SAT Vocabularies Flashcards
abolish
(verb) – to officially end or stop (something, such as a law); to completely do away with (something).
Example: The government abolished slavery in 1865.
abrupt
(adjective) – sudden and unexpected.
Example: The car came to an abrupt stop.
abundant
(adjective) – existing or available in large quantities.
Example: There is abundant evidence to support the claim.
accessible
(adjective) – easy to reach or get to.
Example: The library is accessible to all members of the community.
accommodate
(verb) – provide a place or means of living for.
Example: The hotel can accommodate 200 guests.
accumulate
(verb) – gather or collect over time.
Example: The snow accumulated on the ground.
accustomed
(adjective) – used to or familiar with something.
Example: I am accustomed to getting up early.
acknowledge
(verb) – admit the truth or existence of something.
Example: The teacher acknowledged that the student was correct.
acquire
(verb) – get or obtain (something) as one’s own.
Example: The company acquired a new subsidiary.
adamant
(adjective) – not able to be persuaded or moved.
Example: The president was adamant about his decision.
adequate
(adjective) – sufficient or enough.
Example: The food was adequate, but not particularly good.
adhere
(verb) – stick to or follow closely.
Example: The students adhered to the rules of the classroom.
adjacent
(adjective) – next to or close to something else.
Example: The two houses are adjacent to each other.
adverse
(adjective) – unfavorable or harmful.
Example: The weather conditions were adverse, and the flight was cancelled.
advocate
(verb) – speak or write in favor of something.
Example: The lawyer advocated for the rights of the accused.
affinity
(noun) – a natural liking or attraction for someone or something.
Example: There is an affinity between the two countries.
aggravate
(verb) – make (something bad) worse.
Example: The noise from the construction site aggravated her headache.
agitation
(noun) – a state of excitement or disturbance.
Example: The crowd was in a state of agitation after the news of the terrorist attack.
alteration
(noun) – a change or modification.
Example: The dress needed some alterations before it could be worn.
allocate
(verb) – distribute or apportion (something) to a particular person or purpose.
Example: The government allocated funds for education.
ambiguous
(adjective) – having two or more possible meanings and therefore open to interpretation.
Example: The ambiguous statement left the audience confused.
ambitious
(adjective) – having a strong desire to achieve success.
Example: The ambitious young executive was determined to make a name for herself.
ambivalent
(adjective) – having mixed feelings or contradictory emotions about something.
Example: The politician was ambivalent about the proposed legislation.
ameliorate
(verb) - to make a bad or unpleasant situation better
Example: Foreign aid is badly needed to ameliorate the effects of the drought.
amend
(verb) – make changes to (a document or text) in order to correct errors or improve it.
Example: The constitution was amended to include the right to vote for women.
ample
(adjective) – more than enough.
Example: The company has ample resources to continue its operations.
animosity
(noun) – strong or bitter hatred or hostility.
Example: The two countries have a long history of animosity.
annotate
(verb) – provide (a text) with notes or comments.
Example: The professor annotated the student’s paper with suggestions for improvement.
annual
(adjective) – happening or done once a year.
Example: The company’s annual report was released yesterday.
anomaly
(noun) – something that is abnormal or unusual.
Example: The weather anomaly caused widespread flooding.
antagonize
(verb) – deliberately provoke or annoy (someone).
Example: If your mother tells you to stop antagonizing your brother, she’s asking you to stop making him mad.
antecedent
(noun) - someone or something existing or happening before, especially as the cause or origin of something existing or happening later
Example: Charles Babbage’s mechanical calculating engines were the antecedents of the modern computer.
antipathy
(noun) – a strong dislike or aversion.
Example: The teacher had an antipathy towards the student.
apathetic
(adjective) – showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
Example: The apathetic audience didn’t even applaud after the performance.
apex
(noun) – the highest point or summit.
Example: The mountain’s apex was covered in snow.
apprehensive
(adjective) – feeling or showing worry or anxiety.
Example: The student was apprehensive about taking the test.
arbitrary
(adjective) – based on or determined by individual judgment or preference, rather than by any reason or system.
Example: The teacher’s grading was arbitrary, and the students were never sure how they were doing.
arcane
(adjective) – known or understood by only a few people.
Example: The ancient texts were arcane, and the scholars struggled to decipher them.
arduous
(adjective) – requiring great physical or mental effort.
Example: The climb up the mountain was arduous, and the hikers were exhausted by the time they reached the top.
aromatic
(adjective) – having a pleasant or strong smell.
Example: The aromatic candles filled the room with a sweet scent.
assuage
(verb) – to make (an unpleasant feeling or situation) less severe or intense.
Example: The doctor gave the patient medication to assuage her pain.
attribute
(verb) – regard (something) as being caused by (someone or something).
Example: The police attributed the crime to a gang of teenagers.
atypical
(adjective) – not typical or normal.
Example: The patient’s symptoms were atypical, and the doctors were unable to diagnose her.
augment
(verb) – increase or add to (something).
Example: The company augmented its workforce by hiring 100 new employees.
austere
(adjective) – severe or strict in manner or appearance.
Example: The monk’s life was austere, and he lived on a very simple diet.
autonomous
(adjective) – able to operate independently or without outside control.
Example: The autonomous car was able to navigate the streets without human input.
begrudge
(verb) – to feel envy or resentment towards someone who has something that you do not have.
Example: She begrudged her sister her new car.
belligerent
(adjective) – aggressively hostile or warlike.
Example: The belligerent crowd was threatening to riot.
beneficiary
(noun) – a person who receives a benefit, especially a financial one.
Example: The beneficiary of the will was her only child.
benevolent
(adjective) – having or showing a desire to help others.
Example: The benevolent old man donated money to the charity.
benign
(adjective) – harmless or not harmful.
Example: The tumor was benign, so the doctor did not recommend surgery.
berate
(verb) – scold or criticize someone severely.
Example: The teacher berated the student for not doing his homework.
bestow
(verb) – give or confer something as a gift.
Example: The king bestowed a knighthood on the loyal subject.
bolster
(verb) – give support or encouragement to.
Example: The team was bolstered by the arrival of the new player.
buttress
(verb) – support or strengthen something.
Example: The wall was buttressed by a series of pillars.
cacophony
(noun) – a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
Example: The cacophony of traffic noise made it difficult to think.
catalyst
(noun) – a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being changed itself.
Example: The catalyst in the experiment was a small amount of platinum.
catastrophic
(adjective) – causing great and sudden damage or destruction.
Example: The hurricane was a catastrophic event that caused widespread damage.
cease
(verb) – stop or bring to an end.
Example: The fighting ceased after a week.
censure
(verb) – express strong disapproval of (something).
Example: The government was censured for its handling of the crisis.
circumvent
(verb) – find a way to avoid or get around (a rule, restriction, or obstacle).
Example: The prisoners circumvented the security system and escaped.
cling
(verb) – hold tightly to something, especially out of fear or need.
Example: The child clung to her mother’s hand.
clout
(noun) – power or influence.
Example: The politician had a lot of clout in the party.
coalesce
(verb) – come together to form a single unit.
Example: The two companies coalesced to form a new entity.
coerce
(verb) – force or persuade (someone) to do something by using pressure, intimidation, or threats.
Example: The government coerced the citizens into voting for the new leader.
cognizant
(adjective) – aware of something.
Example: The police were cognizant of the threat of terrorism.
cohesion
(noun) – the state of sticking together.
Example: The team’s cohesion was essential to their success.
coincide
(verb) – happen at the same time.
Example: The two events coincided perfectly.
commission
(noun) – a group of people appointed to do a particular task.
Example: The commission was appointed to investigate the scandal.
comparable
(adjective) – similar in nature or quality.
Example: The two cars are comparable in price and performance.
compelling
(adjective) – very interesting or persuasive.
Example: The movie was a compelling story of love and loss.
complacent
(adjective) – feeling satisfied with oneself or one’s situation, especially without awareness of potential danger or problems.
Example: The company’s complacent attitude led to its downfall.
complementary
(adjective) – serving to complete or enhance something else.
Example: The two flavors were complementary.
compliance
(noun) – the act of complying with a request or command.
Example: The employee’s compliance with the rules was exemplary.
complimentary
(adjective) – expressing praise or admiration.
Example: The waiter gave us a complimentary glass of wine.
compose
(verb) – create or put together (something).
Example: The composer composed a symphony.
comprise
(verb) – consist of or be made up of.
Example: The team comprises players from all over the world.
conceal
(verb) – keep (something) secret or hidden.
Example: The spy concealed his identity.
concede
(verb) – admit or agree that something is true or valid.
Example: The politician conceded defeat.
conceptualize
(verb) – form a concept of (something) in the mind.
Example: The artist conceptualized the painting before he started to paint it.
concur
(verb) – agree or coincide in opinion.
Example: The two experts concurred on the diagnosis.
condescension
(noun) – an attitude of patronizing superiority.
Example: The teacher’s condescension made the students feel angry.
conformist
(noun) – a person who conforms to the prevailing standards or practices of a particular society or group.
Example: The conformist employee never spoke out against the company’s policies.
congenital
(adjective) – existing at or dating from birth.
Example: The child’s congenital heart defect required surgery
conjecture
(noun) – an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information.
Example: The police made a conjecture about the suspect’s identity.
conspicuous
(adjective) - very noticeable or attracting attention, often in a way that is not wanted
Example: In China, her blonde hair was conspicuous.
constrain
(verb) – restrict or limit (someone or something).
Example: The rules constrained the artist’s creativity.
contemplate
(verb) – consider or think deeply about (something).
Example: The philosopher contemplated the meaning of life.
contentious
(adjective) – likely to cause disagreement or argument.
Example: The issue of gun control is contentious.
contrived
(adjective) – deliberately created or arranged in an artificial way.
Example: The plot of the movie was contrived.
controversial
(adjective) - causing disagreement or discussion
Example: The controversial topic caused a heated debate among the men.
conventional
(adjective) – following or conforming to the traditional or accepted way of doing things.
Example: The dress code was conventional.
convey
(verb) – to make known or communicate (something).
Example: The painting conveyed a sense of sadness.
copious
(adjective) – large in quantity or amount.
Example: The rainfall was copious.
cordial
(adjective) - friendly, but formal and polite
Example: Relations between the two leaders are said to be cordial.
corroborate
(verb) – provide support or confirmation for (something).
Example: The witness’s testimony corroborated the police officer’s story.
corrode
(verb) – gradually destroy or eat away at (something).
Example: The acid corroded the metal.
criteria
(plural noun) – a set of standards or rules used to judge something.
Example: The criteria for the award were not clear.
culmination
(noun) – the highest or most important point of something.
Example: The culmination of the project was the launch of the new product.
cultivate
(verb) – to grow (plants) by supplying them with the right conditions.
Example: The farmer cultivated the land.
cumbersome
(adjective) – large and heavy, and therefore difficult to handle.
Example: The old furniture was cumbersome.
curiosity
(noun) – a strong desire to know or learn about something.
Example: The child’s curiosity led him to explore the world around him.
curtail
(verb) – to reduce or limit something.
Example: The government curtailed spending.
deceitful
(adjective) – dishonest or misleading.
Example: The deceitful salesman lied about the quality of the product.
decree
(noun) – a formal order issued by a government or other authority.
Example: The decree banned the sale of alcohol.
delegate
(verb) – give (a task or responsibility) to someone else.
Example: The manager delegated the task to his assistant.
deplete
(verb) – use up or reduce the amount of (something).
Example: The war depleted the country’s resources.
deposit
(noun) – a sum of money placed in a bank or other financial institution.
Example: The customer made a deposit of $100.
detachment
(noun) – a lack of emotional involvement or concern.
Example: The doctor showed a detachment that was unsettling to the patient.
deter
(verb) – discourage or prevent (someone) from doing something.
Example: The high price of the tickets deterred many people from attending the concert.
deviate
(verb) – move away from a standard or accepted course.
Example: The train deviated from its usual route due to a landslide.
devise
(verb) – create or design (something) in a clever or ingenious way.
Example: The engineer devised a new way to extract oil from the ground.
diatribe
(noun) – a long, forceful, and angry speech or piece of writing.
Example: The politician’s diatribe against the opposition party was widely condemned.
digress
(verb) – move away from the main point of a discussion or piece of writing.
Example: The speaker digressed into a long discussion of his childhood.
dilemma
(noun) – a situation in which there are two or more options, each of which has its own drawbacks.
Example: The company faced a dilemma: either lay off employees or risk bankruptcy.
diminish
(verb) – make or become smaller or less in amount.
Example: The company’s profits diminished as the competition increased.
discernible
(adjective) – able to be seen, heard, or understood.
Example: The difference between the two paintings was barely discernible.
disconcerting
(adjective) – causing confusion or unease.
Example: The sudden change of plans was disconcerting to the passengers.
disengage
(verb) – release or free (something) from something else.
Example: The soldier disengaged his bayonet from his rifle.
dismay
(noun) – a feeling of disappointment or discouragement.
Example: The news of the defeat caused widespread dismay.
disorienting
(adjective) – causing someone to become confused or lost.
Example: The disorienting fog made it difficult to see where we were going.
disparate
(adjective) – very different or dissimilar.
Example: The group of students was disparate in terms of their backgrounds and interests.
dispatch
(verb) – send (someone or something) on a mission or errand.
Example: The general dispatched a messenger to the enemy camp.
dispersed
(adjective) – spread out or scattered over a wide area.
Example: The crowd dispersed after the rally.
disproportionate
(adjective) – not in the correct or usual proportion.
Example: The punishment was disproportionate to the crime.
dispute
(noun) – a disagreement or argument.
Example: The dispute between the two companies was settled out of court.
disrupt
(verb) – interrupt or disturb the normal course of something.
Example: The strike disrupted the flow of traffic.
diverge
(verb) – move in different directions or opinions.
Example: The two parties diverged on the issue of immigration.
divert
(verb) – turn or direct (something) away from its intended course.
Example: The river was diverted to irrigate the fields.
divulge
(verb) – reveal or make known (something that was previously secret or unknown).
Example: No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get him to divulge his password.
dogmatic
(adjective) – showing or believing in opinions that are not supported by proof or evidence.
Example: The professor’s dogmatic views on the subject were not shared by his students.
dominion
(noun) – supreme authority or power.
Example: The king’s dominion extended over the entire country.
dormant
(adjective) – not active or functioning.
Example: The volcano was dormant for centuries before it erupted.
exactitude
(noun) - the quality or state of being accurate and correct
Example: She was able to recall the event with remarkable exactitude.
fabricate
(verb) – make up (something) and present it as true.
Example: The politician fabricated evidence to support his claims.
Related: fabrication (noun)
fastidious
(adjective) – very careful and particular about what one does or requires.
Example: The fastidious chef refused to use anything but the freshest ingredients.
feasible
(adjective) – capable of being done or achieved.
Example: The project is feasible, but it will require a lot of hard work.
featureless
(adjective) – having no distinctive features or characteristics.
Example: The featureless landscape was a monotonous expanse of desert.
finite
(adjective) – having limits or boundaries.
Example: The universe is finite.
flawless
(adjective) – without any flaws or defects.
Example: The diamond was flawless.
fluctuate
(verb) – vary or change irregularly.
Example: The stock market fluctuated wildly during the day.
foreshadow
(verb) – indicate or suggest the occurrence of (something) in the future.
Example: The movie foreshadowed the character’s death by showing him having a premonition.
foretell
(verb) – predict or indicate the future course of events.
Example: The prophet foretold the coming of a great leader.
forfeiture
(noun) – the loss of something as a punishment for a crime or offense.
Example: The driver’s license was forfeited for drunk driving.
fortify
(verb) – strengthen or make stronger.
Example: The city was fortified against attack.
foster
(verb) – promote or encourage the growth or development of (something).
Example: The government fostered economic growth by investing in infrastructure.
framework
(noun) – a basic structure or outline.
Example: The project is still in the framework stage.
frivolous
(adjective) – not having any serious purpose or value.
Example: The lawsuit was frivolous and was quickly dismissed.
fruitless
(adjective) – producing no results or benefits.
Example: The search for the missing child was fruitless.
fundamental
(adjective) – forming the basis or foundation of something.
Example: The principles of democracy are fundamental to the American way of life.