SAT VOCAB - 250 Important Words

Abject

Describes the highest level of negativity, often used to depict loneliness, poverty, or sadness.

Abode

A place where people live, ranging from a house to a van, if humans take shelter there.

Abstract

Not concrete or tangible, existing as an idea or representing feelings, like abstract art.

Acknowledge

To notice and make someone or something aware that they have been noticed.

Adapt

To change to fit a situation, like a fish adapting to a new tank.

Admonition

A scolding received for doing something wrong.

Affluent

Very well off financially.

Agitate

To disturb or work up, like annoying someone until they become upset.

Aggrandize

To make something grander than it is.

Aggregate

Referring to the whole, not the parts, or to build up parts to create a whole.

Analogous

When two things can be compared to each other.

Analogy

A comparison between two items using like or as.

Anomaly

Something strange or out of the usual pattern.

Antipathy

A strong feeling of dislike or hatred towards someone or something.

Apparition

Something that suddenly appears, often used to describe ghosts or supernatural phenomena.

Arbitrary

Random or based on personal choice rather than any reason or system.

Ascertain

To find out or confirm something.

Aspire

To work towards a lofty goal or dream big.

Autocratic

Describing someone in charge who has all the power, acting like an autocrat.

Automated

Changed to make a process automatic, like a dishwasher automating dishwashing.

Beget

To bring something into existence or to lead to something.

Benevolent

Kind and willing to give to others, often used to describe charitable actions.

Bestow

To give something, especially titles or honors, to someone.

Biological

Related to the study of life or living organisms.

Calibrate

To adjust something to function correctly, especially machines.

Calisthenics

Exercises that use body weight and require no equipment.

Capacity

The measure of an entity's ability or maximum potential.

Celestial

Relating to outer space or the universe.

Censure

To formally reprimand someone for their actions.

Circulation

Movement back and forth or around in a predictable pattern.

Coerce

To force someone to do something through threats or intimidation.

Commercial

Related to the buying and selling of goods or engaging in business.

Complementary

Going well together with something else.

Complimentary

Provided free of charge or a nice thing said about someone.

Conflate

To mistakenly combine two different things or ideas.

Conjure

To bring something to mind or create something seemingly out of nothing.

Consensus

General agreement among a group of people.

Consequence

The result or outcome of an action, often implying a negative result.

Conservator

A person responsible for preserving or protecting something.

Constitution

Can refer to a governmental document, bodily health, or the structure of something.

Contingent

Depending on certain conditions or factors.

Conventional

Following traditional or established practices.

Convey

To communicate or transport something from one place to another.

Cooperatively

Working together in a cooperative manner.

Cultivate

To bring up, make grow, or encourage the existence of something. Example:Farmers cultivate crops.

Dawdle

To lag behind or move slowly. Example:"Don't dawdle or you'll miss the school bus," the grandfather called.

Decipher

To figure out or decode something. Example:A spy might decipher a special code.

Deficient

Lacking or not having enough of something. Example:People are often vitamin D deficient in the winter.

Desolation

Total abandonment, emptiness, and destruction. Example:Families fled the city in fear of the desolation to come.

Despoil

To take away anything of value, often related to looting or plundering. Example:The criminals broke into the mansion to despoil it.

Deter

To prevent or discourage someone from doing something. Example:Security measures deterred the bank robbers.

Disenfranchise

To take away someone's right to vote or prevent them from using it. Example:Women were disenfranchised for most of human history.

Disparity

An inequality or difference between two things. Example:Small children notice disparities in the desserts they receive.

Disseminate

To spread or pass out something, often information. Example:Participants were asked not to disseminate the acquired knowledge.

Domestic

Related to the home or household. Example:Domestic help may include a gardener, maid, or cook.

Dominion

Control or authority over someone or something. Example:The king exercised dominion over the serfs.

Dubious

Doubtful or uncertain. Example:I was dubious about exploring the cave.

Earnest

Serious and showing sincere belief. Example:The young man spoke earnestly as he proposed.

Eddy

Swift circular motion of water or air. Example:The boat was caught in a persistent eddy.

Efficient

Done in the most direct way using minimal time and resources. Example:Jennifer completed her errands efficiently.

Embellish

To add details or flair to something. Example:The seamstress embellished the wedding dress with pearl beads.

Emit

To give off or release. Example:The skunk-sprayed puppy emitted a foul smell.

Empathize

To feel what someone else is feeling. Example:Neighbors empathized with the struggling family.

Endearing

Creating warm feelings or affection. Example:The small girl had an endearing personality.

Endeavor

To try or attempt something. Example:We will endeavor to get the garden planted.

Endow

To give or provide, often in terms of rights or donations. Example:All men are endowed with certain unalienable rights.

Enhance

To make something better or clearer.

Enterprise

The process of doing something, often referring to big or difficult tasks.

Entice

To convince someone to do something through the promise of reward.

Entrenched

Refusing to move, especially when it comes to thoughts and ideas.

Ephemeral

Very short-lived, fleeting, and quickly gone.

Evince

To show one's feelings.

Expenditure

Spending of money or other resources.

Explanatory

Explaining something.

Extensive

Widespread, far-reaching, or thorough.

Feeble

Weak.

Fetter

To hold someone or something back from what they want to do.

Finite

Having a definitive beginning and ending.

Fiscal

Relating to money and the economy.

Florid

Describing a red or flushed complexion.

Frantic

Desperate or showing urgency.

Frequent

Happening often.

Fundamental

Basics or essentials.

Germinate

To make something start to grow.

Glom

To attach to something in a blob-like manner.

Glut

A ridiculous abundance of something.

Grievance

A complaint.

Haggle

To exchange offers back and forth while trying to make a deal.

Ignominious

Undignified, causing shame or embarrassment.

Illegible

Unable to be read or understood.

Immured

Held against one's will, often enclosed.

Impel

To push or force someone to do something.

Inapplicable

Not applying in a given situation.

Incomprehensible

Unable to be comprehended or understood.

Incontestable

Unable to be contested or disputed.

Incorporate

To fully include something.

Incredulous

Not believing or having doubts about something.

Indifference

Feeling of not strongly caring one way or the other.