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SAT Vocabulary: 40 High-Frequency Words (High School)

40 cards · 4 topics · by Quizcard team · 0 hearts · Updated 2026-10-12

S–ZN–RE–MA–D
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S–Z

scrutinize

Answer: to examine closely

Explanation

Auditors scrutinized the accounts.

skeptical

Answer: doubting; not easily convinced

Explanation

She was skeptical of the miracle cure.

substantiate

Answer: to provide evidence to support

Explanation

Can you substantiate that claim?

superfluous

Answer: unnecessary; more than enough

Explanation

Cut the superfluous words.

tenacious

Answer: holding firmly; persistent

Explanation

A tenacious reporter kept digging.

undermine

Answer: to weaken gradually

Explanation

Rumors undermined her authority.

unprecedented

Answer: never done or known before

Explanation

An unprecedented heat wave.

versatile

Answer: able to adapt to many functions

Explanation

A versatile actor plays any role.

viable

Answer: capable of working successfully

Explanation

Is the plan financially viable?

zealous

Answer: full of energetic enthusiasm

Explanation

Zealous fans camped out overnight.

N–R

novel (adj.)

Answer: new and original

Explanation

A novel approach to recycling.

obsolete

Answer: no longer in use; outdated

Explanation

Floppy disks are obsolete.

pragmatic

Answer: practical rather than idealistic

Explanation

A pragmatic solution saves time.

prevalent

Answer: widespread; common

Explanation

Smartphones are prevalent among teens.

provocative

Answer: causing strong reactions or debate

Explanation

The speaker made a provocative claim.

prudent

Answer: wise and careful

Explanation

It is prudent to save for emergencies.

reconcile

Answer: to bring into agreement or harmony

Explanation

They reconciled their differences.

refute

Answer: to prove wrong

Explanation

The data refuted the hypothesis.

resilient

Answer: able to recover quickly from difficulty

Explanation

Resilient communities rebuild after disasters.

E–M

mitigate

Answer: to make less severe

Explanation

Levees mitigate flood damage.

empirical

Answer: based on observation or experiment rather than theory

Explanation

The claim lacked empirical evidence.

enervate

Answer: to weaken or drain of energy

Explanation

The heat enervated the hikers.

exacerbate

Answer: to make worse

Explanation

Stress can exacerbate illness.

fastidious

Answer: very attentive to detail; hard to please

Explanation

A fastidious editor catches every typo.

frugal

Answer: economical; avoiding waste

Explanation

Frugal habits helped them save.

hypothetical

Answer: assumed for the sake of argument; not real

Explanation

Consider a hypothetical case.

impartial

Answer: unbiased; fair

Explanation

Judges must remain impartial.

inevitable

Answer: certain to happen; unavoidable

Explanation

Change is inevitable.

lucid

Answer: clear and easy to understand

Explanation

Her lucid explanation helped everyone.

meticulous

Answer: extremely careful and precise

Explanation

He kept meticulous records.

A–D

ambivalent

Answer: having mixed or contradictory feelings

Explanation

She felt ambivalent about moving abroad.

benevolent

Answer: kind and generous

Explanation

A benevolent donor funded the library.

candid

Answer: honest and direct

Explanation

He gave a candid assessment of the plan.

capricious

Answer: given to sudden, unpredictable changes

Explanation

The capricious weather ruined the picnic.

concise

Answer: brief and to the point

Explanation

Keep your answer concise.

conspicuous

Answer: easily seen; attracting attention

Explanation

The red hat was conspicuous in the crowd.

deter

Answer: to discourage or prevent from acting

Explanation

High fines deter illegal parking.

diligent

Answer: showing careful, persistent effort

Explanation

A diligent student reviews notes daily.

disparity

Answer: a great difference or inequality

Explanation

There is a wide disparity in incomes.

abate

Answer: to lessen in intensity or amount

Explanation

The storm abated by morning.

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