SAT Vocabulary Ep. 1: 10 High-Frequency Words with Definitions & Practice Quiz

CRAMBOOKNOTES SAT Vocab Series

SAT High-Frequency Vocabulary

Ep.1 Words in Context - Set 1

High School Grades 10-12 10 Key Words Digital SAT

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Word List

Word	Part of Speech	Definition	SAT Context
Ambiguous Negative	adjective	Having more than one possible meaning; unclear or open to interpretation	"The committee's report was criticized as ambiguous, since its wording allowed for at least three conflicting interpretations of the new policy."
Corroborate Positive	verb	To confirm or give supporting evidence for a claim	"The geologist's field samples corroborated the team's earlier hypothesis about the volcano's eruption history."
Contentious Negative	adjective	Likely to cause disagreement; controversial	"The proposal to reroute the river became a contentious issue, dividing residents into sharply opposed camps."
Pragmatic Positive	adjective	Dealing with things sensibly and realistically rather than theoretically	"Rather than pursuing an idealistic but costly redesign, the engineers adopted a pragmatic solution using existing materials."
Eloquent Positive	adjective	Fluent and persuasive in speaking or writing	"The senator's eloquent testimony swayed several undecided committee members before the final vote."
Tenuous Negative	adjective	Very weak or slight; lacking a firm basis	"Critics argued that the study's conclusions rested on a tenuous connection between two unrelated data sets."
Ubiquitous Neutral	adjective	Present, appearing, or found everywhere	"Smartphones have become so ubiquitous in classrooms that some districts now require students to store them during exams."
Exacerbate Negative	verb	To make a problem or situation worse	"Heavy rainfall exacerbated the region's existing drainage problems, flooding streets that rarely saw standing water."
Substantiate Positive	verb	To provide evidence establishing that something is true or valid	"The researchers were unable to substantiate their initial claim after a second round of trials produced inconsistent results."
Mitigate Positive	verb	To make less severe, serious, or painful	"City planners hoped the new wetlands would mitigate the flooding that had plagued downtown for a decade."

Look-Alike Words

Commonly Confused · Similar Meaning

Corroborate

To confirm a claim using additional, often independent, evidence or testimony.

Substantiate

To provide evidence that establishes something is true or valid in the first place.

Tip: Corroborate usually means a second source backs up an existing claim. Substantiate means proving a claim is valid at all.

Opposite Charge · Contrast Pair

Exacerbate

To make a problem worse or more severe.

Mitigate

To make a problem less severe.

Tip: These two are near opposites. If a sentence describes something getting better, mitigate fits; if worse, exacerbate fits.

Commonly Confused · Similar Spelling

Ambiguous

Unclear; open to more than one interpretation.

Ubiquitous

Found everywhere; widely present.

Tip: Both end in "-uous" and are frequently mixed up on test day, but the meanings are unrelated. Ambiguous = unclear. Ubiquitous = everywhere.

Vocabulary Video

Watch - SAT Vocabulary Ep.1

Practice Quiz

SAT Vocab Ep.1 - Practice Quiz

Question 1 of 13

The survey question was so __________ that respondents interpreted it in at least three different ways.

Question 2 of 13

A second, independently conducted experiment helped __________ the original findings.

Question 3 of 13

The zoning proposal quickly became __________, splitting the town council into opposing factions.

Question 4 of 13

Instead of waiting for a perfect solution, the team took a __________ approach and used the materials already on hand.

Question 5 of 13

Her __________ closing statement left the jury visibly moved.

Question 6 of 13

The link between the two variables turned out to be __________ at best, and further testing failed to strengthen it.

Question 7 of 13

Streaming services are now __________, available on nearly every household device.

Question 8 of 13

The delayed shipment only served to __________ tensions between the two companies.

Question 9 of 13

Without additional data, the researchers could not __________ their initial hypothesis.

Question 10 of 13

The new drainage system was designed to __________ flooding during the rainy season.

Question 11 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A second lab confirmed the results of the first using entirely new equipment. This is best described as the second lab helping to __________ the findings, since it adds independent supporting evidence.

Question 12 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A team gathers the first piece of evidence ever offered for a brand-new claim. This action is best described as an attempt to __________ the claim.

Question 13 of 13

Look-Alike Check: Two words end in "-uous" and are often mixed up despite having unrelated meanings - one means "unclear" and the other means "found everywhere." These words are __________.

out of 13 correct

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