SAT Vocabulary Words List 1

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Departing from the normal or expected; abnormal. The scientist noted aberrant behavior in the test subjects.

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To leave secretly and hide, especially to avoid legal consequences. The thief absconded with the stolen jewels.

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Bitterness or ill feeling, especially in speech or manner. The divorce was filled with acrimony.

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To make something impure by adding inferior or harmful substances. The milk was adulterated with water.

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Relating to beauty or the appreciation of beauty. The architect had a refined aesthetic sense.

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Brisk and cheerful readiness. She accepted the invitation with alacrity.

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Open to more than one interpretation; unclear. The contract contained an ambiguous clause.

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To make something bad or unsatisfactory better. Aid organizations worked to ameliorate suffering.

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Something or someone out of place in a particular time period. A knight with a smartphone would be an anachronism.

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A deep-seated feeling of dislike or aversion. She felt antipathy toward dishonesty.

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Lack of interest or concern. Voter apathy led to low turnout at the election.

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Very old or old-fashioned; no longer in common use. The archaic law had not been enforced in decades.

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Involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult. The mountain climb was arduous but rewarding.

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Having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently. She was an articulate speaker who convinced the jury.

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Showing great care and perseverance. The assiduous student reviewed her notes every evening.

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Having an ability to accurately assess situations; shrewd. The astute investor recognized the opportunity early.

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To reduce the force, effect, or value of something. The medication attenuated the severity of the symptoms.

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Showing a willingness to take bold risks. His audacious plan surprised the entire board.

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Severe or strict in manner; without luxuries. The monks led an austere life of prayer and fasting.

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Lacking originality; predictable and dull. The speech was banal and put the audience to sleep.

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Well-meaning and kindly; charitable. The benevolent donor funded an entire library.

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A thing that spoils or damages something; a disease of plants. Urban blight spread through the abandoned neighborhood.

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Concise and exact use of words; shortness of time. The speaker was praised for his brevity and clarity.

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A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds. The construction site produced a cacophony of noise.

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Truthful and straightforward; frank. She gave a candid assessment of the situation.

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To cease to resist; to surrender or give in. The general capitulated after days of siege.

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Sarcastic in a biting way; able to burn or corrode. His caustic remarks hurt her deeply.

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The use of trickery or deception to achieve goals. The lawyer's chicanery was exposed during the trial.

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Wary and unwilling to take risks; cautious. She was circumspect in her financial decisions.

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A loud and confused noise; a strong demand or protest. There was a clamor for justice after the verdict.

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To come together to form one mass or whole. The small parties coalesced into one powerful alliance.

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Clear, logical, and convincing. She made a cogent argument for reform.

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Showing uncritical satisfaction with oneself; smug. His complacent attitude cost him the championship.

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Intended or likely to make conflict less severe. The president made a conciliatory speech after the dispute.

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Extremely complex and difficult to follow. The instructions were so convoluted that no one understood them.

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To confirm or give support to a statement or theory. The witness corroborated the defendant's alibi.

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Deserving blame or censure; at fault. The manager was culpable for the safety violations.

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Hasty and therefore not thorough; superficial. A cursory glance at the report revealed several errors.

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Believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest. Years of disappointment made her cynical about politics.

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To make someone feel intimidated or apprehensive. The long hike did not daunt the experienced climbers.

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To make someone weak and infirm. The illness debilitated him for weeks.

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Behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety. The students maintained decorum during the ceremony.

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Polite submission and respect toward another. She acted in deference to her elder's wishes.

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A political leader who seeks support by making false claims. The demagogue exploited the public's fears.

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To criticize unfairly; to disparage. He denigrated his rival's achievements in public.

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Modest or shy due to a lack of self-confidence. The diffident student rarely raised her hand.

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To leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing. The professor digressed into an amusing anecdote.

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Essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison. The team had disparate views on the strategy.

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Inclined to lay down principles as undeniably true. His dogmatic attitude made him resistant to new ideas.

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Hesitating or doubting; not to be relied upon; suspect. She gave a dubious look at the questionable claim.