SAT Vocabulary Ep. 9: 10 High-Frequency Words, Definitions & Practice Quiz

CRAMBOOKNOTES SAT Vocab Series

SAT High-Frequency Vocabulary

Ep.9 Words in Context - Set 9

High School Grades 10-12 10 Key Words Digital SAT

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Word List

Word	Part of Speech	Definition	SAT Context
Compelling Positive	adjective	So interesting or convincing that it holds your attention completely	"The lawyer presented a compelling case, weaving together testimony and physical evidence that left the jury little room for doubt."
Contrive Neutral	verb	To plan or create something cleverly, often through resourceful effort	"Desperate to meet the deadline, the team contrived a workaround using equipment the lab never intended for that purpose."
Deviate Neutral	verb	To depart from an established course, standard, or expectation	"The pilot was forced to deviate from the planned flight path after receiving a storm warning."
Explicit Neutral	adjective	Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion	"The contract's explicit terms left no ambiguity about which party was responsible for repairs."
Fallacy Negative	noun	A mistaken belief based on flawed or unsound reasoning	"The debate coach warned students against relying on a common fallacy: assuming that because two events occurred together, one must have caused the other."
Illicit Negative	adjective	Not permitted by law or custom; forbidden	"Investigators uncovered an illicit trade network operating out of the abandoned warehouse."
Mundane Neutral	adjective	Lacking excitement; ordinary and commonplace	"Beneath the novel's mundane setting of a small-town laundromat, the author explores surprisingly large questions about grief and memory."
Perpetuate Negative	verb	To make something continue indefinitely	"Critics argued that the outdated textbook continued to perpetuate stereotypes the school district had long tried to remove from its curriculum."
Sanction Positive	verb	To officially approve or permit something	"The international committee voted to sanction the new trade agreement after months of negotiation."
Tangible Positive	adjective	Able to be touched or clearly perceived; real and definite	"Investors wanted tangible proof of the company's growth, not just optimistic projections."

Look-Alike Words

Commonly Confused · Similar Spelling

Explicit

Stated clearly and directly, with nothing left vague or implied.

Illicit

Not allowed by law or rule; forbidden.

Tip: Explicit and illicit look and sound alike but mean very different things - explicit is about clarity, illicit is about being against the rules.

Opposite Charge · Contrast Pair

Mundane

Ordinary and unremarkable; part of everyday routine.

Compelling

So interesting or convincing that it captures full attention.

Tip: Mundane describes something forgettable. Compelling describes something that pulls you in and holds your focus.

Commonly Confused · Similar Function

Contrive

To cleverly devise or engineer something, often through effort or scheming.

Perpetuate

To cause something to continue without end.

Tip: Contrive is about actively creating something new. Perpetuate is about keeping something already existing going.

Vocabulary Video

Watch - SAT Vocabulary Ep.9

Practice Quiz

SAT Vocab Ep.9 - Practice Quiz

Question 1 of 13

The prosecutor's __________ closing argument left almost no room for reasonable doubt.

Question 2 of 13

With no proper tools available, the campers __________ a makeshift shelter out of branches and a tarp.

Question 3 of 13

The new manager rarely __________ from the standard procedure, even when a shortcut seemed obvious.

Question 4 of 13

The recipe's __________ measurements left no guesswork for first-time bakers.

Question 5 of 13

It is a common __________ to assume that a more expensive product is automatically higher quality.

Question 6 of 13

Customs officers seized a shipment suspected of containing __________ goods.

Question 7 of 13

The artist found beauty in __________ objects, painting grocery lists and worn kitchen tools.

Question 8 of 13

Critics warned that ignoring the issue would only __________ the same problems for the next generation.

Question 9 of 13

After a lengthy review, the board voted to __________ the merger between the two companies.

Question 10 of 13

Donors wanted to see __________ results before committing to another year of funding.

Question 11 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A store selling counterfeit designer bags out of a hidden back room is running an __________ operation, not simply an explicit one.

Question 12 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A true-crime podcast that keeps listeners hooked episode after episode is best described as __________, rather than mundane.

Question 13 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A textbook that keeps repeating an outdated, disproven claim edition after edition is best described as perpetuating the error, rather than __________ it.

out of 13 correct

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