SAT Vocabulary Study Guide Flashcards

Abase (v.)

To humiliate, degrade.

Abate (v.)

To reduce, lessen.

Abdicate (v.)

To give up a position, usually one of leadership.

Abduct (v.)

To kidnap, take by force.

Aberration (n.)

Something that differs from the norm.

Abet (v.)

To aid, help, encourage.

Abhor (v.)

To hate, detest.

Abide (v.) [Sense 1]

To put up with.

Abide (v.) [Sense 2]

To remain.

Abject (adj.)

Wretched, pitiful.

Abjure (v.)

To reject, renounce.

Abnegation (n.)

Denial of comfort to oneself.

Abort (v.)

To give up on a half-finished project or effort.

Abridge (v.)

To cut down, shorten.

Abridge (adj.)

Shortened.

Abrogate (v.)

To abolish, usually by authority.

Abscond (v.)

To sneak away and hide.

Absolution (n.)

Freedom from blame, guilt, sin.

Abstain (v.)

To freely choose not to commit an action.

Abstruse (adj.)

Hard to comprehend.

Accede (v.)

To agree.

Accentuate (v.)

To stress, highlight.

Accessible (adj.)

Obtainable, reachable.

Acclaim (n.)

High praise.

Accolade (n.)

High praise, special distinction.

Accommodating (adj.)

Helpful, obliging, polite.

Accord (n.)

An agreement.

Accost (v.)

To confront verbally.

Accretion (n.)

Slow growth in size or amount.

Acerbic (adj.)

Biting, bitter in tone or taste.

Acquiesce (v.)

To agree without protesting.

Acrimony (n.)

Bitterness, discord.

Acumen (n.)

Keen insight.

Acute (adj.) [Sense 1]

Sharp, severe.

Acute (adj.) [Sense 2]

Having keen insight.

Adamant (adj.)

Impervious, immovable, unyielding.

Adept (adj.)

Extremely skilled.

Adhere (v.) [Sense 1]

To stick to something.

Adhere (v.) [Sense 2]

To follow devoutly.

Admonish (v.)

To caution, criticize, reprove.

Adorn (v.)

To decorate.

Adroit (adj.)

Skillful, dexterous.

Adulation (n.)

Extreme praise.

Adumbrate (v.)

To sketch out in a vague way.

Adverse (adj.)

Antagonistic, unfavorable, dangerous.

Advocate (v.)

To argue in favor of something.

Advocate (n.)

A person who argues in favor of something.

Aerial (adj.)

Somehow related to the air.

Aesthetic (adj.)

Artistic, related to the appreciation of beauty.

Affable (adj.)

Friendly, amiable.

Affinity (n.)

A spontaneous feeling of closeness.

Affluent (adj.)

Rich, wealthy.

Affront (n.)

An insult.

Aggrandize (v.)

To increase or make greater.

Aggregate (n.)

A whole or total.

Aggregate (v.)

To gather into a mass.

Aggrieved (adj.)

Distressed, wronged, injured.

Agile (adj.)

Quick, nimble.

Agnostic (adj.)

Believing that the existence of God cannot be proven or disproven.

Agriculture (n.)

Farming.

Aisle (n.)

A passageway between rows of seats.

Alacrity (n.)

Eagerness, speed.

Alias (n.)

A false name or identity.

Allay (v.)

To soothe, ease.

Allege (v.)

To assert, usually without proof.

Alleviate (v.)

To relieve, make more bearable.

Allocate (v.)

To distribute, set aside.

Aloof (adj.)

Reserved, distant.

Altercation (n.)

A dispute, fight.

Amalgamate (v.)

To bring together, unite.

Ambiguous (adj.)

Uncertain, variably interpretable.

Ambivalent (adj.)

Having opposing feelings.

Ameliorate (v.)

To improve.

Amenable (adj.)

Willing, compliant.

Amenity (n.)

An item that increases comfort.

Amiable (adj.)

Friendly.

Amicable (adj.)

Friendly.

Amorous (adj.)

Showing love, particularly sexual.

Amorphous (adj.)

Without definite shape or type.

Anachronistic (adj.)

Being out of correct chronological order.

Analgesic (n.)

Something that reduces pain.

Analogous (adj.)

Similar to, so that an analogy can be drawn.

Anarchist (n.)

One who wants to eliminate all government.

Anathema (n.)

A cursed, detested person.

Anecdote (n.)

A short, humorous account.

Anesthesia (n.)

Loss of sensation.

Anguish (n.)

Extreme sadness, torment.

Animated (adj.)

Lively.

Annex (v.)

To incorporate territory or space.

Annex (n.)

A room attached to a larger room or space.

Annul (v.)

To make void or invalid.

Anomaly (n.)

Something that does not fit into the normal order.

Anonymous (adj.)

Being unknown, unrecognized.

Antagonism (n.)

Hostility.

Antecedent (n.)

Something that came before.

Antediluvian (adj.)

Ancient.

Anthology (n.)

A selected collection of writings, songs, etc.

Antipathy (n.)

A strong dislike, repugnance.

Antiquated (adj.)

Old, out of date.

Antiseptic (adj.)

Clean, sterile.