The 1000 Most Common SAT Words – Core Vocabulary Flashcards

A curated set of 200+ key SAT vocabulary terms with concise definitions to aid memorization and review.

abase

to humiliate, degrade

abate

to reduce, lessen

abdicate

to give up a position, usually of leadership

abduct

to kidnap, take by force

aberration

something that differs from the norm

abet

to aid, help, encourage

abhor

to hate, detest

abide

1) to put up with 2) to remain

abject

wretched, pitiful

abjure

to reject, renounce

abnegation

denial of comfort to oneself

abridge

to cut down, shorten

abrogate

to abolish, usually by authority

abscond

to sneak away and hide

absolution

freedom from blame, guilt, sin

abstain

to freely choose not to commit an action

abstruse

hard to comprehend

accede

to agree

accentuate

to stress, highlight

accessible

obtainable, reachable

acclaim

high praise

accolade

high praise, special distinction

accommodating

helpful, obliging, polite

accord

an agreement

accost

to confront verbally

acerbic

biting, bitter in tone or taste

acquiesce

to agree without protesting

acrimony

bitterness, discord

acumen

keen insight

acute

1) sharp, severe 2) having keen insight

adamant

impervious, immovable, unyielding

adept

extremely skilled

adhere

1) to stick to something 2) to follow devoutly

admonish

to caution, criticize, reprove

adorn

to decorate

adroit

skillful, dexterous

adulation

extreme praise

adverse

antagonistic, unfavorable, dangerous

advocate

1) to argue in favor of 2) one who argues for something

aerial

related to the air

aesthetic

artistic; related to beauty

affable

friendly, amiable

affinity

a spontaneous feeling of closeness

affluent

rich, wealthy

affront

an insult

aggrandize

to increase or make greater

aggregate

1) a whole or total 2) to gather into a mass

aggrieved

distressed, wronged, injured

agile

quick, nimble

agnostic

believing the existence of God is unprovable

agriculture

farming

alacrity

eagerness, speed

allege

to assert without proof

alleviate

to relieve, make more bearable

allocate

to distribute, set aside

aloof

reserved, distant

altercation

a dispute, fight

amalgamate

to bring together, unite

ambiguous

uncertain, interpretable in several ways

ambivalent

having opposing feelings

ameliorate

to improve

amenable

willing, compliant

amiable

friendly

amicable

friendly

amorous

showing love, especially sexual

amorphous

without definite shape or type

anachronistic

out of proper chronological order

analgesic

something that reduces pain

analogous

similar; able to be compared

anarchist

one who wants to eliminate all government

anathema

a cursed, detested person

anecdote

a short, humorous account

anesthesia

loss of sensation

anguish

extreme sadness, torment

animated

lively

annex

1) to add territory 2) a room attached to a larger one

annul

to make void or invalid

anomaly

something that does not fit the norm

anonymous

being unknown, unrecognized

antagonism

hostility

antecedent

something that came before

antediluvian

ancient

anthology

a collection of writings, songs, etc.

antipathy

a strong dislike

antiquated

old, out of date

antiseptic

clean, sterile

antithesis

the absolute opposite

anxiety

intense uneasiness

apathetic

lacking concern or emotion

apocryphal

fictitious, false

appalling

inspiring shock or disgust

appease

to calm, satisfy

appraise

to assess the value of

apprehend

1) to seize, arrest 2) to understand

approbation

praise

appropriate

to take, make use of

aquatic

relating to water

arable

suitable for growing crops

arbiter

one who resolves a dispute

arbitrary

based on random factors