SAT Vocabulary

Abase

To lower someone or something in rank, prestige, or esteem.

Example: Scandal can abase a politician’s reputation.

Abate

Decrease, reduce, recede.

Example: We decided to wait in the car until the fierce thunderstorm began to abate.

Aberration

A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected.

Example: Experiencing seventy-degree weather in the middle of a snowy January is a meteorological aberration.

Abet

To assist or support someone in the achievement of a purpose.

Example: He was abetted by his brother in playing a prank on the teacher.

Absolve

To clear of wrongdoing; pardon.

Example: Signing the waiver absolved the gym of liability for any injuries sustained during the class.

Abstruse

Complex; hard to understand.

Example: The musician’s critically acclaimed single features beautifully abstruse lyrics that leave the true meaning open to interpretation.

Acclaim

To openly praise.

Example: Her latest performance in the ballet earned her widespread critical acclaim.

Accolade

Praise; distinction; an award.

Example: Winning the Nobel Prize is widely considered the highest accolade a scientist can achieve.

Accost

To approach and to speak to someone in a bold, aggressive, or unwanted way.

Example: A stranger accosted me at the bus stop and aggressively demanded money.

Accretion

Gradual build up or growth by addition.

Example: After a harsh winter storm, a thick accretion of ice formed on the car’s windshield.

Accrue

To gather, gain, or accumulate.

Example: If you don’t pay your credit card balance in full, interest will acrrue on the remaining amount.

Acquiesce

To agree, accept, or give into something recluctantly.

Example: She did not want to work overtime, but after her boss pleaded for help, she finally acquiesced.

Acrimony

Bitterness or hostility.

Example: Despite years of working together, their partnership ended in deep acrimony and distrust.

Acuity

Sharpness, keenness, or clarity of your senses.

Example: He was known for his incredible mental acuity, solving complex math problems in seconds.

Acumen

Sharpness of judgement or insight.

Example: The senator is widely respected for her political acumen and ability to negotiate complex legislation.

Adroit

Skillful; accomplished; highly competent.

Example: She became adroit at dealing with difficult clients, always knowing the right words to de-esculate tensions.

Adulation

Extreme, excessive, or uncritical admiration and praise.

Example: When the young musician performed her hit song, she soaked in the adulation of the crowd.

Affable

Someone who is pleasant, friendly, easy to talk to, and approachable.

Example: Her affable personality made everyone feel welcome at hte dinner party.

Aggregated

Combined; overall.

Example: The marketing team combined the separate metrics to report an aggregated score for the campaign’s success

Allay

To calm, pacify, or diminish a strong emotion or concern.

Example: Taking three deep breaths can allay anxiety and help you relax during stressful moments.

Altruistic

Selflessness; unselfish concern for the welfare of others.

Example: Because she has an altruistic nature, she decided to spend two years of her life volunteering as a teacher in a developing country.

Ameliorate

To make better or more tolerable.

Example: The new air conditioning unit helped to ameliorate the discomfort of the blistering summer heat.

Amenable

Being open and responsive to suggestion, or willing to cooperate and comply.

Example: Even though he prefers the city, he was amenable to going on a camping trip with his friends.

Amorphous

Having no clearly defined shape, form, or structure.

Example: His ideas for the business proposal are far too amorphous to pitch to investors.

Appraise

To estimate the value of something.

Example: Before getting it insured, you must have the vintage ring appraised by an expert jeweler.

Apprehensive

Feeling worried, nervous, or fearful that something unpleasant or bad might happen in the future.

Example: Although she was excited to start her new career, she felt apprehensive about her first day.

Arbitrary

An action, rule, or decision made based on personal whim, rather than reason, logic, or a formal system.

Example: I didn’t know why I chose that specific movie; it was a completely arbitrary decision.

Arcane

Myserious, secret, known or understood by only a few.

Example: Most college fraternities are known for arcane rituals that those hoping to join must learn.

Ardent

Passionate, enthusiastic, and fiery.

Example: She has been an ardent supporter of environmental conservation for over a decade.

Ascetic

Self denying; depriving oneself of something.

Example: Because she wanted to focus entirely on her art, she lived an ascetic life with almost no furniture or luxuries.

Aspersion

A false rumor or damaging report.

Example: During the public debate, the opposing candidate attempted to cast aspersions on the mayor’s financial integrity.

Assent

To agree with, approve, or express acceptance.

Example: The parents must give their assent before the school trip can occur.

Assiduous

Showig great care, attention, and persistant effort.

Example: Her assiduous approach to editing ensured that there were absolutely no errors in the final manuscript.

Assuage

To soothe or pacify.

Example: She drank herbal tea to assuage her persistant sore throat.

Atrophy

To deteriorate.

Example: The severe neurological disease caused the nerves and tissues in her lower limbs to gradually atrophy.

Augment

To make something greater, larger, or stronger by adding to it.

Example: Because I want to augment my income, I am thinking about getting a second job.

Auspicious

Favorable; promising; pointing to a good result.

Example: Since his father was a veteran judge, Henry had an auspicious legal career ahead of him.

Austere

Strict or severely in manner, attitude or appearance; lacking any excess.

Example: The monk chose to live an austere life in a sparsely furnished room with only a hard cot and a single wooden chair.

Avant-Garde

Pioneering, innovative.

Example: Throughout the 1920s, Pablo Picasso and his contemporaries were the driving force of the artistic avant-garde.

Avarice

Greed for wealth or material gain.

Example: Consumed by avarice, the corrupt politican could never get enough money to satisfy his thirst for power.

Banal

Commonplace; dull; ordinary.

Example: The pop star’s new lyrics were incredibly banal. consisting of recycled cliches.

Beguile

To charm or enchant someone, often in a deceptive or irresistible way.

Example: The con artist used her charm to beguile innocent people into handling over their money.

Bereft

To contradict, misinterpret, or give a false impression of something.

Example: Her youthful energy belies her seventy-five years.

Bilk

Brevity

Brusque

Byzantine

Calamitous

Callous

Callow

Candor

Capitulate

Capricious

Castigate

Catalyze

Caustic

Censure

Chronicle

Circumspect

Clandestine

Coalesce

Cogent

Colloquial

Conflated

Conjecture

Contrite

Convene

Convivial

Corollary

Corroborate

Credulity

Crepuscular

Culpable

Curmudgeon

Cursory

Dearth

Debase

Debilitate

Decorous

Decry

Defame

Deferenece

Deferential

Deft

Defunct

Deleterious

Demagogue

Demur

Demure

Denigrate

Deplorable

Derelict

Deride

Detractor

Discordant

Disparage

Disparate

Dispassionate

Disposition

Disseminate