SAT Vocabulary: The 1000 Most Common SAT Words

Flashcards covering the most common vocabulary words for the SAT, including definitions and parts of speech based on the comprehensive 1000-word list.

abase

To humiliate, degrade

abate

To reduce, lessen

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

abnegation

Denial of comfort to oneself

abrogate

To abolish, usually by authority

absolution

Freedom from blame, guilt, sin

abstruse

Hard to comprehend

accede

To agree

accretion

Slow growth in size or amount

acerbic

Biting, bitter in tone or taste

acquiesce

To agree without protesting

acrimony

Bitterness, discord

acumen

Keen insight

adamant

Impervious, immovable, unyielding

adroit

Skillful, dexterous

adulation

Extreme praise

adumbrate

To sketch out in a vague way

affable

Friendly, amiable

aggrandize

To increase or make greater

alacrity

Eagerness, speed

allocate

To distribute, set aside

amalgamate

To bring together, unite

ambivalent

Having opposing feelings

amenity

An item that increases comfort

anachronistic

Being out of correct chronological order

analgesic

Something that reduces pain

anathema

A cursed, detested person

anecdote

A short, humorous account

annex

To incorporate territory or space; a room attached to a larger room or space

anomaly

Something that does not fit into the normal order

antediluvian

Ancient

antipathy

A strong dislike, repugnance

antithesis

The absolute opposite

apocryphal

Fictitious, false, wrong

approbation

Praise

arbitrary

Based on factors that appear random

arcane

Obscure, secret, known only by a few

archetypal

The most representative or typical example of something

ardor

Extreme vigor, energy, enthusiasm

arrogate

To take without justification

ascetic

Practicing restraint as a means of self-discipline, usually religious

aspersion

A curse, expression of ill-will

assiduous

Hard-working, diligent

assuage

To ease, pacify

astute

Very clever, crafty

atrophy

To wither away, decay

audacious

Excessively bold

avarice

Excessive greed

banal

Dull, commonplace

benevolent

Marked by goodness or doing good

bilk

Cheat, defraud

bombastic

Excessively confident, pompous

brazen

Excessively bold, brash

cacophony

Tremendous noise, disharmonious sound

calumny

An attempt to spoil someone else’s reputation by spreading lies

capitulate

To surrender

capricious

Subject to whim, fickle

caucus

A meeting usually held by people working toward the same goal

circumlocution

Indirect and wordy language

clandestine

Secret

cogent

Intellectually convincing

collusion

Secret agreement, conspiracy

commensurate

Corresponding in size or amount

compunction

Distress caused by feeling guilty

concomitant

Accompanying in a subordinate fashion

conflagration

Great fire

contemporaneous

Existing during the same time

contentious

Having a tendency to quarrel or dispute

contrite

Penitent, eager to be forgiven

conundrum

Puzzle, problem

cupidity

Greed, strong desire

dearth

A lack, scarcity

demagogue

A leader who appeals to a people’s prejudices

denigrate

To belittle, diminish the opinion of

depravity

Wickedness

derivative

Taken directly from a source, unoriginal

desiccated

Dried up, dehydrated

diaphanous

Light, airy, transparent

didactic

Intended to instruct; overly moralistic

dissemble

To conceal, fake

ebullient

Extremely lively, enthusiastic

eclectic

Consisting of a diverse variety of elements

effrontery

Impudence, nerve, insolence

egregious

Extremely bad

elucidate

To clarify, explain

enigmatic

Mystifying, cryptic

ephemeral

Short-lived, fleeting

epitome

A perfect example, embodiment

erudite

Learned

esoteric

Understood by only a select few

evanecent

Fleeting, momentary

exculpate

To free from guilt or blame, exonerate

exigent

Urgent, critical

expurgate

To remove offensive or incorrect parts, usually of a book