The 500 Most Common SAT Words

Pop out
No Messages

You must log in to discuss this set.

The 500 Most Common SAT Words

aberration
Deviation from what is correct or right.
1/485
Preview our new flashcards mode!

Study:

Cards

Speller

Learn

Test

Scatter

Games:

Scatter

Space Race

Tools:

Export

Copy

Combine

Embed

Order by

Terms

Definitions

aberration Deviation from what is correct or right.
abeyance Suspension of an activity; postponement.
abstemious Sparing in use of food or drink; moderate.
abstruse Concealed; difficult to comprehend; obscure.
accolade Embrace; award; commendation.
acerbic Bitter; harsh; caustic.
acrimonious Sarcastic; caustic; angry; mordant.
acuity Sharpness; acuteness; keenness.
acute 1. Perceptive. 2. Excruciating.
adept Proficient; masterful; expert.
adherent Believer; supporter; devotee.
adjunct 1. Attachment; appendage. 2. Subordinate or auxiliary capacity.
admonish Caution; reprove mildly; reprimand.
adroit Dexterous; proficient; skillful.
adulation Excessive flattery; adoration; idolization.
adulterate Make impure or inferior by adding improper ingredients; contaminate; pollute.
advocate 1. Argue for a cause; defend. 2. Support; uphold.
aesthete Person who cultivates beauty or art; connoisseur.
aggrandize Make more powerful; amplify; increase.
alacrity Eagerness; zeal; speed.
altruistic Concerned about the general welfare of others; charitable; generous.
ambivalence Uncertainty; doubt; indecisiveness.
ambulatory Able to walk; not stationary.
ameliorate Make better; improve.
amiable Cordial; of pleasant disposition; friendly.
amorphous Without structure; shapeless; nebulous.
animate Energize; enliven.
anomaly Abnormality; deviation from the general rule; irregularity.
antediluvian Ancient; antiquated; obsolete.
antipathy Feeling of opposition or repugnance; aversion; dislike.
apathy Lack of concern; emotion or interest; indifference.
aperture Gap; opening; orifice.
apocryphal False; unauthenticated; disputed.
apotheosis 1. Essence; epitome. 2. Canonization.
appease Satisfy; make peace; placate.
approbatory Expressing approval.
arable Suitable for cultivation or plowing.
arrogant Feeling superior to other people; egotistical.
ascetic Strict; austere.
assuage Ease; make less burdensome; mitigate.
atrophy Waste away from lack of use; degenerate.
audacity Boldness or adventurousness; gall.
authoritarian 1. Person who acts like a dictator; tyrant. 2. Disciplinarian.
avarice Extreme desire for wealth; greed; acquisitiveness.
aviary Large enclosure confining birds.
avouch Guarantee; take responsibility for; affirm.
avow Affirm; assert; declare; acknowledge.
baleful Sorrowful; sinister; evil.
balm Soothing ointment for pain or healing; salve.
banal Trite; insipid; ordinary.
bane Deadly affliction; curse; plague.
barbarity Cruel action; inhuman act; harsh conduct.
barren 1. Infertile; impotent. 2. Arid; unproductive.
befuddle Stupefy or confuse; misconstrue.
belated Tardy; overdue.
beleaguer Besiege; surround.
belittle Humiliate; tease; diminish in importance.
bemoan 1. Experience pain or distress. 2. Express pity for; mourn.
bemused Preoccupied by thought; bewildered; perplexed.
bilk Defraud; deceive; hoodwink.
blandishment Cajolery; enticement.
bliss Gaiety; happiness; enjoyment.
blithe Happy; pleased; delighted.
boisterous Noisy; loud; violent; rowdy.
boorish Ill-mannered; rude; gauche.
brevity Briefness; succinctness; terseness.
broach Introduce; bring up; mention.
browbeat Intimidate; harass; dominate.
bungle Botch; mismanage; spoil.
buttress Truss; foundation; support.
cacophonous Discordant; dissident; harsh.
callow Inexperienced; immature; naive.
candid Frank; blunt; open.
carouse Drink to excess; live it up.
cease Stop; end; halt.
celerity Swift motion; speed; alacrity.
censorious Critical; attacking; denouncing.
charlatan Fraud; person claiming knowledge he/she does not have; humbug; fake; hustler.
chary Careful; cautious.
chasten Castigate; punish; reprove.
cherubic Sweet; kind; innocent.
chimerical Fanciful; whimsical; playful.
chronic Compulsive; typical; habitual; inveterate.
churlish Selfish; rancorous; surly.
circuitous Indirect; roundabout; rambling.
clamor Loud noise or complaint; commotion; din.
clandestine Furtive; surreptitious; secret.
clemency Lenience; mercy; compassion.
cloister Convent; monastery; religious place.
coagulate Congeal; curdle; clot.
coalesce Combine; incorporate; merge.
coddle Pamper; overindulge; baby; spoil.
coercion Intimidation; duress; force; compulsion.
cognate Related by blood; having the same origin.
commensurate Equal in measure; of the same duration or size.
compile Collect data; accumulate; amass.
concomitant Concurrent; attendant; occurring with something else.
concordance Agreement; treaty; accord.
confluence Nexus; union; meeting; conflux.
confound Perplex; baffle; confuse.
conglomerate Corporation; partnership; firm.
conjugal Matrimonial; nuptial; marital.
constrict Squeeze; pinch; obstruct; block.
contentious Argumentative; pugnacious; quarrelsome.
contrite Penitent; apologetic; remorseful.
conundrum Mystery; puzzle.
convoke Convene; assemble.
copious Plentiful; ample; profuse.
corpulence Stoutness; obesity.
coterie Small group of people who share interests and meet frequently.
crass Vulgar; grossly ignorant; indelicate.
credulous Gullible; unsuspecting; naive.
cryptic Enigmatic; obscure; secret; puzzling.
ctenoid Comblike; having narrow segments.
cuboid Having the shape of a cube.
cucullate Hood-shaped.
daub Blur; smear; spread.
dawdle Procrastinate; loiter; idle; dally.
dearth Paucity; shortage; deficiency.
debased Lowered in status or character; degenerate.
decipher Solve or figure out a puzzle; translate; untangle.
declivity Downward slope.
decorum Appropriate conduct; polite or proper behavior; protocol.
delectable Delicious; delightful; savory.
deleterious Destructive; poisonous; unhealthy.
delineate Describe; outline; depict.
delusion Untrue belief; hallucination; fallacy; misconception.
demagogue Incendiary; agitator; opportunist.
denounce Reprove; accuse; condemn.
depravity Perverted disposition; wickedness; vileness; corruption.
deprecatory Disapproving; belittling;
desecrate Contaminate; profane; defile.
desist Discontinue or stop; cease; renounce.
desolate Alone; without hope or comfort; forsaken.
despoil Ravage; rob; loot.
despot Dictator; tyrant; totalitarian.
diatribe Extreme, bitter, and abusive speech; vituperation; tirade.
didactic Pedantic; academic; for teaching.
diffidence Self-doubt; timidity; shyness.
dilatory Lackadaisical; lazy; remiss.
diligent Assiduous; studious; hard-working.
diminution Decrease; reduction.
disaffected Disillusioned; dissatisfied; discontented.
disapprobation Dislike; reservation; denunciation.
disband Disperse; dissipate; scatter; dispel.
discontent Unhappy; displeased; miserable.
discursive Circuitous; digressive; rambling.
dishearten Dismay; daunt; depress.
disinterment Exhumation; removal of a body from a grave.
disoblige Slight or offend.
disparage Deprecate; belittle or abuse.
dispassionate Imperturbable; unemotional; calm; composed.
disputatious Quarrelsome; contentious; argumentative.
dissemble Disguise; conceal; mask; camouflage.
dissension Conflict; disagreement; strife.
dissonant Cacophonous; inharmonious; discordant; strident.
dissuade Obstruct; hinder; deter.
distend Bloat, bulge; swell; stretch.
dither Commotion; turmoil.
divination Prediction; prophecy; forecast.
dolt Cretin; fool; dimwit; idiot.
dotard Senile person.
dubious Irresolute; uncertain; moot.
duplicity Cunning; fraud; trickery; deception.
edify Instruct; enlighten; educate.
efface Cancel; delete; obliterate.
effervescent Lively; volatile.
effigy Mannequin; likeness; image.
effrontery Impudence; nerve; gall.
egregious Flagrant; glaring; outrageous.
elegiac Mournful; sorrowful; sad.
elucidate Interpret; define; clarify; explain.
emanate Radiate; flow from; emit.
emasculate Deprive of strength.
embroil Implicate; enmesh; involve.
emcee Master of ceremonies.
empathize Identify with; understand.
emulate Model; pattern.
enervate Exhaust or weaken; debilitate.
engender Generate; produce; cause.
enigmatic Cryptic; baffling; mysterious.
enmesh Tangle or involve.
ennui Dullness; boredom; monotony.
enthrall Mesmerize; captivate; thrill.
entrench Fortify; reinforce; secure.
ephemeral Transitory; fleeting; passing; temporary.
epicure Person devoted to luxurious living; person with refined tastes.
epithet Word used to describe or characterize a person or thing.
equilibrium Balance; stability; poise.
equivocate Prevaricate; dodge; evade; hedge.
erudition Learning; knowledge; enlightenment.
escapade Adventurous conduct; unusual behavior.
esoteric Confidential; personal; private; privileged.
espouse Embrace; defend; support.
ethereal Incorporeal; intangible; airy.
eulogy Commendation; speech giving great tribute.
euphonic Agreeable to the ear.
evanescent Ephemeral; fading; brief.
exigent Pressing; insistent; urgent.
exonerate Acquit; vindicate; free from responsibility.
exorcise Cast out evil spirits; expel demons.
expatriate Send into exile; renounce one's own country.
expedite Speed up matters; accelerate; quicken.
expunge Obliterate; remove; erase; exterminate.
expurgate Remove erroneous or objectionable material; delete; edit.
extemporaneous Spontaneous; impromptu.
extol Praise; laud; hail; glorify.
extradite Transfer a person to another jurisdiction for possible prosecution for an alleged offense.
extricate Remove; loosen; untie.
fallible Faulty; imperfect.
fallow Idle; dormant.
fastidious Meticulous; exacting.
fathom Measure; discover; perceive.
fatuous Ludicrous; inane; idiotic; silly.
fecund Prolific; productive; fruitful.
felicity Great happiness; bliss.
fetid Possessing an offensive smell; malodorous; foul; gamey.
fetter Restrain; restrict; curb.
fickle Capricious; erratic; spasmodic.
fledgling Young or inexperienced person; young bird.
flippant Nonchalant; frivolous; superficial; light.
florid Ornate; flushed with rosy color; ruddy.
flout Ridicule; scoff; mock; scorn.
foible Frailty; imperfection; weakness.
forswear Repudiate; forsake; eschew.
fulsome Loathsome; excessive.
fume Gas; vapor; harmful or irritating smoke.
furtive Clandestine; secretive; surreptitious; covert.
gambol Play; frolic; romp.
garble Confuse; scramble; distort.
garish Gaudy; ostentatious; excessive.
garner Collect; receive; attain; acquire.
giddy Scatterbrained; silly; frivolous.
goad Incite; pressure; irk; arouse; awaken.
grandiloquence Pompous or bombastic speech; lofty, welling language.
grisly Frightening; ghastly; gory; hideous.
grovel Act in a servile way; cringe; kneel.
guile Wiliness; deceit; cunning.
guzzle Gulp; swill; consume to excess.
hackneyed Trite; common; overdone; banal.
haggle Dicker; barter; make a deal.
hallow Make holy; consecrate; sanctify.
hamper Hinder; frustrate; impede.
harbor Preserve; conceal; secure; shelter.
hardy Stalwart; robust; sturdy.
haughty Arrogant; disdainful; blatantly proud; contemptuous.
hearten Encourage; give strength.
hedge Enclose; surround; fence.
hedonism Intemperance; self-indulgence; excess.
herald Announce; broadcast; report.
heretic Nihilist; infidel; radical; dissenter.
hiatus Interruption; pause; gap.
hilarity Boisterous merriment; enjoyment.
histrionic Pertaining to actors; melodramatic.
hoary Frosted; grey; grizzled.
hyperbole Exaggeration; fanciful statement; enhancement.
iconoclasm Attack on religious values or symbols.
ignoramus Moron; fool; dimwit.
immutable Incorruptible; enduring; unchanging.
impecunious Poor; destitute; penniless.
imperturbable Even-tempered; level-headed; calm.
impervious Airtight; sealed; impenetrable.
impetuous Hasty; rash; impulsive.
impregnable Invincible; invulnerable; unable to be captured or entered.
impromptu Makeshift; spontaneous.
improvident Reckless; rash.
impugn Denounce; censor; attack.
inauspicious Unfavorable.
inaudible Faint; soft; hard to hear.
incipient Embryonic; developing; in the beginning stages.
incisive Perceptive; astute.
inclusive All-encompassing; broad in scope; comprehensive.
incoherent Illogical; inconsistent.
incongruous Inconsistent; unsuitable; contradictory.
incorrigible Unruly; delinquent; incapable of reform.
indecorous Inappropriate; indelicate; unseemly.
indefatigable Diligent; persistent; inexhaustible.
indenture Contract binding a person to work for another.
indolence Lethargy; idleness; sloth.
inebriation Drunkenness; intoxication.
ingenuous Genuine; open; candid; frank.
inimical Antagonistic; hurtful; harmful; adverse.
innocuous Dull; harmless; innocent.
inscrutable Mysterious; perplexing.
insipid Dull; banal; tasteless.
insolvent Bankrupt; unable to pay debts.
intercede Intervene; negotiate.
intonate Speak or utter with a particular tone.
intractable Unruly; disobedient.
intrinsic Inherent; natural; innate.
inveigh Abuse; criticize; rebuke.
inveterate Habitual; chronic.
irascible Testy; touchy; irritable.
issue Discharge; emerge; emanate.
jettison Eliminate; discharge.
jollity Gaiety; merriment.
judicious Logical; reasonable; clever.
juncture Joint; seam; intersection; joining.
juxtapose Place side by side.
kinetic Caused by motion; dynamic.
kitsch Art or writing of a pretentious but shallow nature.
kiosk A small structure used as a newsstand, bandstand, etc.
knave A dishonest, deceitful person; a rogue.
knotty Snarled; tangled.
knoll Hillock; mound.
kudos Credit or praise for an achievement; glory.
labyrinth Maze; network; puzzle.
lachrymose Weepy; tearful.
laconic Concise; terse; curt.
lamentation Complaint; moan.
lampoon Mock; ridicule.
languish Decline; diminish; weaken.
largess Charity; philanthropy; gift.
lassitude Fatigue; weariness; debility.
laudable Commendable; admirable; exemplary.
laxity Carelessness; indifference.
lethargy Idleness; listlessness; passivity.
levity Lightness; frivolity.
linger Loiter; remain; hesitate.
lithe Flexible; agile; mobile; bendable.
loutish Clumsy; idiotic; buffoonlike.
ludicrous Outlandish; silly; ridiculous.
lurid Shockingly vivid; horrifying; sensational.
maladroit Clumsy; unskilled.
malapropism Inappropriate or ludicrous use of a word.
malevolent Venomous; spiteful; malignant.
malinger Feign illness to escape work; shirk.
marred Having blemishes; damaged; defaced.
maudlin Overemotional; mushy.
meander Twist; bend; zigzag.
mendicant Almsman; beggar; leech; parasite.
meticulous Precise; scrupulous; particular.
mettle Stamina; bravery; courage.
mince Chop; mitigate.
mire Mud; slime; muck.
moribund Failing; waning; ailing.
motley Multicolored; spotted; mixed.
multifarious Diverse; many-sided; multiple.
mundane Boring; ordinary; typical; tedious.
munificent Generous; extravagant; philanthropic.
nadir Lowest point.
naive Foolishly simple; childlike.
nascent Beginning; embryonic; incipient.
nebulous Unclear; vague; indefinite.
needle Provoke.
nefarious Evil; vile; sinister; wicked.
nemesis Just punishment; retribution.
neologism Newly coined phrase or expression.
noisome Noxious to health.
noxious Harmful; malignant.
obdurate Stubborn; intractable.
obsequious Servile; groveling.
obviate Make unnecessary.
odious Detestable; loathsome; revolting; sickening.
officious Meddlesome.
opaque Impenetrable by light; dull; dark; obscure.
optimum Peak or prime; ideal.
opulent Affluent; well-to-do; plentiful.
ostentatious Conspicuous; showy.
ostracize Exclude; isolate; bar; shun.
palpable Noticeable; obvious; apparent.
paltry Minor; petty; insignificant.
panegyric Elaborate praise, public compliment.
paragon Model or standard of excellence.
pariah Outcast; misfit; refugee.
parochial Religious; restricted.
parsimony Miserliness; unusually excessive frugality.
partisan Fan or supporter; enthusiast supporting a particular cause or issue.
pastiche Hodgepodge; literary or musical piece imitating other works.
paucity Scarcity; shortage; dearth.
peccadillo Small sin or fault.
pedantic Stuffy or dogmatic; meticulous; academic.
peevish Irritable; grouchy; ill-tempered.
pejorative Degrading; derogatory; negative.
percipient Able to perceive or see things as they actually are.
perfidy Deliberate breach of faith or trust; treachery.
peripheral Marginal; outer; surrounding.
perspicacious Astute; keen; perceptive.
philistine Barbarian; person lacking artistic judgment.
pique Irritate; miff; offend.
pithy 1. Substantial; profound. 2. Brief; concise.
placid Sincere; tranquil; composed; sedate.
plaintive Sad; mournful; pathetic.
platitude 1. Triteness. 2. Cliche; trivial remark.
plaudit Enthusiastic expression.
pliable Limber; malleable; flexible.
poignant Intense; powerful; biting; piercing.
polemical Controversial; argumentative; debatable.
polyphony Music with two or more melodies blended together.
porous Permeable; absorbent; having holes.
posthumous Arising or continuing after someone's death.
potable Drinkable.
prattle Gab; babble.
precocious Showing premature development.
precursor Forerunner.
prescient Showing foresight; predicting events before they occur.
primeval Belonging to a primitive age.
primordial Belonging to a primitive age; first in time.
proclivity Tendency; inclination; propensity.
procrastinate Postpone; stall; defer.
prodigious Exceptional; impressive; of huge quantity; immense.
proficient Skillful; masterful; expert.
progeny Heir; descendant; offspring.
prolific Fruitful; abundant; fertile.
rescind Cancel; repeal; veto.
resilient Elastic; stretchy; rebounding.
resonant Reverberant; ringing.
resplendent Dazzling; glorious; intense.
restive Nervous; restless; uneasy.
retrospection Contemplation of past things.
reverent Devout; solemn; worshipful.
ribald Lewd; obscene; irreverent.
rudiment Beginning; foundation or source.
ruffian Brutal person; cruel and sadistic person.
ruminate Contemplate; think about.
saccharine Sugary; syrupy.
savant Intellectual; scholar; philosopher.
scanty Meager; scarce.
scoff Mock; ridicule.
sequester Separate; isolate; segregate.
soporific Hypnotic; lethargic; causing sleep.
spurious Bogus; false.
spurn Defy; reject.
squalor 1. Severe poverty. 2. Filthiness.
stratagem Plot; tactic; deception.
strident Discordant; harsh; piercing.
strife Conflict; turmoil; struggle.
stultify Inhibit; make ineffective; cripple.
supercilious Egotistic; proud; arrogant.
surfeit Overabundance; excess; surplus.
surly Choleric; rude; sullen.
surreptitious Covert; furtive; acquired by stealthy means.
svelte Graceful; slim.
sybarite Someone devoted to luxury; pleasure-seeker.
sycophant Flatterer.
taciturn Reserved; shy; uncommunicative.
tantamount Indistinguishable; equivalent.
taper Diminish; thin; narrow.
tawdry Gaudy; showy; loud.
temerity Rashness; audacity; recklessness.
tensile Pertaining to tension; stretchable; ductile.
tenuous Attenuated; flimsy; thin.
tirade Diatribe; angry speech.
torpor Lethargy; apathy; dormancy.
trepidation Anxiety; alarm; apprehension.
truant Indolent; absent; idle.
turgid Swollen; bombastic; distended.
turpitude Depravity; baseness; shamefulness.
undulate Move in a wavy manner.
unfathomable Baffling; puzzling; incomprehensible.
unkempt Uncombed; messy; untidy.
unscathed Unhurt; uninjured.
unwieldy Clumsy; awkward; unmanageable.
upbraid Rebuke; scold; criticize.
upshot Final result; conclusion; end.
vacillate Hedge; waver; fluctuate.
variegated Multicolored; polychromic; varied.
vehement Fierce; emphatic; intense.
venerate Admire; show respect.
veracity Truth; sincerity; honesty; candor.
verbose Wordy; talkative; profuse.
verdant Lush; thick with vegetation; leafy.
viable Living; alive; feasible.
vigilance Attentiveness; prudence; care.
vilify Defame; denigrate.
virulent Fatal; lethal; toxic.
vitriolic Scathing; caustic.
vociferous Clamorous; outspoken; noisy; vocal.
voluble Verbose; wordy; garrulous.
voluminous Huge; immense; bulky.
voracious 1. Enthusiastic; overly eager. 2. Starving.
vouchsafe Confer; grant; permit.
wan Anemic; colorless; pale.
waver Totter; fluctuate.
whet Stimulate; sharpen; intensify.
wistful Yearning; pensive; sad.
woe Anguish; grief; affliction.
writhe Squirm; twist.
xenophobe One who dislikes strangers or foreigners.
yeoman Peasant; ordinary person.
yore Time long past.
yowl Long, mournful cry or howl.
zealot Fanatic; radical; enthusiast.
zenith Apex; summit; peak.
curmudgeon Cantankerous person.

First Time Here?

Welcome to Quizlet, a fun, free place to study. Try these flashcards, find others to study, or make your own.

Set Champions

Scatter Champion

10.9 secs by DumbAndLethal 

Space Race Champion

58,700 points by DumbAndLethal 

Speller Champion

83.8% correct by AntimonArsen 

Completed “Learn” mode

nikitha123