SAT Must-Know Vocab

Abate

v. to become less active, less intense, or less in amount

Abstract

adj. existing purely in the mind; not representing actual reality

Abysmal

adj. extremely bad

Accordingly

adv. in accordance with

Acquisition

n. the act of gaining a skill or possession of something

Adapt

v. to make suit a new purpose / v. to accommodate oneself to a new condition, setting, or situation

Adept

adj. having knowledge or skill (usu. in a particular area)

Adequate

adj. having sufficient qualifications to meet a specific task or purpose

Advent

n. the arrival or creation of something (usu. historic)

Adversarial

adj. relating to hostile opposition

Adverse

adj. harmful or unfavorable

Advocate

n. someone who promotes or defends something / v. to defend or promote something (usu. a belief, theory, opinion, etc.)

Aesthetic

adj. relating to beauty or refined taste

Afford

v. to be able to buy / v. to be able to spare

Agitate

v. to promote something (usu. a cause)

Albeit

conj. although; even though

Allow

v. to permit or consent to

Allude

v. to make a secretive mention of something

Altercation

n. a noisy argument or confrontation

Ambiguous

adj. unclear or vague in meaning

Ambitious

adj. having a powerful desire for success or achievement

Ambivalence

n. the state of being uncertain or stuck between two or more options

Analogous

adj. similar but not identical

Annihilate

v. to destroy or cause devastating destruction

Anomaly

n. something different from the norm

Anticipate

v. assume to be likely to happen

Antipathy

n. a strong feeling of dislike

Apex

n. the highest point of something

Apprehension

n. fearful expectation of something

Arbitrary

adj. based on random choice rather than reason

Articulate

v. to clearly express in words

Artificial

adj. something made; not occurring naturally

Assert

v. to state something confidently

Assertion

n. a strong declaration

Assess

v. to evaluate or judge

Attribute

v. to regard something as caused by something

Augment

v. to increase or add to

Austere

adj. extremely plain / adj. stern and forbidding / adj. relating to self-denial

Authenticity

n. the quality of being real and true instead of fake and contrived

Avenue

n. an intangible path or approach to something

Avid

adj. actively interested in or enthusiastic about something

Basic

adj. relating to the foundation or basis of something

Bear

v. to have as a characteristic / v. to have (a child) / v. to bring forth / v. to put up with

Benevolent

adj. kind, generous

Bias

n. a preconception that prevents objectivity

Bittersweet

adj. tinged with a feeling of sadness

Bolster

v. to support, strengthen, or fortify

Boost

n. an increase or growth / v. to increase or make grow

Brawl

n. an intense, loud fight / v. to fight loudly and disruptively

Brevity

n. the quality of being brief or terse

Candid

adj. direct, blunt

Candor

n. the trait of being honest and frank

Capitalize

v. to use to your advantage

Capture

v. to trap or take possession of / v. to successfully represent or imitate / v. to captivate, mesmerize / v. to catch or seize

Civic

adj. relating to the city or citizens

Clinical

adj. emotionally unattached (usu. used in medical or scientific setting)

Clout

n. special advantage or power

Coarse

adj. indicating a rough texture / adj. lacking refinement or sophistication

Coherent

adj. logical and consistent

Coincide

v. to happen at the same time

Commission

n. the use of payment to request something (e.g., a service or product)

Comparable

adj. able to be compared

Compelling

adj. convincing; persuasive

Competent

adj. sufficiently qualified

Complacent

adj. satisfied, with no desire to change or improve

Complement

v. to make perfect or complete

Concede

v. to be forced to agree or surrender / v. to admit to a transgression

Conceive

v. to imagine or come up with

Condone

v. to overlook, approve, or allow

Conducive

adj. able to bring about or be suitable for

Conduct

v. to control or manage / v. to behave a certain way

Confide

v. to share something secretive with someone

Confine

v. to put limits on; to restrict

Consensus

n. overall agreement

Constitute

v. to form or compose (part of) something

Constrain

v. to limit or restrict

Contemplate

v. to think deeply about

Contend

v. to maintain or assert (an opinion)

Contradict

v. to be in contrast with

Controversial

adj. highly debatable and causing contention

Conventional

adj. abiding by accepted standards

Convey

v. to pass on or transfer (information)

Conviction

n. a firm belief in something

Corroborate

v. to provide evidence for; to back up (a claim)

Counteract

v. to work in opposition to

Counterargument

n. an argument used to criticize or dismantle another argument

Counterproductive

adj. hindering the achievement of a goal

Culmination

n. the final act or climax

Cultivate

v. to foster the growth of

Decree

v. to declare formally and with authority

Deference

n. respect; regard

Deficient

adj. not enough in degree or amount

Demonstrate

v. to do as an example / v. gives evidence for

Demur

v. to object to

Deplete

v. to (over)use over time (usu. resources)

Derive

v. to obtain or develop from a source

Desolate

adj. bare, barren, empty

Deter

v. to discourage or prevent

Detrimental

adj. causing harm or damage

Devise

v. to come up with (a plan)