Princeton Review TOP 100 SAT Words

Most common/frequently occurring words on the SAT listed in order of decreasing importance. Note: This should be an Ultimate Rewiew for common vocab on SAT! Other resources are available such as Sparknotes 1000 common SAT words, but this is more effective and short. Also, I said 100 but by that I mean 103 :D

Enigma

Enigma

A mystery; hard to understand or explain

Apathy

Lack of emotion or interest

Indifferent

Having no preference

Revere

To worship; to honor

Candor

Frankness; honesty

Reticent

Restrained; uncommunicative

Aesthetic

Concerning art or beauty

Ascetic

Without indulgence or luxuries

Autonomy

Self-rule; independence

Disdain

Contempt

Innocuous

Harmless; insignificant

Banal

Commonplace; dull; ordinary

Ambiguous

Unclear; undecided

Anarchy

Lack of government; chaos

Ameliorate

To improve

Atrophy

To waste away from lack of use

Innovate

To make changes; to modernize

Servile

Overly submissive; cringing

Extol

To praise

Augment

to add to; increase

Benevolent

Kindly; to wish well

Derision

Contempt; ridicule

Disparity

Inequality

Flagrant

Glaringly wrong; conspicuously faulty

Indolence

Laziness

Acquiesce

To give in; agree

Prodigal

Extravagant; wasteful

Capricious

Whimsical; unpredictable

Prosaic

Commonplace; uninspired; dull

Austere

Severe; strict

Complacent

Smug; self-satisfied

Compliance

Conforming to a request or demand

Dubious

Doubtful

Ephemeral

Short-lived; fleeting

Inevitable

Unavoidable; bound to happen

Insipid

Bland; boring

Obscure

Unclear; clouded; partially hidden

Depravity

Corruption; wickedness

Discern

To distinguish one thing from another

Expedite

To quicken

Peripheral

On the edge; unimportant

Taciturn

Quiet; uncommunicative; silent

Apprehensive

Fearful; worried

Expedient

Advantageous; convenient

Fastidious

Finicky; overly critical

Novel

New; interesting

Parsimony

Stinginess

Provincial

Narrow-minded; unsophisticated

Respite

A break; a rest

Anecdote

A brief, humorous story

Drone

To talk on and on in a dull way

Pedestrian

Commonplace; ordinary

Desecrate

To show disrespect or to deface something sacred

Euphonious

Melodious; pleasant sounding

Cacophonous

Harsh sounding

Guile

Cunning; deceitfulness

Immutable

Unchanging; not moving

Incessant

Non-stop

Static

Unchanging; not moving

Bastion

A stronghold; a fort

Benign

Kindly; good-natured

Credulous

Gullible; ready to believe without proof

Disparage

To speak poorly of

Eccentric

Odd; out of the ordinary; quirky

Philanthropist

Someone who benefits mankind

Squander

To waste

Virulent

Harmful

Zeal

Enthusiasm

Acuity

Sharpness of perception or mind

Affable

Friendly; agreeable

Assuage

To reduce pain

Avarice

Greed

Dissonance

Lack of agreement or harmony

Listless

Without energy or enthusiasm

Philistine

One who lacks culture or taste

Scrupulous

Concerned; conscientious; proper

Tentative

Not final; uncertain

Adulation

Adoration

Dogmatic

Stubbornly opinionated

Futile

Hopeless; without effect

Languid

Slow and listless

Pious

Religious; devout

Ponderous

Weighty; heavy

Protracted

Drawn out; lengthy

Deference

A show of respect

Heretic

Someone who goes against acceptable religious beliefs

Paucity

Scarcity

Profuse

Very abundant; flowing

Conciliate

To soothe anger

Contrite

Thoroughly sorry

Didactic

Intending to teach

Diffident

Shy; lacking confidence

Digression

Straying from a topic

Dissent

Disagreement

Elucidate

To explain; to make clear

Gullible

Overly trusting

Strut

A self important walk

Denounce

To speak against publicly

Laud

To praise

Surreptitious

Secret