400 Words IELTS TOEFL SAT PTE English Vocabulary

ignite

to catch fire or cause to catch fire

It is still a mystery as to how the gas leak ignited and burned down the apartment.

urban

connected with a town or city

Urban areas usually have high crime rates.

frank

honest and direct in what you say

To be frank with you, she did that just so she could avoid you.

novel

new and original, not like anything seen before

The poem earned an award for its novel style and concept.

alleviate

to make suffering, or a problem less severe.

Practicing yoga on a regular basis can help alleviate muscle pain.

hostile

aggressive or unfriendly and ready to argue or fight

We moved last week because we couldn't bear  living in such a hostile neighbourhood.

abolish

to officially end a law, a system, or an institution

The death penalty should be abolished as it violates the human right to live.

allocate

distribute resources or duties for a particular purpose

We must allocate our time for work and leisure activities wisely.

picturesque

to describe a place as very pretty or charming; like a painted picture

The picturesque village is a tourist attraction.

lucrative

making a large amount of money or profit

John made a lucrative income through social media management.

discord

disagreement between people or organizations

Negotiations between rich and poor nations are a source of discord.

gist

gist (of something) the main or general meaning of content

I missed the class, so can you give me the gist of the lesson?

frugal

trying not to spend or waste money

I need to be frugal with my spending since I have a low salary.

altercation

a noisy argument or disagreement, especially in public

Two customers were having an altercation at the shop.

paramount

more important than anything else

The safety of the children is our paramount concern.

riveting

so interesting or exciting that it holds your attention completely

The audience was so interested by her riveting speech about her life story.

succulent

fruit, vegetables, or meat containing a lot of juice and tasting good

My grandmother brought us a basket filled with succulent peaches.

curb

to control or limit something, especially something bad

He needs to learn to curb his temper.

frantic

done quickly and with a lot of activity in a way that is not very well organized

I became more frantic as I tried to finish my homework before the 5 p.m. deadline.

denote

to be a sign of something

His frequent urination denotes that he may be diabetic.

advocate

to support or recommend something publicly

Many protesters strongly advocate for a change in government policy.

demonstrate

to show something clearly by giving proof or evidence

New research demonstrates that age-related memory loss is not inevitable.

reconcile

to find a way of dealing with two or more ideas that seem to be opposed to each other

It was hard to reconcile his busy career with spending time with his family.

philanthropic

to help the poor and those in need, especially by giving money

The organization provides philanthropic support for those who suffer from disease.

detest

to hate somebody or something very much

I detest working on the weekend.

hasten

to say or do something without delay

As our teacher began her lecture, I hastened to take down notes.

cherish

to love somebody or something very much and want to protect them or it

Parents should always cherish their children and not neglect them.

potent

having a strong effect on your body or mind

Taking a walk in nature is a potent stress reliever.

affluent

having a lot of money and a good standard of living

Affluent consumers have a taste for luxury brands.

adverse

negative and unpleasant; not likely to produce a good result

The flight was canceled due to adverse weather conditions.

attain

to succeed in getting something, usually after a lot of effort

He attained his goals through great time management and hard work.

admonish

to tell someone firmly that you do not approve of something that they have done

The teacher admonished the student for being late for class.

ambivalent

having or showing both positive and negative feelings about somebody or something

I was quite ambivalent about the president's speech.

accentuate

to emphasize something or make it easier to notice

Her short hair accentuates her round face.

abrasive

rude and unkind; acting in a way that may hurt other people’s feelings

Throughout his career she was known for her abrasive manner.

abstain

to avoid something because it is bad for your health

I abstain from drinking alcohol.

clandestine

done secretly or kept secret

The government had a clandestine sale of weapons to a rogue state.

analysis

the detailed study or examination of something in order to understand more about it

An analysis of the data demonstrates that the vaccine is working.

abrupt

sudden and unexpected, often in an unpleasant way

His political career came to an abrupt end due to a fatal accident.

adhere

to behave according to a particular  law, rule, or set of instructions

The citizens adhere to the strict curfew.

appropriate

to take something, or somebody’s ideas, for your own use and without permission

An amateur musician sued a famous singer for appropriating his music.

aloof

not friendly or interested in other people

She is a cold and aloof woman who likes to be alone.

apprehend

to catch somebody and arrest them

The thief was apprehended after he stole some jewelry.

apprehensive

worried or frightened that something very bad may happen

The town citizens were apprehensive about the oncoming storm.

assimilate

to completely become a part of a country or community

Immigrants usually assimilate into the new culture and become contributing citizens.

aspect

one part of a situation, problem, or idea

The pandemic has made a huge impact on every aspect of our lives.

adept

great at doing something that is quite difficult; being skillful

My classmate is adept at solving math problems.

afflict

to affect somebody or something in a bad, unpleasant, or harmful way

My aunt was afflicted with chronic pain ever since she had an accident as a child.

abysmal

extremely bad; a very low standard

He was fired from his new job because of his abysmal work performance.

acclimatise

to get used to a new place, situation or climate

It took me a few months to acclimatise to the new work environment.

acclaim

to praise someone or something publicly

His artwork was acclaimed as an amazing masterpiece.

abort

to end something before it has been completed, especially because it is likely to fail

The rocket launch was aborted due to some technical concerns.

attribute

to say or believe that something is the result of a particular thing

He attributes his success to hard work.

amiable

friendly and easy to like

His coworkers liked him because of his quiet and amiable personality.

alliance

an agreement between countries,  political parties, etc. to work together

Many countries form alliances to have mutual protection against an enemy nation.

astounding

so surprising that it is difficult to believe

The new sales promotion was an astounding success.

akin

similar to something

Her headphones were designed as akin to rabbit ears.

assailant

a person who attacks somebody, especially physically; an attacker

Police reported that a 52- year-old assailant punched his wife.

arduous

involving a lot of effort and energy, especially over a period of time

Although the workouts were arduous, she still went every morning for one year.

alter

to become different; to make somebody or something change

After volunteering to help poor people, my view of life has been truly altered.

alternative

a different plan or method; another option

The phone is too expensive so I want to find a cheaper alternative.

ascertain

to find out the true or correct information about something

It is hard to ascertain if information from the internet is true.

assertive

expressing opinions strongly and with confidence, so that people take notice

Women need to be assertive in the workplace to make their opinions heard.

alienate

to make somebody less friendly towards you or cause people to avoid you

The content of his new videos are so different that it alienates his followers.

antagonise

to do something to make somebody angry with you

He sometimes antagonises his neighbours by playing loud music.

acquainted

familiar with something, having read, seen or experienced it

The students are already acquainted with the topic.

audacity

behaviour that is brave but likely to shock, upset, or offend people

He had the audacity to come 15 minutes late to the meeting.

accompany

to travel or go somewhere with somebody or something

My assistant accompanied me during the whole business trip.

agnostic

having the belief that it is not possible to know whether God exists or not

Gary is unsure about religion and God so he is agnostic.

aggravate

to make an illness or a bad situation worse

Pollution can aggravate asthma.

appease

to make somebody calmer or less angry by giving them what they want

The politician managed to appease the journalists by giving them an interview.

annex

to take control of a country, region, etc., especially by force

The Crimean Peninsula was annexed by Russia in 2014.

divulge

to give someone information that is supposed to be secret

Police refused to divulge the identity of the suspect.

instigate

to make something start or happen, usually something official

The company has instigated worker policy reform.

perplex

if something perplexes you, it makes you confused because you do not understand

His sudden decision to leave the company perplexes his coworkers.

forte

a thing that somebody does particularly well

Thinking outside the box is my forte.

destitute

without money, food and the other things necessary for life

I see a destitute old man looking for food in the dumpster.

stifle

to prevent something from happening; to prevent a feeling from being expressed

Overcontrolling parents stifle their children's growth, creativity, and independence.

pliable

easy to influence or control

Children have pliable minds.

ubiquitous

seeming to be everywhere or in several places at the same time; very common

Mobile phones are ubiquitous.

frivolous

silly or funny, especially when such behaviour is not suitable

Most adults think playing computer games is frivolous.

polarise

to separate or make people separate into two groups with completely opposite opinions

Discussions about legalizing recreational drugs is often polarising.

overarching

very important, because it includes or influences many things

We need to take an overarching look at how we run our elections.

deem

to have a particular opinion about somebody or something; consider

Some people deem people who are unemployed to be lazy.

pragmatic

solving problems in a practical and sensible way

We need to use pragmatic solutions for the rising unemployment rates.

perpetuate

to make something such as a bad situation, a belief, etc. continue for a long time

Some government policies perpetuate racial inequity.

contrive

to manage to do something despite difficulties

She contrived to spend a couple of hours studying for the test every night.

convoluted

extremely complicated and difficult to follow

It takes a skilled engineer to fix such a convoluted piping system.

dissipate

to gradually become or make something become weaker until it disappears

The crowd's anger dissipated after hours of rioting.

imminent

likely to happen very soon especially of something unpleasant

Inflation is imminent as the government spends more money.

acquiesce

to accept something without arguing, even if you do not really agree with it

The company acquiesced to the customer's demands and lowered their product price.

foster

to encourage something to develop; encourage, promote

They aim to foster innovation in their company.

fester

a negative feeling becomes worse and more intense over time

A toxic work culture festers at our company.

palatable

food or drink having a pleasant or acceptable taste

The exotic food that we ordered last night was quite surprisingly palatable.

unprecedented

something that has never happened, been done or been known before

The whole world was not prepared to face such an unprecedented crisis.

contempt

the feeling that somebody or something is without value and deserves no respect at all

The manager spoke about his lazy workers with contempt.

finesse

great skill in dealing with people or situations, especially in a light and careful way

The manager dealt with the angry customer with patience and finesse.

coerce

to force somebody to do something by using threats

The boss coerces his staff to work overtime by threatening to fire them.

encapsulate

to express the most important parts of something in a few words

It is very difficult to encapsulate historic events into a single one-hour documentary.

stigmatise

to describe somebody or something unfairly suggesting that they are bad or do not deserve respect

People with mental illness are often stigmatised by the public.

construe

to interpret the meaning of something in a particular way

Her words could hardly be construed as an apology.

peruse

to read something, especially in a cautious way

A copy of the document is available for you to peruse at your leisure.

condone

to accept bad behaviour that is morally wrong

Violence can never be condoned.

latent

existing, but not yet clear, active or well developed

These athletes have a huge reserve of latent talent.

acrimonious

mad and full of strong bitter feelings

His parents went through an acrimonious divorce.

masquerade

behaving in a way that hides the truth or a person’s true feelings

He was tired of the masquerade and wanted the truth to come out.

salient

most important or easy to notice

He reviewed the salient points.

embroil

to involve yourself in an argument or a difficult situation

He became embroiled in a dispute with his boss.

languish

to be forced to suffer something unpleasant for a long time

She continues to languish in prison.

aspersions

critical remarks or judgements

I wouldn't want to cast aspersions on your honesty.

sedulous

displaying great care and effort in your work

He displays a sedulous attention to detail.

encumber

to make it difficult for somebody to do something

The police operation was encumbered by crowds of reporters.

effusion

the act of flowing out

Conversational effusion isn't always a good quality on a first date.

waffle

to have difficulty make a decision

The politician was accused of waffling on major issues.

intrepid

very brave; not afraid of danger or difficulties

Pioneers often proved themselves to be intrepid explorers.

mores

​the customs that are considered typical of a particular social group

Musicians are often blamed for a steady decline in sexual mores.

disheveled

very untidy

He looked tired and dishevelled.

sumptuous

looking very impressive

It was a sumptuous meal.

reciprocate

to behave towards somebody in the same way as they behave towards you

They wanted to reciprocate the kindness that had been shown to them.

infallible

never wrong; never making mistakes

No one is infallible.

dissident

a person who strongly disagrees with and criticizes their government

Dissidents were often imprisoned by the security police.

dispatch

to send somebody or something somewhere, for a special purpose

Troops have been dispatched to the area.

intransigence

unwillingness to change your behaviour or opinions

Negotiations collapsed in the face of managerial intransigence.

pastoral

related to the countryside

The farm was a pastoral scene.

concede

to admit that something is true

He was forced to concede that there might be difficulties.

manifold

many; of many different types

The possibilities were manifold.

punitive

intended as punishment

Punitive action will be taken against the rioters.

nonplussed

surprised and confused; speechless

Branson seemed a little nonplussed at Ellie’s refusal.

salacious

encouraging sexual desire or containing too much sexual detail

The papers concentrated on some salacious aspects of the case.

behove

right or necessary for somebody to do something

It behoves us to study these findings carefully.

vulpine

like a fox

He showed his vulpine grin.

premise

a statement or an idea that forms the basis for a reasonable line of argument

The argument rests on a false premise.

demise

the end or failure of an institution, an idea, a company, etc.

He praised the union's aims but predicted its early demise.

megalomania

a strong feeling that you want to have more and more power

His bad personality is due to megalomania.

asinine

stupid or silly

Her asinine excuse seemed ridiculous.

surfeit

an amount that is too large

Indigestion can be brought on by a surfeit of fatty food.

reputable

having a good reputation

The car salesman was a reputable dealer.

oblique

not expressed or done in a direct way

She made an oblique reference to her ex-boyfriend.

jeopardise

to risk harming or destroying something or somebody

He would never do anything to jeopardise his career.

impudence

rude behaviour

I’ve had enough of your impudence.

desolate

empty and without people, making you feel sad or frightened

They looked out on a bleak and desolate landscape.

ballast

heavy material placed in a ship to make it heavier and keep it steady

The ballast keeps the ship steady.

disperse

to move apart and go away in different directions

The fog began to disperse.

faze

to confuse or shock someone

She wasn't fazed by his comments.

compunction

a guilty feeling about doing something

He lied to his parents without compunction.

complacency

a feeling of being satisfied with yourself or with a situation

Despite signs of an improvement in the economy, there is no room for complacency.

calibre

the quality of something, especially a person’s ability

He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job.

entreat

to ask somebody to do something in a serious and often emotional way

Please help me. I entreat you.

dissection

the act of studying something closely

Your enjoyment of a novel can suffer from too much analysis and dissection.

antiquated

old-fashioned and no longer suitable for modern conditions

The antiquated heating system barely heats the larger rooms.

anguish

severe physical or mental pain

He groaned in anguish.

effeminate

looking, behaving or sounding like a woman

He is an effeminate man.

enmity

​feelings of hate towards somebody

Personal enmities have injured relations within the department. 

epoch

a period of time in history

The death of the king marked the end of an epoch in the country's history.

intrinsic

belonging to or part of the real nature of something

These tasks were repetitive, lengthy and lacking any intrinsic value.

quotidian

ordinary; typical of what happens every day

Their quotidian existence is tiring.

hazardous

involving risk or danger, especially to somebody’s safety

They endured a hazardous journey through thickening fog.

peregrination

a long, slow journey

The character in the book wandered through strange lands during his peregrination.

attenuate

to make something weaker or less effective

The drug attenuates the effects of the virus.

unravel

to unwind threads that are twisted, woven or knitted

I unravelled the string and wound it into a ball.

behemoth

something that is very big and powerful.

Your dog is a behemoth.

impeccable

without mistakes or faults

Her written English is impeccable.

jaded ​

tired and bored

I felt terribly jaded after working all weekend.

figurative

different from the usual meaning, in order to create a mental picture

‘He exploded with rage’ shows a figurative use of the verb ‘explode’.

relic

an object, a tradition, a system, etc. that has survived from the past

The building stands as the last remaining relic of the town's manufacturing industry.

wreak

to do great damage or harm to somebody or something

The country's policies would wreak havoc on the economy.

utopia

a place in which everything is perfect

Utopia does not exist in the real world.

vegetative

alive but showing no sign of brain activity

The stroke victim is in a vegetative state.

infringe

to break a law or rule

The material can be copied without copyright infringing.

subtlety

not being obvious in one's actions

It's a thrilling movie even though it lacks subtlety.

epitaph

words that are written or said about a dead person

His epitaph read: ‘A just and noble citizen’.

grisly

extremely unpleasant and frightening

It was a grisly murder scene.

libido

sexual desire

The man worried about his loss of libido.

epitome

a perfect example of something

He is the epitome of a modern man.

topple

to become unsteady and fall down; to make something fall down

The pile of blocks toppled over.

morose ​

unhappy, in a bad mood and not talking very much

He just sat there looking morose.

impalpable

that which cannot be felt physically

The mosquito was impalpable as it continued to bite the child.

gratuitous

done without any reason and often having harmful effects

It was a completely gratuitous insult which her friend apologized for.

opaque

not clear enough to see through or allow light through

The shower door was opaque.

post-mortem

a medical examination of the body of a dead person

They’re doing a post-mortem on him today.

eclectic

not following one style or set of ideas

She has very eclectic tastes in music.

delve

to reach inside a bag, container, etc. to search for something

She delved in her purse for a pen.

studious

spending a lot of time studying or reading

He liked to wear rimmed glasses, which he thought made him look studious.

impel

feeling as if you are forced to do something

He felt impelled to investigate the matter further.

mannered

trying to impress people by being formal

His writing style is far too mannered.

peevish

easily annoyed

Jack was a sickly, peevish old man.

stickler

a person who thinks that a particular type of behaviour is very important

Robin is a stickler for punctuality.

adulterate

to make food or drink less pure by adding another substance to it

The water supply had been adulterated with toxic chemicals from the soil.

deplete

to reduce something by a large amount so that there is not enough left

Food and water supplies were severely depleted.

nadir

​the worst moment of a particular situation

Company losses reached their nadir in 2008.

prelude

a short piece of music, especially an introduction to a longer piece

This is the prelude to Act II of the play.

curtail

to limit something or make it last for a shorter time

Spending on books has been severely curtailed due to the sale of e-books.

tacit

that which is suggested indirectly or understood, rather than said in words

By tacit agreement, the subject was never discussed again.

abstruse

​difficult to understand

The lawyer made an abstruse argument.

placate

to make somebody feel less angry about something

The parent tried to placate the upset child by offering a toy.

iconoclastic

criticizing popular beliefs, established customs, or ideas

Cult leaders are often iconoclastic.

antithesis

the opposite of something

Love is the antithesis of selfishness.

deference

behaviour that shows that you respect somebody or something

The flags were lowered out of deference to the grieving family.

unwitting

​not aware of what you are doing or of the situation you are involved in

He became an unwitting accomplice in the serious crime.

brazen

open and without shame, usually about something that shocks people

They showed a brazen disregard for the law.

abjure

to promise publicly that you will give up or reject a belief or a way of behaving

She had to abjure her former beliefs to become a member of the new religion.

abrogate

to officially end a law, an agreement, etc.

The government decided to abrogate the outdated law to ensure equality for all.

abstemious

not allowing yourself to have much food or alcohol

He was an abstemious eater, avoiding all foods that contained sugar or fats.

acumen

the ability to understand and decide things quickly and well

Her acumen in business allowed her to turn the struggling company around.

antebellum

connected with the years before a war, especially the American Civil War

The antebellum era is a significant period in American history.

auspicious

​showing signs that something is likely to be successful in the future

The auspicious weather forecast predicted clear skies and sunshine for the wedding day.

belie

to give a false impression of somebody or something

His kind and gentle demeanor can belie his true strength and power.

bellicose

​having or showing a desire to argue or fight

The bellicose leader declared war against his neighboring country.

bowdlerise

to remove the parts of a book, play, etc. that you think are likely to shock or offend people

The TV station decided to bowdlerise the movie to make it suitable for family viewing.

chicanery

the use of complicated plans in order to trick people

The politician's chicanery during the election campaign ultimately cost him his seat.

chromosome ​

one of the very small structures like thin strings in the nuclei of animal and plant cells

The human body has 23 pairs of chromosomes, each containing thousands of genes.

churlish

rude or very unpleasant

Her churlish behavior was unwelcome at the dinner party.

circumlocution

the use of more words than are necessary

He used circumlocution to avoid giving a direct answer to the question.

circumnavigate

to sail all the way around something, especially all the way around the world

Magellan was the first person to circumnavigate the globe.

deciduous

(of a tree, bush, etc.) that loses its leaves every year

The deciduous trees lost their leaves in the fall.

deleterious

harmful and damaging

Smoking has many deleterious effects on a person's health.

diffident

not having much confidence in yourself

He was diffident and lacked confidence in his abilities.

enervate

to make somebody feel weak and tired

The long hours of work can enervate even the most energetic person.

enfranchise

to give somebody the right to vote in an election

Women fought for years to be enfranchised and gain the right to vote.

epiphany

a sudden and surprising moment of understanding

She had an epiphany when she realized she had  been living her life the wrong way.

equinox

one of the two times in the year when day and night are of equal length

The equinox marks the start of spring and fall when  day and night are almost equal in length.

euro

the unit of money of some countries of the European Union

He changed his euro to dollars at the bank before traveling to the United States.

evanescent

disappearing quickly from sight or memory

Talk is evanescent, writing lasts forever.

expurgate

to leave out parts of a piece of writing or a conversation when printing or reporting it

The book editor decided to expurgate the novel to remove all explicit content.

facetious

trying to appear funny and clever at a time when other people do not think it is appropriate

His facetious comments during the meeting did not help the situation.

fatuous

stupid, silly, and pointless

The fatuous idea that money buys happiness is simply not true.

feckless

having a weak character; not behaving in a responsible way

His feckless approach to life led to his downfall.

fiduciary

a person or company that controls other people's money or property

The fiduciary had a legal obligation to act in the best interests of his clients.

filibuster

a long speech made in a parliament in order to delay or prevent a vote

The senator used a filibuster to prevent a vote on the bill.

gamete

a male or female cell that joins with a cell of the opposite sex to form a zygote

Sperm is a type of gamete that combines with an egg to create a zygote.

gauche

shy or uncomfortable when dealing with people and often saying or doing the wrong thing

His gauche behavior made him the target of ridicule.

jerrymander

to change the size and borders of an area for voting in order to give an unfair advantage to one party in an election

The city had been jerrymandered so that the politician retained control.

hegemony

(especially of countries) the position of being the most powerful and therefore able to control others

The country's hegemony in the region allowed it to exert significant influence.

hemoglobin

a red substance in the blood that carries oxygen and contains iron

Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the body's tissues.

homogeneous

consisting of things or people that are all the same or all of the same type

The homogeneous population shared similar cultural values and beliefs.

hubris

the fact of being too proud.

His hubris prevented him from recognizing his mistakes and learning from them.

hypotenuse

the side opposite the right angle of a right-angled triangle

The hypotenuse of a right triangle is always opposite the right angle.

impeach

to charge an important public figure with a serious crime

The opposition party tried to impeach the president for his alleged misconduct.

incognito ​

in a way that prevents other people from finding out who you are

She went incognito to avoid being recognized by the paparazzi.

incontrovertible

​that is true and cannot be disagreed with or denied

The evidence presented in court was incontrovertible and led to a guilty verdict.

inculcate

to cause somebody to learn and remember ideas, moral principles, etc.

Parents should try to inculcate good values and behavior in their children.

infrastructure ​

the basic systems and services that are necessary for a country to run smoothly

The country's infrastructure needs significant  investment to support its growing population.

interpolate

to make a remark that interrupts a conversation

‘Excuse me!’ he interpolated.

irony

the funny or strange aspect of a situation that is very different from what you expect

The irony is that his mistake will actually improve the team's situation.

jejune

too simple

The jejune plot of the movie left her feeling disappointed.

kinetic

involving or producing movement

The kinetic energy of the ball increased as it rolled down the hill.

kowtow

to show somebody in authority too much respect and be too willing to obey them

He decided to kowtow to his boss's demands to keep his job.

laissez faire

the policy of allowing private businesses to develop without government control

The laissez faire approach to business allows companies to operate with minimal government intervention.

lexicon

all the words and phrases used in a particular language or subject

The online dictionary has a vast lexicon of words and definitions.

loquacious

talking a lot

He was a loquacious speaker, often going off on tangents during his presentations.

lugubrious

sad and serious

The lugubrious music added to the somber mood of the funeral.

metamorphosis

a process in which somebody or something changes completely into something different

The metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly is a remarkable transformation.

mitosis

the usual process by which cells divide

During mitosis, a cell divides into two identical daughter cells.

moiety

a half of something

Each moiety of the land was sold to different buyers.

nanotechnology

the branch of technology that deals with structures that are less than 100 nanometres long

Nanotechnology allows us to manipulate materials on a molecular scale.

nihilism

the belief that life has no meaning or purpose

Nihilism can be a depressing philosophy to embrace.

nomenclature

a system of naming things, especially in a branch of science

The nomenclature for this chemical compound is quite complex.

nonsectarian

​not involving or connected with a particular religion or  religious group

The school was nonsectarian, welcoming students of all faiths.

notarise

if a document is notarised, it is given legal status by a notary

I need to notarise this document before it can be considered official.

obsequious

​trying too hard to please somebody, especially somebody who is important

The obsequious waiter was always eager to please the customers.

oligarchy

a form of government in which only a small group of people hold all the power

The oligarchy in ancient Greece was made up of the wealthiest citizens.

omnipotent

having total power; able to do anything

An omnipotent being is one who has unlimited power and control.

orthography

the system of spelling in a language

Orthography refers to the correct spelling and writing of words.

oxidise

to remove one or more electrons from a substance

Iron will oxidise when exposed to air and water.

parable

a short story that teaches a moral or spiritual lesson

The teacher used a parable about the tortoise and the hare to show the importance of perseverance.

paradigm

a typical example or pattern of something

The new discovery changed the scientific paradigm in the field.

parameter

something that decides or limits the way in which something can be done

The parameter for this experiment is set at a certain temperature range.

pecuniary

relating to or connected with money

The company was fined for engaging in pecuniary misconduct.

photosynthesis

the process by which green plants turn carbon dioxide and water into food

Plants use photosynthesis to convert sunlight into energy.

plagiarise

to copy another person’s ideas, words, or work and pretend that they are your own

The student was caught trying to plagiarse their essay.

plasma

the clear liquid part of blood, in which the blood cells, etc. float

Plasma is also used in medical treatments to help with blood clotting.

polymer

a substance consisting of large molecules that are made from combinations of small simple molecules

Many polymers, such as nylon, are artificial.

precipitous

very steep, high, and often dangerous

The cliff was so precipitous that it was dangerous to climb.

quasar

a large object like a star, that is far away and that shines very brightly

Quasars emit intense radiation, making them visible across vast distances.

quotidian

ordinary; typical of what happens every day

Her daily routine was quite quotidian, involving the same tasks every day.

recapitulate

to repeat or give a summary of what has already been said, decided, etc.

The professor asked the student to recapitulate the main points of the lecture.

reciprocal

involving two people or groups who agree to help each other or behave in the same way to each other

She believed in the reciprocal nature of love, that it should be given and received equally.

reparation

the act of giving something to somebody in order to show that you are sorry that you have caused them to suffer

The company made a reparation to its customers for the faulty product.

respiration

the act of breathing

Respiration is the process by which living organisms  take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide.

sanguine

cheerful and confident about the future

Despite the setback, she remained sanguine and optimistic about the future.

soliloquy

a speech in a play in which a character, who is alone on the stage, speaks his or her thoughts

In his soliloquy, the character revealed his innermost thoughts and feelings.

subjugate

to defeat somebody or something; to gain control over somebody or something

The invading army sought to subjugate the people and take control of the land.

suffragist

a person who campaigns for a group of people who do not have the right to vote in elections

The suffragist movement fought for women's right to vote.

supercilious

behaving towards other people as if you think you are better than them

His supercilious attitude made it difficult for others to work with him.

taut

stretched tightly

The rope was pulled taut to secure the boat to the dock.

taxonomy

the scientific process of classifying things

The taxonomy of plants and animals is constantly evolving as new species are discovered.

tectonic

relating to the structure of the earth’s surface

Tectonic plates are large slabs of rock that make up the Earth's surface.

tempestuous

full of extreme emotions

The stormy weather created a tempestuous sea  that was difficult to navigate.

thermodynamics

​the science that deals with the relations between heat and other forms of energy

Thermodynamics is the study of energy and its transformations.

totalitarian

in which there is only one political party, which has complete power and control over the people

A totalitarian regime has complete control over all aspects of its citizens' lives.

unctuous

giving praise, in a way that is not sincere, and that is therefore unpleasant

His unctuous behavior made it clear he was only interested in making a sale.

usurp

to take somebody’s position or power without having the right to do this

The military coup attempted to usurp the government and take control of the country.

vacuous

​showing no sign of intelligence, or sensitive feelings

Her vacuous expression made it clear she wasn't paying attention.

vehement ​

showing very strong feelings, especially anger

She spoke with such vehement passion that it was impossible to ignore her.

vortex

a mass of air, water, etc. that turns round and round very fast and pulls things into its centre

The whirlpool created by the water draining from the tub resembled a vortex.

waver

to be or become weak or unsteady

Her determination never wavered.

wrought

caused something to happen, especially a change

This century wrought major changes in our society.

xenophobia

a strong feeling of dislike, or fear of people from other countries

Many immigrants face xenophobia when they try to integrate into a new society.

yearn

to want something very much, especially when it is very difficult to get

She yearned for children of her own.

ziggurat

a tower with steps going up the sides, sometimes with a temple at the top

The ancient ziggurat was a towering pyramid-shaped structure used for religious ceremonies.

abate

to become less intense or severe; to make something less intense or severe

The hurricane's intensity began to abate as it moved further inland.

abdicate

to give up the position of being king, queen or emperor

The king was forced to abdicate his throne.

aberration

a way of behaving that is not usual, and that may be unacceptable

The suspect's behavior was an aberration in an otherwise peaceful neighborhood.

abstain

to decide not to do or have something

During religious holidays, many people choose to abstain from certain foods or activities.

adversity

a difficult or unpleasant situation

Despite facing adversity, the team was able to win the championship.

aesthetic

connected with beauty and art and the understanding of beautiful things

The interior designer chose an aesthetic that was modern and minimalist.

amicable

done or achieved in a polite or friendly way and without arguing

After their divorce, the couple managed to maintain an amicable relationship.

anachronistic

used to describe an idea that does not belong to the present

The antique watch seemed anachronistic among modern gadgets on the shelves.

arid

having little or no rain; very dry

The desert is known for its arid climate and sparse vegetation.

asylum

protection that a government gives to people who have left their own country

The refugees were granted asylum in the neighboring country.

benevolent

kind, helpful and generous

The billionaire philanthropist was known for his benevolent deeds.

bias

a strong feeling in favour of or against one group of people

The reporter's bias was evident in his coverage of the political campaign.

boisterous

noisy and full of life and energy

The children were being boisterous at the birthday party.

brazen

open and without shame, usually about something that shocks people

The politician's brazen lies were exposed by the media.

brusque

using very few words and sounding rude

The manager's brusque tone with the employees caused tension in the office.

camaraderie

a feeling of trust among people who work or spend a lot of time together

The team's camaraderie was evident in their seamless collaboration.

canny

showing good judgement, especially in business or politics

The wise investor was always canny with his money.

capacious

having a lot of space to put things in

The new house had a capacious kitchen with plenty of counter space.

capitulate

to agree to do something that you have been refusing to do for a long time

After a long battle, the army finally had to capitulate and surrender.

clairvoyant

the power to see future events or to communicate with the dead

The clairvoyant woman predicted that the missing person would be found safe.

collaborate

to work together with somebody in order to produce or achieve something

The scientists had to collaborate on the research project.

compassion

a strong feeling of sympathy for people or animals who are suffering

The doctor's compassion and care for his patients was evident in his bedside manner.

compromise

an agreement where each side gives up some of the things they want

The siblings compromised and shared the toy.

condescending

​behaving as though you are more important than other people

The manager's condescending attitude towards his employees was unacceptable.

conditional

depending on something

The team's success is conditional on everyone working together effectively.

conformist

a person who thinks in the same way as most other people

The student was a conformist who followed all of the school's rules.

conundrum

a confusing problem or question that is very difficult to solve

The detective was stumped by the conundrum presented by the case.

convergence

the process of moving together from different directions and meeting

The convergence of the two highways caused a lot of traffic.

deleterious

harmful and damaging

The toxic chemicals in the air were deleterious to the health of the residents.

demagogue

a political leader who tries to win support through emotions over reason

The charismatic leader was accused of being a demagogue.

diligent

showing care and effort in your work or duties

The diligent student always completed her assignments on time.

discredit

to make people stop respecting somebody or something

The scandal discredited the politician and ruined his career.

disdain

the feeling that something is not good enough to deserve your respect

The socialite looked down on anyone she considered beneath her with disdain.

divergent

developing or moving in different directions; becoming less similar

The opinions of the two experts were divergent on the issue.

empathy

the ability to understand another person’s feelings or experience

The therapist's empathy and understanding helped her patients feel more comfortable.

emulate

to try to do something as well as somebody else

The athlete tried to emulate his favorite Olympic champion.

enervating

something that causes exhaustion, fatigue, or weakness

The illness was enervating and left the patient feeling weak and exhausted.

ephemeral

​lasting or used for only a short period of time

The beauty of the sunset was ephemeral, lasting only a few minutes.

evanescent

disappearing quickly from sight or memory

The memory of his childhood home was evanescent and faded over time.

exemplary

providing a good example for people to copy

The teacher held up the top student's exemplary work.

extenuating

showing reasons why a wrong act should be judged less seriously

The extenuating circumstances were taken into account during the sentencing.

florid

having too much decoration or detail

The florid language of the novel was not to everyone's taste.

forbearance

the quality of being kind towards other people

The woman showed great forbearance in dealing with the noisy neighbors.

fortitude

courage shown by somebody who is suffering great pain

The soldier's fortitude in battle earned him a medal of honor.

fortuitous

happening by chance, especially a lucky chance that brings a good result

The coincidence of meeting his childhood friend was fortuitous.

foster

to encourage something to develop

The parents tried to foster a loving environment for the children.

fraught

filled with something unpleasant

The discussion was fraught with tension as both sides had strongly held beliefs.

frugal

using only as much money or food as is necessary

The frugal shopper always looked for deals and discounts.

hackneyed

used too often and therefore boring

The author's use of clichés made the writing seem hackneyed.

haughty

behaving like you are better than other people

The CEO's haughty attitude made him unpopular with his employees.

hedonist

a person who believes that pleasure is the most important thing in life

The hedonist only cared about pleasure.

hypothesis

an explanation based on a few known facts but that has not yet been proved

The scientist tested their hypothesis by conducting an experiment.

impetuous

​acting or done quickly and without thinking carefully about the results

His impetuous decision led to a lot of trouble.

imputation

a statement in which you say that somebody is responsible for something

He denied the imputation that he had stolen the money.

inconsequential

not important or worth considering

The mistake was inconsequential and did not affect the overall result.

inevitable

that you cannot avoid or prevent

Death is inevitable, but we can still make the most of our time here.

intrepid ​

very brave; not afraid of danger or difficulties

The intrepid explorer went into the uncharted territory.

intuitive

obtained by using your feelings rather than by considering the facts

She had an intuitive feeling that something was wrong.

jubilation

​a feeling of great happiness because of a success

The team's victory brought about great jubilation among the fans.

lobbyist

a person whose job involves trying to influence politicians or the government

The lobbyist worked hard to convince politicians to support their cause.

longevity

long life; lasting a long time

Regular exercise and a healthy diet can increase longevity.

mundane

not interesting or exciting

The work at the office was mundane and repetitive.

nonchalant

behaving in a calm and relaxed way

He acted nonchalant about the whole situation, but inside he was worried.

opulent

made or decorated using expensive materials

The opulent palace was adorned with gold and jewels.

orator

a person who makes formal speeches in public or is good at public speaking

The orator gave a powerful speech that inspired the audience.

ostentatious

showing your wealth or status in a way that is intended to impress people

She wore an ostentatious outfit that drew attention to herself.

parched

very dry, especially because the weather is hot

After walking in the desert, he was parched and desperately needed water.

perfidious

that which cannot be trusted

The perfidious friend betrayed her trust and shared her secrets with others.

pragmatic

solving problems in a practical and sensible way

The pragmatic approach was to tackle the problem one step at a time.

precocious

having developed particular abilities at a much younger age than usual

The precocious child was already reading books meant for adults.

pretentious

trying to appear important or intelligent in order to impress  other people

The pretentious artist claimed that their work was worth millions.

procrastinate

to delay doing something that you should do

He always procrastinated and left things until the last minute.

prosaic

ordinary and not showing any imagination

The writing style was prosaic and lacked imagination.

prosperity

the state of being successful, especially in making money

The country's prosperity was due to a booming economy.

provocative

intended to make people angry or upset

The provocative outfit caused a lot of controversy and criticism.

prudent

sensible and careful when you make judgements and decisions

It's always prudent to save money for emergencies.

querulous

complaining; showing that you are annoyed

She had a querulous attitude and was never satisfied with anything.

rancorous

having or showing feelings of hate and a desire to hurt other  people

The rancorous feud between the two families had been going on for years.

reclusive

living alone and avoiding other people

The reclusive writer rarely left their home and hardly ever interacted with others.

reconciliation

an end to a disagreement or conflict with somebody

The reconciliation between the two former enemies  was a cause for celebration.

renovation

the act or process of repairing and painting an old building.

The renovation of the old building gave it new life and purpose.

restrained

to show calm control rather than emotion

He showed restrained anger when his classmate teased him.

reverence

a feeling of admiring and respecting somebody or something very much

The teacher was held in great reverence by all of her students.

sagacity

good judgement and understanding

The sagacity of the wise old man was evident in his advice.

scrutinise

to look at or examine somebody or something carefully

She scrutinised every detail of the contract before signing it.

spontaneous

not planned but done because you suddenly want to do it

The spontaneous trip to the beach was a lot of fun.

spurious

false, although seeming to be real or true

His spurious claim was quickly debunked by the experts.

submissive

too willing to accept somebody else’s authority

The submissive employee always did what was asked of them without question.

substantiate

to provide information or evidence to prove that something is true

The evidence helped to substantiate the claims made by the witness.

subtle

not very obvious or easy to notice

The subtle hints in her speech suggested that she was not happy with the situation.

superficial

not serious or important and not having any depth of understanding or feeling

The criticism was superficial and did not really matter.

superfluous

unnecessary or more than you need or want

The addition of unnecessary details made the report superfluous and difficult to read.

surreptitious

done secretly or quickly, in the hope that other people will  not notice

The surreptitious spy was able to gather valuable information.

tactful

careful not to say or do anything that will annoy or upset other people

He was tactful in his approach to the sensitive topic and did not offend anyone.

tenacious

very determined

The tenacious athlete never gave up and always pushed himself to his limits.

transient

continuing for only a short time

The transient nature of life made him appreciate every moment.

venerable

deserving of respect because a person is old, important, or wise.

The venerable professor was respected by all of her colleagues.

vicissitude

a change or variation; the quality of being changeable

The vicissitudes of life can be challenging.

vindicate

to prove that something is true or that you were right to do  something

The evidence presented was enough to vindicate him of the crime.

wary

careful when dealing with somebody because you think there may be danger

She was wary of strangers and always kept her guard up.