200+ Advanced/Proficient English vocabulary

Advanced/Proficient English vocabulary

Have you conquered the basics of English vocabulary? Do you find yourself comfortable with everyday conversations, but struggle to express more complex ideas? If so, welcome to the exciting world of advanced English vocabulary!

This realm unlocks a treasure trove of words that elevate your communication and understanding. It’s not just about using “big” words; it’s about wielding language with precision and flair.

Advanced/Proficient English vocabulary with meaning and example

Abstruse

• Meaning: Difficult to understand; obscure.
• Example: The professor’s explanation was so abstruse that only a few students could grasp it.

Accolade

• Meaning: An award or privilege granted as a special honor or as an acknowledgment of merit.
• Example: She received many accolades for her groundbreaking research in medicine.

Acerbic

• Meaning: Sharp and forthright, especially in tone or manner.
• Example: His acerbic comments during the meeting were hard to ignore.

Adroit

• Meaning: Clever or skillful in using the hands or mind.
• Example: The adroit negotiator was able to secure a favorable deal for the company.

Aesthetic

• Meaning: Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty.
• Example: The artist’s aesthetic sense was evident in every piece of artwork he created.

Alacrity

• Meaning: Brisk and cheerful readiness.
• Example: She accepted the invitation with alacrity, excited for the opportunity.

Ambivalent

• Meaning: Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.
• Example: He felt ambivalent about moving to a new city, excited yet anxious about the change.

Anachronism

• Meaning: Something or someone that is not in its correct historical or chronological time.
• Example: The use of a smartphone in a film set in the 19th century was an obvious anachronism.

Apocryphal

• Meaning: Of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true.
• Example: The story about the treasure map was apocryphal, with no evidence to support it.

Assiduous

• Meaning: Showing great care and perseverance.
• Example: Her assiduous research led to the discovery of a new species of plant.

Audacious

• Meaning: Showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks.
• Example: The audacious plan to climb the mountain in winter was both daring and dangerous.

Avarice

• Meaning: Extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
• Example: His avarice led him to make unethical decisions to amass a fortune.

Bellicose

• Meaning: Demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.
• Example: The bellicose rhetoric of the politician stirred tensions between the two countries.

Bombastic

• Meaning: High-sounding but with little meaning; inflated.
• Example: The CEO’s bombastic speech was full of grandiose claims but lacked substance.

Bucolic

• Meaning: Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.
• Example: They enjoyed a bucolic weekend in the countryside, away from the city’s hustle and bustle.

Cacophony

• Meaning: A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
• Example: The cacophony of the city streets made it difficult to concentrate on his work.

Capitulate

• Meaning: To cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; surrender.
• Example: The rebels were forced to capitulate after prolonged negotiations with the government.

Castigate

• Meaning: To reprimand someone severely.
• Example: The manager castigated the employee for failing to meet the project deadlines.

Clandestine

• Meaning: Kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit.
• Example: The spy’s clandestine operations were never revealed to the public.

Conflagration

• Meaning: An extensive fire that destroys a great deal of land or property.
• Example: The conflagration consumed several buildings before the firefighters could bring it under control.

Convoluted

• Meaning: Extremely complex and difficult to follow.
• Example: The plot of the movie was so convoluted that many viewers struggled to understand it.

Copious

• Meaning: Abundant in supply or quantity.
• Example: She took copious notes during the lecture to ensure she wouldn’t miss any details.

Corpulent

• Meaning: Fat; having a large, bulky body.
• Example: The corpulent man struggled to fit into the airplane seat comfortably.

Cryptic

• Meaning: Having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure.
• Example: The cryptic message in the letter left everyone puzzled about its true meaning.

Debilitate

• Meaning: To make someone very weak and infirm.
• Example: The illness debilitated him to the point where he could barely leave his bed.

Defenestration

• Meaning: The act of throwing someone out of a window.
• Example: The defenestration of the diplomat was a shocking act of violence during the political upheaval.

Despotism

• Meaning: The exercise of absolute power, especially in a cruel and oppressive way.
• Example: The country suffered under the despotism of a tyrannical leader who ignored the needs of the people.

Diffident

• Meaning: Modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence.
• Example: Her diffident nature made it difficult for her to speak up in meetings.

Disparate

• Meaning: Essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison.
• Example: The two job offers were so disparate that it was hard to decide which one to accept.

Disseminate

• Meaning: To spread or disperse widely.
• Example: The organization aims to disseminate information about environmental conservation to the public.

Edify

• Meaning: To instruct or improve someone morally or intellectually.
• Example: The lecture was designed to edify students about the principles of ethical leadership.

Egregious

• Meaning: Outstandingly bad; shocking.
• Example: The company’s egregious safety violations led to a significant fine from the regulatory body.

Enervate

• Meaning: To weaken or drain of energy.
• Example: The long, stressful day at work enervated her, leaving her too tired to enjoy the evening.

Enigmatic

• Meaning: Mysterious and difficult to understand.
• Example: The Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile has intrigued art enthusiasts for centuries.

Equanimity

• Meaning: Calmness and composure, especially in a difficult situation.
• Example: She faced the unexpected news with remarkable equanimity, never losing her composure.

Esoteric

• Meaning: Intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge.
• Example: The professor’s lecture on quantum mechanics was filled with esoteric concepts that went over most students’ heads.

Exacerbate

• Meaning: To make a situation worse or more intense.
• Example: The new policies only served to exacerbate the already tense situation in the workplace.

Excoriate

• Meaning: To criticize severely and publicly.
• Example: The film critic excoriated the movie for its lack of originality and poor performances.

Expeditious

• Meaning: Done with speed and efficiency.
• Example: The company’s expeditious response to customer complaints helped maintain its good reputation.

Facetious

• Meaning: Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant.
• Example: His facetious remarks during the meeting were not well received by his colleagues.

Fastidious

• Meaning: Very attentive to detail; meticulous.
• Example: She was so fastidious about her work that every project she completed was flawless.

Fatuous

• Meaning: Silly and pointless.
• Example: The fatuous remarks made during the debate did nothing to advance the discussion.

Flabbergasted

• Meaning: Extremely surprised or shocked.
• Example: She was flabbergasted when she learned she had won the grand prize in the lottery.

Garrulous

• Meaning: Excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters.
• Example: The garrulous neighbor often stopped to chat, making it difficult to get things done.

Gratuitous

• Meaning: Given or done free of charge; lacking good reason; unwarranted.
• Example: The movie’s gratuitous violence detracted from its otherwise compelling plot.

Gregarious

• Meaning: Fond of company; sociable.
• Example: His gregarious nature made him the life of every party he attended.

Harangue

• Meaning: A lengthy and aggressive speech.
• Example: The coach’s harangue after the loss was both motivational and scathing.

Hedonistic

• Meaning: Engaged in the pursuit of pleasure; sensually self-indulgent.
• Example: His hedonistic lifestyle was evident in his constant quest for new experiences and pleasures.

Impetuous

• Meaning: Acting or done quickly and without thought or care.
• Example: His impetuous decision to buy the car without consulting anyone led to significant financial trouble.

Imprecation

• Meaning: A spoken curse.
• Example: The old man muttered an imprecation under his breath as he watched the vandalism.

Ineffable

• Meaning: Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.
• Example: The beauty of the sunset was so ineffable that it left everyone speechless.

Insidious

• Meaning: Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects.
• Example: The insidious spread of misinformation caused widespread confusion among the public.

Invective

• Meaning: Insulting, abusive, or highly critical language.
• Example: The politician’s speech was filled with invective against his opponents.

Irascible

• Meaning: Easily provoked to anger.
• Example: The irascible chef was known for his quick temper in the kitchen.

Juxtaposition

• Meaning: The fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.
• Example: The juxtaposition of the modern building against the historic architecture created an interesting visual contrast.

Lethargic

• Meaning: Affected by lethargy; sluggish and apathetic.
• Example: She felt lethargic after staying up all night studying for her exams.

Magnanimous

• Meaning: Very generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful.
• Example: His magnanimous gesture of offering to help his opponent was widely praised.

Malleable

• Meaning: Capable of being shaped or molded; easily influenced.
• Example: The metal is highly malleable, making it suitable for crafting into intricate designs.

Meticulous

• Meaning: Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
• Example: Her meticulous planning ensured that every aspect of the event went smoothly.

Modicum

• Meaning: A small quantity of a particular thing, especially something considered desirable or valuable.
• Example: Even a modicum of patience would have improved the situation significantly.

Nebulous

• Meaning: In the form of a cloud or haze; hazy; vague or ill-defined.
• Example: The details of the plan were still nebulous, leaving many questions unanswered.

Obfuscate

• Meaning: To deliberately make something unclear or difficult to understand.
• Example: The legal document was filled with jargon that seemed intended to obfuscate the terms.

Obsequious

• Meaning: Obedient or attentive to an excessive degree; ingratiating.
• Example: The obsequious assistant flattered her boss excessively in hopes of securing a promotion.

Ostentatious

• Meaning: Characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice.
• Example: His ostentatious display of wealth, including a fleet of luxury cars, was the talk of the town.

Panacea

• Meaning: A solution or remedy for all problems or difficulties.
• Example: The new policy was hailed as a panacea for the company’s financial issues, though its effectiveness was yet to be proven.

Paragon

• Meaning: A model of excellence or perfection.
• Example: She was considered a paragon of virtue for her dedication to charity and community service.

Pedantic

• Meaning: Excessively concerned with minor details and rules; overly academic.
• Example: His pedantic approach to teaching often bored his students, who found the minutiae tedious.

Perfidious

• Meaning: Deceitful and untrustworthy.
• Example: His perfidious behavior was revealed when he betrayed his closest friends for personal gain.

Perspicacious

• Meaning: Having a ready insight into and understanding of things.
• Example: The perspicacious detective quickly pieced together the clues that others had missed.

Phlegmatic

• Meaning: Having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition.
• Example: Despite the chaos around him, his phlegmatic demeanor helped him handle the crisis with ease.

Pragmatic

• Meaning: Dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.
• Example: Her pragmatic approach to problem-solving helped the team navigate the challenges efficiently.

Precarious

• Meaning: Not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse; uncertain or unstable.
• Example: The precarious bridge swayed dangerously in the wind, making the crossing a nerve-wracking experience.

Proclivity

• Meaning: A tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition.
• Example: His proclivity for detailed research made him an excellent historian.

Prodigious

• Meaning: Remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree.
• Example: The scientist made a prodigious discovery that would change the course of medical research.

Propensity

• Meaning: An inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way.
• Example: She had a propensity for artistic endeavors, which was evident from a young age.

Pugnacious

• Meaning: Eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight.
• Example: His pugnacious attitude often led to conflicts with his colleagues.

Quixotic

• Meaning: Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical.
• Example: His quixotic plan to solve global hunger with a single initiative was met with skepticism.

Recalcitrant

• Meaning: Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline.
• Example: The recalcitrant student refused to follow the teacher’s instructions, causing disruptions in class.

Recapitulate

• Meaning: To summarize and state again the main points of.
• Example: At the end of the meeting, she recapitulated the key decisions that had been made.

Redolent

• Meaning: Strongly reminiscent or suggestive of; having a pleasant smell.
• Example: The garden was redolent of roses, filling the air with a sweet fragrance.

Resilient

• Meaning: Able to recover quickly from difficulties; tough.
• Example: The resilient community rebuilt their homes and lives after the devastating hurricane.

Reprobate

• Meaning: An unprincipled person (often used humorously or affectionately); a person rejected by God.
• Example: The novel’s protagonist is a charming reprobate who constantly finds himself in trouble.

Sanguine

• Meaning: Optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation.
• Example: Despite the challenges, she remained sanguine about the project’s potential success.

Sardonic

• Meaning: Grimly mocking or cynical.
• Example: His sardonic comment about the company’s failed project did not go unnoticed by his colleagues.

Scintillating

• Meaning: Sparkling or shining brightly; brilliantly and excitingly clever or witty.
• Example: The scintillating conversation at the party kept everyone entertained and engaged.

Serendipity

• Meaning: The occurrence of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
• Example: Finding the perfect book in a secondhand store was a moment of pure serendipity.

Supercilious

• Meaning: Behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others.
• Example: His supercilious smile made it clear that he considered himself above the rest of the team.

Surreptitious

• Meaning: Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.
• Example: Their surreptitious meetings were conducted under the cover of darkness to avoid detection.

Sycophant

• Meaning: A person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage.
• Example: The sycophant flattered the boss excessively to secure a promotion.

Taciturn

• Meaning: Reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.
• Example: His taciturn nature often made him seem aloof, though he was simply a private person.

Tangential

• Meaning: Diverging or digressing from a main point or course; only slightly relevant.
• Example: His comments were tangential to the topic of the meeting and did not contribute to the main discussion.

Tranquil

• Meaning: Peaceful, calm, and free from disturbance.
• Example: The tranquil garden provided a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Trenchant

• Meaning: Incisive or keen, as in a remark or argument; having a sharp, clear edge.
• Example: Her trenchant analysis of the political situation revealed insights that others had missed.

Ubiquitous

• Meaning: Present, appearing, or found everywhere.
• Example: Smartphones have become so ubiquitous that it’s hard to find someone without one.

Unctuous

• Meaning: Excessively smooth or suave; ingratiating; oily or greasy.
• Example: The salesman’s unctuous manner made me suspicious of his intentions.

Venerable

• Meaning: Accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character.
• Example: The venerable professor was admired by all his students for his extensive knowledge and experience.

Veracious

• Meaning: Truthful, honest, or accurate.
• Example: Her veracious account of the events was appreciated by everyone who sought the truth.

Vexatious

• Meaning: Causing or likely to cause annoyance, frustration, or worry.
• Example: The vexatious delays in the project were frustrating everyone involved.

Vicissitude

• Meaning: A change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.
• Example: The vicissitudes of life can be challenging, but they often lead to personal growth.

Vindictive

• Meaning: Having or showing a strong desire for revenge.
• Example: His vindictive attitude towards his former colleagues made it difficult for him to move on.

Abstemious

• Meaning: Not allowing oneself much in the way of food or drink; moderate or self-restrained.
• Example: She maintained an abstemious lifestyle, avoiding excesses and indulgence.

Adulation

• Meaning: Excessive praise or flattery.
• Example: The movie star was accustomed to adulation from fans and the media alike.

Aggrandize

• Meaning: To increase the power, status, or wealth of; to enhance the reputation of.
• Example: The company’s advertisement was designed to aggrandize its achievements and status in the industry.

Alleviate

• Meaning: To make (a problem, suffering, or deficiency) less severe.
• Example: The medication helped to alleviate her chronic pain, making her daily life more manageable.

Antithesis

• Meaning: A person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else.
• Example: His calm demeanor was the antithesis of her frantic behavior during the crisis.

Apoplectic

• Meaning: Overcome with anger; extremely indignant.
• Example: She was apoplectic when she found out that her plans had been sabotaged.

Aplomb

• Meaning: Self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation.
• Example: The speaker handled the tough questions with aplomb, impressing the audience with her composure.

Bombast

• Meaning: High-sounding but with little meaning; inflated or pretentious language.
• Example: His speech was full of bombast, lacking in substantive content despite its impressive rhetoric.

Brooding

• Meaning: Showing deep unhappiness of thought; preoccupied with something.
• Example: He sat in the corner, brooding over the recent setbacks in his personal life.

Coalesce

• Meaning: To come together to form one mass or whole.
• Example: The various groups coalesced into a single, unified organization to better achieve their goals.

Cogent

• Meaning: Clear, logical, and convincing.
• Example: Her cogent argument persuaded the committee to approve the proposal.

Complacent

• Meaning: Showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements.
• Example: The team’s complacent attitude after their initial success led to their eventual downfall.

Contrite

• Meaning: Feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt.
• Example: He gave a contrite apology after realizing the hurtful impact of his words.

Contumacious

• Meaning: Stubbornly or willfully disobedient to authority.
• Example: The contumacious student refused to follow the school’s rules, leading to disciplinary action.

Debauchery

• Meaning: Excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.
• Example: The novel depicted the protagonist’s descent into debauchery and moral corruption.

Defunct

• Meaning: No longer existing or functioning.
• Example: The once-popular TV show is now defunct, having been canceled years ago.

Desultory

• Meaning: Lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm; occurring randomly or intermittently.
• Example: His desultory approach to studying meant he rarely made significant progress.

Dissonant

• Meaning: Harsh and jarring because of a lack of harmony; not in agreement.
• Example: The dissonant chords in the music created an unsettling effect.

Distill

• Meaning: To extract the essential meaning or most important aspects of something; to purify or refine.
• Example: The editor helped distill the complex report into a clear and concise summary.

Eloquent

• Meaning: Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing.
• Example: The president’s eloquent speech inspired the nation and moved many to action.

Ephemeral

• Meaning: Lasting for a very short time.
• Example: The beauty of the sunset was ephemeral, fading quickly as night fell.

Equivocate

• Meaning: To use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself.
• Example: The politician equivocated on the issue, avoiding a direct answer to the controversial question.

Exemplar

• Meaning: A person or thing that serves as a model or example; a perfect example.
• Example: Her dedication to the project was an exemplar of hard work and commitment.

Fallacious

• Meaning: Based on a mistaken belief or unsound reasoning; misleading.
• Example: His argument was fallacious, relying on incorrect assumptions and faulty logic.

Foment

• Meaning: To instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action).
• Example: The leader was accused of fomenting unrest among the population.

Fractious

• Meaning: Irritable and quarrelsome; difficult to control.
• Example: The fractious child caused trouble in every situation, making it hard for others to get along.

Galvanize

• Meaning: To shock or excite someone into taking action; to stimulate.
• Example: The urgent call to action galvanized the community into organizing a relief effort.

Heterodox

• Meaning: Not conforming with accepted or orthodox standards or beliefs.
• Example: His heterodox views on education challenged traditional methods and sparked debate.

Homogeneous

• Meaning: Of the same kind; alike; composed of parts that are all the same.
• Example: The team was homogeneous in its composition, with members sharing similar backgrounds and skills.

Impecunious

• Meaning: Having little or no money; poor.
• Example: The impecunious artist struggled to make ends meet, often relying on the support of friends.

Intrepid

• Meaning: Fearless; adventurous; daring.
• Example: The intrepid explorer ventured into uncharted territories despite the many dangers.

Juxtapose

• Meaning: To place side by side for comparison or contrast.
• Example: The artist chose to juxtapose the bright colors with the dark tones to create a striking visual effect.

Languid

• Meaning: Weak or faint from illness or fatigue; lacking energy or vitality.
• Example: After the long hike, she felt languid and needed to rest before continuing.

Luminous

• Meaning: Giving off light; shining; bright; radiant.
• Example: The luminous stars lit up the night sky, creating a breathtaking view.

Melancholy

• Meaning: A deep, persistent sadness; a feeling of sorrow or gloom.
• Example: The melancholy music perfectly captured the mood of the somber occasion.

Munificent

• Meaning: Very generous; giving freely.
• Example: The munificent donor contributed a large sum to the charity, significantly impacting its ability to help others.

Nefarious

• Meaning: Wicked or criminal; evil.
• Example: The villain’s nefarious plan was to undermine the government and cause chaos.

Obdurate

• Meaning: Stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action.
• Example: Despite the evidence presented, he remained obdurate in his refusal to accept the new policy.

Obscure

• Meaning: Not discovered or known about; uncertain; hard to understand.
• Example: The meaning of the ancient text was obscure, requiring extensive research to decipher.

Omnipotent

• Meaning: Having unlimited power; able to do anything.
• Example: The ruler was seen as omnipotent, with the ability to control every aspect of society.

Paradigm

• Meaning: A model or pattern of something that serves as an example; a framework.
• Example: The new research provided a paradigm shift in the understanding of the disease.

Paradox

• Meaning: A statement or situation that seems contradictory or absurd but may be true.
• Example: It’s a paradox that in an age of communication, people often feel more isolated than ever.

Permeate

• Meaning: To spread throughout; to seep into every part.
• Example: The smell of fresh coffee began to permeate the entire house, waking everyone up.

Prolific

• Meaning: Producing a large amount of something; highly productive.
• Example: The prolific writer published ten novels in just five years.

Remiss

• Meaning: Lacking care or attention to duty; negligent.
• Example: He was remiss in his duties, leading to several important tasks being overlooked.

Replete

• Meaning: Fully or abundantly filled or supplied; complete.
• Example: The book was replete with fascinating facts and insights about the historical period.

Rescind

• Meaning: To revoke, cancel, or repeal (a law, order, or agreement).
• Example: The company decided to rescind its previous offer after realizing the costs involved.

Salient

• Meaning: Most noticeable or important; prominent.
• Example: The salient features of the new software include its user-friendly interface and powerful analytics tools.

Sanctimonious

• Meaning: Making a show of being morally superior to other people.
• Example: His sanctimonious remarks about personal responsibility were off-putting to many of his colleagues.

Sedulous

• Meaning: Showing dedication and diligence; hardworking.
• Example: Her sedulous preparation for the exam paid off, as she scored at the top of her class.

Soporific

• Meaning: Causing or tending to cause sleep; sleepy or drowsy.
• Example: The lecture was so soporific that many students struggled to stay awake.

Squalid

• Meaning: Extremely dirty and unpleasant; neglected.
• Example: The squalid conditions of the abandoned building were shocking to the new tenants.

Substantiate

• Meaning: To provide evidence to support or prove the truth of something.
• Example: The scientist was able to substantiate his theory with extensive research and experiments.

Surreal

• Meaning: Having the qualities of surrealism; bizarre or dreamlike.
• Example: The artist’s paintings were so surreal that they seemed to transport viewers to another world.

Tacit

• Meaning: Understood or implied without being stated directly.
• Example: There was a tacit agreement between the partners to keep the project confidential.

Tenuous

• Meaning: Very weak or insubstantial; lacking a sound basis.
• Example: His argument was tenuous at best, relying on speculative evidence that failed to convince.

Timorous

• Meaning: Showing or suffering from nervousness or a lack of confidence.
• Example: The timorous student spoke softly and avoided eye contact during the presentation.

Transient

• Meaning: Lasting only for a short time; temporary.
• Example: The city’s transient population meant that there was always a mix of new faces in town.

Unfathomable

• Meaning: Incapable of being fully explored or understood; incomprehensible.
• Example: The depths of the ocean remain largely unfathomable to modern science.

Vacillate

• Meaning: To waver between different opinions or actions; indecisive.
• Example: She continued to vacillate between two job offers, unable to make a decision.

Vexation

• Meaning: The state of being annoyed, frustrated, or worried.
• Example: His constant interruptions were a source of great vexation during the meeting.

Vilify

• Meaning: To speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner; to defame.
• Example: The politician was vilified in the media for his controversial remarks.

Wistful

• Meaning: Longing or yearning for something that is no longer attainable; melancholic.
• Example: She looked out the window with a wistful expression, reminiscing about her childhood.

Abrogate

• Meaning: To repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement).
• Example: The government decided to abrogate the outdated regulations in favor of more modern laws.

Adversarial

• Meaning: Involving or characterized by conflict or opposition.
• Example: The adversarial relationship between the two parties made negotiations difficult.

Assuage

• Meaning: To make an unpleasant feeling less intense; to relieve or ease.
• Example: The counselor’s words helped to assuage the child’s fears about starting school.

Belie

• Meaning: To show something to be false or contradictory; to contradict.
• Example: His calm demeanor belied the intense stress he was feeling inside.

Blithe

• Meaning: Showing a casual and cheerful indifference; carefree.
• Example: Her blithe attitude towards the deadline was both refreshing and worrying.

Cadaverous

• Meaning: Resembling a corpse; pale and ghastly.
• Example: The cadaverous appearance of the abandoned house gave it an eerie feel.

Capricious

• Meaning: Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.
• Example: His capricious decisions made it difficult for his team to anticipate his next move.

Conducive

• Meaning: Making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible.
• Example: The quiet environment was conducive to studying and helped her concentrate better.

Dilatory

• Meaning: Slow to act; intended to cause delay.
• Example: The dilatory response from the authorities led to significant frustration among the residents.

Dissemble

• Meaning: To conceal one’s true motives, feelings, or beliefs; to disguise or feign.
• Example: She tried to dissemble her disappointment with a smile and a polite nod.

Empirical

• Meaning: Based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic.
• Example: The scientist relied on empirical data to support his hypothesis.

Eschew

• Meaning: To deliberately avoid using; abstain from.
• Example: The company decided to eschew traditional advertising methods in favor of digital marketing.

Evanescent

• Meaning: Soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing.
• Example: The evanescent glow of the fireflies disappeared as the sun rose.

Facile

• Meaning: Appearing neat and comprehensive only by ignoring the true complexities of an issue; superficial.
• Example: His facile explanation of the problem did not address the underlying issues.

Histrionic

• Meaning: Overly theatrical or melodramatic in character or style.
• Example: Her histrionic reactions to minor issues often drew attention and caused concern.

Impassive

• Meaning: Not feeling or showing emotion; stoic.
• Example: He remained impassive during the intense discussion, giving nothing away.

Inscrutable

• Meaning: Impossible to understand or interpret; mysterious.
• Example: Her inscrutable expression left everyone wondering what she was truly thinking.

Inveterate

• Meaning: Having a particular habit or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change.
• Example: He is an inveterate gambler, always returning to the casino despite repeated losses.

Oblique

• Meaning: Not explicit or done in a direct way; slanting or inclined.
• Example: Her oblique comments during the meeting made it clear that she was unhappy with the decision.

Palliate

• Meaning: To make a situation less severe or unpleasant without removing the cause.
• Example: The doctor prescribed medication to palliate the symptoms of the chronic illness.

Penitent

• Meaning: Feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong; repentant.
• Example: The penitent thief confessed to his crimes and sought forgiveness from those he had wronged.

Perspicuous

• Meaning: Clearly expressed and easily understood; lucid.
• Example: Her perspicuous explanation of the complex topic made it accessible to all the students.

Prevaricate

• Meaning: To speak or act in an evasive way; to be deliberately vague or misleading.
• Example: When asked about the missing funds, he prevaricated, avoiding a direct answer.

Prodigal

• Meaning: Spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant.
• Example: The young heir was known for his prodigal lifestyle, squandering his inheritance on lavish parties.

Recondite

• Meaning: Little known or obscure; involving complex or difficult subject matter.
• Example: The professor’s lecture on quantum mechanics was filled with recondite concepts that puzzled most students.

Redundant

• Meaning: Not or no longer needed or useful; superfluous.
• Example: The report was filled with redundant information that did not add value to the discussion.

Salubrious

• Meaning: Health-giving; healthy.
• Example: The mountain air was considered salubrious, and many people traveled there for its health benefits.

Scrupulous

• Meaning: Diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details; having strong moral principles.
• Example: Her scrupulous attention to detail ensured that every aspect of the project was completed to the highest standard.

Sibilant

• Meaning: Making or characterized by a hissing sound; sounding like “s” or “sh.”
• Example: The sibilant tones of the snake’s hiss could be heard from a distance.

Sycophantic

• Meaning: Behaving or done in an obsequious way to gain advantage; flattering in a servile manner.
• Example: His sycophantic remarks towards his boss were obvious and only served to make him seem insincere.

Tautological

• Meaning: Redundant or repetitive, often by repeating the same thing in different words.
• Example: The statement “free gift” is tautological because a gift is inherently free.

Tenacious

• Meaning: Holding fast; persistent and determined.
• Example: Her tenacious spirit was evident in her relentless pursuit of justice for her clients.

Trite

• Meaning: Overused and consequently of little import; lacking originality.
• Example: The movie’s plot was filled with trite clichés that made it predictable and dull.

Uplift

• Meaning: To raise something to a higher position; to improve or make more positive.
• Example: The community’s efforts to clean up the park were intended to uplift the neighborhood’s morale.

Vacuous

• Meaning: Showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless.
• Example: His vacuous comments during the debate revealed his lack of understanding of the topic.

Verbose

• Meaning: Using more words than needed; wordy.
• Example: The professor’s verbose explanation left the students more confused than enlightened.

Volatile

• Meaning: Subject to rapid and unpredictable change; likely to explode or become violent.
• Example: The situation in the conflict zone was volatile, with frequent outbreaks of violence.

Whimsical

• Meaning: Playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way.
• Example: The whimsical decorations in the café gave it a charming and unique atmosphere.

Zephyr

• Meaning: A gentle, mild breeze.
• Example: A soft zephyr blew through the open window, bringing a hint of spring into the room.

Apotheosis

• Meaning: The highest point in the development of something; a culmination or climax.
• Example: The artist’s final masterpiece was seen as the apotheosis of his career, showcasing his greatest talents.

Apropos

• Meaning: Appropriate or suitable; with reference to; concerning.
• Example: Her comments were apropos of the discussion, adding valuable insights into the topic at hand.

Beguile

• Meaning: To charm or enchant someone, often in a deceptive way.
• Example: The con artist used flattery to beguile his victims into trusting him with their money.

Connive

• Meaning: To secretly allow or conspire to occur, often something illegal or immoral.
• Example: The officials were accused of conniving to cover up the corruption scandal.

Conspire

• Meaning: To make secret plans jointly to commit an unlawful or harmful act.
• Example: The group conspired to overthrow the government, plotting their actions in secret meetings.

Discreet

• Meaning: Careful and prudent in one’s speech or actions, especially in order to keep something confidential.
• Example: She was discreet about the sensitive information, ensuring that it did not leak to the public.

Hegemony

• Meaning: Leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others.
• Example: The company’s hegemony in the tech industry allowed it to set trends and influence market practices.

Infallible

• Meaning: Incapable of making mistakes or being wrong; flawless.
• Example: The expert’s infallible advice was trusted by everyone in the industry.

Interlocutor

• Meaning: A person who takes part in a dialogue or conversation.
• Example: The interlocutor in the debate presented compelling arguments that challenged the other participants.

Nonplussed

• Meaning: Surprised and confused so much that one is unsure how to react.
• Example: She was nonplussed by the unexpected turn of events, not knowing how to respond.

Prolix

• Meaning: Using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy.
• Example: His prolix writing style made the article tedious to read and difficult to follow.

Redact

• Meaning: To edit text for publication, often by censoring or obscuring sensitive information.
• Example: The confidential report was redacted to remove sensitive details before it was released to the public.

Verisimilitude

• Meaning: The appearance of being true or real; authenticity.
• Example: The film’s verisimilitude was enhanced by its detailed sets and realistic dialogue.

Vitriolic

• Meaning: Filled with bitter criticism or malice; caustic.
• Example: The critic’s review was vitriolic, attacking the author’s work with harsh and venomous language.

List of Advanced/Proficient English vocabulary

Advanced/Proficient English vocabulary

Table of Contents