SAT vocab

a complement to

something that completes or enhances

a stipulation for

a required condition for

a surrogate for

a substitute for

abase

to humiliate, degrade

abate

to reduce, lessen

abdicate

to give up a position, usually one of leadership

abduct

to kidnap, take by force

aberration

something that differs from the norm

abet

to aid, help, encourage

abhor

to hate, detest

abide

to put up with; to remain

abject

wretched, pitiful

abjure

to reject, renounce

abnegation

denial of comfort to oneself

abort

to give up on a half-finished project or effort

abridge

to cut down, shorten; shortened

abrogate

to abolish, usually by authority

abrupt

sudden and unexpected; brief in manner

abscond

to sneak away and hide

absolution

freedom from blame, guilt, sin

abstain

to freely choose not to commit an action

abstruse

hard to comprehend

accede

to agree

accentuate

to stress, highlight

acceptable

satisfactory or able to be approved

accessible

obtainable, reachable

accidental

happening by chance rather than intention

acclaim

high praise

accolade

high praise, special distinction

boon

a gift or blessing

bourgeois

a middle-class person, capitalist

brazen

excessively bold, brash

brusque

short, abrupt, dismissive

buffet

to strike with force; an arrangement of food set out on a table

burnish

to polish, shine

buttress

to support, hold up; something that offers support

cacophony

tremendous noise, disharmonious sound

cadence

a rhythm, progression of sound

cajole

to urge, coax

calamity

an event with disastrous consequences

calibrate

to set, standardize

callous

harsh, cold, unfeeling

calumny

an attempt to spoil someone else's reputation by spreading lies

camaraderie

brotherhood, jovial unity

candor

honesty, frankness

canny

shrewd, careful

canvas

a piece of cloth on which an artist paints; to cover, inspect

capacious

very spacious

capitulate

to surrender

capricious

subject to whim, fickle

captivate

to get the attention of, hold

careful

taking pains to avoid error or harm

carouse

to party, celebrate

carp

to annoy, pester

catalog

to list, enter into a list; a list or collection

catalyze

to charge, inspire

catastrophic

causing sudden and severe damage

caucus

a meeting usually held by people working toward the same goal

cumulative

increasing, building upon itself

cunning

sly, clever at being deceitful