SAT First 300 Vocabulary Terms

abase

to humiliate, degrade, or lower someone's status

abate

to reduce in intensity, lessen, or die down

abdicate

to step down from a position of power or responsibility

abduct

to kidnap or carry off by force

aberration

something unusual or departing from the normal standard

abet

to assist or encourage someone, usually in doing something wrong

abhor

to hate deeply or detest

abide

to tolerate, accept, or follow rules ("abide by")

abject

extremely miserable, hopeless, or degrading

abjure

to formally renounce, reject, or give up a belief or claim

abnegation

the act of renouncing or rejecting something; self-denial

abort

to end or abandon prematurely before completion

abridge

to shorten or condense a text without losing the core meaning

abrogate

to formally abolish, repeal, or cancel a law or rule

abscond

to secretly run away and hide, usually taking something stolen

absolution

formal forgiveness or release from guilt/sin

abstain

to choose not to do something or refrain voluntarily

abstruse

difficult to understand; obscure or overly complex

accede

to agree to a demand or request; to enter an office

accentuate

to emphasize or make more noticeable

accessible

easy to reach, enter, or understand

acclaim

enthusiastic public praise and approval

accolade

an award, honor, or expression of high praise

accommodating

helpful, obliging, and willing to adjust for others

accord

an official agreement, harmony, or consensus

accost

to confront or approach someone aggressively

accretion

a gradual buildup or increase by addition of layers

acerbic

sharp, biting, or sarcastic in tone or taste

acquiesce

to agree or accept reluctantly without protesting

acrimony

bitterness, anger, or ill feeling

acumen

quick insight and ability to make good judgments

acute

sharp, severe, or having a keen perceptive mind

adamant

refusing to change one's mind; stubbornly unyielding

adept

highly skilled or proficient at something

adhere

to stick firmly to a surface or strictly follow a rule/belief

admonish

to warn, caution, or gently scold someone

adorn

to decorate or make more beautiful

adroit

clever, skillful, or adept in physical or mental actions

adulation

excessive praise, flattery, or admiration

adumbrate

to outline vaguely, foreshadow, or faintly indicate

adverse

harmful, unfavorable, or working against success

advocate

to publicly support or recommend an idea/cause

aerial

occurring in the air or operating from the sky

aesthetic

relating to beauty, art, and visual appeal

affable

friendly, good-natured, and easy to talk to

affinity

a natural liking, attraction, or close connection

affluent

wealthy, rich, and having abundant resources

affront

an open, deliberate insult or offense

aggrandize

to increase power, wealth, or status; to exaggerate importance

aggregate

a total collection or combination of various elements

aggrieved

feeling resentful, unfairly treated, or wronged

agile

able to move or think quickly and easily

agnostic

doubting or claiming that ultimate truth (like God) is unknown

agriculture

the science or practice of farming and cultivating crops

aisle

a passage between rows of seats or shelves

alacrity

eager, cheerful readiness and quickness

alias

a false name or identity used temporarily

allay

to calm, soothe, or reduce fears/doubts

allege

to claim someone has done something without yet proving it

alleviate

to relieve, reduce, or make suffering less severe

allocate

to assign, distribute, or set aside resources for a purpose

aloof

distant, detached, or uninvolved in attitude

altercation

a noisy, heated argument or confrontation

amalgamate

to combine, merge, or blend into a unified whole

ambiguous

unclear, open to multiple interpretations

ambivalent

having mixed, conflicting, or uncertain feelings

ameliorate

to make a bad situation better; to improve

amenable

agreeable, open to suggestions, and easily persuaded

amenity

a desirable feature that provides comfort or convenience

amiable

warm, pleasant, friendly, and agreeable

amicable

peaceful and settled without conflict or hostility

amorous

expressing or showing strong romantic or sexual desire

amorphous

lacking a clear shape, structure, or defined form

anachronistic

out of its proper historical time period; old-fashioned

analgesic

a medication or substance that relieves pain

analogous

comparable or similar in a way that helps explain

anarchist

a person who opposes all forms of government or authority

anathema

something or someone intensely hated, loathed, or cursed

anecdote

a short, interesting, or amusing personal story

anesthesia

loss of sensation or feeling, medically induced

anguish

severe mental suffering, agony, or physical pain

animated

lively, full of energy, and expressive

annex

to add, attach, or take over territory by force/law

annul

to declare invalid or officially cancel (like a contract or marriage)

anomaly

something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected

anonymous

having an unknown, undisclosed, or uncredited name

antagonism

active hostility, opposition, or conflict

antecedent

something that came before or preceded another thing

antediluvian

extremely old-fashioned, prehistoric, or out of date

anthology

a published collection of poems, stories, or writings

antipathy

a deep-seated feeling of dislike, hatred, or aversion

antiquated

old-fashioned, outdated, and no longer useful

antiseptic

thoroughly clean, sterile, and free from contamination

antithesis

the direct opposite of something

anxiety

a state of intense worry, nervousness, or unease

apathetic

showing no interest, concern, enthusiasm, or care

apocryphal

of doubtful authenticity, though widely believed as true

appalling

causing shock, horror, or severe dismay

appease

to calm or pacify someone by giving in to their demands

appraise

to assess the value, quality, or performance of something