Study 169 SAT vocabulary words beginning with A, with definitions, synonyms, antonyms, and contextual examples.
leave behind or give up
humiliation or degradation
lessen; make less active or intense
deviant; markedly different from an accepted norm
assist; assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing
pause; temporary cessation or suspension
wretched; of the most contemptible kind
scrape; wear away
shorten; reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
run off; run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along
release from blame; grant remission of a sin to
take in or soak up
say no; refrain from voting
restraining; sparing in consumption of especially food and drink
difficult to understand
quality of being ridiculous
speed up; move faster
happening without intention or planning
approval; praise vociferously
award; a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
make room for; be agreeable or acceptable to
come with; be present or associated with an event or entity
approach aggressively
gather; get or gather together
recognize or admit something as true
pardon; a judgment of not guilty
bitter; marked by strong resentment or cynicism
bitterness; a rough and bitter manner
a word formed from initials
insight; a tapering point
get used to; make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose
dependence; the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else
highly skilled or proficient
enough; having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
next to; nearest in space or position
alter; alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard
manage; work in an administrative capacity; supervise or be in charge of
warn; admonish or counsel in terms of someone's behavior
highly skillful
praise; servile flattery; exaggerated and hypocritical praise
pollute; corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance
providing benefit or gain
opponent; someone who offers opposition
harmful; contrary to your interests or welfare
hardship; a state of misfortune or affliction
support or argue in favor
concerned with beauty or art
genial; diffusing warmth and friendliness
attraction; a natural liking or attraction to something
agree; establish or strengthen with new evidence
attach; attach to
wealth; abundant wealth
wealthy; an affluent person; a person who is financially well off
collection; formed of separate units gathered into a mass or whole
forceful and actively hostile
quick; moving quickly and lightly
eager readiness
false name; a name that has been assumed temporarily
cause separation or hostility
claim or accuse without proof
relieve; provide physical relief, as from pain
assign; distribute according to a plan or set apart for a special purpose
blend; lower in value by increasing the base-metal content
indicate; make a more or less disguised reference to
suggestion; passing reference or indirect mention
a partner or friendly nation
suggestion; at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship
distant; remote in manner
change; cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
fight; noisy quarrel
selflessness; the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others
selfless; showing unselfish concern for the welfare of others
combine; to bring or combine together or with something else
gather a large amount
open to multiple interpretations
a strong desire to achieve
mixed or conflicting feelings
undecided; uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow
able to walk; relating to or adapted for walking
improve; to make better
willing; disposed or willing to comply
pleasant and friendly
plentiful; more than enough in size or scope or capacity
expand; increase in size, volume or significance
entertain or provide enjoyment
something out of its time
similar; similar or equivalent in some respects though otherwise dissimilar
similarity; an inference that if things agree in some respects they probably agree in others
lawlessness; state of lawless disorder (usually resulting from a failure of government)
supplementary; furnishing added support
story; short account of an incident (especially a biographical one)
bring to life; heighten or intensify
hatred; a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility
abnormal; deviating from the general or common order or type
odd item; deviation from the normal or common order or form or rule
hostility; a state of deep-seated ill-will
predecessor; someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
expect or prepare for something
letdown; a disappointing decline after a previous rise
cure; a remedy that stops or controls the effects of a poison
hatred; a feeling of intense dislike
out-of-date; obsolete or old-fashioned
decontaminator; thoroughly clean and free of or destructive to disease-causing organisms
opposition; exact opposite
indifference; an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
poise; great coolness and composure under strain
of doubtful authenticity; being of questionable authenticity
expressing regret
unorthodox; a disloyal person who deserts his cause or religion or political party
seeming; clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
soothe; cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
add; add to the very end
show approval through praise
value; recognize with gratitude; be grateful for
dread; fearful expectation or anticipation
instruction; the position of apprentice
inform; inform (somebody) of something
approval; official approval
suitable for farming; (of farmland) capable of being farmed productively
judge; someone with the power to settle matters at will
random; based on individual preference or impulse
known by very few
out of date; so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period
a group of many islands
requiring great effort; characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion
song; an elaborate song for solo voice
nobility; a privileged class holding hereditary titles
pride; overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors
excessively self important
express ideas clearly
saved item; a man-made object taken as a whole
skilled person; a skilled worker who practices some trade or handicraft
dominant; position or state of being dominant or in control
find out with certainty
practicing self denial
hope; have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal
put together; create by putting components or members together
declare; state categorically
diligent; marked by care and persistent effort
soothe; cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
supposition; a statement that is assumed to be true and from which a conclusion can be drawn
sureness; freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
guarantee; make certain of
shock or greatly amaze
sharp and perceptive
hiding place; a shelter from danger or hardship
wasting away; a decrease in size of an organ caused by disease or disuse
reach; to gain with effort
weaken; weaken the consistency of (a chemical substance)
mindset; a complex mental state involving beliefs, feelings, and values
gradual reduction; erosion by friction
reckless; invulnerable to fear or intimidation
add; increase; enlarge or increase
encouraging; auguring favorable circumstances and good luck
stark; severely simple
genuine and true to origin
validate; establish the authenticity of something
absolutist; characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty
a written account of one's life
self governing; not controlled by outside forces
self governing independence
death report; an examination and dissection of a dead body to determine cause of death
greed; reprehensible acquisitiveness
declare; report or maintain
opposing; (usually followed by 'to') strongly opposed
dislike; a feeling of intense dislike
avoid; prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
eager; enthusiastic or passionate about something
amaze; an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration