300+ most common SAT words // SAT prep

abase

to humiliate, degrade

abate

to reduce, lessen

abdicate

to give up power

abduct

to kidnap, carry off

aberration

something different from the norm

abet

to aid, encourage

abhor

to hate deeply

abide

to endure, remain

abject

wretched, pitiful

abjure

to renounce, reject

abnegation

self-denial

abort

to give up unfinished

abridge

to shorten

abrogate

to abolish by authority

abscond

to sneak away, hide

absolution

freedom from blame

abstain

to choose not to do

abstruse

hard to understand

accede

to agree

accentuate

to emphasize

accessible

reachable, attainable

acclaim

high praise

accolade

special distinction

accommodating

helpful, obliging

accord

agreement

accost

to confront verbally

accretion

slow growth

acerbic

biting, bitter

acquiesce

to agree without protest

acrimony

bitterness, discord

acumen

keen insight

acute

sharp; keen

adamant

unyielding, firm

adept

extremely skilled

adhere

to stick to

admonish

to warn, reprove

adorn

to decorate

adroit

skillful, dexterous

adulation

excessive praise

adumbrate

to sketch vaguely

adverse

unfavorable

advocate

to support; supporter

aerial

related to the air

aesthetic

artistic, beautiful

affable

friendly, amiable

affinity

natural liking

affluent

wealthy

affront

insult

aggrandize

to increase, enlarge

aggregate

total; to gather

aggrieved

wronged, distressed

agile

quick, nimble

agnostic

one doubting God

agriculture

farming

aisle

passageway

alacrity

eagerness, speed

alias

false name

allay

to soothe, calm

allege

to assert without proof

alleviate

to relieve

allocate

to distribute

aloof

distant, reserved

altercation

fight, dispute

amalgamate

to unite, merge

ambiguous

unclear, vague

ambivalent

having mixed feelings

ameliorate

to improve

amenable

willing, cooperative

amenity

comfort item

amiable

friendly

amicable

peaceable, friendly

amorous

showing love

amorphous

shapeless

anachronistic

out of time order

analgesic

pain reliever

analogous

comparable

anarchist

one against government

anathema

hated thing/person

anecdote

short amusing story

anesthesia

loss of sensation

anguish

severe suffering

animated

lively

annex

to add territory; addition

annul

to cancel, void

anomaly

irregularity

anonymous

unknown name

antagonism

hostility

antecedent

something earlier

antediluvian

ancient

anthology

collection of works

antipathy

strong dislike

antiquated

old-fashioned

antiseptic

sterile, clean

antithesis

direct opposite

anxiety

uneasiness, worry

apathetic

showing no interest

apocryphal

of doubtful truth

appalling

shocking, awful

appease

to calm, satisfy

appraise

to evaluate value