31 words the Digital SAT draws on when a passage turns to beauty and ugliness — each with its part of speech, a plain-English definition, and an example sentence showing how it behaves in context.
Vocabulary on the Digital SAT is tested in context, not in isolation: a Words in Context question hands you a sentence with a blank and four plausible-looking candidates, and the winner is the one whose shade of meaning fits. Studying words in a meaning-group like this one is the fastest way to build that discrimination — you learn beauty and ugliness as a spectrum rather than as 31 unrelated definitions.
Read the definition, then the example sentence. Say the word aloud. Come back to this theme a few days later and cover the definitions — recalling a word cold is what fixes it, and rereading it is not.
The 31 words
Alphabetical. Everything in the Beauty & Ugliness guide.
001
adornverb
to decorate or add beauty to something
Fresh flowers adorn the tables at the wedding reception.
002
aestheticadjective
concerned with beauty or art
The aesthetic appeal drew visitors.
003
attractiveadjective
pleasing to look at; appealing
The attractive storefront display drew many customers inside.
004
blemishnoun
a flaw or imperfection that spoils appearance
A small blemish on the painting reduced its auction value.
005
clumsyadjective
awkward in movement or handling things
His clumsy attempt made things worse.
006
coarseadjective
rough in texture; unrefined
The coarse fabric irritated her skin.
007
crudeadjective
in a natural state; lacking refinement
The crude drawing showed talent.
008
decorateverb
to make something look more attractive by adding ornaments or embellishments
They hired a professional to decorate the venue for the wedding reception.
009
decorationsnoun
ornaments or embellishments used to make something look more attractive
The holiday decorations transformed the plain room into a festive space.
010
drabadjective
lacking brightness or interest
The drab decor needed updating.
011
dulladjective
lacking interest or excitement
The dull colors matched his mood.
012
elegantadjective
graceful and stylish in appearance
The elegant gown attracted attention.
013
exquisiteadjective
extremely beautiful and delicate
The exquisite jewelry was handcrafted.
014
gorgeousadjective
beautiful; very attractive
The gorgeous sunset painted the sky.
015
gracefuladjective
having elegance of form or movement
The graceful dancer captivated audiences.
016
grotesqueadjective
comically or repulsively ugly
The grotesque mask frightened children.
017
hideousadjective
extremely ugly
The hideous wallpaper had to go.
018
magnificentadjective
impressively beautiful, elaborate, or extravagant
The magnificent castle dominated the hillside.
019
melodicadjective
having a pleasant tune; relating to melody
The melodic sound of the violin filled the concert hall with beauty.
020
ornamentaladjective
serving as decoration; not functional
The ornamental gate at the entrance was purely decorative.
021
ornateadjective
elaborately decorated
The ornate ceiling featured gold leaf.
022
picturesqueadjective
visually attractive, especially in a quaint way
The picturesque village charmed visitors.
023
radiantadjective
sending out light; shining brightly
The bride looked radiant.
024
refinedadjective
elegant and cultured
Her refined manners impressed everyone.
025
repulsiveadjective
arousing intense distaste or disgust
The repulsive smell drove them away.
026
resplendentadjective
impressive through being richly colorful
The resplendent palace dazzled tourists.
027
stainedverb/adjective
marked or discolored with something difficult to remove
Test Ninjas puts these words back where you will meet them — full-length adaptive practice tests, a complete Reading & Writing course, and an explanation on every question. Free account, no card.
