Here is a huge list of words that would be very helpful to you on the SAT and that may help you out in life. The 110 hardest SAT words are included. I personally think that learning new words can be fun.
A ~ means it is one of the 110 hardest words on the SAT.
The 100 most Common SAT Words (Look out for these!)
abbreviate-to shorten, abridge
abstinence-the act of refraining from pleasurable activity
adulation-high praise
adversity-misfortune, an unfavorable turn of events
aesthetic-pertaining to beauty or the arts
amicable-friendly, agreeable
anachronistic-out-of-date, not attributed to the correct historical period
anecdote-short, usually funny account of an event
anonymous-nameless, without a disclosed identity
antagonist-foe, opponent, adversary
arid-extremely dry or deathly boring
assiduous-persistent, hard-working
asylum-sanctuary, shelter, place of refuge
benevolent-friendly and helpful
camaraderie-trust, sociability amongst friends
censure-to criticize harshly
circuitous-indirect, taking the longest route
clairvoyant-exceptionally insightful, able to foresee the future
collaborate-to cooperate, work together
compassion-sympathy, helpfulness or mercy
compromise-to settle a dispute by terms agreeable to both sides
condescending-possessing an attitude of superiority, patronizing
conditional-depending on a condition, e.g., in a contract
conformist-person who complies with accepted rules and customs
congregation-a crowd of people, an assembly
convergence-the state of separate elements joining or coming together
deleterious-harmful, destructive, detrimental
demagogue-leader, rabble-rouser, usually appealing to emotion or prejudice
digression-the act of turning aside, straying from the main point, esp. in a speech or argument
diligent-careful and hard-working
discredit-to harm the reputation of, dishonor or disgrace
disdain-to regard with scorn or contempt
divergent-separating, moving in different directions from a particular point
empathy-identification with the feelings of others
emulate-to imitate, follow an example
enervating-weakening, tiring
enhance-to improve, bring to a greater level of intensity
ephemeral-momentary, transient, fleeting
evanescent-quickly fading, short-lived, esp. an image
exasperation-irritation, frustration
exemplary-outstanding, an example to others
extenuating-excusing, lessening the seriousness of guilt or crime, e.g., of mitigating factors
florid-red-colored, flushed; gaudy, ornate
fortuitous-happening by luck, fortunate
frugal-thrifty, cheap
hackneyed-cliched, worn out by overuse
haughty-arrogant and condescending
hedonist-person who pursues pleasure as a goal
hypothesis-assumption, theory requiring proof
impetuous-rash, impulsive, acting without thinking
impute-to attribute an action to particular person or group
incompatible-opposed in nature, not able to live or work together
inconsequential-unimportant, trivial
inevitable-certain, unavoidable
integrity-decency, honesty, wholeness
intrepid-fearless, adventurous
intuitive-instinctive, untaught
jubilation-joy, celebration, exultation
lobbyist-person who seeks to influence political events
longevity-long life
mundane-ordinary, commonplace
nonchalant-calm, casual, seeming unexcited
novice-apprentice, beginner
opulent-wealthy
orator-lecturer, speaker
ostentatious-showy, displaying wealth
parched-dried up, shriveled
perfidious-faithless, disloyal, untrustworthy
precocious-unusually advanced or talented at an early age
pretentious-pretending to be important, intelligent or cultured
procrastinate-to unnecessarily delay, postpone, put off
prosaic-relating to prose; dull, commonplace
prosperity-wealth or success
provocative-tending to provoke a response, e.g., anger or disagreement
prudent-careful, cautious
querulous-complaining, irritable
rancorous-bitter, hateful
reclusive-preferring to live in isolation
reconciliation-the act of agreement after a quarrel, the resolution of a dispute
renovation-repair, making something new again
resilient-quick to recover, bounce back
restrained-controlled, repressed, restricted
reverence-worship, profound respect
sagacity-wisdom
scrutinize-to observe carefully
spontaneity-impulsive action, unplanned events
spurious-lacking authenticity, false
submissive-tending to meekness, to submit to the will of others
substantiate-to verify, confirm, provide supporting evidence
subtle-hard to detect or describe; perceptive
superficial-shallow, lacking in depth
superfluous-extra, more than enough, redundant
suppress-to end an activity, e.g., to prevent the dissemination of information
surreptitious-secret, stealthy
tactful-considerate, skillful in acting to avoid offense to others
tenacious-determined, keeping a firm grip on
transient-temporary, short-lived, fleeting
venerable-respected because of age
vindicate-to clear from blame or suspicion
wary-careful, cautious