75 Challenging High-Utility SAT Vocabulary Words for 2026

A complete set of flashcards covering the 75 challenging, high-utility SAT vocabulary words grouped across claims, change, certainty, relationships, and evaluation.

assert

State confidently, sometimes without proof.

contend

Argue or maintain a position.

posit

Put forward an idea for consideration.

corroborate

Support with independent evidence.

substantiate

Establish with sufficient evidence.

bolster

Strengthen or reinforce.

undermine

Weaken the basis or effectiveness.

refute

Demonstrate that a claim is false.

rebut

Answer an argument with counterevidence or reasoning.

qualify

Limit or modify a statement.

concede

Acknowledge a point, often before disagreeing.

scrutinize

Examine closely and critically.

infer

Reach a conclusion from evidence.

deduce

Derive a conclusion through reasoning.

empirical

Based on observation or experiment.

mitigate

Make a harmful effect less severe.

exacerbate

Make a problem more severe.

diminish

Reduce in amount, strength, or importance.

amplify

Increase strength or effect.

precipitate

Cause something, often suddenly.

inhibit

Restrain or prevent a process.

facilitate

Make a process easier.

catalyze

Cause or accelerate change.

offset

Counterbalance an effect.

elicit

Draw out a response.

fluctuate

Rise and fall irregularly.

persist

Continue over time or despite opposition.

cease

Stop.

transform

Change substantially in form or character.

incremental

Occurring in small steps.

explicit

Directly stated.

implicit

Suggested but not directly stated.

ambiguous

Open to multiple interpretations.

unequivocal

Clear and leaving no doubt.

tentative

Provisional or uncertain.

plausible

Seemingly reasonable or possible.

dubious

Doubtful or suspect.

arbitrary

Based on no clear relevant principle.

coherent

Logically connected and understandable.

obscure

Make difficult to understand or perceive.

discern

Perceive or recognize.

nuanced

Containing subtle distinctions.

ostensible

Appearing to be true, perhaps not actually so.

definitive

Conclusive or authoritative.

speculative

Based on conjecture rather than firm evidence.

analogous

Comparable in relevant ways.

disparate

Fundamentally different.

converge

Move toward the same point or conclusion.

diverge

Move apart or develop differently.

correlate

Vary together in a statistical relationship.

complement

Complete or enhance another thing.

contradict

Be incompatible with or assert the opposite.

distinguish

Identify a meaningful difference.

synthesize

Combine elements into a coherent whole.

reconcile

Make apparently conflicting ideas compatible.

hierarchical

Arranged in ranked levels.

reciprocal

Involving mutual exchange or response.

independent

Not controlled or determined by another.

inherent

Existing as an essential feature.

peripheral

Secondary or away from the center.

pragmatic

Focused on practical effects.

conventional

Following established practice.

novel

New or original in the stated context.

meticulous

Extremely careful and precise.

cursory

Quick and not thorough.

impartial

Not favoring one side.

skeptical

Questioning whether a claim is true.

receptive

Willing to consider an idea.

reluctant

Hesitant or unwilling.

negligible

Too small to be significant.

substantial

Considerable in amount or importance.

pervasive

Spread widely throughout.

sporadic

Occurring irregularly or infrequently.

salient

Especially noticeable or relevant.

profound

Very great or deeply significant.