Essential Vocabulary for the Digital SAT (and important to know in general!) (copy)

Verb. To put an end to a system, practice, or institution. This word is used most often in the context of slavery, but may be applied to other situations too. Related words: abolition (n): the act of abolishing something; abolitionist (n): someone involved in the abolition movement.

Verb. To publicly recommend or support. The author advocated for greater freedom of press. Related words: advocate (n): a supporter or promoter of something.

Adjective. Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone. Due to the excitement about productivity increases, as well as fears of human job loss, many are ambivalent about AI. Related words: ambivalence (n): the state of being ambivalent.

Adjective. Being similar or comparable in certain respects. The events of Orwell’s Animal Farm are analogous to those of the Russian Revolution. Related words: analogy (n): a comparison, typically for the purpose of explanation or illustration.

Noun. A brief story, often one of a personal or informal nature. The speaker used an anecdote about her childhood to connect with the audience.

Verb. To predict or expect. The effect was stronger than the researchers had anticipated. Related words: anticipation (n): the state of anticipating something.

Noun. to understand or comprehend. Do not confuse this word with apprehensive!!!! She couldn’t apprehend how someone could believe such an obvious lie.

Adjective. Concerned, anxious. Many students feel apprehensive about the SAT.

Verb. to attribute to something (to a cause). Many historians ascribe the downfall of the Ottoman Empire to a combination of internal strife and external invasions.

Noun. A confident and forceful claim. The speaker’s assertion that we need stricter gun control was met by applause. Related words: assert (v): to make an assertion.

Verb. to regard something as being caused by (someone or something). The app’s popularity has been attributed to its ease of use and powerful editing features.

Noun. Prejudice in favor of or against a thing, person, or group, usually in a way considered to be unfair. Related words: biased (adj): the state of having bias.

Verb. To strengthen or provide support. The author bolsters her argument with demographic data drawn from twelve countries over a period of three decades.

Noun. A principal, goal, or movement that one is prepared to defend or advocate.

Verb. To dispute the truth or validity of something.

Adjective. Similar.

Adjective. Convincing or persuasive. Related words: compel (v): to force or oblige.

Adjective. Complete; including all or nearly all elements or aspects of something.

Verb. To weaken to undermine.

Verb. To admit that something is true or valid, especially an opposing argument or counterpoint. The noun form is concession. The author conceded that genetically modified foods are probably no more dangerous than organic foods.

Adjective. Decisive or convincing; serving to prove a case. Related terms: inconclusive (adj): not conclusive.

Verb. To agree.

Verb. To express complete disapproval of something, typically in public. Related words: condemnation (n): strong disapproval or criticism of something.

Verb. To match or follow, generally to rules, conventions, or expectations. Related terms: conformity (n): a state of matching or following others.

Noun. A state of agreement.

Verb. To assert. Related words: contention (n): an assertion.

Noun. An element that remains unchanged and is used as a benchmark or a point of comparison in an experiment.

Adjective. Common or traditional. Related words: convention (n): a tradition or common way of doing things.

Verb. To confirm or give support.

Noun. A claim that goes against the main claim or argument.

Adjective. Dishonest or misleading. Related words: deceive (v): to lie or mislead.

Adjective. Conclusive or final; settling an issue.

Verb. To deteriorate, weaken, or lower in dignity.

Verb. To publicly declare to be wrong or bad.

Adjective. Depressed, sad, in low spirits.

Adjective. Harmful.

Verb. To perceive, notice, or distinguish between things. Related words: discernable (adj): able to be perceived.

Verb. To prove false; to damage the reputation of someone or something.

Verb. Contempt or strong disapproval.

Verb. To ignore or reject, often without serious consideration.

Verb. To regard as being of little worth or inferior.

Adjective. Different or distinct.

Noun. A difference or contrast between similar things or people.

Verb. To develop or present in detail.

Verb. To use.

Verb. To give the right to vote.

Adjective. Firmly established, difficult or unlikely to change.

Verb. To list or mention one by one.

Adjective. Stated clearly or directly.

Verb. To invent or make up, often in a dishonest way.

Verb. To cause, encourage, or make easier.

Adjective. Possible to do easily or without an unreasonable amount of effort.

Verb. To rise and fall or change, usually irregularly or unpredictably.

Noun. The first item in a list of two.

Verb. To encourage or promote the development (of something).

Adjective. Honestly, direct, and blunt.

Adjective. Basic or essential.

Adjective. Involving noble or high-minded principles, but often not practical or realistic.

Adjective. Unbiased, fair.

Verb. To block, hinder, or restrain.

Adjective. Not stated clearly and directly; implied.

Noun. A lack of interest, opinion, or concern.

Noun. Anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment.

Adjective. Incapable of making mistakes or being wrong.

Verb. To hinder, restrain, or prevent.

Adjective. Inborn; arising naturally.

Adjective. Capable of being exchanged or substituted, often due to their similarities.

Adjective. Highly complicated or detailed.

Adjective. Unable to coexist; unable to be resolved. The notion of time travel is irreconcilable with our current laws of physics.

Adjective. Contrary or opposite to expectations.

Noun. The second item in a list of two.

Adjective. Profitable.

Verb. To assert.

Verb. To spoil or damage, and thus render less perfect. Her happiness was marred by regret.

Verb. To imitate or copy the actions, speech, or appearance of someone or something.

Noun. An incorrect belief or attitude.

Verb. To make less severe, serious, or painful.

Noun. New or innovative. The researchers used a novel approach to extract the genome.

Adjective. No longer useful. The advent of the computer made the typewriter obsolete.

Adjective. Based on pure facts rather than on personal opinions or feelings.

Noun. The belief or expectation that an outcome will be positive, favorable, or desirable.

Adjective. Frank in stating one’s opinions, especially if they are critical or controversial.

Verb. To ignore or not pay attention (to something).

Noun. A lack or deficiency. It can be difficult to learn about prehistoric cultures due to the paucity of surviving evidence.

Verb. To continue to exist; to continue to do something.

Adjective. Widespread or common, often in a negative context.

Noun. The belief or expectation that an outcome will not be positive, favorable, or desirable.

Adjective. Dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations. Although it would be great to completely eliminate world hunger, we need to be pragmatic and focus on the areas in which we can make the greatest impact.

Verb. To come before in time.

Adjective. Suppose that something is the case, generally because it is probable.

Verb. To claim that one has (a quality of feeling), especially when this is not the case. Despite professing that he was not racist, the governor advocated for voting restrictions that systematically disenfranchised black voters.

Adjective. Deep or intense.

Adjective. Very noticeable or marked; conspicuous.

Noun. A person who supports or advocates for a particular idea, cause, or theory.

Noun. Wisdom or consideration for the consequences of one’s action.

Verb. To make (a statement or argument) less absolute or extreme; to acknowledge nuances or other perspectives). The doctor qualified her endorsement of the allergy medication by acknowledging that it caused side effects in some patients.

Verb. To remember or evoke.

Verb. To stop oneself from doing something.

Verb. To prove false.

Verb. To tell a story or give an account.