Essential Vocabulary for the Digital SAT (and important to know in general!) (copy) (copy) (copy)

Abolish

Verb. To put an end to a system, practice, or institution. This word is used most often in the context of slavery, but may be applied to other situations too. Related words: abolition (n): the act of abolishing something; abolitionist (n): someone involved in the abolition movement.

Advocate

Verb. To publicly recommend or support. The author advocated for greater freedom of press. Related words: advocate (n): a supporter or promoter of something.

Ambivalent

Adjective. Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone. Due to the excitement about productivity increases, as well as fears of human job loss, many are ambivalent about AI. Related words: ambivalence (n): the state of being ambivalent.

Analogous

Adjective. Being similar or comparable in certain respects. The events of Orwell’s Animal Farm are analogous to those of the Russian Revolution. Related words: analogy (n): a comparison, typically for the purpose of explanation or illustration.

Anecdote

Noun. A brief story, often one of a personal or informal nature. The speaker used an anecdote about her childhood to connect with the audience.

Anticipate

Verb. To predict or expect. The effect was stronger than the researchers had anticipated. Related words: anticipation (n): the state of anticipating something.

Apprehend

Noun. to understand or comprehend. Do not confuse this word with apprehensive!!!! She couldn’t apprehend how someone could believe such an obvious lie.

Apprehensive

Adjective. Concerned, anxious. Many students feel apprehensive about the SAT.

Ascribe

Verb. to attribute to something (to a cause). Many historians ascribe the downfall of the Ottoman Empire to a combination of internal strife and external invasions.

Assertion

Noun. A confident and forceful claim. The speaker’s assertion that we need stricter gun control was met by applause. Related words: assert (v): to make an assertion.

Attribute

Verb. to regard something as being caused by (someone or something). The app’s popularity has been attributed to its ease of use and powerful editing features.

Bias

Noun. Prejudice in favor of or against a thing, person, or group, usually in a way considered to be unfair. Related words: biased (adj): the state of having bias.

Bolster

Verb. To strengthen or provide support. The author bolsters her argument with demographic data drawn from twelve countries over a period of three decades.

Cause

Noun. A principal, goal, or movement that one is prepared to defend or advocate.

Challenge

Verb. To dispute the truth or validity of something.

Comparable

Adjective. Similar.

Compelling

Adjective. Convincing or persuasive. Related words: compel (v): to force or oblige.

Comprehensive

Adjective. Complete; including all or nearly all elements or aspects of something.

Compromise

Verb. To weaken to undermine.

Concede

Verb. To admit that something is true or valid, especially an opposing argument or counterpoint. The noun form is concession. The author conceded that genetically modified foods are probably no more dangerous than organic foods.

Conclusive

Adjective. Decisive or convincing; serving to prove a case. Related terms: inconclusive (adj): not conclusive.

Concur

Verb. To agree.

Condemn

Verb. To express complete disapproval of something, typically in public. Related words: condemnation (n): strong disapproval or criticism of something.

Conform

Verb. To match or follow, generally to rules, conventions, or expectations. Related terms: conformity (n): a state of matching or following others.

Consensus

Noun. A state of agreement.

Contend

Verb. To assert. Related words: contention (n): an assertion.

Control

Noun. An element that remains unchanged and is used as a benchmark or a point of comparison in an experiment.

Conventional

Adjective. Common or traditional. Related words: convention (n): a tradition or common way of doing things.

Corroborate

Verb. To confirm or give support.

Counterclaim

Noun. A claim that goes against the main claim or argument.

Deceptive

Adjective. Dishonest or misleading. Related words: deceive (v): to lie or mislead.

Decisive

Adjective. Conclusive or final; settling an issue.

Degrade

Verb. To deteriorate, weaken, or lower in dignity.

Denounce

Verb. To publicly declare to be wrong or bad.

Despondent

Adjective. Depressed, sad, in low spirits.

Detrimental

Adjective. Harmful.

Discern

Verb. To perceive, notice, or distinguish between things. Related words: discernable (adj): able to be perceived.

Discredit

Verb. To prove false; to damage the reputation of someone or something.

Disdain

Verb. Contempt or strong disapproval.

Dismiss

Verb. To ignore or reject, often without serious consideration.

Disparage

Verb. To regard as being of little worth or inferior.

Disparate

Adjective. Different or distinct.

Distinction

Noun. A difference or contrast between similar things or people.

Elaborate

Verb. To develop or present in detail.

Employ

Verb. To use.

Enfranchise

Verb. To give the right to vote.

Entrenched

Adjective. Firmly established, difficult or unlikely to change.

Enumerate

Verb. To list or mention one by one.

Explicit

Adjective. Stated clearly or directly.

Fabricate

Verb. To invent or make up, often in a dishonest way.

Facilitate

Verb. To cause, encourage, or make easier.

Feasible

Adjective. Possible to do easily or without an unreasonable amount of effort.

Fluctuate

Verb. To rise and fall or change, usually irregularly or unpredictably.

Former

Noun. The first item in a list of two.

Foster

Verb. To encourage or promote the development (of something).

Frank

Adjective. Honestly, direct, and blunt.

Fundamental

Adjective. Basic or essential.

Idealistic

Adjective. Involving noble or high-minded principles, but often not practical or realistic.

Impartial

Adjective. Unbiased, fair.

Impede

Verb. To block, hinder, or restrain.

Implicit

Adjective. Not stated clearly and directly; implied.

Indifference

Noun. A lack of interest, opinion, or concern.

Indignation

Noun. Anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment.

Infallible

Adjective. Incapable of making mistakes or being wrong.

Inhibit

Verb. To hinder, restrain, or prevent.

Innate

Adjective. Inborn; arising naturally.

Interchangeable

Adjective. Capable of being exchanged or substituted, often due to their similarities.

Intricate

Adjective. Highly complicated or detailed.

Irreconcilable

Adjective. Unable to coexist; unable to be resolved. The notion of time travel is irreconcilable with our current laws of physics.

Ironic

Adjective. Contrary or opposite to expectations.

Latter

Noun. The second item in a list of two.

Lucrative

Adjective. Profitable.

Maintain

Verb. To assert.

Mar

Verb. To spoil or damage, and thus render less perfect. Her happiness was marred by regret.

Mimic

Verb. To imitate or copy the actions, speech, or appearance of someone or something.

Misconception

Noun. An incorrect belief or attitude.

Mitigate

Verb. To make less severe, serious, or painful.

Novel

Noun. New or innovative. The researchers used a novel approach to extract the genome.

Obsolete

Adjective. No longer useful. The advent of the computer made the typewriter obsolete.

Objective

Adjective. Based on pure facts rather than on personal opinions or feelings.

Optimism

Noun. The belief or expectation that an outcome will be positive, favorable, or desirable.

Outspoken

Adjective. Frank in stating one’s opinions, especially if they are critical or controversial.

Overlook

Verb. To ignore or not pay attention (to something).

Paucity

Noun. A lack or deficiency. It can be difficult to learn about prehistoric cultures due to the paucity of surviving evidence.

Persist

Verb. To continue to exist; to continue to do something.

Pervasive

Adjective. Widespread or common, often in a negative context.

Pessimism

Noun. The belief or expectation that an outcome will not be positive, favorable, or desirable.

Pragmatic

Adjective. Dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations. Although it would be great to completely eliminate world hunger, we need to be pragmatic and focus on the areas in which we can make the greatest impact.

Precede

Verb. To come before in time.

Presume

Adjective. Suppose that something is the case, generally because it is probable.

Profess

Verb. To claim that one has (a quality of feeling), especially when this is not the case. Despite professing that he was not racist, the governor advocated for voting restrictions that systematically disenfranchised black voters.

Profound

Adjective. Deep or intense.

Pronounced

Adjective. Very noticeable or marked; conspicuous.

Proponent

Noun. A person who supports or advocates for a particular idea, cause, or theory.

Prudence

Noun. Wisdom or consideration for the consequences of one’s action.

Qualify

Verb. To make (a statement or argument) less absolute or extreme; to acknowledge nuances or other perspectives). The doctor qualified her endorsement of the allergy medication by acknowledging that it caused side effects in some patients.

Recall

Verb. To remember or evoke.

Refrain

Verb. To stop oneself from doing something.

Refute

Verb. To prove false.

Relate

Verb. To tell a story or give an account.