Hard SAT Vocabulary Words

humiliation or degradation

pause; temporary cessation or suspension

wretched; of the most contemptible kind

restraining; sparing in consumption of especially food and drink

difficult to understand

bitter; marked by strong resentment or cynicism

praise; servile flattery; exaggerated and hypocritical praise

pollute; corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance

combine; to bring or combine together or with something else

improve; to make better

something out of its time

odd item; deviation from the normal or common order or form or rule

hatred; a feeling of intense dislike

poise; great coolness and composure under strain

of doubtful authenticity; being of questionable authenticity

unorthodox; a disloyal person who deserts his cause or religion or political party

a group of many islands

find out with certainty

diligent; marked by care and persistent effort

soothe; cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of

hiding place; a shelter from danger or hardship

weaken; weaken the consistency of (a chemical substance)

stark; severely simple

validate; establish the authenticity of something

self governing; not controlled by outside forces

self governing independence

greed; reprehensible acquisitiveness

extremely harmful

give a false impression

benevolent; doing or producing good

brutal; resembling a beast; showing lack of human sensibility

flattery; flattery intended to persuade

swearing; blasphemous language (expressing disrespect for God or for something sacred)

pretentious language

middle-class; a capitalist who engages in industrial commercial enterprise

grow; grow and flourish

bad tempered and stubborn

impulsive and unpredictable

chasten; censure severely

critical; harshly critical or expressing censure

focused on intellect rather than emotion

cautious; characterized by great caution and wariness

deceptive trickery

enclose; draw a line around

careful and cautious

clot; change from a liquid to a thickened or solid state

blend; mix together different elements

convincing; powerfully persuasive

equivalent; corresponding in size or degree or extent

agreeable; showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others

harmony or agreement

a large destructive fire

a person with expert taste

suggestion; what you must know in order to determine the reference of an expression

following; following or accompanying as a consequence

sharing a common border

very complex and confusing

confirm; establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts

related to the universe; pertaining to the cosmos or universe

worldly and culturally diverse

greedy; showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's advantages

gullibility; tendency to believe readily

blameful; deserving blame or censure as being wrong or evil or injurious

a complete and sudden failure

degeneration; the state of being degenerate in mental or moral qualities

polite and proper

publicly criticize

slander; charge falsely or with malicious intent

shame; changing to a lower state, a less respected state

hurtful; harmful to living things

a manipulative political leader

corruption; moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles

blame; express strong disapproval of; deplore

dry out; preserve by removing all water and liquids from

goalless; marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose

division; being twofold; a classification into two opposed parts or subclasses

amateur without seriousness

rid; free somebody (from an erroneous belief)

repudiation; denial of any connection with or knowledge of

difference; a difference between conflicting facts or claims or opinions

separate; constituting a separate entity or part

speak of with contempt

not alike; fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind

formal argument

argumentative; inclined to disagree, even to engage in law suits

feign; make believe with the intent to deceive

broadcast; cause to become widely known

thesis; a treatise advancing a new point of view resulting from research

separation; separation into component parts

lack of harmony; a conflict of people's opinions or actions or characters

harsh; unusually or unreasonably harsh or severe

deceptively two faced

misrepresentation; a fraudulent or duplicitous representation

enthusiastic; joyously unrestrained

effectiveness; capacity or power to produce a desired effect

shameless boldness

overly enthusiastic

very bad; conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible

practical; derived from experiment and observation rather than theory

a burden or hindrance

local; a disease that is constantly present to a greater or lesser degree

weaken; weaken mentally or morally

something mysterious or puzzling

fleeing; lasting a very short time

calmness; steadiness of mind under stress

conflicting; open to two or more interpretations

use ambiguous language; be deliberately unclear in order to mislead

completely destroy or eliminate

containing mistakes or errors

deep scholarly knowledge

understood by a small group

delicate; characterized by lightness and insubstantiality

make a problem worse

exonerate; pronounce not guilty of criminal charges

urgent situation; a pressing or urgent situation

done quickly and efficiently

explain; make plain and comprehensible

cleanse; edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate

prediction; an inference about the future based on known facts and observations

disentangle; release from entanglement of difficulty

a false or invented story

false; containing or based on a fallacy

careful; giving careful attention to detail

stupid; devoid of intelligence

fortunate; exhibiting an agreeably appropriate manner or style

showy extravagance

foretell; make a prediction about; tell in advance

fail completely or collapse

contradict; take exception to

storm; a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale

talkative; full of trivial conversation

family tree; successive generations of kin

cultured; marked by refinement in taste and manners

excessively heightened speech; lofty in style

talkative; (of animals) tending to form a group with others of the same species

criticism; deliver a harangue to; address forcefully

focused on pleasure

the residence of a recluse; the abode of a hermit

composed of different elements

alike; all of the same or similar kind or nature

rebellious; characterized by attack on established beliefs or institutions

value system; an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group or nation

peculiarity; a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual

unique to an individual

worship; religious zeal; the willingness to serve God

shameful; completely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose

changeless; not subject or susceptible to change or variation in form or quality or nature

penniless; not having enough money to pay for necessities

unnoticeable; impossible or difficult to perceive by the mind or senses

extremely dense; preventing especially liquids to pass or diffuse through

calm; not easily perturbed or excited or upset; marked by extreme calm and composure

unaffected; not admitting of passage or capable of being affected

acting without thought

unrighteousness; unrighteousness by virtue of lacking respect for a god

impossible to please; incapable of being placated

hinted; implied though not directly expressed; inherent in the nature of something

plead; beg persistently and urgently

attack as false

disable; make unable to perform a certain action

not yet organized; only partly in existence; imperfectly formed

beginning; only partly in existence; imperfectly formed

penetrating; having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

incompatibility; the quality of disagreeing; being unsuitable and inappropriate

absurd; lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness

bodiless; without material form or substance

impossible to correct; impervious to correction by punishment

tireless; showing sustained enthusiastic action with unflagging vitality

a formal criminal accusation

extreme poverty

absolutely necessary or essential

undeniable; not open to question; obviously true

slothful; disinclined to work or exertion

persevering; impossible to subdue

certain; too obvious to be doubted

impossible to describe

tiny; (mathematics) a variable that has zero as its limit

innocent; characterized by an inability to mask your feelings; not devious

gain others' favor for; gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts

unfeeling; incapable of physical sensation

sneaky; beguiling but harmful

rude disrespect

occurring immediately

disobedience; defiance of authority

unreal; lacking material form or substance; unreal

isolation; the state of being isolated or detached

abstract; impossible to feel or touch

excessive and uncontrolled

an unwelcome intruder

hard to manage; not tractable; difficult to manage or mold

stubbornness; the trait of being intransigent; stubbornly refusing to compromise

essential; belonging to a thing by its very nature

thoughtful; given to examining own sensory and perceptual experiences

accustom to hardship; cause to accept or become hardened to; habituate

vilification; abusive language used to express blame or bitter deep-seated ill will

invulnerable; incapable of being transgressed or dishonored

wanderer; a laborer who moves from place to place as demanded by employment

to tire or wear out

lacking energy

sluggishness; a state of comatose torpor (as found in sleeping sickness)

landing place; a formal reception of visitors or guests (as at a royal court)

lack of seriousness

tiny; a very small person (resembling a Lilliputian)

very talkative

excessively gloomy

abundant; marked by complexity and richness of detail

a secretive scheme

whirlpool; a powerful circular current of water (usually the result of conflicting tides)

largess; liberality in bestowing gifts; extremely liberal and generous of spirit

generous and forgiving

tyrant; someone who demands exact conformity to rules and forms

independent thinker who resists norms

saying; a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits

smooth and sweet sounding; pleasing to the ear

pleasant sounding

untruthful; given to lying

people-hater; someone who dislikes people in general

reduce severity or seriousness

a small amount

calm or appease

suspension; a legally authorized postponement before some obligation must be discharged

gloomy; showing a brooding ill humor

a very large number

related to spiritual mystery

vague and unclear

carelessness; failure to act with the prudence that a reasonable person would exercise

too small to matter

invented word; a newly invented word or phrase

casual indifference

stubborn; stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing

indirect; slanting or inclined in direction or course or position

excessively obedient

annoyingly noticeable

intrusive; intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner

burdensome and difficult

disgrace; state of disgrace resulting from public abuse

become rigid or fixed

showy and pretentious

relieving pain without curing

model; systematic arrangement of all the inflected forms of a word

perfection; an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept

essential; having superior power and influence

diseased; of or relating to the practice of pathology

shortage; an insufficient quantity or number

showing remorse

poverty; a state of extreme poverty or destitution

damnation; (Christianity) the abode of Satan and the forces of evil

imperious; offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power

treacherous; tending to betray

inattentive; hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough

extremely harmful

keenly insightful

emotionally unresponsive

ability to be molded

easily bent or influenced

controversial; of or involving dispute or controversy

foreshadow; indicate by signs

a powerful ruler

prevent something from happening

something that comes before another

a strong preference

high priest; a senior clergyman and dignitary

foresight; the power to foresee the future

based on reasonable assumption

equivocate; be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information

lack; a state of extreme poverty

truthfulness; complete and confirmed integrity; having strong moral principles

extraordinary; so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe

extravagant; a dissolute man in fashionable society

deep; showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth

deep wisdom

expansion; growth by the rapid multiplication of parts

make known; state or announce

a natural tendency or inclination

appease; make peace with

ordinary and dull

a formal written proposal

extend; lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer

bulge; something that bulges out or is protuberant or projects from its surroundings

conditional; under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon

lustful; characterized by lust

belligerence; a natural disposition to be hostile

precise; marked by precise accordance with details

sharpness; wit having a sharp and caustic quality

dormant; not active or activated

fanciful; not sensible about practical matters; idealistic and unrealistic

narrator; a person skilled in telling anecdotes

refine; lessen the density or solidity of

completely destroy

obstinate; stubbornly resistant to authority or control

avoiding social contact

mysterious; difficult to penetrate

righteousness; righteousness as a consequence of being honorable and honest

strongly suggestive

stubborn; lining consisting of material with a high melting point

comeback; a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)

delinquent; failing in what duty requires

complaint; the act of expressing earnest opposition or protest

lucrative; for which money is paid

deplorable; bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure

disgraceful person; reject (documents) as invalid

reserve; the trait of being uncommunicative; not volunteering anything more than necessary

quiet and reserved

applying to past events

disgust; intense aversion

regret; feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about

wise and perceptive

wise; a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics who is renowned for profound wisdom

healthful; tending to promote physical well-being; beneficial to health

hypocritically pious in manner; excessively or hypocritically pious

servanthood; state of subjection to an owner or master or forced labor imposed as punishment

characterized by long words; long-winded

winding; curved or curving in and out

seriousness; a trait of dignified seriousness

causing sleep; a drug that induces sleep

a supreme ruler or authority

false; plausible but false

standstill; subject to a stalemate

placid; having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or excited

scheme; a maneuver in a game or conversation

striped; mark with stripes or striations

financial aid; a grant paid by a government to an enterprise that benefits the public

prove with evidence

arrogantly superior

sneaky; marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed

inclusive or general; presenting a summary or general view of a whole

combination; the process of producing a chemical compound

silent; habitually reserved and uncommunicative

holding firmly and persistently

theory; an unproved statement put forward as a premise in an argument

lethargy; a state of motor and mental inactivity with a partial suspension of sensibility

convoluted; highly complex or intricate and occasionally devious

exercising absolute political control

slander; speak unfavorably about

extraordinary; exceeding or surpassing usual limits especially in excellence

sharp and forceful

belligerence; obstreperous and defiant aggressiveness

pompous; ostentatiously lofty in style

clear and unambiguous

refined; showing refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience

fluctuate; be undecided about something

lacking substance

respected because of age

true; habitually speaking the truth

lifelikeness; the appearance of truth; the quality of seeming to be true

experienced through another

fluctuation; a variation in circumstances or fortune in the development of something

hateful; marked by harshly abusive criticism

capable of exploding; liable to lead to sudden change or violence

talkative; marked by a ready flow of speech

rolling or tumbling; a confused multitude of things

playful unpredictability