SAT Words - Part 1

Advance

to put forward a claim

Assert

to put forward an argument or state that something is true

Conjecture

(noun) hypothesis; (verb) hypothesize

presupposition

an idea assumed beforehand about a subject

surmise

to assume; draw a conclusion without strong evidence

bolster

to provide support for an argument

butress

to provide support for an argument

substantiate

to provide evidence to support or prove a claim

corroborate

to confirm or support a claim

validate

to prove the accuracy of a claim

concede

to admit that an opposing claim is true or valid

acknowledge

to accept or admit the validity of a claim

rebut

to offer an argument against a claim believed to be false

refute

to prove that a claim is false

grapple with

to try to deal with or understand a difficult problem

ruminate about

to think deeply about; turn something over in one’s mind

infer

to deduce or conclude from evidence and reasoning

proponent

person who supports a claim or course of action

detractor

person who criticizes a claim or course of action

skeptic

person who questions or doubts a claim