SAT Prefixes, Word Roots, and High-Frequency Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering 50 word roots and 100 high-frequency SAT words with definitions and example-style explanations.

Ab (root)

away

Ambi (root)

both

Ambul (root)

move or walk

Ami (root)

love

Contra (root)

against

Cred (root)

believe

Crypt (root)

hidden

Cycl (root)

circle or ring

Dem (root)

people

Derm (root)

skin

Dict (root)

speak

Domin (root)

master

Dur (root)

hard

Ego (root)

I, self

Esth (root)

feeling

Extra (root)

outside

Fid (root)

faith

Flect (root)

bend

Flor (root)

flower

Frac/Frag (root)

break

Fug (root)

run away

Gen (root)

birth, production

Gram (root)

something written

Graph (root)

to write

Grat (root)

pleasing

Gress (root)

to step, to go

Hetero (root)

different

Homo (root)

same

Idio (root)

peculiar, distinct

Judi (root)

judge, lawyer

Ling (root)

language

Loqu (root)

speak

Magn (root)

large, great

Mal (root)

bad

Mut (root)

change

Ob (root)

against

Phil (root)

love

Plac (root)

calm

Re (root)

back, again

Sagac (root)

wise

Sang (root)

having to do with blood

Sequ (root)

follow

Somn (root)

sleep

Tacit/Tic (root)

be silent

Troph (root)

feed, grow

Ultim (root)

last

Vener (root)

respectful

Vit (root)

life

Voc (root)

voice

Vol (root)

fly, wish

Abstract

ideas or concepts that don't have a physical presence.

Acknowledge

to admit or recognize the existence or truth of something.

Adapt

to adjust or change to suit new conditions or environments.

Admonition

a gentle warning or piece of advice aimed at correcting or guiding someone.

Affluent

wealthy; having a lot of material goods.

Agitate

to disturb or upset someone, or to stir up public interest and excitement about a cause.

Anomaly

something that deviates from the norm—it's unusual or unexpected.

Antipathy

a deep-seated feeling of dislike or aversion toward someone or something.

Arbitrary

based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.

Ascertain

to find out something for certain through investigation or experimentation.

Aspire

to have a strong desire or ambition to achieve something great.

Benevolent

kind, generous, and wants to do good for others.

Capacity

the maximum amount something can contain or the ability to do something.

Censure

to express strong disapproval or harsh criticism, especially in an official context.

Coerce

to compel them to act by force or threat, making them do something against their will.

Colloquial

informal and conversational, often specific to a region or group; everyday language.

Complementary

things that go well together, enhancing each other's qualities.

Consensus

general agreement among a group of people.

Conventional

following traditional forms or norms; ordinary and unoriginal.

Convey

to communicate or make an idea or feeling known; can also mean to transport.

Disparity

a significant difference or inequality between two or more things.

Diverge

to separate from a main route or standard and go in a different direction.

Dubious

doubtful or suspect; not to be relied upon.

Earnest

showing sincere and intense conviction; you're serious.

Enhance

to improve the quality, value, or extent of something.

Ephemeral

lasting for a very short time—fleeting.

Feeble

lacking physical strength; or lacking in force or effectiveness.

Incredulous

unwilling or unable to believe something; skeptical.

Indifference

a lack of interest, concern, or sympathy toward something.

Inherent

existing as a natural, essential part of something; built-in.

Innumerable

too many to be counted; countless.

Irk

to annoy or irritate someone.

Labyrinth

a complex maze or network of paths.

Malice

the intention or desire to do evil or cause harm to others.

Manifest

clear or obvious to the eye or mind; can also mean to display a quality or feeling through actions.

Manipulate

to control or influence someone or something cleverly or unscrupulously.

Marginalize

to treat a person or group as insignificant or peripheral.

Meander

to wander aimlessly without a fixed direction.

Mundane

ordinary, dull, lacking excitement; it's the opposite of extraordinary.

Nuance

a subtle difference or distinction in meaning, expression, or sound.

Obliterate

to destroy completely; to wipe out.

Obstinate

stubbornly refuses to change their opinion or course of action.

Panacea

a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases; a cure-all.

Perspective

a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; your point of view.

Phenomena

observable events or facts that are remarkable or exceptional, especially not fully understood.

Proliferate

to increase rapidly in numbers; to multiply or spread quickly.

Quarrel

an angry argument or disagreement.

Reluctant

hesitation or unwillingness.

Reverence

deep respect or admiration for someone or something.

Ubiquitous

present, appearing, or found everywhere.