SAT High-Frequency Word List

abridge

To shorten a text or speech while keeping its main ideas.

abstemious

Moderate in eating and drinking; self-restraining.

abstract

Theoretical; not concrete or tangible.

accessible

Easy to approach, reach, or understand.

acclaim

To praise enthusiastically, often publicly.

acknowledgement

Recognition or admission of something; a statement of thanks.

adulation

Excessive praise or flattery.

adversary

An opponent or enemy.

adversity

Difficulties or misfortune.

aesthetic

Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty.

affable

Friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to.

affirmation

A statement or action confirming something as true.

alleviate

To make suffering or a problem less severe.

aloof

Distant or uninvolved, often emotionally.

altruistic

Unselfishly concerned for others' well-being.

ambiguous

Open to more than one interpretation; unclear.

ambivalence

Mixed feelings or uncertainty about something.

analogous

Comparable or similar in certain respects.

anarchist

A person who believes in or promotes the absence of government.

anecdote

A short, amusing, or interesting story about a real event or person.

animosity

Strong hostility or resentment.

antagonism

Active hostility or opposition.

antidote

A remedy that counteracts a poison or problem.

antiquated

Old-fashioned or outdated.

apathy

Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

appease

To calm or satisfy, often by giving in to demands.

apprehension

Anxiety or fear about something that might happen.

arbitrary

Based on random choice or whim, not reason.

archaic

Very old or old-fashioned; no longer in common use.

arrogance

An attitude of superiority; excessive pride.

articulate

Able to express thoughts clearly and effectively.

artifact

An object made by humans, often of historical or cultural interest.

artisan

A skilled worker who makes things by hand.

ascendancy

Dominance or control over something.

ascetic

Practicing strict self-denial, often for spiritual reasons.

aspire

To have a strong desire or ambition to achieve something.

astute

Clever and perceptive; good at judging situations.

attribute

To regard something as being caused by someone or something.

augment

To increase or enhance in size, amount, or degree.

austere

Severe or strict in manner; plain and without luxury.

authoritarian

Favoring strict obedience to authority, often at the expense of freedom.

autonomous

Independent; self-governing.

aversion

A strong dislike or unwillingness.

belle

A beautiful woman, often the most admired in a group.

benevolent

Kindly and well-meaning; charitable.

bolster

To support or strengthen.

braggart

A person who boasts loudly or excessively.

brevity

Conciseness in speech or writing; shortness.

cajole

To persuade someone by flattery or gentle urging.

calculated

Carefully planned to achieve a particular goal.

candor

Openness and honesty in expressing one's thoughts.

capricious

Unpredictable; given to sudden changes of mood or behavior.

censorious

Harshly critical or fault-finding.

censure

To express strong disapproval or criticism.

coercion

The act of forcing someone to do something through threats or pressure.

commemorate

To honor the memory of an event or person, often with a ceremony.

complacent

Self-satisfied, often to a fault; unconcerned.

complacency

A feeling of smug satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements.

compliance

The act of obeying or conforming to rules or requests.

comprehensive

Complete and including everything; thorough.

concede

To admit something is true or valid after initially denying it.

conciliatory

Intended to make peace or resolve a conflict.

concise

Brief but comprehensive; to the point.

concur

To agree or be in accord with someone or something.

condone

To accept or forgive behavior that is considered wrong.

conflagration

A large, destructive fire.

confound

To confuse or perplex someone.

consensus

General agreement among a group.

constrain

To restrict or limit someone or something.

contend

To struggle or compete; to assert or argue.

contentious

Causing or likely to cause disagreement or controversy.

contract

To shrink or reduce in size; to enter into an agreement.

contrite

Feeling remorse or guilt for one's actions.

cordial

Warm and friendly.

corroborate

To confirm or support with evidence.

credulity

A tendency to believe things too easily; gullibility.

criterion

A standard or principle by which something is judged.

cryptic

Mysterious or obscure in meaning; puzzling.

cursory

Done quickly and without attention to detail.

curtail

To reduce or limit something.

decorum

Behavior that is polite and appropriate for a situation.

deference

Respectful submission to the judgment or wishes of another.

degradation

The act of lowering in rank, status, or quality.

delineate

To describe or outline something precisely.

denounce

To publicly declare something as wrong or evil.

deplore

To feel or express strong disapproval of something.

depravity

Moral corruption; wickedness.

deprecate

To express disapproval of something.

deride

To mock or ridicule.

derivative

Not original; based on something else.

despondent

Feeling hopeless or extremely discouraged.

detached

Not emotionally involved; impartial.

deterrent

Something that discourages or prevents an action.

detrimental

Harmful or damaging.

devious

Dishonest or deceitful; sneaky.

diffuse

To spread out over a wide area; to scatter.

digression

A temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing.

diligence

Careful and persistent effort or work.

diminution

A reduction in size, extent, or importance.

disclose

To reveal or make known something previously secret.