SAT Vocabulary Ep. 37: 10 High-Frequency Words, Definitions & Practice Quiz

SAT high-frequency vocabulary Set 37: implicit, pedantic, malevolent, ameliorate, tenable, 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.37 Words in Context - Set 37

High School Grades 10-12 10 Key Words Digital SAT

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Word List

Word	Part of Speech	Definition	SAT Context
Implicit Neutral	adjective	Implied or understood without being directly stated	"The author never directly criticizes the policy, but her disapproval is implicit in the ironic tone of the closing paragraph."
Pedantic Negative	adjective	Excessively concerned with minor details or formal rules, especially in a way that shows off knowledge	"Reviewers found the professor's footnotes pedantic, correcting minor citation formats instead of engaging with the argument itself."
Malevolent Negative	adjective	Having or showing a wish to do harm to others	"The novel's narrator gradually reveals the malevolent intentions behind the guardian's seemingly generous offer."
Ameliorate Positive	verb	To make a bad situation better or more tolerable	"City planners hoped the new drainage system would ameliorate the flooding that had plagued the neighborhood for years."
Tenable Positive	adjective	Able to be defended against objection or attack; reasonable	"Once the missing data was found, the committee agreed that the original hypothesis remained tenable after all."
Laconic Neutral	adjective	Using very few words; concise to the point of seeming curt	"Known for his laconic replies, the coach answered most questions in a single sentence, if that."
Naive Negative	adjective	Showing a lack of experience or judgment, especially through unwarranted trust	"Critics called the treaty's assumption of good faith naive, given the two nations' long history of broken agreements."
Benign Positive	adjective	Kind and gentle; not harmful	"The biopsy results confirmed the growth was benign, easing months of worry for the family."
Credulous Negative	adjective	Too willing to believe things without sufficient evidence	"The pamphlet targeted a credulous audience, presenting unverified claims as though they were established fact."
Incredulous Neutral	adjective	Unwilling or unable to believe something	"The board members were incredulous when told the entire budget had been spent in a single quarter."

Look-Alike Words

Opposite Charge · Contrast Pair

Malevolent

Having or showing a wish to do harm to others.

Benign

Kind and gentle; not harmful.

Tip: Malevolent describes intentions meant to hurt. Benign describes something harmless or kind, often used for things (like a growth) as well as people.

Opposite Charge · Contrast Pair

Credulous

Too willing to believe things without enough evidence.

Incredulous

Unwilling or unable to believe something.

Tip: These share a root but point in opposite directions - credulous believes too easily, incredulous refuses to believe at all.

Commonly Confused · Similar Function

Pedantic

Excessively focused on minor details or rules, often long-winded about them.

Laconic

Using very few words, sometimes to the point of seeming curt.

Tip: A pedantic person drowns you in unnecessary detail. A laconic person barely gives you any words at all.

Vocabulary Video

Watch - SAT Vocabulary Ep.37

Practice Quiz

SAT Vocab Ep.37 - Practice Quiz

Question 1 of 13

Her disapproval was __________ in the ironic tone of the closing paragraph, never stated outright.

Question 2 of 13

Reviewers found the footnotes __________, correcting minor citation formats instead of engaging with the argument.

Question 3 of 13

The narrator gradually reveals the __________ intentions behind the guardian's seemingly generous offer.

Question 4 of 13

City planners hoped the new drainage system would __________ the flooding that had plagued the neighborhood.

Question 5 of 13

Once the missing data was found, the committee agreed the original hypothesis remained __________.

Question 6 of 13

Known for his __________ replies, the coach answered most questions in a single sentence.

Question 7 of 13

Critics called the treaty's assumption of good faith __________, given the nations' history of broken agreements.

Question 8 of 13

The biopsy results confirmed the growth was __________, easing months of worry.

Question 9 of 13

The pamphlet targeted a __________ audience, presenting unverified claims as established fact.

Question 10 of 13

The board members were __________ when told the entire budget had been spent in a single quarter.

Question 11 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A tumor that doctors confirm poses no danger is __________, the opposite of a malevolent scheme meant to cause harm.

Question 12 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A juror who refuses to accept an alibi without solid proof is being __________, not credulous.

Question 13 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A colleague who answers 'yes' or 'no' and nothing more in every meeting is __________, distinct from one who corrects everyone's grammar at length.

out of 13 correct

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

Answer Key & Explanations

1Implicit. Disapproval never stated outright but understood from tone is exactly what implicit means.

2Pedantic. Correcting minor citation formats instead of the actual argument is exactly what pedantic describes.

3Malevolent. Intentions meant to cause harm behind a generous-seeming offer is exactly what malevolent means.

4Ameliorate. A drainage system meant to make flooding less severe is exactly what ameliorate means.

5Tenable. A hypothesis that can still be defended once missing data is found is exactly what tenable means.

6Laconic. Answering in a single sentence, if that, is exactly what laconic describes.

7Naive. Assuming good faith despite a history of broken agreements is exactly what naive means.

8Benign. A growth confirmed to pose no danger is exactly what benign means.

9Credulous. An audience expected to accept unverified claims as fact is exactly what credulous describes.

10Incredulous. Disbelief at hearing an entire budget was spent in one quarter is exactly what incredulous means.

11Benign. A harmless tumor is benign, the opposite of malevolent, which describes an intent to cause harm.

12Incredulous. Refusing to accept an alibi without proof is incredulous, distinct from credulous, which describes believing too easily.

13Laconic. Answering with just yes or no is laconic, saying very little, distinct from pedantic, which means overly detailed about rules.

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