SAT Challenging I Word List
291 Words
| WORD | DEFINITION | GROUPING | |
| 1 | abstemious | eating and drinking in moderation | the senses |
| 2 | accede | give in, agree | war and peace |
| 3 | acquisitive | eager to gain material possessions | money |
| 4 | acrid | pungent, bitter | the senses |
| 5 | agnostic | one who believes it's impossible to know whether or not god exists | politics and tradition |
| 6 | allay | relieve | war and peace |
| 7 | allusion, allude | indirect reference, refer indirectly | argument and language |
| 8 | amorphous | shapeless, unstructured | the senses |
| 9 | anarchist | rebel, one who opposes the idea of government | politics and tradition |
| 10 | annotate | make notes on, explain | argument and language |
| 11 | antipodal | opposite | argument and language |
| 12 | apocryphal | dubious, erroneous | truth |
| 13 | apropos | appropriate | argument and language |
| 14 | arid | dry | science |
| 15 | aspersion | disparaging remark, slander | praise and criticism |
| 16 | aural | relating to the ear, hearing | the senses |
| 17 | avocation | hobby | money |
| 18 | bane | curse | give up? |
| 19 | beguile | trick, bewitch | emotions |
| 20 | belabor | discuss repeatedly, attack physically or verbally | argument and language |
| 21 | bent (noun) | inclination | emotions |
| 22 | bereavement | grief, sorrow | emotions |
| 23 | boon | blessing | give up? |
| 24 | bravado | swagger, outward display of self-confidence | pride |
| 25 | brusque | blunt, curt | argument and language |
| 26 | bungler | someone clumsy | knowledge and skill |
| 27 | calumniate | belittle | praise and criticism |
| 28 | capitulate | surrender under agreed conditions | war and peace |
| 29 | carping | nagging, critical | praise and criticism |
| 30 | catharsis | purging or cleansing of the body or spirit | war and peace |
| 31 | chary | careful | knowledge and skill |
| 32 | circumlocution | indirect way of saying something | argument and language |
| 33 | circumspect | careful | knowledge and skill |
| 34 | complaisant | willing to please or oblige | give up? |
| 35 | complicity | participation in a crime | law and order |
| 36 | comportment | dignified manner or conduct | knowledge and skill |
| 37 | conducive | contributive, tending to bring about | science |
| 38 | conflate | combine, fuse | science |
| 39 | consecrated, consecration | sacred, holy | politics and tradition |
| 40 | consonance | harmony, agreement | friends and enemies |
| 41 | conspicuous | clearly visible, obvious | truth |
| 42 | consummate | bring to completion | law and order |
| 43 | contiguous | sharing a border | size, amount, location |
| 44 | contingency | possibility, future emergency | law and order |
| 45 | contraband | illegal trade, smuggling | law and order |
| 46 | contrite | penitent, apologetic | emotions |
| 47 | corollary | natural consequence | science |
| 48 | corpulence | obesity | the senses |
| 49 | craven | cowardly, fearful | give up? |
| 50 | decry, decried | condemn | praise and criticism |
| 51 | demagogue | a leader who manipulates emotions | truth |
| 52 | denuded | stripped, bare | the senses |
| 53 | desiccate | dry out | science |
| 54 | diatribe | critical speech | praise and criticism |
| 55 | disarming | winning favor, charming | emotions |
| 56 | disenfranchise | revoke the right to vote | law and order |
| 57 | dissembler | liar | truth |
| 58 | dissolute | lacking moral restraint | law and order |
| 59 | distend, distension | swell | size, amount, location |
| 60 | draconian | strict | law and order |
| 61 | drought | prolonged period of time with no rainfall | science |
| 62 | effrontery | excessively bold behavior, presumptuousness | pride |
| 63 | elegy | mournful poem or song | war and peace |
| 64 | emaciated | very thin | size, amount, location |
| 65 | emancipate | free from bondage or oppression | law and order |
| 66 | endemic | native to a region | size, amount, location |
| 67 | enfranchise | grant the right to vote | law and order |
| 68 | engender | produce | science |
| 69 | epidemic | spread of disease in an area | size, amount, location |
| 70 | eschew | avoid, shun | praise and criticism |
| 71 | evanescent | tending to vanish, not permanent | time |
| 72 | eventuality | possibility | truth |
| 73 | excise | remove | size, amount, location |
| 74 | excoriate | belittle | praise and criticism |
| 75 | exculpate | free from blame | law and order |
| 76 | exonerate | free from blame | law and order |
| 77 | expedite | speed up, accelerate | time |
| 78 | extemporize | impromptu, spoken or performed without preparation | time |
| 79 | facetious | humorous, playful | friends and enemies |
| 80 | fallible | capable of making mistakes, imperfect | knowledge and skill |
| 81 | feign | give a false appearance of | truth |
| 82 | finagle | achieve something by means of trickery | truth |
| 83 | flag | weaken or lessen | size, amount, location |
| 84 | flank (verb) | protect, support | war and peace |
| 85 | foil (verb) | baffle or frustrate | give up? |
| 86 | forbearance | patience | knowledge and skill |
| 87 | galvanize | stimulate, excite | energy |
| 88 | garrulous | excessively talkative, loquacious | argument and language |
| 89 | gingerly | carefully | knowledge and skill |
| 90 | glib | insincere | truth |
| 91 | goad | urge on, incite | give up? |
| 92 | grandiloquent | pompous, using pretentious language | pride |
| 93 | gratify, gratification | please, satisfy | emotions |
| 94 | gratuitous | without cause or cost | money |
| 95 | gregarious | friendly | friends and enemies |
| 96 | guile | deceit | truth |
| 97 | guileless | honest | truth |
| 98 | haranguing | ranting | praise and criticism |
| 99 | harbor (verb) | maintain, hold | war and peace |
| 100 | hedonist | someone driven by pleasure | the senses |
| 101 | heedful | careful | knowledge and skill |
| 102 | hyperbole | exaggeration | argument and language |
| 103 | iconoclast(ic) | someone who attacks traditional beliefs | politics and tradition |
| 104 | idealogue | one who theorizes and speculates | truth |
| 105 | illusory | deceptive | truth |
| 106 | imbue | permeate, soak | the senses |
| 107 | impecunious | poor | money |
| 108 | impede, impediment | hinder, restrict progress | give up? |
| 109 | impertinent | haughty | pride |
| 110 | impetus | stimulus | give up? |
| 111 | implacable | insatiable | give up? |
| 112 | impregnable | strong, invulnerable | give up? |
| 113 | impugn | attack as false or questionable | truth |
| 114 | incarnate | posessing a concrete form, be representative of | argument and language |
| 115 | incense | infuriate, make angry | emotions |
| 116 | incontrovertible | indisputable | truth |
| 117 | incorrigible | incapable of being corrected or reformed | knowledge and skill |
| 118 | indefatigable | energetic, tireless | give up? |
| 119 | indisposed | ill, unwilling | give up? |
| 120 | induction | formal entry, initiation | politics and tradition |
| 121 | inexorable | unstoppable, relentless | give up? |
| 122 | infelicity, infelicitous | unhappiness, unhappy | emotions |
| 123 | insidious | treacherous | truth |
| 124 | insolvent | bankrupt | money |
| 125 | insuperable | impossible to conquer | give up? |
| 126 | insurgent | rebel | politics and tradition |
| 127 | insurrection | rebellion against established authority | politics and tradition |
| 128 | intonation | tone | argument and language |
| 129 | intractable | stubborn, difficult to influence | pride |
| 130 | intransigent, intransigence | not yielding, uncompromising | give up? |
| 131 | irascible | easily angered | emotions |
| 132 | ireful | irate, angry | emotions |
| 133 | irresolute | undecided | knowledge and skill |
| 134 | itinerant | traveling | size, amount, location |
| 135 | juxtaposition | the act of positioning things close together | size, amount, location |
| 136 | laborious | involving hard work | give up? |
| 137 | labyrinth | complicated maze | give up? |
| 138 | lampoon | parody, satire | friends and enemies |
| 139 | lethargic | sluggish | energy |
| 140 | levity | playfulness, lightheartedness | emotions |
| 141 | libelous | slanderous, defamatory | law and order |
| 142 | licentious | lacking moral restraint | law and order |
| 143 | litigious | argumentative, disputatious | argument and language |
| 144 | localize | restrict to a particular place | size, amount, location |
| 145 | loquacious | talkative | argument and language |
| 146 | lugubrious | mournful, gloomy | emotions |
| 147 | machination | plotting, scheming | knowledge and skill |
| 148 | magisterial | commanding, authoritative | pride |
| 149 | malady | disease, ailment | war and peace |
| 150 | malign | belittle | praise and criticism |
| 151 | manifesto | public statement of opinion | argument and language |
| 152 | maverick | independent rebel | politics and tradition |
| 153 | meander | wander | knowledge and skill |
| 154 | melodrama | exaggerated emotions | emotions |
| 155 | membranous | thin and flexible, like a membrane | the senses |
| 156 | metamorphose | transform | science |
| 157 | misanthrope | one who hates or mistrusts other humans | friends and enemies |
| 158 | miscreant | villain, offender | law and order |
| 159 | misnomer | incorrect or unsuitable name | argument and language |
| 160 | mollify | appease, soothe | war and peace |
| 161 | munificent | generous | money |
| 162 | myriad | vast number, innumerable | size, amount, location |
| 163 | nadir | lowest point | war and peace |
| 164 | narcissist | conceited persion | pride |
| 165 | nettle | make worse | war and peace |
| 166 | nonpartisan | not biased | argument and language |
| 167 | nullify | render legally void | law and order |
| 168 | obfuscate | make obscure or unclear | knowledge and skill |
| 169 | oblivion | obscurity, forgetfulness | knowledge and skill |
| 170 | obsequious | suck-up | friends and enemies |
| 171 | odious | offensive, hateful | friends and enemies |
| 172 | onus | burden, responsibility | give up? |
| 173 | openhanded | generous | money |
| 174 | opportune | timely, advantageous | give up? |
| 175 | osmosis | gradual absorption | science |
| 176 | ossify | harden, become rigid | science |
| 177 | ostentatious | showy, pretentious | pride |
| 178 | ostracize | exile | politics and tradition |
| 179 | pall | grow tiresome | give up? |
| 180 | pallid | pale, wan | the senses |
| 181 | paltry | insignificant, meager | size, amount, location |
| 182 | pandemic | widespread disease | size, amount, location |
| 183 | paragon | perfect example | argument and language |
| 184 | pariah | social outcast | politics and tradition |
| 185 | parsimonious, parsimony | cheap, stingy | money |
| 186 | particularity | attentiveness to detail, individuality | knowledge and skill |
| 187 | pathos | poignancy, sympathy | emotions |
| 188 | pecunious | abundant, rich | money |
| 189 | pedagogy | related to teaching and education | knowledge and skill |
| 190 | penury | poverty | money |
| 191 | perennial | long-lasting, continual | time |
| 192 | pernicious | wicked, harmful | war and peace |
| 193 | perspicacious | wise, insightful | knowledge and skill |
| 194 | pestilence | fatal infectious disease | war and peace |
| 195 | phlegmatic | sluggish, unemotional | emotions |
| 196 | pithy | concise and full of meaning | argument and language |
| 197 | platitude | common saying | argument and language |
| 198 | platitudinous | common | politics and tradition |
| 199 | plaudit | enthusiastic praise | praise and criticism |
| 200 | plebian | common citizen | politics and tradition |
| 201 | polarize | create conflict | war and peace |
| 202 | ponderous | serious, heavy, clumsy | war and peace |
| 203 | populace | the general public | politics and tradition |
| 204 | populous | having a large population | size, amount, location |
| 205 | predilection | preference, partiality | emotions |
| 206 | premonition | a feeling of evil to come, foreboding | time |
| 207 | prescient | psychic | time |
| 208 | presumption | assumption | argument and language |
| 209 | presumptive | probable, likely | truth |
| 210 | pretense, pretension | doubtful claim | truth |
| 211 | prodigal | recklessly wasteful or extravagant | money |
| 212 | profane | irreverent, showing disrespect for religion | politics and tradition |
| 213 | profligate | recklessly wasteful or extravagant | money |
| 214 | propitiate | appease, make peace with | war and peace |
| 215 | prostrate | lying face downwards, exhausted | energy |
| 216 | pugnacious | aggressive, beliigerent | war and peace |
| 217 | quandary | a state of doubt or uncertainty | give up? |
| 218 | quiescent | quiet, inactive | energy |
| 219 | rarefy | make thin or less compact | size, amount, location |
| 220 | rebuff | reject | war and peace |
| 221 | recourse | the act of turning to someone/something for assistance | friends and enemies |
| 222 | recrimination | to accuse in return | law and order |
| 223 | remission | reduction, pardon | law and order |
| 224 | renegade | someone who deserts a cause | politics and tradition |
| 225 | replete | abundantly supplied | size, amount, location |
| 226 | reprieve | relief, pardon | law and order |
| 227 | reprove | criticize, admonish | praise and criticism |
| 228 | respite | short interval or rest or relief | energy |
| 229 | resplendent | splendid, dazzling | emotions |
| 230 | resurgent | rise again | energy |
| 231 | rhapsodize | narrate or say with great enthusiasm | argument and language |
| 232 | saccharine | overly sweet | emotions |
| 233 | sacrilegious | disrespecting something sacred | politics and tradition |
| 234 | sacrosanct | sacred | politics and tradition |
| 235 | salutary | favorable to heath, beneficial | science |
| 236 | sardonic | scornfully mocking | praise and criticism |
| 237 | scour | clean by scrubbing vigorously | give up? |
| 238 | seclusion | privacy, isolation | size, amount, location |
| 239 | seditious | provoking rebellion against established authority | politics and tradition |
| 240 | sedulous | diligent, assiduous | give up? |
| 241 | sermonize | preach, express moral judgment | knowledge and skill |
| 242 | skinflinty | cheap | money |
| 243 | skirt (verb) | evade | give up? |
| 244 | sleight | dexterity | knowledge and skill |
| 245 | slovenly | untidy, careless | knowledge and skill |
| 246 | solemnize | perform a formal ceremony, make serious or grave | politics and tradition |
| 247 | sovereign | self-governing, independent | politics and tradition |
| 248 | spareness | the state of being sparse or scanty | size, amount, location |
| 249 | specious | seemingly reasonable but incorrect | argument and language |
| 250 | sportive | playful | energy |
| 251 | stalwart | courageous | give up? |
| 252 | stipulate | specify as a condition of an agreement | law and order |
| 253 | stoic | someone indifferent to pain or pleasure | emotions |
| 254 | stolid | showing no emotion or interest | emotions |
| 255 | stratified | layered, hierarchical | size, amount, location |
| 256 | stymie | obstruct | give up? |
| 257 | subjugate | conquer | war and peace |
| 258 | supposition | hypothesis | argument and language |
| 259 | surreptitious | secretive | truth |
| 260 | swoon | faint | emotions |
| 261 | synchrony | coincidence in time | time |
| 262 | synergy, synergistic | cooperative action that produces an enhanced result | friends and enemies |
| 263 | tacit | implied, not spoken | argument and language |
| 264 | taciturn | silent, uncommunicative | argument and language |
| 265 | tandem | conjunction, cooperation | friends and enemies |
| 266 | tantamount | equivalent | argument and language |
| 267 | tawdry | cheap, gaudy | money |
| 268 | tempestuous | stormy | emotions |
| 269 | tight-fisted | cheap | money |
| 270 | timorous | apprehensive, timid | emotions |
| 271 | titillating | exciting | energy |
| 272 | treacly | overly sweet or sentimental | emotions |
| 273 | tremulous | timid, fearful | emotions |
| 274 | trenchant | scathing, clear, effective | argument and language |
| 275 | trove | a collection of valuable items | money |
| 276 | unassuming | modest, not arrogant | pride |
| 277 | undefiled | immaculate, pure | the senses |
| 278 | unsightly | ugly | the senses |
| 279 | upbraid | belittle | praise and criticism |
| 280 | valorous | courageous | give up? |
| 281 | venerate | to view with great respect | knowledge and skill |
| 282 | verity | truth | truth |
| 283 | verve | flamboyant style | the senses |
| 284 | vignette | sketch, description | argument and language |
| 285 | vilify | spread negative information about, defame | praise and criticism |
| 286 | vitriolic | bitter, destructive | war and peace |
| 287 | vituperative | bitterly abusive | war and peace |
| 288 | voluble | talking easily and at length | argument and language |
| 289 | winnow | sorting, filtering | size, amount, location |
| 290 | witticism | witty remark | argument and language |
| 291 | zenith | highest point | size, amount, location |