jənt\ | Airports have stringent security rules: passengers must remove shoes, belts, and liquids before passing through the scanner. |
| subdue | to overcome or bring under control \səb-ˈdü\ | It took firefighters three days to subdue the wildfire, which had already burned thousands of acres. |
| subjective | based on personal feelings or opinions \səb-ˈjek-tiv\ | Judging art is highly subjective: a painting one critic calls a masterpiece may seem meaningless to another. |
| subordinate | lower in rank or position \sə-ˈbȯr-də-nət\ | In the old system, a wife’s legal rights were subordinate to her husband’s; she could not own property or sign contracts without him. |
| subsequent | coming after something in time \ˈsəb-si-kwənt\ | The first expedition failed, but subsequent attempts used its maps and finally reached the summit in 1953. |
| substantial | of considerable importance, size, or worth \səb-ˈstan(t)-shəl\ | The new factory brought substantial benefits to the town, creating 2,000 jobs and doubling local tax income. |
| substantiate | to provide evidence to support or prove \səb-ˈstan(t)-shē-ˌāt\ | The researcher could not substantiate her claims, because no other lab was able to reproduce her results. |
| subtle | so delicate or slight as to be hard to notice \ˈsə-tᵊl\ | The difference between the two shades of blue is so subtle that most people cannot tell them apart. |
| subvert | to undermine the power or authority of \səb-ˈvərt\ | The spies tried to subvert the government by spreading false rumors and bribing officials. |
| succinct | briefly and clearly expressed \(ˌ)sək-ˈsiŋ(k)t\ | Her speech was succinct: in just two minutes, she explained the problem, proposed a solution, and thanked the audience. |
| supersede | to take the place of something older \ˌsü-pər-ˈsēd\ | Email has largely superseded handwritten letters as the main way people communicate over long distances. |
| supplement | to add something to complete or improve \ˈsə-plə-ˌment\ | Many teachers supplement their income by tutoring on weekends. |
| suppress | to forcibly put an end to; to hold back \sə-ˈpres\ | The dictator tried to suppress all criticism, closing newspapers and arresting journalists. |
| surmise | to suppose without enough evidence \sər-ˈmīz\ | Seeing the mud on his boots, the detective surmised that the man had walked through the garden, though she had no proof yet. |
| susceptible | likely to be influenced or harmed by something \sə-ˈsep-tə-bəl\ | Babies and the elderly are especially susceptible to the flu, since their immune systems are weaker. |
| sustain | to strengthen or support; to keep going over time \sə-ˈstān\ | The river’s water sustained farms along its banks for thousands of years, allowing great civilizations to grow. |
| sycophant | a person who flatters someone powerful to gain advantage \ˈsi-kə-fənt\ | The king surrounded himself with sycophants who praised every decision he made, so he never heard the truth. |
| symbiotic | involving a mutually beneficial relationship \ˌsim-bē-ˈä-tik\ | The relationship between clownfish and sea anemones is symbiotic: the anemone protects the fish, and the fish cleans the anemone. |
| synthesize | to combine elements into a whole; to make chemically \ˈsin(t)-thə-ˌsīz\ | Plants synthesize sugar from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide in the process called photosynthesis. |
| tactful | careful not to offend; diplomatic \ˈtakt-fəl\ | Instead of calling the dinner terrible, the tactful guest said it was "an interesting combination of flavors." |
| tangible | real and able to be touched; clear and definite \ˈtan-jə-bəl\ | After years of promises, residents finally saw tangible results: new roads, a hospital, and three schools. |
| tedious | too long, slow, or dull \ˈtē-dē-əs\ | Copying 10,000 addresses by hand was tedious work that took the volunteers three weeks. |
| temper | to make less severe; to moderate \ˈtem-pər\ | The judge tempered justice with mercy, giving the young offender community service instead of prison. |
| tenable | able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection \ˈte-nə-bəl\ | Once the new fossils were found, the old theory was no longer tenable; it simply could not explain the evidence. |
| tenacious | holding firmly; persistent \tə-ˈnā-shəs\ | The tenacious reporter called the agency every day for six months until officials finally released the documents. |
| tentative | not certain or fixed; hesitant \ˈten-tə-tiv\ | We have made tentative plans to meet on Friday, but we will confirm the time on Thursday. |
| terse | sparing in the use of words; abrupt \ˈtərs\ | His reply to her long, friendly letter was terse: "Received. Will respond later." |
| threshold | a level at which something begins to happen; a doorway \ˈthresh-ˌhōld\ | Sounds above the threshold of 85 decibels can damage hearing if people are exposed to them for long periods. |
| thwart | to prevent someone from accomplishing something \ˈthwȯrt\ | Quick-thinking guards thwarted the robbery, locking the vault seconds before the thieves arrived. |
| tolerant | willing to accept opinions or behavior different from one’s own \ˈtä-lə-rənt\ | The city is known for being tolerant, welcoming people of all religions, languages, and lifestyles. |
| torpid | mentally or physically inactive; sluggish \ˈtȯr-pəd\ | During winter, the bear becomes torpid, barely moving for months as its heart rate and breathing slow down. |
| tranquil | free from disturbance; calm \ˈtraŋ-kwəl\ | Away from the noisy city, the mountain village was tranquil, with only birdsong and the sound of a distant stream. |
| transcend | to go beyond the limits of \tran(t)-ˈsend\ | Great music can transcend language: people who share no words can still be moved by the same song. |
| transient | lasting only a short time \ˈtran(t)-sh(ē-)ənt\ | The side effects of the vaccine are transient, usually disappearing within a day or two. |
| transparent | see-through; open and honest \tran(t)-ˈsper-ənt\ | Voters want government to be transparent, with all spending published online so anyone can see where their money goes. |
| trivial | of little value or importance \ˈtri-vē-əl\ | The two friends stopped speaking for a year over something trivial: an argument about who had eaten the last cookie. |
| turbulent | characterized by conflict, disorder, or confusion \ˈtər-byə-lənt\ | The 1960s were turbulent years in the United States, filled with protests, riots, and political assassinations. |
| unequivocal | leaving no doubt; unambiguous \ˌən-i-ˈkwi-və-kəl\ | Her answer was unequivocal: "I will never sell this company, not for any price." |
| unorthodox | contrary to what is usual or traditional \ˌən-ˈȯr-thə-ˌdäks\ | The coach’s unorthodox training methods, including ballet lessons for football players, surprised many but improved the team’s agility. |
| unwarranted | not justified or authorized \ˌən-ˈwȯr-ən-təd\ | Fears about the new bridge proved unwarranted; engineers showed it could hold three times the weight it would ever carry. |
| uphold | to confirm or support a decision or principle \ˌəp-ˈhōld\ | The Supreme Court voted to uphold the lower court’s decision, agreeing that the law was constitutional. |
| utilitarian | designed to be useful rather than attractive \yü-ˌti-lə-ˈter-ē-ən\ | The factory building is purely utilitarian: plain concrete walls, no windows for decoration, and every space designed for work. |
| validate | to check or prove the truth or value of \ˈva-lə-ˌdāt\ | A second study, using a much larger group, validated the original findings, showing the same results with 10,000 patients. |
| vehement | showing strong feeling; forceful and passionate \ˈvē-ə-mənt\ | The plan met with vehement opposition: thousands of residents shouted at the meeting and signed petitions against it. |
| verify | to make sure or demonstrate that something is true \ˈver-ə-ˌfī\ | Good journalists verify every fact with at least two independent sources before publishing a story. |
| versatile | able to adapt to many different functions \ˈvər-sə-tᵊl\ | The versatile actor has played kings, clowns, villains, and heroes, and he sings and dances as well. |
| vigilant | keeping careful watch for danger \ˈvi-jə-lənt\ | Lifeguards must remain vigilant at all times, scanning the water constantly for swimmers in trouble. |
| vindicate | to clear of blame; to show to be right \ˈvin-də-ˌkāt\ | Decades after other scientists mocked his idea of moving continents, new evidence vindicated Alfred Wegener. |
| vivid | producing powerful, clear images in the mind; bright \ˈvi-vəd\ | The author’s descriptions are so vivid that readers feel they can smell the spices and hear the noise of the market. |
| vulnerable | exposed to the possibility of being harmed \ˈvəl-nə-rə-bəl\ | Low-lying coastal cities are especially vulnerable to rising seas, since even a small rise can flood their streets. |
| wane | to decrease in size, strength, or importance \ˈwān\ | Public interest in the story began to wane after a few weeks, and newspapers stopped covering it. |
| wary | feeling or showing caution about possible dangers \ˈwer-ē\ | Deer are wary of humans, running away at the slightest sound of footsteps. |
| wield | to hold and use a weapon or tool; to have and use power \ˈwēld\ | Although she held no official title, the queen’s advisor wielded enormous power, deciding who could even speak to the queen. |
| zealous | having great energy or enthusiasm for a cause \ˈze-ləs\ | The zealous volunteers worked through the night, packing 20,000 boxes of food before the morning deadline. |
About SAT Vocabulary 005
The Digital SAT Reading and Writing section includes Words in Context questions that test whether you can choose the most logical and precise word for a short academic passage about science, history, social studies, or literature. This free quiz collects 120 high-frequency SAT words and puts each one in a realistic passage, so you learn not just the dictionary meaning but also how the word is used.
The words include adjectives such as plausible, meticulous, ambivalent, and ubiquitous; verbs such as corroborate, mitigate, undermine, and supplant; and nouns such as catalyst, consensus, and precedent. Many wrong choices are themselves SAT words, so every question helps you review several words at once.
- Two question types: Words in Context (SAT style) and Definition Match.
- Explanations for every choice: why the answer fits the clues, and why each of the other choices does not.
- Retry Missed Words: practice only the words you got wrong.
- Flashcards: the word, its pronunciation, and an example on the front; definition, synonyms, the SAT passage, and a word tip on the back.
- Search: find any SAT word, definition, or passage across all SAT quizzes.
- Games: answer with a combo for a pachinko-style bonus, earn a perfect score to fly a dragon, or pilot a biplane in the SAT Aerobatic Flight game.