SAT Vocabulary Ep. 3: 10 High-Frequency Words, Definitions & Practice Quiz

CRAMBOOKNOTES SAT Vocab Series

SAT High-Frequency Vocabulary

Ep.3 Words in Context - Set 3

High School Grades 10-12 10 Key Words Digital SAT

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Word List

Word	Part of Speech	Definition	SAT Context
Ephemeral Negative	adjective	Lasting for a very short time; fleeting	"The exhibit featured ephemeral ice sculptures that were built to melt away within hours of the opening reception."
Pervasive Neutral	adjective	Spreading widely throughout an area or group of people	"The report described a pervasive sense of uncertainty among small business owners following the policy announcement."
Skeptical Negative	adjective	Having doubts or reservations; not easily convinced	"Reviewers remained skeptical of the company's projections, noting that similar forecasts had missed the mark before."
Novel Positive	adjective	New and original; not previously known or used	"The researchers proposed a novel method for measuring soil erosion that required no specialized equipment."
Candid Positive	adjective	Truthful and straightforward; frank	"In a candid interview, the former executive admitted that the merger had been rushed for financial reasons."
Discerning Positive	adjective	Showing good judgment, especially in matters of taste or quality	"A discerning reader will notice the subtle shift in tone halfway through the essay."
Redundant Negative	adjective	Not needed or wanted; unnecessarily repetitive	"The editor cut three redundant sentences that repeated the same point made earlier in the paragraph."
Superfluous Negative	adjective	Unnecessary, especially through being more than what is needed	"The committee removed several superfluous requirements that had made the application process needlessly long."
Meticulous Positive	adjective	Showing great attention to detail; extremely careful and precise	"The archivist kept meticulous records of every document that passed through the collection."
Arbitrary Negative	adjective	Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than reason or system	"Critics argued that the cutoff score was arbitrary, since it was not tied to any measurable standard."

Look-Alike Words

Commonly Confused · Similar Meaning

Redundant

Describes information that repeats something already said, without adding anything new.

Superfluous

Describes anything extra that goes beyond what is needed, not just repeated wording.

Tip: Redundant usually points to repeated wording or information. Superfluous is broader, covering any unnecessary extra, repeated or not.

Opposite Charge · Contrast Pair

Meticulous

Careful and precise, with close attention to every detail.

Arbitrary

Based on random choice or whim, without any clear reasoning.

Tip: Meticulous choices are made with careful reasoning. Arbitrary choices are made without any clear reasoning at all.

Commonly Confused · Similar Function

Discerning

Judging quality, taste, or truth carefully and accurately.

Skeptical

Doubting a claim, without necessarily having judged it accurately yet.

Tip: A discerning person judges accurately. A skeptical person simply doubts, whether or not the doubt turns out to be justified.

Vocabulary Video

Watch - SAT Vocabulary Ep.3

Practice Quiz

SAT Vocab Ep.3 - Practice Quiz

Question 1 of 13

The art installation was intentionally __________, existing for only a single weekend before being dismantled.

Question 2 of 13

Doubts about the new policy became __________ across the entire department within a matter of days.

Question 3 of 13

Investors remained __________ about the startup's revenue claims until an independent audit was completed.

Question 4 of 13

The engineer's __________ design solved a problem that traditional methods had never fully addressed.

Question 5 of 13

In a surprisingly __________ statement, the CEO admitted the product launch had been mismanaged.

Question 6 of 13

A __________ shopper compared unit prices instead of simply choosing the largest package.

Question 7 of 13

The instructions contained several __________ steps that repeated directions already given earlier in the manual.

Question 8 of 13

Once the budget was tightened, the manager eliminated every __________ expense from the proposal.

Question 9 of 13

The technician's __________ inspection caught a wiring flaw that earlier reviewers had missed.

Question 10 of 13

Employees complained that the new dress code seemed __________, since no explanation was given for the rules.

Question 11 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A report repeats the exact same statistic in two different paragraphs without adding anything new. This repeated statistic is best described as __________.

Question 12 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A judge assigns sentences using a fixed, detailed formula that accounts for every factor of a case. This approach is best described as __________, not arbitrary.

Question 13 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A critic immediately doubts a restaurant's five-star reviews without yet having tasted the food. This reaction is best described as __________, rather than discerning.

out of 13 correct

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