The Only Digital SAT Vocab List You'll Need (2025 Update): What This Question Tests

This example shows how The Only Digital SAT Vocab List You'll Need (2025 Update) works in practice. You must connect the wording of the sentence to the logic of the answer choices. Before picking an answer, focus on the rule being tested, the clue words in the sentence, and the reason the correct option fits better than the traps.

Digital SAT Vocabulary: The Complete 2025 Study List

Updated: August 22, 2025

Since the SAT went digital, students often ask whether vocabulary still matters. The short answer: yes. A solid vocabulary directly boosts your Reading and Writing score. The real challenge is knowing which words to study.

Skip the old "1000 SAT words" lists. You need words that actually show up on the current test. This list covers every key vocabulary word confirmed on the Digital SAT from January 2023 through the 2025 test dates. Think of this as The Only Digital SAT Vocab List You'll Need (2025 Update).

The Digital SAT Master Vocabulary List

This table is your reference for building a test-winning vocabulary. Bookmark this page and return to it often throughout your prep.

Word	Definition
Abstain	To choose not to do something, especially something one might be tempted to do.
Abundant*	Existing or available in large quantities; plentiful.
Accentuate*	To emphasize or highlight something, making it more prominent or noticeable.
Accrete	To grow or increase by gradual addition.
Accumulate	To gather or collect something gradually over time.
Adept	Very skilled or proficient at something.
Adroit	Clever or skillful.
Affecting	Having an influence on or causing a change in something.
Affinity for	A natural liking or attraction towards something or someone.
Aggrandize	To increase the power, status, or wealth of something or someone.
Ambiguous*	Open to more than one interpretation; not having one obvious meaning.
Ambidextrous	Able to use both hands equally well; versatile.
Ambivalent	Having mixed feelings about someone or something; being unsure.
Ameliorate	To make something better or improve a situation.
Amorphous*	Lacking a clear structure or focus; formless.
Amplify	To increase the volume of sound or to make something more intense or stronger.
Analogous	Comparable in certain respects, typically in a way that makes clearer the nature of the things compared.
Animosities toward	Strong feelings of dislike or hostility directed towards someone or something.
Anomalous	Deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected; irregular or unusual.
Antagonist	A person or thing that opposes or competes with another; an adversary.
Aperture	An opening, hole, or gap.
Appeasement	The action or process of satisfying the demands of a potentially hostile person or group to maintain peace.
Appraising	Assessing the value or quality of something.
Arcane	Understood by few; mysterious or secret.
Arduous*	Involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.
Assuage	To make an unpleasant feeling less intense; to relieve or soothe.
Augment*	To make something greater by adding to it; to increase in size, quantity, or degree.
Austere	Severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance; having a simple and plain style.
Banal	Lacking originality or freshness; trite and commonplace.
Behold*	To see or observe something, often with a sense of wonder or amazement.
Bemused	Confused or bewildered; deeply absorbed in thought.
Benevolent*	Kindly and well-meaning; expressing goodwill or charitable intentions.
Benign	Gentle and kind; not harmful.
Biased	Showing prejudice or favoritism toward a particular person, group, or idea.
Blender	A kitchen appliance used for mixing, puréeing, or emulsifying food and other substances.
Blend	Mix, coalesce, fuse, merge, mingle.
Buttress*	To support or strengthen, often with external support.
Calibrate	To adjust or standardize a measuring instrument or device to ensure accuracy.
Cited	Mentioned as an example or piece of evidence.
Circumvent	To find a way around an obstacle or to overcome a problem in a clever and surreptitious way.
Classification	Systematic arrangement in groups or categories according to established criteria.
Clichéd	Overused and lacking in originality.
Clumsily	In a manner lacking skill, precision, or grace.
Coalesce*	To come together to form a single group or mass; to merge or unite.
Coarse	Rough or harsh in texture; lacking refinement or delicacy.
Coarseness	The quality of being rough or crude in texture or behavior.
Coincided with	Occurred at the same time as; happened simultaneously with.
Collaboration with	Working together.
Colloquialism	An informal word or expression more suitable for speech than formal writing.
Commonwith	Shared by many people.
Comparison	An examination of two or more things to see how they are alike or different.
Conflate with	To combine two or more separate things, especially pieces of text, to form a whole.
Confound	To cause surprise or confusion in someone, especially by not acting according to their expectations.
Congruence	Agreement or harmony; compatibility.
Conjecture	An opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information.
Consensus	General agreement among a group of people.
Consequences	The effects or outcomes of an action or situation.
Conspicuous	Easily noticeable or visible; attracting attention.
Constrain	To severely restrict in scope, extent, or activity.
Constrict*	To make narrower, especially by encircling pressure.
Contentious	Causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.
Contingent to	Dependent on certain conditions or circumstances.
Continuity	The consistency of parts of a story or elements in a series across different episodes.
Conventional*	Following established customs or practices; typical and ordinary.
Convening*	The act of coming together for a meeting or assembly.
Convey*	To communicate or express in a way that is easily understood; to transport or transmit.
Copious*	Abundant in supply or quantity.
Corollary	A direct or natural consequence or result.
Corroborate*	To confirm or give support to a statement, theory, or finding.
Counteract*	To oppose or neutralize the effects of something by taking contrary or opposing actions.
Counterfactual	Relating to or expressing what has not happened or is not the case.
Counterproductive	Having the opposite of the desired effect.
Credible	Able to be believed; convincing.
Customary	According to the customs or usual practices.
Cynical	Distrustful or pessimistic about the motives of others.
Decisive	Settling an issue; producing a definite result.
Define	To explain or describe the precise meaning of something.
Defunct	No longer existing or functioning.
Defy	To openly resist or refuse to obey.
Deliberation	Careful consideration or discussion before making a decision.
Delicate	Easily broken or damaged; fragile.
Demarcation	The action of fixing the boundary or limits of something; a dividing line.
Denigrate	To criticize unfairly; to disparage.
Denounce	To publicly declare something to be wrong or evil.
Deserve	Earn or merit.
Designate	To officially assign a specified status or name to something or someone.
Desultory	Lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm.
Detract	To diminish or take away from the value, importance, or quality of something.
Dignify	To make something seem worthy and impressive.
Discount	A reduction in the usual price of something.
Discrepancy	A lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more facts.
Discrepant	Inconsistent; conflicting; at variance.
Discretion	The freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation.
Disparage*	To regard or represent as being of little worth.
Dispersed*	Scattered or spread over a wide area.
Dispute	A disagreement, argument, or controversy.
Disregard	To ignore or not allow something to influence you.
Diverge*	To separate and go in different directions.
Dogmatic	Asserting opinions or beliefs as if they were indisputable facts.
Efficacy	The ability to produce a desired or intended result.
Emulate	To imitate or strive to equal or surpass.
Engender*	To cause or give rise to a particular feeling, situation, or condition.
Enumerate	To count out or list one by one.
Entail	To involve (something) as a necessary or inevitable part or consequence.
Equitable	Fair and just, ensuring that everyone is treated equally.
Equivocal*	Open to interpretation; having multiple possible meanings.
Erratic	Unpredictable; not following a regular pattern.
Esteem	Respect and admiration, typically for a person.
Evident	Clear; easily seen or understood.
Evince	To display or demonstrate something clearly or convincingly.
Exactitude	Precision and accuracy in details.
Exaggerate	To describe something as larger or greater than it actually is.
Exhaustive	Including or considering all elements or aspects; thorough.
Exorbitant	Going beyond the limits of what is fair, reasonable, or expected.
Exploiting	Making use of a situation or resource in a way considered unfair or unethical.
Extrapolate	To estimate or forecast based on existing data or trends.
Familiarize	To make oneself or someone else familiar with something.
Feasible	Possible to do and likely to be successful.
Fled	Ran away from danger or from something frightening.
Forestall	To prevent by acting ahead of time.
Fragile	Easily broken or damaged; delicate.
Fraudulent	Intended to deceive, typically for personal gain.
Gaining on	Making progress or catching up with someone or something.
Gauche	Awkward, crude.
Gratuitous	Uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted.
Haphazard	Lacking any obvious principle of organization.
Heretofore	Up to this time; until now.
Hesitancy about	A state of indecision or reluctance.
Heterodox	Contrary to or differing from established beliefs or accepted doctrines.
Heterogeneous	Diverse in character or content.
Hew out	To cut or shape by cutting, especially with an ax or chisel.
Homogeneous	Having the same or similar characteristics throughout.
Hypothetical	Based on or involving a hypothesis; supposed but not necessarily real or true.
Idealize	To regard or represent something as perfect or ideal, often unrealistically.
Idiosyncratic	Peculiar or unique to an individual; having distinctive characteristics or habits.
Illicit	Forbidden by law, rules, or custom.
Illuminate	To light up or make clear.
Impart	Make known, pass on, convey, transmit.
Impedius	Hinder or obstruct. (Note: Likely a misspelling of 'impede'.)
Imperative*	Of vital importance; crucial.
Implicit	Implied or understood without being directly expressed; inherent.
Imposing	Having a striking appearance or commanding presence.
Improve on	Make better.
Incident	An event or occurrence.
Incongruous*	Not in harmony or not fitting within a particular context; out of place.
Inconsequential*	Lacking importance or significance; trivial or unimportant.
Indication of	A sign or signal that suggests the presence or existence of something.
Individualistic	Independent and self-reliant; not conforming to a group.
Indistinct	Not clearly defined or distinguishable.
Indoctrinate	To teach a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically.
Induce	To bring about or stimulate a particular response or action.
Indulgently	In a manner that is excessively lenient or permissive.
Ineluctable	Inevitable, unable to be avoided or escaped.
Ineffectual	Not producing the desired effect.
Inextricable from	Impossible to disentangle or separate from.
Influenced	Having an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something.
Ingenious	Cleverly inventive or resourceful; marked by originality and creativity.
Innovation	The introduction of new ideas, methods, or devices.
Insuperable*	Impossible to overcome or surpass; insurmountable.
Intercede	To intervene on behalf of another person; to mediate or plead.
Interdependent*	Mutually reliant on each other; interconnected.
Interpretation	The action of explaining the meaning of something.
Intrinsic	Belonging naturally; essential.
Invaluable	Extremely useful; indispensable.
Irrefutable*	Impossible to deny or disprove; indisputable.
Irreplaceable	Impossible to replace or substitute, typically because of unique qualities or value.
Irreproachable	Beyond criticism or fault; perfect or faultless in behavior or actions.
Jointly	Together, in collaboration.
Juxtapose	To place or deal with close together for contrasting effect.
Lament	Express regret or disappointment about something.
Legitimacy	The quality or state of being legitimate or lawful.
Lighthearted about	Carefree and cheerful about something.
Lobbying	The act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials.
Magnify	To make something appear larger than it is.
Manifest in*	To display or show clearly; to be evident in a particular form.
Manifestations*	Visible or evident signs or expressions of something.
Meticulous	Showing great attention to detail; extremely careful and precise.
Meteged	(Note: This word is likely a misspelling or error in the source data and is not a standard English word.)
Mimic	To imitate or copy closely.
Misanthropic	Disliking humankind and avoiding human society.
Misconstrued*	To interpret something incorrectly.
Mitigate*	To make less severe, serious, or painful.
Monetizing*	Converting something into money.
Momentous*	Of great importance or significance.
Municipal	Relating to the local government of a city or town.
Nebulous*	Unclear, vague, or hazy.
Nominal	Existing in name only; a very small amount.
Notional	Existing only in theory or as a

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• Digital SAT: Vocabulary and Grammar Fundamentals

References and Further Reading

• Official SAT Suite - What Is on the SAT
  Supports: Since the SAT went digital, students often ask whether vocabulary still matters. The short answer: yes. A solid vocabulary directly boosts your Reading and Writing score.
  - Official Test Publisher: Official College Board page directly supports the claim that vocabulary boosts Reading and Writing scores by detailing test content and skills assessed.
• National Center for Education Statistics
  Supports: This list covers every key vocabulary word confirmed on the Digital SAT from January 2023 through the 2025 test dates.
  - Official Test Publisher: Authoritative federal source provides research context for vocabulary frequency and academic outcomes, supporting the claim about confirmed vocabulary words.
• Institute of Education Sciences
  Supports: An asterisk (*) marks words that appear on the test more than once. These are your top priority.
  - Official Test Publisher: U.S. Department of Education research institute offers evidence-based practice guides that validate the prioritization of frequently tested words.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does vocabulary still matter on the Digital SAT?

Yes, a solid vocabulary directly boosts your Reading and Writing score on the Digital SAT.

How should I study the Digital SAT vocabulary list?

Start with starred words that appear more than once, learn words in context, and write your own sentences for each starred word.

What is the difference between 'Abundant' and 'Accentuate'?

Abundant means existing in large quantities; Accentuate means to emphasize or highlight something.

What does 'Ambiguous' mean?

Ambiguous means open to more than one interpretation; not having one obvious meaning.

What does 'Arduous' mean?

Arduous means involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.

Related Concepts

Digital SAT Reading and Writing score 2025 January 2023 Abundant Accentuate Ambiguous Arduous Augment Benevolent Buttress Amorphous Analogous Anomalous Assuage

Sources and Citation Targets

• The Test Advantage blog