SAT vocab
a complement to
something that completes or enhances
a stipulation for
a required condition for
a surrogate for
a substitute for
abase
to humiliate, degrade
abate
to reduce, lessen
abdicate
to give up a position, usually one of leadership
abduct
to kidnap, take by force
aberration
something that differs from the norm
abet
to aid, help, encourage
abhor
to hate, detest
abide
to put up with; to remain
abject
wretched, pitiful
abjure
to reject, renounce
abnegation
denial of comfort to oneself
abort
to give up on a half-finished project or effort
abridge
to cut down, shorten; shortened
abrogate
to abolish, usually by authority
abrupt
sudden and unexpected; brief in manner
abscond
to sneak away and hide
absolution
freedom from blame, guilt, sin
abstain
to freely choose not to commit an action
abstruse
hard to comprehend
accede
to agree
accentuate
to stress, highlight
acceptable
satisfactory or able to be approved
accessible
obtainable, reachable
accidental
happening by chance rather than intention
acclaim
high praise
accolade
high praise, special distinction
boon
a gift or blessing
bourgeois
a middle-class person, capitalist
brazen
excessively bold, brash
brusque
short, abrupt, dismissive
buffet
to strike with force; an arrangement of food set out on a table
burnish
to polish, shine
buttress
to support, hold up; something that offers support
cacophony
tremendous noise, disharmonious sound
cadence
a rhythm, progression of sound
cajole
to urge, coax
calamity
an event with disastrous consequences
calibrate
to set, standardize
callous
harsh, cold, unfeeling
calumny
an attempt to spoil someone else's reputation by spreading lies
camaraderie
brotherhood, jovial unity
candor
honesty, frankness
canny
shrewd, careful
canvas
a piece of cloth on which an artist paints; to cover, inspect
capacious
very spacious
capitulate
to surrender
capricious
subject to whim, fickle
captivate
to get the attention of, hold
careful
taking pains to avoid error or harm
carouse
to party, celebrate
carp
to annoy, pester
catalog
to list, enter into a list; a list or collection
catalyze
to charge, inspire
catastrophic
causing sudden and severe damage
caucus
a meeting usually held by people working toward the same goal
cumulative
increasing, building upon itself
cunning
sly, clever at being deceitful
cupidity
greed, strong desire
cursory
brief to the point of being superficial
curt
abruptly and rudely short
curtail
to lessen, reduce
daunting
intimidating, causing one to lose courage
dearth
a lack, scarcity
debacle
a disastrous failure, disruption
debase
to lower the quality or esteem of something
debauch
to corrupt by means of sensual pleasures
debunk
to expose the falseness of something
decorous
socially proper, appropriate
decry
to criticize openly
deface
to ruin or injure something's appearance
defamatory
harmful toward another's reputation
defer
to postpone something; to yield to another's wisdom
deferential
showing respect for another's authority
defile
to make unclean, impure
deft
skillful, capable
defunct
no longer used or existing
delegate
to hand over responsibility for something
deleterious
harmful
deliberate
intentional, reflecting careful consideration
delineate
to describe, outline, shed light on
demagogue
a leader who appeals to a people's prejudices
demands
requires or asks for forcefully
demarcation
the marking of boundaries or categories
demean
to lower the status or stature of something
demure
quiet, modest, reserved
denied
refused to accept, provide, or admit
denigrate
to belittle, diminish the opinion of
execrable
loathsome, detestable
exemplifies
serves as a typical or excellent example of
exhaustive
thorough and complete
exhort
to urge, prod, spur
exigent
urgent, critical
exonerate
to free from guilt or blame, exculpate
exorbitant
excessive
expedient
advisable, advantageous, serving one's self-interest
expensive
costing a great deal
experiment
a test conducted to discover or demonstrate something
expiate
to make amends for, atone
exploited
used for advantage, often unfairly
expunge
to obliterate, eradicate
expurgate
to remove offensive or incorrect parts, usually of a book
extant
existing, not destroyed or lost
extensive
covering a large area, range, or amount
extol
to praise, revere
extraneous
irrelevant, extra, not necessary
extricate
to disentangle
exult
to rejoice
fabricate
to make up, invent
fabricates
invents falsely or constructs
façade
the wall of a building; a deceptive appearance or attitude
facile
easy, requiring little effort; superficial, achieved with minimal thought or care, insincere
fallacious
incorrect, misleading
fastidious
meticulous, demanding, having high and often unattainable standards
fathom
to understand, comprehend
fatuous
silly, foolish
fecund
fruitful, fertile
felicitous
well suited, apt; delightful, pleasing
feral
wild, savage
fervent
ardent, passionate
fetid
having a foul odor
fetter
to chain, restrain
fickle
shifting in character, inconstant
fidelity
loyalty, devotion
figurative
symbolic
flabbergasted
astounded
flaccid
limp, not firm or strong
flagrant
offensive, egregious
florid
flowery, ornate
flout
to disregard or disobey openly
foil
to thwart, frustrate, defeat
followed
came after or proceeded according to
forage
to graze, rummage for food
forbearance
patience, restraint, toleration
forestall
to prevent, thwart, delay
foretells
predicts in advance
forlorn
lonely, abandoned, hopeless
forsake
to give up, renounce
fortitude
strength, guts
fortuitous
happening by chance, often lucky or fortunate
forum
a medium for lecture or discussion
foster
to stimulate, promote, encourage
fractious
troublesome or irritable
fragile
easily broken, damaged, or disrupted
fraught
(usually used with "with") filled or accompanied with
frenetic
frenzied, hectic, frantic
frivolous
of little importance, trifling
frugal
thrifty, economical
furtive
secretive, sly
garish
gaudy, in bad taste
garrulous
talkative, wordy
genial
friendly, affable
gluttony
overindulgence in food or drink
goad
to urge, spur, incite to action
gourmand
someone fond of eating and drinking
grandiloquence
lofty, pompous language
grandiose
on a magnificent or exaggerated scale
gratuitous
uncalled for, unwarranted
gregarious
drawn to the company of others, sociable
grievous
injurious, hurtful; serious or grave in nature
guile
deceitful, cunning, sly behavior
habituated to
accustomed to
hackneyed
unoriginal, trite
hallowed
revered, consecrated
hapless
unlucky
harangue
a ranting speech; to give such a speech
hardy
robust, capable of surviving through adverse conditions
harrowing
greatly distressing, vexing
haughty
disdainfully proud
hedonist
one who believes pleasure should be the primary pursuit of humans
hegemony
domination over others
heinous
shockingly wicked, repugnant
heterogeneous
varied, diverse in character
hiatus
a break or gap in duration or continuity
hibernation
a dormant state of greatly reduced activity
hierarchy
a system with ranked groups, usually according to social, economic, or professional class
highlight
to emphasize or draw attention to
hypocrisy
pretending to believe what one does not
hypothesized
proposed as a possible explanation
hypothetical
supposed or assumed true, but unproven
iconoclast
one who attacks common beliefs or institutions
idiosyncratic
peculiar to one person; highly individualized
idolatrous
excessively worshipping one object or person
ignominious
humiliating, disgracing
illicit
forbidden, not permitted
imitated
copied the behavior, appearance, or style of
immerse
to absorb, deeply involve, engross
imminent
about to happen very soon
immutable
not changeable
impartial
fair and not favoring one side
impassive
stoic, not susceptible to suffering
impeccable
exemplary, flawless
impecunious
poor
impedes
slows down or blocks
impending
about to happen
impenetrable
impossible to pass through or understand
imperative
necessary, pressing; a rule, command, or order
imperceptible
too slight or subtle to be noticed
imperious
commanding, domineering
impertinent
rude, insolent
impervious
impenetrable, incapable of being affected
impetuous
rash; hastily done
impinge
to impact, affect, make an impression; to encroach, infringe
implacable
incapable of being appeased or mitigated
implement
an instrument, utensil, tool; to put into effect, to institute
implicate
to involve in an incriminating way, incriminate
implicit
understood but not outwardly obvious, implied
important
having great significance or value
impregnable
resistant to capture or penetration
improvise
to create or perform without preparation
impudent
casually rude, insolent, impertinent
impute
to ascribe, blame
inadequate
not sufficient or good enough
inane
silly and meaningless
inarticulate
incapable of expressing oneself clearly through speech
incarnate
existing in the flesh, embodied; to give human form to
incendiary
a person who agitates; inflammatory, causing combustion
incessant
unending
inchoate
unformed or formless, in a beginning stage
incisive
clear, sharp, direct
inclination
a tendency, propensity
inconclusive
not leading to a definite result or conclusion
inconsequential
not important or significant
incontrovertible
indisputable
incorrigible
incapable of correction, delinquent
increment
an enlargement; the process of increasing
incumbent
one who holds an office; obligatory
indecipherable
impossible or very difficult to understand
indefatigable
incapable of defeat, failure, decay
indications
signs or pieces of evidence suggesting something
indigenous
originating in a region
indigent
very poor, impoverished
indignation
anger sparked by something unjust or unfair
indispensable
absolutely necessary
indolent
lazy
indomitable
not capable of being conquered
induce
to bring about, stimulate
ineffable
unspeakable, incapable of being expressed through words
inept
not suitable or capable, unqualified
inexorable
incapable of being persuaded or placated
inextricable
hopelessly tangled or entangled
infamy
notoriety, extreme ill repute
infrequent
not occurring often
infusion
an injection of one substance into another; the permeation of one substance by another
ingenious
clever, resourceful
ingenuous
not devious; innocent and candid
inhibit
to prevent, restrain, stop
inimical
hostile, enemylike
inimitable
impossible to copy
iniquity
wickedness or sin
injunction
an order of official warning
innate
inborn, native, inherent
innocuous
harmless, inoffensive
innovate
to do something in an unprecedented way
innuendo
an insinuation
inoculate
to introduce a microorganism, serum, or vaccine into an organism in order to increase immunity to illness; to vaccinate
inquisitor
one who inquires, especially in a hostile manner
insatiable
incapable of being satisfied
insidious
appealing but imperceptibly harmful, seductive
insinuate
to suggest indirectly or subtly
insipid
dull, boring
insolent
rude, arrogant, overbearing
instigate
to urge, goad
insular
separated and narrow-minded; tight-knit, closed off
insurgent
one who rebels
integral
necessary for completeness
interchangeable
able to be exchanged without affecting function or meaning
interject
to insert between other things
interlocutor
someone who participates in a dialogue or conversation
interminable
without possibility of end
interpret
to explain or determine the meaning of
intersect
to cross or share a common point
intimation
an indirect suggestion
intractable
difficult to manipulate, unmanageable
intransigent
refusing to compromise, often on an extreme opinion
intrepid
brave in the face of danger
intricate
very detailed or complicated
intriguing
arousing curiosity or interest
inundate
to flood with abundance
inure
to cause someone or something to become accustomed to a situation
invective
an angry verbal attack
inveterate
stubbornly established by habit
inviolable
secure from assault
involuntarily
without conscious choice or control
irascible
easily angered
iridescent
showing rainbow colors
irrelevant
not related to the matter being considered
irreverence
disrespect
irrevocable
incapable of being taken back
jubilant
extremely joyful, happy
judicious
having or exercising sound judgment
juxtaposition
the act of placing two things next to each other for implicit comparison
knell
the solemn sound of a bell, often indicating a death
kudos
praise for an achievement
laceration
a cut, tear
laconic
terse in speech or writing
languid
sluggish from fatigue or weakness
larceny
obtaining another's property by theft or trickery
largess
the generous giving of lavish gifts
latent
hidden, but capable of being exposed
laudatory
expressing admiration or praise
lavish
given without limits; to give without limits
legerdemain
deception, slight-of-hand
legitimate
lawful, valid, or justifiable
lenient
demonstrating tolerance or gentleness
lethargic
in a state of sluggishness or apathy
liability
something for which one is legally responsible, usually involving a disadvantage or risk; a handicap, burden
libertarian
advocating principles of liberty and free will
licentious
displaying a lack of moral or legal restraints
lifelike
closely resembling a living thing
limpid
clear, transparent
linchpin
something that holds separate parts together
lithe
graceful, flexible, supple
litigant
someone engaged in a lawsuit
lucid
clear, easily understandable
luminous
brightly shining
lurid
ghastly, sensational
maelstrom
a destructive whirlpool which rapidly sucks in objects
magnanimous
noble, generous
malediction
a curse
malevolent
wanting harm to befall others
malleable
capable of being shaped or transformed
mandate
an authoritative command
mandatory
required by a rule or law
manifest
easily understandable, obvious; to show plainly
manifold
diverse, varied
maudlin
weakly sentimental
maverick
an independent, nonconformist person
mawkish
characterized by sick sentimentality
maxim
a common saying expressing a principle of conduct
meager
deficient in size or quality
medley
a mixture of differing things
mendacious
having a lying, false character
mercurial
characterized by rapid change or temperamentality
meritorious
worthy of esteem or reward
metamorphosis
the change of form, shape, substance
meticulous
extremely careful with details
mimic
to imitate closely
misgiving
a feeling of doubt
mitigate
to make less violent, alleviate
moderate
not extreme; one who expresses moderate opinions
moderation
avoidance of extremes; restraint
modicum
a small amount of something
modulate
to pass from one state to another, especially in music
mollify
to soften in temper
morass
a wet swampy bog; figuratively, something that traps and confuses
mores
the moral attitudes and fixed customs of a group of people
morose
gloomy or sullen
multifarious
having great diversity or variety
mundane
concerned with the world rather than with heaven, commonplace
munificence
generosity in giving
mutable
able to change
myriad
consisting of a very great number
nadir
the lowest point of something
nascent
in the process of being born or coming into existence
nebulous
vaguely defined, cloudy
nefarious
heinously villainous
negligent
habitually careless, neglectful
neophyte
someone who is young or inexperienced
nocturnal
relating to or occurring during the night
noisome
unpleasant, offensive, especially to the sense of smell
nomadic
wandering from place to place
nominal
trifling, insignificant
nonchalant
having a lack of concern, indifference
nondescript
lacking a distinctive character
notorious
widely and unfavorably known
novice
a beginner, someone without training or experience
noxious
harmful, unwholesome
nuance
a slight variation in meaning, tone, expression
nuanced
showing subtle distinctions or complexity
nurture
to assist the development of
obdurate
unyielding to persuasion or moral influences
obfuscate
to render incomprehensible
oblique
diverging from a straight line or course, not straightforward
oblivious
lacking consciousness or awareness of something
obscure
unclear, partially hidden
obsequious
excessively compliant or submissive
observant
quick to notice details
obsolete
no longer used, out of date
obstinate
not yielding easily, stubborn
obstreperous
noisy, unruly
obtuse
lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect
obvious
easy to notice or understand
odious
instilling hatred or intense displeasure
offhand
casual or made without preparation
officious
offering one's services when they are neither wanted nor needed
ominous
foreboding or foreshadowing evil
onerous
burdensome
operative
functioning or having effect
opulent
characterized by rich abundance verging on ostentation
oration
a speech delivered in a formal or ceremonious manner
ordinary
normal or not unusual
organized
arranged systematically; planned or coordinated
ornamental
serving as decoration rather than a practical function
ornate
highly elaborate, excessively decorated
orthodox
conventional, conforming to established protocol
oscillate
to sway from one side to the other
ostensible
appearing as such, seemingly
ostentatious
excessively showy, glitzy
ostracism
exclusion from a group
overshadowed
made to seem less important or impressive
pacific
soothing
palatable
agreeable to the taste or sensibilities
palette
a range of colors or qualities
palliate
to reduce the severity of
pallid
lacking color
panacea
a remedy for all ills or difficulties
paradigm
an example that is a perfect pattern or model
paradox
an apparently contradictory statement that is perhaps true
paragon
a model of excellence or perfection
paramount
greatest in importance, rank, character
pariah
an outcast
parody
a satirical imitation
parsimony
frugality, stinginess
partisan
a follower, adherent
patent
readily seen or understood, clear
pathology
a deviation from the normal
pathos
an emotion of sympathy
paucity
small in quantity
pejorative
derogatory, uncomplimentary
pellucid
easily intelligible, clear
penchant
a tendency, partiality, preference
penitent
remorseful, regretful
penultimate
next to last
penurious
miserly, stingy
perfidious
disloyal, unfaithful
perfunctory
showing little interest or enthusiasm
permeate
to spread throughout, saturate
pernicious
extremely destructive or harmful
perpetual
continuing indefinitely or repeatedly
perplex
to confuse
persistent
continuing firmly despite difficulty
perspicacity
shrewdness, perceptiveness
pert
flippant, bold
retract
withdraw
retrospective
looking back on the past
revel
to enjoy intensely
revere
to esteem, show deference, venerate
revoke
to take back
rhapsodize
to engage in excessive enthusiasm
ribald
coarsely, crudely humorous
rife
abundant
rival
a person or thing competing with another
ruminate
to contemplate, reflect
ruse
a trick
saccharine
sickeningly sweet
sacrosanct
holy, something that should not be criticized
sagacity
shrewdness, soundness of perspective
salient
significant, conspicuous
salutation
a greeting
salve
a soothing balm
sanctimonious
giving a hypocritical appearance of piety
sanction
to authorize or approve; alternatively, to penalize
sanguine
optimistic, cheery
satiate
to satisfy excessively
satisfactory
good enough to meet a requirement
satisfying
providing fulfillment or meeting expectations
scathing
sharp, critical, hurtful
scheduled
planned for a particular time
scintillating
sparkling
scrupulous
painstaking, careful
scurrilous
vulgar, coarse
secretes
produces and releases (a substance)
secretive
inclined to conceal information or intentions
sedentary
sitting, settled
semaphore
a visual signal
seminal
original, important, creating a field
sensual
involving sensory gratification, usually related to sex
sensuous
involving sensory gratification
serendipity
luck, finding good things without looking for them
serene
calm, untroubled
servile
subservient
significant
important or meaningful; large enough to matter
similar
alike in important ways but not identical
similarities
qualities shared by two or more things
simple
easy to understand or do; not complicated
sinuous
lithe, serpentine
skeptical
not easily convinced; inclined to doubt
smoothly
without difficulty, interruption, or roughness
sobriety
sedate, calm
solicitous
concerned, attentive
solipsistic
believing that oneself is all that exists
soluble
able to dissolve
solvent
a substance that can dissolve other substances; able to pay debts
somnolent
sleepy, drowsy
sophisticated
complex, refined, or highly developed
sophomoric
immature, uninformed
source
a person, place, or thing from which something comes
sovereign
having absolute authority in a certain realm
speculates
forms a theory without firm evidence
speculative
not based in fact
spurious
false but designed to seem plausible
stagnate
to become or remain inactive, not develop, not flow
staid
sedate, serious, self-restrained
stingy
not generous, not inclined to spend or give
stipulated
required or specified
stoic
unaffected by passion or feeling
stolid
expressing little sensibility, unemotional
straightforward
clear, direct, and uncomplicated
strenuous
requiring tremendous energy or stamina
strenuously
with great effort or force
strident
harsh, loud
stupefy
to astonish, make insensible
subjugate
to bring under control, subdue
sublime
lofty, grand, exalted
submissive
easily yielding to authority
substantial
considerable in size, importance, or value
succinct
marked by compact precision
succumb
to yield to pressure, temptation, or a stronger force
superficial
concerned only with the surface; lacking depth
superfluous
exceeding what is necessary
surfeit
an overabundant supply or indulgence
surmise
to infer with little evidence
surmised
inferred without conclusive evidence
surreptitious
stealthy
surrogate
one acting in place of another
swarthy
of dark color or complexion
sycophant
one who flatters for self-gain
synchronization
the coordination of events to occur at the same time
tacit
expressed without words
taciturn
not inclined to talk
tangential
incidental, peripheral, divergent
tantamount
equivalent in value or significance
tedious
dull, boring
temerity
audacity, recklessness
temperance
moderation in action or thought
tenable
able to be defended or maintained
tenuous
having little substance or strength
terrestrial
relating to the land
timorous
timid, fearful
tirade
a long speech marked by harsh or biting language
toady
one who flatters in the hope of gaining favors
tome
a large book
torpid
lethargic, dormant, lacking motion
torrid
giving off intense heat, passionate
tortuous
winding
tractable
easily controlled
tranquil
calm
transgress
to violate, go over a limit
transient
passing through briefly; passing into and out of existence
transmute
to change or alter in form
travesty
a grossly inferior imitation
tremulous
fearful
trenchant
effective, articulate, clear-cut
trepidation
fear, apprehension
trite
not original, overused
truculent
ready to fight, cruel
truncate
to shorten by cutting off
turgid
swollen, excessively embellished in style or language
turpitude
depravity, moral corruption
ubiquitous
existing everywhere, widespread
umbrage
resentment, offense
unbiased
fair and not influenced by prejudice
uncanny
of supernatural character or origin
unctuous
smooth or greasy in texture, appearance, manner
undeniable
clearly true and impossible to dispute
underestimated
judged as smaller or less important than it actually was
understandable
able to be comprehended or considered reasonable
undulate
to move in waves
universal
applying to all cases or people
unknown
not known, identified, or familiar
unoriginal
not new or inventive
unpredictable
not able to be reliably anticipated
upbraid
to criticize or scold severely
useful
helpful for achieving a purpose
usurp
to seize by force, take possession of without right
utilitarian
relating to or aiming at usefulness
utopia
an imaginary and remote place of perfection
vacillate
to fluctuate, hesitate
vacuous
lack of content or ideas, stupid
validate
to confirm, support, corroborate
vapid
lacking liveliness, dull
variegated
diversified, distinctly marked
vehemently
marked by intense force or emotion
veneer
a superficial or deceptively attractive appearance, façade
venerable
deserving of respect because of age or achievement
venerate
to regard with respect or to honor
veracity
truthfulness, accuracy
verbose
wordy, impaired by wordiness
verdant
green in tint or color
verisimilitude
the appearance of being true or realistic
vestige
a mark or trace of something lost or vanished
vex
to confuse or annoy
vicarious
experiencing through another
vicissitude
event that occurs by chance
vigilant
watchful, alert
vilify
to lower in importance, defame
vindicate
to avenge; to free from allegation; to set free
vindictive
vengeful
virtuoso
one who excels in an art; a highly skilled musical performer
viscous
not free flowing, syrupy
vitriolic
having a caustic quality
vituperate
to berate
vivacious
lively, sprightly
vocation
the work in which someone is employed, profession
vociferous
loud, boisterous
waive
to voluntarily give up a right or requirement
wallow
to roll oneself indolently; to become or remain helpless
wane
to decrease in size, dwindle
wanton
undisciplined, lewd, lustful
waste
material or effort used without useful result
whimsical
fanciful, full of whims
widespread
existing or occurring over a large area or among many people
wily
crafty, sly
winsome
charming, pleasing
wistful
full of yearning; musingly sad
wizened
dry, shrunken, wrinkled
wrath
vengeful anger, punishment
yoke
to join, link
zealous
fervent, filled with eagerness in pursuit of something
zenith
the highest point, culminating point
zephyr
a gentle breeze