ALL SAT WoRds FROM PREPPED

Constructive definition and synonyms

helps to improve a situation
Beneficial
Advantageous
“constructive feedback”

Buttress

something that supports, props, or strengthens
to reinforce

to bolster
“to buttress an argument”

pertinent

clearly applicable, relevant, or directly related to the matter at hand.
apt
relevant
“pertinent information”

efficacious

successful in producing a desired or intended result.
effective
“efficacious treatment”

medium

a method
mechanism
means
“medium of communication”

boon

timely benefit, blessing, or something that is incredibly helpful and brings good fortune.
benefit
A boon to [someone/something]: "The new highway was a boon to local businesses, bringing in thousands of new customers."

innocuous

completely harmless, safe, or unlikely to cause any offense, injury, or irritation.
benign
“innocuous creature”

forestall

to prevent, obstruct, or delay an anticipated event or action by taking precautionary measures ahead of time.
preclude

“Forestall a crisis / disaster”

preclude

to make something impossible, impractical, or unnecessary to happen.
forestall
“does not preclude the possibility of.”

thwart

to prevent someone from accomplishing their plans, or to stop an effort or ambition from succeeding
impede, inhibit, hamper, hinder, stymie

“Thwart a plot / plan”

stymie

to prevent or hinder the progress of an effort, plan, or person. It is used when a sudden obstacle, problem, or puzzle leaves someone completely stuck and unable to move forward.
thwart, impede, inhibit, hamper, hinder
“Stymied by [an obstacle]”

crude

basic, simple, rough
rudimentary
“crude oil” is raw oil

makeshift

something that is temporary, improvised, and used as a substitute because the proper tool, object, or structure isn't available.
“A makeshift coaster with the folded napkin”

rudimentary

describes something that is basic, elementary, or at a very early stage of development.
crude
“Rudimentary tools / technology”

insidious

describes something that spreads or develops in a gradual, subtle way, but causes severe harm, damage, or danger over time
pernicious
“insidious effects of scrolling on social media”

pernicious

describes something that has a harmful, destructive, or deadly effect, especially in a way that is gradual, subtle, or hidden.
insidious
“Pernicious rumors / lies”

surmise

means to form an opinion, guess, or suppose that something is true without having solid, undeniable evidence to prove it.
presume, speculate
Surmise that... * Example: "From the look on his face, she could only surmise that the meeting had gone badly."

presume

means to suppose that something is true based on probability, likelihood, or a reasonable assumption, rather than absolute confirmation.
surmise, speculate

“Presume someone innocent”

conjecture

refers to an opinion, conclusion, or theory formed on the basis of incomplete or missing information.
supposition
Pure conjecture: A theory that has absolutely no evidence backing it up yet.

• Example: "Until we get the lab results back, any talk about what caused the illness is pure conjecture."

supposition

refers to an idea, theory, or belief that is assumed to be true, even though there is no definitive proof yet. It is the thing that you are supposing.
supposing, conjecture
Based on pure supposition: An idea that is entirely guessed without any hard evidence.

• Example: "The newspaper article about the celebrity couple's breakup was based on pure supposition."

postulate

means to suggest or assume that something is true, factual, or a necessary starting point for a theory, discussion, or belief—even if you don't have immediate proof.
hypothesize, posit
Postulate that...

• Example: "Astronomers postulate that billions of undiscovered planets exist in our galaxy alone."

posit

means to put forward an official statement, theory, or fact for consideration, usually as the basis of an argument.
supposition, conjecture
Posit an idea / theory: Suggesting a concept as a starting point.

• Example: "The physicist posited a new model of the universe to explain the behavior of black holes."

contend

means to assert an opinion strongly in an argument or to struggle with something

grapple

means to engage in a close, heavy fight or struggle.
Grapple with a problem / issue: Trying hard to solve a complicated dilemma.

• Example: "The city council is grappling with how to fix the budget deficit without raising taxes."

delve

means to dig, search deeply, or investigate thoroughly to find information, facts, or a deeper meaning.
Delve into [a topic / subject]: To study or research something intensely.

• Example: "In the next chapter of the book, the author delves into the history of the industrial revolution."

peruse

read or examine something thoroughly and with great care.
scrutinize

Peruse the contract

scrutinize

means to examine, inspect, or look at something with critical attention and absolute thoroughness.
peruse
Scrutinize the data / results: Looking deeply at numbers to find errors or patterns.

• Example: "The accountants will scrutinize the company’s financial records to ensure no money is missing."

devise

means to invent, plan, or plot something clever through creative thinking.
formulate, calculate

Devise a plan / strategy: Thinking up a step-by-step method to achieve a goal.

• Example: "The marketing team met to devise a strategy for the upcoming product launch."

appraise

means to officially assess the value, quality, or condition of something.

gauge

Appraise jewelry / art: Checking an item's authenticity and worth.

• Example: "She had the antique diamond ring appraised and discovered it was worth $5,000."

predicate

This means that an idea, action, or system is based on, founded upon, or dependent on a specific condition being true.
dependent on
Example: "The success of our plan is predicated on everyone arriving exactly on time."

ascertain

means to find out something for certain. It implies taking action to discover the undeniable facts so that there is no more doubt or guessing.
determine, demonstrate
Ascertain the facts / truth: Doing the research or investigation required to know what actually happened.

• Example: "The police are trying to ascertain the facts surrounding the traffic accident."

epiphany

refers to a sudden, dramatic, and powerful moment of realization or understanding. It is that classic "aha!" moment when a complex problem suddenly becomes clear, or when you instantly grasp a deep truth about your life.
revelation
A sudden epiphany: Emphasizing how quickly the thought struck.

• Example: "His career change was sparked by a sudden epiphany that he was miserable in corporate law."

revelation

refers to the surprising and previously unknown fact that has been revealed or disclosed.
epiphany

A shocking revelation: A piece of news that stuns everyone who hears it.

• Example: "The leaked documents contained a shocking revelation about the company's illegal dumping practices."
  

tenable

means capable of being maintained, defended, or held against attack or objection.
feasible, viable, plausible
A tenable strategy: A plan that has a realistic chance of working out.

• Example: "Cutting prices while increasing advertising costs did not seem like a tenable business model for the small startup."

substantiate

The word substantiate means to provide evidence, facts, or proof to back up a claim, theory, or allegation.
Establish, validate, corroborate, affirm
Substantiate a claim / allegation: Proving that an accusation or statement is true using hard evidence.

• Example: "The reporter refused to publish the story until she could substantiate the allegations with official documents."

corroborate

means to confirm or give support to a statement, theory, or finding by providing additional, matching evidence.
Establish, validate, substantiate, affirm
Corroborate evidence: When a second piece of data matches and strengthens the first piece of data.

• Example: "The bloody fingerprint found at the scene corroborated the DNA evidence."

affirm

means to state something as a fact strongly, publicly, and confidently. It is an act of validating, confirming, or asserting that something is true or valid.
Establish, validate, substantiate, corroborate
Affirm a decision / judgment: (In law) When a higher court agrees with a lower court's ruling and declares it valid.

• Example: "The Supreme Court voted to affirm the lower court's decision."

evince

means to reveal, display, or make something clearly visible through your behavior, actions, or appearance.
testament to
Evince no emotion / surprise: Remaining completely stoic, showing no outward signs of how you feel.

• Example: "When the verdict was read, the defendant evinced no emotion whatsoever."

cogent

means clear, logical, and convincing.
compelling
A cogent argument: A point made so clearly and logically that it easily convinces the listener.

• Example: "The defense attorney presented a cogent argument that proved the defendant could not have been at the crime scene."

Champion

To support

Promote, advocate, endorse

The organization has spent decades championing the cause of affordable healthcare."

Proponent

person who argues in favor of something—an idea, a proposal, a project, or a theory.

He is a leading proponent of renewable energy infrastructure in the region."

Predilection

is a preference, strong liking, or a natural tendency to favor something in particular.

Inclination, propensity

From a young age, the researcher showed a distinct predilection for organic chemistry over physics."

Propensity

A tendency to do something

Inclination, predilection

Materials with a high propensity for corrosion are generally avoided in aerospace manufacturing."

Foresake

means to abandon, give up, or leave someone or something entirely, especially when you have a responsibility, a commitment, or an attachment to them.

Forsake [one's] principles / beliefs / faith

Used when someone abandons their core values or ideology, often under pressure or for personal gain.

• Example: "He refused to forsake his principles, choosing instead to resign from his position on the committee."

Renounce

means to formally declare that you are giving up a claim, a right, a belief, or a possession.
foresake, recant
Renounce a claim / throne: Giving up a legal right to power or property.

• Example: "The prince chose to renounce his claim to the throne so he could marry for love."

Recant

means to formally and publicly take back a opinion, statement, or belief that you previously held.
foresake, renounce
Recant a testimony / statement: A witness admitting in court that their previous story was a lie.

• Example: "Under cross-examination, the witness recanted her previous testimony, admitting she hadn't actually seen the face of the burglar."

Repudiate

means to strongly reject the validity, authority, or truth of something. It is an active, aggressive refusal to accept an idea, a contract, a debt, or a relationship.
recant, renounce, foresake
Repudiate a charge / allegation: Strongly denying that an accusation is true.

• Example: "The company released a statement to repudiate the claims that they were using faulty materials."

Dubious

means hesitating, doubting, or not to be relied upon.
incredulous, skeptical

Incredulous

means unwilling or unable to believe something.
skeptical, dubious
An incredulous look / expression: A face that perfectly shows a person doesn't believe a word you are saying (e.g., raised eyebrows, a dropped jaw, or a squint).

• Example: "When he claimed he could run a mile in three minutes, his coach gave him an incredulous look."

Reservation

A feeling of doubt, skepticism, or misgiving about a plan, idea, or person. If you accept something "with reservations," it means you agree to it but still have some lingering worries.
dubious, incredulous
Example: "I have serious reservations about hiring him because he lacks experience."

Ambivalent

means having mixed, contradictory, or fluctuating feelings or ideas about something or someone.
indecisive, conflicted
An ambivalent attitude: Showing a mixture of positive and negative traits toward a subject.

• Example: "The public has an ambivalent attitude toward the new technology, viewing it as both an amazing tool and a threat to privacy."

Apathetic

means showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
indifferent
An apathetic student / worker: Someone who lacks the motivation to try or engage with their responsibilities.

• Example: "He was completely apathetic about his grades, often staring out the window during class."

divisive

describes something that causes great disagreement, hostility, or a sharp split among a group of people.
controversial, contentious, polarizing
A divisive issue: A topic that people have fiercely conflicting, passionate opinions about (e.g., politics, tax reforms, or union strikes).

• Example: "The decision to clear the forest for a new highway proved to be highly divisive among the townspeople."

contentious

means causing or likely to cause an argument, controversy, or deep disagreement.
polarizing, divisive, controversial
Describing a Topic or Situation (Controversial / Heated)

When an issue naturally sparks fierce debates and disagreements.

• Example: "The decision to build a new stadium in the historic district became a highly contentious issue."

• Example: "After hours of contentious negotiations, the two companies finally signed the contract."

polarizing

describes something that drives people into two completely opposing, sharply defined groups with a massive, empty gap in the middle.
controversial, divisive, contentious
A polarizing issue: A debate where neutral opinions do not exist.

• Example: "The new tax law proved to be highly polarizing, splitting the country down party lines."

moderate

temper

dispassionate

conformist

orthodox

stringent

dogmatic

apprised

deliberate

discretion

premediatated

introspective

meditative

pensive

Evocative

Suggestive

Discriminating

Discerning

Pedantic

Prudent

Shrewd

Judicious

Construe

Fathom

Edifying

Didactic

Precocious

Cerebral

Erudite

Incisive

lucid