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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 316 | desultory | adjective StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: desultory is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 断断续续的 | Their desultory search overlooked the most likely location. |
| 317 | diatribe | noun StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: diatribe is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 谩骂 | The editorial became a diatribe against anyone who questioned the policy. |
| 318 | dichotomy | noun StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: dichotomy is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 二分法 | The essay rejects the false dichotomy between growth and conservation. |
| 319 | dictum | noun StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: dictum is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 格言 | The judge questioned the old dictum that silence implies consent. |
| 320 | digress | verb StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: digress is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 离题 | The lecturer began to digress into a story unrelated to the evidence. |
| 321 | dilatory | adjective StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: dilatory is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 延期 | The court rejected the company's dilatory request for another postponement. |
| 322 | dilettante | noun StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: dilettante is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 愛好者 | Experts dismissed him as a dilettante who ignored decades of research. |
| 323 | diminution | noun StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Suffix focus: -tion commonly forms a noun naming an action, process, or result. | 减少 | The law caused a gradual diminution of the agency's power. |
| 324 | disabuse | verb StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: disabuse is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 消除 2. 糾正 3. 打消 | The evidence should disabuse readers of the idea that the change was sudden. |
| 325 | discomfit | verb StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: discomfit is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 不安 | The unexpected question seemed to discomfit the witness. |
| 326 | discordant | adjective StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: discordant is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 不和 2. 不睦 3. 不調和 | The two reports offer discordant accounts of the same meeting. |
| 327 | disingenuous | adjective StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 1. 虛情假意的 2. 不誠實的 | It is disingenuous to call the fee optional when everyone must pay it. |
| 328 | disinterested | adjective StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: disinterested is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 超然 2. 公正 3. 無私 | A disinterested panel reviewed the competing proposals. |
| 329 | divest | verb StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: divest is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 剝奪 | The fund promised to divest from companies that ignored the standards. |
| 330 | doctrinaire | adjective StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: doctrinaire is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 教条主义 | The council rejected a doctrinaire solution that ignored local needs. |
| 331 | dubious | adjective StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 可疑 | The website supports its claim with dubious statistics. |
| 332 | ebullient | adjective StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: ebullient is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 热情 | The director was ebullient after the opening-night applause. |
| 333 | eccentric | adjective StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: eccentric is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 怪人 | The inventor's eccentric habits often concealed careful reasoning. |
| 334 | ecclesiastical | adjective StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: ecclesiastical is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 教会的 | The archive preserves both royal and ecclesiastical records. |
| 335 | efface | verb StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: efface is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 磨 | Time could not efface the inscription carved into the stone. |
| 336 | effervescent | adjective StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: effervescent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 泡腾的 | Her effervescent presentation energized the tired audience. |
| 337 | egalitarian | adjective StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: egalitarian is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 平等主義的 2. 平均主義的 | The movement advanced an egalitarian vision of public education. |
| 338 | egocentric | adjective StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: egocentric is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 自我中心的 2. 利己主义的 | The narrator's egocentric account ignores other characters' motives. |
| 339 | egregious | adjective StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 令人震惊的 | The audit uncovered an egregious misuse of public money. |
| 340 | elucidate | verb StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: elucidate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 闡明 2. 解釋 3. 說明 | A timeline helps elucidate the sequence of discoveries. |
| 341 | embellish | verb StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: embellish is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 掩盖 | The witness admitted that he had begun to embellish the story. |
| 342 | eminent | adjective StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: eminent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 显赫的 | An eminent biologist chaired the independent review. |
| 343 | encroach | verb StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: encroach is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 侵犯 2. 侵害 3. 侵入 | New construction began to encroach on the protected wetland. |
| 344 | endemic | adjective StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: endemic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 地方特有的 2. 地方性流行 | The disease is endemic to several tropical regions. |
| 345 | enfranchise | verb StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: enfranchise is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 授予选举权 | The amendment helped enfranchise millions of citizens. |
| 346 | entrenched | adjective StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: entrenched is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 根深蒂固的 | The reform challenged entrenched patterns of discrimination. |
| 347 | enumerate | verb StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: enumerate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 枚举 2. 列举 | The report will enumerate the costs before recommending a plan. |
| 348 | erratic | adjective StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: erratic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 不稳定的 | Erratic rainfall made planting decisions difficult. |
| 349 | euphemism | noun StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Suffix focus: -ism often names a belief, system, movement, or practice. | 1. 委婉語 2. 婉辭 3. 婉詞 | “Downsizing” can be a euphemism for eliminating jobs. |
| 350 | evanescent | adjective StudyField: SAT evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: evanescent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 消逝 | The rainbow's evanescent colors vanished within minutes. |
Vocabulary reading and practice
A Desultory Speech
Reading practice for pages 10–12. Five relevant words are highlighted.
English reading
An eminent historian begins a lecture with careful evidence, but the talk soon becomes desultory. He jumps between unrelated anecdotes and starts to embellish minor details. When a questioner challenges him, he launches into a diatribe. The moderator tries to divest the exchange of personal insults and return it to the evidence.
Simplified Chinese translation
一位著名历史学家以审慎的证据开始演讲，但这场演讲很快变得杂乱无章。他在互不相关的轶事之间跳来跳去，还开始添油加醋地描述次要细节。当一位提问者质疑他时，他便开始激烈地抨击对方。主持人试图让这场交流摆脱人身攻击，并把话题拉回证据上。
Reading comprehension
1. Why does the lecture become desultory?
The historian jumps between unrelated anecdotes.
2. What does he embellish?
He embellishes minor details.
3. What does the moderator remove?
The moderator tries to remove personal insults.
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