Sat words to know

Abate

to become less active, less intense, or less in amount

Abstract

existing purely in the mind; not representing actual reality

Abysmal

extremely bad

Accordingly

in accordance with

Acquisition

the act of gaining a skill or possession of something

Adapt

to make suit a new purpose; to accommodate oneself to a new condition, setting, or situation

Adept

having knowledge or skill (usu. in a particular area)

Adequate

having sufficient qualifications to meet a specific task or purpose

Advent

the arrival or creation of something (usu. historic)

Adversarial

relating to hostile opposition

Advocate

someone who promotes or defends something; to defend or promote something (usu. a belief, theory, opinion, etc.)

Aesthetic

relating to beauty or refined taste

Afford

to be able to buy; to be able to spare

Agitate

to promote something (usu. a cause)

Allow

to permit or consent to

Allude

to make a secretive mention of something

Altercation

a noisy argument or confrontation

Ambiguous

unclear or vague in meaning

Ambitious

having a powerful desire for success or achievement

Ambivalence

the state of being uncertain or stuck between two or more options

Analogous

similar but not identical

Annihilate

to destroy or cause devastating destruction

Anomaly

something different from the norm

Anticipate

assume to be likely to happen

Antipathy

a strong feeling of dislike

Apex

the highest point of something

Apprehension

fearful expectation of something

Articulate

to clearly express in words

Artificial

something made; not occurring naturally

Assertion

a strong declaration

Austere

extremely plain; stern and forbidding; relating to self-denial

Authenticity

the quality of being real and true instead of fake and contrived

Avenue

an intangible path or approach to something

Avid

actively interested in or enthusiastic about something

Basic

relating to the foundation or basis of something

Bear

to have as a characteristic; to have (a child); to bring forth; to put up with

Benevolent

kind, generous

Bias

a preconception that prevents objectivity

Bittersweet

tinged with a feeling of sadness

Bolster

to support, strengthen, or fortify

Boost

an increase or growth; to increase or make grow

Brawl

an intense, loud fight; to fight loudly and disruptively

Brevity

the quality of being brief or terse

Candid

direct, blunt

Candor

the trait of being honest and frank

Capitalize

to use to your advantage

Capture

to trap or take possession of; to successfully represent or imitate; to captivate, mesmerize; to catch or seize

Civic

relating to the city or citizens

Clinical

emotionally unattached (usu. used in medical or scientific setting)

Clout

special advantage or power

Dominion

Power and authority, usually over a territory

Dreary

Sad, gloomy, dull

Dubious

Doubtful, questionable

Eccentric

Peculiar or odd; deviating from the norm

Egregious

Extremely bad

Eloquent

Having refined or expressive communication skills (in speaking or writing)

Eminent

Superior or distinguished; high in position or status

Emit

To discharge, give forth, or release

Emphatic

Very expressive; using emphasis

Empirical

Derived from experience, observation, or an experiment

Endow

To equip or bestow (usually a quality or ability)

Endure

To withstand, sustain, or hold out against

Entail

To involve or include

Entrenched

Firmly established

Enumerate

To specify or count

Envy

Excessive jealousy

Erratic

Having no fixed course; deviating from the norm

Establish

To enact; to found (a business, group, school, etc.)

Evoke

To draw forth or call up

Exacerbate

To make worse or increase the severity of

Excel

To do something extremely well or to be superior in

Exert

To put into use (usually as effort)

Exhilarating

Invigorating, stimulating, or exciting

Expend

To use up (as in energy or money)

Exploit

To use selfishly or for profit

Facilitate

To aid the progress of

Feasibility

The practicality or possibility of something

Ferocity

Viciousness, violence

Fiscal

Related to (government) money

Flourish

To prosper, grow, or make fast progress

Fluctuate

To be unstable; to rise and fall

Foment

To stir up

Foreseeable

Capable of being predicted or anticipated

Frankly

Directly, clearly

Freewheeling

Carefree

Fundamental

The most essential or most basic part

Galvanizing

Thrilling, exciting, stimulating

Geriatric

Relating to old age

Hostile

Harmful, dangerous

Hypothetical

Supposed; related to a hypothesis

Refute

to prove to be untrue, unfounded, or incorrect

Reinforce

to strengthen or add support to

Reluctantly

somewhat unwillingly

Renounce

to give up (usu. power or a position), to cast off

Reproach

to criticize

Repudiate

to refuse to recognize as true, to cast off

Retention

the act of keeping something

Satiated

satisfied (usu. in hunger)

Savvy

having practical intelligence or knowledge

Scandalous

morally offensive, often causing damage to one’s reputation