Barron's SAT I 3,500 Basic Word List

Comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards derived directly from Barron's SAT I 3,500 Basic Word List.

abase

lower; humiliate

abash

embarrass

abate

to become less strong

abbreviate

shorten

abdicate

renounce; give up

abduction

kidnapping

aberrant

abnormal or deviant

abet

to encourage or help someone do something wrong

abeyance

suspended action

abhor

detest; hate

abject

wretched; lacking pride

abjure

renounce upon oath

ablution

washing

abnegation

the act of giving up your own needs, desires, or interests

abolish

cancel; put an end to

abominable

detestable; extremely unpleasant; very bad

aboriginal

being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native

abortive

unsuccessful; fruitless

abrade

wear away by friction; scrape; erode

abrasive

rubbing away; tending to grind down

abridge

condense or shorten

abrogate

abolish

abscond

depart secretly and hide

absolute

complete; totally unlimited; certain

absolve

pardon (an offense)

absorb

assimilate or incorporate; suck or drink up; wholly engage

abstain

refrain; hold oneself back voluntarily from an action or practice

abstemious

sparing in eating and drinking; temperate

abstinence

restraint from eating or drinking

abstract

theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational

abstruse

obscure; profound; difficult to understand

abundant

plentiful; possessing riches or resources

abusive

coarsely insulting; physically harmful

abut

border upon; adjoin

abysmal

bottomless

abyss

enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit

academic

related to a school; not practical or directly useful

accede

agree

accelerate

move faster

accentuate

emphasize; stress

accessible

easy to approach; obtainable

accessory

additional object; useful but not essential thing

acclaim

applaud; announce with great approval

acclimate

adjust to climate

acclivity

sharp upslope of a hill

accolade

award of merit

accommodate

oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt

accomplice

partner in crime

accord

agreement

accost

approach and speak first to a person

accoutre

equip

accretion

growth; increase

accrue

come about by addition

acerbity

bitterness of speech and temper

acetic

vinegary

acidulous

slightly sour; sharp, caustic

acknowledge

recognize; admit

acme

top; pinnacle

acoustics

sound quality of a space or environment

acquiesce

assent; agree without protesting

acquire

obtain; get

acquittal

deliverance from a charge

acrid

sharp; bitterly pungent

acrimonious

bitter in words or manner

acrophobia

fear of heights

actuarial

calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics

actuate

motivate

acuity

sharpness

acumen

the ability to make quick and accurate judgments

acute

quickly perceptive; keen; brief and severe

adage

wise saying; proverb

adamant

hard; inflexible

adapt

to change or adjust to suit a new situation or purpose

addendum

an addition or supplement

addiction

compulsive, habitual need

addle

to confuse or muddle someone; become rotten

address

direct a speech to; deal with or discuss

adept

expert at

adhere

stick fast

adherent

supporter; follower

adjacent

adjoining; neighboring; close by

adjunct

something added on or attached (generally nonessential or inferior)

admonish

warn; reprove

admonition

warning

adorn

decorate

adroit

skillful

adulation

flattery; admiration

adulterate

to make something lower in quality by adding inferior or unwanted substances

advent

arrival

adventitious

accidental; casual

adversary

opponent

adverse

unfavorable; hostile

adversity

poverty; misfortune

advocacy

public support for a particular idea, cause, or policy

advocate

urge; plead for

aerie

nest of a large bird of prey (eagle, hawk)

aesthetic

artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciation of the beautiful

affable

easily approachable; warmly friendly

affected

artificial; pretended; assumed in order to impress

affidavit

written statement made under oath