At some point, you might’ve heard someone say, “That’s an SAT word!”
You probably asked yourself, “What does that word have to do with the SAT?”
Back in the day, the verbal section of the SAT required you to complete analogies or sentences to test your vocabulary. Luckily, you no longer have to memorize words, prefixes, suffixes, or roots as part of your test prep routine (though that can still be helpful). Nowadays, when adults describe a word as an “SAT word,” they’re referring to how that word is on the more advanced side.
Though the phrase is outdated, it never hurts to drop advanced vocabulary into your daily conversations. SAT words tend to have more precise definitions, so they allow you to be more accurately expressive—and might impress a teacher or two. From “affable” to “zeitgeist,” here are eight SAT words to start using in your everyday life.
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Affable (adjective)
This word can be used to describe someone who is easy to approach and friendly. If you want to highlight how one of your friends treats everyone around them warmly, this is a fantastic word.
Example:
Megan is such an affable person; she always says “hi” to everyone enthusiastically!
Cacophony (noun)
If you want to describe a bunch of noises that sound bad together, this is your word. Whether you’re describing the mixture of honking while stuck in traffic or the music your older cousin’s band plays, “cacophony” sums up that racket.
Example:
The cacophony of sounds coming from the garage made it clear that my cousin’s rock band was rehearsing for the big show.
Ennui (noun)
A fancy word for boredom, you can use this word to describe whenever you’re feeling uninterested by what’s happening. Or if you want to sound fancy in general.
Example:
The seemingly endless commute to work gave way to ennui as I looked out of the bus window.
Loquacious (adjective)
We all know that person in our lives who likes to talk…a lot. As in, endless chatter. Use this word to describe someone who is overly talkative.
Example:
The loquacious customer kept talking to the employee even though the customer had finished purchasing his items.
Opine (verb)
Everyone has opinions. But did you know that there is a verb version of opinions? If you want to efficiently express that someone is sharing an opinion, use “opine!”
Example:
The restaurant patrons opined about how the food was absolutely delicious.
Pretentious (adjective)
This word describe when a noun gives off an air of importance, particularly one that is not deserved. Stay humble to avoid being labeled as this word.
Example:
The art student had pretentious opinions about the exhibition that weren’t grounded in fact.
Taciturn (adjective)
The opposite of “loquacious,” use this word to describe someone who is reserved in speech. Those gruff, silent-type cowboys you see in old Western movies tend to be taciturn.
Example:
A man of few words, my taciturn boss merely nodded when I asked if I could leave work early.
Zeitgeist (noun)
Use this word to describe something that encapsulates the spirit of a time. This word is typically associated with pop culture, like when a song seems to be the anthem of a generation.
Example:
One could argue that acid jeans, bright colors, and Rubik’s cubes would be included in describing the zeitgeist of the 1980s.
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