SAT Prep: #1-50 Vocabulary

advocate

to support a cause (or, as a noun, a supporter of a cause)

underscore

to emphasize

undermine

to weaken

anecdote

a short story (often an interesting or amusing one)

corroborate

to support with evidence

substantiate

to support with evidence

concede

to admit, especially to acknowledge an opponent’s point

skeptical

doubtful

reconcile

to make things compatible

infer

to draw a conclusion

innovative

creative, new

diverge

to go off in a different direction

contend

to claim, to make an argument

refute

to dispute, to prove false

inevitable

unavoidable, certain to happen

shortcoming

a flaw or weak point

counterargument

an argument against a prior one

foreshadow

to suggest what will happen in the future

phenomenon

any observable occurrence (not just extraordinary ones)

obsolete

outdated, no longer in use

indifferent

having no opinion or interest

ambivalent

torn between conflicting feelings

apprehensive

nervous, doubtful

dismay

disappointment, distress (or, as a verb, to disappoint, to distress)

evoke

to bring to mind, to draw forth

conventional

typical, traditional

undertake

to take on a task

cultivate

to nurture, to promote growth

ironic

directly opposing what was expected

hypothetical

made-up, not yet proven

speculate

to guess, to think about

conjecture

a guess (or, as a verb, to guess)

superficial

lacking depth or substance

allude

to refer to

implication

meaning, significance, consequence

condemn

to criticize harshly

denounce

to criticize harshly

rebuke

to criticize harshly (or, as a noun, harsh criticism)

reproach

to criticize harshly (or, as a noun, harsh criticism)

empathy

compassion and understanding

extol

to praise highly

revere

to respect greatly

impede

to obstruct progress

inhibit

to obstruct progress

hinder

to obstruct progress

hamper

to obstruct progress

thwart

to prevent, to stop

deter

to prevent, to discourage

forestall

to prevent, to block