GRE-style vocabulary list

Rarer, more literary words of the kind that turn up in careful writing and in GRE-style practice: tenuous, ephemeral, obdurate, laconic. 576 words with meanings and example sentences.

Study these as flashcards

abate verb: to become less intense or widespread. The storm began to abate after midnight.
abdicate verb: to give up a throne or high office. The king chose to abdicate in favor of his daughter.
aberration noun: something that departs from what is normal or expected. One cold day in July was an aberration in an otherwise hot summer.
abhor verb: to hate with strong feeling. She will abhor any form of cruelty.
abscond verb: to leave quickly and secretly, often after stealing. The clerk tried to abscond with the money.
abstain verb: to choose not to do something. Several members chose to abstain from the vote.
abstruse adj: hard to understand because it is deep or complex. The lecture was so abstruse that even the experts looked puzzled.
accolade noun: an award or expression of praise. The film earned an accolade from every critic.
acerbic adj: sharp and direct in tone. The critic's acerbic wit made her reviews famous.
acquiesce verb: to agree without protest. After some thought, he chose to acquiesce to their plan.
acrimonious adj: angry and bitter in tone or manner. The meeting ended after an acrimonious exchange.
acumen noun: the ability to make good judgments quickly. Her business acumen turned a small shop into a chain.
adamant adj: refusing to change one's mind. He was adamant that the plan would not change.
admonish verb: to warn or scold someone mildly. The teacher gave a look to admonish the noisy class.
adulation noun: excessive praise or admiration. The singer basked in the adulation of her fans.
adversity noun: difficulty or misfortune. She showed courage in the face of adversity.
aesthetic adj: concerned with beauty and the appreciation of it. The architect cared more about aesthetic effect than about cost.
affable adj: friendly, kind and easy to talk to. The affable shopkeeper greeted every customer by name.
alacrity noun: cheerful readiness to act. He accepted the invitation with alacrity.
allay verb: to reduce fear or worry. The doctor's calm words helped allay her fears.
alleviate verb: to make pain or hardship less severe. A warm bath can alleviate sore muscles.
aloof adj: distant and not friendly. He remained aloof from the gossip around him.
altruistic adj: caring about the welfare of others more than yourself. The altruistic volunteer gave up her weekends to help.
amalgam noun: a mixture or blend of different things. The city's food is an amalgam of many cultures.
ambivalent adj: having mixed or opposing feelings about something. She felt ambivalent about moving: excited, but sad to leave.
ameliorate verb: to make a bad situation better. New drainage will ameliorate the flooding problem.
amenable adj: willing to accept or be guided. She was amenable to changing the date.
anachronism noun: something that belongs to a different time from the one it appears in. A wristwatch in a film about ancient Rome would be an anachronism.
anomaly noun: something that does not fit the usual pattern. The one warm day in January was a weather anomaly.
antagonize verb: to cause someone to feel anger. Try not to antagonize the neighbors over a small matter.
antipathy noun: a strong feeling of dislike. There was a long-standing antipathy between the two families.
apathy noun: a lack of interest or concern. Low voter turnout showed public apathy.
apocryphal adj: of doubtful truth, though widely told. The story of the lost treasure is probably apocryphal.
appease verb: to calm someone by giving in to their demands. The manager tried to appease the angry customers with a refund.
aptitude noun: a natural ability to do something well. She showed an aptitude for mathematics at a young age.
arcane adj: known or understood by very few people. The contract was full of arcane legal terms.
archaic adj: belonging to an earlier time and no longer in common use. The word "thou" is archaic in modern English.
ardent adj: showing strong enthusiasm or passion. He was an ardent supporter of the local team.
ardor noun: strong enthusiasm or passion. He spoke of his plans with great ardor.
arduous adj: needing a lot of effort and endurance. The climb to the summit was arduous.
articulate adj: able to express ideas clearly and well. An articulate speaker can make a hard topic easy to follow.
ascertain verb: to find out something for certain. Detectives worked to ascertain what had happened.
ascetic adj: living simply, without comforts or luxury. The monk led an ascetic life of prayer and plain food.
aspire verb: to have a strong desire to achieve something. Many students aspire to become doctors.
assiduous adj: showing steady care and effort. Her assiduous work in the lab led to a breakthrough.
assuage verb: to make an unpleasant feeling less severe. A cool drink helped assuage his thirst.
astute adj: clever and quick to see how to gain an advantage. An astute investor saw the change coming.
atrophy verb: to waste away through lack of use. Muscles will atrophy if they are never used.
attenuate verb: to make weaker or thinner. Thick walls attenuate the sound of the street.
audacious adj: willing to take bold risks. The audacious plan had never been tried before.
augment verb: to make larger or greater. She took a night job to augment her income.
auspicious adj: suggesting that success is likely. The sunny morning was an auspicious start to the festival.
austere adj: plain and severe, without decoration or comfort. The room was austere: a bed, a table and nothing else.
avarice noun: extreme greed for wealth. The miser's avarice left him with money but no friends.
avid adj: showing great enthusiasm for something. He is an avid reader of history books.
banal adj: so ordinary that it is boring. The film's banal dialogue made it forgettable.
beguile verb: to charm or deceive someone. The storyteller could beguile children for hours.
belie verb: to give a false impression of; to contradict. His calm voice would belie his nervousness.
belittle verb: to make someone or something seem unimportant. A good coach never belittles a player for a mistake.
belligerent adj: hostile and ready to fight. The belligerent customer shouted at the staff.
benevolent adj: kind and generous. The benevolent donor paid for the new library.
benign adj: gentle and kind, or not harmful. The doctor said the lump was benign.
blithe adj: cheerful and carefree, sometimes thoughtlessly so. She gave a blithe wave and strolled into the storm.
bolster verb: to support or strengthen something. The extra evidence bolstered her case.
bombastic adj: using grand, empty words to impress. The mayor's bombastic speech said very little.
boorish adj: rude and rough in manner. His boorish behavior embarrassed the whole family.
brazen adj: bold and without shame. It was a brazen lie, told with a straight face.
brevity noun: the quality of being short. The speech was praised for its brevity.
brusque adj: short and abrupt in speech or manner. The clerk gave a brusque reply and turned away.
bucolic adj: relating to pleasant country life. They moved to a bucolic village surrounded by meadows.
buoyant adj: able to float, or cheerful and hopeful. The team was buoyant after the win.
burgeon verb: to grow or increase rapidly. The town's population began to burgeon after the factory opened.
burnish verb: to polish something until it shines. He used a soft cloth to burnish the silver.
cacophony noun: a harsh mix of loud sounds. A cacophony of horns filled the street.
cajole verb: to persuade by flattery or gentle urging. She tried to cajole her brother into lending the car.
callous adj: showing no concern for other people's feelings. It was callous to laugh at his mistake.
candor noun: the quality of being open and honest. She spoke with refreshing candor about her failures.
capitulate verb: to stop resisting and give in. After weeks of protest the board had to capitulate.
capricious adj: changing suddenly and without a clear reason. The capricious weather ruined every picnic plan.
carp verb: to complain in a petty way. Do not carp about small things on a lovely day.
castigate verb: to criticize severely. The coach did not castigate the players but encouraged them.
caustic adj: sharp and bitter in a way that hurts. Her caustic remarks made the whole room go quiet.
censure verb: to criticize someone formally and severely. The committee voted to censure the official for misusing funds.
charlatan noun: a person who pretends to have skill or knowledge. The so-called healer turned out to be a charlatan.
chicanery noun: the use of clever tricks to deceive. The company was accused of chicanery in its accounts.
circuitous adj: longer than the direct way; indirect. We took a circuitous route to avoid the traffic.
circumlocution noun: the use of many words where fewer would do. His circumlocution hid the simple answer.
circumspect adj: careful to consider risks before acting. She was circumspect about sharing her plans.
clamor noun: a loud and confused noise, or a strong public demand. A clamor rose from the crowd at the gates.
clandestine adj: done in secret. They held clandestine meetings in the old warehouse.
cloying adj: sweet or sentimental to a sickening degree. The film's cloying ending left the audience groaning.
coalesce verb: to come together to form one whole. Small groups began to coalesce into a movement.
coerce verb: to make someone act by force or threats. No one should coerce another person into signing.
cogent adj: clear, logical and convincing. He made a cogent case for changing the schedule.
cohesive adj: forming a united whole. The team became a cohesive group over the season.
commensurate adj: matching in size or degree. The pay should be commensurate with the experience.
compelling adj: strongly holding attention or belief. The author made a compelling case for change.
complacent adj: satisfied with how things are, and so not trying harder. Winning twice made the team complacent.
compliant adj: willing to follow rules or requests. The compliant child tidied the room without a fuss.
concede verb: to admit that something is true, often reluctantly. I must concede that you were right.
conciliate verb: to win over or make peace with someone. The mayor tried to conciliate the unhappy residents.
condescend verb: to behave as if you are better than others. He would condescend to explain things to the staff.
condone verb: to accept or allow bad behaviour. The school does not condone cheating of any kind.
conflate verb: to combine two things into one, often wrongly. Do not conflate being busy with being productive.
congenial adj: pleasant because it suits one's tastes or nature. The congenial company made the evening fly by.
conspicuous adj: easy to see; standing out. A red barn is conspicuous against the snow.
contentious adj: likely to cause disagreement. The contentious issue split the committee.
contrite adj: feeling or showing sorrow for having done wrong. The contrite boy apologized to his teacher.
conundrum noun: a confusing problem with no easy answer. How to be fair to everyone was a real conundrum.
convoluted adj: extremely complex and hard to follow. The plot was so convoluted that nobody could explain it.
copious adj: existing in large amounts. She took copious notes during the lecture.
cordial adj: warm and friendly. The hosts gave us a cordial welcome.
corroborate verb: to support a claim with more evidence. A second witness corroborated her story.
cower verb: to crouch or shrink back in fear. The dog began to cower at the sound of thunder.
credulous adj: too ready to believe things. Credulous shoppers believed the miracle claims on the label.
cryptic adj: having a hidden or mysterious meaning. She left a cryptic note that nobody could decode.
culminate verb: to reach a final high point. The season will culminate in a championship game.
cumbersome adj: large and awkward to carry or use. The old computer was cumbersome and slow.
cursory adj: quick and not thorough. He gave the report a cursory glance and missed the error.
cynical adj: distrusting people's motives. He was cynical about promises made before elections.
daunt verb: to make someone feel less confident or brave. The steep climb did not daunt the young hikers.
dearth noun: a lack or scarcity of something. There is a dearth of affordable housing in the city.
debilitate verb: to make very weak. A long illness can debilitate even a strong person.
debunk verb: to show that an idea or claim is false. The scientist debunked the myth with a simple experiment.
decadent adj: marked by indulgence and moral decline. The party was a decadent affair of rich food and wine.
decorum noun: polite and proper behavior. The students kept perfect decorum during the ceremony.
deference noun: polite respect for someone's opinion or position. He spoke with deference to the older members.
defunct adj: no longer existing or working. The defunct railway line is now a walking path.
deleterious adj: causing harm or damage. Too little sleep has a deleterious effect on memory.
delineate verb: to describe or mark out precisely. The report will delineate each worker's duties.
demur verb: to raise doubts or show reluctance. When asked to sing, he chose to demur.
denigrate verb: to criticize unfairly and belittle. It is unkind to denigrate someone's honest effort.
denounce verb: to publicly say that something is wrong. Leaders gathered to denounce the attack.
deplete verb: to use up or greatly reduce. Heavy fishing can deplete the stock of cod.
deplore verb: to strongly disapprove of. Many people deplore the waste of food.
deride verb: to mock someone or something with scorn. Critics will deride the plan as foolish and costly.
despot noun: a ruler who holds absolute power and uses it cruelly. The despot silenced anyone who disagreed with him.
desultory adj: lacking a plan or enthusiasm. They held a desultory conversation about the weather.
deter verb: to put someone off from doing something. A loud alarm may deter thieves.
devout adj: deeply committed to religious faith. The devout pilgrim walked for many days.
diatribe noun: a long, bitter speech against someone or something. He launched into a diatribe about the price of coffee.
dichotomy noun: a division into two sharply different parts. There is a dichotomy between what he says and what he does.
didactic adj: intended to teach, often in a way that sounds like lecturing. The story was too didactic and felt like a lecture.
diffident adj: lacking confidence in oneself; shy. The diffident student rarely raised a hand.
diffuse adj: spread over a wide area; not concentrated. The diffuse light of a cloudy sky is soft.
digress verb: to wander away from the main subject. The speaker digressed into a story about his dog.
dilatory adj: slow to act; delaying. The dilatory clerk took a week to reply.
diligent adj: showing steady and careful effort. A diligent student reviews her notes each night.
discern verb: to notice or recognise something that is not obvious. It was hard to discern the faint path in the fog.
discordant adj: not in harmony; clashing. The discordant notes made the audience wince.
discreet adj: careful not to attract attention or cause offense. Please be discreet about the surprise party.
disdain noun: a feeling that someone or something is unworthy of respect. He looked at the cheap gift with open disdain.
disparage verb: to speak of something as being of little value. Rivals tried to disparage her achievements.
disparate adj: so different that comparison is hard. The report combined disparate sources of data.
dispel verb: to make a feeling or idea disappear. Her kind words did dispel his doubts.
disperse verb: to scatter in different directions. The crowd began to disperse when the rain started.
dissemble verb: to hide one's true feelings or intentions. She tried to dissemble, but her smile did not fool anyone.
disseminate verb: to spread information widely. Schools disseminate the news by email.
dissent noun: disagreement with an official or common opinion. There was little dissent among the committee.
distort verb: to change the shape or meaning of something. The old glass will distort your reflection.
divulge verb: to reveal something private or secret. He refused to divulge the name of his source.
docile adj: easy to teach, manage or control. The docile horse let the children climb on its back.
dogmatic adj: insisting that your own beliefs are the only correct ones. A dogmatic leader refuses to hear other views.
dormant adj: temporarily inactive, as if asleep. The volcano has been dormant for centuries.
dubious adj: doubtful or not to be trusted. The claim sounded dubious to everyone in the room.
duplicity noun: deliberate deceit in what one says or does. His duplicity was revealed when the letters were found.
ebullient adj: cheerful and full of energy. The ebullient host greeted everyone at the door.
eccentric adj: unconventional in an odd or unusual way. The eccentric professor wore a different hat every day.
eclectic adj: drawing from many different sources. Her eclectic playlist ranged from jazz to folk to rock.
edify verb: to instruct in a way that improves the mind. The lecture was meant to edify as well as entertain.
efface verb: to rub out or make disappear. Centuries of rain had begun to efface the carving.
efficacy noun: the ability to produce the intended result. Trials tested the efficacy of the new medicine.
egregious adj: outstandingly bad; shocking. The report revealed an egregious error in the accounts.
elated adj: extremely happy and excited. She was elated when the results came in.
elicit verb: to draw out a reaction or answer. The magician's trick failed to elicit a single gasp.
eloquent adj: fluent and persuasive in speech or writing. The eloquent speech moved the whole audience.
elusive adj: hard to find, catch or remember. The elusive fox slipped away through the trees.
embellish verb: to make more attractive by adding details. Do not embellish the facts when you tell the story.
eminent adj: famous and respected in a field. An eminent scientist opened the new laboratory.
empathy noun: the ability to understand and share another's feelings. A good nurse shows empathy for every patient.
empirical adj: based on observation or experiment rather than theory. The claim needs empirical support, not just opinion.
emulate verb: to try to equal or match, especially by imitating. Young players often emulate their favorite athletes.
endemic adj: regularly found in a particular place. The disease is endemic in the warm lowlands.
enervate verb: to drain someone of energy. The heat and humidity enervated the hikers.
enigma noun: a person or thing that is puzzling and hard to understand. The painter remains an enigma to historians.
enmity noun: deep-rooted hostility between people. The enmity between the clans lasted generations.
ephemeral adj: lasting only a very short time. Soap bubbles are beautiful but ephemeral.
equanimity noun: calmness of mind, especially under pressure. She faced the bad news with remarkable equanimity.
equivocal adj: open to more than one interpretation; deliberately vague. His equivocal reply left everyone unsure of his plans.
erratic adj: not regular or steady; unpredictable. The train service has been erratic all week.
erudite adj: having or showing great knowledge from study. The erudite professor could quote from dozens of books.
eschew verb: to deliberately avoid or give up. He chose to eschew sweets for a month.
esoteric adj: understood by only a small group with special knowledge. The club discussed esoteric points of chess theory.
esteem noun: respect and admiration. The teacher was held in high esteem by her pupils.
evanescent adj: lasting only a very short time; fading quickly. The evanescent glow of the fireflies faded by midnight.
exacerbate verb: to make a problem worse. Scratching will only exacerbate the rash.
exasperate verb: to annoy someone very much. Constant delays can exasperate even calm travelers.
exemplary adj: serving as an excellent example. Her exemplary behaviour earned the class's respect.
exemplify verb: to be a typical example of. Her kindness will exemplify the spirit of the school.
exhaustive adj: thorough and complete. They carried out an exhaustive search of the building.
exhort verb: to strongly urge someone to do something. The coach would exhort the team to try harder.
exigent adj: urgent and demanding attention. The exigent need for water drove them onward.
exonerate verb: to clear of blame. New evidence will exonerate the accused man.
expedient adj: useful for a purpose, though not always fair. It seemed expedient to leave before the storm.
explicit adj: clearly and fully stated, leaving no doubt. The rules are explicit about when to arrive.
expunge verb: to remove completely. The court agreed to expunge the record.
extol verb: to praise enthusiastically. Reviewers extol the novel as a masterpiece.
extraneous adj: not directly connected with the subject. Delete any extraneous details from your essay.
fabricate verb: to make up something false, or to build. He was fired for trying to fabricate the results.
facade noun: the front of a building, or a false outward appearance. Behind his cheerful facade, he was deeply worried.
facetious adj: treating serious matters with silly humor. A facetious remark spoiled the serious mood.
fallacy noun: a mistaken belief, or a flaw in reasoning. It is a fallacy that lightning never strikes twice.
fallible adj: capable of making mistakes. Even experts are fallible.
fanatical adj: filled with extreme and uncritical enthusiasm. He was fanatical about keeping his lawn perfect.
fastidious adj: very careful about detail and cleanliness. A fastidious cook, he measured every spoonful.
fatuous adj: silly and pointless. The fatuous question wasted everyone's time.
feign verb: to pretend to feel or be something. She would feign sleep to avoid doing the dishes.
fervent adj: showing intense and sincere feeling. They made a fervent plea for help.
fervor noun: intense and passionate feeling. The crowd cheered with great fervor.
fickle adj: changing often, especially in loyalty or affection. The fickle weather ruined our plans.
finesse noun: skill and delicacy in handling something. The pianist played with great finesse.
flagrant adj: obviously and openly wrong. The referee punished the flagrant foul at once.
flamboyant adj: striking and confident in style. He wore a flamboyant scarf of orange and gold.
fledgling adj: new and without much experience. The fledgling company had only five staff.
flout verb: to openly ignore a rule. Drivers who flout the speed limit risk a fine.
foment verb: to stir up trouble or unrest. The speaker tried to foment anger among the workers.
forestall verb: to act in advance to prevent something. Quick action helped forestall a larger crisis.
forlorn adj: pitifully sad and alone. A forlorn puppy waited by the empty house.
formidable adj: causing fear or respect because of size or power. The team faced a formidable opponent in the final.
fortitude noun: strength of mind in facing pain or difficulty. She bore her illness with great fortitude.
fortuitous adj: happening by lucky chance. A fortuitous meeting led to their partnership.
fractious adj: easily upset or quarrelsome. The fractious meeting ended without any agreement.
frivolous adj: not serious or sensible. She regretted spending the money on something frivolous.
frugal adj: careful about spending money. Their frugal habits let them save for a house.
furtive adj: done in a secret, sneaky way. He gave the clock a furtive glance during the lesson.
futile adj: useless because it cannot succeed. It is futile to argue with the weather.
galvanize verb: to shock or excite into taking action. The disaster would galvanize the town into action.
garrulous adj: talking a lot, especially about unimportant things. The garrulous neighbour could talk for an hour about the weather.
genial adj: friendly and cheerful. The genial host kept the conversation going.
germane adj: relevant to the subject being discussed. Please keep your comments germane to the topic.
glib adj: fluent but not sincere or deep. His glib answer did not explain anything.
gratuitous adj: done without good reason; unnecessary. The film had gratuitous scenes of violence.
gravity noun: seriousness, or the force that pulls things to the earth. The gravity of the situation became clear to everyone.
gregarious adj: enjoying the company of other people. A gregarious child, she made friends within minutes.
guile noun: clever and sly skill at tricking others. The fox in the story used guile to escape.
hackneyed adj: overused and no longer fresh or interesting. The movie relied on hackneyed plot twists.
haphazard adj: lacking any order or plan. Books were stacked in a haphazard pile.
hapless adj: unlucky and unfortunate. The hapless traveler missed every train that day.
harangue verb: to lecture someone at length in an angry way. The coach would harangue the team after every loss.
harbinger noun: something that signals what is coming. The first robin is a harbinger of spring.
haughty adj: arrogantly proud and looking down on others. The haughty waiter ignored our questions.
hegemony noun: leadership or control by one group over others. The empire kept its hegemony over the region for a century.
heretical adj: going against accepted beliefs. His heretical theory shocked the scientific community.
hinder verb: to make it difficult for something to happen. Heavy snow will hinder the rescue effort.
hone verb: to sharpen or perfect a skill. She spent years to hone her skill as a violinist.
hubris noun: excessive pride and self-confidence. His hubris led him to ignore every warning.
humility noun: a modest view of one's own importance. The champion showed great humility in victory.
hypocrisy noun: pretending to have beliefs one does not hold. It is hypocrisy to preach thrift and then overspend.
iconoclast noun: a person who attacks widely held beliefs. The iconoclast mocked traditions others held sacred.
idiosyncrasy noun: a peculiar habit or feature of one person. Eating dessert first was one of her harmless idiosyncrasies.
idyllic adj: peaceful and picturesque. They spent an idyllic week by the lake.
ignominious adj: causing public shame or disgrace. The team suffered an ignominious defeat.
illicit adj: not allowed by law or custom. The police shut down the illicit trade.
imminent adj: about to happen. Dark clouds warned that a storm was imminent.
immutable adj: not able to be changed. The laws of nature are immutable.
impartial adj: treating all sides equally; not biased. An impartial referee does not favour either team.
impassive adj: showing no emotion. The judge remained impassive as the verdict was read.
impeccable adj: without fault; perfect. Her manners were impeccable.
impede verb: to slow down or get in the way of. Fallen trees impede traffic on the mountain road.
impending adj: about to happen, often something unpleasant. An impending storm sent everyone indoors.
imperative adj: of vital importance. It is imperative that we leave on time.
impervious adj: not affected by; not allowing anything through. The coat is impervious to rain.
impetuous adj: acting quickly without thinking. His impetuous decision to quit left him with no job.
implacable adj: impossible to calm or change. The implacable storm battered the coast all night.
implicit adj: suggested but not directly stated. There was an implicit warning in her tone.
impudent adj: rudely disrespectful. The impudent boy stuck out his tongue.
inadvertent adj: done without meaning to. An inadvertent click deleted the file.
inane adj: silly and without meaning. He asked an inane question that had already been answered.
incessant adj: continuing without a pause. The incessant noise kept her awake.
inchoate adj: only just begun and not fully formed. He had only an inchoate idea of what the book would be about.
incisive adj: clear, sharp and direct in thought or expression. An incisive question exposed the flaw in the plan.
incite verb: to encourage violent or unlawful behavior. The speech was meant to incite a riot.
incongruous adj: out of place or not fitting with its surroundings. A neon sign looked incongruous on the ancient stone wall.
indict verb: to formally accuse of a crime. A jury voted to indict the mayor.
indigenous adj: originating in a particular place; native. The kiwi is indigenous to New Zealand.
indolent adj: unwilling to work; lazy. The indolent cat slept through the whole afternoon.
induce verb: to persuade or bring about. Nothing could induce her to change her mind.
ineffable adj: too great or beautiful to be put into words. The view from the summit filled her with ineffable joy.
inept adj: having or showing no skill. The inept juggler dropped every ball.
inertia noun: a tendency to do nothing or remain unchanged. Inertia kept the committee from taking any action.
inexorable adj: impossible to stop or change. The inexorable tide crept up the beach.
infamous adj: well known for something bad. The infamous pirate terrorized the coast.
ingenious adj: clever, original and inventive. She found an ingenious way to fix the leak.
ingenuous adj: innocent and open; lacking cunning. Her ingenuous question made the adults smile.
innate adj: existing from birth; natural. She has an innate sense of rhythm.
innocuous adj: not harmful or offensive. The comment seemed innocuous, but it upset him.
inordinate adj: unusually or excessively large. He spent an inordinate amount of time on the task.
insidious adj: slowly and secretly causing harm. The insidious disease went unnoticed for years.
insipid adj: lacking flavour or interest. The soup was insipid and needed salt.
insular adj: ignorant of or uninterested in other cultures or ideas. The insular town rarely welcomed strangers.
integrity noun: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. The judge was known for her integrity.
interminable adj: seeming to go on forever. The interminable speech put the audience to sleep.
intimidate verb: to frighten someone into doing something. Bullies try to intimidate smaller children.
intractable adj: hard to control or deal with. The intractable problem baffled the engineers.
intransigent adj: refusing to change an opinion or agree. Intransigent on both sides, they never reached a deal.
intrepid adj: fearless and adventurous. The intrepid explorer crossed the desert alone.
inundate verb: to overwhelm with a large amount. The helpline was inundated with calls after the broadcast.
inure verb: to accustom someone to something unpleasant. Years at sea helped inure the crew to harsh weather.
invective noun: harsh insulting language. The debate descended into invective.
inveterate adj: having a long-standing habit that is unlikely to change. He is an inveterate liar.
irascible adj: easily made angry. The irascible chef shouted at the smallest mistake.
irate adj: very angry. An irate customer demanded to see the manager.
irrevocable adj: impossible to change or undo. She made an irrevocable decision to leave.
itinerant adj: traveling from place to place. An itinerant preacher visited the villages each spring.
jaded adj: tired and bored from having too much of something. The jaded critic had seen every kind of film.
jeopardy noun: danger of loss or harm. The delay put the whole project in jeopardy.
jocular adj: fond of joking; humorous. His jocular manner put the nervous guests at ease.
jubilant adj: feeling or showing great joy over success. Jubilant fans poured into the streets.
judicious adj: showing good judgment. A judicious use of salt makes the soup taste better.
juxtapose verb: to place side by side to compare or contrast. The gallery will juxtapose old photographs with new ones.
laconic adj: using very few words. His laconic reply was a single word: "Fine."
lament verb: to express grief or sorrow. Villagers lament the loss of their old school.
languid adj: slow and relaxed, without energy. They spent a languid afternoon by the pool.
latent adj: present but not yet visible or active. The test revealed a latent talent for music.
laud verb: to praise highly. Critics lauded the film's stunning photography.
laudable adj: deserving praise. Her goal of cleaning the river is laudable.
lavish adj: rich, abundant and extravagant. The couple threw a lavish party for two hundred guests.
lethargic adj: feeling sluggish and without energy. The heat left everyone lethargic.
levity noun: lightness of mood in a serious situation. A joke brought a moment of levity to the long meeting.
loathe verb: to dislike intensely. I loathe waiting in long lines.
loquacious adj: very talkative. The loquacious guide never stopped talking.
lucid adj: clearly expressed and easy to understand. A lucid explanation cleared up the confusion.
lucrative adj: producing a great deal of money. He left teaching for a more lucrative job.
lurid adj: shockingly vivid or sensational. The newspaper printed lurid details of the crime.
magnanimous adj: generous and forgiving, especially toward a rival. The winner was magnanimous and praised her opponent.
malevolent adj: wishing harm to others. The villain gave the hero a malevolent smile.
malign verb: to say harmful and untrue things about someone. Do not malign a person who cannot defend himself.
malleable adj: easily shaped or influenced. Gold is malleable and can be hammered into thin sheets.
mandate noun: an official order or authority to act. The voters gave the mayor a clear mandate.
maverick noun: an independent person who does not follow the group. The maverick designer ignored every fashion rule.
meander verb: to follow a winding course, or to wander aimlessly. The river will meander through the green valley.
melancholy noun: a deep, lasting sadness without clear cause. A feeling of melancholy settled over the house.
mendacious adj: not telling the truth. The mendacious witness was caught in several lies.
mercurial adj: changing mood quickly and unpredictably. The mercurial star was cheerful one minute and furious the next.
meticulous adj: showing great attention to detail. The meticulous editor caught every typo.
mimic verb: to copy the speech or behavior of someone. Parrots can mimic human voices.
minuscule adj: extremely small. The text was minuscule and hard to read.
mirth noun: amusement shown in laughter. The clown's antics filled the tent with mirth.
misanthrope noun: a person who dislikes and avoids other people. The misanthrope lived alone at the end of a long road.
mitigate verb: to make something less severe. Planting trees can mitigate the effects of heat.
mollify verb: to calm someone who is upset. A sincere apology mollified the angry customer.
morose adj: sullen and gloomy. He sat morose in the corner for the whole party.
mundane adj: ordinary and lacking excitement. She wrote about the mundane details of daily life.
munificent adj: very generous. A munificent donor paid for the new library wing.
nadir noun: the lowest point of something. The team's nadir came with a loss by forty points.
nascent adj: just beginning to exist and develop. The nascent company had only three employees.
nebulous adj: vague and not clearly defined. He had only a nebulous idea of what the job involved.
nefarious adj: wicked or criminal. The villain's nefarious plot was finally exposed.
neophyte noun: a beginner or newcomer. The neophyte needed help with even the simplest steps.
nonchalant adj: calm and not showing worry. She gave a nonchalant shrug and walked on.
notorious adj: famous for something bad. The road is notorious for accidents.
novice noun: a person new to a skill or activity. The novice climber needed a guide.
noxious adj: poisonous or very unpleasant. Noxious fumes drifted from the factory.
obdurate adj: stubbornly refusing to change one's mind. The obdurate council refused every compromise.
oblivious adj: not aware of what is happening around you. She was oblivious to the noise and kept on reading.
obsequious adj: too eager to please or obey. The obsequious assistant agreed with everything the boss said.
officious adj: too eager to give orders or advice. The officious guard stopped everyone at the gate.
ominous adj: suggesting that something bad will happen. Ominous clouds gathered over the hills.
onerous adj: needing heavy effort; burdensome. Cleaning the whole house was an onerous task.
opaque adj: not able to be seen through; hard to understand. The opaque glass let in light but hid the view.
opulent adj: very rich and luxurious. The hotel lobby was opulent, with gold on every surface.
ornate adj: richly decorated with detail. The ornate ceiling was covered in gold leaf.
ostentatious adj: designed to impress with show or wealth. The ostentatious mansion had gold on every door.
ostracize verb: to exclude someone from a group. The villagers chose to ostracize the stranger.
oust verb: to force out of a position. Voters moved to oust the mayor from office.
overt adj: done or shown openly. There was no overt sign of trouble.
palatable adj: pleasant to taste or acceptable to the mind. Salt made the plain soup more palatable.
panacea noun: a solution said to solve all problems. No single law can be a panacea for poverty.
paradox noun: a statement or situation that seems contradictory but may be true. It is a paradox that the more choices we have, the harder it is to choose.
paragon noun: a perfect example of a quality. She was a paragon of patience with the little ones.
pariah noun: a person rejected by society. After the scandal he became a pariah in town.
parsimonious adj: unwilling to spend money; very stingy. The parsimonious owner refused to heat the office.
partisan adj: strongly supporting one side, often without thought. The partisan crowd booed the visiting team.
pathos noun: a quality that arouses pity or sadness. The film's pathos brought tears to many eyes.
paucity noun: a small or insufficient amount. There is a paucity of evidence for the claim.
pedantic adj: overly concerned with small details and rules. A pedantic editor corrected the font size in a joke.
penchant noun: a strong liking for something. She has a penchant for mystery novels.
perfidious adj: betraying trust; disloyal. The perfidious friend sold her secrets to a rival.
perfunctory adj: done quickly with little care. He gave the room a perfunctory sweep and left.
peripheral adj: on the edge; of secondary importance. These are peripheral issues and can wait.
pernicious adj: having a harmful effect, often gradually. The pernicious rumour slowly damaged her reputation.
perpetual adj: never ending or changing. The mountain was capped in perpetual snow.
perspicacious adj: quick to notice and understand things. A perspicacious reader spotted the clue on page one.
pertinent adj: directly relevant to the matter at hand. She asked a pertinent question about the budget.
pervade verb: to spread through and be felt in every part. The smell of baking bread will pervade the whole house.
pervasive adj: spreading through every part. The pervasive smell of smoke filled the house.
phlegmatic adj: not easily excited; calm. The phlegmatic captain showed no fear.
pious adj: showing deep respect for religion. The pious villagers attended services every day.
pithy adj: short and full of meaning. His pithy advice fit on a single card.
pivotal adj: of vital importance to the outcome. The goal was pivotal to the team's victory.
placate verb: to calm someone who is angry. A refund helped placate the unhappy customer.
plethora noun: a large or excessive amount. The menu offered a plethora of choices.
poignant adj: causing a keen feeling of sadness. The poignant letter was written to a lost friend.
ponderous adj: slow and clumsy because of weight; dull. The ponderous speech seemed to last for hours.
portend verb: to be a sign that something is about to happen. Dark clouds portend a change in the weather.
postulate verb: to suggest or assume as a basis for reasoning. Scientists postulate that the universe is expanding.
pragmatic adj: dealing with things in a practical, sensible way. A pragmatic leader chooses what works over what sounds grand.
prattle verb: to talk at length about unimportant things. The children prattle on about their toys.
precarious adj: not safe or stable; likely to fall or fail. The vase sat in a precarious position on the edge of the shelf.
precipitate adj: done suddenly and without enough thought. The precipitate sale cost them a lot of money.
precocious adj: having developed skills earlier than usual. The precocious child could read at age three.
predilection noun: a special liking for something. She has a predilection for strong coffee.
preposterous adj: completely absurd or ridiculous. The idea that cats can fly is preposterous.
prescient adj: knowing or seeming to know what will happen. Her prescient warning about the flood saved lives.
presumptuous adj: too bold and confident in an impolite way. It was presumptuous of him to sit at the head of the table.
pretentious adj: trying to seem more important or cultured than one is. The pretentious menu used words nobody understood.
pristine adj: in its original, unspoiled condition. The pristine beach had no footprints on it.
probity noun: strong moral principles; honesty. The judge was known for her probity.
prodigal adj: spending money or resources recklessly. The prodigal heir spent the fortune in a year.
prodigious adj: remarkably great in size or amount. The young pianist had a prodigious talent.
profligate adj: recklessly extravagant. The profligate heir spent the fortune in two years.
profound adj: very great or deep. The speech had a profound effect on the audience.
profuse adj: given or flowing in large amounts. He offered profuse thanks for the help.
proliferate verb: to increase rapidly in number. Weeds proliferate after a warm, wet spring.
prolific adj: producing a great deal. The prolific author wrote forty novels.
propensity noun: a natural tendency to behave in a certain way. He has a propensity to arrive late.
propitious adj: giving or showing good chances of success. It was a propitious moment to ask for a raise.
prosaic adj: plain and unimaginative; ordinary. Her prosaic answer disappointed those hoping for a story.
prudent adj: showing good judgement and care about the future. It is prudent to save some money each month.
pugnacious adj: always ready for a quarrel or a scrap. The pugnacious customer argued with everyone in the shop.
pungent adj: having a sharp, strong smell or taste. The pungent smell of garlic filled the kitchen.
quaint adj: attractively unusual or old-fashioned. They stayed in a quaint cottage by the sea.
quandary noun: a state of not knowing what to do. He was in a quandary over which job to accept.
quell verb: to put an end to; to calm. Police moved in to quell the disturbance.
querulous adj: complaining in a whining way. The querulous guest found fault with everything.
quixotic adj: extremely idealistic and unrealistic. The quixotic plan to end all traffic by next year failed.
rampant adj: spreading in an uncontrolled way. Weeds ran rampant through the neglected garden.
rancor noun: deep, lasting bitterness or resentment. There was no rancor between them after the match.
ratify verb: to formally approve an agreement. The council must ratify the contract.
rebuke verb: to speak sharply to someone for doing wrong. The teacher will rebuke any student who cheats.
rebuttal noun: an argument that shows another claim to be false. The lawyer prepared a detailed rebuttal.
recalcitrant adj: stubbornly resisting authority or control. The recalcitrant mule refused to move.
recant verb: to say publicly that you no longer hold a belief. Under pressure, the witness chose to recant his story.
reciprocal adj: given and received in return. They had a reciprocal agreement to share the costs.
reclusive adj: avoiding other people; living alone. The reclusive author rarely gave interviews.
redundant adj: not needed because it repeats something else. "Free gift" is redundant: gifts are already free.
refute verb: to prove that a claim is wrong. The data refute the claim that the river is polluted.
relegate verb: to move to a lower position. The league may relegate the team to a lower division.
remedy noun: a way of curing or solving a problem. Rest is the best remedy for a cold.
remorse noun: deep regret for something one has done. He felt sharp remorse for the harsh words.
render verb: to cause to be in a certain state. The snow will render the road impassable.
repel verb: to drive back or to cause disgust. This spray will repel mosquitoes.
replete adj: filled or well supplied with something. The garden was replete with roses.
reprehensible adj: deserving blame or disapproval. Lying to the public was a reprehensible act.
reprieve noun: a delay or cancellation of punishment or trouble. The rain gave the farmers a brief reprieve from the drought.
reproach noun: an expression of disapproval or disappointment. Her look of reproach said more than words.
repudiate verb: to refuse to accept or be associated with. The senator chose to repudiate the rumor.
repugnant adj: causing strong dislike or disgust. The cruelty was repugnant to everyone.
rescind verb: to take back or cancel officially. The school will rescind the rule after complaints.
resilient adj: able to recover quickly after difficulty. Children are often more resilient than adults expect.
respite noun: a short period of rest from something difficult. The shady bench offered a welcome respite from the heat.
restive adj: unable to stay still or be controlled. The restive crowd began to murmur.
reticent adj: unwilling to share thoughts or feelings. He was reticent about his past.
retract verb: to draw back, or to take back a statement. The newspaper had to retract the false story.
reverence noun: deep respect and admiration. The students spoke of their teacher with reverence.
reverent adj: showing deep respect. The visitors fell into a reverent silence.
rhetoric noun: the art of persuasive speaking or writing. The candidate's rhetoric stirred the crowd.
rigorous adj: extremely thorough and strict. The athletes follow a rigorous training plan.
robust adj: strong and healthy; able to withstand stress. The robust old fence survived the storm.
rudimentary adj: basic or not fully developed. He has only a rudimentary knowledge of French.
ruminate verb: to think deeply about something. She would ruminate over the problem for days.
sagacious adj: having sound judgement; wise. A sagacious advisor warned them about the risks.
salient adj: most noticeable or important. She listed the salient points of the report.
sanguine adj: optimistic, especially in a difficult situation. She remained sanguine despite the setbacks.
sardonic adj: grimly mocking or scornful. He gave a sardonic smile at the bad news.
satiate verb: to satisfy fully, often to excess. The huge meal did satiate even the hungriest guest.
scathing adj: severely critical. The reviewer wrote a scathing report on the play.
scrupulous adj: careful to do what is right and avoid mistakes. The scrupulous clerk checked every figure twice.
scrutinize verb: to examine very closely. Auditors scrutinize every receipt.
sedentary adj: involving much sitting and little exercise. A sedentary job can be hard on the back.
serendipity noun: a lucky discovery made by chance. By serendipity, she found the rare book at a yard sale.
serene adj: calm, peaceful and untroubled. The lake was serene at dawn.
servile adj: too eager to serve or obey others. The servile clerk agreed with every word the boss said.
shrewd adj: clever and sharp in judging a situation. A shrewd trader, she never paid full price.
skeptical adj: not easily convinced; having doubts. Scientists are skeptical of claims without proof.
slander noun: a false spoken statement that harms someone's name. He sued the paper for slander.
solace noun: comfort in a time of sadness. She found solace in music after the loss.
solemn adj: serious and dignified. The mood at the ceremony was solemn.
solicitous adj: showing careful concern for someone. The solicitous nurse checked on every patient twice.
somber adj: dark, dull or serious in mood. The somber music matched the gray day.
soporific adj: causing sleepiness. The warm room and soft music were soporific.
spartan adj: simple, plain and without comfort. The soldier lived in a spartan room with a single bed.
spontaneous adj: done on impulse, without planning. The crowd broke into spontaneous applause.
sporadic adj: happening only now and then. There were sporadic showers through the morning.
spurious adj: not genuine; false. The spurious claim was quickly disproved.
squalid adj: extremely dirty and unpleasant. The family lived in squalid conditions.
squander verb: to waste money, time or chances. Do not squander your savings on things you will not use.
staunch adj: loyal and firm in support. She was a staunch supporter of the local team.
steadfast adj: firmly loyal or fixed in purpose. They remained steadfast in the face of danger.
stigma noun: a mark of shame or disgrace. There is still a stigma attached to asking for help.
stoic adj: enduring pain or hardship without complaint. He was stoic about the long delay.
stolid adj: calm and showing little emotion. The stolid guard did not react to the joke.
strident adj: loud and harsh in sound. The strident alarm woke the whole street.
stupor noun: a state of near-unconsciousness or dazed confusion. He sat in a stupor after the long journey.
subdued adj: quiet and rather serious; toned down. The subdued crowd left the stadium without a word.
substantiate verb: to provide evidence to support a claim. Please substantiate the claim with figures.
subtle adj: not obvious; delicate or slight. There was a subtle change in her tone.
succinct adj: brief and clearly expressed. A succinct email is more likely to be read.
succumb verb: to give in to a strong force. He did not succumb to pressure from the crowd.
sullen adj: bad-tempered and silent. The sullen teenager refused to answer.
supercilious adj: behaving as if one is better than others. The waiter gave a supercilious sniff.
superfluous adj: more than is needed. Delete superfluous words to tighten your writing.
supplant verb: to take the place of. Digital photos tend to supplant film in most homes.
surfeit noun: an excessive amount of something. A surfeit of sweets made the children feel ill.
surreptitious adj: done secretly to avoid being noticed. He took a surreptitious glance at his phone.
sycophant noun: a person who flatters the powerful for advantage. The king kept a sycophant at every door.
tacit adj: understood without being said. They had a tacit agreement not to mention the argument.
taciturn adj: saying very little. The taciturn farmer answered only in single words.
tangential adj: only slightly connected to the main point. The comment was tangential to the discussion.
tangible adj: able to be touched; clear and real. There was tangible excitement in the hall.
tantamount adj: equivalent in effect to. Staying silent was tantamount to agreeing.
tedious adj: tiresome because it is long and dull. The tedious lecture lasted three hours.
temerity noun: excessive boldness. He had the temerity to ask for a second helping.
tenacious adj: holding firmly to a goal; determined. A tenacious reporter, she chased the story for months.
tenuous adj: very weak or slight. The tenuous link between the two cases was hard to prove.
tepid adj: only slightly warm; lacking enthusiasm. The audience gave a tepid response.
terse adj: brief to the point of seeming rude. His terse reply made it clear he was annoyed.
thwart verb: to prevent someone from doing something. A locked gate thwarted their plan.
timorous adj: showing fear; timid. The timorous puppy hid behind the sofa.
tirade noun: a long angry speech. She launched into a tirade against the late bus.
tolerate verb: to accept something without complaint. The plant can tolerate drought for weeks.
torpid adj: mentally or physically inactive; sluggish. The heat left everyone torpid and silent.
tranquil adj: calm and peaceful. The lake was tranquil at dawn.
transient adj: lasting only a short time; passing. The island has a transient population of summer workers.
trepidation noun: nervous fear about what may happen. She opened the letter with trepidation.
trite adj: overused and so lacking in freshness. The card was full of trite phrases.
trivial adj: of little value or importance. It was a trivial matter, soon forgotten.
truculent adj: eager to argue or fight. The truculent customer shouted at the staff.
turbulent adj: full of violent or unsteady movement. The turbulent river tossed the little boat.
ubiquitous adj: seeming to be everywhere at once. Smartphones are now ubiquitous.
umbrage noun: a feeling of being offended. She took umbrage at the suggestion that she was late.
undermine verb: to weaken gradually, especially from below. Constant doubt can undermine your confidence.
unwieldy adj: awkward to carry or manage because of size. The unwieldy parcel would not fit through the door.
urbane adj: polite, smooth and well-mannered. The urbane host greeted every guest by name.
usurp verb: to take a position or power by force or without right. The general tried to usurp the throne.
vacillate verb: to keep changing between opinions or actions. She would vacillate for hours over what to wear.
vague adj: not clear or definite. Her directions were too vague to follow.
vehement adj: showing strong feeling or force. He gave a vehement denial of the charge.
venal adj: willing to be bribed; corrupt. The venal official took money to approve the plans.
venerate verb: to treat with great respect. Many cultures venerate their elders.
veracity noun: the quality of being true or honest. No one doubted the veracity of her account.
verbose adj: using more words than needed. The verbose report could have been half as long.
vestige noun: a small trace of something that once existed. The ruins are the last vestige of a great city.
vex verb: to annoy or worry. The long delay will vex many travelers.
vigilant adj: keeping careful watch for danger. The guards stayed vigilant all night.
vilify verb: to speak about in an abusively critical way. The newspaper began to vilify the mayor.
vindicate verb: to clear someone of blame; to prove right. The new evidence vindicated the accused man.
vindictive adj: wanting revenge. The vindictive neighbor never forgot a quarrel.
virtuous adj: having high moral standards. The virtuous judge refused every bribe.
virulent adj: extremely harmful or bitterly hostile. The virulent attack on the author shocked readers.
vitriolic adj: filled with bitter criticism. The review was so vitriolic that the writer wept.
vivacious adj: lively and attractive in personality. The vivacious host kept the party buzzing.
vociferous adj: expressing opinions loudly and forcefully. The vociferous critics demanded an answer.
volatile adj: likely to change suddenly or become violent. The volatile market rose and fell within an hour.
voracious adj: having a huge appetite, for food or for something else. A voracious reader, she finished a book every two days.
wane verb: to become smaller or weaker. Public interest began to wane after a week.
wanton adj: deliberate and without reason. The wanton destruction of the garden shocked the neighbors.
wary adj: careful about possible danger. Be wary of emails that ask for your password.
wax verb: to grow gradually larger or stronger. The moon will wax until it is full.
whet verb: to sharpen, or to make more eager. The aroma of baking would whet anyone's appetite.
whimsical adj: playfully odd or unusual. The garden had a whimsical collection of painted gnomes.
wily adj: skilled at getting what one wants through cleverness. The wily fox outsmarted the hounds.
wistful adj: full of sad, gentle longing. She gave a wistful look at the old photographs.
wrath noun: extreme anger. The king's wrath fell upon the messenger.
zealous adj: full of energy and enthusiasm for a cause. The zealous volunteers worked day and night.
zenith noun: the highest point. The empire reached its zenith in the twelfth century.

Also: TOEFL-style academic word list · All words A to Z · By topic: People and character · Feelings and attitudes · Speaking, writing and arguing · Thinking and judging · Change, time and action · Size, amount and kind · Science and research · Society, work and rules

A practice aid only, made for fun and learning. These lists are not taken from any test, and we do not claim any word appears on any particular test.