The words on this list are not rare or showy. They are academic words: words that appear again and again in textbooks, exam questions and good essays, across every subject. Educators often call them Tier 2 words. Knowing them well makes reading faster, writing sharper and test questions easier to understand.
The 100 words are grouped into five themes, each with a short meaning and an example sentence. A 20-question quiz with answers is at the end, and everything is available as a free printable PDF.
Free PDF: all 100 words with meanings and examples, the 20-question quiz and an answer key. US Letter.
In this guide8 sections
- How to learn these words (and actually keep them)
- Words for arguments and reasoning (1–20)
- Words for people and behavior (21–40)
- Words for change, size and degree (41–60)
- Words for reading and analyzing texts (61–80)
- Academic words for every subject (81–100)
- Free 20-question vocabulary quiz
- Frequently asked questions
How to learn these words (and actually keep them)
- Learn five a day, not fifty. Small daily sets stick far better than a long list crammed in one evening.
- Test yourself. Cover the meaning column and explain each word before checking. That is active recall, and it beats rereading.
- Review on a schedule. Revisit each set after one day, three days and a week, as in our spaced repetition plan.
- Use each word twice. Write your own sentence, then use the word in conversation or an essay the same week.
- Play with them. Our SAT & ACT Vocabulary quiz and the Daily Word puzzle make good daily warm-ups.
Words for arguments and reasoning (1–20)
| # | Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | advocate (v.) | to publicly support or recommend | She advocates for later school start times. |
| 2 | assert (v.) | to state firmly that something is true | The author asserts that homework helps learning. |
| 3 | bias (n.) | an unfair preference for or against something | The survey questions showed a clear bias. |
| 4 | coherent (adj.) | logical, clear and well organized | Write a coherent argument with a clear thesis. |
| 5 | concede (v.) | to admit that something is true, often reluctantly | He conceded that her point was fair. |
| 6 | contradict (v.) | to say the opposite of; to be inconsistent with | The new data contradicts the old theory. |
| 7 | credible (adj.) | believable; trustworthy | Use credible sources in your research. |
| 8 | deduce (v.) | to reach a conclusion by reasoning | From the clues, we deduced who did it. |
| 9 | fallacy (n.) | a mistaken belief or a flaw in reasoning | Attacking the speaker is a common fallacy. |
| 10 | hypothesis (n.) | a proposed explanation that can be tested | Our hypothesis is that light speeds growth. |
| 11 | implication (n.) | a likely consequence; something suggested but not said | Consider the implications of the new law. |
| 12 | objective (adj.) | based on facts rather than feelings | Scientists try to stay objective. |
| 13 | plausible (adj.) | seeming reasonable or likely | That is a plausible explanation. |
| 14 | premise (n.) | a statement an argument is based on | The argument rests on a false premise. |
| 15 | refute (v.) | to prove a statement or argument wrong | She refuted every claim with evidence. |
| 16 | rhetoric (n.) | the art of persuasive language; or impressive words without substance | The speech was full of empty rhetoric. |
| 17 | skeptical (adj.) | doubtful; not easily convinced | Be skeptical of claims with no sources. |
| 18 | subjective (adj.) | based on personal opinions or feelings | Whether a film is good is subjective. |
| 19 | substantiate (v.) | to support a claim with evidence | Substantiate your answer with a quote. |
| 20 | validate (v.) | to confirm that something is true or correct | The experiment validated our results. |
Words for people and behavior (21–40)
| # | Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | ambivalent (adj.) | having mixed feelings | I’m ambivalent about moving to a new school. |
| 22 | arrogant (adj.) | having an exaggerated sense of your own importance | His arrogant tone annoyed the team. |
| 23 | benevolent (adj.) | kind and generous | A benevolent donor funded the library. |
| 24 | candid (adj.) | honest and direct | Thanks for your candid feedback. |
| 25 | complacent (adj.) | too satisfied to see the need to improve | The leading team became complacent and lost. |
| 26 | conscientious (adj.) | careful and thorough; wanting to do what is right | She is a conscientious student. |
| 27 | diligent (adj.) | hard-working and careful | Diligent practice improved his playing. |
| 28 | empathy (n.) | the ability to understand and share others’ feelings | Good leaders show empathy. |
| 29 | gregarious (adj.) | sociable; enjoying company | Gregarious people enjoy big parties. |
| 30 | hypocrite (n.) | someone who does not practice what they preach | He criticized littering, then littered. What a hypocrite. |
| 31 | impulsive (adj.) | acting without thinking first | It was an impulsive purchase. |
| 32 | indifferent (adj.) | having no interest or concern | She was indifferent to the result. |
| 33 | meticulous (adj.) | showing great attention to detail | His lab notes are meticulous. |
| 34 | obstinate (adj.) | stubbornly refusing to change your mind | The obstinate child refused to leave. |
| 35 | pragmatic (adj.) | practical; focused on what works | We need a pragmatic solution. |
| 36 | resilient (adj.) | able to recover quickly from difficulties | Resilient students learn from failure. |
| 37 | tenacious (adj.) | persistent; not giving up | The tenacious reporter found the truth. |
| 38 | timid (adj.) | shy and lacking confidence | The timid kitten hid under the bed. |
| 39 | verbose (adj.) | using more words than needed | Cut verbose sentences from your essay. |
| 40 | zealous (adj.) | extremely enthusiastic about a cause | She is a zealous recycler. |
Words for change, size and degree (41–60)
| # | Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | abundant (adj.) | existing in large amounts | Water is abundant in the region. |
| 42 | accelerate (v.) | to speed up | The car accelerated onto the highway. |
| 43 | adapt (v.) | to adjust to new conditions | Species adapt to their environment. |
| 44 | arbitrary (adj.) | based on random choice, not reason | The rule seemed arbitrary. |
| 45 | comprehensive (adj.) | including everything or nearly everything | We need a comprehensive review. |
| 46 | deteriorate (v.) | to become gradually worse | The old bridge has deteriorated. |
| 47 | diminish (v.) | to make or become smaller or less | The pain diminished overnight. |
| 48 | ephemeral (adj.) | lasting a very short time | Social media trends are ephemeral. |
| 49 | excessive (adj.) | more than is necessary or normal | Excessive screen time hurts sleep. |
| 50 | fluctuate (v.) | to rise and fall irregularly | Prices fluctuate during the year. |
| 51 | inevitable (adj.) | certain to happen | Change is inevitable. |
| 52 | negligible (adj.) | so small it can be ignored | The difference was negligible. |
| 53 | obsolete (adj.) | out of date; no longer used | Fax machines are nearly obsolete. |
| 54 | prevalent (adj.) | widespread; common | The flu is prevalent in winter. |
| 55 | profound (adj.) | very great or deep | The book had a profound effect on me. |
| 56 | scarce (adj.) | in short supply | Fresh water is scarce in deserts. |
| 57 | stagnant (adj.) | not moving, flowing or growing | Stagnant water attracts mosquitoes. |
| 58 | substantial (adj.) | large in size, amount or importance | She made substantial progress. |
| 59 | transient (adj.) | lasting only a short time; temporary | The side effects are transient. |
| 60 | versatile (adj.) | able to do or be used for many things | A versatile player can fill any position. |
Words for reading and analyzing texts (61–80)
| # | Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | allusion (n.) | an indirect reference to another work, person or event | “He met his Waterloo” is a historical allusion. |
| 62 | ambiguous (adj.) | open to more than one meaning | The ending is deliberately ambiguous. |
| 63 | anecdote (n.) | a short story about a real event | She opened her speech with an anecdote. |
| 64 | concise (adj.) | giving information clearly in few words | Keep your summary concise. |
| 65 | connotation (n.) | the feeling a word suggests beyond its literal meaning | “Home” has a warmer connotation than “house.” |
| 66 | didactic (adj.) | intended to teach, often a moral lesson | Fables are didactic stories. |
| 67 | euphemism (n.) | a mild word used in place of a harsh one | “Passed away” is a euphemism for “died.” |
| 68 | foreshadowing (n.) | hints about what will happen later in a story | The storm is foreshadowing of trouble. |
| 69 | infer (v.) | to conclude from evidence rather than direct statements | What can you infer about the narrator? |
| 70 | irony (n.) | a contrast between what is expected and what happens | A fire station burning down is ironic. |
| 71 | juxtaposition (n.) | placing two things side by side to show contrast | The juxtaposition of wealth and poverty is striking. |
| 72 | metaphor (n.) | a comparison that says one thing is another | “Time is a thief” is a metaphor. |
| 73 | narrative (n.) | a story or account of events | Write a personal narrative. |
| 74 | nuance (n.) | a subtle difference in meaning or feeling | Translation can lose nuance. |
| 75 | paradox (n.) | a statement that seems contradictory but may be true | “Less is more” is a paradox. |
| 76 | satire (n.) | humor or exaggeration used to criticize | The show is a satire of politics. |
| 77 | succinct (adj.) | brief and clearly expressed | Give a succinct answer. |
| 78 | synthesize (v.) | to combine ideas into a whole | Synthesize three sources in your essay. |
| 79 | theme (n.) | the central idea or message of a work | A key theme is the cost of ambition. |
| 80 | tone (n.) | the writer’s attitude toward the subject | The tone of the letter is bitter. |
Academic words for every subject (81–100)
| # | Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | analyze (v.) | to examine something in detail | Analyze the data in the table. |
| 82 | anomaly (n.) | something that differs from what is normal | One result was an anomaly. |
| 83 | catalyst (n.) | something that causes or speeds up change | The protest was a catalyst for reform. |
| 84 | coincide (v.) | to happen at the same time | The exam coincides with the trip. |
| 85 | consensus (n.) | general agreement | The group reached a consensus. |
| 86 | criteria (n.) | standards used to judge something (singular: criterion) | Check the grading criteria. |
| 87 | derive (v.) | to obtain from a source | Many English words derive from Latin. |
| 88 | discrepancy (n.) | a difference between things that should match | There is a discrepancy in the totals. |
| 89 | empirical (adj.) | based on observation or experiment | We need empirical evidence. |
| 90 | feasible (adj.) | possible and practical to do | Is the plan feasible on our budget? |
| 91 | inherent (adj.) | existing as a natural, permanent part | Every sport has inherent risks. |
| 92 | mitigate (v.) | to make less severe | Trees mitigate summer heat in cities. |
| 93 | phenomenon (n.) | an observable event or fact (plural: phenomena) | Rainbows are an optical phenomenon. |
| 94 | precedent (n.) | an earlier event used as an example or rule | The case set a legal precedent. |
| 95 | preliminary (adj.) | coming before the main part; initial | These are preliminary results. |
| 96 | qualitative (adj.) | describing qualities rather than numbers | Interviews give qualitative data. |
| 97 | quantitative (adj.) | involving measurements or numbers | Test scores are quantitative data. |
| 98 | redundant (adj.) | not needed; repeating something unnecessarily | “Free gift” is redundant. |
| 99 | sufficient (adj.) | enough | Is there sufficient evidence? |
| 100 | viable (adj.) | able to work successfully | Solar power is a viable option. |
Free 20-question vocabulary quiz
Part A: Choose the best meaning
- refute — (a) to repeat (b) to prove wrong (c) to refuse to answer (d) to agree
- ephemeral — (a) lasting a very short time (b) very large (c) imaginary (d) ancient
- meticulous — (a) careless (b) very small (c) very careful about details (d) musical
- prevalent — (a) rare (b) widespread (c) previous (d) powerful
- ambiguous — (a) open to more than one meaning (b) ambitious (c) obvious (d) able to use both hands
- mitigate — (a) to make worse (b) to move away (c) to make less severe (d) to measure
- candid — (a) sweet (b) honest and direct (c) secretive (d) rude
- obsolete — (a) out of date (b) required (c) hidden (d) brand new
Part B: Fill in the blank
Use: concede, catalyst, negligible, skeptical, succinct, empirical
- The difference in price was ______, so we bought the nicer one.
- Scientists rely on ______ evidence from experiments.
- After seeing the replay, the coach had to ______ that the call was right.
- Be ______ of headlines that sound too good to be true.
- The new principal was a ______ for big changes at the school.
- Your conclusion should be ______: two or three sentences.
Part C: Opposites
Match each word with its opposite: subjective, abundant, timid, diminish, impulsive, coherent
- objective ↔ ______
- scarce ↔ ______
- confident ↔ ______
- increase ↔ ______
- cautious ↔ ______
- confused ↔ ______
Show the answers
Part A: 1 (b), 2 (a), 3 (c), 4 (b), 5 (a), 6 (c), 7 (b), 8 (a)
Part B: 9 negligible, 10 empirical, 11 concede, 12 skeptical, 13 catalyst, 14 succinct
Part C: 15 subjective, 16 abundant, 17 timid, 18 diminish, 19 impulsive, 20 coherent
Scoring: 18–20 excellent · 14–17 good, review the words you missed · below 14, study one theme a day and try again next week.
Frequently asked questions
How many vocabulary words should a high school student learn per week?
Around 20 to 25 new words per week (about five per school day) is realistic if you review them with self-testing. Retention matters more than the size of the list.
Are these SAT words?
Many of them appear in SAT and ACT reading passages, because they are common academic words. They are also useful far beyond tests, in essays, textbooks and news articles.
What is the best way to memorize vocabulary?
Test yourself instead of rereading, review on a spaced schedule and use each word in your own sentences. Short daily quizzes, such as our quiz games, help keep the words fresh.
