inveterate

Verb

Hard difficulty

What does “inveterate” mean?

verb.having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change.

SAT Usage

this term often appears in contexts related to personal habits, behaviors, or characteristics, especially in discussions of addiction or deep-seated tendencies. It emphasizes a sense of permanence and resistance to change, distinguishing it from similar words like "habitual," which may not carry the same weight of entrenched behavior.

Common Confusions

Inveterate implies a deep-rooted and unchanging habit, while habitual usually suggests a regular practice that may still be subject to change or variation.

Do not choose inveterate if the context emphasizes a temporary or fleeting behavior rather than a long-established habit, activity, or interest that is unlikely to change.

Example Sentences

He was an inveterate traveler who had visited sixty countries.
He was an inveterate gambler who could not resist the casino.

Word Parts: How to Remember “inveterate”

Break “inveterate” into its parts: in- (into). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

Prefix: in- into (Latin)

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