35 words the Digital SAT draws on when a passage turns to success and failure — 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 success and failure as a spectrum rather than as 35 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 35 words
Alphabetical. Everything in the Success & Failure guide.
001
abortiveadjective
failing to produce the intended result
The abortive attempt was abandoned.
002
accomplishedadjective
highly trained or skilled
She was an accomplished pianist.
003
accomplishmentnoun
something that has been achieved successfully
Graduating from medical school was her greatest accomplishment.
004
ascendverb
to go up or climb
She ascended to the position of CEO.
005
auspiciousadjective
conducive to success; favorable
The sunny weather was an auspicious sign.
006
capitulateverb
to cease to resist; to surrender
The rebels finally capitulated.
007
catastrophicadjective
causing sudden great damage or suffering
The earthquake had catastrophic effects on the coastal region.
008
completedverb
finished; brought to an end
She completed the marathon in under four hours.
009
conquerverb
to overcome and take control of
She conquered her fears.
010
disastrousadjective
causing great damage or harm; extremely unfortunate
The disastrous hurricane left thousands of people homeless.
011
finishingverb/noun
completing or bringing to an end; the final treatment of a surface
She is finishing her thesis before the graduation deadline.
012
flounderingadjective
struggling or making mistakes
The floundering company needed help.
013
flourishingadjective
developing rapidly and successfully
The flourishing business expanded globally.
014
fruitfuladjective
producing good results
The fruitful collaboration yielded results.
015
fruitlessadjective
failing to achieve the desired result; unproductive
After hours of fruitless searching, we gave up looking for the lost ring.
016
fruitlessadjective
failing to achieve the desired results
Their fruitless search continued for days.
017
fulfillsverb
carries out or brings to completion; satisfies requirements
The new policy fulfills the promise made during the campaign.
018
futileadjective
incapable of producing any useful result
Their futile attempts to escape failed.
019
ineffectualadjective
not producing the desired effect
The ineffectual leader was replaced.
020
languishingadjective
failing to make progress; weak
The languishing project was revived.
021
obtainverb
to get or acquire something through effort
She worked hard to obtain her medical license.
022
obtainedverb
acquired or gained through effort
The researcher obtained permission to access the archives.
023
ominousadjective
giving the impression that something bad will happen
The ominous clouds gathered overhead.
024
overcomeverb
to succeed in dealing with a problem or difficulty
She managed to overcome her fear of public speaking.
025
prevailverb
to prove more powerful than opposing forces
Justice will prevail in the end.
026
resolvedverb/adjective
settled or found a solution to a problem; firmly determined to do something
The dispute was finally resolved through mediation.
027
successfuladjective
accomplishing a desired aim or result; having achieved fame or prosperity
The campaign was successful in raising awareness about the issue.
028
succumbverb
to fail to resist pressure, temptation, or some negative force
After hours of negotiation, he finally succumbed to their demands.
029
succumbverb
to fail to resist pressure or temptation
He succumbed to the disease.
030
surpassedverb
exceeded; was greater than
The results surpassed all our expectations.
031
surrenderedverb
gave up possession of something; stopped fighting or resisting
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.
