SAT Vocab Terms

ambiguous

unclear; having multiple possible meanings

arbitrary

based on random choice rather than reason

coherent

logical and consistent

comprehensive

complete; covering everything

concise

brief but clear

contradict

to disagree with or oppose

conventional

traditional; usual

crucial

extremely important

demonstrate

to show or prove

diminish

to decrease or become weaker

discrete

separate; distinct

empirical

based on observation or experiment

enhance

to improve or increase

exacerbate

to make a problem worse

explicit

clearly stated; direct

implicit

suggested without being directly stated

inevitable

certain to happen

inhibit

to prevent or slow down

innovative

introducing new ideas or methods

nuanced

involving subtle differences

objective

unbiased; based on facts

obscure

unclear; not well known

predominant

most common or important

prevalent

widespread; common

reinforce

to strengthen or support

undermine

to weaken or damage

subsequent

occurring afterward

substantial

considerable; significant

tentative

uncertain; not definite

unprecedented

never done or seen before

versatile

capable of doing many different things

assert

to state confidently

contend

to argue or claim

corroborate

to confirm with additional evidence

refute

to prove or show something is wrong

substantiate

to support with evidence

concede

to admit something is true

qualify

to modify or limit a statement

posit

to suggest or propose

infer

to reach a conclusion from evidence

imply

to suggest without directly saying

fluctuate

to change repeatedly

decline

to decrease

escalate

to increase rapidly

stabilize

to become steady

persist

to continue

emerge

to appear or become known

transform

to change significantly

accelerate

to increase in speed

analogous

similar or comparable

disparate

very different; unrelated

complementary

completing or enhancing something else

contrasting

noticeably different

equivalent

equal in value, meaning, or function

distinct

clearly different

reconcile

to make two things compatible

respectively

in the same order as previously mentioned

skeptical

doubtful; questioning

impartial

unbiased; fair

pragmatic

practical; focused on what works

cynical

distrustful of people's motives

enthusiastic

strongly interested or excited

indifferent

unconcerned; not interested

critical

expressing disapproval or careful judgment

dismissive

treating something as unimportant

favorable

positive; supportive

anomalous

unusual; different from what is expected

consistent

staying the same; agreeing

correlate

to have a relationship or connection

variable

something that can change

aggregate

a total formed by combining things

facilitate

to make something easier

induce

to cause something to happen

constrain

to limit or restrict

derive

to obtain or develop from a source

abate

to become less intense or severe

abundant

more than enough; plentiful

accommodate

to provide what is needed; adjust to

acknowledge

to recognize or admit

advocate

to publicly support something

allocate

to distribute for a specific purpose

alter

to change

ambivalent

having mixed or conflicting feelings

amend

to change or improve

anticipate

to expect or predict

apparent

clear or obvious

arbitrary

based on random choice rather than reason

articulate

to express an idea clearly

assess

to evaluate or judge

attain

to achieve or reach

attribute

to regard as being caused by

augment

to increase or add to

authentic

genuine; real

beneficial

helpful; producing a good result

bias

an unfair preference or prejudice

bolster

to support or strengthen

brevity

the quality of being brief

candid

honest and straightforward

capacity

the ability or potential to do something

cease

to stop