381 Most Common SAT Words

Every word with its definition and an example sentence.

Abate

To become less active, less intense, or less in amount.

As I began my speech, my feelings of nervousness quickly abated.

Abrupt

Sudden and unexpected.

His abrupt departure surprised everyone.

Abstract

Existing purely in the mind; not representing actual reality.

Julie had trouble understanding the appeal of the abstract painting.

Abysmal

Extremely bad.

I got an abysmal grade on my research paper!

Acceptable

Satisfactory or permissible.

The teacher deemed Sara's late assignment acceptable.

Accidental

Happening by chance.

The oil spill was purely accidental.

Accommodate

To provide space or make adjustments.

The Grand Hotel can accommodate up to 500 guests.

Accuracy

The quality of being correct or precise.

The accuracy of the intern's report was impressive.

Acknowledge

To recognize or admit the truth.

She refused to acknowledge her mistake.

Acquired

Gained through effort or experience.

Edmund had acquired a taste for fine wine.

Adapt

To adjust to new conditions.

Newly-released animals generally adapt to their environments over time.

Adept

Having knowledge or skill (usu. in a particular area).

Beth loves playing the piano, but she’s especially adept at the violin.

Adequate

Having sufficient qualifications to meet a specific task or purpose.

Though his resume was adequate, the company doubted whether he’d be a good fit.

Adhere

To stick to or follow closely.

You must adhere to the rules if you don't want to get in trouble.

Adjust

To modify or change slightly.

He had to adjust his seat for comfort.

Admire

To respect or look up to.

I admire my mother's dedication to her work.

Advantageous

Beneficial or useful.

Speaking multiple languages is advantageous.

Advent

The arrival or creation of something.

The world has never been the same since the advent of the light bulb.

Advise

To recommend or give guidance.

I advise you to study for the exam.

Aggravate

To worsen or intensify.

Scratching the rash will only aggravate it.

Aggressive

Forceful or overly assertive.

The man's aggressive tone made everyone uneasy.

Allude

To make a secretive mention of something.

She alluded to the problem at hand but didn’t say anything more about it.

Ambiguity

Uncertainty or multiple interpretations.

The ambiguity in his vague statement caused confusion.

Ambivalence

Mixed or conflicting feelings.

Jessie felt ambivalence about moving to a new city.

Ameliorate

To improve or make better.

The new policy aims to ameliorate working conditions for all employees.

Amplify

To increase in size or effect.

The microphone will amplify your voice.

Amusing

Entertaining or humorous.

Jason's joke was quite amusing.

Analogous

Similar but not identical.

Green onions are considered analogous to spring onions.

Annotate

To add notes or comments.

Please annotate the medical text with your observations.

Announce

To make a public statement.

The CEO will announce the new policy tomorrow.

Anomaly

Something different from the norm.

This result is an anomaly and very rarely happens.

Antagonistic

Showing hostility or opposition.

His antagonistic behavior created tension at work.

Antecedent

A preceding event or condition.

The antecedent to the war was political unrest.

Anticipate

To expect or predict.

Does the weatherman anticipate a rise in temperatures next week?

Antipathy

A strong feeling of dislike.

Her antipathy toward the professor was obvious: she rolled her eyes whenever he entered the classroom.

Apex

The highest point of something.

The spring play was the apex of our school year.

Appropriate

Suitable for a specific situation.

Lily's velvet dress was appropriate for the formal occasion.

Approximate

Nearly accurate or close to.

The approximate cost is $50.

Arcane

Mysterious or known by few.

The ancient book contained arcane knowledge.

Arduous

Difficult and requiring effort.

The steep hike up the mountain was arduous.

Assemble

To gather or put together.

We need to assemble the bed if we want a place to sleep tonight.

Austere

Extremely plain stern and forbidding relating to self-denial.

He lived in a small, austere cabin in the middle of the woods. My boss had an austere expression on her face. An austere lifestyle, like that of monks, isn’t for everybody.

Avoid

To stay away from or prevent.

Mara hates fighting, so she always tries to avoid conflict.

Beneficial

Producing good results.

A balanced diet is beneficial to your health.

Benevolent

Kind, generous.

Many cultures believe in benevolent spirits.

Bold

Courageous or striking.

Elsie made a bold move by quitting her job.

Borrow

To take temporarily.

Libraries will let you borrow books for several weeks.

Buttress

To support or strengthen.

The evidence will buttress his argument.

Bypass

To go around or avoid.

We took a shortcut to bypass traffic.

Calibrate

To adjust for precision.

The scientist had to calibrate the instrument to ensure his measurements were accurate.

Candid

Direct, blunt.

Josh is candid about his desire to become an actor.

Carelessly

Without caution.

He carelessly left his keys on the bus.

Catastrophic

Disastrous or causing great damage.

The catastrophic hurricane destroyed dozens of homes.

Cause

A reason for an action or event.

The fire's cause is still unknown.

Characterization

The way a character is described.

The novel's characterization was deep and complex.

Circumvent

To find a way around.

They found a loophole to circumvent the rule.

Coincidence

A surprising and unexpected event.

Meeting my neighbor at the airport was a coincidence.

Collaboration

Working together on a task.

The scientists' collaboration led to a breakthrough.

Commercialization

The process of making something a business.

The commercialization of the product increased sales.

Committed

Dedicated to a cause or task.

Ava is committed to her studies and always wants top grades.

Common

Occurring frequently or shared.

It's very common for students to feel stressed before exams.

Compelling

Captivating or persuasive.

The debater gave a compelling argument.

Competent

Having the necessary ability or skill.

Noah has worked at this job for a long time and is a competent engineer.

Complementary

Enhancing or completing another.

The artist and the engineer have skills that are complementary in the project.

Complexity

The state of being intricate or complicated.

The complexity of the 1,000 piece puzzle made it challenging.

Compose

To create or write.

Jordan plans to compose a new symphony.

Compound

To intensify or combine.

The traffic was compounded by bad weather.

Comprise

To consist of or include.

The book comprises ten chapters.

Conceal

To hide or keep secret.

Luca tried to conceal his disappointment.

Concede

To admit or yield.

She conceded that she was wrong during the argument.

Conceptualize

To form an idea or concept.

In this lab, scientists conceptualize new theories on viruses.

Concerning

Causing worry or distress.

The news about the approaching hurricane is quite concerning.

Condition

The state of something.

The car I bought is in excellent condition.

Confident

Feeling sure or self-assured.

Michael Jordan is confident in his abilities as a basketball player.

Conflated

Combined in a misleading way.

The two issues were conflated in the argument.

Conform

To comply with rules or expectations.

The alternative rocker refuses to conform to societal norms.

Consensus

General agreement.

The team finally reached a consensus on the decision.

Consistent

Acting in the same way over time.

My grandmother's knitting is always consistent in quality.

Conspicuous

Easily noticed or standing out.

Veronica's red dress was conspicuous in the crowd.

Constant

Occurring continuously.

The criminal lived in constant fear that he'd be found out.

Contentious

Causing disagreement or debate.

Politics are highly contentious these days.

Contingent

Dependent on something else.

Our family ski trip is contingent on the weather.

Contradict

To be in contrast with.

The camera footage contradicts his alibi.

Contrived

Artificial or overly planned.

The movie's plot felt contrived and unrealistic.

Controversial

Causing public disagreement.

The judge's decision to free the criminal was highly controversial.

Cordially

In a warm or friendly manner.

The two old friends greeted each other cordially.

Corroborate

To provide evidence for; to back up (a claim).

The note signed by her father corroborates her claim that she was absent from class that day.

Costly

Expensive or requiring sacrifice.

The mistake was a costly one and caused the company to go bankrupt.

Counteract

To work in opposition to.

This ingredient seems to counteract the other ones.

Critical

Expressing analysis or judgment.

The review was highly critical of the film.

Criticize

To express disapproval.

My father tends to criticize others harshly.

Deceptive

Misleading or dishonest.

The advertisement was deceptive in its claims of weight loss.

Deciding

Determining or influencing an outcome.

The final goal was the deciding factor in the match.

Decisive

Conclusive or firm.

My boss's decisive leadership helped solve our company's crisis.

Deficient

Not enough in degree or amount.

I feel as though the sources for my paper are deficient.

Defunct

No longer existing or functional.

After people stopped using fax machines, the fax company became defunct.

Delegate

To assign tasks or authority to others.

A good leader knows how to delegate responsibilities.

Deliberation

Careful consideration or discussion.

After much deliberation, they made their decision.

Delicate

Fragile or requiring careful handling.

The delicate glass sculpture broke easily.

Demarcate

To set boundaries or distinguish.

The Tornio river demarcates the border between Sweden and Finland.

Derived

Obtained or developed from a source.

The word "aqua" is derived from Latin.

Despise

To strongly dislike or look down upon.

The judge despises dishonesty.

Desultory

Lacking a clear plan or enthusiasm.

The tired boy's desultory efforts did not impress the coach.

Determine

To establish or decide.

The final exam will determine your grade.

Deviate

To move away from a set path or norm.

When the new evidence was uncovered the lawyer deviated from the original plan.

Devise

To come up with (a plan).

Lana devised a plan to make herself famous.

Diminish

To decrease in size or importance.

The politician's influence has diminished over time.

Directed

Managed or guided.

This new film was directed by a renowned artist.

Disagreement

A difference of opinion.

An intense disagreement arose over the contract terms.

Disastrous

Causing great harm or failure.

The earthquake had disastrous consequences for the island.

Disconcerting

Causing discomfort or confusion.

My girlfriend's sudden change in behavior is disconcerting.

Discord

Disagreement.

Disputes over money caused intense discord in the family.

Discount

To disregard or reduce in value.

The teacher discounted his students' concerns.

Discourage

To dissuade or deter.

Luna tried to discourage her brother from moving out of the house.

Discretion

The ability to make responsible choices.

The detective handled the matter with great discretion.

Disengage

To separate or withdraw.

I was exhausted, so I tried to disengage from the argument.

Dismiss

To reject or send away.

The teacher dismissed the idea to end class early.

Disorienting

Causing confusion or loss of direction.

The vast corn maze was disorienting.

Disparage

To belittle or speak negatively about.

The politician disparaged his opponent's ideas on tax cuts.

Disparate

Essentially different or unconnected.

Many European countries have disparate Christmas traditions.

Dispute

A disagreement or argument.

The neighbors had a dispute over the new fence.

Distinct

Clearly different or separate.

My twin sons have distinct personalities.

Distract

To divert attention.

The rattling noise distracted Javi from his work.

Distressed

Suffering from anxiety or pain.

The woman looked distressed after the doctor's call.

Diverge

To move apart or differ.

My parents' opinions on politics began to diverge as they grew older.

Diverse

Showing variety or differences.

New York City has a diverse population.

Dominance

The state of being in control or superior.

The company's dominance in the market is evident.

Dormant

Inactive but capable of becoming active.

The volcano beneath Mount Fuji has been dormant for centuries.

Dynamic

Constantly changing or energetic.

My coworker is a dynamic speaker who commands attention wherever she goes.

Earnest

Serious and sincere.

He felt terrible about breaking the mirror and made an earnest apology.

Eclipse

To overshadow or surpass.

The headliner's performance eclipsed all others in the concert.

Eloquent

Having refined or expressive communication skills (in speaking or writing).

His speech was not only eloquent but also extremely compelling.

Elusive

Hard to find or understand.

Nothing became clearer, and the answer remained elusive.

Encompass

To include or surround.

The project encompasses multiple disciplines.

Encounter

To meet or face unexpectedly.

She encountered an old friend at the store.

Encourage

To support or inspire.

Teachers often encourage students to ask questions.

Enduring

Lasting over time.

Their 50-year friendship is enduring.

Evidence

Information that supports a conclusion.

There is strong evidence to support the theory.

Evoke

To draw forth or call up.

Horror movies are great at evoking fear.

Exacerbate

To make a problem worse.

His rude comments only exacerbated the tense situation.

Exactitude

The quality of being precise or accurate.

The scientist's exactitude ensured reliable results.

Exaggerate

To overstate or magnify beyond the truth.

My cousin tends to exaggerate his achievements.

Exceed

To go beyond a limit.

The driver exceeded the speed limit by nearly 30 miles an hour.

Exemplify

To serve as a typical example of something.

The woman's kindness to her neighbors exemplifies true generosity.

Exhaustive

Thorough and complete.

The 300-page report provided an exhaustive analysis.

Expansion

The act of increasing in size or scope.

The company's expansion into international markets has been successful so far.

Expensive

Costing a lot of money.

My sister's diamond ring was extremely expensive.

Experiment

A test to discover something new.

The scientist conducted an experiment to test the theory.

Explicable

Able to be explained.

Once I knew the full story, my boyfriend's actions were explicable given the circumstances.

Exploit

To take advantage of something unfairly.

The mining company was accused of exploiting workers.

Extensive

Covering a large area or scope.

The Art Institute of Chicago has an extensive Impressionist collection.

Extraneous

Unrelated or unnecessary.

The report contained too much extraneous information that didn't matter to the trial.

Fabricate

To invent or create, often dishonestly.

The criminal fabricated evidence to support his bogus claim.

Foretell

To predict or anticipate.

Ancient prophecies foretold the end of the world.

Foster

To encourage or promote development.

Teachers should strive to foster creativity in students.

Fragile

Easily broken or delicate.

The glass vase is very fragile.

Fruitless

Failing to achieve desired results.

Their search for survivors was fruitless.

Genuine

Authentic or real.

His apology seemed genuine.

Grapple

To struggle or wrestle with something.

The country is grappling with economic issues.

Habitual

Done regularly or repeatedly.

His habitual lateness annoyed his coworkers.

Haphazard

Lacking organization or planning.

The project was completed in a haphazard manner.

Hibernation

A state of dormancy or deep sleep.

Many bear species go into hibernation during the winter.

Highlight

To emphasize or make noticeable.

The article highlights key points of the debate.

Hinder

To obstruct or slow progress.

The heavy traffic hindered our journey.

Hoard

To accumulate and store excessively.

He hoarded food supplies and toilet paper during the pandemic.

Homogeneous

Uniform or similar throughout.

The population of the village is homogeneous.

Hypothesize

To form a theory or assumption.

Scientists hypothesize about the origin of the universe.

Imaginative

Creative and full of new ideas.

The artist's work is highly imaginative.

Imitation

A copy or replica of something.

The purse was an imitation of a designer brand.

Imminent

About to happen soon.

A storm is imminent according to the forecast.

Immune

Resistant to disease or harm.

He's immune to the virus due to vaccination.

Impartial

Fair and not biased.

Judges must always remain impartial during a trial.

Impending

Approaching or about to happen.

They prepared for the impending storm by boarding up windows.

Impenetrable

Impossible to pass through.

The fortress was impenetrable to enemy attack.

Imperceptible

Very slight or difficult to notice.

Alex's reaction was imperceptible, so I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

Implement

To put into effect or execute.

The business will implement new rules to comply with the change in laws.

Implication

A possible consequence or meaning.

The policy change has serious implications for lobbyists.

Implicit

Implied rather than stated directly.

His approval was implicit in his silence.

Impractical

Not sensible or realistic.

The dress design was too impractical to actually wear.

Improvise

To create or perform spontaneously.

The actor had to improvise when he forgot his lines.

Inactive

Not engaged in movement or activity.

The volcano has been inactive for decades.

Inadequate

Insufficient or lacking.

I felt inadequate when I didn't make the final shot during the basketball game.

Inadvertently

Unintentionally or by accident.

The new worker caused a ruckus when he inadvertently deleted an important file.

Incite

To encourage or stir up.

Her hateful words incited anger in the crowd.

Inconspicuous

Not being easily seen or noticed.

The spy was inconspicuous as he moved through the crowd.

Indecipherable

Impossible to understand or read.

His messy handwriting was indecipherable.

Indicate

To point out or show.

The results indicate a positive trend.

Indifference

Lack of interest or concern.

Natalia's indifference to the situation frustrated her sisters.

Indisputable

Unable to be challenged or denied.

Because the evidence was indisputable, the lawyer was certain his client would go free.

Indistinct

Not clear or sharply defined.

The figure in the distance was blurry and indistinct.

Indulge

To allow oneself to enjoy.

After a long day of work, Jane decided to indulge in a piece of cake.

Ineffectual

Not producing the desired effect.

The mayor's efforts to change the city's parking rules were ineffectual.

Inevitable

Certain to happen; unavoidable.

You must accept that change is inevitable in life.

Inexpensive

Not costly.

The new Vietnamese restaurant down the street serves inexpensive but delicious meals.

Inexplicable

Unable to be explained.

My uncle's sudden departure from the family reunion was inexplicable.

Influence

The power to affect others.

The pastor's speech had a strong influence on the audience.

Infrequent

Not occurring often.

Rain is infrequent in the Atacama Desert.

Inhibit

To hinder or restrain.

Fear of failure can inhibit creativity.

Innocuous

Harmless or inoffensive.

The comment seemed innocuous, but it upset him.

Insensible

Unaware or indifferent.

The father was insensible to his children's boredom.

Insignificant

Too small or unimportant to matter.

The difference in price between the two ice creams was insignificant.

Inspect

To examine closely.

The contractor will inspect the building for safety.

Inspirational

Providing motivation or encouragement.

Evan's story of recovering from a severe car accident was inspirational to many.

Intangible

Not able to be touched or measured.

Love is an intangible concept.

Intentional

Done on purpose.

By reading the evidence, I could tell the man's actions were intentional.

Interchangeable

Able to be substituted for each other.

These parts are interchangeable so it doesn't matter which one you use.

Interject

To insert a comment abruptly.

My brother interjected with a sarcastic remark.

Interpret

To explain the meaning of something.

I don't understand this poem; can you interpret it for met?

Intersect

To cross or meet at a point.

The two streets intersect downtown.

Intricate

Very detailed or complicated.

The artist created an intricate design on the fabric.

Intriguing

Arousing curiosity or interest.

The mystery novel was intriguing because I couldn't figure out who the murderer was.

Invalidate

To make something void or null.

The new evidence invalidated his argument.

Invent

To create something new.

Thomas Edison invented the incandescent light bulb.

Investigation

Systematic inquiries to uncover facts.

The police conducted a thorough investigation of the crime scene.

Involuntarily

Done without conscious control.

She involuntarily gasped in surprise.

Irrelevant

Not related or applicable.

His comment was irrelevant to the discussion.

Isolate

To separate from others.

We need to isolate the patient with the very contagious disease.

Lacking

Not having enough of something.

The short essay was lacking in detail.

Latent

Present but not active.

He had a latent talent for music.

Legitimate

Lawful or valid.

Because he was named in the will, John's claim to the property was legitimate.

Localized

Restricted to a particular area.

The disease was localized to one region.

Manageable

Able to be controlled or handled.

I'm lucky that my workload is manageable today, so I'll be home in time for dinner.

Mandatory

Required or obligatory.

Attendance at the meeting is mandatory for all employees.

Mimic

To imitate.

Parrots can mimic human speech.

Misanthropic

Disliking people or society.

The old man was known for his misanthropic views.

Misrepresent

To give a false impression.

The article misrepresented the facts.

Moderate

Not extreme; average.

He never has strong opinions, and most of his views are moderate.

Multifaceted

Having many aspects or features.

The housing problem is multifaceted and will take multiple solutions to solve.

Neglect

To fail to care for properly.

He neglected his responsibilities when he decided to play video games instead of clean the house.

Neutrality

The state of not taking sides.

Switzerland maintained neutrality during World War II.

Newfound

Recently discovered or developed.

The recently-released prisoner enjoyed his newfound freedom.

Notional

Existing only in theory.

Because we hadn't started it, the plan was still notional.

Novel

New or original.

The doctor introduced a novel approach to hip surgery.

Nuanced

Having subtle differences.

His argument was well-developed and nuanced.

Obligate

To compel or require.

The contract obligates him to pay.

Obscure

Not easily understood or seen.

The meaning of the letter was obscure and I didn't know what to make of it.

Observable

Able to be seen or noticed.

The rings of Saturn were observable through the telescope.

Observant

Quick to notice things.

The detective is very observant of small details.

Obsolete

No longer used; rare or uncommon.

Historians assumed record players would be obsolete by now, but in fact they’re making a huge comeback.

Obstructed

Blocked or hindered.

We couldn't leave town because the road was obstructed by fallen trees.

Occupy

To take up space or time.

The kids occupied themselves with games.

Oddity

Something unusual or strange.

The museum displayed an interesting oddity.

Offhand

Done without preparation or thought.

His offhand remark surprised everyone.

Omnipotent

Almighty and all powerful.

Gods are omnipotent beings who can control human destiny.

Onset

The beginning or early stages.

At the onset of her career as a lawyer, things were looking up.

Operative

Functioning or having effect.

The new policy is now operative so be sure to follow it.

Ornamental

Decorative rather than functional.

The garden was filled with ornamental plants that helped beautify the space.

Oust

To remove or force out of (usu. a position or office).

Sick and tired of putting up with his bad moods, the pirates ousted their captain.

Outstrip

To surpass or exceed.

Sales of my new novel outstripped all expectations.

Overcome

To succeed in dealing with a problem.

She overcame her fear of public speaking and was able to deliver her remarks.

Overlook

To fail to notice or consider.

The officer overlooked an important detail that would have helped solve the crime.

Overreact

To respond too strongly.

My sister overreacted to our parents' criticism of her outfit.

Overshadow

To be more important than something else.

His success overshadowed his past failures.

Overtly

Openly and clearly.

He overtly expressed his disapproval by telling me what he thought.

Overwhelmed

Feeling excessive stress or emotion.

Agatha felt overwhelmed by her workload and had no idea how she'd finish it all in time.

Paramount

Predominant, superior, most important.

Our paramount concern is the safety of our employees.

Paucity

A scarcity or lack.

The crime will be difficult to solve because there is a paucity of evidence.

Perceive

To become aware of something.

She perceived a hint of sadness in his voice.

Peripheral

On the edge or outer part of something.

My involvement was peripheral to the project because I didn't do much.

Permanent

Lasting indefinitely.

The marker left a permanent stain on my favorite shirt that I won't be able ot get out.

Perpetual

Continuing forever or indefinitely.

The con artist lived in perpetual fear of being arrested.

Persistent

Continuing despite difficulty.

After fifty years of buying lottery tickets, persistent efforts paid off when he won the jackpot.

Popularize

To make widely known.

The internet popularized online shopping.

Postulate

To assume or propose a theory.

Scientists postulated a new hypothesis for the origin of the universe.

Pragmatic

Practical and realistic.

Elliot put his emotions aside and took a pragmatic approach to problem-solving.

Praise

To express approval or admiration.

The teacher praised the students’ hard work.

Precarious

Uncertain or unstable.

The goat was perched on a precarious edge of the cliff.

Preclude

To prevent from happening.

Dylan's injury precluded him from playing in the soccer match.

Predatory

Exploiting others for personal gain.

The credit company engaged in predatory lending practices.

Predetermined

Decided in advance.

The outcome seemed predetermined and that we could do nothing to change it.

Predict

To say what will happen in the future.

Meteorologists predict rain tomorrow.

Premeditated

Planned beforehand.

Because the man had planned the theft for weeks, it was obvious the crime was premeditated.

Prescribe

To recommend or order a treatment.

The doctor prescribed antibiotics when I had an ear infection.

Preserve

To keep something in its original state.

The builders worked to preserve the house's original decorations.

Presume

To assume something to be true.

I presume he will be late to the party.

Prevail

To win or be more powerful.

Justice will always prevail.

Preventable

Able to be avoided.

Many diseases are preventable with vaccines.

Probability

Likelihood of something happening.

When you live in the desert, there's almost always a low probability of rain.

Proclaim

To announce officially.

The king proclaimed a new law.

Produce

To create or generate something.

The Ford factory produces thousands of cars each year.

Profusion

A large quantity of something.

The garden had a profusion of flowers every spring.

Prolong

To extend in duration.

He tried to prolong the meeting from one hour to two.

Prominent

Important or well-known.

Marie Curie was a prominent scientist who won many awards.

Proponent

A supporter of a cause or idea.

The environmentalist was a proponent of renewable energy.

Provoke

To stir up or incite.

Miriam's rude words provoked an argument.

Prudently

In a wise or careful manner.

My grandmother always prudently saved money for emergencies.

Quantity

An amount or number.

The pudding recipe requires a small quantity of sugar.

Quarrel

An angry argument or dispute.

The couple had a loud quarrel over money.

Questionable

Doubtful or uncertain.

Despite claiming to want to help people, the politician's motives were questionable.

Ramify

To split into two or more branches.

Cars ramified throughout the world in the twentieth century.

Rarely

Infrequently or seldom.

My sister rarely eats fast food.

Rationalize

To justify an action with reasoning.

He tried to rationalize his mistake by explaining his thought process.

Rebellion

An act of resistance against authority.

The peasants led a rebellion against the king.

Recalcitrant

Stubbornly resistant to authority.

The recalcitrant student refused to obey.

Recant

To take back a previous statement.

He was forced to recant his confession.

Receptive

Open to new ideas.

The new dancer was receptive to feedback.

Reciprocate

To give in return.

I reciprocated my brother's kindness by buying him dinner.

Recognizable

Easily identified.

The Nike logo is instantly recognizable.

Rectify

To correct or fix something.

She tried to rectify her mistake with an apology.

Redefine

To change the meaning of something.

The company redefined its mission.

Redress

To set right or remedy.

They sought to redress past injustices.

Reform

To improve by making changes.

The government promised to reform the healthcare system.

Refuse

To decline or reject.

Emilia refused the job offer.

Refute

To prove false or incorrect.

The scientist refuted the claim that the Earth was flat.

Regrettable

Causing sorrow or disappointment.

Forgetting my boyfriend's birthday was a regrettable mistake.

Regulate

To control or manage.

The government regulates nuclear energy facilities.

Reject

To dismiss or refuse to accept.

She rejected her boyfriend's proposal.

Relocate

To move to a new place.

The dentist relocated to a bigger office.

Renounce

To give up or reject formally.

He renounced his citizenship after moving to a new country.

Replenish

To refill or restore.

After we finished the lemonade, the hostess replenished the pitcher.

Replicable

Able to be copied or repeated.

The experiment's results were replicable.

Representative

A person acting on behalf of others.

The company's representative spoke at the meeting.

Repress

To suppress or hold back.

Although devastated, Jalen repressed his emotions.

Reprieve

A temporary relief or delay.

Because the defendant needed surgery, the judge granted a reprieve.

Repudiate

To reject or disown.

She repudiated the accusation that she'd stolen money from the company.

Resilient

Able to recover quickly.

Even after setbacks, the patient is very resilient.

Resolve

To find a solution.

The warring siblings eventually resolved their differences.

Responsive

Reacting quickly or positively.

The team wanted to improve and was very responsive to feedback.

Restore

To bring back to original condition.

The architecture team carefully restored the old house.

Restrain

To hold back or limit.

Even though Tom was furious, he restrained his anger.

Retain

To keep or hold onto.

I use this pitcher to retain water for my herb garden.

Retaliate

To respond to an attack.

After Celia yelled at Dom, he retaliated with a counterattack.

Rousing

Exciting or stirring.

The speaker gave a rousing speech that brought the audience to its feet.

Rudimentary

Basic or simple.

The little boy only has a rudimentary understanding of math.

Sanction

To authorize or approve.

The government sanctioned the project so construction will start soon.

Sanguine

Optimistic or hopeful.

He remained sanguine despite repeated setbacks.

Saturate

To soak or fill completely.

The sponge was saturated with water.

Scorn

To look down on with disdain.

It’s difficult for me not to scorn those who use improper grammar.

Scrutinize

To examine closely.

I'm going to have my lawyer scrutinize the contract.

Secretive

Keeping things hidden.

He was secretive about his plans for Valentine's Day.

Sensitive

Easily affected or aware.

She is very sensitive to criticism.

Simulate

To imitate or replicate.

The pilot simulated an emergency landing.

Sincerity

The quality of being genuine.

His sincerity was evident in his speech.

Skeptical

Doubtful or questioning.

The teacher was skeptical of the student's claim that the dog ate her homework.

Sophisticated

Complex or refined.

The building's design was intricate and sophisticated.

Span

The extent or length of something.

The Golden Gate Bridge has a long span.

Sparingly

Insufficiently, meagerly, or in a restricted manner.

Due to my blood pressure, I must eat salt sparingly.

Speculate

To guess or theorize.

He speculated about the outcome of the soccer match.

Spurious

False or deceptive.

The claims were spurious and therefore thrown out in court.

Stark

Very plain; devoid of any details or features.

Looking out at the stark landscape, I felt a keen sense of isolation.

Strenuously

With great effort.

She strenuously denied the accusations against her.

Sturdily

Strongly or solidly.

The chair was sturdily built and had no chance of breaking.

Stymie

To hinder or block.

The restoration project was stymied by a lack of funds.

Substantial

Large or important.

Jackie made a substantial donation to her alma mater.

Subtle

Hard to detect or analyze.

The author gave a subtle hint as to who the murderer was.

Succumb

To give in or surrender.

He succumbed to the temptation to eat the entire bag of gummy bears.

Superficial

Shallow or lacking depth.

The candidate struggled to answer questions about policy because his knowledge was superficial.

Supplement

To add to something.

She supplemented her income by starting a side hustle.

Surmise

To infer or guess.

He surmised the answer based on context clues.

Surpass

To exceed or go beyond.

She surpassed expectations by winning the national spelling bee.

Surrender

To give up or yield.

The weakened army surrendered to the enemy.

Susceptible

Easily influenced or affected.

With his weakened immune system, Marcelo is susceptible to illness.

Synchronization

The process of coordinating events.

The synchronization of lights helped traffic flow.

Tentative

Uncertain or not fully decided.

Our plans are tentative and may change.

Tenuous

Weak or insubstantial.

His argument was tenuous at best.

Theoretical

Based on theory rather than practice.

The idea remains theoretical until tested.

Theory

A system of ideas intended to explain something.

Einstein's theory of relativity changed physics.

Thoughtfulness

Consideration for others.

Her thoughtfulness made her a great friend.

Tranquil

Peaceful and calm.

The lake was tranquil at sunset.

Transform

To change in form or appearance.

The caterpillar transformed into a butterfly.

Ubiquitous

Present everywhere.

Smartphones have become ubiquitous in society.

Uncontroversial

Not likely to cause disagreement.

The decision was uncontroversial and widely accepted.

Undeniable

Cannot be disputed.

Simone Biles' talent as a gymnast is undeniable.

Underscore

To emphasize.

The report underscored the importance of safety.

Unimportant

Not significant.

The details were unimportant to the main issue.

Unintended

Not planned or meant.

The side effects of the medication were unintended.

Universal

Common to all.

The desire for love is universal.

Unmistakable

Clearly recognizable.

Morgan Freeman's voice is unmistakable.

Unobtrusive

Not attracting attention.

The waitress did her best to be unobtrusive while clearing the table.

Unoriginal

Lacking originality.

His speech was unoriginal and predictable.

Unpredictable

Difficult to foresee.

The weather in winter can often be unpredictable.

Validate

To confirm the accuracy of something.

The test results validated his hypothesis.

Variable

Likely to change.

The weather is highly variable in spring.

Verisimilitude

The appearance of being true or real.

The novel’s verisimilitude made it compelling.

Veritable

Used to emphasize truth.

Einstein was a veritable genius.

Vigilance

The action of keeping careful watch.

Constant vigilance is needed for security.

Vital

Urgently necessary.

It is vital that you respond by the deadline.

Waive

To give up a right or claim voluntarily.

He waived his right to an attorney.

Warranted

Justified or necessary.

The decision was warranted by the evidence.

Widespread

Found or occurring over a large area.

The disease became widespread.

Withdraw

To remove or retreat.

She withdrew from the competition.