This list includes 62 SAT words that start with F, from “fabricate” to “futile”. These entries are practical, exam-focused vocabulary useful for reading passages, essay writing, and targeted review.
SAT words that start with F are vocabulary items you’ll see in passages, prompts, and practice tests. Many come from Latin or Old French, so their forms and meanings often reflect centuries of language contact.
Below you’ll find the table with Word, Difficulty, Definition, and Example sentence.
Word: The written vocabulary item; you use it to search, study, or recognize the term in test materials.
Difficulty: A quick easy/medium/hard marker so you prioritize study time and focus on higher-yield items during prep.
Definition: A concise one-line dictionary-style definition that helps you grasp meaning and remember usage without confusing jargon.
Example sentence: A single clear sentence showing normal usage so you see how the word fits context and tone.
SAT words that start with F
| Word | Part of speech | Difficulty | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| fabricate | verb | easy | He would fabricate a story to explain his absence. |
| facetious | adjective | medium | Her facetious remark was not appreciated in the serious meeting. |
| facile | adjective | medium | He offered a facile solution to a complex problem. |
| facilitate | verb | easy | The new software will facilitate better communication. |
| faction | noun | medium | A faction within the party disagreed with the leadership. |
| fallacy | noun | easy | The idea that money buys happiness is a common fallacy. |
| fallacious | adjective | medium | His fallacious reasoning led him to the wrong conclusion. |
| fanatical | adjective | medium | He was a fanatical supporter of his favorite team. |
| fastidious | adjective | hard | The fastidious editor checked every comma and period. |
| fathom | verb | medium | I cannot fathom why he would make such a choice. |
| fatuous | adjective | hard | They laughed at his fatuous comment during the debate. |
| fawn | verb | medium | The interns would fawn over the CEO, hoping for a promotion. |
| feasible | adjective | easy | The plan to build the bridge in one year was feasible. |
| feckless | adjective | hard | The feckless manager could not control his team. |
| fecund | adjective | hard | The fecund soil produced an abundance of crops. |
| feign | verb | medium | She would feign illness to avoid going to school. |
| felicitous | adjective | hard | Her speech was filled with felicitous phrases. |
| fervent | adjective | easy | He was a fervent supporter of human rights. |
| fervor | noun | easy | The crowd cheered with great fervor for their team. |
| fetter | verb | medium | Laws can fetter the actions of even the most powerful. |
| fiasco | noun | medium | The birthday party turned into a complete fiasco. |
| fickle | adjective | medium | The fickle weather changed from sunny to rainy in minutes. |
| fidelity | noun | medium | He valued fidelity and loyalty above all else. |
| figurative | adjective | easy | My hands are tied is a figurative expression. |
| finesse | noun | medium | She handled the difficult negotiation with great finesse. |
| flag | verb | medium | My energy began to flag after hours of studying. |
| flagrant | adjective | medium | It was a flagrant violation of the rules. |
| flaunt | verb | medium | He would flaunt his new car around the neighborhood. |
| fleeting | adjective | easy | We only had a fleeting glimpse of the rare bird. |
| flippant | adjective | medium | His flippant attitude was inappropriate at the funeral. |
| florid | adjective | hard | His writing was too florid, full of unnecessary adjectives. |
| flounder | verb | medium | The student began to flounder in the advanced math class. |
| flourish | verb | easy | The arts began to flourish during the Renaissance. |
| flout | verb | medium | He chose to flout the law by speeding. |
| fluctuate | verb | easy | The price of gasoline can fluctuate daily. |
| flummox | verb | hard | The confusing instructions completely flummoxed him. |
| foible | noun | medium | His only foible was an obsession with cleanliness. |
| foil | verb | medium | The detective managed to foil the criminal’s plan. |
| foment | verb | hard | The rebel leader tried to foment a revolution. |
| forage | verb | medium | The deer would forage for food in the forest. |
| forbearance | noun | hard | He showed great forbearance in dealing with the unruly child. |
| foreboding | noun | medium | A sense of foreboding filled the dark, silent house. |
| foresight | noun | easy | She had the foresight to book the tickets in advance. |
| forestall | verb | medium | He bought extra supplies to forestall any shortages. |
| forgo | verb | medium | I will forgo dessert to stick to my diet. |
| formidable | adjective | easy | The champion was a formidable opponent. |
| formulate | verb | easy | The team had to formulate a new strategy. |
| forsake | verb | medium | He would never forsake his friends in a time of need. |
| fortitude | noun | medium | She showed great fortitude during her long illness. |
| fortuitous | adjective | medium | Their fortuitous meeting led to a lifelong friendship. |
| foster | verb | easy | The teacher’s goal was to foster a love of reading. |
| founder | verb | medium | The ship foundered in the storm and sank. |
| fractious | adjective | hard | The fractious crowd began to argue and shout. |
| frank | adjective | easy | Please be frank with me about my performance. |
| frenetic | adjective | medium | The city has a frenetic, bustling energy. |
| frivolous | adjective | easy | He was criticized for his frivolous spending habits. |
| frugal | adjective | easy | The frugal couple saved money by cooking at home. |
| fulminate | verb | hard | He would fulminate against the government’s new policies. |
| fulsome | adjective | hard | She was embarrassed by the fulsome praise from her boss. |
| fundamental | adjective | easy | Understanding grammar is fundamental to writing well. |
| furtive | adjective | medium | He cast a furtive glance at the secret document. |
| futile | adjective | easy | Their attempts to stop the flooding were futile. |
Descriptions
fabricate
To invent or concoct something, typically with deceitful intent. Often tested on the SAT in contexts of lies or false evidence.
facetious
Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor. A key tone word for reading comprehension passages.
facile
Appearing neat and comprehensive by ignoring complexities; superficial. On the SAT, it often has a negative connotation.
facilitate
To make a process or action easy or easier. A common word in academic and scientific texts.
faction
A small, organized, dissenting group within a larger one. Relevant for passages on politics or history.
fallacy
A mistaken belief based on an unsound argument. Important for analyzing arguments in SAT reading passages.
fallacious
Based on a mistaken belief or unsound logic. An adjectival form of ‘fallacy’ frequently seen on the exam.
fanatical
Filled with excessive and single-minded zeal. Often used to describe extreme belief systems or behaviors.
fastidious
Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail. Describes someone who is meticulous or hard to please.
fathom
To understand a difficult problem after much thought. Often used for concepts that are hard to grasp.
fatuous
Silly and pointless; complacently or inanely foolish. A strong word to describe a foolish idea or person.
fawn
To give a servile and exaggerated display of flattery. A common word for describing sycophantic behavior.
feasible
Possible to do easily or conveniently. A key word for evaluating plans and proposals in passages.
feckless
Lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible. Describes someone who is ineffective and weak.
fecund
Producing or capable of producing an abundance of new growth; fertile. Can also describe a creative, fertile mind.
feign
To pretend to be affected by a feeling or injury. A useful word for understanding character motivation.
felicitous
Well chosen or suited to the circumstances; apt. Can also mean pleasing and fortunate.
fervent
Having or displaying a passionate intensity. A good word for describing strong emotions or beliefs.
fervor
Intense and passionate feeling. The noun form of ‘fervent,’ often used in similar contexts.
fetter
To restrain with chains or manacles; to restrict. Used literally and, on the SAT, more often figuratively.
fiasco
A thing that is a complete and ludicrous failure. A strong word that implies a disastrous and embarrassing outcome.
fickle
Changing frequently, especially regarding one’s loyalties or affections. Describes something or someone unreliable.
fidelity
Faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, shown by continuing loyalty. Important for themes of trust and commitment.
figurative
Departing from a literal use of words; metaphorical. Key for analyzing language and literary devices.
finesse
Intricate and refined delicacy in action or speech. Describes skillful and subtle handling of a situation.
flag
To become tired, weaker, or less enthusiastic. A critical secondary meaning of a common word.
flagrant
Conspicuously or obviously offensive. Describes something shockingly bad that is done openly.
flaunt
To display something ostentatiously to provoke envy or admiration. Often confused with ‘flout’, so it’s a good SAT word.
fleeting
Lasting for a very short time. A common word used to describe moments, emotions, or opportunities.
flippant
Not showing a serious or respectful attitude. A useful tone word for describing characters or arguments.
florid
Elaborately or excessively intricate or complicated. Often used to criticize overly ornate language or style.
flounder
To struggle or stagger helplessly or clumsily. Often used to describe struggling with a task or in a situation.
flourish
To grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way. A positive word indicating success and vitality.
flout
To openly disregard a rule, law, or convention. Often tested alongside its near-homophone, ‘flaunt’.
fluctuate
To rise and fall irregularly in number or amount. A key term in science and social studies passages.
flummox
To perplex someone greatly; bewilder. A more informal but useful word for describing a state of confusion.
foible
A minor weakness or eccentricity in someone’s character. Describes a harmless character flaw or quirk.
foil
To prevent something considered wrong from succeeding. A classic verb used in stories about heroes and villains.
foment
To instigate or stir up an undesirable course of action. Often used in the context of political unrest.
forage
To search widely for food or provisions. A common word in passages about animal behavior or early humans.
forbearance
Patient self-control; restraint and tolerance. A virtue often described in character analyses.
foreboding
A feeling that something bad will happen; fearful apprehension. A key mood and tone word in literature passages.
foresight
The ability to predict what will happen or be needed in the future. A positive quality of a good planner or leader.
forestall
To prevent or obstruct something by taking action ahead of time. Implies anticipation and pre-emptive action.
forgo
To go without something desirable. Often appears in contexts of sacrifice or making choices.
formidable
Inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large or powerful. Can describe a person, task, or obstacle.
formulate
To create or devise methodically. A common word in passages about science, planning, or policy.
forsake
To abandon or desert someone or something. A strong word for abandonment, often of a principle or person.
fortitude
Courage in pain or adversity. Describes mental and emotional strength, not just physical.
fortuitous
Happening by a lucky chance. Often mistaken for ‘fortunate,’ but specifically implies chance or accident.
foster
To encourage or promote the development of something. A positive verb often used in academic contexts.
founder
To fill with water and sink; to fail or break down. The second meaning (to fail) is very common on the SAT.
fractious
Irritable and quarrelsome; difficult to control. Describes unruly people or groups.
frank
Open, honest, and direct in speech or writing. Describes straightforward communication.
frenetic
Fast and energetic in a wild and uncontrolled way. Describes a pace or activity that is frantic.
frivolous
Not having any serious purpose or value. Describes things that are silly, trivial, or self-indulgent.
frugal
Sparing or economical with regard to money or food; thrifty. A character trait often contrasted with extravagance.
fulminate
To express vehement protest. Describes a loud, angry, and forceful verbal attack or denunciation.
fulsome
Complimentary or flattering to an excessive, and therefore insincere, degree. A tricky word that seems positive but is negative.
fundamental
Forming a necessary base or core; of central importance. A key word for identifying main ideas and principles.
furtive
Attempting to avoid notice, typically because of guilt; secretive. Describes sneaky or stealthy actions.
futile
Incapable of producing any useful result; pointless. A common word to describe a hopeless or useless effort.