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 characteristic of an earlier or more primitive time : (antiquated, ancient, outdated)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)