SAT Vocabulary: Common Roots and High-Frequency Words

150 vocabulary flashcards covering 50 common roots and 100 high-frequency SAT words.

Ab (root)

away; e.g., abdicate, abhor

Ambi (root)

both; e.g., ambiguous, ambivalence

Ambul (root)

move, walk; e.g., perambulate, ambulance

Ami (root)

love; e.g., amorous, enamored

Contra (root)

against; e.g., contravene, contrary

Cred (root)

believe; e.g., credence, incredible

Crypt (root)

hidden; e.g., cryptogram, cryptic

Cycl (root)

circle, ring; e.g., bicycle, cyclic

Dem (root)

people; e.g., demographic, epidemic

Derm (root)

skin; e.g., epidermis, dermatitis

Dict (root)

speak; e.g., predict, verdict

Domin (root)

master; e.g., dominate, predominant

Dur (root)

hard; e.g., endure, duration

Ego (root)

I, self; e.g., egotistical, alter ego

Esth (root)

feeling; e.g., anesthetic, aesthete

Extra (root)

outside; e.g., extraneous, extraterrestrial

Fid (root)

faith; e.g., confide, infidel

Flect (root)

bend; e.g., reflect, deflect

Flor (root)

flower; e.g., floral, florist

Frac/Frag (root)

break; e.g., fragment, refract

Fug (root)

run away; e.g., fugitive, refuge

Gen (root)

birth, production; e.g., generate, progeny

Gram (root)

something written; e.g., telegram, grammar

Graph (root)

to write; e.g., autograph, biography

Grat (root)

pleasing; e.g., gratitude, gratuity

Gress (root)

to step, to go; e.g., progress, regress

Hetero (root)

different; e.g., heterogeneous, heterodox

Homo (root)

same; e.g., homonym, homogeneous

Idio (root)

peculiar, distinct; e.g., idiosyncrasy, idiopathic

Judi (root)

judge, lawyer; e.g., judicial, adjudicate

Ling (root)

language; e.g., linguist, bilingual

Loqu (root)

speak; e.g., loquacious, soliloquy

Magn (root)

large, great; e.g., magnify, magnitude

Mal (root)

bad; e.g., malfunction, malady

Mut (root)

change; e.g., mutation, commute

Ob (root)

against; e.g., obstruct, obstacle

Phil (root)

love; e.g., philosophy, bibliophile

Plac (root)

calm; e.g., implacable, placebo

Re (root)

back, again; e.g., reiterate, revive

Sagac (root)

wise; e.g., sagacity, sage

Sang (root)

blood; e.g., sanguine, consanguinity

Sequ (root)

follow; e.g., sequence, consequence

Somn (root)

sleep; e.g., insomnia, somnolent

Tacit/Tic (root)

be silent; e.g., tacit, taciturn

Troph (root)

feed, grow; e.g., atrophy, hypertrophy

Ultim (root)

last; e.g., ultimate, penultimate

Vener (root)

respectful; e.g., veneration, venerable

Vit (root)

life; e.g., vitality, revitalize

Voc (root)

voice; e.g., advocate, vocalize

Vol (root)

fly, wish; e.g., volition, voluntary

Abstract

existing as an idea rather than a tangible object

Acknowledge

to admit or recognize the truth or existence of

Adapt

to adjust to new conditions

Admonition

a gentle warning or advice

Affluent

wealthy; having abundant resources

Agitate

to disturb or stir up emotionally

Anomaly

something unusual or unexpected

Antipathy

deep-seated dislike; aversion

Arbitrary

based on random choice rather than reason

Ascertain

to find out with certainty

Aspire

to have an ambitious goal or desire

Benevolent

kind and generous; desiring to help others

Capacity

maximum amount; ability to do something

Censure

strong disapproval, often official

Coerce

to compel by force or threats

Colloquial

informal, conversational language

Complementary

serving to complete or enhance

Consensus

general agreement

Conventional

traditional; ordinary

Convey

to communicate or transport

Disparity

a great difference or inequality

Diverge

to separate and go in a different direction

Dubious

doubtful; questionable

Earnest

serious and sincere

Enhance

to improve or intensify

Ephemeral

short-lived; fleeting

Feeble

weak; lacking strength

Incredulous

unwilling to believe; skeptical

Indifference

lack of interest or concern

Inherent

existing as a natural part

Innumerable

too many to count

Irk

to annoy or irritate

Labyrinth

a complex maze

Malice

intent to harm

Manifest

clear or obvious; to display

Manipulate

to control cleverly or unfairly

Marginalize

to treat as insignificant

Meander

to wander aimlessly

Mundane

ordinary; dull

Nuance

subtle distinction or variation

Obliterate

to destroy completely

Obstinate

stubborn; unwilling to change

Panacea

a cure-all solution

Perspective

point of view; outlook

Phenomena

observable remarkable events

Proliferate

to increase rapidly

Quarrel

angry argument

Reluctant

unwilling; hesitant

Reverence

deep respect

Ubiquitous

present everywhere