SAT Vocabulary - A New Approach (300 words)

Use this to study for the SAT and pSAT

infer

draw a conclusion from incomplete evidence

surmise

draw a conclusion from incomplete evidence

advance

to propose an idea or explanation

assert

to propose an idea or explanation

posit

to propose an idea or explanation

Postulate (verb, noun)

to propose an idea or explanation

Rebut

to dispute, show to be false

Refute

to dispute, show to be false

Undermine

to dispute, show to be false

Concede (n. concession)

to admit that an idea or argument is wrong

Grapple with

to think very hard about

Ruminate about

to think very hard about

Conceptualize

to generate a concept or idea

Conjecture (n. and v.)

to guess or form a theory based on incomplete evidence

Hypothesize

to guess or form a theory based on incomplete evidence

Speculate

to guess or form a theory based on incomplete evidence

Contentious (adj)

causing disagreement

discord (n.)

disagreement

Consensus

agreement

Proponent

a person who is in favor of an idea or proposal

discount (v.)

to dismiss or reject an argument

dubious (adj)

doubtful

detractor (n.)

person who questions or doubts an idea or proposal

skeptic (n.)

person who questions or doubts an idea or proposal

underscore

to emphasize

attribute

to credit someone as the originator of an idea or proposal

Contrive

to create or think up

Bolster

to provide strong evidence or support

Buttress

to provide strong evidence or support

Corroborate

to provide strong evidence or support

Substantiate

to prove, provide very strong evidence for

validate

to prove, provide very strong evidence for

Credibility

Believability, trustworthiness

Repudiate

reject

Recant

to take back a previously held belief or claim

Renounce

to take back a previously held belief or claim

Rescind

to take back a previously held belief or claim

Excavate

to dig up a historical site of interest

Confound

Utterly baffle

Prevalent/Prevailing (v., Prevail)

widespread, very common

Orthodoxy

accepted explanation or way of doing things

Tenuous

Weak

Vindicate

Prove correct

Moribund

on the verge of dying

Ameliorate

to make (a bad situation) better

Rectify

to make (a bad situation) better

Mitigate

to make less bad, reduce negative aspects

Exacerbate

make worse

Discernable (v., Discern)

able to be seen

Elicit

draw out

Engulf

Surround completely

Erratic

unpredictable, without any pattern or logic

Methodology

a system of methods used in a field or area of study

Analogy

comparison emphasizing the similarity of two things

Catalyze

to bring about, set in motion

Precipitate

to bring about, set in motion

Ineluctable

Inevitable, unavoidable

Evoke (adj. Evocative)

to summon up

Galvanize

Cause a person or group to take action

Mobilize

cause a person or group to take action

Indifferent

uninterested, not caring

Preclude

to prevent fully

Thwart

to prevent fully

Prohibit

to prevent fully

Hinder

block, get in the way of; opposite of “facilitate”

Impede (n. impediment)

block, get in the way of; opposite of “facilitate”

Stymie

block, get in the way of; opposite of “facilitate”

Replicable (from v., replicate)

repeatable

Synchronize (n., Synchronization)

to coordinate multiple actions

Coalesce

to come together

Scheme (n. and v.)

(to form a) clever or daring plan

Insurmountable

too difficult to be overcome

Insuperable

too difficult to be overcome

Scrutinize (n., Scrutiny)

examine with extreme care, in a very detailed way

Pragmatic

Practical

Prudent

Practical

Debacle (deh-BAH-kul)

a complete failure; fiasco

Domesticate (n., domestication)

to tame for farm life (plant) or home life (animal)

Lineage

genetic or family line

Advantageous

providing advantages

Detrimental

Harmful

Innate

Inborn (natural)

Intrinsic

Inborn (natural)

Disparate

Different

Diverge(nt)

Different

Demarcate

to differentiate, set boundaries between

Disposition

Personality, temperament

Tentative

Cautious

Predatory

Preying on others

Vestige

leftover structure or behavior, inherited from an ancestor, that no longer serves a clear purpose

Diverse

Varied

Heterogeneous

Varied

Homogeneous

composed of the same or very similar parts

Uniform

composed of the same or very similar parts

Hierarchy (adj., hierarchical)

system of rank; opposite of “egalitarian”

Offspring

Children

Hybrid

Mix of two species or other entities

Abundant

A very large amount

Copious

A very large amount

Myriad

A very large amount