English Vocabulary · SAT Preparation Live Review Preview
SAT Vocabulary Words
The current digital SAT Reading and Writing section uses short passages from literature, history and social studies, the humanities, and science. Its Craft and Structure questions ask students to determine the meaning of high-utility words in context and to choose the most logical and precise word or phrase. Vocabulary also supports evidence, inference, rhetorical synthesis, transitions, and clear Standard English expression across the section.
This independently authored 800-word beta curriculum is arranged in twenty-three pages of up to thirty-five words. Pages containing words 1–500 include five cloze questions drawn only from that enhanced range; words 501–800 remain fully visible and editable while the expanded practice layer is developed. Each row includes a passage-field label and an editable word-study note about a transparent affix, compound structure, capitalization, or dictionary base form. The list is an unofficial KSSR learning resource and is not endorsed by or affiliated with College Board. SAT is a registered trademark of College Board.
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| # | Word | Details | Meaning | Sample sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 631 | tirade | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: tirade is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | тира́да | The meeting ended with a tirade against the press. |
| 632 | torpor | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: torpor is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | оцепене́ние | Winter cold sends the animal into torpor. |
| 633 | transcend | verb StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: transcend is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. переступа́ть предел 2. преде́лы | The novel's themes transcend its historical setting. |
| 634 | transgress | verb StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Prefix focus: trans- means across, through, or beyond. | преступа́ть | The character must decide whether justice permits her to transgress the law. |
| 635 | transient | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: transient is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | вре́менный | The economic benefit proved transient. |
| 636 | trepidation | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ation commonly forms a noun naming an action, process, or result. | 1. беспоко́йство 2. трево́га | With some trepidation, the team opened the sealed chamber. |
| 637 | ubiquitous | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | вездесу́щий | Smartphones have become ubiquitous in many communities. |
| 638 | unconscionable | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -able means capable of, suitable for, or worthy of an action. | бессо́вестный | The court rejected the unconscionable contract terms. |
| 639 | unctuous | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 1. жи́рный 2. масляни́стый | The salesman's unctuous compliments made buyers suspicious. |
| 640 | unremitting | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: unremitting is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. беспреста́нный 2. неосла́бный | Unremitting rain caused the river to overflow. |
| 641 | urbane | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: urbane is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. обходи́тельный 2. учти́вый 3. ве́жливый | The urbane host moved easily among diplomats and artists. |
| 642 | usurp | verb StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: usurp is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. узурпи́ровать 2. присва́ивать себе́ 3. присво́ить себе́ | The general attempted to usurp the elected government's authority. |
| 643 | utilitarian | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: utilitarian is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | утилита́рный | The building's utilitarian design prioritized durability. |
| 644 | utopia | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: utopia is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. уто́пия 2. утопия | The novel's apparent utopia depends on hidden coercion. |
| 645 | vacillate | verb StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: vacillate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. кача́ться 2. колеба́ться | The council continued to vacillate between renovation and demolition. |
| 646 | vapid | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: vapid is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. безвку́сный 2. ску́чный | The adaptation reduced a complex novel to vapid romance. |
| 647 | vehement | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: vehement is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. рья́ный 2. неи́стовый | Residents voiced vehement opposition to the highway. |
| 648 | venal | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: venal is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | прода́жный | The investigation exposed venal officials who sold permits. |
| 649 | venerate | verb StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: venerate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | почита́ть | Many scientists venerate the pioneer without accepting every theory he proposed. |
| 650 | veracity | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ity commonly forms a noun naming a quality, state, or condition. | правди́вость | Documents from several sources support the account's veracity. |
| 651 | verbose | adjective StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: verbose is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | многосло́вный | The verbose report hid its conclusion in fifty pages. |
| 652 | verisimilitude | noun StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: verisimilitude is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | правдоподо́бие | Accurate period details give the film verisimilitude. |
| 653 | vernacular | noun StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: vernacular is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. наро́дный 2. ме́стный 3. просторе́чный | The poet wrote in the local vernacular rather than formal Latin. |
| 654 | vestige | noun StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: vestige is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | след | The ruined gate is the last vestige of the old wall. |
| 655 | vex | verb StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: vex is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. раздража́ть 2. досажда́ть | The contradictory clues continued to vex investigators. |
| 656 | vicarious | adjective StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | замещающий | Readers share the explorer's vicarious thrill through the vivid diary. |
| 657 | vicissitude | noun StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: vicissitude is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. превра́тность 2. непостоя́нство | The business survived every economic vicissitude. |
| 658 | vilify | verb StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: vilify is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. очерня́ть 2. поноси́ть | The campaign tried to vilify critics instead of answering them. |
| 659 | vindicate | verb StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: vindicate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. опра́вдывать 2. оправда́ть | Later evidence may vindicate the scientist's disputed prediction. |
| 660 | vindictive | adjective StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Suffix focus: -ive commonly forms an adjective meaning having a quality or tendency. | мсти́тельный | The leader used vindictive prosecutions against former rivals. |
| 661 | virulent | adjective StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: virulent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | заразный | A virulent strain spread rapidly through the crop. |
| 662 | vitiate | verb StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: vitiate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. по́ртить 2. испо́ртить | Coercion can vitiate an agreement. |
| 663 | vitriolic | adjective StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: vitriolic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | язвительный | The platform removed several vitriolic threats. |
| 664 | vocation | noun StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Suffix focus: -tion commonly forms a noun naming an action, process, or result. | призва́ние | She regarded teaching as a vocation rather than merely a job. |
| 665 | vociferous | adjective StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 1. громогласный 2. кричащий | A vociferous minority dominated the meeting. |
Vocabulary reading and practice
A Transient Outburst
Reading practice for pages 19–21. Five relevant words are highlighted.
English reading
After weeks of political torpor, a council member delivers a fierce tirade. Her anger is transient, but the issue behind it is not: officials may transgress ethical rules if gifts influence votes. The council must transcend personal rivalries and adopt a transparent policy.
Russian translation
После нескольких недель политического застоя член совета выступает с яростной тирадой. Её гнев кратковременен, но проблема, стоящая за ним, — нет: чиновники могут нарушать этические нормы, если подарки влияют на их голоса. Совет должен преодолеть личное соперничество и принять прозрачную политику.
Reading comprehension
1. What interrupts the political torpor?
A fierce tirade interrupts it.
2. What ethical danger is identified?
Officials may transgress rules when gifts influence votes.
3. What must the council transcend?
The council must transcend personal rivalries.
Vocabulary quiz
Choose the dictionary equivalent for each of 5 selected words.
Vocabulary chart page
This page focuses on the word chart. Reading passages appear once in each three-page group, while cloze quizzes remain in the established enhanced range for this level.
About the digital SAT
The digital SAT Reading and Writing section measures comprehension, analysis, synthesis, rhetoric, and command of language. Its Words in Context questions ask students to determine a word’s meaning or choose the most logical and precise word for a particular passage. That means SAT vocabulary study should focus on useful academic words, multiple meanings, tone, and exact usage—not on memorizing rare words in isolation.
Use this list as one part of SAT preparation. Read each example closely, compare near-synonyms, and notice how surrounding sentences control meaning. The lesson readings and questions are designed to practise the same habits of contextual reasoning, while official College Board questions remain the best guide to the test’s exact format.
Sources and curriculum references
These references guide selection and calibration. Definitions, sample sentences, readings, questions, and teaching notes are independently written and reviewed.
- College Board: The SAT Reading and Writing Section
- College Board: Student Question Bank — Reading and Writing
- College Board: Digital SAT Suite Assessment Framework
- WikDict downloadable bilingual dictionaries
- Kaikki.org / Wiktextract machine-readable Wiktionary data
- Language-Learning-decks public flashcard datasets
- SBBIC English-to-Khmer Dictionary
- English–Khmer Dictionary Dataset (machine-generated Khmer fallback; human review required)
- PanLex meanings snapshot (direct CC0 gap candidates; human review required)
- Cambridge bilingual dictionaries (individual editorial sense checks)
- Collins English–Hindi Dictionary (individual editorial checks)
- Hindwi and Rekhta dictionaries (individual Hindi/Urdu checks)
- National Institute of Korean Language: Basic Korean Dictionary
- JMdict/EDRDG Japanese dictionary project
- CC-CEDICT Chinese dictionary project
- VDict Vietnamese Dictionary (individual editorial check)
- Google Translate (machine-assisted lesson-reading draft; fluent review required)
- Kuperman et al.: Age-of-acquisition ratings for 30,000 English words