SAT Vocab

abate

(v.) to become less active, less intense, or less in amount

abstract

(adj.) existing purely in the mind; not representing actual reality

abysmal

(adj.) extremely bad

adept

(adj.) having knowledge or skill in a particular area

adhere

(v.) to stick to or follow closely

advent

(n.) the arrival or creation of something

aggravate

(v.) to worsen or intensify

allude

(v.) to make an indirect mention of something

ambiguity

(n.) uncertainty or multiple interpretations

ambiguous

(adj.) having more than one interpretation

ambivalence

(n.) mixed or conflicting feelings

ameliorate

(v.) to improve or make better

analogous

(adj.) similar but not identical

antecedent

(n.) a preceding event or condition

antipathy

(n.) a strong feeling of dislike

arcane

(adj.) mysterious or known by few

archetype

(n.) an original model or overarching concept

“the blueprint”

arduous

(adj.) difficult and requiring great effort

attenuating

(adj.) lessened; reduced in force or effect

austere

(adj.) plain; stern; or relating to self-denial

benevolent

(adj.) kind and generous

buttress

(v.) to support or strengthen

calibrate

(v.) to adjust for precision

candid

(adj.) direct, blunt, and honest

circumvent

(v.) to find a way around

coincidence

(n.) a surprising and unexpected event

commercialization

(n.) the process of making something into a business

compelling

(adj.) captivating or persuasive

complementary

(adj.) enhancing or completing another

concede

(v.) to admit or yield

conflated

(adj.) combined in a misleading way

conform

(v.) to comply with rules or expectations

conspicuous

(adj.) easily noticed; standing out

contentious

(adj.) causing disagreement or debate

contingent

(adj.) dependent on something else

contrived

(adj.) artificial or overly planned

cordially

(adv.) in a warm or friendly manner

corroborate

(v.) to provide evidence for; to back up

decisive

(adj.) firm or conclusive

deficient

(adj.) lacking or insufficient

defunct

(adj.) no longer existing or functioning

delegate

(v.) to assign tasks or authority to others

deliberation

(n.) careful consideration or discussion

demarcate

(v.) to set boundaries or distinguish

desultory

(adj.) lacking a clear plan or enthusiasm

disconcerting

(adj.) causing discomfort or confusion

discretion

(n.) the ability to make responsible choices

disparage

(v.) to belittle or speak negatively about

disparate

(adj.) essentially different or unconnected

dormant

(adj.) inactive but capable of becoming active

dynamic

(adj.) constantly changing or energetic

earnest

(adj.) serious and sincere

eclipse

(v.) to overshadow or surpass

eloquent

(adj.) having refined or expressive communication skills

elusive

(adj.) hard to find or understand

exacerbate

(v.) to make a problem worse

exactitude

(n.) the quality of being precise or accurate

exhaustive

(adj.) thorough and complete

explicable

(adj.) able to be explained

extraneous

(adj.) unrelated or unnecessary

foreground

(v.) to emphasize

foretell

(v.) to predict or anticipate

fruitless

(adj.) failing to achieve desired results

grapple

(v.) to struggle or wrestle with something

habitual

(adj.) done regularly or repeatedly

haphazard

(adj.) lacking organization or planning

homogeneous

(adj.) uniform or similar throughout

impartial

(adj.) fair and not biased

impending

(adj.) approaching or about to happen

imperceptible

(adj.) very slight or difficult to notice

implication

(n.) a possible consequence or meaning

implicit

(adj.) implied rather than stated directly

inadequate

(adj.) insufficient or lacking

inadvertently

(adv.) unintentionally or by accident

incite

(v.) to encourage or stir up

inconspicuous

(adj.) not easily seen or noticed

indifference

(n.) lack of interest or concern

indulge

(v.) to allow oneself to enjoy

ineffectual

(adj.) not producing the desired effect

inexplicable

(adj.) unable to be explained

inhibit

(v.) to hinder or restrain

innocuous

(adj.) harmless or inoffensive

insensible

(adj.) unaware or indifferent

intangible

(adj.) not able to be touched or measured

interject

(v.) to insert a comment abruptly

intriguing

(adj.) arousing curiosity or interest

invalidate

(v.) to make something void or null

involuntarily

(adv.) done without conscious control

latent

(adj.) present but not active

misanthropic

(adj.) disliking people or society

multifaceted

(adj.) having many aspects or features

neglect

(v.) to fail to care for properly

newfound

(adj.) recently discovered or developed

notional

(adj.) existing only in theory; hypothetical rather than real

novel

(adj.) new or original

nuanced

(adj.) having subtle differences

obligate

(v.) to compel or require

obscure

(adj.) not easily understood or seen

obsolete

(adj.) no longer used

oddity

(n.) something unusual or strange