SAT Reading & Writing Word Bank

precariousness

being dangerously likely to fall

inconspicuousness

not clearly visible or attracting attention

prudently

shows care and thought for the future

cordially

in a warm way

inadvertently

accidentally

innocuous

not harmful

perpetual

never ending or changing

warrant

justify or necessitate

exploit

make full use of and benefit from

postulate

to make an assumption for reasoning

inconsequential

not important

thwart

prevent (someone) from accomplishing something

prominence

being important or famous

ubiquitous

found everywhere

affinity

to like

analogous to

comparable to

affront

action that causes offense

abridge

to shorten writing

attrition

reducing someone’s strength

begrudge

to envy someone

circumspection

cautious when taking risks

harbinger

indicator

idiosyncratic

weird or individual

complacent

satisfied with oneself

dearth

lack of something

hallmark

stamp to verify quality

iconoclasm

attacking or rejecting beliefs

inimical

harmful

inure

toughen someone

partition

divide in 2 parts

pervade

spread through (usually smell)

proxy

the authority to represent someone

supersede

replace someone important

dissemination

spreading information

commiserate

sympathize

lofty

tall / noble

woe

misery

stifling

suffocating

extemporaneous

done w/out preparation

harbinger

forerunner

inculcate

teach someone by persistent instruction

multifarious

many or various types

untenable

can’t be defended

abut

touch or lean on

cull

select from large quantity

denote

indicate

halting

slow and hesitant

insolent

lack of respect

obtrusive

noticeable in an unwelcome way

renounce

declare one’s abandonment

subdued

quiet and reflective

substantiate

provide evidence to prove truth

subvert

undermine the power of

transpose

transfer to different context

tenuous

weak

contentious

controversial

epitomize

be a perfect example of

precluding

make impossible

subsequent

coming after something in time

militant

favoring violent methods

wreathe

surround something

obscure

uncertain

appraise

assess the value of something

spersede

surpass

curtail

to limit

protracted

lasting a long time

obviated

anticipate and prevent

appraise

assess the value of

monetizing

creating profit from

engendering

producing