SAT Vocabulary

Most seen on SAT Vocabulary

Abate

to reduce in amount, degree, or severity

Abhor

to hate or detest

Abstain

to refrain or hold back voluntarily

Accretion

a gradual buildup or growth by addition

Acerbic

sharp, biting, or caustic in tone

Acquire

to gain possession of

Acumen

keen insight or judgment

Adhere

to stick fast or cleave

Admonish

to caution or advise against

Affable

friendly, good-natured, and easy to talk to

Aesthetic

relating to beauty or good taste

Alleviate

to relieve or make more bearable

Amiable

friendly and good-natured

Ample

more than sufficient in size or scope

Analogous

similar or comparable in certain respects

Anomaly

something that deviates from the norm

Antipathy

a deep dislike or aversion

Arbitrary

chosen at random, without reason

Arrogant

having an exaggerated sense of self-importance

Aspire

to strive for or ambition to achieve a goal

Aversion

a strong feeling of dislike, distaste, or hostility

Banal

lacking originality, freshness, or novelty

Belittle

to make someone or something seem unimportant

Belligerent

hostile, aggressive, or pugnacious

Benevolent

characterized by or expressing goodwill

Bolster

to give vital support, reinforce, or strengthen

Bombastic

high-sounding but with little meaning

Boon

a blessing, timely benefit, or assistance

Brevity

concise expression without wasted words

Brusque

abrupt or offhand in speech or manner

Byzantine

very complicated or intricate

Callous

showing little sympathy for others; insensitive

Calm

free from agitation, disturbance, or tumult

Candor

honesty, frankness, or sincere expression

Capricious

characterized by or subject to whim; impulsive

Castigate

to punish or criticize severely

Censure

blame or condemn

Character

moral qualities distinctive to an individual

Circumspect

cautious or prudent, especially in speech or action

Coarse

rough, harsh, or uneven in texture

Complex

composed of interconnected or complicated parts

Concise

expressing much in few words

Conform

to act in accordance with rules, standards, or customs

Conscientious

guided by or in accordance with conscience or sense of right

Constant

remaining unchanged or fixed

Contemplate

to consider thoughtfully

Contribute

to give or supply along with others

Dearth

scarcity or lack

Defiant

boldly resistant to authority or any opposing force

Delicate

fragile, frail, or vulnerable; requiring gentle handling

Demonstrate

to establish or prove by example; clear explanation

Deride

to ridicule, mock, or scornfully laugh at

Desolate

depressing, bleak, lifeless; barren

Detach

to separate or disengage from association

Diligent

characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic application

Disclose

to make known, reveal, or uncover

Dismal

causing gloom or depression

Disperse

to spread or scatter widely

Dubious

doubtful or suspect; of uncertain quality or outcome

Dull

boring, monotonous, lacking sharpness

Eclectic

deriving ideas or style from a diverse range of sources

Edify

to instruct, improve, or enlighten

Egalitarian

relating to or believing in equality for all people

Elicit

to draw forth or bring out

Eminent

prominent, distinguished, or noteworthy

Empathy

the ability to understand another’s perspective, feelings, or difficulties

Enigma

something or someone puzzling, mysterious, or difficult to understand

Equivocal

open to more than one interpretation; purposefully vague or ambiguous

Evoke

to summon or call forth

Exact

precise, accurate, or correct in every detail

Expedient

suitable for achieving a particular end; pragmatically useful

Explicit

clearly and directly stated, leaving no room for confusion

Extol

to praise highly or glorify

Extricate

to free or release from a difficult situation or entanglement

Facilitate

to make easier or help bring about

Fathom

to understand something thoroughly

Fatuous

silly, foolish, smugly ignorant

Feckless

weak, ineffective, incompetent; irresponsible

Fervor

great warmth and intensity of feeling

Fickle

frequently changing, erratic

Flagrant

glaringly bad or offensive

Flimsy

thin and easily bent or damaged; lacking plausibility

Flout

to openly disregard rules or conventions

Frugal

practicing or reflecting economy in use of resources

Garrulous

excessively talkative, especially about trivial matters

Germane

relevant and appropriate for the subject at hand

Grave

serious; requiring consideration

Gregarious

sociable, seeking and enjoying the company of others

Gross

blatant, outrageous, or unambiguous

Guile

cunning, deceitful shrewdness or treachery

Gullible

easily persuaded to believe something; naive, credulous

Haughty

arrogantly superior, disdainful

Hesitate

to pause in uncertainty or have difficulty choosing

Hinder

to hamper, obstruct, or delay

Hostile

having or showing ill will, animosity, opposition

Hyperbole

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally

Iconoclast

one who attacks or undermines traditional conventions or institutions

Idolize

to worship or admire intensely and often excessively

Illuminate

to supply or brighten with light; enlighten

Illusion

something that deceives or misleads intellectually