Barron's 500 SAT Vocabulary Words
benign
adj. (1) gentle in disposition : (kindly, gracious, favorable, benevolent; (2) not malignant : (harmless)
civil
adj. (1) pertaining to ordinary citizens, as opposed to the church or the military : (secular, civilian); (2) courteous and polite : (well-mannered, urbane, respectful)
concrete
adj. (1) physical or material in nature, as opposed to abstract : (corporeal); (2) real : (tangible); (3) specific : (particular, definite)
acute
adj. (1) quickly perceptive : (astute yuck-witted); (2) keen : (sharp, sensitive); (3) brief and severe : (critical, urgent, extreme)
academic
adj. (1) related to education : (educational, scholastic); (2) not practical or directly useful : (theoretical, speculative, impractical, unrealistic)
accessible
adj. able to be reached : (approachable, obtainable)
acrimonious
adj. bitter in words or manner : (hostile, bitter unfriendly, spiteful)
circumspect
adj. careful to consider possible consequences or dangers : (cautious, wary, prudent)
archaic
adj. characteristic of an earlier or more primitive time : (antiquated, ancient, outdated)
assiduous
adj. characterized by careful, persistant attention [to a task] : (diligent, industrious, hardworking, persevering)
astute
adj. characterized by shrewdness and clear-sightedness : (shrewd, perceptive, sharp, wise, clever)
charismatic
adj. compellingly charming : (magnetic, mesmerizing)
comprehensive
adj. completely covering [a field or subject] : (inclusive, complete, thorough)
concise
adj. covering a great deal in few words : (brief, terse, succinct)
aesthetic
adj. dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful : (artistic)
calculated
adj. deliberately planned [to achieve a goal, accomplish a purpose] : (intended, considerable, deliberate, premeditated)
arbitrary
adj. determined by impulse or whim : (capricious, unreasonable, tyrannical)
abstruse
adj. difficult to understand : (obscure, profound, incomprehensible, esoteric)
benevolent
adj. disposed to do good : (generous, charitable, kindly)
ambiguous
adj. having several possible meanings, and therefor unclear : (vague, uncertain, misleading)
adroit
adj. having skill or resourcefulness in coping with situations : (skillful, clever, resourceful, adept)
censorious
adj. highly critical : (disapproving, overcritical, faultfinding)
cerebral
adj. highly intellectual; pertaining to the cerebrum : (brainy)
amorphous
adj. lacking shape or definition : (formless, shapeless, vague, nebulous)
abstract
adj. not concrete : (theoretical, conceptual, intangible, academic)
autonomous
adj. not controlled or governed by outside forced : (independent, self-governing)
colloquial
adj. pertaining to conversational or common speech : (familiar, informal, conversational)
acrid
adj. sharply bitter in taste or odor : (pungent, sharp, harsh, bitter)
analogous
adj. showing a likeness or similarity : (comparable, similar, equivalent)
cogent
adj. strongly appealing to reason; well argued : (convincing, persuasive, logical, sound)
adverse
adj. unfavorable; preventing success : (harmful, disadvantageous, unfortunate)
altruistic
adj. unselfishly concerned for the well-being of others : (unselfish, philanthropic, selfless)
ambivalence
n. state of having conflicting emotional attitudes : (indecision, uncertainty)
cohesion
n. tendency to keep together : (unity, union, solidity)
coercion
n. use of forces to compel someone to obey; three of violence ore reprisal : (force, compulsion, bullying)
adversity
n. force negativity affecting one's well-being : (misfortune, hardship affliction, poverty)
allusion
n. indirect or hinted reference : (mention, citation, reference)
apathy
n. lack of concern, especially about things that others find important : (indifference, impassiveness)
coherence
n. logical consistency; quality of sticking together : (consistency, intelligibility, logic)
composure
n. mental calmness : (equanimity, serenity self-possession)
adversary
n. one who resists or opposes : (opponent, enemy)
candor
n. open honesty : (frankness, openness, truthfulness)
anarchy
n. political and social disorder; state of being without a governing body or leader : (disorder, chaos, lawlessness)
affirmation
n. positive statement : (assertion, avowal, declaration)
complacency
n. satisfaction with one's person, possessions, or accomplishments : (smugness, self-satisfaction)
brevity
n. shortness of expression : (briefness, consciousness,m succinctness, terseness)
adherent
n. someone who follows a leader or supports a cause : (supporter, follower, advocate, believer)
anomaly
n. something not easily classified or that deviates from the norm : (irregularity, abnormality)
catalyst
n. something that causes an event or change to occur : (impetus, spur, stimulus)
antithesis
n. direct opposition : (converse, contrast)
abate
v. grow less in intensity or degree : (subside, moderate, decrease)
censure
v. harshly criticize : (blame, rebuked, reprimanded, scold)
commemorate
v. honor the memory of : (remember, celebrate)
augment
v. make larger or more numerous : (supplement, enlarge, increase, add to)
alleviate
v. make more bearable : (relieve, lessen mitigate, ease, lighten)
acknowledge
v. recognize, possibly reluctantly, the status or rights of : (admit, concede, grant)
abridge
v. reduce (a text) in length : (condense, shorten, digest)
buttress
v. shore up using an external support : (support, reinforce, prop up, bolster, strengthen)
advocate
v. speak in favor of : (support, urge, recommend)
bolster
v. support or prop up : (reinforce, strengthen)
appropriate
v. take possession of for one's own use [possibly without the authority or right to do so] : (acquire, annex)
belittle
v. to cause someone or something to seem less : (disparage, slight, deprecate, put down)
atrophy
v. waste away : (wither, shrivel, degenerate)
collaborate
v. work together : (cooperate, abet)
articulate
(1) adj. expressing oneself clearly : (clear, distinct, lucid, eloquent)
attribute
(1) n. inherent quality : (feature, characteristic, trait, property)
attribute
(2) v. explain by pointing out a cause : (ascribe, credit [to], explain)
articulate
(2) v. expressing (an idea) clearly; pronounce distinctly : (voice, utter, communicate)
concentration
n. (1) action of focusing one's total attention : (focusing, absorption, attentiveness); (2) gathering of people or things close to one another : (cluster, mass, assemblage); (3) relative amount of a substance [in a mixture, solution, volume of space, etc] : (amount, percentage)
assertion
n. (1) confident statement : (declaration, contention, pronouncement); (2) the demand for other people's acceptance or respect : (assurance)
apprehension
n. (1) fear of future evil : (anxiety, trepidation, dread, nervousness); (2) understanding : (grasp, comprehension, perception); (3) arrest [of a criminal] : (capture, seizure)
capacity
n. (1) greatest amount or number that something can hold : (volume, extent); (2) amount that something can produce : (productivity); (3) power to understand or to preform : (ability, capability, power); (4) specified position : (role, office, function)
cliché
n. (1) phrase dulled in meaning by repetition : (formula, platitude); (2) trite theme : (chestnut)
accommodation
n. (1) provision of housing : (lodgings); (2) settlement or compromise : (understanding, accord, arrangement); (3) process of adjusting to someone or something : (adaption, adjustment)
application
n. (1) request : (petition, appeal); (2) act of putting something to use : (implementation, employment); (3) diligent attention : (industriousness, silence, industry); (4) relevance : (bearing, pertinence)
concession
n. (1) something granted in response to a demand : (compromise); (2) acknowledgment : (admission, recognition); (3) preferential rate : (discount, reduction); (4) right granted to use land, property, etc., for a specific purpose : (franchise, right, permit)
assumption
n. (1) something taken for granted as true or sure to happen, without proof : (supposition, hypothesis, presupposition); (2) act of taking possession : (appropriation, seizure)
compliance
n. (1) state of conforming to or fulfilling requirements : (obedience, accordance); (2) readiness to yield a wish or command : (acquiescence, submissiveness, tractability)
compound
n. (1-1) something composed of the union of separate parts or elements : (mixture, composite, blend, synthesis); (1-2) walled-in area containing separate buildings : (complex)
complement
n. (1-1) something that completes or fills up : (accompaniment, supplement); (1-2) number or quantity needed to make something complete : (allowance, quota, contingent)
animosity
n. active ill will : (hatred, hostility, enmity)
antagonism
n. active resistance : (resentment, opposition, hostility)
antipathy
n. deep-seated dislike : (hatred, enmity, aversion)
concede
v. (1) acknowledge something to be true : (admit, agree); (2) admit defeat : (capitulate, yield); (3) give formally a privlage : (grant, award)
appreciate
v. (1) be thankful for : (be grateful for, give thanks for); (2) increase in worth : (gain); (3) be thoroughly conscious of : (realize, recognized, acknowledge)
concur
v. (1) express agreement with an opinion : (agree, assent); (2) happen together : (coincide)
afford
v. (1) have enough money to pay for : (manage [the cost of]); (2) provide : (supply, furnish)
amplify
v. (1) increase in volume or intensity : (boost, magnify, intensify, heighten); (2) add details to clarify or broaden [a story or report] : (expand, elaborate on, develop)
adopt
v. (1) legally take a child as one's own : (choose, select); (2) choose to follow an approach or idea : (embrace, endorse); (3) assume a position or attitude : (affect, put on); (4) formally accept [suggestion/report] : (support, approve)
avert
v. (1) prevent : (avoid, ward off); (2) turn away : (turn aside)
cite
v. (1) refer to or quote, especially to justify a position : (mention, allude to, name); (2) praise : (commend, recognize); (3) summon someone before a court : (subpoena, serve [with a summons]
assuage
v. (1) soothe : (ease, relieve); (2) make less intense : (moderate)
complement
v. (2) make something complete or perfect : (match, crown, cap)
compound
v. (2-1) make up into a whole : (compose, constitute); (2-2) combine ingredients : (mix, blend); (2-3) make something bad worse : (aggravate, worsen, exacerbate)
acquiesce
v. agree without protesting : (assent, comply, submit)
acclaim
v. announce with great approval : (applaud, praise)
appease
v. cause to grow calm or subside : (mollify, pacify, placate, soothe)
compile
v. gather or put together : (assemble, accumulate, amass, collect)
belie
v. give a false impression : (contradict, disagree with)
capitulate
v. give up resisting : (surrender, yield, submit)