SAT Vocabulary: The 1000 Most Common SAT Words

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering the most common SAT words and their definitions as listed in the provided lecture notes.

abase (v.)

to humiliate, degrade

abate (v.)

to reduce, lessen

abdicate (v.)

to give up a position, usually one of leadership

aberration (n.)

something that differs from the norm

abet (v.)

to aid, help, encourage

abhor (v.)

to hate, detest

abject (adj.)

wretched, pitiful

abnegation (n.)

denial of comfort to oneself

abridge (v.)

to cut down, shorten

abrogate (v.)

to abolish, usually by authority

absolution (n.)

freedom from blame, guilt, sin

abstruse (adj.)

hard to comprehend

accede (v.)

to agree

accentuate (v.)

to stress, highlight

accessible (adj.)

obtainable, reachable

acclaim (n.)

high praise

accolade (n.)

high praise, special distinction

accretion (n.)

slow growth in size or amount

acerbic (adj.)

biting, bitter in tone or taste

acquiesce (v.)

to agree without protesting

acrimony (n.)

bitterness, discord

acumen (n.)

keen insight

acute (adj.)

sharp, severe; or having keen insight

adamant (adj.)

impervious, immovable, unyielding

adept (adj.)

extremely skilled

admonish (v.)

to caution, criticize, reprove

adroit (adj.)

skillful, dexterous

adulation (n.)

extreme praise

adumbrate (v.)

to sketch out in a vague way

adversity (adj.)

antagonistic, unfavorable, dangerous

aesthetic (adj.)

artistic, related to the appreciation of beauty

affable (adj.)

friendly, amiable

affinity (n.)

a spontaneous feeling of closeness

affluent (adj.)

rich, wealthy

aggrandize (v.)

to increase or make greater

alacrity (n.)

eagerness, speed

alias (n.)

a false name or identity

allay (v.)

to soothe, ease

alleviate (v.)

to relieve, make more bearable

amalgamate (v.)

to bring together, unite

ambiguous (adj.)

uncertain, variably interpretable

ambivalent (adj.)

having opposing feelings

ameliorate (v.)

to improve

amenity (n.)

an item that increases comfort

amiable (adj.)

friendly

amorphous (adj.)

without definite shape or type

anachronistic (adj.)

being out of correct chronological order

analgesic (n.)

something that reduces pain

anarchist (n.)

one who wants to eliminate all government

anathema (n.)

a cursed, detested person

annex (v.)

to incorporate territory or space

annul (v.)

to make void or invalid

anomaly (n.)

something that does not fit into the normal order

antagonism (n.)

hostility

antediluvian (adj.)

ancient

antipathy (n.)

a strong dislike, repugnance

antiseptic (adj.)

clean, sterile

antithesis (n.)

the absolute opposite

apathetic (adj.)

lacking concern, emotion

apocryphal (adj.)

fictitious, false, wrong

appease (v.)

to calm, satisfy

approbation (n.)

praise

arable (adj.)

suitable for growing crops

arbitrary (adj.)

based on factors that appear random

arcane (adj.)

obscure, secret, known only by a few

archaic (adj.)

of or relating to an earlier period in time, outdated

ardor (n.)

extreme vigor, energy, enthusiasm

arrogate (v.)

to take without justification

ascetic (adj.)

practicing restraint as a means of self-discipline, usually religious

assiduous (adj.)

hard-working, diligent

assuage (v.)

to ease, pacify

astute (adj.)

very clever, crafty

atrophy (v.)

to wither away, decay

audacious (adj.)

excessively bold

auspicious (adj.)

favorable, indicative of good things

austere (adj.)

very bare, bleak

avarice (n.)

excessive greed

balk (v.)

to stop, block abruptly

banal (adj.)

dull, commonplace

bane (n.)

a burden

bashful (adj.)

shy, excessively timid

beguile (v.)

to trick, deceive

behemoth (n.)

something of tremendous power or size

benevolent (adj.)

marked by goodness or doing good

benign (adj.)

favorable, not threatening, mild

berate (v.)

to scold vehemently

bereft (adj.)

devoid of, without

bilk (v.)

cheat, defraud

boisterous (adj.)

loud and full of energy

bombastic (adj.)

excessively confident, pompous

boon (n.)

a gift or blessing

brazen (adj.)

excessively bold, brash

brusque (adj.)

short, abrupt, dismissive

burnish (v.)

to polish, shine

buttress (v.)

to support, hold up

cacophony (n.)

tremendous noise, disharmonious sound

cajole (v.)

to urge, coax

calamity (n.)

an event with disastrous consequences

callous (adj.)

harsh, cold, unfeeling

calumny (n.)

an attempt to spoil someone else’s reputation by spreading lies