This collection presents 32 SAT words that start with U, spanning from “Ubiquitous” to “Utopia”. Many of these words appear in formal reading passages and essay prompts, so they help improve comprehension and writing precision.
SAT words that start with U are useful, high-frequency vocabulary items you encounter on passages and essay questions. Several entries have literary roots; “utopia”—coined by Thomas More—remains a widely referenced example.
Below you’ll find the table with [COLUMN_NAMES].
Word: The vocabulary term itself, so you can quickly spot the target word and focus your memorization.
Difficulty: A short tag (easy/medium/hard) that helps you prioritize study time for words you find challenging.
Definition: A concise, dictionary-style meaning that gives you the essential sense you’ll need for reading or writing contexts.
Example Sentence: A single clear sentence showing typical usage, so you see how the word functions in natural context.
SAT words that start with U
| Word | Difficulty | Part of Speech | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubiquitous | medium | adj | Present, appearing, or found everywhere. |
| Umbrage | hard | noun | Offense, annoyance, or displeasure. |
| Unabashed | medium | adj | Not embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed. |
| Unassuming | medium | adj | Not pretentious or arrogant; modest. |
| Uncanny | medium | adj | Strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way. |
| Uncouth | hard | adj | Lacking good manners, refinement, or grace. |
| Unctuous | hard | adj | Excessively flattering or ingratiating; oily. |
| Undaunted | medium | adj | Not intimidated or discouraged by difficulty, danger, or disappointment. |
| Underlying | easy | adj | Fundamental; important but not obvious or explicit. |
| Undermine | medium | verb | To lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability of, often gradually. |
| Underscore | medium | verb | To emphasize the importance of something. |
| Undulate | hard | verb | To move with a smooth, wavelike motion. |
| Unfettered | hard | adj | Released from restraint or inhibition. |
| Unflappable | medium | adj | Having or showing calmness in a crisis. |
| Ungainly | medium | adj | Awkward or clumsy in movement or posture. |
| Unilateral | medium | adj | Performed by or affecting only one party, person, or country. |
| Unkempt | medium | adj | Having a disheveled or untidy appearance. |
| Unmitigated | hard | adj | Absolute; unqualified. |
| Unobtrusive | medium | adj | Not conspicuous or attracting attention; not blatant. |
| Unorthodox | medium | adj | Contrary to what is usual, traditional, or accepted. |
| Unprecedented | medium | adj | Never done or known before. |
| Unremitting | hard | adj | Never relaxing or slackening; incessant. |
| Unscrupulous | hard | adj | Having or showing no moral principles; dishonest or unfair. |
| Unseemly | hard | adj | Not proper or appropriate (of behavior or actions). |
| Untenable | hard | adj | Not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection. |
| Unwieldy | medium | adj | Difficult to carry or move because of its size, shape, or weight. |
| Unwitting | medium | adj | Not done on purpose; unintentional. |
| Upbraid | hard | verb | To find fault with someone; to scold. |
| Urbane | medium | adj | Suave, courteous, and refined in manner. |
| Usurp | hard | verb | To take a position of power or importance illegally or by force. |
| Utilitarian | medium | adj | Designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive. |
| Utopia | medium | noun | An imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect. |
Descriptions
Ubiquitous
From the Latin word for “everywhere,” it describes things that seem to be all around us. *Cell phones are now ubiquitous across the globe.*
Umbrage
This word is almost always used in the phrase “to take umbrage at” something. *He took umbrage at the suggestion that he was not trying his best.*
Unabashed
Describes bold or open behavior without any attempt to hide it. *She had an unabashed love for cheesy romantic comedies and wasn’t afraid to admit it.*
Unassuming
This describes a person who doesn’t show off their abilities or status. *Despite his fame, the actor was an unassuming and quiet man.*
Uncanny
Often describes a resemblance that is eerily accurate or a skill that seems supernatural. *She had an uncanny ability to predict what I was thinking.*
Uncouth
A strong word for someone who is crude or boorish. *His uncouth behavior at the dinner party shocked the other guests.*
Unctuous
This word has a negative connotation of insincerity, like a slimy, fake salesperson. *The unctuous waiter complimented our every choice, hoping for a bigger tip.*
Undaunted
Describes a spirit of perseverance in the face of challenges. *Undaunted by the storm, the climbers continued their ascent of the mountain.*
Underlying
Refers to the root cause or basis of something that isn’t immediately visible. *The underlying cause of the problem was a lack of clear communication.*
Undermine
Picture it as digging a mine under a foundation to make it weaker. *Constant criticism can undermine a person’s confidence.*
Underscore
Literally means to draw a line under, which is a way of highlighting text. *The report’s findings underscore the urgent need for policy changes.*
Undulate
Think of the movement of a snake, a flag in the wind, or rolling hills. *The fields of wheat undulated in the breeze.*
Unfettered
Fetter is a chain for the feet. To be unfettered is to be completely free. *The artist enjoyed the unfettered creativity of her new studio.*
Unflappable
Describes someone who remains calm and composed, even under intense pressure. *The pilot remained unflappable throughout the emergency landing.*
Ungainly
Often used to describe people or animals that move without grace. *The newborn foal was ungainly on its long, wobbly legs.*
Unilateral
From Latin *unus* (one) and *latus* (side), it means “one-sided.” *The president made a unilateral decision without consulting Congress.*
Unkempt
This word is typically used to describe a person’s hair, clothes, or general appearance. *After a long night of studying, his hair was wild and unkempt.*
Unmitigated
Often used to intensify a negative quality, meaning “complete” or “total.” *The whole project was an unmitigated disaster from start to finish.*
Unobtrusive
Describes something or someone that blends into the background. *The best waiters are unobtrusive, refilling glasses without interrupting conversation.*
Unorthodox
Often used to describe methods or beliefs that break from the norm. *Her unorthodox teaching methods were surprisingly effective.*
Unprecedented
This word is very common in news and historical analysis for unique events. *The company experienced unprecedented growth during the last quarter.*
Unremitting
Describes something that continues without interruption, often something unpleasant. *The region suffered from unremitting heat throughout the summer.*
Unscrupulous
Describes someone who will do anything, no matter how unethical, to get what they want. *The unscrupulous businessman cheated his partners out of their profits.*
Unseemly
Describes conduct that is not in good taste or violates social norms. *It was considered unseemly to laugh so loudly during the solemn ceremony.*
Untenable
Often used to describe a position, argument, or theory that is logically flawed. *His argument was untenable and quickly fell apart under questioning.*
Unwieldy
Can also be used for systems or processes that are clumsy or inefficient. *The old sofa was an unwieldy piece of furniture to get up the stairs.*
Unwitting
Describes a person who is unaware of the full facts of a situation. *He was an unwitting pawn in the company’s political games.*
Upbraid
A formal and strong word for telling someone off or rebuking them sternly. *The coach upbraided the team for their lack of effort during the game.*
Urbane
From the Latin word for “city,” it suggests the polished sophistication of a city-dweller. *He was an urbane and witty conversationalist.*
Usurp
Commonly used in contexts of politics and power, like seizing a throne. *The ambitious general attempted to usurp the queen’s authority.*
Utilitarian
Emphasizes function over form, often describing architecture, furniture, or a philosophy. *The school’s design was utilitarian, with few decorative features.*
Utopia
Coined by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book about an ideal island society. *The novel describes a futuristic utopia built on principles of equality.*