Challenging Words
These 12 words are less common but show up in the passages and answer choices that separate a good score from a great one.
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Group these by feeling — words like "staunch" and "stringent" carry a firmness; "subtle" and "tedious" carry the opposite energy.
All 12 flashcards
Swap question and answerostentatious
showy, designed to impress others
His ostentatious display of wealth made others uncomfortable.
perpetual
never ending, continuing forever
The city seemed to exist in a state of perpetual construction.
prudent
acting with care and good judgment, especially about money or risk
It was a prudent decision to save part of the bonus.
redundant
unnecessarily repetitive
The final paragraph was redundant, repeating the introduction.
reticent
reluctant to speak about one’s thoughts or feelings
He was reticent about his plans for the future.
skeptical
having doubts, not easily convinced
The scientists were skeptical of the surprising results.
speculate
to form a theory or guess without firm evidence
Analysts speculated about the reasons for the delay.
staunch
firm and loyal in support of something
She remained a staunch supporter of the reform.
stringent
strict, precise, and demanding of exact compliance
The lab enforces stringent safety standards.
subtle
not obvious, delicate or precise in a way that is hard to notice
There was a subtle change in her tone.
tedious
long, slow and boring
Filling out the forms was a tedious process.
volatile
likely to change suddenly and unpredictably
The stock market has been volatile this quarter.
What to learn next
Next: Level 3, "More Essential Words" — the last tier before you’ve covered the highest-value SAT vocabulary.
Continue to Level 3: More Essential Words →