FREE SAT VOCABULARY LIST
SAT Vocabulary List – 400 Essential Words
Study 400 essential SAT vocabulary words in one organized list. This page includes the full SAT vocabulary list with clear definitions, plus links to flashcards, crossword puzzles, quizzes, and the SAT vocabulary trainer.
Perfect for SAT prep, vocabulary building, tutoring, homeschooling, or classroom practice.
SAT Vocabulary List PDF, Flashcards, and Study Sheets
Use this SAT vocabulary list to study 400 essential SAT words in one place. Students can read the full SAT words list online, open flashcard sets organized into 20-word groups, and access printable study sheets from each flashcard page. This SAT vocabulary resource is designed for test prep, classroom review, tutoring, homeschooling, and independent practice.
How to Use This SAT Vocabulary List
Read the full list below, then open any flashcard set to study 20 SAT words at a time. Each study set includes a downloadable study sheet for extra review and printing.
What Is Included?
This page includes 400 SAT vocabulary words with definitions, plus links to flashcards, study sheets, quizzes, crossword puzzles, and the SAT vocabulary trainer.
Is There a Printable SAT Vocabulary List?
Yes. Each flashcard study set includes access to a printable study sheet PDF, making it easy for teachers and students to review SAT vocabulary in smaller, manageable sections.
How Are the 400 SAT Words Organized?
The full SAT vocabulary list appears below in one place for easy reference, while the flashcard pages break the words into 20 study sets for easier practice and review.
400 SAT Vocabulary Words and Definitions
Use this alphabetized SAT vocabulary list to review all 400 essential words in one place. Students can read and study the full list here, then move into flashcards, crossword puzzles, quizzes, and interactive matching for deeper practice.
abaseTo humiliate or degrade.
abateTo reduce in amount, degree, or severity.
aberrationA departure from what is normal or expected.
abhorTo detest or hate intensely.
abstruseDifficult to understand.
accoladeAn expression of praise.
acquiesceTo accept without protest.
acrimoniousBitter and angry in tone.
adamantRefusing to be persuaded.
adeptHighly skilled.
admonishTo warn or reprimand.
adulationExcessive praise.
aestheticPertaining to beauty.
affableFriendly and easy to talk to.
alacrityCheerful readiness.
alleviateTo relieve or make more bearable.
alludeTo refer indirectly.
aloofDistant and reserved.
ambiguousOpen to more than one interpretation.
ameliorateTo improve.
amiablePleasant and friendly.
anachronisticOut of place in time.
anecdoteA short, amusing story.
anonymousOf unknown authorship.
antagonistAn opponent.
antithesisDirect opposite.
apatheticLacking interest or concern.
apocryphalOf doubtful authenticity.
appeaseTo calm or pacify.
arbitraryBased on random choice.
arcaneMysterious and known by few.
arduousRequiring strenuous effort.
assiduousHardworking and diligent.
assuageTo ease or lessen.
astuteShrewd and perceptive.
atrophyTo waste away.
attentivePaying close attention.
audaciousBold and daring.
auspiciousPromising success.
austereSevere or strict.
avariceExtreme greed.
banalBoringly predictable.
bastionA strong defense.
belieTo contradict.
bellicoseWarlike or aggressive.
benevolentKind and charitable.
benignGentle and harmless.
bequeathTo hand down or leave in a will.
bereftDeprived of.
blandishmentFlattery intended to persuade.
blitheCheerful and carefree.
bolsterTo support or strengthen.
bombasticPompous in speech.
bourgeoisMiddle-class and materialistic.
brazenShamelessly bold.
brevityShortness of duration.
bucolicPertaining to the countryside.
cajoleTo coax or persuade.
calamityA disaster.
callousEmotionally hardened.
camaraderieA spirit of friendship.
candorHonesty and straightforwardness.
capaciousRoomy and spacious.
capitulateTo surrender.
capriciousImpulsive and unpredictable.
castigateTo criticize severely.
catalystSomething that speeds up a reaction.
catharsisEmotional release.
causticBitingly sarcastic.
censureTo criticize harshly.
cerebralIntellectual rather than emotional.
chagrinEmbarrassment or distress.
charlatanA fraud or imposter.
chastiseTo punish or scold.
chicaneryTrickery or deceit.
circumlocutionIndirect or roundabout expression.
circumspectCautious and prudent.
clairvoyantAble to see the future.
clandestineSecretive.
coalesceTo come together.
cogentConvincing and well-reasoned.
cognizantAware and informed.
commensurateProportional.
compellingAttractive and irresistible.
complicitInvolved in wrongdoing.
comprehensiveComplete and thorough.
conciliatoryIntended to pacify.
concurTo agree.
condoneTo overlook or forgive.
conflagrationA large, destructive fire.
confluenceA coming together.
congenialPleasant and friendly.
conjectureA guess or hypothesis.
conspicuousEasily seen or noticed.
consternationShocked dismay.
contentiousArgumentative.
contriteRemorseful.
conundrumA difficult problem.
convolutedComplicated and intricate.
copiousAbundant.
corroborateTo confirm.
credulousGullible.
crypticMysterious.
cursoryHasty and superficial.
cynicalDistrustful of human sincerity.
dauntingIntimidating.
dearthA lack or scarcity.
debacleA complete failure.
debilitateTo weaken.
deferenceRespectful submission.
deleteriousHarmful.
delineateTo describe accurately.
delugeA flood.
demagogueA leader who manipulates emotions.
denigrateTo defame or belittle.
deploreTo strongly disapprove of.
depravityMoral corruption.
depredationPlundering or laying waste.
desecrateTo violate the sacredness of.
despondentHopeless and depressed.
deterTo discourage.
detrimentalHarmful.
deviousDeceptive.
didacticIntended to teach.
diffidentLacking self-confidence.
dilatorySlow and delaying.
disparageTo belittle.
disparateFundamentally different.
dispelTo drive away.
disseminateTo spread widely.
dissipateTo scatter or waste.
dissuadeTo persuade against.
divergentDiffering.
divulgeTo reveal.
docileEasily taught or managed.
dogmaticAssertive without proof.
dubiousDoubtful.
duressCompulsion by threat.
eclecticFrom various sources.
effaceTo erase.
effervescentBubbly and lively.
efficaciousEffective.
effronteryShameless boldness.
effusiveOverflowing with emotion.
egregiousOutstandingly bad.
elaborateDetailed and complicated.
elicitTo draw out.
elucidateTo make clear.
emaciatedExtremely thin.
embellishTo decorate.
eminentFamous and respected.
empathyUnderstanding another’s feelings.
empiricalBased on observation.
emulateTo imitate.
enervateTo weaken.
engenderTo produce or cause.
enigmaA puzzle or mystery.
ennuiBoredom.
ephemeralShort-lived.
epiphanyA sudden realization.
equanimityCalmness.
equivocateTo use ambiguous language.
eruditeScholarly.
esotericIntended for a small audience.
espouseTo support.
etherealDelicate and light.
euphemismA mild expression for something harsh.
evanescentVanishing quickly.
exacerbateTo worsen.
exculpateTo free from blame.
exhortTo urge strongly.
exigentUrgent.
exonerateTo clear from blame.
expedientConvenient but possibly improper.
expungeTo erase.
extolTo praise highly.
extraneousIrrelevant.
exuberantFull of unrestrained enthusiasm.
facetiousPlayfully humorous.
fallaciousMisleading or deceptive.
fastidiousVery attentive to detail.
fatuousSilly and pointless.
feasiblePossible and practical.
ferventIntensely passionate.
fickleChangeable.
flagrantShockingly noticeable.
floridExcessively ornate.
flummoxTo confuse.
forbearancePatient self-control.
fortuitousHappening by chance.
fractiousIrritable.
frugalEconomical.
furtiveSecretive.
garishObtrusively bright and showy.
garrulousExcessively talkative.
genialFriendly and cheerful.
grandioseImpressive and grand.
gratuitousUnnecessary.
gregariousSociable.
guileDeceitful cunning.
hackneyedOverused and unoriginal.
haplessUnlucky.
harangueA lengthy and aggressive speech.
hedonistA pleasure seeker.
hegemonyDominance.
hereticOne who opposes established beliefs.
hiatusA pause.
homogeneousOf the same kind.
hubrisExcessive pride.
hypocrisyPretending to have beliefs one does not.
iconoclastA destroyer of tradition.
idiosyncrasyA peculiar trait.
ignominiousDisgraceful.
illicitForbidden.
imminentAbout to happen.
immutableUnchanging.
impecuniousHaving little or no money.
imperviousUnable to be affected.
impetuousActing without thinking.
impugnTo challenge as false.
inaneSilly and pointless.
inchoateJust begun.
incipientBeginning to develop.
incontrovertibleIndisputable.
incorrigibleNot able to be corrected.
indefatigableTireless.
indigentPoor.
indolentLazy.
ineffableToo great to be expressed.
inexorableImpossible to stop.
infamousWell known for a bad quality.
inimicalHostile.
innateInborn.
innocuousHarmless.
insatiableImpossible to satisfy.
insipidLacking flavor.
insolentShowing a lack of respect.
instigateTo provoke.
intrepidFearless.
invectiveInsulting language.
inveterateDeep-rooted.
irascibleEasily angered.
irreverentShowing a lack of respect for serious things.
itinerantTraveling from place to place.
jocularHumorous.
juxtaposeTo place side by side for comparison.
laconicUsing very few words.
lamentTo mourn or express sorrow.
languidLacking energy or vitality.
latentExisting but not yet developed or manifest.
laudTo praise highly.
lethargicSluggish and apathetic.
loquaciousVery talkative.
lucidClear and easy to understand.
lugubriousLooking or sounding sad and dismal.
magnanimousVery generous or forgiving.
malaiseA general feeling of discomfort or unease.
malevolentHaving or showing a wish to do evil to others.
malignTo speak about someone in a spitefully critical manner.
maverickAn independent-minded person.
mendaciousNot telling the truth; lying.
meticulousShowing great attention to detail.
misanthropeA person who dislikes humankind.
mitigateTo make less severe or serious.
modicumA small quantity of something.
moroseSullen and ill-tempered.
myopicNearsighted or lacking foresight.
nadirThe lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization.
nebulousVague or ill-defined.
nefariousWicked or criminal.
neophyteA person who is new to a subject or activity.
nonchalantFeeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed.
noxiousHarmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant.
nuanceA subtle difference in meaning or opinion.
obdurateStubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion.
obfuscateTo render obscure or unclear.
obliqueNot straightforward or direct.
obliviousNot aware of or not concerned about what is happening around.
obsequiousObedient or attentive to an excessive degree.
obstinateStubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion.
obsoleteNo longer produced or used; out of date.
obstreperousNoisy and difficult to control.
obtuseAnnoyingly insensitive or slow to understand.
ominousGiving the impression that something bad is going to happen.
onerousInvolving a great deal of effort; burdensome.
opulentOstentatiously rich and luxurious.
ostentatiousCharacterized by vulgar or pretentious display.
ostracizeTo exclude from a society or group.
palpableAble to be touched or felt.
paradigmA typical example or pattern of something.
paragonA person or thing regarded as a perfect example.
pariahAn outcast.
parsimoniousUnwilling to spend money or use resources.
partisanA strong supporter of a party or cause.
paucityThe presence of something in small quantities.
pedanticOverly concerned with minute details or formalisms.
penchantA strong or habitual liking for something.
penitentFeeling or showing sorrow and regret.
perfunctoryPerformed merely as a routine duty.
pensiveEngaged in deep or serious thought.
perniciousHaving a harmful effect.
perpetuateTo make something continue indefinitely.
perspicaciousHaving a ready insight into understanding.
petulantChildishly sulky or bad-tempered.
philanthropicSeeking to promote the welfare of others.
phlegmaticHaving an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition.
placateTo make someone less angry.
platitudeA remark or statement that is overused.
plausibleSeeming reasonable or probable.
plethoraAn excess of something.
portentA sign or warning that something momentous is likely to happen.
pragmaticDealing with things sensibly and realistically.
precociousHaving developed certain abilities at an earlier age.
prevaricateTo speak or act in an evasive way.
proclivityA tendency to choose or do something regularly.
prodigalSpending money or resources freely and recklessly.
prolificProducing much fruit or many offspring.
propensityAn inclination to behave in a certain way.
propitiousIndicating a good chance of success.
prosaicHaving the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty.
protractTo prolong.
provocativeCausing annoyance or anger.
pugnaciousEager to argue or fight.
punctiliousShowing great attention to detail.
quagmireA soft boggy area of land; a complex situation.
quandaryA state of perplexity or uncertainty.
quellTo put an end to, typically by force.
querulousComplaining in a petulant manner.
quiescentIn a state or period of inactivity.
quintessentialRepresenting the most perfect example.
quixoticExtremely idealistic; unrealistic.
rancorBitterness or resentfulness.
razeTo completely destroy.
recalcitrantHaving an obstinately uncooperative attitude.
recantTo say that one no longer holds an opinion.
recluseA person who lives a solitary life.
reconditeLittle known; abstruse.
refulgentShining brightly.
refuteTo prove to be wrong.
remissLacking care or attention to duty.
remonstrateTo make a forcefully reproachful protest.
renounceTo formally declare one’s abandonment.
repudiateTo refuse to accept or be associated with.
rescindTo revoke, cancel, or repeal.
resilientAble to withstand or recover quickly.
resoluteAdmirably purposeful and determined.
respiteA short period of rest or relief.
reticentNot revealing one’s thoughts or feelings.
revereTo feel deep respect or admiration.
rhapsodizeTo speak or write about someone with great enthusiasm.
rhetoricThe art of effective or persuasive speaking.
rifeOf common occurrence; widespread.
ruminateTo think deeply about something.
sagaciousHaving or showing keen mental discernment.
salientMost noticeable or important.
sanguineOptimistic or positive.
sardonicGrimly mocking or cynical.
scintillatingSparkling or shining brightly.
scrupulousDiligent, thorough, and attentive to details.
secularDenoting attitudes or activities that have no religious basis.
sequesterTo isolate or hide away.
serendipityThe occurrence of events by chance in a happy way.
servileHaving an excessive willingness to serve others.
slovenlyMessy and dirty.
solicitousShowing interest or concern.
solitudeThe state of being alone.
soporificTending to induce drowsiness.
spartanShowing the indifference to comfort or luxury.
speciousSuperficially plausible, but wrong.
spuriousNot being what it purports to be.
stagnantHaving no current or flow; motionless.
staidSedate, respectable, and unadventurous.
stoicEnduring pain and hardship without showing feelings.
stridentLoud and harsh.
stymieTo prevent or hinder the progress of.
substantiateTo provide evidence to support the truth of.
succinctBriefly and clearly expressed.
superfluousUnnecessary, especially through being more than enough.
surreptitiousKept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.
sycophantA person who acts obsequiously toward someone to gain advantage.
taciturnReserved or uncommunicative.
tantamountEquivalent in seriousness to.
temerityExcessive confidence or boldness.
tenaciousTending to keep a firm hold of something.
tepidShowing little enthusiasm.
timorousShowing or suffering from nervousness.
tiradeA long, angry speech of criticism.
torpidMentally or physically inactive.
tractableEasy to control or influence.
transientLasting only for a short time.
trepidationA feeling of fear or agitation.
truculentEager or quick to argue.
ubiquitousPresent, appearing, or found everywhere.
umbrageOffense or annoyance.
unctuousExcessively flattering or ingratiating.
undulateTo move with a smooth wavelike motion.
unilateralPerformed by or affecting only one person.
urbaneCourteous and refined in manner.
utilitarianDesigned to be useful or practical.
vacillateTo alternate or waver between opinions.
Complete SAT Vocabulary Learning System
Use all parts of the SAT vocabulary program to learn, practice, and master the 400 essential SAT words.
SAT Vocabulary Program
Overview of the full 400-word study system.
SAT Vocabulary Flashcards
Study all 400 SAT vocabulary words organized into 20 sets.
SAT Vocabulary Crossword Puzzles
Practice vocabulary with interactive puzzles.
SAT Vocabulary Quizzes
Test your understanding of SAT vocabulary.
SAT Vocabulary Trainer
Interactive vocabulary training activity.