most common SAT words

the term and definition of the words

abate

to reduce, lessen

abase

to humiliate, degrade

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

abject

wretched, pitiful

abjure

to reject, renounce

abort

to give up on a half-finished project or effort

abridge

to cut down, shorten

abrogate

to abolish, usually by authority

abide

to put up with

abnegation

denial of comfort to oneself

abstruse

hard to comprehend

accentuate

to stress, highlight

abscond

to sneak away and hide

absolution

freedom from blame, guilt, sin

abstain

to freely choose not to commit an action

accede

to agree.

acclaim

high praise

accessible

obtainable, reachable

accolade

high praise, special distinction

accord

an agreement

acerbic

biting, bitter in tone or taste

acquiesce

to agree without protesting

acrimony

bitterness, discord

acumen

keen insight

acute

sharp, severe

adamant

impervious, immovable, unyielding

adept

extremely skilled

adhere

to stick to something

admonish

to caution, criticize, reprove

adorn

to decorate

adroit

skillful, dexterous

adulation

extreme praise

adumbrate

to sketch out in a vague way

adverse

antagonistic, unfavorable, dangerous

advocate

to argue in favor of something

aerial

somehow related to the air

aesthetic

artistic, related to the appreciation of beauty

affable

friendly, amiable

affinity

a spontaneous feeling of closeness

affluent

rich, wealthy

affront

an insult

aggrandize

to increase or make greater

aggregate

a whole or total

aggrieved

distressed, wronged, injured

agile

quick, nimble

agnostic

believing that the existence of God cannot be proven or disproven

agriculture

farming

aisle

a passageway between rows of seats

alacrity

eagerness, speed

alias

a false name or identity

allay

to soothe, ease

allege

to assert, usually without proof

alleviate

to relieve, make more bearable

allocate

to distribute, set aside

aloof

reserved, distant

altercation

a dispute, fight

amalgamate

to bring together, unite

ambiguous

uncertain, variably interpretable

ambivalent

having opposing feelings

ameliorate

to improve

amenable

willing, compliant

amenity

an item that increases comfort

amiable

friendly

amorous

showing love, particularly sexual

amorphous

without definite shape or type

anachronistic

being out of correct chronological order

analgesic

something that reduces pain

analogous

similar to, so that an analogy can be drawn

anarchist

one who wants to eliminate all government

anathema

a cursed, detested person

anecdote

a short, humorous account

anesthesia

loss of sensation

anguish

extreme sadness, torment

animated

lively

annex

to incorporate territory or space

annul

to make void or invalid

anomaly

something that does not fit into the normal order

anonymous

being unknown, unrecognized

antagonism

hostility

antecedent

something that came before

antediluvian

ancient

anthology

a selected collection of writings, songs, etc.

antipathy

a strong dislike, repugnance

antiquated

old, out of date

antiseptic

clean, sterile

antithesis

the absolute opposite

anxiety

intense uneasiness

apathetic

lacking concern, emotion

apocryphal

fictitious, false, wrong

appalling

inspiring shock, horror, disgust

appease

to calm, satisfy

appraise

to assess the worth or value of

apprehend

to seize, arrest

approbation

praise

appropriate

to take, make use of

aquatic

relating to water