Common SAT Vocab

words from fiction and history passages

earnest

serious and intentional

deferential

showing respect toward others who are superior to you in any way

benevolent

well-meaning and charitable

malevolent

having or showing an intention to do evil to others

candid

frank, honest, or straightforward

hoax

deception of a malicious or humorous manner

complacent

marked by a fake satisfaction or happiness with the current state of things

ambivalent

the state of having conflicting feelings

ambiguous

unclear or obscure

dubious

arguable, questionable, or debatable

enigmatic

difficult to interpret

reproach

to express disapproval

nostalgic

feeling warmly sentimental about the past

apprehensive

fearful the something bad might happen

concede

to reluctantly or unwillingly agree

condone

to allow something to continue happening

proliferate

to multiply and increase rapidly in number

ubiquitous

appearing to be everywhere

lucrative

profitable

poignant

evoking keen sadness

despondent

sad or disheartened

negate

to invalidate; nullify

mar

to impair and therefore make less than perfect

finite

having an end or a final count

tenacious

determined and committed

inexorable

unstoppable or impossible to prevent

antagonist

one who actively opposes the main figure, the protagonist

adversary

an opponent or enemy

confidant

one you can trust and share secrets with

amiable

friendly; displaying a positive and supportive attitude

disdain

intense dislike

contempt

the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn

provenance

origin

inception

the starting point of existence

advent

the emergence or arrival of something

implore

to beg

beseech

to ask with enthusiasm

decree

to order formally; to command

fervor

intense feelings of passion

impunity

immunity from punishment for a wrongdoing

exoneration

the act of showing that someone is not guilty

malleable

capable of being influenced