The 500 Most Common SAT Words

advocate

1. Argue for a cause; defend. 2. Support; uphold.

adjunct

1. Attachment; appendage. 2. Subordinate or auxiliary capacity.

apotheosis

1. Essence; epitome. 2. Canonization.

bemoan

1. Experience pain or distress. 2. Express pity for; mourn.

barren

1. Infertile; impotent. 2. Arid; unproductive.

acute

1. Perceptive. 2. Excruciating.

authoritarian

1. Person who acts like a dictator; tyrant. 2. Disciplinarian.

ambulatory

Able to walk; not stationary.

anomaly

Abnormality; deviation from the general rule; irregularity.

avow

Affirm; assert; declare; acknowledge.

concordance

Agreement; treaty; accord.

antediluvian

Ancient; antiquated; obsolete.

adherent

Believer; supporter; devotee.

beleaguer

Besiege; surround.

acerbic

Bitter; harsh; caustic.

audacity

Boldness or adventurousness; gall.

bungle

Botch; mismanage; spoil.

brevity

Briefness; succinctness; terseness.

blandishment

Cajolery; enticement.

chary

Careful; cautious.

chasten

Castigate; punish; reprove.

admonish

Caution; reprove mildly; reprimand.

compile

Collect data; accumulate; amass.

coalesce

Combine; incorporate; merge.

chronic

Compulsive; typical; habitual; inveterate.

abstruse

Concealed; difficult to comprehend; obscure.

altruistic

Concerned about the general welfare of others; charitable; generous.

concomitant

Concurrent; attendant; occurring with something else.

coagulate

Congeal; curdle; clot.

cloister

Convent; monastery; religious place.

amiable

Cordial; of pleasant disposition; friendly.

censorious

Critical; attacking; denouncing.

barbarity

Cruel action; inhuman act; harsh conduct.

bane

Deadly affliction; curse; plague.

bilk

Defraud; deceive; hoodwink.

aberration

Deviation from what is correct or right.

adroit

Dexterous; proficient; skillful.

cacophonous

Discordant; dissident; harsh.

carouse

Drink to excess; live it up.

alacrity

Eagerness; zeal; speed.

assuage

Ease; make less burdensome; mitigate.

accolade

Embrace; award; commendation.

animate

Energize; enliven.

commensurate

Equal in measure; of the same duration or size.

adulation

Excessive flattery; adoration; idolization.

approbatory

Expressing approval.

avarice

Extreme desire for wealth; greed; acquisitiveness.

apocryphal

False; unauthenticated; disputed.

chimerical

Fanciful; whimsical; playful.

antipathy

Feeling of opposition or repugnance; aversion; dislike.

arrogant

Feeling superior to other people; egotistical.

candid

Frank; blunt; open.

charlatan

Fraud; person claiming knowledge he/she does not have; humbug; fake; hustler.

clandestine

Furtive; surreptitious; secret.

bliss

Gaiety; happiness; enjoyment.

aperture

Gap; opening; orifice.

avouch

Guarantee; take responsibility for; affirm.

blithe

Happy; pleased; delighted.

belittle

Humiliate; tease; diminish in importance.

boorish

Ill-mannered; rude; gauche.

circuitous

Indirect; roundabout; rambling.

callow

Inexperienced; immature; naive.

browbeat

Intimidate; harass; dominate.

coercion

Intimidation; duress; force; compulsion.

broach

Introduce; bring up; mention.

apathy

Lack of concern; emotion or interest; indifference.

aviary

Large enclosure confining birds.

clemency

Lenience; mercy; compassion.

clamor

Loud noise or complaint; commotion; din.

ameliorate

Make better; improve.

adulterate

Make impure or inferior by adding improper ingredients; contaminate; pollute.

aggrandize

Make more powerful; amplify; increase.

confluence

Nexus; union; meeting; conflux.

boisterous

Noisy; loud; violent; rowdy.

coddle

Pamper; overindulge; baby; spoil.

confound

Perplex; baffle; confuse.

aesthete

Person who cultivates beauty or art; connoisseur.

bemused

Preoccupied by thought; bewildered; perplexed.

adept

Proficient; masterful; expert.

cognate

Related by blood; having the same origin.

acrimonious

Sarcastic; caustic; angry; mordant.

appease

Satisfy; make peace; placate.

churlish

Selfish; rancorous; surly.

acuity

Sharpness; acuteness; keenness.

balm

Soothing ointment for pain or healing; salve.

baleful

Sorrowful; sinister; evil.

abstemious

Sparing in use of food or drink; moderate.

cease

Stop; end; halt.

ascetic

Strict; austere.

befuddle

Stupefy or confuse; misconstrue.

arable

Suitable for cultivation or plowing.

abeyance

Suspension of an activity; postponement.

cherubic

Sweet; kind; innocent.

celerity

Swift motion; speed; alacrity.

belated

Tardy; overdue.

banal

Trite; insipid; ordinary.

buttress

Truss; foundation; support.

ambivalence

Uncertainty; doubt; indecisiveness.

atrophy

Waste away from lack of use; degenerate.

amorphous

Without structure; shapeless; nebulous.