Most Common SAT Vocab Words (No examples)

bane

(n.) a cause of distress or annoyance; curse, burden

covet

(v.) to desire wrongfully; crave, envy

deferential

(adj.) showing respect or submission; respectful, humble

effulgent

(adj.) radiant or shining brightly; luminous, glowing

engender

(v.) to cause or give rise to; generate, provoke

latent

(adj.) hidden but present; dormant, concealed

malleable

(adj.) easily shaped or influenced; flexible, adaptable

perusal

(n.) a close reading or examination; inspection, review

pretense

(n.) a false show or claim; act, sham

promulgate

(v.) to make known officially; declare, proclaim

stoic

(adj.) enduring pain without showing emotion

trenchant

(adj.) sharp or forceful; incisive

veneer

(n.) a thin surface covering; façade

abase

(v.) to humiliate, degrade; belittle, demean

abate

(v.) to lessen or reduce; subside, dwindle

abdicate

(v.) to give up power; resign, relinquish

abduct

(v.) to kidnap or seize by force; snatch, carry off

aberration

(n.) a deviation from the norm; anomaly, irregularity

abet

(v.) to assist in wrongdoing; aid, encourage

abhor

(v.) to hate deeply; detest, loathe

abide

(v.) to tolerate or follow; accept, obey

abject

(adj.) hopeless and miserable; wretched, degraded

abjure

(v.) to formally reject; renounce, forswear

abnegation

(n.) self-denial; renunciation, rejection

abort

(v.) to terminate early; cancel, halt

abridge

(v.) to shorten; condense, trim

abrogate

(v.) to cancel by authority; repeal, annul

abrupt

(adj.) sudden or curt; hasty, blunt

abscond

(v.) to run away secretly; flee, bolt

absolution

(n.) formal forgiveness; pardon, mercy

abstain

(v.) to hold back voluntarily; refrain, avoid

abstruse

(adj.) difficult to understand; obscure, puzzling

accede

(v.) to agree or comply; consent, yield

accentuate

(v.) to emphasize or highlight; stress, underscore

accessible

(adj.) easy to reach or understand; available, approachable

accessory

(n.) a supplementary item; add-on, ornament

acclaim

(v.) to praise publicly; applaud, commend

accolade

(n.) an award or honor; praise, recognition

accommodating

(adj.) willing to help; obliging, cooperative

accord

(n.) agreement or harmony; consensus, unity

accost

(v.) to approach aggressively; confront, hassle

account for

(v.) to explain or justify; clarify, rationalize

accretion

(n.) gradual growth; buildup, accumulation

acerbic

(adj.) sharp or bitter in tone; harsh, sarcastic

acquiesce

(v.) to give in passively; comply, yield

acrimony

(n.) bitterness or hostility; resentment, rancor

acumen

(n.) keen insight or skill; shrewdness, expertise

acute

(adj.) sharp or severe; intense, keen

adamant

(adj.) unyielding or firm; stubborn, resolute

adept

(adj.) highly skilled; proficient, expert

adhere

(v.) to stick to or follow; cling, comply

admonish

(v.) to warn or scold; reprimand, caution

adorn

(v.) to decorate or beautify; embellish, garnish

adroit

(adj.) skillful and clever; adept, nimble

adulation

(n.) excessive praise; flattery, worship

adulterate

(v.) to make impure; contaminate, dilute

adumbrate

(v.) to foreshadow or suggest; outline, hint

adverse

(adj.) unfavorable or harmful; negative, detrimental

advocate

(v.) to support or argue for; promote, endorse

aerial

(adj.) related to the air; airborne, flying

aesthetic

(adj.) concerned with beauty; artistic, tasteful

affable

(adj.) friendly and easy to talk to; sociable, approachable

affinity

(n.) a natural connection or liking; attraction, bond

affluent

(adj.) wealthy and well-off; rich, prosperous

affront

(n.) an insult or offense; slight, indignity

aggrandize

(v.) to increase in power or wealth; glorify, magnify

aggravate

(v.) to make worse; worsen, intensify

aggregate

(n.) a whole formed by parts; sum, total

aggrieved

(adj.) feeling wronged or offended; resentful, upset

agile

(adj.) quick and nimble; graceful, spry

agnostic

(n.) one who doubts religious certainty; skeptic, doubter

agriculture

(n.) farming or cultivation; agronomy, husbandry

aisle

(n.) a walkway between rows; corridor, passage

alacrity

(n.) eager readiness; enthusiasm, willingness

alias

(n.) a false or assumed name; pseudonym, nickname

allay

(v.) to ease or calm; soothe, alleviate

allege

(v.) to claim without proof; assert, accuse

alleviate

(v.) to lessen or relieve; ease, mitigate

allocate

(v.) to assign or distribute; designate, allot

aloof

(adj.) emotionally distant; detached, reserved

altercation

(n.) a noisy argument; dispute, quarrel

amalgamate

(v.) to combine or unite; merge, blend

ambiguous

(adj.) unclear or having multiple meanings; vague, equivocal

ambivalent

(adj.) having mixed feelings; uncertain, conflicted

ameliorate

(v.) to improve or make better; enhance, upgrade

amenable

(adj.) open to suggestion; cooperative, agreeable

amenity

(n.) a useful feature; convenience, facility

amiable

(adj.) friendly and pleasant; good-natured, warm

amicable

(adj.) done in a friendly way; peaceful, cordial

amorous

(adj.) full of love or desire; romantic, affectionate

amorphous

(adj.) without a clear shape; shapeless, vague

anachronistic

(adj.) out of place in time; outdated, misplaced

analgesic

(n.) pain reliever; painkiller, anesthetic

analogous

(adj.) comparable or similar; alike, equivalent

anarchist

(n.) one who opposes all government; rebel, revolutionary

anathema

(n.) something hated or cursed; abomination, pariah

anecdote

(n.) a short personal story; tale, narrative

anesthesia

(n.) loss of sensation; numbing, sedation

anguish

(n.) great pain or suffering; agony, torment

animated

(adj.) full of life or excitement; lively, spirited