SAT vocabulary

SAT vocabulary you can finish before test day.

The digital SAT asks what a word is doing in a sentence. Every word here comes with examples in context and a hook that makes the meaning stay.

words: 1,100+
sets of 30: 35+
prep lists cross-referenced: 4

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Short enough to finish.

The list starts with the words several SAT prep lists agree on and works outward. Sets of 30 fit around school, and the first tier is short enough to finish in a few weeks.

1
Must-Know
The words at least two SAT prep lists agree on. Start here, whatever your timeline.
Sets 1–10
2
Extended
Words from the most selective single lists: fewer words, chosen carefully.
Sets 11–24
3
Long Tail
The rest of the long tail, for learners who have finished everything above.
Set 25 onward

The ten words at the top of the SAT list

These are the 10 words the most prep lists agree on, each with the memory hook it carries in the app.

1
contentiouskuhn-TEN-shuhs
quarrelsome; likely to cause argument
TENSION in every sentenceLunch with my uncle has TENSION in every sentence, football, politics, even the salt. He is CONTENTIOUS, quarrelsome and always ready to argue.
on 4 of 4 lists
2
corroboratekuh-ROB-uh-rayt
confirm or support with evidence
the CO-ROBBER RATED the story trueCaught too, the CO-ROBBER RATED his partner's story true, detail for detail. He CORROBORATED it, backing the claim up with a second source.
on 4 of 4 lists
3
elusiveih-LOO-siv
difficult to catch, find, or define
I LOSE HIM every timeThree years of cameras and roadblocks and the detective still says I LOSE HIM every time. The thief is ELUSIVE, impossible to catch.
on 4 of 4 lists
4
precludeprih-KLOOD
prevent from happening; make impossible
the shop was PRE-CLOSEDYou walk up and the shop is already CLOSED for the holiday, so there is nothing to argue about. Heavy snow PRECLUDES the flight the same way, making it impossible.
on 3 of 4 lists
5
profusionpruh-FYOO-zhun
a very large quantity of something; abundance poured out freely
a PRO chef's FUSION menuThe PRO chef put every FUSION dish he knew on one table. A PROFUSION of food, a huge amount pouring out everywhere.
on 3 of 4 lists
6
renouncerih-NOWNS
to formally give up or reject
RE-ANNOUNCE it: I am outHe stood up and RE-ANNOUNCED it to the whole party, I am out, for good. He RENOUNCED his membership, formally giving it up.
on 3 of 4 lists
7
resolverih-ZOLV
firmness of purpose; find a solution to
a New Year's RESOLUTION that held all yearMost people drop the New Year's RESOLUTION by Tuesday. Hers held every day until December, and that RESOLVE, firm purpose that never bends, got her the degree.
on 3 of 4 lists
8
advocateAD-vuh-kit
publicly support or argue in favor of; a supporter of a cause
"HAD A KITTEN? Get one!" she tells everyoneShe HAD A KITTEN from the shelter and now tells everyone to adopt one. She is an ADVOCATE, someone who publicly pushes for a cause.
on 3 of 4 lists
9
affableAF-uh-buhl
warm and friendly; easy to talk to
an AFFAIR? He is ABLEEveryone in the office would have an AFFAIR with him if he asked, he is that ABLE with people. AFFABLE, warm, friendly and easy to talk to.
on 3 of 4 lists
10
ambiguousam-BIG-yoo-uhs
unclear in meaning; open to more than one interpretation
"AM I BIG? YOU GUESS.""AM I BIG?" "YOU GUESS." That answer could mean yes, no or anything at all. It is AMBIGUOUS, unclear and open to more than one reading.
on 3 of 4 lists

The prep lists behind the ranking

A word's rank is the number of these lists that include it. SnapVocabis not affiliated with any of them; they are the public lists learners already trust, used here only to decide what to teach first.

Magoosh SAT Vocabulary
Barron's SAT Words 1–500
Barron's SAT High-Frequency
PrepScholar SAT Vocabulary

SAT questions

Does the digital SAT still test vocabulary?

Yes, but differently than it used to. The digital SAT has words-in-context questions: you choose the word or phrase that fits a short passage most precisely. Bare definitions are not enough, which is why every word here comes with example sentences and notes on the words it is confused with.

How is the SAT list ranked?

Each word is ranked by how many of four published SAT prep lists include it. The first tier is the set of words at least two lists agree on; after that come single-list words, ordered by how selective the list is.

I might take the GRE later. Do I start over?

Words on both lists are learned once. If you study a shared word for the SAT, it already counts on the GRE list, with the same mnemonics and examples.

Is SnapVocab affiliated with the College Board?

No. SnapVocab is an independent study app. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Board, which does not endorse this product.

Learn the words the SAT lists agree on first.