Most Common SAT Vocab Words (No examples)

abase

(v.) to humiliate, degrade; belittle, demean

abate

(v.) to lessen or reduce; subside, dwindle

abdicate

(v.) to give up power; resign, relinquish

aberration

(n.) a deviation from the norm; anomaly, irregularity

abet

(v.) to assist in wrongdoing; aid, encourage

abhor

(v.) to hate deeply; detest, loathe

abject

(adj.) hopeless and miserable; wretched, degraded

abjure

(v.) to formally reject; renounce, forswear

abnegation

(n.) self-denial; renunciation, rejection

abridge

(v.) to shorten; condense, trim

abrogate

(v.) to cancel by authority; repeal, annul

abscond

(v.) to run away secretly; flee, bolt

absolution

(n.) formal forgiveness; pardon, mercy

abstruse

(adj.) difficult to understand; obscure, puzzling

accede

(v.) to agree or comply; consent, yield

acclaim

(v.) to praise publicly; applaud, commend

accolade

(n.) an award or honor; praise, recognition

accord

(n.) agreement or harmony; consensus, unity

accost

(v.) to approach aggressively; confront, hassle

accretion

(n.) gradual growth; buildup, accumulation

acerbic

(adj.) sharp or bitter in tone; harsh, sarcastic

acquiesce

(v.) to give in passively; comply, yield

acrimony

(n.) bitterness or hostility; resentment, rancor

acumen

(n.) keen insight or skill; shrewdness, expertise

acute

(adj.) sharp or severe; intense, keen

adept

(adj.) highly skilled; proficient, expert

admonish

(v.) to warn or scold; reprimand, caution

adroit

(adj.) skillful and clever; adept, nimble

adulation

(n.) excessive praise; flattery, worship

adumbrate

(v.) to foreshadow or suggest; outline, hint

aerial

(adj.) related to the air; airborne, flying

affable

(adj.) friendly and easy to talk to; sociable, approachable

affinity

(n.) a natural connection or liking; attraction, bond

affluent

(adj.) wealthy and well-off; rich, prosperous

affront

(n.) an insult or offense; slight, indignity

aggrandize

(v.) to increase in power or wealth; glorify, magnify

aggregate

(n.) a whole formed by parts; sum, total

aggrieved

(adj.) feeling wronged or offended; resentful, upset

alacrity

(n.) eager readiness; enthusiasm, willingness

alias

(n.) a false or assumed name; pseudonym, nickname

allay

(v.) to ease or calm; soothe, alleviate

amalgamate

(v.) to combine or unite; merge, blend

ambivalent

(adj.) having mixed feelings; uncertain, conflicted

amenable

(adj.) open to suggestion; cooperative, agreeable

amiable

(adj.) friendly and pleasant; good-natured, warm

amicable

(adj.) done in a friendly way; peaceful, cordial

amorous

(adj.) full of love or desire; romantic, affectionate

amorphous

(adj.) without a clear shape; shapeless, vague

anachronistic

(adj.) out of place in time; outdated, misplaced

analgesic

(n.) pain reliever; painkiller, anesthetic

anathema

(n.) something hated or cursed; abomination, pariah

antecedent

(n.) something that comes before; precursor, predecessor

antediluvian

(adj.) extremely old; ancient, outdated

anthology

(n.) a collection of writings; compilation, selection

antipathy

(n.) a strong dislike; aversion, hostility

antiquated

(adj.) outdated or old-fashioned; obsolete, archaic

antithesis

(n.) the direct opposite; contrast, reverse

apathetic

(adj.) lacking interest or emotion; indifferent, unconcerned

apocryphal

(adj.) of doubtful authenticity; false, dubious

appraise

(v.) to evaluate or assess; estimate, judge

apprehend

(v.) to arrest or understand; capture, grasp

approbation

(n.) approval or praise; commendation, endorsement

appropriate

(v.) to take or assign; seize, allocate

arable

(adj.) suitable for farming; fertile, cultivable

arbiter

(n.) a judge or mediator; referee, umpire

arbitration

(n.) legal settling of disputes; mediation, negotiation

arboreal

(adj.) related to trees; woody, tree-dwelling

arcane

(adj.) mysterious or secret; obscure, esoteric

archetypal

(adj.) representing an ideal example; classic, standard

ardor

(n.) intense passion or enthusiasm; zeal, fervor

arid

(adj.) extremely dry; barren, parched

arrogate

(v.) to claim without right; seize, appropriate

ascertain

(v.) to find out for certain; determine, verify

ascetic

(adj.) practicing strict self-discipline; austere, self-denying

ascribe

(v.) to attribute to a cause; credit, assign

aspersion

(n.) a damaging remark; slander, defamation

assail

(v.) to attack violently; assault, criticize

assiduous

(adj.) hardworking and diligent; persistent, industrious

assuage

(v.) to ease or relieve; soothe, calm

asylum

(n.) protection or shelter; refuge, sanctuary

atone

(v.) to make up for a wrong; repent, redeem

atrophy

(v.) to waste away; wither, degenerate

audacious

(adj.) bold and daring; fearless, brazen

auspicious

(adj.) favorable or promising; fortunate, encouraging

austere

(adj.) strict or plain; severe, simple

avarice

(n.) extreme greed; materialism, cupidity

balk

(v.) to hesitate or refuse; resist, recoil

banal

(adj.) lacking originality; cliché, trite

bane

(n.) a cause of distress or annoyance; curse, burden

bashful

(adj.) shy or easily embarrassed; timid, reserved

battery

(n.) a beating or group of similar items; assault, set

beguile

(v.) to charm or deceive; mislead, enchant

behemoth

(n.) something enormous; giant, titan

benevolent

(adj.) kind and generous; charitable, compassionate

bequeath

(v.) to leave in a will; hand down, pass on

bereft

(adj.) deprived or lacking; empty, without

beseech

(v.) to beg urgently; implore, plead

bilk

(v.) to cheat or defraud; swindle, deceive

blandish

(v.) to flatter or coax; charm, cajole

blight

(n.) something that ruins or destroys; plague, curse