SAT Vocabulary: 1000 Most Common Words

A comprehensive collection of 1000 common SAT vocabulary terms and definitions as outlined in the study guide.

abase (v.)

to humiliate, degrade

abate (v.)

to reduce, lessen

abdicate (v.)

to give up a position, usually one of leadership

aberration (n.)

something that differs from the norm

abet (v.)

to aid, help, encourage

abhor (v.)

to hate, detest

abide

to put up with

abject

wretched, pitiful

abjure (v.)

to reject, renounce

abnegation (n.)

denial of comfort to oneself

abort

to give up on a half finished project

abridge

to cut down, shorten

abrogate (v.)

to abolish, usually by authority

abscond

to sneak away and hide

absolution (n.)

freedom from blame, guilt, sin

abstruse (adj.)

hard to comprehend

accede (v.)

to agree

accolade (n.)

high praise, special distinction

Accost

To confront verbally

accord (n.)

an agreement

accretion (n.)

slow growth in size or amount

acerbic (adj.)

biting, bitter in tone or taste

acclaim

high praise

acquiesce (v.)

to agree without protesting

Acrimony

Bitterness, discord

acumen (n.)

keen insight

adamant (adj.)

impervious, immovable, unyielding

admonish

to caution, criticize, reprove

adorn

to decorate

adroit (adj.)

skillful, dexterous

adulation (n.)

extreme praise

adumbrate (v.)

to sketch out in a vague way

adverse

dangerous, unfavorable, antagonistic

affable (adj.)

friendly, amiable

affluent (adj.)

rich, wealthy

affront

insult

aggrandize (v.)

to increase or make greater

aggregate

a whole or total

agnostic

believing that God’s existence cannot be proved nor disproved

alacrity (n.)

eagerness, speed

allay (v.)

to soothe, ease

alleviate (v.)

to relieve, make more bearable

amalgamate (v.)

to bring together, unite

ambivalent (adj.)

having opposing feelings

ameliorate (v.)

to improve

amenity (n.)

an item that increases comfort

anachronistic (adj.)

being out of correct chronological order

analgesic (n.)

something that reduces pain

anarchy (n.)

one who wants to eliminate all government

anathema (n.)

a cursed, detested person

annex (v.)

to incorporate territory or space

annul (v.)

to make void or invalid

anomaly (n.)

something that does not fit into the normal order

antipathy (n.)

a strong dislike, repugnance

antithesis (n.)

the absolute opposite

apathetic (adj.)

lacking concern, emotion

apocryphal (adj.)

fictitious, false, wrong

approbation (n.)

praise

arable (adj.)

suitable for growing crops

arbiter (n.)

one who can resolve a dispute, make a decision

arbitrary (adj.)

based on factors that appear random

arcane (adj.)

obscure, secret, known only by a few

archaic (adj.)

of or relating to an earlier period in time, outdated

archetypal (adj.)

the most representative or typical example of something

ardor (n.)

extreme vigor, energy, enthusiasm

arrogate (v.)

to take without justification

ascertain (v.)

to perceive, learn

ascetic (adj.)

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

aspersion (n.)

a curse, expression of ill-will

assiduous (adj.)

hard-working, diligent

assuage (v.)

to ease, pacify

astute (adj.)

very clever, crafty

atrophy (v.)

to wither away, decay

audacious (adj.)

excessively bold

auspicious (adj.)

favorable, indicative of good things

austere (adj.)

very bare, bleak

avarice (n.)

excessive greed

banal (adj.)

dull, commonplace

benevolent (adj.)

marked by goodness or doing good

benign (adj.)

favorable, not threatening, mild

bequeath (v.)

to pass on, give

bereft (adj.)

devoid of, without

bilk (v.)

cheat, defraud

boisterous (adj.)

loud and full of energy

bombastic (adj.)

excessively confident, pompous

brazen (adj.)

excessively bold, brash

brusque (adj.)

short, abrupt, dismissive

buttress (v.)

to support, hold up

cacophony (n.)

tremendous noise, disharmonious sound

cajole (v.)

to urge, coax

calamity (n.)

an event with disastrous consequences

callous (adj.)

harsh, cold, unfeeling

calumny (n.)

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

candor (n.)

honesty, frankness

capacious (adj.)

very spacious

capitulate (v.)

to surrender

capricious (adj.)

subject to whim, fickle

caustic (adj.)

biting, biting, acidic

censure (v.)

to rebuke formally

chastise (v.)

to criticize severely