SAT Vocabulary Ep. 15: 10 High-Frequency Words, Definitions & Practice Quiz

SAT high-frequency vocabulary Set 15: adept, ardent, congenial, fervent, impasse, and 5 more words with definitions, look-alike word pairs, and a 13-question practice quiz.

CRAMBOOKNOTES SAT Vocab Series

SAT High-Frequency Vocabulary

Ep.15 Words in Context - Set 15

High School Grades 10-12 10 Key Words Digital SAT

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Word List

Word	Part of Speech	Definition	SAT Context
Adept Positive	adjective	Very skilled or proficient at something	"After years of practice, the young violinist had become remarkably adept at sight-reading even the most difficult scores."
Ardent Positive	adjective	Full of passionate enthusiasm or intense devotion	"The novel's ardent narrator describes his devotion to the cause in nearly every chapter, often at the expense of the plot."
Congenial Positive	adjective	Pleasant and friendly; agreeable to one's nature or tastes	"The two rival scientists maintained a surprisingly congenial relationship, exchanging notes even as they competed for the same grant."
Fervent Positive	adjective	Having or showing great passion or intensity for a belief or cause	"Her fervent belief in the project kept the team motivated through nearly a year of setbacks and funding delays."
Impasse Negative	noun	A situation in which no progress is possible; a deadlock	"Negotiations reached an impasse after both sides refused to compromise on the proposed budget cuts."
Jaded Negative	adjective	Tired, bored, or lacking enthusiasm, typically from having too much of something	"After a decade of covering the same political disputes, the reporter had grown jaded, expecting little real change from any new promise."
Lament Negative	verb	To express deep sorrow or regret about something	"Historians often lament the loss of the ancient library, noting how much knowledge likely vanished with it."
Onerous Negative	adjective	Involving heavy demands; burdensome	"The new reporting requirements proved so onerous that several small businesses hired extra staff just to keep up."
Placid Positive	adjective	Calm and peaceful, without much disturbance or excitement	"The lake's placid surface gave no hint of the strong currents moving just beneath it."
Turbulent Negative	adjective	Marked by conflict, disorder, or sudden change	"The country's turbulent political history made it difficult for historians to identify a single, stable period of governance."

Look-Alike Words

Opposite Charge · Contrast Pair

Turbulent

Marked by conflict, disorder, or sudden, unpredictable change.

Placid

Calm and peaceful, without much disturbance.

Tip: Turbulent describes chaos and instability. Placid describes calm and steadiness.

Commonly Confused · Similar Meaning

Fervent

Showing great passion or intensity for a belief or cause.

Ardent

Full of passionate enthusiasm or intense devotion.

Tip: Fervent and ardent both describe strong passion - fervent leans toward intensity of feeling, ardent toward devoted enthusiasm.

Commonly Confused · Similar Function

Impasse

A situation where no progress can be made; a standstill.

Onerous

Involving heavy demands; difficult to carry out.

Tip: An impasse blocks progress entirely. Something onerous can still be done, but only with a heavy, exhausting effort.

Vocabulary Video

Watch - SAT Vocabulary Ep.15

Practice Quiz

SAT Vocab Ep.15 - Practice Quiz

Question 1 of 13

After years of practice, she became __________ at translating complex documents on short notice.

Question 2 of 13

He remained an __________ supporter of the theater program, donating every year without fail.

Question 3 of 13

Despite competing for the same promotion, the two coworkers kept things __________ and never let it affect their friendship.

Question 4 of 13

Her __________ commitment to the recycling program inspired the whole office to change its habits.

Question 5 of 13

The two departments reached an __________ over who would cover the cost of the new equipment.

Question 6 of 13

After reviewing hundreds of nearly identical applications, the hiring manager admitted she'd become a bit __________.

Question 7 of 13

Fans continued to __________ the team's decision to trade their star player just before the finals.

Question 8 of 13

The paperwork required to renew the permit turned out to be far more __________ than the clinic had expected.

Question 9 of 13

Unlike the chaotic city streets below, the rooftop garden felt __________ and quiet.

Question 10 of 13

The company's __________ first few years were marked by three changes in leadership and two failed product launches.

Question 11 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A pond so still that not a single ripple disturbs its surface is best described as __________, not turbulent.

Question 12 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A fan who paints his face and never misses a single game for twenty straight seasons could be described as either fervent or __________ about his team.

Question 13 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A committee that has been arguing over the same unresolved issue for six months without any progress has reached an __________, rather than simply facing an onerous task.

out of 13 correct

Full explanations for every question appear below after you check your answers.

Answer Key & Explanations

1Adept. Becoming very skilled at translating complex documents on short notice is exactly what adept describes.

2Ardent. Donating every year without fail out of passionate devotion is exactly what ardent describes.

3Congenial. Keeping a friendly, agreeable relationship despite competing for the same promotion is exactly what congenial describes.

4Fervent. A commitment intense enough to inspire an entire office to change its habits is exactly what fervent describes.

5Impasse. Two departments reaching a complete deadlock over who pays for equipment is exactly what impasse means.

6Jaded. Growing tired and unenthusiastic after reviewing hundreds of nearly identical applications is exactly what jaded describes.

7Lament. Continuing to express sorrow over a trade made just before the finals is exactly what lament means.

8Onerous. Paperwork far more burdensome than a clinic expected is exactly what onerous describes.

9Placid. A rooftop garden that feels calm and undisturbed, unlike the chaos below, is exactly what placid describes.

10Turbulent. Years marked by three leadership changes and two failed launches are exactly what turbulent describes.

11Placid. A pond so still that no ripple disturbs it is placid, calm and undisturbed, the opposite of turbulent.

12Ardent. A fan who paints his face and never misses a game for twenty seasons could be described as ardent, showing intense devoted enthusiasm, alongside fervent.

13Impasse. A committee stuck on the same unresolved issue for six months without progress has reached an impasse, a deadlock, distinct from facing a merely onerous task.

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