SAT Vocabulary: The 1000 Most Common Words

A collection of 46 key vocabulary words from the list of the 1000 most common SAT words to help with student review and exam preparation.

abase

to humiliate, degrade

aberration

something that differs from the norm

abnegation

denial of comfort to oneself

abstruse

hard to comprehend

acumen

keen insight

adroit

skillful, dexterous

alacrity

eagerness, speed

ameliorate

to improve

anachronistic

being out of correct chronological order

antediluvian

ancient

ardor

extreme vigor, energy, enthusiasm

assiduous

hard-working, diligent

astute

very clever, crafty

auspicious

favorable, indicative of good things

banal

dull, commonplace

benevolent

marked by goodness or doing good

brusque

short, abrupt, dismissive

cacophony

tremendous noise, disharmonious sound

capricious

subject to whim, fickle

circumspect

cautious

cogent

intellectually convincing

contrite

penitent, eager to be forgiven

convivial

characterized by feasting, drinking, merriment

cupidity

greed, strong desire

dearth

a lack, scarcity

didactic

intended to instruct; overly moralistic

ebullient

extremely lively, enthusiastic

ephemeral

short-lived, fleeting

fastidious

meticulous, demanding, having high and often unattainable standards

garrulous

talkative, wordy

hegemony

domination over others

iconoclast

one who attacks common beliefs or institutions

indolent

lazy

ineffable

unspeakable, incapable of being expressed through words

insatiable

incapable of being satisfied

laconic

terse in speech or writing

maverick

an independent, nonconformist person

nefarious

heinously villainous

obdurate

unyielding to persuasion or moral influences

panacea

a remedy for all ills or difficulties

quixotic

idealistic, impractical

rancor

deep, bitter resentment

surreptitious

stealthy

ubiquitous

existing everywhere, widespread

venerate

to regard with respect or to honor

zenith

the highest point, culminating point