SAT vocab

abase (v.)

to lower, demean, degrade

abate (v.)

to lessen, to reduce in severity

abbreviate (v.)

to shorten, reduce

abduct (v.)

to kidnap

aberration (n.)

a deviation from the expected

course

abhor (v.)

to hate, loathe

abide (v.)

to put up with, tolerate

abject (adj.)

of the most miserable or

contemptible kind

abort (v.)

to give up unfinished

abridge (v.)

to shorten, cut down

abrogate (v.)

to abolish, often by authority

abscond (v.)

to sneak away and hide

abundant (adj.)

in great numbers

accede (v.)

to agree

accentuate (v.)

to emphasize, to highlight

accommodating (adj.)

obliging, helpful

accost (v.)

to approach or confront aggressively

acumen (n.)

keen insight

acute (adj.)

sharp, severe

affable (adj.)

friendly, amiable

affluent (adj.)

rich, wealthy

aggrandize (v.)

to increase or make greater

aggregate (v.)

to gather, amass

aghast (adj.)

struck by amazement or terror

agoraphobia (n.)

an abnormal fear of open or

public places

akimbo (adj.)

with hands on hips and elbows

extending outward

alacrity (n.)

speed, readiness

algid (adj.)

frigid, cold

allay (v.)

to sooth, assuage

alleviate (v.)

to relieve

aloof (adj.)

reserved, distant

altercation (n.)

an argument, dispute

amalgamation (n.)

a union, a merger

ambivalent (adj.)

having contradictory feelings

amble (v.)

to stroll, walk

ameliorate (v.)

to improve, to make better

amend (v.)

to change for the better, improve

amiable (adj.)

friendly, affable

amorous (adj.)

relating to or showing love

amorphous (adj.)

without shape or borders

anomaly (n.)

something that does not fit into the

normal order

antechamber (n.)

a waiting room

anxiety (n.)

uneasiness

aphorism (n.)

a short saying

apocalypse (n.)

total devastation, the end of the

world

apparitional (adj.)

ghostly, spectral

arbitrator (n.)

one who settles controversy

between two sides

ascetic (n.)

one who practices restraint as a

means of self

discipline, usually religious

assuage (v.)

to ease, pacify

atone (v.)

to apologize, make amends

audacious (adj.)

excessively bold

augment (v.)

to increase or make larger

austere (adj.)

very bare, bleak, simple

baleful (adj.)

harmful, threatening

bard (n.)

a poet, often a singer as well

battery (n.)

an assault or an array of similar

things intended for use together

belligerent (adj.)

contentious, ready to fight

benevolent (adj.)

kind, good, caring

benign (adj.)

non

berate (v.)

to scold severely

bereft (adj.)

without, devoid of

bide (v.)

to wait, or remain in a condition

bilk (v.)

to cheat, to swindle

blandish (v.)

to coax through flattery

bloated (adj.)

swollen, bigger than desired

boisterous (adj.)

loud, energetic

bourgeois (adj.)

middle class

brash (adj.)

hasty or lacking in sensitivity

brazen (adj.)

excessively bold, brash

brumal (adj.)

wintry, relating to winter

brusque (adj.)

short, abrupt, dismissive

buffet (n.)

a spread of food involving choices

buffet (v.)

to hit or strike

burgeon (v.)

to come forth, blossom

cacophony (n.)

noise, discordant sound

cadence (n.)

rhythm

cajole (v.)

to urge, coax

callous (adj.)

harsh, cold, unfeeling

calumny (n.)

an attempt to defame another’s

reputation

camaraderie (n.)

cheerful unity among a group

canvas (n.)

a piece of cloth on which an artist

paints

capricious (adj.)

impulsive, unpredictable, subject

to whim

captivate (v.)

to hold the interest of, to gain the

attention of

carouse (v.)

to revel, to party

cavity (n.)

a hole

cavort (v.)

to frolic, leap, prance

celestial (adj.)

relating to the sky or the heavens