1000 Common SAT words
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539 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 abase | to humiliate, degrade |
| abduct | to kidnap, take by force |
| aberration | something that differs from the norm |
| abet | to aid, help, encourage |
| abide | to put up with |
| abject | wretched, pitiful |
| abjure | to reject, renounce |
| abnegation | denial of comfort to oneself |
| abrogate | to abolish, usually by authority |
| abscond | to sneak and hide |
| abolution | freedom from blame, guilt, sin |
| abtruse | hard to comprehend |
| acommodating | helpful, obliging, polite |
| accost | to confront verbally |
| accretion | slow growth in size or amount |
| acquiesce | to agree without protesting |
| adamant | impervious, immovable, unyielding |
| adumbrate | to sketch out in a vague way |
| affront | an insult |
| aggregate | a whole or total |
| aggrieved | distressed, wronged, injured |
| agnostic | believing that the existence of God cannot be proven |
| alacrity | eagerness, speed |
| alias | a false name or identity |
| allege | to assert, usually without proof |
| aloof | reserved, distant |
| altercation | a dispute, fight |
| amenity | an item that increases comfort |
| amiable | friendly |
| anathema | a cursed, detested person |
| anesthesia | loss of sensation |
| anguish | extreme sadness, torment |
| annul | to make void or invalid |
| antediluvian | ancient |
| anthology | a selected collection of writings, songs, etc. |
| antiseptic | clean, sterile |
| apathetic | lacking concern, emotion |
| apocryphal | fictitious, false, wrong |
| appalling | inspiring shock, horror, disgust |
| appease | to calm, satisfy |
| appraise | to assess the worth or value of |
| apprehend | to seize, arrest |
| approbation | praise |
| appropriate | to take, make use of |
| arbitrary | based on factors that appear random |
| arbitration | the process or act of resolving a dispute |
| archetypal | the most reprentative or typical example or something |
| ardor | extreme vigor, energy, enthusiasm |
| arrogate | to take without justification |
| artifact | a remaining piece from an extinct culture or place |
| artisan | a craftsman |
| ascertain | to perceive, learn |
| ascetic | practicing restraintas a means of self-discipline |
| ascribe | to assign, credit, attribute to |
| asperion | a curse, expression of ill-will |
| aspire | to long for, aim toward |
| asylum | a place of refuge, protection, a sanctuary |
| atone | to repent, make amends |
| austere | very bare, bleak |
| avenge | to seek revenge |
| aversion | a particular dislike for something |
| balk | to stop, block abruptly |
| bequeath | to pass on, give |
| bereft | devoid of, without |
| beseech | to beg, plead, implore |
| bilk | cheat, defraud |
| blandish | to coax by using flattery |
| blemish | an imperfection, flaw |
| brazen | excessively bold, brash |
| buffet | to strike with force |
| burnish | to polish, shine |
| clamity | 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 |
| canny | shrewd, careful |
| capitulate | to surrender |
| captivate | to get the attention of, hold |
| carouse | to party, celebrate |
| carp | to annoy, pester |
| caucus | a meeting usually held by people working toward the same goal |
| cavort | to leap about, behave boisterously |
| cherish | to feel or show affection toward something |
| chide | to voice disapproval |
| clamor | loud noise |
| cleave | to dive into parts |
| coagulate | to thicken, clot |
| coalesce | to fuse into a whole |
| cobbler | a person who makes or repairs shoes |
| cogent | intellectually convincing |
| cognizant | aware, mindful |
| collateral | secondary |
| collusion | secret agreement, conspiracy |
| combustion | the act or process of burning |
| commendation | a notice of approval or recognition |
| commensurate | corresponding in size or amount |
| complicit | being an accomplice in a wrongful act |
| compliment | an expression of esteem or approval |
| compound | to combine parts |
| compunction | distress caused by feeling guilty |
| concede | to accept as valid |
| conciliatory | friendly, agreeable |
| concoct | to fabricate, make up |
| concomitant | accompanying in a subordinate fashion |
| concord | harmonious agreement |
| condolence | an expression of sympathy in sorrow |
| conduit | a paipe or channel through which something passes |
| confection | a sweet, fancy food |
| confidant | a person entrusted with secrets |
| confound | to frustrate, confuse |
| congeal | to thicken into solid |
| congenial | pleasantly agreeable |
| connive | to plot, scheme |
| consecrate | to dedicate something to a holy purpose |
| consign | to give something to a holy purpose |
| consolation | an act of comforting |
| constituent | an essential part |
| constrain | to forcibly restrict |
| construe | to interpret |
| consummate | to complete a deal, to complete a marriage ceremony through sex |
| contemporaneou | existing during the same time |
| contentious | having a tendency to quarrel or dispute |
| contravene | to contradict, oppose, violate |
| contrite | penitent, eager to be forgiven |
| contusion | bruise, injury |
| conundrum | puzzle, problem |
| convene | to call together |
| cordial | warm, affectionate |
| coronation | the act of crowning |
| corroborate | to support with evidence |
| daunting | intimidating, causing one to lose courage |
| debacle | a disastrous failure, disruption |
| debauch | to corrupt by means of sensual pleasure |
| 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 reputaion |
| defer | to postpone something; to yield to another's wisdom |
| defile | to make unclean, impure |
| delegate | to hand over responsibility for something |
| demarcation | the marking of boundaries or categories |
| demure | quiet, modest, reserved |
| denigerate | to belittle, diminish the opinion of |
| deplore | to fell or express sorrow, disapproval |
| depravity | wickedness |
| deprecate | to belittle, depreciate |
| derelict | abandoned, run-down |
| desecrate | to violate the sacredness of a thing or place |
| destitute | impoverished, utterly lacking |
| deter | to discourage, prevent from doing |
| devious | not straightforward, deceitful |
| diaphanous | light, airy, transparent |
| diffident | shy, quiet, modest |
| diffuse | to scatter, thin out, break up; not concentrated |
| dilatory | tending to delay, causing delay |
| dirge | a mournful song, especially for a funeral |
| disaffected | rebellious, resentful of authority |
| disavow | to deny knowledge of or responsibility for |
| disclose | to reveal, make public |
| discomfit | to thwart, baffle |
| discordant | not agreeing, not in harmony with |
| discreancy | difference, failure of things to correspond |
| discretion | the quality of being reserved in speech or action; good judgement |
| discursive | rambling, lacking order |
| disgruntled | upset, not content |
| disheartened | feeling a loss of spirit or morale |
| disparate | sharply differing, containing sharply contrasting elements |
| dispatch | to send off to accomplish a duty |
| dispel | to drive away, scatter |
| disperse | to scatter, cause to scatter |
| dissent | to disagree |
| dither | to be indecisive |
| divulge | to reveal something secret |
| dour | stern, joyless |
| duress | hardship, threat |
| edict | an order, decree |
| efficacious | effective |
| effrontery | impudence, nerve, insolence |
| effulgent | radiant, splendorous |
| egregious | extremely bad |
| elegy | a speech given in honor of a dead person |
| elicit | to bring forth, draw out, evoke |
| emaciated | very thin, enfeebled looking |
| embezzle | to steal money by falsifying records |
| emend | to correct or revise a written text |
| emote | to express emotion |
| ennui | boredom, weariness |
| entail | to include as a necessary step |
| enthrall | to charm, hold spellbound |
| epistolary | relating to or contained in letters |
| epitome | a perfect example, embodiment |
| equanimity | composure |
| equivocal | ambiguous, uncertain, undecided |
| erudite | learned |
| eschew | to shun, avoid |
| euphoric | elated, uplifted |
| evince | to show, reveal |
| exacerbate | to make more violent, intense |
| exalt | to glorify, praise |
| exasperate | to irritate, irk |
| excavate | to dig out of the ground and remove |
| exculpate | to free from quilt or blame, exonerate |
| excursion | a trip or outing |
| exercrable | loathsome, detestable |
| exhort | to urge, prod, spur |
| exigent | urgent, critical |
| exonerate | to free from quilt or blame, exculpate |
| exorbitant | excessive |
| expedient | advisable, advantageous, serving one's self interest |
| expiate | to make amends for, atone |
| expunge | to obliterate, eradicate |
| expurgate | to remove offensive or incorrect parts, usually of a book |
| extant | existing, not destroyed or lost |
| extricate | to disentangle |
| exult | to rejoice |
| facade | the wall of a building; a deceptive appearance or attitude |
| facile | requiring little effort; superficial, achieved with little thought or care, insincere |
| fastidious | meticulous, demanding, having high and often unattainable standards |
| fatuous | silly, foolish |
| fecund | fruitful, fertile |
| felicitous | well suited, apt; delightful, pleasing |
| feral | wild, savage |
| fetid | having a foul odor |
| fetter | to chain, restrain |
| fickle | shifting in character, inconstant |
| 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 |
| forage | to graze, rummage for food |
| forbearance | patience, restraint, toleration |
| forestall | to prevent, thwart, delay |
| 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 |
| fractious | troublesome or irritable |
| fraught | (usually used with "with") filled or accompanied with |
| frivolous | of little importance, trifling |
| garish | gaudy, in bad taste |
| genial | friendly, affable |
| gluttony | over indulgence in food or drink |
| gourmand | someone fond of eating or drinking |
| gratuitous | uncalled for, unwarranted |
| grievous | injurious, hurtful; serious or grave in nature |
| hallowed | revered, consecrated |
| hardy | robust, capable of surviving through adverse conditions |
| harrowing | greatly distressing, vexing |
| hegemony | domination over others |
| heinous | shockingly wicked, repugnant |
| idolatrous | excessively worshipping one object or person |
| ignominious | humiliating, digracing |
| illicit | forbidden, not permitted |
| immerse | to absorb, deeply inivolve, engross |
| impassive | stoic, not susceptivle to suffering |
| impeccable | exemplary, flawless |
| impecunious | poor |
| imperative | adj.necessary, pressing; n. a rule, command, or order |
| 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 mitgated |
| implicate | to involve in an incriminating way, incriminate |
| impregnable | resistant to capture or enetration |
| impute | to ascribe, blame |
| inane | silly and meaningless |
| inarticulate | incapable of expressing oneself clearly through speech |
| incarnate | adj.existing in the flesh, embodied; v.to give human form to |
| incendiary | n.a person who agitates; adj.inflammatory, causing combustion |
| inchoate | unformed or formless, in a beginning stage |
| incumbent | n. one who holds an office; adj. obligatory |
| indefatigable | incapable of defeat, failure, decay |
| indigenous | originating in a region |
| indigent | very poor, impoverished |
| indignation | anger sparked by something unjust or unfair |
| ineffable | unspeakable, incapable of being expressed through words |
| inept | not suitable or capable, unqualified |
| inexorable | incaable of being persuaded |
| inextricable | hopelessly tangled or entangled |
| infusion | an injection/permeation of one substance into another |
| ingenious | clever, resourceful |
| ingenuous | not devious; innocent and candid |
| inhibit | to prevent, restrain, stop |
| inimical | hostile, enemy like |
| iniquity | wickedness or sin |
| injunction | an order of official warning |
| innuendo | an insinuation |
| inoculate | to introduce a vaccine into an organism to increase immunity to illness |
| insinuate | to suggest |
| insular | separated and narrow-minded; tight-knit, closed off |
| insurgent | one who rebels |
| integral | necessary for completeness |
| interject | to insert between other things |
| interlocutor | someone who participates in a dialogue or conversation |
| intimation | an indirect suggestion |
| intransigent | refusing to compromise, often on an etreme opinion |
| intrepid | brave in the face of danger |
| 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 |
| iridescent | showing rainbow colors |
| knell | the solemn sound of a bell, often indicating a death |
| kudos | praise for an achievement |
| laceration | a cut, tear |
| 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 |
| lavish | adj. given without limits; v. to give without limits |
| legerdemain | deception, slight-of-hand |
| liability | someone for which one is legally responsible involving a risk; a burden |
| libertarian | advocating principles of liberty and free will |
| licentious | displaying a lack of moral or legal restraints |
| limpid | clear, transparent |
| linchpin | something that holds separate parts together |
| lithe | graceful, flexible, supple |
| litigant | someone engaged in a lawsuit |
| lurid | ghastly sensational |
| maelstrom | a destructive whirlpool which rapidly sucks in objects |
| manifest | adj. easily understandable, obvious; v. to show plainly |
| manifold | diverse, varied |
| maudlin | weakly sentimental |
| maverick | an independent, nonconformist person |
| mawkish | characterized by sick sentimentality |
| mendacious | having a lying, false character |
| mercurial | characterized by rapid change or temperamentality |
| modulate | to pass from one state to another, especially in music |
| 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 |
| myriad | consisting of a very reat number |
| nascent | in the process of being born or coming into existence |
| negligent | habitually careless, neglectful |
| neophyte | someone who is young or inexperienced |
| nominal | trifling, insignificant |
| nonchalant | having a lack of concern, indifferene |
| nondescript | lacking a distinctive character |
| obdurate | unyielding to persuasion or moral influences |
| obfuscate | to render incomprehensible |
| oblique | diverging from a straight line or course, not straightforward |
| obsolete | no longer used, out of date |
| obstreperous | noisy, unruly |
| obtuse | lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect |
| odious | instilling hatred or intense displeasure |
| oscillate | to sway from one side to the other |
| ostensible | appearing as such, seemingly |
| ostracism | exclusion from a group |
| palatable | agreeable to the taste or sensibilities |
| paramount | greatest in importance, rank, character |
| patent | readily seen or understood, clear |
| pathology | a deviation from the normal |
| 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 |
| perspicacity | shrewdness, perceptiveness |
| pert | flippant, bold |
| pertinacious | stubbornly persistent |
| perusal | a careful examination, review |
| pervasive | having the tendency to spread throughout |
| petulance | rudeness, irritability |
| pillage | to seize or plunder, especially relating to money |
| pithy | concisely meaningful |
| pittance | a very small amount, especially relating to money |
| platitude | an uninspired remark, cliche |
| plaudits | enthusiastic approval, applause |
| plentitude | an abundance |
| plethora | an abundance, excess |
| pliable | flexible |
| polemic | an aggressive argument against a specific opinion |
| portent | an omen |
| potable | suitable for drinking |
| potentate | one who has great power, a ruler |
| precipice | the face of a cliff, a steep or overhanging place |
| preclude | to prevent |
| precocious | advanced, developing ahead of time |
| preponderance | superiority in importance or quantity |
| prepossessing | occupying the mind to the exclusion of other thoughts or feelings |
| presage | an omen |
| prescient | to have foreknowledge of events |
| prescribe | to lay down a rule |
| presumptuous | disrespectfully bold |
| pretense | an appearance or action intended to deceive |
| privation | lacking basic necessities |
| probity | virtue, integrity |
| proclivity | a strong inclination toward something |
| procure | to obtain, acquire |
| profane | lewd, indecent |
| profligate | dissolute, extravagant |
| profuse | plentiful, abundant |
| promulgate | to proclaim, make known |
| propagate | to multiply, spread out |
| propensity | an inclination, preference |
| propitious | favorable |
| propriety | the quality or state of being proper, decent |
| proscribe | to condemn, outlaw |
| protean | able to change shape; displaying great variety |
| prowess | extraordinary ability |
| prurient | eliciting or possessing an extraordinary interest in sex |
| pugnacious | quarrelsome, combative |
| pulchritude | physical beauty |
| punctilious | eager to follow rules or conventions |
| punitive | involving punishment |
| putrid | rotten, foul |
| quaint | charmingly old-fashioned |
| quell | to control or diffuse a potentially explosive |
| quixotic | idealistic, impractical |
| quotidian | daily |
| rail | to scold, protest |
| rancid | having a terrible taste or smell |
| rancor | deep, bitter resentment |
| rapport | mutual understanding and harmony |
| rash | hasty, incautious |
| raucous | loud, boisterous |
| raze | to demolish, level |
| recapitulate | to sum up, repeat |
| reciprocate | to give in return |
| rectitude | uprightness, extreme morality |
| redoubtable | formidable; commanding respect |
| refract | to distort, change |
| refurbish | to restore, clean up |
| regurgitate | to vomit; to throw back exactly |
| relegate | to assign to the proper place; to assign to an inferior place |
| relish | to enjoy |
| remedial | intended to repair gaps in students' basic knowledge |
| remiss | negligent, failing to take care |
| renovate | restore, return to original state; to enlarge and make prettier, especially a house |
| renown | honor, acclaim |
| renunciation | to reject |
| repentant | penitent, sorry |
| repose | to rest, lie down |
| reprieve | a temporary delay of punishment |
| reprobate | evil, unprincipled |
| repulse | to disgust; to push back |
| requisition | a demand for goods, usually made by an authority |
| reservoir | reserves, large supply; a body of water used for storing water |
| resilient | able to recover from misfortune; able to withstand adversity |
| resolve | to find a solution; to firmly decide |
| respite | a break, rest |
| resplendent | shiny, glowing |
| restitution | restoration to the rightful owner |
| restive | resistant, stubborn, impatient |
| retract | withdraw |
| revel | to enjoy intensely |
| ribald | coarsely, crudely humorous |
| ruminate | to contemplate, reflect |
| ruse | a trick |
| sagasity | shrewdness, soundness of perspective |
| salient | significant, conspicuous |
| salutation | a greeting |
| sale | a soothing balm |
| sanctimonious | giving a hypocritical appearance of piety |
| satiate | to satisfy excessively |
| scathing | sharp, critical, hurtful |
| scintillating | sparkling |
| scrupulous | painstaking, careful |
| scurrilous | vulgar, coarse |
| 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 |
| sinuous | lithe, serpentine |
| sobriety | sedate, calm |
| solicitous | concerned, attentive |
| solipsistic | believing that oneself is all that exists |
| somnolent | sleepy, drowsy |
| sophomoric | immature, uninformed |
| 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 |
| stolid | expressing little sensibility, unemotional |
| strenuous | requiring tremendous energy or stamina |
| strident | harsh, loud |
| stupefy | to astonish, make insensible |
| subjugate | to bring under control, subdue |
| sublime | lofty, grand, exalted |
| surmise | to infer with little evidence |
| surreptitious | stealthy |
| surrogate | one acting in place of another |
| swarthy | of dark color or complexion |
| sycophant | one who flatters for self-gain |
| tantamount | equivalent in value or significance |
| temperance | moderation in action or thought |
| tenable | able to be defended or maintained |
| tenuous | having little substance or strength |
| 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 |
| travesty | a grossly inferior imitation |
| tremulous | fearful |
| trenchant | effective, articulate, clear-cut |
| truculent | ready to fight, cruel |
| turgid | swollen, excessively embellished in style or language |
| turpitude | depravity, moral corruption |
| umbrage | resentment, offense |
| uncanny | of supernatural character or origin |
| unctuous | smooth or greasy in texture, appearance, manner |
| undulate | to move in waves |
| vacillate | to fluctuate, hesitate |
| vacuous | lack of content or ideas, stupid |
| vapid | lacking liveliness, dull |
| veneer | a superficial or deceptively attractive appearance, facade |
| verdant | green in tint or color |
| vicarious | experiencing through another |
| vicissitude | event that occurs by chance |
| vigilant | watchful, alert |
| vindicate | to avenge; to free from allegation; to set free |
| vindictive | vengeful |
| vitriolic | having a caustic quality |
| vituperate | to berate |
| vocation | the work in which someone is employed, profession |
| wane | to decrease in size, dwindle |
| wanton | undisciplined, lewd, lustful |
| winsome | charming, pleasing |
| wistful | full of yearning; musingly sad |
| wizened | dry, shrunken, wrinkled |
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