Top 400 SAT Words

ambivalent (adj.)

having mixed feelings (44%)

foster (v.)

to bring up; nurture (33%)

pragmatic (adj.)

practical; concerned with usefulness in the real world (33%)

revere (v.)

to regard with respect and awe (33%)

anecdote (n.)

short personal story (31%)

disparage (v.)

to speak of someone in a disrespectful way; belittle (31%)

exemplary (adj.)

perfect; worthy of following (31%)

substantiate (v.)

to support with proof; verify (31%)

trivial (adj.)

of little significance or value; unimportant (31%)

depict (v.)

to represent in words; describe (29%)

indifferent (adj.)

having no concern; uncaring; apathetic (29%)

anthropology (n.)

the study of humans and society (27%)

futile (adj.)

useless or ineffective; having no useful result (27%)

indignant (adj.)

filled with anger and resentment (27%)

reconcile (v.)

to settle or resolve; to unite (27%)

sarcasm (n.)

a cutting, ironic remark to mock something (27%)

abstract (adj.)

theoretical; difficult to understand (25%)

advocate (v.)

to support a cause or position (25%)

ambiguous (adj.)

unclear; open to interpretation (25%)

eccentric (adj.)

weird or odd; having a wacky personality (25%)

implausible (adj.)

hard to believe; unrealistic (25%)

intemperate (adj.)

having no self-control; reckless and wasteful (25%)

plausible (adj.)

believable; credible (25%)

rhetoric (n.)

the art of using language effectively and persuasively (25%)

rigorous (adj.)

extremely thorough, exhaustive, or accurate (25%)

subtle (adj.)

difficult to detect or describe (25%)

temperate (adj.)

having self-control; exercising moderation (25%)

archaeological (adj.)

related to the study of people and their history (24%)

arrogant (adj.)

having a sense of superiority or self-importance (24%)

complacent (adj.)

self-satisfied to the point of being unconcerned (24%)

embellish (v.)

to make beautiful; to decorate (24%)

evoke (v.)

to bring forth or call to mind, especially feelings (24%)

immodest (adj.)

lacking humility or decency (24%)

modest (adj.)

humble (24%)

prudent (adj.)

wise in handling practical matters; having good judgment (24%)

suppress (v.)

to put an end to forcibly; bring under control (24%)

vindicate (v.)

to clear from accusation, blame or suspicion (24%)

deride (v.)

to treat with ridicule or contempt (22%)

diligent (adj.)

hard working (22%)

disdain (v.)

to treat with contempt; despise (22%)

empathy (n.)

an understanding of another's situation and feelings (22%)

erroneous (adj.)

mistaken (22%)

fundamental (adj.)

basic; elementary (22%)

improvise (v.)

to invent or perform with no preparation (22%)

mundane (adj.)

everyday and dull; boring (22%)

naive (adj.)

showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment (22%)

superficial (adj.)

shallow; having no depth of character (22%)

whimsical (adj.)

playful and fanciful; imaginative; childlike (22%)

alleviate (v.)

to relieve from pain (20%)

antagonize (v.)

to cause someone to become hostile or unfriendly (20%)

bolster (v.)

to support or build up something (20%)

capricious (adj.)

impulsive and unpredictable (20%)

convoluted (adj.)

complicated or confusing (20%)

digress (v.)

to stray from the main topic (20%)

diminish (v.)

to make smaller; to reduce (20%)

dispute (v.)

to argue about; debate (20%)

dubious (adj.)

having doubts; undecided (20%)

eloquent (adj.)

having persuasiveness and expressiveness as a communicator (20%)

indulge (v.)

to give in to desires excessively, esp. with food or drink (20%)

precedent (n.)

an earlier case or event that is now considered a guide for similar cases (20%)

reprehensible (adj.)

blameworthy; terrible (20%)

resilient (adj.)

able to withstand difficulty; flexible (20%)

satire (n.)

the use of humor, exaggeration, or irony to mock something or someone (20%)

underscore (v.)

to emphasize (20%)

vulnerable (adj.)

open to injury or attack; lacking protection (20%)

amiable (adj.)

friendly (18%)

astute (adj.)

wise; shrewd (18%)

benevolent (adj.)

kind; charitable (18%)

bewilder (v.)

to confuse or baffle someone (18%)

coherent (adj.)

clear and logical; makes sense (18%)

commend (v.)

to praise someone (18%)

elite (adj.)

considered to be superior or the best (18%)

generalization (n.)

a general statement based on specific cases (18%)

impetuous (adj.)

acting or done quickly without thought or care (18%)

negligent (adj.)

failing to take proper care in doing something (18%)

phenomenon (n.)

a remarkable event/situation that is observed to exist (18%)

presumption (n.)

having a particular attitude or assumption as a basis (18%)

reticent (adj.)

quiet and reserved (18%)

scorn (n.)

contempt; hatred; feeling that someone is worthless (18%)

scrutinize (v.)

to examine or inspect closely and thoroughly (18%)

somber (adj.)

gloomy and sad (18%)

tyranny (n.)

cruel and oppressive government or rule (18%)

acquire (v.)

to buy or obtain for oneself (16%)

aspiration (n.)

a hope or ambition of achieving something

augment (v.)

to make something greater by adding to it (16%)

avid (adj.)

having a deep interest in or enthusiasm for something, esp. a hobby (16%)

belie (v.)

to misrepresent; disguise or deceive (16%)

concise (adj.)

clear and short in words; brief (16%)

discern (v.)

to perceive, recognize, or distinguish something (16%)

disillusion (v.)

to shatter someone's illusions; to set straight or open someone's eyes (16%)

disingenuous (adj.)

not candid or sincere; dishonest (16%)

emphatic (adj.)

expressed or performed with emphasis (16%)

endure (v.)

to carry one through, despite hardships (16%)

eradicate (v.)

to destroy completely; put an end to (16%)

exacerbate (v.)

to make a problem or bad situation worse (16%)

frugal (adj.)

careful with spending money; thrifty or economical (16%)

illuminate (v.)

to light up; enlighten; help to clarify or explain (16%)

ingenuous (adj.)

innocent and unsuspecting (16%)

lament (v.)

a passionate expression of grief or sorrow (16%)

meticulous (adj.)

showing great attention to detail; very careful (16%)