SAT Vocabulary · Level 2

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.

Practice this set for free — no account needed. Loads 12 flashcards into the learner.

How to study this set

Group these by feeling — words like "staunch" and "stringent" carry a firmness; "subtle" and "tedious" carry the opposite energy.

showy, designed to impress others

ostentatious

His ostentatious display of wealth made others uncomfortable.

never ending, continuing forever

perpetual

The city seemed to exist in a state of perpetual construction.

acting with care and good judgment, especially about money or risk

prudent

It was a prudent decision to save part of the bonus.

unnecessarily repetitive

redundant

The final paragraph was redundant, repeating the introduction.

reluctant to speak about one’s thoughts or feelings

reticent

He was reticent about his plans for the future.

having doubts, not easily convinced

skeptical

The scientists were skeptical of the surprising results.

to form a theory or guess without firm evidence

speculate

Analysts speculated about the reasons for the delay.

firm and loyal in support of something

staunch

She remained a staunch supporter of the reform.

strict, precise, and demanding of exact compliance

stringent

The lab enforces stringent safety standards.

not obvious, delicate or precise in a way that is hard to notice

subtle

There was a subtle change in her tone.

long, slow and boring

tedious

Filling out the forms was a tedious process.

likely to change suddenly and unpredictably

volatile

The stock market has been volatile this quarter.

Next: Level 3, "More Essential Words" — the last tier before you’ve covered the highest-value SAT vocabulary.