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SAT Vocabulary
definitions and vocabulary
Term | Definition |
---|---|
abate | to become less intense or widespread |
abstract | existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence |
abysmal | very bad |
accordingly | to be in accordance with |
acquisition | the process of gaining possession of something |
adapt | to make (something) suitable for a new use or purpose; modify |
adept | having skill in a particular area |
adequate | satisfactory or acceptable in quality or quantity |
advent | the arrival of a notable person or thing |
adversarial | involving or characterized by conflict or opposition |
advocate | a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy |
aesthetic | concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty |
afford | have enough money to pay for |
agitate | campaign to arouse public concern about an issue in the hope of prompting action |
allow | let (someone) have or do something |
allude | suggest or call attention to indirectly; hint at |
altercation | noisy argument or disagreement, especially in public |
ambiguous | open to more than one interpretation; not having one obvious meaning |
ambitious | having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed |
ambivalence | the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone |
analogous | comparable in certain respects, typically in a way that makes clearer the nature of the things compared |
Annihilate | destroy utterly; obliterate |
Anomaly | something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected |
Anticipate | regard as probable; expect or predict |
Antipathy | a deep-seated feeling of aversion |
Apex | the top or highest part of something, especially one forming a point |
Apprehension | anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen |
Articulate | having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently |
Artificial | made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally, especially as a copy of something natural |
Assertion | a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief |
Austere | severe or strict in manner or attitude |
Authenticity | the quality of being authentic |
Avenue | a way of approaching a problem |
Avid | having an eager desire for |
Basic | forming an essential foundation or starting point; fundamental |
Bear | carry or conduct oneself in a specified manner |
Benevolent | well-meaning and kindly |
Bias | inclination or prejudice for or against one person or group, especially in a way considered to be unfair |
Bittersweet | arousing pleasure tinged with sadness or pain |
Bolster | support or strengthen |
Boost | encourage (something) to increase or improve |
Brawl | a rough or noisy fight or quarrel |
Brevity | the concise and exact use of words in writing or speech |
Candid | truthful and straightforward; frank |
Candor | the characteristic of being honest |
Capitalize | to take advantage of |
Capture | to take possession of |
Civic | relating to citizens or a city |
Clinical | emotionally attached |
Clout | special power or advantage |
Coarse | lacking sophistication or refinement |
Coincide | to occur simultaneously |
Commission | an instruction, command, or role given to a person or group. |
Comparable | ability to be compared |
Competent | efficient and qualified |
Complacent | satisfied; no desire to improve |
Complement | to make complete or perfect |
Concede | surrender or yield |
Conceive | to come up with |
Condone | to allow or overlook |
Conducive | to be suitable to bring something about |
Conduct | to manage or control; to behave in a particular way |
Confide | to trust someone with secrets |
Confine | to limit something |
Consensus | a majority agreement |
Constitute | to make up parts of something |
Contemplate | think deeply and at length |
Contend | to assert or maintain an opinion |
Contradict | to be in contrast with |
Controversial | giving rise or likely to give rise to controversy or public disagreement. |
Conventional | following accepted standards |
Convey | to transfer information |
Conviction | believing firmly in something |
Corroborate | to provide evidence for a claim |
Counteract | to work against |
Counterargument | an argument used to diminish another |
Counterproductive | having the opposite of the desired effect. |
Culmination | the climax |
Cultivate | to foster |
Decree | to declare something formally |
Deference | regard; respect |
Deficient | not a sufficient amount |
Demonstrate | to provide evidence for something |
Demur | raise objections or show reluctance. |
Deplete | to use something over time |
Desolate | empty, barren |
Devise | to develop a plan |
Dilemma | a problem |
Diligence | careful and persistent work or effort. |
Diminish | make or become less |
Dire | extremely serious or urgent |
Discord | disagreement |
Disdain | strong dislike |
Dismay | stress, hopelessness |
Disparage | to talk down to |
Dispatch | to send a messenger or message |
Diversification | the process of becoming diverse |
Doctrine | a position or theory |
Dominion | authority and power |
Dreary | dull, sad |
Dubious | questionable, doubtful |
Eccentric | odd or peculiar |
Egregious | very bad |
Eloquent | fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing. |
Eminent | distinguished or superior |
Emit | to release, discharge |
Emphatic | using emphasis, expressive |
Empirical | based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic |
Endow | to bestow or equip |
Endure | to sustain or withstand against |
Entail | to include or involve |
Entrenched | firmly established and difficult or unlikely to change |
Enumerate | to count |
Envy | jealousy to an excessive degree |
Erratic | not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable. |
Establish | to enact or to found |
Evoke | bring or recall (a feeling, memory, or image) to the conscious mind. |
Exacerbate | to make something worse |
Excel | to be successful at something |
Exert | to put something into use |
Exhilarating | exciting, stimulating |
Expend | to use up |
Exploit | make full use of and derive benefit from |
Facilitate | to make a process easier |
Feasibility | the possibility of something |
Ferocity | violence, viciousness |
Fiscal | of or relating to money |
Flourish | to grow, prosper (esp quickly) |
Fluctuate | to rise and fall in an irregular pattern |
Foment | to stir up or instigate |
Foreseeable | capable of being anticipated |
Frankly | clearly, directly |
Freewheeling | carefree |
Fundamental | the most basic component |
Galvanizing | stimulating, exciting |
Geriatric | relating to old people, especially with regard to their healthcare. |
Hostile | dangerous, harmful |
Hypothetical | supposed |
Ignominious. | deserving or causing public disgrace or shame |
Impart | to bestow or transmit |
Impartiality | treating all rivals equally |
Imposing | impressive in size or appearance |
Imposition | an unwelcome and unfair burden |
Imprudent | rash, not cautious |
Incite | to stir up or excite |
Indifference | emotional detachment |
Indiscriminately | randomly |
Indulge | to give into something |
Infer | to guess through reasoning |
Innovative | new or novel |
Insatiable | unable to be satisfied |
Inversion | the reversal of something |
Invoke | to appeal to or call upon |
Irreconcilable | incapable of being resolved |
Lament | to mourn |
Locomotion | movement |
Lucrative | profitable |
Malicious | spiteful, harmful |
Malleable | capable of being changed |
Materialistic | superficial |
Melodramatic | exaggerated or extravagant |
Modest | humble and simple |
Modify | to alter, tweak, or change |
Momentous | significant in a historical context |
Novel | innovative, new |
Nuance | a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound. |
Null | ineffective, legally void |
Objectivity | the quality of being objective; impartial |
Obsolete | uncommon or rare |
Omnipotent | all-powerful |
Onset | the early stages of something |
Opine | to formally state an opinion |
Ornate | highly decorated |
Oust | to force out of |
Paramount | most important, superior |
Peculiar | bizarre, strange |
Perish | to pass away; to die |
Persecute | harass or annoy persistently. |
Petulant | irritable, pouty |
Pinnacle | highest degree |
Pitiable | arousing pity |
Plausible | possibly true |
Postulate | to assert |
Potent | having a strong influence |
Pragmatic | useful, practical |
Precedent | an example from the previous time |
Predecessor | a person or thing that comes before another |
Prescribe | to command orders |
Principle | n. basic truth, assumption, or rule |
Prohibit | to ban |
Prompt | punctual |
Promulgate | formally declare |
Prosecute | to put on trial |
Provocative | arouse, inspire |
Qualitative | measuring the quality of something |
Quantitative | measuring the amount of something |
Quirk | a strange trait or characteristic |
Ramify | to form branches |
Rash | done without regard to consequences |
Raw | unrefined |
Readily | without delay |
Reconsideration | thinking again |
Reform | an improvement |
Refute | to prove to be incorrect |
Reinforce | to support |
Reluctantly | somewhat unwillingly |
Renounce | to give up |
Reproach | to critique |
Repudiate | to refuse to acknowledge as true |
Retention | the continued control or possession of something |
Satiated | satisfied |
Savvy | practical knowledge |
Scandalous | morally offensive |
Scorn | a feeling of disdain |
Scrupulous | careful, thorough |
Scrutinize | to examine critically |
Secrete | to release or produce |
Sentiment | opinion |
Sheer | very thin |
Simple | not complex |
Sinister | evil, ominous |
Solidarity | common purpose amongst a group |
Sparingly | in a restricted manner |
Spawn | to generate |
Spur | to incite |
Squalid | sordid, run-down |
Stark | very plain |
Static | changeless; motionless |
Subordinate | to be lower in rank |
Subsequently | happening after something |
Substantial | very large in degree or amount |
Substantiate | to make stronger with evidence |
Subtle | difficult to detect |
Sufficient | enough |
Surly | unfriendly |
Surmount | to overcome |
Susceptible | to be vulnerable |
Tactful | capable of dealing with people |
Taut | pulled tight |
Teeming | to be full of |
Temperament | usual feelings or mood |
Tentative | not certain or fixed |
Transparent | easy to perceive; see-through |
Treacherous | unstable and dangerous |
Tremendous | very great in amount, scale, or intensity |
Ubiquitous | found everywhere |
Unadorned | plain, undecorated |
Undermine | to weaken gradually |
Underscore | to emphasize |
Undulate | to move in a wavy pattern |
Unilateral | one-sided |
Unjust | not justified |
Unmitigated | total, utter |
Unprecedented | entirely new |
Unveil | to reveal |
Urge | try earnestly or persistently to persuade (someone) to do something |
Validate | check or prove the validity or accuracy of |
Viability | ability to work successfully |
Vital | absolutely necessary; essential |
Vow | a solemn promise |
Warrant | justification or authority for an action, belief, or feeling |
Yield | produce or generate (a result, gain, or financial return). |