Common SAT words

underscore

emphasize or strongly highlight

undermine

weaken or damage something

substantiate

support a claim with evidence

corroborate

confirm or support with evidence

refute

prove that something is wrong

contradict

say the opposite of something

qualify

limit or modify a statement

concede

admit that something is true

assert

state something confidently

infer

reach a conclusion from evidence

deduce

reach a conclusion through reasoning

distinguish

recognize a difference

differentiate

show how things are different

exacerbate

make a problem worse

mitigate

make a problem less severe

bolster

strengthen or support

foster

encourage or promote

hinder

make something more difficult

preclude

prevent something from happening

facilitate

make something easier

necessitate

make something necessary

plausible

believable or reasonable

arbitrary

based on random choice rather than reason

ambiguous

having more than one possible meaning

apparent

obvious or seeming to be true

coherent

logical and well organized

concise

brief and clear

conventional

traditional or commonly accepted

discrete

separate or distinct

discrepancy

a difference or inconsistency

disparate

fundamentally different

empirical

based on observation or evidence

explicit

clearly stated

implicit

suggested but not directly stated

inherent

naturally existing as part of something

intrinsic

belonging naturally to something

negligible

so small it can be ignored

notable

worthy of attention

predominant

most common or important

subsequent

coming after

tentative

uncertain or not final

viable

capable of working or succeeding

substantial

large or important

profound

very deep or significant

rigid

strict or not flexible

obsolete

no longer useful or current

prevalent

common or widespread

unprecedented

never seen or done before

scrutinize

examine very carefully

elucidate

explain or make clear