SAT Vocabulary

abase (v.)

to humiliate, to degrade

abate (v.)

to reduce or to lessen

abdicate (v.)

to give up a position, usually one of great power or authority

abduct (v.)

to kidnap, take by force

aberration (n.)

something that differs from what’s normal

abet (v.)

to aid, assist, encourage

abhor (v.)

to hate, detest

abide (v.)

a. to put up with; b. 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

abridge (v.)

a. to cut down, shorten; b. (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.)

anger and bitterness; harsh or biting sharpness especially of words, manner, or feelings

acumen (n.)

keen insight

acute (adj.)

a. sharp, severe; b. having keen insight

adamant (adj.)

impervious, immovable, unyielding

adept (adj.)

extremely skilled

adhere (v.)

a. to stick to something; b. 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; (n.) a person who argues in favor

aerial (adj.)

somehow related to the air

aesthetic (adj.)

artistic, related to one’s sense 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; (v.) to gather into a mass

aggrieved (adj.)

wronged; unhappy and angry because of unfair treatment

agile (adj.)

quick, nimble

agnostic (adj.)

doubting the existence of God

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, put to rest

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 affectionate

amorphous (adj.)

without a fixed or definitive shape or type

anachronistic (adj.)

out of its proper time

analgesic (n.)

something that reduces pain

analogous (adj.)

similar to, so that an analogy can be drawn

anarchist (n.)

one who opposes and wants to eliminate all forms of government and law

anathema (n.)

something cursed, a detestable person

anecdote (n.)

a short, humorous account

anesthesia (n.)

a substance that causes loss of sensation

anguish (n.)

extreme sadness, torment

animated (adj.)

lively

annex (v.)

a. to incorporate a space; (n.) a space attached to a larger 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; before Noah’s flood

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

antithesis (n.)

the absolute opposite

anxiety (n.)

intense uneasiness

apathetic (adj.)

lacking concern, emotion

apathy (n.)

lack of caring, lethargy

apocryphal (adj.)

fictitious, false, wrong

appalling (adj.)

inspiring shock, horror, disgust

appease (v.)

to calm, satisfy