Barron's SAT High-Frequency Word List

Abate

To subside or moderate.

Aberrant

Abnormal or deviant.

Abrasive

Tending to grind down or rub away.

Abridge

To condense or shorten.

Abstemious

Sparing in eating and drinking; temperate.

Abstract

Theoretical; not concrete.

Abstruse

Obscure; difficult to understand.

Accessible

Easy to approach; obtainable.

Acclaim

To applaud; announce with great approval.

Accolade

Award of merit.

Acknowledge

To recognize or admit.

Acquiesce

To assent or agree without protesting.

Acrimonious

Bitter in words or manner.

Acute

Quickly perceptive; keen.

Adherent

Supporter; follower.

Adjacent

Neighboring; adjoining.

Adroit

Skillful; nimble.

Adulation

Flattery; admiration.

Adversary

Opponent.

Adverse

Unfavorable; hostile.

Advocate

To urge or plead for.

Aesthetic

Dealing with or capable of appreciation of the beautiful.

Affable

Easily approachable; warmly friendly.

Affinity

Natural liking; kinship; similarity.

Affirmation

Positive assertion; confirmation.

Aggressor

Attacker.

Alienate

To make hostile; separate.

Alleviate

To relieve.

Aloof

Reserved or standoffish.

Altruistic

Unselfishly generous.

Ambiguous

Unclear or doubtful in meaning.

Ambivalence

State of having contradictory emotional attitudes.

Amend

To correct; change generally for the better.

Amorphous

Formless; lacking shape.

Ample

Abundant.

Analogy

Similarity; parallelism.

Anarchist

Person who seeks to overturn established government.

Anecdote

Short account of an amusing or interesting event.

Animosity

Active enmity.

Antagonistic

Hostile; opposed.

Antidote

Medicine to counteract a poison.

Antiquated

Old-fashioned; obsolete.

Antithesis

Contrast; direct opposite.

Apathy

Lack of caring; indifference.

Apocryphal

Untrue; made up.

Appease

To pacify or soothe.

Apprehension

Fear; discernment.

Arable

Fit for growing crops.

Arbitrary

Unreasonable or capricious.

Archaic

Old-fashioned.

Ardor

Heat; passion.

Ardently

Showing strong feelings; passionately.

Arid

Dry; barren.

Arrogance

Pride; haughtiness.

Articulate

Effective; distinct.

Artifact

Object made by human beings.

Ascendancy

Controlling influence.

Ascetic

Practicing self-denial; austere.

Aspire

Seek to attain.

Assuage

Ease or lessen pain.

Astute

Wise; shrewd.

Atrophy

To waste away.

Attentive

Considerate; thoughtful.

Attribute

To ascribe or explain.

Audacious

Daring; bold.

Augment

Increase; add to.

Austerity

Sternness; severity.

Authentic

Genuine.

Authoritarian

Exercising total control.

Autonomous

Self-governing.

Aversion

Firm dislike.

Banal

Hackneyed; commonplace.

Bane

Cause of ruin.

Belie

To contradict.

Belligerent

Quarrelsome.

Benevolent

Generous; charitable.

Benign

Kindly; favorable.

Bequeath

Leave to someone by a will.

Biased

Slanted; prejudiced.

Bland

Soothing; mild; dull.

Blasphemy

Irreverence; sacrilege.

Bolster

Support; reinforce.

Braggart

Boastful person.

Brawn

Muscular strength.

Brevity

Conciseness.

Cacophonous

Discordant; inharmonious.

Cajole

Coax; wheedle.

Calculated

Deliberately planned.

Candor

Frankness.

Capricious

Fickle; incalculable.

Caricature

Distortion.

Censorious

Critical.

Certitude

Certainty.

Charlatan

Quack.

Chronicle

To report; record.

Civil

Having to do with citizens.

Clamor

Noise.

Clemency

Disposition to be lenient.

Coercion

Use of force to get compliance.

Commemorate

Honor memory of.