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SAT Words List

fecund (a.) fruitful in offspring or vegetation; intellectually productive
discernment (n.) an ability to make good judgments
apotheosize (v.) to glorify; to make into a god
truculent (a.) aggressively defiant or hostile
anomaly (n.) something that is unusual or unexpected
equivocate (v.) to be deliberately unclear or ambiguous
prurient (a.) characterized by lust
travesty (n.) a distorted representation of something
discourse (v.) to communicate in an orderly fashion
monolithic (a.) massive and uniform
proletariat (n.) the working class
nullify (v.) to declare invalid
apocalyptic (a.) predicting or involving widespread destruction
mercenary (n.) a hired soldier; someone motivated only by money
forsake (v.) to withdraw support
(a.; n.) intending or designed to start fires; tending to stir up strife;
incendiary
one who sets fires or causes strife
nadir (n.) the lowest point
decamp (v.) to leave suddenly or secretly
trenchant (a.) sharp, incisive; forceful, effective
canard (n.) a false rumor
propitiate (v.) to win somebody's favor
specious (a.) plausible but false
cynosure (n.) the center of attraction; something that serves to guide or direct
rarefy (v.) to make something less dense; to refine
halcyon (a.) calm, peaceful; prosperous
mendacity (n.) the tendency to be untruthful
philander (v.) to have amorous affairs
meretricious (a.) attractive in a superficial manner but without real value
detritus (n.) debris or discarded material
litigate (v.) to engage in legal proceedings
adventitious (a.) associated with something by chance and not an integral part
peripatetic (n.; a.) a worker who travels around; traveling, especially for work
proscribe (v.) to outlaw
bucolic (a.) of the countryside or country life
contusion (n.) a bruise; an injury where the skin is not broken
pillory (v.; n.) to punish in public; a device for public punishment
officious (a.) annoyingly eager to help
raconteur (n.) a skilled story-teller
(v.) to sift through removing what is unwanted and keeping what is
winnow
desirable
furtive (a.) done secretly
gaucherie (n.) social awkwardness
simper (v.) to smile artificially
plenary (a.) attended by all members; complete in all aspects
raiment (n.) clothing, garments
hector (v.) to bully
concise (a.) using few words; brief
discord (n.) a lack of harmony
manifest (v.; a.) to appear; to show clearly; obvious
noxious (a.) harmful to one’s health
subterfuge (n.) something designed to deceive
atrophy (v.) to weaken or waste away through disuse
lethargic (a.) lazy; passive
brevity (n.) shortness
augment (v.) to increase or add to; to make larger
indifferent (a.) lacking interest; without a preference
conceit (n.) an exaggerated personal opinion
allay (v.) to calm someone's emotions
inane (a.) silly; insubstantial
conciliation (n.) an attempt to make friendly or placate
abate (v.) to decrease or reduce
inevitable (a.) impossible to avoid or prevent
moratorium (n.) a suspension of an activity
relegate (v.) to move someone or something to a lower position; to banish
blasphemous (a.) disrespectful of sacred things
antagonism (n.) hostility; opposition
abstain (v.) to choose not to do something; to not vote
bombastic (a.) displaying exaggerated self-importance
curmudgeon (n.) an ill-tempered person
chafe (v.) to annoy, to irritate
unruly (a.) disobedient
epitome (n.) a typical example
deter (v.) to try to prevent
eminent (a.) standing above others in quality or position
behemoth (n.) something that is enormous
bolster (v.) to encourage or support
arid (a.) extremely dry; dull, barren, unimaginative
chattel (n.) an item of personal property that can be moved around
articulate (v.) to express or state clearly
eclectic (a.) made from parts of various sources
breadth (n.) the distance from one side to another
abridge (v.) to shorten
ubiquitous (a.) present everywhere
collusion (n.) secret cooperation between people
enthrall (v.) to hold spellbound
ascetic (a.) practicing self-denial; living like a hermit
facade (n.) a visible surface; a deceptive appearance
revere (v.) to be in awe of
contemporary (a.) living or happening at the same time; modern
zealot (n.) a believer; an enthusiast
insinuate (v.) to hint; to creep in
amiable (a.) friendly
fetish (n.) an excessive or irrational devotion to some activity
renege (v.) to go back on one's promise or commitment
apprehensive (a.) fearful; aware
complicity (n.) involvement in wrongdoing
(v., a.) to make unclear; unclear, hard to understand; not important or
obscure
well-known
ethereal (a.) exquisite, heavenly; light, airy
hovel (n.) a miserable dwelling place, a shack
expunge (v.) to remove or delete
temperate (a.) not extreme
cohort (n.) a group of people
discriminate (v.) to recognize or perceive the difference
astute (a.) clever and perceptive
depravity (n.) moral perversion
portend (v.) to indicate beforehand that something is about to happen
futile (a.) producing no result or effect
adage (n.) an old saying generally considered to be true
consecrate (v.) to declare sacred; to dedicate
deferential (a.) yielding to the opinion of another
amenity (n.) a pleasant feature or service
beleaguer (v.) to surround or harass
trite (a.) commonplace; overused
piety (n.) religious devotion
subsist (v.) to manage to remain alive
candid (a.) openly straightforward and direct
doldrums (n.) a state of depression or stagnation
adulterate (v.) to make something impure
didactic (a.) intended to instruct
amalgam (n.) a mixture or combination
warrant (v.) to justify; to authorize
derisive (a.) showing disrespect or scorn
altruism (n.) unselfish devotion to the welfare of others
codify (v.) to organize laws or rules into a systematic collection
epicurean (a.) devoted to sensual pleasure, escpecially in food
anarchist (n.) one who believes that a formal government is unnecessary
abhor (v.) to hate
conspicuous (a.) easy to see; noticeable
probity (n.) complete and confirmed integrity
decry (v.) to denounce or condemn openly
covetous (a.) greedy; very desirous
vertigo (n.) the sensation of dizziness
desecrate (v.) to violate the sacred character of a place
agrarian (a.) related to farming
vituperation (n.) abusive language
coddle (v.) to treat with tenderness
pensive (a.) reflective; contemplative, often with sadness
enigma (n.) a mystery
lament (v.) to express sadness or regret
communal (a.) with shared ownership
connoisseur (n.) an expert (usually refers to a wine or food expert)
deride (v.) to laugh at with contempt; to mock
bilateral (a.) affecting two sides; having two sides
philanthropist (n.) one who works to benefit humanity
coalesce (v.) to fuse or cause to grow together
resilient (a.) flexible; capable of withstanding stress
defamation (n.) harm of a name or reputation; slander
slander (v.) to charge falsely or with malicious intent
incisive (a.) getting to the heart of things; to the point
affidavit (n.) a sworn written statement
gird (v.) to put a belt around; to prepare one's self
flaccid (a.) limp, soft; lacking vitality
exigency (n.) urgent demand
allocate (v.) to distribute according to a plan
beneficent (a.) doing good
(n.) the act of voluntarily refraining from any action, especially sexual
abstinence
activity
(v.; a.) to bring about abruptly; done with great haste and little
precipitate
thought
consequential (a.) following as an effect; important
motif (n.) a theme
instigate (v.) to provoke; to stir up trouble
nautical (a.) of the sea; having to do with sailors, ships, or navigation
(n.) an object that serves as a charm or is believed to hold magical
talisman
powers
undulate (v.) to move in waves
economical (a.) not wasteful; thrifty
(n.) a personal attractiveness that makes someone likeable and
charisma
influential
digress (v.) to wander from a direct course
cursory (a.) done hastily and not thoroughly
tyro (n.) someone new to a field or activity
amass (v.) to collect or gather
indulgent (a.) lenient; patient; permissive
verbiage (n.) an overabundance of words
retract (v.) to move back; to withdraw a statement
provincial (a.) simple and plain, unsophisticated
utopia (n.) imaginary land with perfect social and political systems
rejuvenate (v.) to make more youthful or vigorous
brindled (a.) having a streaked or patch coloring
catalyst (n.) something that creates a situation in which change can occur
(v.) to take something without the right to do so, especially a position
usurp
of authority
defunct (a.) no longer living or existing
parapet (n.) a low protective wall
deign (v.) to do something that one considers below one's dignity
adept (a.) skilled; practiced
milieu (n.) environment or surroundings
gerrymander (v.) to manipulate the boundary of an electoral area for political gain
contiguous (a.) touching; or adjoining and close, but not touching
misanthrope (n.) a person who hates or distrusts mankind
drone (v.) to talk in a monotonous voice
pecuniary (a.) relating to or involving money
paradox (n.) a true statement that seems to contradict itself
grouse (v.; n.) to complain; a complaint
ambient (a.) in the surrounding space
mores (n.) customary cultural standards
cogitate (v.) to think hard; to ponder
ambiguous (a.) not clear; vague
apathy (n.) a lack of emotion or interest
dissent (v.) to be of a different opinion
evanescent (a.) vanishing quickly; dissipating like a vapor
sedition (n.) a revolt; incitement of a revolt
solicit (v.) to request insistently
germane (a.) relevant
pittance (n.) a small amount of something, especially money
evince (v.) to display clearly; to provoke
meticulous (a.) exacting; precise
dissonance (n.) musical discord; lack of harmony
protract (v.) to make something last longer
plausible (a.) uncertain but seeming likely to be true
pique (n.; v.) irritation; to irritate; to arouse interest
inveigle (v.) to tempt or persuade by using deception or flattery
wily (a.) concealing; sly
affinity (n.) a connection or fondness; similarity of structure
abash (v.) to embarrass
pithy (a.) terse and full of meaning
glutton (n.) an overeater
repress (v.) to put down by force or intimidation; to hold back feelings
unequivocal (a.) completely clear in meaning, without room for interpretation
covenant (n.) a binding and solemn agreement
rivet (v.) to focus one's attention on something
devoid (a.) lacking; empty
(n.) a spoken or written tribute to a person (often a person who
eulogy
recently died)
preclude (v.) to keep from happening
superficial (a.) on the surface, narrow minded; lacking depth
conclave (n.) a private or secret meeting
alleviate (v.) to lessen or make easier
baleful (a.) harmful, malign, detrimental
cache (n.) a hiding place; the objects hidden in a hiding place
devolve (v.) to pass on or delegate to another; to deteriorate
aromatic (a.) giving off a pleasant smell
myriad (n.) a large number
excise (v.) to impose a tax
fallible (a.) liable to be mistaken or erroneous
debacle (n.) a disaster
acquiesce (v.) to agree without protest
ardent (a.) with passionate or intense feelings
machination (n.) a crafty secret scheme; the devising of a scheme
inculpate (v.) to suggest that someone is guilty
arduous (a.) difficult, requiring hard work
heretic (n.) one who holds opinion contrary to that which is generally accepted
(v.; n.) to put forward a claim or assumption; an assumption or
postulate
principle
pious (a.) religious; devout
conviviality (n.) a fondness for festiveness
enrapture (v.) to delight or give pleasure
discreet (a.) showing good judgment in conduct; good at keeping secrets
aesthete (n.) someone who has a deep appreciation of beauty or the arts
delineate (v.) to outline; to describe
august (a.) grand, lordly; revered
dirge (n.) a funeral hymn or mournful speech
modulate (v.) to regulate or adjust
benign (a.) mild; harmless
temerity (n.) fearless daring
rescind (v.) to remove the validity of something
lucid (a.) shiny; clear-minded
levee (n.) an embankment designed to prevent a river from flooding
meander (v.) to wander slowly and aimlessly
trivial (a.) unimportant; small; worthless
consensus (n.) widespread agreement
accost (v.) to confront, especially in an aggressive way
placid (a.) undisturbed and calm
exposition (n.) a detailed description or discussion
wrest (v.) to pull away, to take by violence
banal (a.) trite; without freshness or originality
citadel (n.) a fortress set up high to defend a city
bode (v.) to foretell something
audacious (a.) fearless, intrepid
arbiter (n.) one who decides; a judge
jettison (v.) to cast overboard; to discard
impervious (a.) not allowing anything to pass through; unaffected
hiatus (n.) a break; a period of rest
facilitate (v.) to make easier
passive (a.) submissive; unassertive
menagerie (n.) a collection of live wild animals on exhibit
hallow (v.) to make holy or sacred
discerning (a.) distinguishing one thing from another; having good judgment
quarantine (n.) isolation of a person or persons to prevent the spread of disease
divert (v.) to change something's path
sovereign (a.) independent, not ruled by another state; empowered
abyss (n.) an extremely deep hole; an endless space
sojourn (v.) to stay temporarily
conventional (a.) traditional, common, routine
allegory (n.) a symbolic description
consign (v.) to give over to another's care
illusory (a.) lacking in or not based on reality
conglomeration (n.) a collection or mixture of various things
raze (v.) to completely destroy a place
obdurate (a.) stubborn
fervor (n.) feelings of great intensity
imbibe (v.) to drink something, especially alcohol
diffuse (a.) spread out; not concise or focused
adjunct (n.) something connected or added to another; an assistant
truncate (v.) to shorten by removing part of it
assiduous (a.) careful and hard-working
yore (n.) former days, an era long past
peruse (v.) to read carefully; to study
cognate (a.; n.) having the same family; a person related through ancestry
lexicon (n.) a dictionary; the vocabulary of a particular subject
stigmatize (v.) to characterize or mark as disgraceful
languid (a.) lacking energy, moving slowly
partisan (n.) one who supports a particular cause
teem (v.) to be stocked to overflowing
coy (a.) modest; bashful; pretending shyness to attract
disdain (n.; v.) hatred; to look down upon, to scorn
peculate (v.) to steal another's money or property
superfluous (a.) unnecessary; extra
litany (n.) a prayer or chant; a long list
ameliorate (v.) to improve or make better
diminutive (a.) smaller than average
caprice (n.) a sudden unpredictable or whimsical change
burgeon (v.) to grow or develop quickly
tedious (a.) boring, repetitive and tiresome
couture (n.) fashion design; fashionable clothing
heed (v.) to pay close attention to
caustic (a.) harsh or corrosive
peregrination (n.) the act of traveling; an excursion
vindicate (v.) to show to be right
destitute (a.) poor, living in poverty
anecdote (n.) a short personal account of an event
recant (v.) to withdraw a previously held statement of belief
bestial (a.) showing a lack of human sensibility; like an animal
quandary (n.) a state of perplexity; a difficult situation
deprecate (v.) to express disapproval of
incredulous (a.) skeptical
heresy (n.) a belief that rejects the accepted tenets of a religion
synthesize (v.) to combine various components into a new whole
cerebral (a.) relating to the brain; intellectual
acrimony (n.) sharpness or bitterness in language or manner
incarcerate (v.) to put somebody in prison
sedentary (a.) characterized by sitting
husbandry (n.) management of resources, especially in agriculture
placate (v.) to make somebody less angry
stolid (a.) unemotional, not easily excited
censure (n.; v.) an expression of disapproval; to criticize or disapprove of
refurbish (v.) to restore something to a better condition
inveterate (a.) firmly established in a habit
cloister (n.) a tranquil and secluded place
vilify (v.) to spread negative information about
nebulous (a.) unclear or vague
derision (n.) the act of mocking; ridicule, mockery
plumb (v.) to measure the depth of something
affable (a.) friendly, good-natured
archaism (n.) an old expression or practice that is no longer used
mandate (v.) to order something officially
derogatory (a.) belittling; uncomplimentary
(n.) courtesy, respect; submission to another person's opinion or
deference
wishes
commiserate (v.) to show sympathy for
sinuous (a.) full of curves; twisting and turning
paucity (n.) scarcity
comport (v.) to behave well or properly
clandestine (a.) done secretly
accolade (n.) a sign of approval or respect
condescend (v.) to treat others as socially or intellectually inferior
determinate (a.) having distinct limits
accomplice (n.) a partner; a partner-in-crime
vex (v.) to annoy
fallacious (a.) misleading; based on incorrect information
legerdemain (n.) a display of cleverness, especially to deceive others
impede (v.) to be a hindrance or obstacle to
overweening (a.) arrogant; excessive
potentate (n.) a powerful ruler; an important person
entreat (v.) to ask earnestly
stagnant (a.) motionless, uncirculating
debilitate (v.) to enfeeble; to wear out
sanction (v.) to give authority or permission
(a.) characterized by excessive haste and lack of deliberation; moving
impetuous
with great force and energy
sacrilege (n.) improper or disrespectful treatment of something sacred
sanction (v.) to give authority or permission
eccentric (a.) unconventional or unusual
idiosyncrasy (n.) any personal peculiarity, mannerism
cavort (v.) to frolic
sylvan (a.) pertaining to or characteristic of a forest or woodland
tableau (n.) a picturesque display
confound (v.) to lump together, causing confusion; to damn
insidious (a.) slowly and subtly harmful
iconoclast (n.) somebody who challenges established beliefs, customs, and values
obviate (v.) to do away with or make unnecessary; to prevent
laconic (a.) using few words
loquacity (n.) the quality of being wordy and talkative
abdicate (v.) to give up a duty or a position
onerous (a.) burdensome; oppressive
coterie (n.) a group of people with a common interest
disseminate (v.) to distribute or spread something, especially information
apocryphal (a.) of questionable authenticity
cacophony (n.) an unpleasant noise
conjure (v.) to summon; to bring into being as if by magic
ingenuous (a.) innocent, naive; honest
opprobrium (n.) a state of shame or disgrace; scorn, contempt
inculcate (v.) to teach by frequent repetition
winsome (a.) charming
penchant (n.) a strong liking
abscond (v.) to leave secretly
ephemeral (a.) lasting a short time
pariah (n.) one who is rejected by a social group
(v.; a.) to bring to a state of completion or perfection; complete or
consummate
perfect
garrulous (a.) talking too much; wordy
duress (n.) imprisonment; the use of threats
forbear (v.) to not do something
inchoate (a.) just beginning to develop; lacking structure or organization
gamin (n.) a child who roams the streets
subjugate (v.) to bring somebody under the control of another
immaculate (a.) perfectly clean, pure; without faults
charlatan (n.) one who feigns knowledge or ability; an imposter
occlude (v.) to stop up; to cut off the flow
prodigal (a.) extravagantly wasteful
foible (n.) a minor flaw or failing
obfuscate (v.) to make unclear
perfunctory (a.) done hastily and without attention to detail; indifferent
debutante (n.) a young woman being introduced to society
attenuate (v.) to make thin or slender; to weaken or lessen in intensity
perfidious (a.) intending to betray
remuneration (n.) a payment; the act of paying
inure (v.) to cause to accept or become hardened to, to habituate
choleric (a.) easily angered, irascible
cynic (n.) one who distrusts human nature
corroborate (v.) to support with evidence or authority
emollient (a.; n.) soothing; a soothing substance
progeny (n.) descendants, offspring; followers
burnish (v.) to polish by rubbing
pedantic (a.) overly concerned with formal rules and details
inception (n.) the beginning of something
pervade (v.) to spread throughout
fatuous (a.) stupid or foolish in a self-satisfied way
blandishment (n.) anything designed to flatter or coax
fleece (v.) to defraud or swindle

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