SAT Vocab Level 3

Abet – She was charged for abetting the thief in his escape

to aid, act as an accomplice

Abhor – He abhors cruelty of any kind

to detest or loathe

Verisimilitude – The film lacked verisimilitude, making the plot hard to believe

the appearance of being true or real

Conspicuous – Her red coat was conspicuous among the black ones

standing out so as to be clearly visible

Ameliorate – The new policy helped ameliorate living conditions

to make better or more tolerable

Amorphous – The sculpture was an amorphous blob

having no definite form or character

Engender – His harsh words engendered resentment

to cause or give rise to

Tertiary – Her concerns were considered tertiary to the main issue

of the third order, rank, or importance

Austere – The monk lived an austere life without luxury

severe or strict in manner or appearance

Citadel – The soldiers retreated to the citadel for protection

a stronghold or fortress

Coalesce – The two ideas coalesced into a powerful argument

to grow or come together

Equivocal – His response was equivocal, leaving everyone confused

subject to two or more interpretations

Repine – He did not repine at his misfortunes

to feel or express discontent

Repudiate – She repudiated the accusations against her

to deny the truth or validity of

Evince – He evinced great sorrow at the funeral

to reveal the presence of a quality or feeling

Insuperable – The mountain posed an insuperable obstacle

impossible to overcome or surpass

Nebulous – Her plan was still too nebulous to present

unclear, vague, or lacking definite form

Demagogue – The demagogue manipulated the crowd with fear

a person who appeals to emotions or prejudices

Neophyte – He was a neophyte in the field of programming

a beginner or novice

Cogent – She gave a cogent argument in the debate

persuasive or forceful

Laconic – His laconic reply suggested disinterest

using few words

Ineluctable – Death is an ineluctable part of life

inevitable, unable to be escaped

Denigrate – They denigrated her achievements out of jealousy

to ridicule or belittle

Gratuitous – The violence in the film was gratuitous

unnecessary or uncalled for

Mirth – The party was filled with mirth and laughter

merriment or joy

Demur – I had to demur at his suggestion

to object

Superfluous – The extra details were superfluous to the story

exceeding what is necessary

Equivocate – She tends to equivocate when asked direct questions

to be ambiguous, not upfront

Altruistic – His altruistic act saved a life

selfless concern for the welfare of others

Partisan – The news channel had a clear partisan bias

a strong supporter of a cause or party

Fastidious – He is fastidious about keeping his desk clean

very attentive to detail

Adulation – The singer enjoyed the adulation of her fans

high praise

Guile – He used guile to win the negotiations

deception or skillful deceit

Induce – Nothing could induce her to leave

to bring about or cause

Prodigious – She had a prodigious memory

causing amazement; enormous

Magnanimous – He was magnanimous in victory

noble or generous

Hedonism – His lifestyle was centered around hedonism

the pursuit of pleasure

Demure – She gave a demure smile

modest and reserved, falsely so

Scrupulous – She was scrupulous in her research

diligent and extremely attentive to details

Terse – His terse reply ended the conversation

brief

Clamor – The clamor from the crowd was deafening

loud or unpleasant noise

Colloquial – He used colloquial language in the essay

informal

Acquiesce – She acquiesced to their demands

to agree or submit passively

Irreproachable – His behavior was irreproachable

beyond criticism or fault

Loquacious – The loquacious host dominated the conversation

talkative

Haughty – She gave a haughty glance to the waitress

arrogant or snobbish

Adroit – She’s adroit at handling conflicts

skillful and competent

Castigate – He was castigated for his poor performance

to punish severely

Brusque – His brusque manner offended them

rudely concise

Secular – The laws are based on secular principles

worldly, not spiritual

Pious – His pious devotion was admirable

very observant of religious practices

Amenable – She was amenable to the new suggestions

agreeable or cooperative

Furtive – He gave a furtive glance at the answers

sneaky or sly

Edify – The book was written to edify young minds

to instruct or enlighten

Assiduous – She was assiduous in her studies

diligent and hardworking

Heretic – The scientist was branded a heretic

a person with unorthodox beliefs

Incorrigible – He’s an incorrigible liar

incapable of being corrected

Auspicious – It was an auspicious start to the year

favorable or promising

Avarice – The king’s avarice led to his downfall

greed

Egalitarian – The group promoted egalitarian ideals

equal for all

Circumspect – He was circumspect in his statements

careful to consider all consequences

Byzantine – The bureaucracy was byzantine and inefficient

very complicated or intricate

Arcane – The rules were too arcane to understand

known by only a few

Feckless – His feckless attitude hurt the team

weak or ineffective

Ardent – She is an ardent supporter of the cause

passionate

Expedient – Lying was expedient in that situation

suitable for achieving a particular end

Ascetic – He led an ascetic lifestyle

self-denying

Onerous – The task became increasingly onerous

burdensome

Sagacious – Her sagacious advice saved us

wise

Indelible – The experience left an indelible mark

impossible to forget or remove

Aspersion – He cast aspersions on her reputation

a damaging or false report

Innocuous – The joke was completely innocuous

harmless

Impious – The act was considered impious by the clergy

lacking reverence or disrespectful

Assuage – He tried to assuage her fears

to soothe or pacify

Perspicacious – She’s a perspicacious analyst

very perceptive or discerning

Abstruse – The theory was too abstruse to grasp

complex or hard to understand

Petulant – The child was petulant and whiny

irritable or childish

Abase – He abased himself before the king

to humble or degrade

Latent – Her latent talent was finally discovered

undeveloped or dormant

Abdicate – The king abdicated the throne

to formally relinquish

Obstreperous – The obstreperous crowd was difficult to control

noisy and unruly

Harbinger – The robin is a harbinger of spring

a forerunner or omen

Beguile – He beguiled her with his charm

to deceive

Irreverent – His irreverent comments shocked the audience

lacking respect

Parity – The new law ensures parity in pay

the state of being equivalent

Callow – The intern was callow but eager to learn

inexperienced or immature

Dearth – There was a dearth of supplies

a lack or deficiency

Enigma – Her disappearance remains an enigma

something or someone puzzling

Amiable – She was amiable to everyone she met

friendly and good-natured

Eminent – The speaker was an eminent scientist

prominent or distinguished

Pragmatic – His approach was pragmatic and realistic

practical

Iconoclast – The artist was an iconoclast who rejected tradition

one who attacks traditional beliefs

Penitent – He was penitent after the argument

remorseful

Magnate – The business magnate donated millions

a powerful or influential person

Gregarious – He’s gregarious and loves social events

sociable

Languid – She felt languid in the summer heat

exhausted or slow-moving

Affable – The manager was affable and easy to talk to

friendly

Hapless – The hapless man missed the train again

unlucky

Palliate – The medicine helped palliate her symptoms

to soothe or mitigate