SAT Vocabulary Flashcards – Sample Set from 1000 Most Common SAT Words

A representative set of vocabulary terms and their definitions drawn from the notes.

abase

to humiliate or degrade; to lower in rank or esteem.

abate

to reduce, lessen.

abdicate

to give up a position of leadership or authority.

abduct

to kidnap; to take away by force.

aberration

something that differs from the norm; a deviation.

abet

to aid, help, encourage wrongdoing.

abhor

to hate, detest.

abide

to put up with; to endure; or to remain.

abject

wretched, pitiful; miserable.

abjure

to reject, renounce.

abnegation

denial of comfort to oneself; self-denial.

abort

to give up on a project or effort before completion.

abridge

to cut down, shorten.

abrogate

to abolish, usually by authority.

abscond

to sneak away and hide.

absolution

freedom from blame, guilt, or sin.

abstain

to freely choose not to commit an action; to refrain.

abstruse

hard to comprehend.

accede

to agree or assent.

accentuate

to stress, highlight.

accessible

obtainable, reachable.

acclaim

high praise.

accolade

high praise or special distinction.

accommodating

helpful, obliging, polite.

accord

an agreement; harmony.

accost

to confront verbally.

accretion

slow growth in size or amount.

acerbic

biting, sharp in tone or taste.

acquiesce

to agree without protesting.

acrimony

bitterness, discord.

acumen

keen insight.

acute

sharp or severe; having keen insight.

adamant

unyielding, firm in opinion.

adept

extremely skilled.

adhere

to stick to something; to follow devoutly.

admonish

to caution, criticize, reprove.

adorn

to decorate.

adroit

skillful, dexterous.

adulation

extreme praise.

adumbrate

to sketch out in a vague way; to foreshadow.

adverse

antagonistic, unfavorable, dangerous.

advocate

to argue in favor of something; a person who argues in favor.

aerial

relating to the air; in the air.

aesthetic

artistic; related to beauty.

affable

friendly, amiable.

affinity

a spontaneous feeling of closeness or connection.

affluent

wealthy.

affront

an insult; a slight.

aggrandize

to increase or make greater (often by exaggeration).

aggregate

the whole; a total; to gather into a mass.

agile

quick, nimble.

agnostic

believing that the existence of God cannot be proven or disproven.

agriculture

farming; the practice of cultivating the land.

aisle

a passageway between rows of seats.

alacrity

eagerness, speed.

alias

a false name or identity.

allay

to soothe, relieve.

allege

to assert, usually without proof.

alleviate

to relieve; make more bearable.

allocate

to distribute or set aside.

aloof

reserved, distant.

altercation

a dispute or fight.

amalgamate

to bring together, unite.

ambiguous

unclear, open to more than one interpretation.

ambivalent

having opposing feelings; uncertain.

ameliorate

to improve.

amenable

willing, compliant.

amenity

an item that increases comfort or convenience.

amiable

friendly.

amicable

friendly; peaceable.

amorous

showing love or sexual desire.

amorphous

without definite shape or type.

anachronistic

out of its proper time; not in correct chronological order.

analgesic

a drug that relieves pain.

analogous

similar to; capable of being drawn as an analogy.

anarchist

one who wants to abolish all government.

anathema

a cursed; detested person or thing.