GROUP 1

SAT VOCABULARY

GROUP 1

abstract – adj. – not easy to understand; theoretical

acclaim – n. – loud approval; applause

acquiesce – v. – to agree or consent to an opinion

adamant – adj. – not yielding; firm

adversary – n. – an enemy; foe

advocate – 1. v. – to plead in favor of; 2. n. – supporter; defender

aesthetic – adj. – showing good taste; artistic

alleviate – v. – to lessen or make easier

aloof – adj. – distant in interest; reserved; cool

altercation – n. – controversy; dispute

altruistic – adj. – unselfish

amass – v. – to collect together; accumulate

ambiguous – adj. – not clear; uncertain; vague

ambivalent – adj. – undecided

ameliorate – v. – to make better; to improve

amiable – adj. – friendly

amorphous – adj. – having no determinate form

anarchist – n. – one who believes that a formal government is unnecessary

antagonism – n. – hostility; opposition

apathy – n. – lack of emotion or interest

appease – v. – to make quiet; to calm

apprehensive – adj. – fearful; aware; conscious

arbitrary – adj. – based on one’s preference or judgment

arrogant – adj. – acting superior to others; conceited

articulate – 1. v. – to speak distinctly; 2. adj. – eloquent; fluent; 3. adj. – capable of speech; 4. v. – to

hinge; to connect; 5. v. – to convey; to express effectively

GROUP 2

assess – v. – to estimate the value of

astute – adj. – cunning; sly; crafty

atrophy – v. – to waste away through lack of nutrition

audacious – adj. – fearless; bold

augment – v. – to increase or add to; to make larger

austere – adj. – harsh; severe; strict

authentic – adj. – real; genuine; trustworthy

authoritarian – n. – acting as a dictator; demanding obedience

banal – adj. – common; petty; ordinary

belittle – v. – to make small; to think lightly of

benefactor – n. – one who helps others; a donor

benevolent – adj. – kind; generous

benign – adj. – mild; harmless

biased – adj. – prejudiced; influenced; not neutral

blasphemous – adj. – irreligious; away from acceptable standards

blithe – adj. – happy; cheery; merry

brevity – n. – briefness; shortness

candid – adj. – honest; truthful; sincere

capricious – adj. – changeable; fickle

caustic – adj. – burning; sarcastic; harsh

censor – v. – to examine and delete objectionable material

censure – v. – to criticize or disapprove of

charlatan – n. – an imposter; fake

coalesce – v. – to combine; come together

collaborate – v. – to work together; cooperate

GROUP 3

compatible – adj. – in agreement with; harmonious

complacent – adj. – content; self-satisfied; smug

compliant – adj. – yielding; obedient

comprehensive – adj. – all-inclusive; complete; thorough

compromise – v. – to settle by mutual adjustment

concede – v. – 1. to acknowledge; admit; 2. to surrender; to abandon one’s position

concise – adj. – in few words; brief; condensed

condescend – v. – to come down from one’s position or dignity

condone – v. – to overlook; to forgive

conspicuous – adj. – easy to see; noticeable

consternation – n. – amazement or terror that causes confusion

consummation – n. – the completion; finish

contemporary – adj. – living or happening at the same time; modern

contempt – n. – scorn; disrespect

contrite – adj. – regretful; sorrowful

conventional – adj. – traditional; common; routine

cower – v. – to crouch down in fear or shame

defamation – n. – harming a name or reputation; slandering

deference – adj. – yielding to the opinion of another

deliberate – 1. v. – to consider carefully; to weigh in the mind; 2. adj. – intentional

denounce – v. – to speak out against; condemn

depict – v. – to portray in words; to present a visual image

deplete – v. – to reduce; to empty

depravity – n. – moral corruption; badness

deride – v. – to ridicule; to laugh at with scorn

GROUP 4

desecrate – v. – to violate a holy place or sanctuary

detached – adj. – separated; not interested; standing alone

deter – v. – to prevent; to discourage; to hinder

didactic – adj. – 1. instructive; 2. dogmatic; preachy

digress – v. – to stray from the subject; to wander from topic

diligence – n. – hard work

discerning – adj. – distinguishing one thing from another

discord – n. – disagreement; lack of harmony

discriminating – 1. v. to distinguish one thing from another; 2. v. – to demonstrate bias; 3. adj.

– able to distingush

disdain – 1. n. – intense dislike; 2. v. – to look down upon; scorn

disparage – v. – to belittle; to undervalue

disparity – n. – difference in form, character, or degree

dispassionate – adj. – lack of feeling; impartial

disperse – v. – to scatter; to separate

disseminate – v. – to circulate; to scatter

dissent – v. – to disagree; to differ in opinion

dissonance – n. – harsh contradiction

diverse – adj. – different; dissimilar

document – 1. n. – official paper containing information; 2. v. – to support; to substantiate; to verify

dogmatic – adj. – stubborn; biased; opinionated

dubious – adj. – doubtful; uncertain; skeptical; suspicious

eccentric – adj. – odd; peculiar; strange

efface – v. – to wipe out; to erase

effervescence – n. – 1. liveliness; spirit; enthusiasm; 2. bubbliness

egocentric – adj. – self-centered

GROUP 5

elaboration – n. – act of clarifying; adding details

eloquence – n. – the ability to speak well

elusive – adj. – hard to catch; difficult to understand

emulate – v. – to imitate; to copy; to mimic

endorse – v. – to support; to approve of; to recommend

engender – v. – to create; to bring about

enhance – v. – to improve; to compliment; to make more attractive

enigma – n. – mystery; secret; perplexity

ephemeral – adj. – temporary; brief; short-lived

equivocal – adj. – doubtful; uncertain

erratic – adj. – unpredictable; strange

erroneous – adj. – untrue; inaccurate; not correct

esoteric – adj. – incomprehensible; obscure

euphony – n. – pleasant sound

execute – v. – 1. to put to death; to kill; 2. to carry out; to fulfill

exemplary – adj. – serving as an example; outstanding

exhaustive – adj. – thorough; complete

expedient – adj. – helpful; practical; worthwhile

expedite – v. – to speed up

explicit – adj. – specific; definite

extol – v. – to praise; to commend

extraneous – adj. – irrelevant; not related; not essential

facilitate – v. – to make easier; to simplify

fallacious – adj. – misleading

fanatic – n. – enthusiast; extremist

GROUP 6

fastidious – adj. – fussy; hard to please

fervent – adj. – passionate; intense

fickle – adj. – changeable; unpredictable

fortuitous – adj. – accidental; happening by chance; lucky

frivolity – adj. – giddiness; lack of seriousness

fundamental – adj. – basic; necessary

furtive – adj. – secretive; sly

futile – adj. – worthless; unprofitable

glutton – n. – overeater

grandiose – adj. – extravagant; flamboyant

gravity – n. – seriousness

guile – n. – slyness; deceit

gullible – adj. – easily fooled

hackneyed – adj. – commonplace; trite

hamper – v. – to interfere with; to hinder

haphazard – adj. – disorganized; random

hedonistic – adj. – pleasure seeking

heed – v. – to obey; to yield to

heresy – n. – opinion contrary to popular belief

hindrance – n. – blockage; obstacle

humility – n. – lack of pride; modesty

hypocritical – adj. – two-faced; deceptive

hypothetical – adj. – assumed; uncertain

illuminate – v. – to make understandable

illusory – adj. – unreal; false; deceptive

GROUP 7

immune – adj. – protected; unthreatened by

immutable – adj. – unchangeable; permanent

impartial – adj. – unbiased; fair

impetuous – adj. – 1. rash; impulsive; 2. forcible; violent

implication – n. – suggestion; inference

inadvertent – adj. – not on purpose; unintentional

incessant – adj. – constant; continual

incidental – adj. – extraneous; unexpected

inclined – adj. – 1. apt to; likely to; 2. angled

incoherent – adj. – illogical; rambling

incompatible – adj. – disagreeing; disharmonious

incredulous – adj. – unwilling to believe; skeptical

indifferent – adj. – unconcerned

indolent – adj. – lazy; inactive

indulgent – adj. – lenient; patient

inevitable – adj. – sure to happen; unavoidable

infamous – adj. – having a bad reputation; notorious

infer – v. – to form an opinion; to conclude

initiate – 1. v. – to begin; to admit into a group; 2. n. – a person who is in the process of being admitted

into a group

innate – adj. – natural; inborn

innocuous – adj. – harmless; innocent

innovate – v. – to introduce a change; to depart from the old

insipid – adj. – uninteresting; bland

instigate – v. – to start; to provoke

intangible – adj. – incapable of being touched; immaterial

GROUP 8

ironic – adj. – contradictory; inconsistent; sarcastic

irrational – adj. – not logical

jeopardy – n. – danger

kindle – v. – to ignite; to arouse

languid – adj. – weak; fatigued

laud – v. – to praise

lax – adj. – careless; irresponsible

lethargic – adj. – lazy; passive

levity – n. – silliness; lack of seriousness

lucid – adj. – 1. shining; 2. easily understood

magnanimous – adj. – forgiving; unselfish

malicious – adj. – spiteful; vindictive

marred – adj. – damaged

meander – v. – to wind on a course; to go aimlessly

melancholy – n. – depression; gloom

meticulous – adj. – exacting; precise

minute – adj. – extremely small; tiny

miser – n. – penny pincher; stingy person

mitigate – v. – to alleviate; to lessen; to soothe

morose – adj. – moody; despondent

negligence – n. – carelessness

neutral – adj. – impartial; unbiased

nostalgic – adj. – longing for the past; filled with bittersweet memories

novel – adj. – new

GROUP 9

nullify – v. – to cancel; to invalidate

objective – 1. adj. – open-minded; impartial; 2. n. – goal

obscure – adj. – not easily understood; dark

obsolete – adj. – out of date; passe

ominous – adj. – threatening

optimist – n. – person who hopes for the best; person who sees the good side

orthodox – adj. – traditional; accepted

pagan – 1. n – polytheist; 2. adj. – polytheistic

partisan – 1. n – supporter; follower; 2. adj. – biased; one-sided

perceptive – adj. – full of insight; aware

peripheral – adj. – marginal; outer

pernicious – adj. – dangerous; harmful

pessimism – n. – seeing only the gloomy side; hopelessness

phenomenon – n. – 1. miracle; 2. occurrence

philanthropy – n. – charity; unselfishness

pious – adj. – religious; devout; dedicated

placate – v. – to pacify

plausible – adj. – probable; feasible

pragmatic – adj. – matter-of-fact; practical

preclude – v. – to inhibit; to make impossible

predecessor – n. – one who has occupied an office before another

prodigal – adj. – wasteful; lavish

prodigious – adj. – exceptional; tremendous

profound – adj. – deep; knowledgeable; thorough

profusion – n. – great amount; abundance

GROUP 10

prosaic – adj. – tiresome; ordinary

provincial – adj. – regional; unsophisticated

provocative – adj. – 1. tempting; 2. irritating

prudent – adj. – wise; careful; prepared

qualified – adj. – experienced; indefinite

rectify – v. – to correct

redundant – adj. – repetitious; unnecessary

refute – v. – to challenge; to disprove

relegate – v. – to banish; to put to a lower position

relevant – adj. – of concern; significant

remorse – n. – guilt; sorrow

reprehensible – adj. – wicked; disgraceful

repudiate – v. – to reject; to cancel

rescind – v. – to retract; to discard

resignation – n. – 1. quitting; 2. submission

resolution – n. – proposal; promise; determination

respite – n. – recess; rest period

reticent – adj. – silent; reserved; shy

reverent – adj. – respectful

rhetorical – adj. – having to do with verbal communication

rigor – n. – severity

sagacious – adj. – wise; cunning

sanguine – adj. – 1. optimistic; cheerful; 2. red

saturate – v. – to soak thoroughly; to drench

scanty – adj. – inadequate; sparse

GROUP 11

scrupulous – adj. – honorable; exact

scrutinize – v. – to examine closely; to study

servile – adj. – slavish; groveling

skeptic – n. – doubter

slander – v. – to defame; to maliciously misrepresent

solemnity – n. – seriousness

solicit – v. – to ask; to seek

stagnant – adj. – motionless; uncirculating

stanza – n. – group of lines in a poem having a definite pattern

static – adj. – inactive; changeless

stoic – adj. – detached; unruffled; calm

subtlety – n. – 1. understatement; 2. propensity for understatement; 3. sophistication; 4. cunning

superficial – adj. – on the surface; narrowminded; lacking depth

superfluous – adj. – unnecessary; extra

surpass – v. – to go beyond; to outdo

sycophant – adj. – flatterer

symmetry – n. – correspondence of parts; harmony

taciturn – adj. – reserved; quiet; secretive

tedious – adj. – time-consuming; burdensome; uninteresting

temper – v. – to soften; to pacify; to compose

tentative – adj. – not confirmed; indefinite

thrifty – adj. – economical; pennywise

tranquility – n. – peace; stillness; harmony

trepidation – n. – apprehension; uneasiness

trivial – adj. – unimportant; small; worthless

GROUP 12

tumid – adj. – swollen; inflated

undermine – v. – to weaken; to ruin

uniform – adj. – consistent; unvaried; unchanging

universal – adj. – concerning everyone; existing everywhere

unobtrusive – adj. – inconspicuous; reserved

unprecedented – adj. – unheard of; exceptional

unpretentious – adj. – simple; plain; modest

vacillation – n. – fluctuation

valid – adj. – acceptable; legal

vehement – adj. – intense; excited; enthusiastic

venerate – v. – to revere

verbose – adj. – wordy; talkative

viable – adj. – 1. capable of maintaining life; 2. possible; attainable

vigor – n. – energy; forcefulness

vilify – v . – to slander

virtuoso – n. – highly skilled artist

virulent – adj. – deadly; harmful; malicious

vital – adj. – important; spirited

volatile – adj. – changeable; undependable

vulnerable – adj. – open to attack; unprotected

wane – v. – to grow gradually smaller

whimsical – adj. – fanciful; amusing

wither – v. – to wilt; to shrivel; to humiliate; to cut down

zealot – n. – believer; enthusiast; fan

zenith – n. – point directly overhead in the sky

GROUP 13

aback - (preceded by taken) surprised; startled
abandon - to leave; to give up; to discontinue
abase - ashamed; embarrassed
abate - to lessen; to decrease
abdicate - to yield; to give up
abduct - to take away; to kidnap
aberration - abnormality; deviation
abet - to aid; to encourage
abeyance - a temporary postponement
abhor - to hate; to detest
abide - (two meanings) to remain; to put up with
abject - miserable; wretched
abjure - to give up (rights)
ablution - a washing; cleansing
abnegate - to deny; to reject
abolition - doing away with; putting an end to
abominate - to detest; to dislike strongly
aborigine - original inhabitant
abortive - unsuccessful
abound - to be large in number
aboveboard - honest; frank; open
abrade - to wear away
abridge - to shorten
abrogate - to abolish; to repeal
abscond - to leave secretly; to flee

GROUP 14

absolve - to free from responsibility
abstemious - moderate or sparing in eating or drinking
abstinence - self denial; resisting tempting foods
abstract- (two meanings) a summary (noun); to remove (verb)
abstruse- hard to understand
absurd- ridiculous; unreasonable
abut- to touch; to rest on or against
abysmal- wretched; extremely bad
abyss- a bottomless pit; anything infinite
academic- (two meanings) pertaining to school; theoretical or unrealistic
accede- to agree to
accelerate- to speed up; to move faster
accessible- easy to approach; open
access- approach; admittance
accessory- something additional
acclaim- to greet with approval
acclimate- to adapt; to get used to
acclivity- upward slope
accolade- honor; award; approval
accommodate- to make fit; to help
accomplice- a partner in crime
accord- agreement
accost- to approach and speak to
accoutrement- equipment; outfit
accredit- to approve; to certify

GROUP 15

accretion- an increase; an addition
accrue- to gather; to accumulate
acerbic- sharp or bitter in smell or taste
Achilles' heel- a weakness
acknowledge- to admit; to confess
acme- highest point; peak
acoustics- branch of physics dealing with sound
acquiesce- to agree; to consent
acquit- to free of guilt; to clear
acrid- bitter to the taste or smell; sarcastic
acrimonious- harsh in speech or behavior
acronym- word formed from initials
acrophobia- fear of heights
actuate- to put into motion or action
acumen- mental keenness; shrewdness
acute- sharp; keen
ad infinitum- endlessly; forever
ad lib- to act or speak without preparation
adage- a familiar saying
adamant- stubborn; unyielding
adapt- to adjust; to change
addendum- something added as a supplement
addled- confused
adduce- to give an example in proving something
adept- highly skilled

GROUP 16

adherent- (two meanings) sticking fast (adjective): a follower or supporter (noun)
adipose- fatty
adjacent- near; close; adjoining
adjudicate- to judge
adjunct- a subordinate; an assistant
admonish- to warn
ado- fuss; trouble
adonis- a very handsome mane
adorn- to dress up; to decorate
adroit- skillful; clever
adulation- excessive praise or flattery