SAT Level 3 Vocabulary
abet to aide, act as an accomplice
abhor to detest or loathe
verisimilitude* the appearance of being true or real
conspicuous* standing out so as to be clearly visible
ameliorate* to make beNer or more tolerable
amorphous* having no definite form or character
engender* cause or give rise to a feeling, situa4on, or condi4on
ter4ary of the third order, rank, stage, forma4on; less important
austere* severe or strict in manner, aatude or appearance; lacking any excess
citadel a stronghold or fortress
coalesce* to grow together
equivocal* subject to two or more interpreta4ons; of uncertain nature or classifica4on
repine to feel or express discontent
repudiate* to deny the truth or validity of
evince* to reveal the presence of a quality or feeling
insuperable* impossible to overcome or surpass, insurmountable
nebulous* unclear, vague, or hazy, lacking definite form or boundaries
demagogue a person who appeals to the emo4ons or prejudices of the people
neophyte a beginner or novice
cogent persuasive or forceful
laconic using few words
ineluctable* inevitable, unable to be avoided or escaped
denigrate* ridicule; beliNle
gratuitous unnecessary, uncalled for
mirth merriment, joy
demur to object
superfluous* exceeding what is necessary or required; unnecessary
equivocate to be ambiguous, not upfront
altruis4c selflessness; unselfish concern for the welfare of others
par4san a strong supporter of a cause, person, or party
fas4dious very aNen4ve to detail
adula4on high praise
guile decep4on or skillful deceit
induce* to bring about or cause a par4cular response or ac4on
prodigious causing amazement or wonder; enormous
magnanimous noble, generous
hedonism the pursuit of pleasure
demure modest and reserved, falsely so
scrupulous* a person or process that is diligent, thorough, and extremely aNen4ve to details
terse brief
clamor noise, a mixture of disagreeable sounds
colloquial informal
acquiesce to agree; submit passively
irreproachable* beyond cri4cism or fault, perfect or faultless in behavior or ac4ons
loquacious talka4ve
haughty arrogant; snobbish
de? skilled
idiosyncra4c* peculiar or unique to an individual; having dis4nc4ve characteris4cs
bere? lacking; missing
curt short in response, commonly used when someone is being rude
perfunctory* done rou4nely with liNle care
rancor biNerness; spitefulness
coalesce* to come together to form a single group or mass
belligerent aggressive; hos4le
contrite affected by guilt
omniscient all knowing
untenable indefensible
orthodox* adhering to established beliefs, customs, or prac4ces
decorous marked by good behavior
per4nent relevant
banal* commonplace
allay to lessen, ease, or soothe
spurious* false or not genuine; lacking authen4city
surrep44ous secret and stealthy
bilk to swindle or cheat
egregious obviously bad or offensive
an4pathy extreme dislike
incongruous* out of place
acrimony biNerness or hos4lity
disparage* beliNle; to speak down to someone
fervent passionate or zealous
dubious doub`ul
venerable* worthy of respect
curmudgeon a rude person
convivial sociable; fes4ve
extol to commend or praise
admonish to cau4on or reprimand; to warn
par4te* divided into parts
capricious impulsive; whimsical
dogma4c* inflexible; rigid in one’s beliefs
accre4on gradual build up or growth by addi4on
omnipresent* present everywhere at the same 4me
extemporaneous improvised or spontaneous
abet to aid
inviolable not to be broken; sacred
untoward* unfavorable, inappropriate, or inconvenient
assent to agree
taciturn reserved or quiet
trite overused, commonplace, having no freshness or appeal
hew* to cut or shape
profligate wasteful
ubiquitous* universal
adroit skillful; accomplished; highly competent
abhor to detest or loathe
cas4gate* to punish severely
brusque rudely concise
secular worldly, not spiritual
pious very observant of religious prac4ces
amenable agreeable or coopera4ve
fur4ve sneaky or sly
edify to instruct or enlighten
assiduous diligent; hard working
admonish to cau4on or advise against
here4c a person holding untradi4onal or blasphemous opinions
incorrigible incapable of being corrected or reformed
auspicious favorable; promising
avarice greed
egalitarian equal for all
circumspect careful to consider all circumstances and consequences
byzan4ne very complicated or intricate
arcane* known or understood by only a few
feckless weak; ineffec4ve; incompetent
ardent passionate
expedient suitable for achieving a par4cular end
asce4c self-denying; depriving oneself of something
onerous burdensome or oppressive
sagacious wise
indelible making marks or an impression that cannot be removed or lost
aspersion a false rumor or damaging report
innocuous harmless
impious irreverent; disrespec`ul
assuage* to soothe or pacify
perspicacious very percep4ve or discerning
abstruse complex; hard to understand
petulant childish; irritable
abase to humble or degrade
latent undeveloped or dormant
abdicate to formally relinquish
obstreperous noisy; unruly
harbinger* a sign of something to come
beguile to deceive
irreverent lacking respect
parity state of being equivalent
callow inexperienced; immature
perfunctory rou4ne; done without care
dearth* a lack or deficiency
enigma* something or someone puzzling or hard to understand
amiable friendly and good
eminent prominent; dis4nguished
pragma4c prac4cal
iconoclast one who aNacks tradi4onal ideas or ins4tu4ons
an4pathy a deep dislike or aversion
penitent remorseful
magnate a powerful or influen4al person
gregarious sociable; enjoying the company of others
languid exhausted
affable friendly
hapless ill fated; unlucky
palliate to soothe or mi4gate
precipitate* to cause
stymie* to prevent or hinder the progress of
reverence* deep respect
impera4ve* of vital importance
heterogeneous* differing in kind
vacillate* to waver between different opinions
demarcate* set the boundaries of or separate
desultory* lacking a plan or purpose
recalcitrant* difficult to manage or defiant of authority
sanguine* op4mis4c or posi4ve, especially in a difficult situa4on
nominal* very small; far below the real value or cost
misanthropic* disliking humankind
no4onal* exis4ng only in theory
anomalous* devia4ng from what is standard, normal, or expected
inexorable* impossible to stop
venerate* to regard with great respect
quintessen4al* the most perfect or typical example of something
ensconce* to seNle securely
circumscribe* to limit
unprepossessing* plain or unappealing
mul4farious* having many different parts or forms
circumspec4on* cau4ous observa4on or considera4on before ac4ng; cau4on
contrivance of* a device or plan created to serve a purpose
impugn* to challenge or aNack as false or ques4onable
presaged by* indicated or warned or beforehand
pernicious* malicious or destruc4ve
insular* narrow-minded
elide* to omit
brood on* to think deeply or worry consistently on something
conflate* to combine
belie* to give a false impression
utopian* idealis4c
emblema4c* serving as a symbol
perturba4on* uneasiness
amalgamate* to combine into one
promulgate* to announce
face4ous* trea4ng serious issues with inappropriate humor
fecundity* fer4lity or ability to produce abundantly