SAT Words First 200

foster

promote growth; encourage the development of

abate

lessen, diminish, or reduce

blight

destroy the beauty or promise of; cause to decay

fastidious

difficult to please; easily disgusted; squeamish

genesis

birth or origin

narrative

story of events or experiences

protagonist

chief character of a literary work

antagonist

main character opposing the protagonist in a literary work

foil

a character who functions as a direct contrast to another character to better highlight certain qualities of the protagonist.

harangue

long, pompous, noisy speech.

ossify

become rigidly conventional and opposed to change

haven

place of safety

impasse

deadlock

abdicate

relinquish power or authority formally

paramount

chief; above others; supreme

iota

tiny amount

longevity

length of life

maxim

general truth

negligible

not worth considering; trifling.

obligatory

mandatory; required

omniscient

knowing all; having complete or universal wisdom

quip

clever, usually sarcastic remark

pilfer

steal in small amounts.

impediment

hindrance; obstacle

redundant

needlessly repetitive; superfluous

amiable

good-natured; cordial; friendly

saccharine

excessively sweet

recoup

regain

amplify

extend or increase in amount, dignity, or importance

subvert

overthrow completely; destroy to the foundations

taxing

exhausting; demanding

throes

hard or painful struggle

gait

manner of walking

validate

support; confirm

verbose

wordy

torpor

extreme sluggishness

vindictive

disposed to seek revenge

vivacious

animated; lively

abridge

shorten

bucolic

rustic; rural

exposition

the identification and development of characters or ideas prior to the emergence of conflict in a story or play.

amity

friendship

climax

the moment of crisis in a story or play when the action reaches a turning point

denouement

events following and in some way resolving the climax of a story or play

theme

a central or controlling idea of a work

exhaustive

thorough

bedlam

scene of loud confusion

circumvent

get the better of by craft or fraud

colloquial

characteristic of informal conversation

cacophony

jarring, discordant sound.

herald

give notice of; announce

capitulate

surrender; yield

chide

scold

dauntless

fearless

diminutive

small

egalitarian

holding the principle that all persons are equal

augur

predict or forecast using signs and omens; prophesy

forgo

do without

deify

make a god of; treat as a god

frivolous

not serious

versatile

having many aptitudes

gawk

stare in a stupid way

halting

marked by a lack of certainty or confidence

idyllic

pleasing in its natural simplicity

vanquish

overcome in battle; conquer

impassive

giving no sign of feeling or emotion

indictment

formal accusation; a condemnation, criticism, or charge

macabre

dwelling on the gruesome

indefatigable

untiring

magnanimous

nobly generous; forgiving

spurn

reject (with disdain)

maudlin

excessively sentimental

minutiae

minor details

naught

nothing

mendacious

lying; false

nullify

make void or useless

oust

remove from position

pallor

paleness

preempt

take the place of

preponderance

majority

strenuous

requiring great effort, energy, or exertion

quicken

give or restore life to; rouse, motivate or stir up.

jovial

merry; good-humored; convivial.

rapport

relation marked by harmony and understanding

prodigal

recklessly extravagant

jocund

merry; cheerful

putrid

stinking from decay.

reiterate

to say over again

propagate

multiply

rudimentary

elementary; of a primitive kind

precocious

exhibiting mature qualities at an unusually early age.

sallow

sickly in color

fallible

capable of making an error or mistake

savor

appreciate with delight

stratagem

trick or scheme.

static

characterized by lack of movement or progression.

tangential

not central; digressive

thwart

oppose successfully

dour

gloomy; sullen.

simile

a comparison of two dissimilar objects by the use of "like" or "as"