SAT Vocab

Abate

to become less active, less intense, or less in amount

Abstract

existing purely in the mind; not representing actual reality

Abysmal

extremely bad

Accordingly

in accordance with

Acquisition

the act of gaining a skill or possession of something

Adapt

to make suit a new purpose

Adept

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

Adequate

having sufficient qualifications to meet a specific task or purpose

Advent

the arrival or creation of something (usu. historic)

Adversarial

relating to hostile opposition

Advocate

someone who promotes or defends something

Aesthetic

relating to beauty or refined taste

Afford

to be able to buy

Agitate

to promote something (usu. a cause)

Allow

to permit or consent to

Allude

to make a secretive mention of something

Altercation

a noisy argument or confrontation

Ambiguous

unclear or vague in meaning

Ambitious

having a powerful desire for success or achievement

Ambivalence

the state of being uncertain or stuck between two or more options

Analogous

similar but not identical

Annihilate

to destroy or cause devastating destruction

Anomaly

something different from the norm

Anticipate

assume to be likely to happen

Antipathy

a strong feeling of dislike

Apex

the highest point of something

Apprehension

fearful expectation of something

Articulate

to clearly express in words

Artificial

something made; not occurring naturally

Assertion

a strong declaration

Austere

extremely plain

Authenticity

the quality of being real and true instead of fake and contrived

Avenue

an intangible path or approach to something

Avid

actively interested in or enthusiastic about something

Basic

relating to the foundation or basis of something

Bear

to have as a characteristic

Benevolent

kind, generous

Bias

a preconception that prevents objectivity

Bittersweet

tinged with a feeling of sadness

Bolster

to support, strengthen, or fortify

Boost

an increase or growth

Brawl

an intense, loud fight

Brevity

the quality of being brief or terse

Candid

direct, blunt

Candor

the trait of being honest and frank

Capitalize

to use to your advantage

Capture

to trap or take possession of

Civic

relating to the city or citizens

Clinical

emotionally unattached (usu. used in medical or scientific setting)

Clout

special advantage or power

Coarse

indicating a rough texture

Coincide

to happen at the same time

Commission

the use of payment to request something (e.g., a service or product)

Comparable

able to be compared

Competent

sufficiently qualified

Complacent

satisfied, with no desire to change or improve

Complement

to make perfect or complete

Concede

to be forced to agree or surrender

Conceive

to imagine or come up with

Condone

to overlook, approve, or allow

Conducive

tending to bring about; being partly responsible for

Conduct

to control or manage

Confide

to share something secretive with someone

Confine

to put limits on; to restrict

Consensus

overall agreement

Constitute

to form or compose (part of) something

Contemplate

to think deeply about

Contend

to maintain or assert (an opinion)

Contradict

to be in contrast with

Controversial

highly debatable and causing contention

Conventional

abiding by accepted standards

Convey

to pass on or transfer (information)

Conviction

a firm belief in something

Corroborate

to provide evidence for; to back up (a claim)

Counteract

to work in opposition to

Counterargument

an argument used to criticize or dismantle another argument

Counterproductive

hindering the achievement of a goal

Culmination

the final act or climax

Cultivate

to foster the growth of

Decree

to declare formally and with authority

Deference

respect; regard

Deficient

not enough in degree or amount

Demonstrate

to do as an example

Demur

to object to

Deplete

to (over)use over time (usu. resources)

Desolate

bare, barren, empty

Devise

to come up with (a plan)

Dilemma

a problem, usually requiring a choice between two options

Diligence

conscientiousness; the quality of being committed to a task

Diminish

to become smaller in scope or degree

Dire

hopeless and dangerous or fearful

Discord

disagreement

Disdain

a lack of respect and strong dislike (toward something or someone)

Dismay

hopelessness, stress, or consternation

Disparage

to belittle or speak down to

Dispatch

to send off a message or messenger

Diversification

the act of becoming diverse

Doctrine

a principle, theory, or position, usu. advocated by a religion or gov't

Dominion

power and authority (usu. over a territory)

Dreary

sad, gloomy, dull