SAT Vocab

abate

To lessen; to reduce in intensity

abdicate

To give up a position or responsibility

aberration

A departure from what is normal

abet

To encourage or assist

abhor

To hate intensely

abide

To tolerate; endure

abject

Extremely bad or hopeless

abjure

To renounce formally

abolish

To end officially

abridge

To shorten

absolve

To free from blame

abstain

To refrain voluntarily

abstract

Theoretical; not concrete

abstruse

Difficult to understand

abundant

Plentiful

abysmal

Extremely poor

accede

To agree; to assume office

accelerate

To speed up

accessible

Easy to approach or understand

acclaim

Enthusiastic praise

acclimate

To adjust to new conditions

accolade

An award or honor

accommodate

To adapt or provide for

accomplice

A partner in wrongdoing

accord

Agreement

accountable

Responsible

accrue

To accumulate over time

acerbic

Sharp or bitter in tone

acknowledge

To recognize

acquiesce

To accept reluctantly

acquire

To gain

acquit

To declare not guilty

acute

Sharp; severe

adamant

Unyielding

adapt

To adjust

adept

Highly skilled

adequate

Sufficient

adhere

To stick firmly; obey

adjacent

Next to

admonish

To warn or scold

adorn

To decorate

adroit

Skillful

adulation

Excessive praise

adversary

An opponent

adverse

Harmful

advocate

To support publicly

aesthetic

Relating to beauty

affable

Friendly

affect

To influence

affiliate

To associate with

affinity

A natural attraction

affirm

To confirm

affluent

Wealthy

aggrandize

To make greater

aggregate

A total; combined

agile

Quick and nimble

agitate

To disturb

alacrity

Cheerful readiness

alienate

To estrange

alleviate

To lessen

allocate

To distribute

allude

To refer indirectly

allure

To attract

aloof

Distant and reserved

altercation

A quarrel

altruistic

Selfless

amass

To gather

ambiguous

Unclear

ambitious

Having strong goals

ameliorate

To improve

amenable

Willing to cooperate

amiable

Friendly

ample

More than enough

amplify

To increase

analogy

A comparison

analyze

To examine carefully

anarchy

Lack of government

anecdote

A short story

animosity

Strong hatred

annihilate

To destroy completely

annotate

To add notes

anomaly

Something unusual

antagonize

To provoke

antecedent

A preceding event

anticipate

To expect

antipathy

Strong dislike

apathetic

Lacking interest

apex

The highest point

aphorism

A brief saying

appease

To calm

applaud

To praise

apprehensive

Anxious

apt

Likely; appropriate

arbitrary

Based on whim

ardent

Passionate

arduous

Difficult

arid

Dry

aristocracy

Noble class

articulate

Clear in speech

artifice

Trickery