100 SAT words
you have to know
in 2026

To confirm or support with evidence.

New data corroborated the theory.

по-русски: подтверждать

To prove a claim with evidence.

She substantiated her claim with three studies.

по-русски: обосновывать, доказывать

To prove that something is wrong.

The experiment refuted the old idea.

по-русски: опровергать

To weaken something gradually.

One weak source can undermine a whole essay.

по-русски: подрывать, ослаблять

To support or strengthen.

Extra data bolstered her argument.

по-русски: подкреплять, усиливать

Seeming reasonable or likely to be true.

His excuse was plausible, but it wasn't true.

по-русски: правдоподобный

Very weak, thin, or easily broken.

The link between the two events is tenuous.

по-русски: слабый, шаткий

Based on observation or experiment.

Scientists need empirical evidence, not opinions.

по-русски: эмпирический, опытный

Based on personal stories, not data.

His proof was only anecdotal.

по-русски: основанный на отдельных случаях

A guess made without full evidence.

Without data, it's just conjecture.

по-русски: догадка, предположение

Doubtful; not to be trusted.

The website's claims were dubious.

по-русски: сомнительный

Very convincing.

She made a compelling case for more funding.

по-русски: убедительный

To argue or claim that something is true.

The author contends that cities should ban cars.

по-русски: утверждать

To state something confidently.

He asserted that the results were wrong.

по-русски: заявлять, утверждать

To admit something is true, often unwillingly.

She conceded that her opponent had a point.

по-русски: признавать, уступать

To prove that something is true or correct.

Later research validated his model.

по-русски: подтверждать

To guess without firm evidence.

Experts speculate about the cause of the crash.

по-русски: строить предположения

To reach a conclusion from evidence.

From her smile, I inferred that she had passed.

по-русски: делать вывод

Suggested but not directly stated.

There was an implicit warning in his words.

по-русски: подразумеваемый, неявный

To make people stop believing in something.

The scandal discredited the study.

по-русски: дискредитировать

Having mixed feelings about something.

She felt ambivalent about leaving home.

по-русски: двойственный, противоречивый

Doubtful; not easily convinced.

Critics were skeptical of the new plan.

по-русски: скептический, недоверчивый

Honest and direct.

He gave a candid answer about his mistakes.

по-русски: откровенный, прямой

Not caring either way.

The cat was indifferent to its new toy.

по-русски: безразличный

Showing deep respect.

Visitors were quiet and reverent in the old library.

по-русски: благоговейный, почтительный

Mocking in a bitter way.

He gave a sardonic laugh at the bad news.

по-русски: язвительный

Sincere and serious.

She made an earnest effort to improve.

по-русски: искренний, серьёзный

Cautious about possible danger.

Be wary of offers that sound too good.

по-русски: настороженный

Longing for the past.

Old songs make my father nostalgic.

по-русски: ностальгический

Showing no interest or energy.

Many voters seemed apathetic this year.

по-русски: апатичный, равнодушный

Showing that you think something is worthless.

He gave the cheap gift a contemptuous look.

по-русски: презрительный

Treating something as unimportant.

She was dismissive of my idea.

по-русски: пренебрежительный

Believing people act only for themselves.

Years in politics made him cynical.

по-русски: циничный

Careful and controlled.

The scientist gave a measured response.

по-русски: сдержанный, взвешенный

Expressed with force and clarity.

Her answer was an emphatic no.

по-русски: решительный, категоричный

Playful and unusual.

The book has a whimsical style.

по-русски: причудливый, игривый

Serious and formal.

It was a solemn ceremony.

по-русски: торжественный, серьёзный

Angry about unfair treatment.

She was indignant when blamed for his mistake.

по-русски: возмущённый

Sadly longing for something.

He gave a wistful look at his old school.

по-русски: грустно-задумчивый

Happening in the opposite way to what you'd expect.

It's ironic that the fire station burned down.

по-русски: ироничный

To make something less severe.

Trees can mitigate city heat.

по-русски: смягчать, уменьшать

To make a problem worse.

Stress can exacerbate a headache.

по-русски: усугублять

To make or become smaller.

His fear diminished over time.

по-русски: уменьшать(ся)

To increase or add to.

She augmented her income by tutoring.

по-русски: увеличивать, дополнять

To make pain or a problem easier to bear.

The medicine alleviated his pain.

по-русски: облегчать

To cut short or limit.

The storm curtailed our trip.

по-русски: сокращать, ограничивать

To rise and fall irregularly.

Prices fluctuate every season.

по-русски: колебаться

To increase quickly in number.

Coffee shops proliferated downtown.

по-русски: быстро распространяться

To stop growing or developing.

The economy stagnated for years.

по-русски: застаиваться

To slowly become smaller.

Our savings dwindled after the move.

по-русски: сокращаться, таять

To make larger or stronger.

Social media amplifies every rumor.

по-русски: усиливать

To wear away gradually.

Lies slowly erode trust.

по-русски: подтачивать, разрушать

A sudden, strong increase.

There was a surge in applications this year.

по-русски: резкий рост, всплеск

So small that it doesn't matter.

The price difference was negligible.

по-русски: незначительный

Small and not very important.

The new rule had a marginal effect.

по-русски: незначительный, минимальный

Large in size or importance.

She won a substantial scholarship.

по-русски: значительный, существенный

Happening in small steps.

Incremental practice leads to big results.

по-русски: постепенный

Extreme and sudden.

The school made drastic changes.

по-русски: радикальный, резкий

Very sudden and steep.

Sales saw a precipitous drop.

по-русски: стремительный, резкий

Never done or known before.

The flood was unprecedented in size.

по-русски: беспрецедентный

Extremely careful with details.

Her notes are meticulous.

по-русски: дотошный, скрупулёзный

Able to recover quickly from difficulty.

Resilient students learn from failure.

по-русски: стойкий, жизнестойкий

Hardworking and careful.

A diligent student reviews every day.

по-русски: усердный, прилежный

Careful not to waste money.

Being frugal helped him save for college.

по-русски: бережливый, экономный

Wise and careful about the future.

It's prudent to apply to several universities.

по-русски: благоразумный, осмотрительный

Refusing to give up.

The tenacious team kept fighting.

по-русски: упорный, настойчивый

Practical; focused on what works.

She took a pragmatic approach to studying.

по-русски: прагматичный, практичный

Kind and wanting to help others.

A benevolent donor paid for the new library.

по-русски: доброжелательный, благосклонный

Caring about others more than yourself.

Her altruistic work helped hundreds of families.

по-русски: альтруистичный, бескорыстный

Enjoying the company of others.

My gregarious friend knows everyone.

по-русски: общительный

Quiet; slow to share thoughts or feelings.

He was reticent about his past.

по-русски: сдержанный, скрытный

Acting quickly without thinking.

An impetuous decision cost him the game.

по-русски: импульсивный, опрометчивый

Stubbornly refusing to change.

The obstinate child refused to eat.

по-русски: упрямый

Too satisfied to keep improving.

Don't get complacent after one good score.

по-русски: самоуспокоенный, благодушный

Careful to do things well and correctly.

A conscientious worker double-checks everything.

по-русски: добросовестный

Boldly daring.

It was an audacious plan to cross the desert.

по-русски: дерзкий, смелый

Able to do many different things well.

She's a versatile musician.

по-русски: разносторонний, универсальный

Very honest and careful to do what is right.

He was scrupulous about citing his sources.

по-русски: щепетильный, добросовестный

Full of energy for a cause.

The zealous volunteers worked all night.

по-русски: ревностный, рьяный

Generous and forgiving, especially to a rival.

The magnanimous winner praised his rival.

по-русски: великодушный

New and original (not a book!).

The team proposed a novel solution.

по-русски: новый, оригинальный

To limit a statement or add conditions to it.

The author qualified her claim by adding 'in most cases.'

по-русски: уточнять, оговаривать

To soften or moderate.

He tempered his criticism with praise.

по-русски: смягчать, умерять

To stop or hold something back.

The new dam checked the flooding.

по-русски: сдерживать

To produce a result, or to give way.

The study yielded surprising results.

по-русски: давать (результат); уступать

Very serious.

The doctor had grave concerns.

по-русски: серьёзный, тяжёлый

To increase in value.

Land in the city appreciated quickly.

по-русски: дорожать, расти в цене

To officially approve. As a noun, it can also mean a penalty.

The school sanctioned the new club.

по-русски: санкционировать, одобрять

Easy to notice; standing out clearly.

His orange jacket was conspicuous in the crowd.

по-русски: заметный, бросающийся в глаза

Found everywhere.

Smartphones are ubiquitous today.

по-русски: вездесущий, повсеместный

To examine something very closely.

Admissions officers scrutinize every application.

по-русски: тщательно изучать

Based on chance, not reason.

The rules seemed arbitrary.

по-русски: произвольный

Having more than one possible meaning.

The ending of the film is ambiguous.

по-русски: двусмысленный, неоднозначный

To notice or understand something that isn't obvious.

It was hard to discern his real reason.

по-русски: различать, распознавать

Existing as a natural, permanent part.

Every plan has inherent risks.

по-русски: присущий, неотъемлемый

Common and widespread.

The flu is prevalent in winter.

по-русски: распространённый

Possible and practical to do.

Is it feasible to finish by Friday?

по-русски: осуществимый

Very detailed and complex.

The carpet had an intricate pattern.

по-русски: замысловатый, сложный

No longer used; out of date.

Paper maps are almost obsolete.

по-русски: устаревший

Something that seems to contradict itself but may be true.

It's a paradox that more choice can make us less happy.

по-русски: парадокс