SAT words - high frequency words

last word - explicit word 75

Absolve

Declare someone free from guilt, obligation, or punishment Relieve, Exempt, Excuse

Abstruse

Difficult to understand; obscure Perplexing, Involuted, Cryptic

Accentuate

To make more noticeable or prominent Underscore, Emphasize, Highlight

Accretion

Growth or increase by the gradual accumulation of additional layers or matter Accumulation, Accrual, Augmentation

Acquiesce

Accept something reluctantly but without protest Permit, Allow, Tolerate

Adroit

Clever or skillful Adept, Deft, Competent

Affinity

A natural liking for and understanding of someone or something Empathy, Chemistry, Connection

Agglomeration

A mass or collection of things; an assemblage Cluster, Clump, Accumulation

Alacrity

Brisk and cheerful readiness, Enthusiasm, Zeal, Eagerness

Ambidextrous

Able to use the right and left hands equally well Equiposed, Two-handed, Lacking lateral dominance

Ameliorate

To make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better Amend, Reform, Rectify

Amorphous

Without a clearly defined shape or form Structureless, Indeterminate, Unstructured

Anachronism

A thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned

Anomalous

Deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected Abnormal, Atypical, Exceptional

Anthropomorphic

Having human characteristics Humanlike, Humanoid, Anthropoid

Appease

Pacify or placate (someone) by acceding to their demands Conciliate, Propitiate, Reconcile

Appraise

Assess the value or quality of Evaluate, Estimate, Gauge

Apprise

Inform or tell Intimate, Notify, Update

Assuage

Make an unpleasant feeling less intense; to satisfy Mitigate, Alleviate, Gratify

Attenuate

Reduce the force, effect, or value of Reduced, Impaired, Enervated

Attest

Provide or serve as clear evidence of, Certify, Corroborate, Substantiate

Attest

Provide or serve as clear evidence of Certify, Corroborate, Substantiate

Attrition

The process of reducing something's strength or effectiveness through sustained attack or pressure Enfeebling, Attenuation, Weakening

Augment

Make greater by adding to it; or increasing Supplement, Amplify, Elevate

Auspicious

Conducive to success; favourable Propitious, Promising, Opportune

Austere

Severe or strict in manner or attitude Stern, Frosty, Stringent

Banal

So lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring Hackneyed, Platitudinous, Vapid

Begrudgingly

Reluctantly or resentfully Belligerently, Rudely, Contemptuously

Buttress

A source of defence or support Strengthen, Reinforce, Fortify

Calibrate

Mark (a gauge or instrument) with a standard scale of readings Measure, Compute, Gauge

Candor

The quality of being open and honest Sincerity, Truthfulness, Frankness

Capacious

Having a lot of space inside; roomy Commodious, Spacious, Ample

Capricious

Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behaviour : Fickle, Haphazard, Erratic

Catalyze

Cause or accelerate (an action or process) Prompt, Spark, Accelerate

Censure

Express severe disapproval of (someone or something), especially in a formal statement Synonyms: Condemn, Criticism, Chastise

Cerebral

Intellectual rather than emotional or physical Analytical, Scholarly, Academic

Circumscribe

Restrict (something) within limits Confine, Limit, Restrain

Coalesce

Come together to form one mass or whole Merge, Combine, Unite

Cogent

(Of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing Compelling, Persuasive, Forceful

Concomitant

Naturally accompanying or associated Concurrent, Accompanying, Attendant

Conducive

Making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible Favorable, Beneficial, Helpful

Confound

Cause surprise or confusion in (someone), especially by acting against their expectations Baffle, Perplex, Bewilder

Conspicuous

Clearly visible or attracting notice or attention Noticeable, Obvious, Prominent

Constraint

A limitation or restriction Limitation, Restriction, Curb

Contention

Heated disagreement, or an assertion maintained in argument Argument, Claim, Dispute

Convene

Come or bring together for a meeting or activity; assemble Assemble, Gather, Convoke

Conversant

Familiar with or knowledgeable about something Familiar, Well-informed, Versed

Copious

Abundant in supply or quantity Plentiful, Abundant, Ample

Corroborate

Confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding) Verify, Validate, Authenticate

Culpable

Deserving blame : Blameworthy, Guilty, Accountable

Decorum

Behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety Propriety, Decency, Etiquette

Deference

Humble submission and respect : Respect, Reverence, Courtesy

Deflineation

The action of describing, portraying, or setting forth something precisely Depiction, Description, Outline

Demure

Reserved, modest, and shy Modest, Unassuming, Reserved

Disavow

Deny any responsibility or support for Repudiate, Disown, Reject

Discern

Perceive or recognize (something) Perceive, Detect, Distinguish

Discrepancy

An illogical or surprising lack of compatibility between two or more facts Inconsistency, Disparity, Divergence

Disinterested

Not influenced by considerations of personal advantage; impartial Impartial, Unbiased, Neutral

Disparate

Essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison Divergent, Dissimilar, Distinct

Disperse

Distribute or spread over a wide area Scatter, Disseminate, Diffuse

Dissemble

Conceal one's true motives, feelings, or beliefs Disguise, Mask, Feign

Distension

The state of being stretched, swollen, or enlarged beyond normal dimensions Swelling, Expansion, Dilation

Dogmatic

Inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true Opinionated, Peremptory, Assertive

Eclectic

Deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources Diverse, Varied, Wide-ranging

Eclipsed

Deprived of significance, power, or prominence Overshadowed, Surpassed, Outshone

Efficacy

The ability to produce a desired or intended result Effectiveness, Power, Potency

Emanate

Issue or spread out from (a source) Originate, Emerge, Exude

Empathy

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another Compassion, Understanding, Sympathy

Emulate

Match or surpass (a person or achievement), typically by imitation Imitate, Copy, Mirror

Enervate

Cause (someone) to feel drained of energy or vitality; weaken Exhaust, Fatigue, Debilitate

Engender

Cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition) Produce, Generate, Instigate

Equivocal

Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous: Ambiguous, Ambivalent, Uncertain

Esoteric

Intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge Obscure, Abstruse, Arcane

Evince

Reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling); indicate Demonstrate, Manifest, Exhibit

Exacerbate

Make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse Aggravate, Worsen, Inflame

Explicit

Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt | Clear, Unambiguous, Direct