Matt's Amazing SAT Vocab List, Part One

Leigh C.
Matt went through the Official SAT Guide and gathered all of the vocab words, for a total of about 1300. Here's the first third of 'em, courtesy of www.LeighCousins.com.
427 words 37 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. abandoned
    forsaken by owner or inhabitants
  2. aberration
    a state or condition markedly different from the norm
  3. ablate
    wear away through erosion or vaporization
  4. abruptness
    the quality of happening without warning
  5. absolutist
    pertaining to the principle of unrestricted government power
  6. absorb
    take in a liquid
  7. abstruse
    difficult to understand
  8. absurd
    inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
  9. accentuate
    stress or single out as important
  10. accessible
    capable of being reached
  11. account
    a record or narrative description of past events
  12. accumulated
    periodically gathered over time
  13. accuracy
    the quality of being near to the true value
  14. acknowledged
    recognized or made known or admitted
  15. acumen
    shrewdness shown by keen insight
  16. adept
    having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
  17. administer
    supervise or be in charge of
  18. admit
    declare to be true or accept the reality of
  19. adopted
    purposefully chosen or acquired
  20. adroit
    quick or skillful or adept in action or thought
  21. advance
    move forward
  22. advanced
    situated ahead or going before
  23. advantageous
    giving a benefit
  24. advocate
    a person who pleads for a person, cause, or idea
  25. affability
    a disposition to be friendly and approachable
  26. affliction
    a cause of great suffering and distress
  27. affluence
    abundant wealth
  28. affordable
    reasonably priced
  29. aggregation
    the act of gathering something together
  30. aggressive
    characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
  31. agitated
    physically disturbed or set in motion
  32. agnostic
    a person who claims the existence of God is unknowable
  33. aid
    the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need
  34. alacrity
    liveliness and eagerness
  35. allege
    report or maintain
  36. alleviate
    provide physical relief, as from pain
  37. allow
    make it possible for something to happen
  38. aloofness
    a disposition to be distant and unsympathetic in manner
  39. altered
    changed in form or character without becoming something else
  40. altruism
    the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others
  41. amalgam
    a combination or blend of diverse things
  42. amalgamation
    the combination of two or more commercial companies
  43. amass
    collect or gather
  44. amateurish
    lacking professional skill or expertise
  45. ambiguous
    having more than one possible meaning
  46. ambition
    a strong drive for success
  47. ameliorating
    tending to ameliorate
  48. amiable
    diffusing warmth and friendliness
  49. anachronistic
    chronologically misplaced
  50. anatomy
    the study of the structure of animals
  51. animated
    having life or vigor or spirit
  52. animosity
    a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility
  53. anomalous
    deviating from the general or common order or type
  54. anomaly
    deviation from the normal or common order, form, or rule
  55. antagonistic
    characterized by feelings of intense dislike or hostility
  56. antagonize
    provoke the hostility of
  57. anticipate
    regard something as probable or likely
  58. anticipated
    expected hopefully
  59. antipodes
    two places on direct opposite sides of the Earth
  60. apathetic
    showing little or no emotion or animation
  61. apolitical
    neutral with regards to government policy
  62. appalling
    causing shock, dismay, or horror
  63. appearance
    outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
  64. applaud
    clap one's hands or shout to indicate approval
  65. apprehended
    fully understood or grasped
  66. apprehensive
    in fear or dread of possible evil or harm
  67. approach
    move towards
  68. approved
    established by authority; given authoritative approval
  69. aptitude
    inherent ability
  70. arbitration
    giving authoritative judgment
  71. arboreal
    of or relating to or formed by trees
  72. arcane
    requiring secret or mysterious knowledge
  73. archaic
    so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period
  74. argue
    have a disagreement about something
  75. argumentative
    given to or characterized by a tendency to dispute
  76. aroma
    any property detected by the sense of smell
  77. arrangement
    an orderly grouping considered as a unit
  78. arrogance
    overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner
  79. arrogant
    having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance
  80. articulate
    express or state clearly
  81. articulated
    consisting of segments held together by joints
  82. artificial
    contrived by art rather than nature
  83. artistry
    great skill, imagination, or creative ability
  84. ascertain
    learn or discover with confidence
  85. ascertain
    learn or discover with confidence
  86. aspersion
    a disparaging remark
  87. assess
    estimate the nature, quality, ability or significance of
  88. associate
    bring or come into action
  89. astute
    marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
  90. attain
    gain with effort
  91. attitude
    a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings
  92. autonomous
    existing as an independent entity
  93. autonomy
    political independence
  94. avoid
    stay away from
  95. avuncular
    being or relating to an uncle
  96. awakened
    (somewhat formal) having been waked up
  97. backfire
    a loud noise made by the explosion of fuel in an engine
  98. banal
    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
  99. bankrupt
    financially ruined
  100. bargain
    an agreement between parties fixing obligations of each
  101. barrage
    the heavy fire of artillery to saturate an area
  102. barrier
    a structure or object that impedes free movement
  103. barter
    exchange goods without involving money
  104. belie
    be in contradiction with
  105. belittle
    cause to seem lesser or inferior
  106. bellicose
    having or showing a ready disposition to fight
  107. belligerence
    hostile or warlike attitude or nature
  108. beneficial
    promoting or enhancing well-being
  109. benevolent
    showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding
  110. benign
    kind in disposition or manner
  111. bereft
    lacking or deprived of something
  112. bombastic
    ostentatiously lofty in style
  113. boomerang
    a curved piece of wood
  114. border
    the boundary of a surface
  115. bucolic
    devoted to raising sheep or cattle
  116. bypass
    avoid something
  117. callousness
    a lack of sympathy or regard for others
  118. cantankerous
    stubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate
  119. capricious
    determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
  120. celebrated
    widely known and esteemed
  121. challenge
    a call to engage in a contest or fight
  122. charitable
    relating to or characterized by voluntary giving
  123. chicanery
    the use of tricks to deceive someone
  124. clarify
    make clear by removing impurities or solids, as by heating
  125. collaborative
    accomplished by working jointly
  126. commendable
    worthy of high praise
  127. complacent
    contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions
  128. conceal
    prevent from being seen or discovered
  129. concise
    expressing much in few words
  130. conclude
    bring to a close
  131. condition
    a mode of being or form of existence of a person or thing
  132. conduct
    the way a person behaves toward other people
  133. conflagration
    a very intense and uncontrolled fire
  134. considerate
    showing concern for the rights and feelings of others
  135. contradict
    prove negative; show to be false
  136. convergence
    the act of coming closer
  137. corrected
    having something undesirable neutralized
  138. corroborate
    give evidence for
  139. curative
    tending to cure or restore to health
  140. decimation
    the destruction or killing of a large part of the population
  141. encompass
    include in scope
  142. endorsement
    the act of approving
  143. enhanced
    increased or intensified in value or beauty or quality
  144. enthusiastic
    having or showing great excitement and interest
  145. entourage
    the group following and attending to some important person
  146. extravagant
    recklessly wasteful
  147. fastidious
    giving careful attention to detail
  148. fickle
    liable to sudden unpredictable change
  149. fidelity
    the quality of being faithful
  150. finesse
    subtly skillful handling of a situation
  151. fitful
    occurring in spells and often abruptly
  152. flabbergasted
    as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise
  153. flavor
    the taste experience when a savory condiment is taken into the mouth
  154. foil
    hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire
  155. formidable
    extremely impressive in strength or excellence
  156. fortified
    having something added to increase the strength
  157. foster
    providing nurture though not related by blood or legal ties
  158. fraudulent
    intended to deceive
  159. frugal
    avoiding waste
  160. furious
    marked by extreme anger
  161. further
    to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage
  162. gaiety
    a joyful feeling
  163. gathering
    the act of gathering something
  164. generosity
    the trait of being willing to give your money or time
  165. gesture
    motion of hands or body to emphasize a thought or feeling
  166. glorified
    accorded sacrosanct or authoritative standing
  167. gluttonous
    given to excess in consumption of especially food or drink
  168. graceless
    clumsy
  169. halt
    cause to stop
  170. healthy
    free from infirmity or disease
  171. highlight
    an area of brightness in a picture
  172. hinder
    be an obstacle to
  173. hollow
    not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
  174. hospitality
    kindness in welcoming guests or strangers
  175. hubris
    overbearing pride or presumption
  176. hysterical
    characterized by a state of violent mental agitation
  177. iconoclast
    someone who attacks cherished ideas or institutions
  178. idealize
    consider or render as the best or most appropriate type
  179. idiosyncratic
    peculiar to the individual
  180. ignore
    refuse to acknowledge
  181. ignored
    disregarded
  182. illegible
    unable to be read
  183. illusion
    an erroneous mental representation
  184. imagine
    expect, believe, or suppose
  185. immersion
    the act of wetting something by submerging it
  186. impenetrable
    not admitting of passage into or through
  187. imperative
    requiring attention or action
  188. imperial
    relating to or associated with an empire
  189. inane
    devoid of intelligence
  190. incorrigible
    impervious to correction by punishment
  191. indignant
    angered at something unjust or wrong
  192. ineffable
    defying expression or description
  193. insightful
    exhibiting clear and deep perception
  194. insolence
    the trait of being rude and impertinent
  195. instrumental
    serving or acting as a means or aid
  196. insubstantial
    lacking material form
  197. intercept
    seize, interrupt, or stop something on its way
  198. interfere
    get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action
  199. invariable
    not liable to or capable of change
  200. languid
    lacking spirit or liveliness
  201. lobby
    a large entrance or reception room or area
  202. lone
    being the only one; single and isolated from others
  203. loyalty
    the quality of being steadfast in allegiance or duty
  204. lucid
    transparently clear; easily understandable
  205. luxurious
    furnishing gratification to the senses
  206. manifesto
    a public declaration of intentions
  207. manipulative
    skillful in influencing others to one's own advantage
  208. marred
    blemished by injury or rough wear
  209. meddle
    intrude in other people's affairs or business
  210. memorable
    worth remembering
  211. mercenary
    a person hired to fight for another country than their own
  212. meticulous
    marked by precise accordance with details
  213. meticulousness
    strict attention to minute details
  214. misbehave
    act badly
  215. misfortune
    a state resulting from unfavorable outcomes
  216. mitigated
    made less severe or intense
  217. moderate
    marked by avoidance of extravagance or extremes
  218. modicum
    a small or moderate or token amount
  219. momentous
    of very great significance
  220. momentum
    the product of a body's mass and its velocity
  221. morality
    the quality of being in accord with right or good conduct
  222. morbidity
    the quality of being unhealthful and generally bad for you
  223. muted
    softened in tone
  224. myopic
    unable to see distant objects clearly
  225. mysterious
    beyond ordinary understanding
  226. negate
    make ineffective by counterbalancing the effect of
  227. neglected
    lacking a caretaker
  228. negligence
    failure to act with the prudence of a reasonable person
  229. negligible
    so small as to be meaningless; insignificant
  230. negotiate
    discuss the terms of an arrangement
  231. nonacceptance
    the act of refusing an offer
  232. nondescript
    lacking distinct or individual characteristics
  233. nonpartisan
    free from party affiliation or bias
  234. nostalgia
    a longing for something past
  235. notoriety
    the state of being known for some unfavorable act or quality
  236. obligated
    caused by law or conscience to follow a certain course
  237. obscure
    not clearly understood or expressed
  238. obsequious
    attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
  239. obstinacy
    resolute adherence to your own ideas or desires
  240. obtrusive
    sticking out; protruding
  241. occlusion
    the act of blocking
  242. odoriferous
    emitting a smell, especially an unpleasant smell
  243. officious
    intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
  244. onerous
    burdensome or difficult to endure
  245. onset
    the beginning or early stages
  246. opponent
    someone who offers resistance
  247. opportune
    suitable or advantageous especially for a particular purpose
  248. opportunism
    taking advantage of favorable circumstances selfishly
  249. opulence
    wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living
  250. orderliness
    a condition of regular or proper arrangement
  251. ornate
    marked by complexity and richness of detail
  252. ossified
    set in a rigid pattern of behavior, habits, or beliefs
  253. oust
    remove from a position or office
  254. outspoken
    given to expressing yourself freely or insistently
  255. overcome
    win a victory over
  256. pacifist
    someone opposed to violence as a means of settling disputes
  257. palpable
    capable of being perceived
  258. panacea
    hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases
  259. partisanship
    an inclination to favor one group or view over alternatives
  260. passion
    a strong feeling or emotion
  261. pathos
    a quality that arouses emotions, especially pity or sorrow
  262. patronage
    the business given to an establishment by its customers
  263. peacefulness
    a state that is calm and tranquil
  264. pedestrian
    a person who travels by foot
  265. peevishness
    a cranky, irritable, or petulant feeling or disposition
  266. penchant
    a strong liking or preference
  267. penurious
    excessively unwilling to spend
  268. perfidy
    an act of deliberate betrayal
  269. permit
    allow the presence of or allow without opposing
  270. perquisite
    an incidental benefit for certain types of employment
  271. personality
    the complex of attributes that characterize an individual
  272. peruse
    examine or consider with attention and in detail
  273. pettiness
    the quality of being unimportant and petty or frivolous
  274. phlegmatic
    showing little emotion
  275. phobic
    suffering from irrational fears
  276. pilfer
    make off with belongings of others
  277. pioneer
    one the first colonists or settlers in a new territory
  278. placid
    calm and free from disturbance
  279. plausible
    apparently reasonable, valid, or truthful
  280. playful
    full of fun and high spirits
  281. plentiful
    existing in great number or quantity
  282. pliant
    capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out
  283. polish
    make (a surface) shine
  284. politicize
    give a character to relating to the profession of governing
  285. pollute
    contaminate; make impure
  286. positive
    characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance
  287. possibility
    capability of existing or happening or being true
  288. postpone
    hold back to a later time
  289. pragmatism
    the doctrine that practical consequences determine value
  290. praise
    an expression of approval and commendation
  291. praiseworthy
    worthy of high praise
  292. precision
    the quality of being exact
  293. precursor
    something indicating the approach of something or someone
  294. predict
    make a guess about what will happen in the future
  295. predictable
    capable of being foretold
  296. predictable
    capable of being foretold
  297. predilection
    a predisposition in favor of something
  298. preeminence
    high status importance owing to marked superiority
  299. premature
    too soon or too hasty
  300. preparation
    setting in order in advance some act or purpose
  301. preserve
    keep in safety and protect from harm, loss, or destruction
  302. prestige
    a high standing achieved through success or influence
  303. presumption
    a premise that is taken for granted
  304. presumptive
    having a reasonable basis for belief or acceptance
  305. presumptuous
    going beyond what is appropriate, permitted, or courteous
  306. prevail
    be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
  307. preventive
    tending to hinder
  308. privilege
    a special advantage or benefit not enjoyed by all
  309. prod
    push against gently
  310. professional
    of or relating to or suitable as an occupation
  311. profiteer
    one who makes excessive money on sales of scarce goods
  312. profundity
    the quality of being physically deep
  313. prohibited
    forbidden by law
  314. prohibitive
    tending to discourage, especially of prices
  315. prolific
    intellectually productive
  316. prolong
    lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer
  317. prominence
    the state of being widely known or eminent
  318. promote
    assign to a higher position
  319. prophetic
    foretelling events as if by supernatural intervention
  320. proponent
    a person who argues for a cause or puts forward an idea
  321. prospectus
    a document that sets forth a plan for a business enterprise
  322. prosper
    make steady progress
  323. prospering
    very lively and profitable
  324. protected
    kept safe or defended from danger or injury or loss
  325. protected
    kept safe or defended from danger or injury or loss
  326. protection
    the activity of shielding someone or something
  327. protest
    a formal and solemn declaration of objection
  328. provide
    give something useful or necessary to
  329. provocation
    a means of arousing or stirring to action
  330. provocative
    serving or tending to excite or stimulate
  331. proximity
    the property of being close together
  332. prudent
    marked by sound judgment
  333. publicized
    made known; especially made widely known
  334. punctilious
    marked by precise accordance with details
  335. purpose
    what something is used for
  336. question
    a sentence of inquiry that asks for a reply
  337. quixotic
    not sensible about practical matters
  338. rambunctious
    noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline
  339. rationalism
    the doctrine that reason is the basis for regulating conduct
  340. razing
    the event of a structure being completely demolished
  341. realization
    coming to understand something clearly and distinctly
  342. rebate
    a refund of some fraction of the amount paid
  343. rebellious
    resisting control or authority
  344. receptivity
    willingness or readiness to take in (as ideas)
  345. recollect
    recall knowledge from memory
  346. reconcile
    come to terms
  347. recrimination
    mutual accusations
  348. reform
    make changes for improvement to remove abuse and injustices
  349. reinforce
    strengthen and support
  350. severe
    very harsh or strict, especially when dealing with others
  351. shy
    timid and lacking self-confidence
  352. social
    living together or enjoying life in communities
  353. sporadic
    recurring in scattered or unpredictable instances
  354. spurned
    rebuffed (by a lover) without warning
  355. standardize
    cause to conform to a norm
  356. substantiate
    establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts
  357. supplant
    take the place or move into the position of
  358. suppress
    put down by force or authority
  359. surrender
    relinquish possession or control over
  360. tactful
    having a sense of what is considerate in dealing with others
  361. tactile
    of or relating to or proceeding from the sense of touch
  362. tenacious
    stubbornly unyielding
  363. tenacity
    persistent determination
  364. testify
    give a solemn statement in a court of law
  365. texture
    the feel of a surface or a fabric
  366. thrive
    make steady progress
  367. thriving
    very lively and profitable
  368. timeworn
    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
  369. toxic
    of or relating to or caused by a poison
  370. transport
    move something or somebody around
  371. treacly
    overly sweet
  372. tribute
    something given or done as an expression of esteem
  373. trivialize
    make insignificant
  374. truculence
    stubborn and defiant aggressiveness
  375. trusting
    inclined to believe or confide readily
  376. unapproachable
    reserved and discouraging intimacies
  377. unavoidable
    impossible to evade
  378. undermine
    weaken or impair, especially gradually
  379. unequivocal
    admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding
  380. unexpected
    not anticipated or planned for
  381. unforeseen
    not anticipated
  382. unique
    the single one of its kind
  383. united
    being or joined into a single entity
  384. unnecessary
    not needed
  385. unqualified
    not meeting the proper standards and requirements
  386. unrelated
    lacking a logical or causal linkage
  387. unrelenting
    not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
  388. unsuitable
    not meant or adapted for a particular purpose
  389. unswerving
    going directly ahead without veering or turning aside
  390. unwitting
    not aware or knowing
  391. uprising
    organized opposition to authority
  392. urgency
    an earnest and insistent necessity
  393. vacillate
    be undecided about something
  394. validated
    declared or made legally valid
  395. valor
    courage when facing danger
  396. variable
    something that is likely to change
  397. variegated
    having an assortment of colors
  398. vast
    unusually great in size or amount or extent or scope
  399. vector
    a quantity that has magnitude and direction
  400. venality
    susceptibility or openness to bribery and corruption
  401. venerable
    profoundly honored
  402. verbalization
    the activity of expressing something in words
  403. verbose
    using or containing too many words
  404. versatility
    having a wide variety of skills
  405. viable
    capable of life or normal growth and development
  406. vicarious
    experienced at secondhand
  407. vicious
    having the nature of evildoing
  408. vigilant
    carefully observant or attentive
  409. vindication
    the act of defending against criticism or censure
  410. vindictive
    disposed to seek revenge or intended for revenge
  411. virtue
    the quality of doing what is right
  412. voluminous
    large in capacity or bulk
  413. vulnerable
    capable of being wounded or hurt
  414. waning
    a gradual decrease in magnitude or extent
  415. wary
    marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
  416. wasteful
    tending to squander
  417. waver
    pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
  418. wealth
    property that has economic value
  419. widespread
    widely circulated or diffused
  420. winnow
    the act of separating grain from chaff
  421. withdraw
    pull back or move away or backward
  422. worldliness
    the quality of being intellectually sophisticated
  423. worldly
    characteristic of secularity rather than spirituality
  424. worthlessness
    the quality of being without practical use
  425. worthy
    an important, honorable person
  426. wrath
    intense anger
  427. wrongheaded
    obstinately perverse in judgment or opinion
Created on Sun Jun 16 23:50:19 EDT 2013 (updated Sun Jun 30 13:18:04 EDT 2013)

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