Digital SAT Vocabulary

1.
Helpful and Harmful

HELPFUL TO SPEED UP A BENEFIT ROUGH, SIMPLE
 beneficial  expedite  boon  crude
 advantageous  facilitate  makeshift
 constructive AN ANNOYANCE  rudimentary
 conducive TO SERVE, ASSIST  bane
 accommodate  nuisance TO WORSEN
REALISTIC  exacerbate
RELATED,
 practical TO PREVENT THE  aggravate
APPROPRIATE
POSSIBILITY
 pragmatic  apt  forestall TO PUT AT RISK
 relevant  preclude  endanger
TO STRENGTHEN AND
 pertinent  jeopardize
SUPPORT
 reinforce TO BLOCK
EFFECTIVE
 bolster  impede HARMFUL
 efficacious  inhibit  adverse
 buttress
 undergird A METHOD
 hamper  detrimental
 means  hinder
TO USE, TAKE  medium  thwart DANGEROUS
ADVANTAGE OF  encumber  insidious
 mechanism
 utilize  pernicious
 employ HARMLESS
TO WEAKEN
 exploit  undermine
 benign
 leverage  compromise
 innocuous
HELPFUL
1. beneficial adj. producing good effects; helping to achieve a good result
[ben-uh-FISH-uhl]
Taking a jog in the morning can be beneficial to your physical health, mind,
and overall well-being. n. benefit, v. benefit, adv. beneficially
2. advantageous adj. providing a benefit; favorable

[ad-van-TEY-juhs]
It would be advantageous to work together on this project, as we have skills

that complement one another. n. advantage, v. advantage
3. constructive adj. helpful and improving; tending to build up or improve

[kuhn-STRUHK-tiv]
The editor offered constructive advice on how to make the novel more
interesting and better written. adv. constructively
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4. conducive adj. making something possible or easy to do
[kuhn-DOO-siv]
Regular exercise and a balanced diet are conducive to good health. n.

conduction, v. conduct
REALISTIC
5. practical adj. concerned with what is real rather than imagined or theoretical
[PRAK-ti-kuhl]
Although it's fun to dream of what you'd do if you won the lottery, it would be
better to have more practical plans for the future. n. practicality, adv. practically
6. pragmatic adj. realistic; concerned with real applications, consequences, etc.

[prag-mat-ik]
They were looking for pragmatic solutions to the problem: only practical,
workable ideas were welcome. n. pragmatism, pragmatist, adv. pragmatically
TO STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT

7. reinforce v. to strengthen or support something
[ree-in-FOHRS]
The coach reinforced the proper shooting technique by having the basketball
players practice it over and over again. n. reinforcement
8. bolster v. to support or hold up

[BOHL-ster]
The company's decision to invest in artificial intelligence (AI) technology

helped bolster its reputation as an innovative leader in the industry.
9. buttress v. to reinforce; to provide physical support

[BUH-tris]
The study's findings were buttressed by data from multiple sources, lending
credibility to the research. n. buttress, adj. buttressed
10. undergird v. to support from below; to provide an underlying foundation

[uhn-der-GURD]
The principles of democracy undergird the foundation of our society, and it is

important to uphold them even in times of disagreement.
TO USE, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF

11. utilize v. to make practical use of
[YOOT-l-ahyz]
He effectively utilized humor in his critical essay. n. utilization, utility
12. employ v. to apply or make use of a skill or resource

[em-PLOI]
The author employed a unique narrative technique in her novel. n. employment
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13. exploit v. to use something or someone, esp. to gain a profit or selfishly achieve a
[ek-SPLOIT]
goal
She exploited secret information to earn a profit on a deal that harmed her
business partners. n. exploitation, adj. exploited
14. leverage v. to make use of; to achieve a particular result

[LEV-er-ij]
The politician leveraged his influence to get his son a job interview. n. leverage
TO SPEED UP
15. expedite v. to speed something up; to do something quickly
[EK-spi-dahyt]
The post office promised to expedite it so it would arrive the very next day. n.
expedition, adj. expeditious
16. facilitate v. to assist; to aid the progress of something or someone

[fuh-SIL-i-teyt]
Their guide facilitated their stay, providing tours around the area and
translating the local language. n. facilitation, facilitator
TO SERVE, ASSIST
17. accommodate v. to provide something needed or wanted
[uh-KOM-uh-deyt]
The hotel staff did their best to accommodate the needs of their guests,
offering amenities and services to make their stay more comfortable. n.
accommodation, adj. accommodating
RELATED, APPROPRIATE
18. apt adj. appropriate; relevant
[apt]
She always has an intelligent and apt remark to sum up a situation. n. aptness,
adv. aptly
19. relevant adj. important or meaningful to the current topic, subject, or situation
[REL-uh-vuhnt]
Only job candidates with relevant experience were considered. n. relevance
20. pertinent adj. important to the current situation or matter

[pur-tn-uhnt]
The new lawyer only had time for the most pertinent details of the case. n.
pertinence, v. pertain
EFFECTIVE
21. efficacious adj. producing the desired outcome or result
[ef-i-key-shuhs]
The medicine was efficacious enough that she was cured within the week. n.
efficacy, adv. efficaciously
A METHOD
22. means n. a method or tool used to achieve a result or objective
[meenz]
We need to find a means to reduce our energy consumption in order to

combat climate change.
23. medium n. a method or tool for doing something

[MEE-dee-uhm]
In the mid-20th century, politicians reached a wider audience through the

medium of television. n. pl. media
24. mechanism n. a system or process designed for a particular goal

[MEK-uh-niz-uhm]
The Venus flytrap's mechanism involves specialized leaves that snap shut
when triggered by the movements of an insect.
HARMLESS
25. benign adj. gentle and kind; not harmful
[bih-nahyn]
The growth was found to be benign, and the patient did not require any further
medical intervention.
26. innocuous adj. not likely to cause harm or offense

[ih-NOK-yoo-uhs]
The joke was completely innocuous, offending no one.
A BENEFIT
27. boon n. something which provides a benefit or advantage
[boon]
The invention of the smartphone was a boon to society, revolutionizing the

way people communicate and access information. [a boon to + somebody]
AN ANNOYANCE
28. bane n. something that causes a great nuisance
[beyn]
The bane of any student's life is the dreaded final exams. [the bane of + sth, a
bane to + sb.]
29. nuisance n. something that causes annoyance
[NOO-suhns]
The house's proximity to a school meant that they had to live with the daily
nuisance of the opening bells.
TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY

30. forestall v. to prevent something from happening by acting before it can occur
[fohr-STAWL]
The pilot forestalled disaster by making an emergency landing when he

realized the plane's wing was damaged.
31. preclude v. to make something impossible; to prevent something from happening

[pri-KLOOD]
The heavy rain precluded any outdoor activities, forcing the family to spend
the day indoors.
TO BLOCK
32. impede v. to slow or delay the progress of something
[im-PEED]
A broken bridge impeded their travel and forced them to drive 30 minutes
farther to find another crossing. n. impediment, adj. impeded
33. inhibit v. to restrain or hold back; to prevent someone or something from doing
[in-HIB-it]
something
The teenager's shyness inhibited him from dancing at the party. n. inhibition, adj.
inhibited
34. hamper v. to slow the movement or progress of someone or something

[HAM-per]
The injured hiker told the others to go on without her because she was
hampering their progress. adj. hampered
35. hinder v. to slow or obstruct the progress of someone or something

[HIN-der]
Her uncomfortable shoes hindered her ability to walk quickly. n. hindrance, adj.
hindered
36. thwart v. to successfully stop someone or something; to prevent something from

[thwohrt]
happening
My mother thwarted my plan to sneak out of the house by locking me in my

room. adj. thwarted
37. encumber v. to weigh down or hinder something or someone
[en-KUHM-ber]
Encumbered by heavy bags, we took a long time to go up the stairs. n.

encumbrance, adj. encumbered
TO WEAKEN
38. undermine v. to gradually damage or weaken something or someone
[UHN-der-mahyn]
Her father undermined her mother's authority by allowing her to go to a party.
39. compromise to endanger or weaken

[KOM-pruh-mahyz]
The construction company compromised safety standards by using cheap

materials and failing to do proper inspections. n. compromised
ROUGH AND SIMPLE

40. crude adj. unfinished; rough (as in rough draft)
[krood]
Despite lacking detail, a crude drawing of the solar system can show you the
location of the planets in relation to the sun. n. crudeness, adv. crudely
41. makeshift adj. serving as a temporary substitute

[MEYK-shift]
Stephen had to build a makeshift shelter out of branches and leaves when he
realized he wouldn't make it back to camp before nightfall.
42. rudimentary adj. basic or simple in form

[roo-duh-MEN-tuh-ree]
Workers received only rudimentary training for emergencies and were unsure
what to do when a fire started. n. rudiment
TO MAKE WORSE
43. exacerbate v. to make more severe
[ig-ZAS-er-beyt]
Unfortunately, the cold medicine only exacerbated the symptoms. n.

exacerbation
44. aggravate v. to cause annoyance

[AG-ruh-veyt]
Her little sister enjoyed aggravating her with pranks. n. aggravation
TO PUT AT RISK
45. endanger v. to cause (someone) to be in danger
[en-DEYN-jeyr]
She was furious when she found out that her son had endangered his life by
driving drunk. n. endangerment, adj. endangered
46. jeopardize v. to put someone or something in danger or at risk

[JEP-er-dahyz]
Her career was jeopardized by her immature and unprofessional behavior. n.

jeopardy, adj. jeopardized
HARMFUL
47. adverse adj. unfavorable or harmful; preventing or opposing success
[ad-VURS]
Though she tried her best, adverse weather worked against her, preventing
her from winning the game. n. adversity, adv. adversely
48. detrimental adj. tending to cause harm; to have a negative effect

[de-truh-MEN-tl]
Being located next to a large shopping center had a detrimental effect on the
small shop's sales and income. n. detriment, adv. detrimentally
DANGEROUS
49. insidious adj. subtle and dangerous; gradual and harmful
[in-SID-ee-uhs]
The insidious nature of cyberbullying, which is concealed behind screens and

spreads swiftly, can cause lasting emotional harm for victims. adv. insidiously
50. pernicious adj. extremely harmful or wicked

[per-NISH-uhs]
Malaria is one of Africa's most pernicious diseases, killing thousands of

people every year. n. perniciousness, adv. perniciously
EXERCISE 1.1 Match each word in the box to its nearest synonym below, using each word only once.
A. utilize D. preclude G. benign J. jeopardize

B. exacerbate E. expedite H apt K. bane
C. impede F. boon I. undermine L. detrimental
1. benefit _________ 5. worsen _________ 9. adverse _________
2. nuisance _________ 6. employ _________ 10. forestall _________
3. innocuous _________ 7. compromise _________ 11. thwart _________
4.f facilitate _________ 8. relevant _________ 12. endanger _________
EXERCISE 1.2 Fill in the blank with the correct word from the list, using each word only once.
accommodate constructive efficacious inhibit pertinent

bolster detrimental exploit means undermine
1. The manager's feedback, though critical, was __________________________, helping the team improve their
project significantly.
2. To __________________________ her argument in the debate, she cited several recent studies that supported
her point of view.
3. The company was criticized for its decision to __________________________ the natural resources of the area
without considering the environmental impact.
4. The new conference center was designed to __________________________ large events, with facilities for up to
1000 attendees.
5. Her comments during the meeting were __________________________, directly addressing the main issues that
were being discussed.
6. The medication was found to be __________________________ in treating the disease, with most patients
showing improvement within a few days.
7. Education is often seen as a __________________________ to better employment opportunities and personal

development.
8. Fear of failure can __________________________ creativity, preventing individuals from taking risks in their work.
9. The constant criticism from his colleagues began to __________________________ his confidence in his own
abilities.
10. Smoking is known to be __________________________ to health, leading to various respiratory problems and
diseases.
EXERCISE 1.3 Multiple choice
1. The _____ of the project was the lack of clear 7. After years of research and hard work, the team
communication that led to numerous finally succeeded in developing _____ energy
misunderstandings and delays. source, one that had minimal negative impact on
the environment.
A) boon
B) bane A) an insidious
C) means B) a benign
D) exploitation C) a pernicious
D) a detrimental
2. The new policy, unlike the previous one, is
designed to _____ economic growth and make it 8. The _____ design of the prototype hindered its
easier for businesses to thrive. functionality and usability, as it lacked precision
and refinement in its construction.
A) undermine
B) facilitate A) aggravated
C) aggravate B) forestalled
D) endanger C) crude
D) pertinent
3. The organization plans to _____ its position on the
issue by providing additional evidence and arguments 9. To ensure the safety of the hikers, the guide _____
to support its stance. any actions that could potentially put the group at
risk.
A) compromise
B) forestall A) facilitated
C) expedite B) precluded
D) bolster C) jeopardized
D) expedited
4. The hotel aims to _____ all guests' needs, offering
personalized services to enhance their experience. 10. The vaccine was a success in that it was both
_____ and safe, leading to its widespread adoption.
A) accommodate
B) thwart A) detrimental
C) exacerbate B) innocuous
D) impede C) efficacious
D) insidious
5. The outdated equipment was _______ to the
overall productivity of the workshop: it caused 11. By focusing on the most _____ aspects of the
frequent breakdowns and delays. research, the team was able to draw meaningful
conclusions and develop a strong foundation for
A) beneficial
their study.
B) apt
C) detrimental A) obsolete
D) pragmatic B) pertinent
C) adverse
6. The teacher's dedication and patience _____ the D) redundant
students' confidence and motivation, resulting in
better performance and grades. 12. The team's quick thinking and decisive action
managed to _____ the cyberattack and prevent any
A) impeded
unauthorized access to sensitive data.
B) undermined
C) bolstered A) accommodate
D) hindered B) exacerbate
C) thwart
D) undergird
ANSWERS
Chapter 1: Helpful and Harmful

1. F 1. constructive 1. B
2. K 2. bolster 2. B
3. G 3. exploit 3. D
4. E 4. accommodate 4. A
5. B 5. pertinent 5. C
6. A 6. efficacious 6. C
7. I 7. means 7. B
8. H 8. inhibit 8. C
9. L 9. undermine 9. B
10. D 10. detrimental 10. C
11. C 11. B
12. J 12. C

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1.

Helpful and Harmful

2. advantageous adj. providing a benefit; favorable

It would be advantageous to work together on this project, as we have skills

3. constructive adj. helpful and improving; tending to build up or improve

Regular exercise and a balanced diet are conducive to good health. n.

6. pragmatic adj. realistic; concerned with real applications, consequences, etc.

TO STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT

8. bolster v. to support or hold up

The company's decision to invest in artificial intelligence (AI) technology

9. buttress v. to reinforce; to provide physical support

10. undergird v. to support from below; to provide an underlying foundation

The principles of democracy undergird the foundation of our society, and it is

TO USE, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF

He effectively utilized humor in his critical essay. n. utilization, utility

12. employ v. to apply or make use of a skill or resource

The author employed a unique narrative technique in her novel. n. employment

14. leverage v. to make use of; to achieve a particular result

16. facilitate v. to assist; to aid the progress of something or someone

Only job candidates with relevant experience were considered. n. relevance

20. pertinent adj. important to the current situation or matter

We need to find a means to reduce our energy consumption in order to

23. medium n. a method or tool for doing something

In the mid-20th century, politicians reached a wider audience through the

24. mechanism n. a system or process designed for a particular goal

26. innocuous adj. not likely to cause harm or offense

The joke was completely innocuous, offending no one.

The invention of the smartphone was a boon to society, revolutionizing the

TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY

The pilot forestalled disaster by making an emergency landing when he

31. preclude v. to make something impossible; to prevent something from happening

34. hamper v. to slow the movement or progress of someone or something

35. hinder v. to slow or obstruct the progress of someone or something

36. thwart v. to successfully stop someone or something; to prevent something from

My mother thwarted my plan to sneak out of the house by locking me in my

Encumbered by heavy bags, we took a long time to go up the stairs. n.

Her father undermined her mother's authority by allowing her to go to a party.

39. compromise to endanger or weaken

The construction company compromised safety standards by using cheap

ROUGH AND SIMPLE

41. makeshift adj. serving as a temporary substitute

42. rudimentary adj. basic or simple in form

Unfortunately, the cold medicine only exacerbated the symptoms. n.

44. aggravate v. to cause annoyance

Her little sister enjoyed aggravating her with pranks. n. aggravation

46. jeopardize v. to put someone or something in danger or at risk

Her career was jeopardized by her immature and unprofessional behavior. n.

48. detrimental adj. tending to cause harm; to have a negative effect

The insidious nature of cyberbullying, which is concealed behind screens and

50. pernicious adj. extremely harmful or wicked

Malaria is one of Africa's most pernicious diseases, killing thousands of

A. utilize D. preclude G. benign J. jeopardize

1. benefit _________ 5. worsen _________ 9. adverse _________

2. nuisance _________ 6. employ _________ 10. forestall _________

3. innocuous _________ 7. compromise _________ 11. thwart _________

4.f facilitate _________ 8. relevant _________ 12. endanger _________

accommodate constructive efficacious inhibit pertinent

7. Education is often seen as a __________________________ to better employment opportunities and personal

Chapter 1: Helpful and Harmful

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1. benefit _____ 5. worsen _ 9. adverse _____

2. nuisance _____ 6. employ _ 10. forestall _____

3. innocuous _____ 7. compromise _ 11. thwart _____

4.f facilitate _____ 8. relevant _ 12. endanger _____