500 Common SAT Terms: Johnny

aberration

aberration

Deviation from what is correct or right.

abeyance

Suspension of an activity; postponement.

abstemious

Sparing in use of food or drink; moderate.

abstruse

Concealed; difficult to comprehend; obscure.

accolade

Embrace; award; commendation.

acerbic

Bitter; harsh; caustic.

acrimonious

Sarcastic; caustic; angry; mordant.

acuity

Sharpness; acuteness; keenness.

acute

1. Perceptive. 2. Excruciating.

adept

Proficient; masterful; expert.

adherent

Believer; supporter; devotee.

adjunct

1. Attachment; appendage. 2. Subordinate or auxiliary capacity.

admonish

Caution; reprove mildly; reprimand.

adroit

Dexterous; proficient; skillful.

adulation

Excessive flattery; adoration; idolization.

adulterate

Make impure or inferior by adding improper ingredients; contaminate; pollute.

advocate

1. Argue for a cause; defend. 2. Support; uphold.

aesthete

Person who cultivates beauty or art; connoisseur.

aggrandize

Make more powerful; amplify; increase.

alacrity

Eagerness; zeal; speed.

altruistic

Concerned about the general welfare of others; charitable; generous.

ambivalence

Uncertainty; doubt; indecisiveness.

ambulatory

Able to walk; not stationary.

ameliorate

Make better; improve.

amiable

Cordial; of pleasant disposition; friendly.

amorphous

Without structure; shapeless; nebulous.

animate

Energize; enliven.

anomaly

Abnormality; deviation from the general rule; irregularity.

antediluvian

Ancient; antiquated; obsolete.

antipathy

Feeling of opposition or repugnance; aversion; dislike.

apathy

Lack of concern; emotion or interest; indifference.

aperture

Gap; opening; orifice.

apocryphal

False; unauthenticated; disputed.

apotheosis

1. Essence; epitome. 2. Canonization.

appease

Satisfy; make peace; placate.

approbatory

Expressing approval.

arable

Suitable for cultivation or plowing.

arrogant

Feeling superior to other people; egotistical.

ascetic

Strict; austere.

assuage

Ease; make less burdensome; mitigate.

atrophy

Waste away from lack of use; degenerate.

audacity

Boldness or adventurousness; gall.

authoritarian

1. Person who acts like a dictator; tyrant. 2. Disciplinarian.

avarice

Extreme desire for wealth; greed; acquisitiveness.

aviary

Large enclosure confining birds.

avouch

Guarantee; take responsibility for; affirm.

avow

Affirm; assert; declare; acknowledge.

baleful

Sorrowful; sinister; evil.

balm

Soothing ointment for pain or healing; salve.

banal

Trite; insipid; ordinary.

bane

Deadly affliction; curse; plague.

barbarity

Cruel action; inhuman act; harsh conduct.

barren

1. Infertile; impotent. 2. Arid; unproductive.

befuddle

Stupefy or confuse; misconstrue.

belated

Tardy; overdue.

beleaguer

Besiege; surround.

belittle

Humiliate; tease; diminish in importance.

bemoan

1. Experience pain or distress. 2. Express pity for; mourn.

bemused

Preoccupied by thought; bewildered; perplexed.

bilk

Defraud; deceive; hoodwink.

blandishment

Cajolery; enticement.

bliss

Gaiety; happiness; enjoyment.

blithe

Happy; pleased; delighted.

boisterous

Noisy; loud; violent; rowdy.

boorish

Ill-mannered; rude; gauche.

brevity

Briefness; succinctness; terseness.

broach

Introduce; bring up; mention.

browbeat

Intimidate; harass; dominate.

bungle

Botch; mismanage; spoil.

buttress

Truss; foundation; support.

cacophonous

Discordant; dissident; harsh.

callow

Inexperienced; immature; naive.

candid

Frank; blunt; open.

carouse

Drink to excess; live it up.

cease

Stop; end; halt.

celerity

Swift motion; speed; alacrity.

censorious

Critical; attacking; denouncing.

charlatan

Fraud; person claiming knowledge he/she does not have; humbug; fake; hustler.

chary

Careful; cautious.

chasten

Castigate; punish; reprove.

cherubic

Sweet; kind; innocent.

chimerical

Fanciful; whimsical; playful.

chronic

Compulsive; typical; habitual; inveterate.

churlish

Selfish; rancorous; surly.

circuitous

Indirect; roundabout; rambling.

clamor

Loud noise or complaint; commotion; din.

clandestine

Furtive; surreptitious; secret.

clemency

Lenience; mercy; compassion.

cloister

Convent; monastery; religious place.

coagulate

Congeal; curdle; clot.

coalesce

Combine; incorporate; merge.

coddle

Pamper; overindulge; baby; spoil.

coercion

Intimidation; duress; force; compulsion.

cognate

Related by blood; having the same origin.

commensurate

Equal in measure; of the same duration or size.

compile

Collect data; accumulate; amass.

concomitant

Concurrent; attendant; occurring with something else.

concordance

Agreement; treaty; accord.

confluence

Nexus; union; meeting; conflux.

confound

Perplex; baffle; confuse.