Vocabulary Unit 12: Top SAT Words

Full list can be found on Vocabulary.com

Become less in amount or intensity

Your enthusiasm for skiing might abate after falling off a ski lift and getting a mouthful of snow.

Abate

To give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations

Sometimes someone in power might decide to give up that power and step down from his or her position. When they do that, they abdicate their authority, giving

up all duties and perks of the job.

Abdicate

A state or condition markedly different from the norm

An example of an aberration is when the temperature hits 90 degrees in January — it's nice and warm, but it's really strange.

Aberration

Choose not to consume

People usually abstain from things that are considered vices — like drinking alcohol or eating chocolate.

Abstain

A state of misfortune or affliction

When circumstances or a situation works against you, you face adversity.

Adversity

Concerning or characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste

A velvet painting of dogs playing poker might have minimal aesthetic appeal.

Aesthetic

Characterized by friendship and good will

The end of a romantic relationship that's less than amicable might involve broken dishes or broken bones.

Amicable

Chronologically misplaced

Something that's old-fashioned and maybe a little out of place is anachronistic, like a clunky black rotary-dial

telephone sitting on a desk beside a sleek new smart-phone (or whatever the new technology when you read this).

Anachronistic

Lacking sufficient water or rainfall

Death Valley in California features an arid climate, which is why it's called Death Valley and not Life Valley.

Arid

A shelter from danger or hardship

Any mom taking care of the kids day in and day out is probably more than ready to seek asylum, or refuge, at a local spa.

Asylum