SAT vocab (15 new words every day)

sat vocabulary

artifice

a clever or cunning device or expedient, especially as used to trick or deceive others.

allure

the quality of being attractive or fascinating, often used to entice or charm.

affidavit

a written statement confirmed by oath, used as evidence in court.

accolade

an award or privilege granted as a special honor or acknowledgment of merit.

affectation

a behavior, speech, or writing that is artificial and designed to impress.

perspiration

the process of sweating, which helps cool the body and excrete waste.

aloof

not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant in manner.

mammonism

greedy pursuit of wealth and materialistic gain; worship of money

ajar

(of a door or other opening) slightly open.

affinity

a natural liking for or attraction to something.

adjunct

a thing added to something else as a supplementary rather than an essential part.

abut

to be adjacent or have a common boundary with something else.

abstruse

difficult to understand or obscure.

arcane

understood by few, obscure

abridge

to shorten a text without losing its essential meaning.

abhor

to regard with disgust or hatred

abominate

to regard with intense aversion or loathing; to detest.

anachronistic

belonging to a different time period; out of place in time.

exorbitant

exceedingly high or excessively expensive

ineluctable

inevitable or unavoidable

conspicious

clearly visible or attracting notice

blatant

extremely obvious or conspicuous

querulous

complaining in a petulant or whining manner

volatile

liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse.

transient

lasting only a short time; temporary

desultory

lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm; random and disconnected.

abject

extremely bad, unpleasant, or degrading.

acme

the highest point or peak of a particular achievement or quality.

apocryphal

of doubtful authenticity, widely circulated as being true.

anterior

located toward the front; prior in time

also-ran

a competitor that does not win or have much success.

antecedent

an event or condition that precedes another, often influencing it.

ambiance

the character and atmosphere of a place.

amenable

willing to agree or cooperate

aptitude

a natural ability to do something or learn quickly.

archaic

no longer in everyday use; outdated

appalling

causing shock or dismay; horrific

artisan

a skilled craftsperson who creates handmade goods.

ubiquitous

present or existing everywhere at the same time; omnipresent.

scrutinize

to examine closely and thoroughly

bolster

to support or strengthen something

paucity

the presence of something in insufficient quantities; scarcity.

warranted

justified or deserved based on evidence or circumstances

infinitesimal

extremely small or tiny in amount, often approaching zero.

equivocal

open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous.

decry

to publicly denounce or criticize.

pragmatic

dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.

contentious

causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.

aggrandize

to increase the power, status, or wealth of; to enhance the reputation of (someone or something) beyond what is justified by the facts.

pretentious

attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is actually possessed.

askew

not in a straight or level position; crookedly, or tilted to one side.

aspire

To direct one's hopes or ambitions toward achieving something.

assuage

To make an unpleasant feeling less intense; to satisfy (an appetite or desire).

astute

Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage; shrewd.

asunder

Apart; into separate pieces.

atrophy

To waste away, typically due to the degeneration of cells; to decline in effectiveness or vigor due to underuse or neglect.

atypical

Not representative of a type, group, or class; unusual.

austere

Severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance; very simple and unadorned.

badger

To repeatedly ask someone to do something; to annoy or pester persistently.

ballistics

The science or study of the motion of projectiles, such as bullets, rockets, or bombs.

balm

Something that has a soothing, healing, or comforting effect.

beget

To procreate or generate offspring; to cause something to happen or exist; to give rise to.

beleaguer

To lay siege to; to surround with military forces; or, to trouble or harass someone or something with persistent difficulties, demands, or annoyances.

bereave

to deprive a person of something, especially a loved one, through death; to be left in a state of loss or grief.

beset

to trouble or threaten persistently; to surround and harass from all sides, or to be covered or studded with something.

catapult

To launch or hurl something with great force; a device for launching objects.

castigate

To reprimand severely or criticize harshly, typically for correction of wrongdoing.

capacious

Having a lot of space inside; roomy.

candor

The quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness.

callow

Inexperienced and immature; often naive.

callous

Showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others.

cajole

To persuade someone to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery.

cacophony

A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.

cache

A hidden storage space for items; a collection of hidden or stored items.

bulwark

A defensive wall; a person or thing that acts as a strong defense.

bucolic

Relating to the pleasant aspects of country life; pastoral.

bludgeon

To beat (someone or something) repeatedly with a heavy object; to force or bully someone into doing something.

bleak

Lacking vegetation and exposed to the elements; cold and miserable; offering little or no hope.

blather

To talk at length without making much sense; idle or foolish talk.

bizarre

Very strange or unusual, especially so as to cause interest or amusement.

catharsis

A purification or purgation of emotions, especially pity and fear, through art or ritual, that results in emotional relief; the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.

caucus

A meeting of members of a political party or subgroup, typically to select candidates or decide on policy; a private meeting of a small group of people to make decisions.

cerebral

Relating to the cerebrum of the brain or the brain itself; characterized by the use of the intellect rather than intuition or emotion; intellectual and logical.

certify

To formally attest or confirm that something is true, accurate, or meets certain standards; to validate or officially declare.

chasm

A deep opening in the earth, rock, or other surface; a profound difference between people, viewpoints, or feelings.

chattel

An item of tangible, movable property, especially livestock or household effects; slave.

chide

To scold or rebuke (someone) gently; to express mild disapproval of.

chronic

persisting for a long time or constantly recurring; having a particular bad habit or strong characteristic that is long-established.

circa

approximately; about. Used to indicate that a number or date is an estimate.

citadel

A fortress, typically on high ground, protecting or dominating a city; a stronghold or a place of refuge.

claimant

A person making a claim, especially in a lawsuit or to a right or something due.

cloister

a monastic establishment or a secluded, quiet place. To seclude or shut away from the world.

commodious

(Especially of a building or room) roomy and comfortable; spacious; capacious.

comprise

To consist of; to be made up of; to include or contain.

congenial

Pleasant or agreeable because suited to one's taste or inclination; (of a person) friendly and pleasant.

connoisseur

An expert judge in matters of art and taste.

consensus

General agreement or concord; a collective opinion.

coterie

A small group of people with shared interests or tastes, especially one that is exclusive of other people.

countenance

A person's face or facial expression; to admit as acceptable or possible.

coup

The violent overthrow of a government by a small group; a victorious accomplishment.