SAT Vocabulary Ep. 6: 10 High-Frequency Words, Definitions & Practice Quiz

SAT high-frequency vocabulary Set 6: austere, benevolent, capricious, enigmatic, judicious, 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.6 Words in Context - Set 6

High School Grades 10-12 10 Key Words Digital SAT

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Word List

Word	Part of Speech	Definition	SAT Context
Austere Neutral	adjective	Plain and simple in style, without unnecessary comfort or decoration	"The professor's austere writing style stripped every sentence down to its essential facts, leaving no room for embellishment."
Benevolent Positive	adjective	Showing kindness and goodwill toward others	"The foundation's benevolent mission funded scholarships for students who could not otherwise afford college tuition."
Capricious Negative	adjective	Prone to sudden and unpredictable changes in mood or behavior	"The committee's capricious scheduling changes left students unsure which deadline would apply from one week to the next."
Enigmatic Neutral	adjective	Mysterious and difficult to fully understand or explain	"The narrator remains enigmatic throughout the novel, offering readers only fragments of a past he refuses to fully explain."
Judicious Positive	adjective	Showing good judgment and careful, sensible thinking	"A judicious editor cut only the passages that weakened the essay's argument, leaving its strongest points intact."
Lucid Positive	adjective	Clear and easy to understand; expressed with clarity	"The scientist's lucid explanation turned a complicated theory into something the entire class could follow."
Resolute Positive	adjective	Firm and determined in purpose; unwavering	"Despite three rejections, the young inventor remained resolute, certain that the fourth prototype would finally work."
Scrutinize Neutral	verb	To examine something closely and carefully	"Before publishing the study, the review board scrutinized every data point for possible errors."
Tenacious Positive	adjective	Persistent in holding firmly to a purpose or goal	"The tenacious defense attorney refused to drop the case, even after two judges suggested she settle."
Vigilant Positive	adjective	Alert and watchful for possible danger or problems	"Night-shift security guards must stay vigilant, since even a brief lapse in attention can go unnoticed for hours."

Look-Alike Words

Commonly Confused · Similar Meaning

Resolute

Firm and unwavering commitment to a decision or goal.

Tenacious

Refusing to give up, even when faced with repeated setbacks.

Tip: Resolute describes a firm mindset. Tenacious describes the sustained effort of not letting go.

Opposite Charge · Contrast Pair

Judicious

Making careful, sensible decisions based on good judgment.

Capricious

Changing decisions suddenly and unpredictably, without a clear reason.

Tip: Judicious choices are thought through. Capricious choices are impulsive and inconsistent.

Commonly Confused · Similar Function

Vigilant

Staying alert and watching closely for potential problems.

Scrutinize

Actively examining something in close detail to check it.

Tip: Vigilant is about ongoing alertness. Scrutinize is the act of inspecting something specific closely.

Vocabulary Video

Watch - SAT Vocabulary Ep.6

Practice Quiz

SAT Vocab Ep.6 - Practice Quiz

Question 1 of 13

The judge's __________ courtroom had no decorations at all, only a wooden bench and two chairs.

Question 2 of 13

The __________ donor asked that her gift remain anonymous so the school could distribute it without fanfare.

Question 3 of 13

The weather this spring has been __________, swinging from sunshine to snow within the same afternoon.

Question 4 of 13

The artist gave only an __________ answer when asked what the painting was supposed to represent.

Question 5 of 13

A __________ investor spreads money across several accounts instead of risking it all on one stock.

Question 6 of 13

Even under pressure, the pilot gave __________ instructions that the passengers could follow without confusion.

Question 7 of 13

Though her coach urged her to rest, she remained __________ about competing in the final round.

Question 8 of 13

Auditors __________ the company's expense reports line by line after the irregular charges were flagged.

Question 9 of 13

The __________ startup kept refining its product after three failed launches, refusing to shut down.

Question 10 of 13

Airport security staff must remain __________, checking every bag carefully even during quiet hours.

Question 11 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A runner who keeps training every day for a year despite injuries and setbacks is best described as __________, rather than simply resolute.

Question 12 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A manager who changes the project deadline three times in one week for no clear reason is acting __________, not judiciously.

Question 13 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A night guard who stays alert for hours, watching monitors without one specific item to check, is best described as __________, rather than someone who scrutinizes a single document.

out of 13 correct

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

Answer Key & Explanations

1Austere. A courtroom with only a bench and two chairs, stripped of any decoration, is exactly what austere, plain and simple, describes.

2Benevolent. A donor giving anonymously out of goodwill, without seeking credit, is exactly what benevolent describes.

3Capricious. Weather swinging suddenly and unpredictably from sunshine to snow in one afternoon is exactly what capricious describes.

4Enigmatic. An answer that stays mysterious and gives almost nothing away is exactly what enigmatic describes.

5Judicious. Spreading investment across several accounts instead of risking it all is a careful, sensible decision, exactly what judicious means.

6Lucid. Instructions clear enough to follow without confusion, even under pressure, are exactly what lucid describes.

7Resolute. Staying firm and determined about a decision despite pressure to change course is exactly what resolute describes.

8Scrutinized. Examining expense reports line by line after irregular charges were flagged is exactly what scrutinize means.

9Tenacious. Continuing to refine a product after repeated failed launches, refusing to give up, is exactly what tenacious describes.

10Vigilant. Staying alert and checking carefully even during quiet hours is exactly what vigilant describes.

11Tenacious. Training every day for a year through injuries and setbacks describes sustained persistence, which is tenacious, not simply a firm resolute mindset.

12Capriciously. Changing a deadline three times in one week for no clear reason is acting capriciously, the opposite of judicious.

13Vigilant. Staying alert for hours without one specific item to check describes ongoing watchfulness, which is vigilant, distinct from scrutinizing a single document.

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