SAT High-Frequency Vocabulary Review

A comprehensive set of SAT-level vocabulary flashcards containing key terms and concise definitions for efficient study and review.

abase

to humiliate or degrade

abate

to lessen or reduce

abdicate

to give up a position of power

abduct

to kidnap or carry off by force

aberration

something different from the norm

abet

to aid, help, or encourage

abhor

to hate deeply

abide

to tolerate or remain

abject

wretched; pitiful

abjure

to renounce or reject

abnegation

self-denial

abort

to give up on a project

abridge

to shorten

abrogate

to abolish by authority

abscond

to sneak away and hide

absolution

freedom from blame or guilt

abstain

to choose not to do something

abstruse

hard to understand

accede

to agree

accentuate

to emphasize

accessible

obtainable; reachable

acclaim

high praise

accolade

special recognition

accommodating

helpful; obliging

accord

an agreement

accost

to confront verbally

accretion

slow growth

acerbic

bitter in tone or taste

acquiesce

to agree without protest

acrimony

bitterness or discord

acumen

keen insight

acute

sharp; severe; perceptive

adamant

unyielding

adept

highly skilled

adhere

to stick to or follow

admonish

to warn or criticize

adorn

to decorate

adroit

skillful

adulation

excessive praise

adumbrate

to foreshadow vaguely

adverse

unfavorable; harmful

advocate

to support; a supporter

aerial

related to the air

aesthetic

pertaining to beauty

affable

friendly; easy-going

affinity

natural liking or closeness

affluent

wealthy

affront

an insult

aggrandize

to increase in power or status

aggregate

a total; to gather

aggrieved

distressed or wronged

agile

quick and nimble

agnostic

one who believes God’s existence is unknowable

agriculture

farming

aisle

a passageway

alacrity

eager speed

alias

a false name

allay

to calm or soothe

allege

to assert without proof

alleviate

to relieve

allocate

to distribute or set aside

aloof

distant; reserved

altercation

a heated argument

amalgamate

to unite or combine

ambiguous

unclear; having multiple meanings

ambivalent

having mixed feelings

ameliorate

to improve

amenable

willing; cooperative

amenity

something that adds comfort

amiable

friendly

amicable

peaceable; friendly

amorous

showing love

amorphous

without a definite shape

anachronistic

out of chronological order

analgesic

pain reliever

analogous

comparable

anarchist

one who opposes all government

anathema

a hated thing or person

anecdote

a short, amusing story

anesthesia

loss of sensation

anguish

severe suffering

animated

lively; spirited

annex

to add territory; an added building

annul

to cancel or invalidate

anomaly

abnormality

anonymous

without a known name

antagonism

hostility

antecedent

something that came before

antediluvian

very old; ancient

anthology

a collected work

antipathy

strong dislike

antiquated

old-fashioned

antiseptic

clean; germ-free

antithesis

the exact opposite

anxiety

intense worry

apathetic

showing no interest

apocryphal

of doubtful authenticity

appalling

shocking; horrifying

appease

to calm or satisfy

appraise

to evaluate value