Advanced English Words 100

Advanced English Words 100

Here are 100 advanced English words which should you be able to use them in a sentence will impress even educated native speakers! Perfect if you want to impress the examiner in examinations like: IELTS, TOEFL and Cambridge CAE and CPE.

aberration

n. something that differs from the norm

In 1974, Poland won the World Cup, but the success turned out to be an aberration, and Poland have not won a World Cup since.

abhor

v. to hate, detest

Because he always wound up getting hit in the head when he tried to play cricket, Marcin began to abhor the sport.

acquiesce

v. to agree without protesting

Though Mr. Pospieszny wanted to stay outside and work in his garage, when his wife told him that he had better come in to dinner, he acquiesced to her demands.

alacrity

n. eagerness, speed

For some reason, Simon loved to help his girlfriend whenever he could, so when his girlfriend asked him to set the table he did so with alacrity.

amiable

adj. friendly

An amiable fellow, Neil got along with just about everyone.

appease

v. to calm, satisfy

When Jerry cries, his mother gives him chocolate to appease him.

arcane

adj. obscure, secret, known only by a few

The professor is an expert in arcane Kashubian literature.

avarice

n. excessive greed

The banker's avarice led him to amass an enormous personal fortune.

brazen

adj. excessively bold, brash, clear and obvious

Critics condemned the writer's brazen attempt to plagiarise Frankow-Czerwonko's work.

brusque

adj. short, abrupt, dismissive

Simon's brusque manner sometimes offends his colleagues.

cajole

v. to urge, coax

Magda's friends cajoled her into drinking too much.

callous

adj. harsh, cold, unfeeling

The murderer's callous lack of remorse shocked the jury.

candor

n. honesty, frankness

We were surprised by the candor of the politician's speech because she is usually rather evasive.

chide

v. to voice disapproval

Hania chided Gregory for his vulgar habits and sloppy appearance.

circumspect

adj. cautious

Though I promised Marta's father I would bring her home promptly by midnight, it would have been more circumspect not to have specified a time.

clandestine

adj. secret

Announcing to her boyfriend that she was going to the library, Maria actually went to meet George for a clandestine liaison.

coerce

v. to make somebody do something by force or threat

The court decided that David Beckham did not have to honor the contract because he had been coerced into signing it.

coherent

adj. logically consistent, intelligible

William could not figure out what Harold had seen because he was too distraught to deliver a coherent statement.

complacency

n. self-satisfied ignorance of danger

Simon tried to shock his friends out of their complacency by painting a frightening picture of what might happen to them.

confidant

n. a person entrusted with secrets

Shortly after we met, he became my chief confidant.

connive

v. to plot, scheme

She connived to get me to give up my plans to start up a new business.

cumulative

adj. increasing, building upon itself

The cumulative effect of hours spent using the Learn English Online website was a vast improvement in his vocabulary and general level of English.

debase

v. to lower the quality or esteem of something

The large raise that he gave himself debased his motives for running the charity.

decry

v. to criticize openly

Andrzej Lepper, the leader of the Polish Self Defence party decried the appaling state of Polish roads.

deferential

adj. showing respect for another's authority

Donata is always excessively deferential to any kind of authority figure.

demure

adj. quiet, modest, reserved

Though everyone else at the party was dancing and going crazy, she remained demure.

deride

v. to laugh at mockingly, scorn

The native speaker often derided the other teacher's accent.

despot

n. one who has total power and rules brutally

The despot issued a death sentence for anyone who disobeyed his laws.

diligent

adj. showing care in doing one's work

The diligent researcher made sure to double check her measurements.

elated

adj. overjoyed, thrilled

When he found out he had won the lottery, the postman was elated.

eloquent

adj. expressive, articulate, moving

The best man gave such an eloquent speech that most guests were crying.

embezzle

v. to steal money by falsifying records

The accountant was fired for embezzling €10,000 of the company's funds.

empathy

n. sensitivity to another's feelings as if they were one's own

I feel such empathy for my dog when she's upset so am I!

enmity

n. ill will, hatred, hostility

John and Scott have clearly not forgiven each other, because the enmity between them is obvious to anyone in their presence.

erudite

adj. learned

My English teacher is such an erudite scholar that he has translated some of the most difficult and abstruse Old English poetry.

extol

v. to praise, revere

Kamila extolled the virtues of a vegetarian diet to her meat-loving boyfriend.

fabricate

v. to make up, invent

When I arrived an hour late to class, I fabricated some excuse about my car breaking down on the way to work.

feral

adj. wild, savage

That beast looks so feral that I would fear being alone with it.

flabbergasted

adj. astounded

Whenever I read an Agatha Christie mystery novel, I am always flabbergasted when I learn the identity of the murderer.

forsake

v. to give up, renounce

I won't forsake my conservative principles.

fractious

adj. troublesome or irritable

Although the child insisted he wasn't tired, his fractious behaviour - especially his decision to crush his jam sandwiches all over the floor - convinced everyone present that it was time to put him to bed.

furtive

adj. secretive, sly

Claudia's placement of her drugs in her sock drawer was not as furtive as she thought, as the sock drawer is the first place most parents look.

gluttony

n. overindulgence in food or drink

Helen's fried chicken tastes so divine, I don't know how anyone can call gluttony a sin.

gratuitous

adj. uncalled for, unwarranted

Every evening the guy at the fish and chip shop gives me a gratuitous helping of vinegar.

haughty

adj. disdainfully proud

The superstar's haughty dismissal of her co-stars will backfire on her someday.

hypocrisy

n. pretending to believe what one does not

Once the politician began passing legislation that contradicted his campaign promises, his hypocrisy became apparent.

impeccable

adj. exemplary, flawless

If your grades were as impeccable as your brother's, then you too would receive a car for a graduation present.

impertinent

adj. rude, insolent

Most of your comments are so impertinent that I don't wish to dignify them with an answer.

implacable

adj. incapable of being appeased or mitigated

Watch out: once you shun Grandmother's cooking, she is totally implacable.

impudent

adj. casually rude, insolent, impertinent

The impudent young woman looked her teacher up and down and told him he was hot.

incisive

adj. clear, sharp, direct

The discussion wasn't going anywhere until her incisive comment allowed everyone to see what the true issues were.

indolent

adj. lazy

Why should my indolent children, who can't even pick themselves up off the sofa to pour their own juice, be rewarded with a trip to Burger King?

inept

adj. not suitable or capable, unqualified

She proved how inept she was when she forgot two orders and spilled a pint of cider in a customer's lap.

infamy

n. notoriety, extreme ill repute

The infamy of his crime will not lessen as time passes.

inhibit

v. to prevent, restrain, stop

When I told you I needed the car last night, I certainly never meant to inhibit you from going out.

innate

adj. inborn, native, inherent His incredible athletic talent is innate, he never trains, lifts weights, or practices.

insatiable

adj. incapable of being satisfied

My insatiable appetite for blondes was a real problem on my recent holiday in Japan!

insular

adj. separated and narrow-minded; tight-knit, closed off

Because of the sensitive nature of their jobs, those who work for MI5 must remain insular and generally only spend time with each other.

intrepid

adj. brave in the face of danger

After scaling a live volcano prior to its eruption, the explorer was praised for his intrepid attitude.

inveterate

adj. stubbornly established by habit

I'm the first to admit that I'm an inveterate cider drinker-I drink four pints a day.

jubilant

adj. extremely joyful, happy

The crowd was jubilant when the firefighter carried the woman from the flaming building.

knell

n. the solemn sound of a bell, often indicating a death

Echoing throughout our village, the funeral knell made the grey day even more grim.

lithe

adj. graceful, flexible, supple

Although the dancers were all outstanding, Joanna's control of her lithe body was particularly impressive.

lurid

adj. ghastly, sensational

Barry's story, in which he described a character torturing his neighbour's tortoise, was judged too lurid to be published on the English Library's website.

maverick

n. an independent, nonconformist person

John is a real maverick and always does things his own way.

maxim

n. a common saying expressing a principle of conduct

Ms. Stone's etiquette maxims are both entertaining and instructional.

meticulous

adj. extremely careful with details

The ornate needlework in the bride's gown was a product of meticulous handiwork.

modicum

n. a small amount of something

Refusing to display even a modicum of sensitivity, Magda announced her boss's affair to the entire office.

morose

adj. gloomy or sullen

David's morose nature made him very unpleasant to talk to.

myriad

adj. consisting of a very great number It was difficult to decide what to do on Saturday night because the city presented us with myriad possibilities for fun.

nadir

n. the lowest point of something

My day was boring, but the nadir came when my new car was stolen.

nominal

adj. trifling, insignificant

Because he was moving the following week and needed to get rid of his furniture more than he needed money, Kim sold everything for a nominal price.

novice

n. a beginner, someone without training or experience

Because we were all novices at archery, our instructor decided to begin with the basics

nuance

n. a slight variation in meaning, tone, expression

The nuances of the poem were not obvious to the casual reader, but the teacher was able to point them out.

oblivious

adj. lacking consciousness or awareness of something

Oblivious to the burning smell emanating from the kitchen, my father did not notice that the rolls in the oven were burned until much too late.

obsequious

adj. excessively compliant or submissive

Donald acted like Susan's servant, obeying her every request in an obsequious manner.

obtuse

adj. lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect

Political opponents warned that the prime minister's obtuse approach to foreign policy would embroil the nation in mindless war.

panacea

n. a remedy for all ills or difficulties

Doctors wish there was a single panacea for every disease, but sadly there is not.

parody

n. a satirical imitation

A hush fell over the classroom when the teacher returned to find Magdalena acting out a parody of his teaching style.

penchant

n. a tendency, partiality, preference

Fiona's dinner parties quickly became monotonous on account of her penchant for Indian dishes.

perusal

n. a careful examination, review

The actor agreed to accept the role after a three-month perusal of the movie script.

plethora

n. an abundance, excess

The wedding banquet included a plethora of oysters piled almost three feet high.

predilection

n. a preference or inclination for something

James has a predilection for eating toad in the whole with tomato ketchup.

quaint

adj. charmingly old-fashioned

Mary was delighted by the quaint bonnets she saw in Romania.

rash

adj. hasty, incautious It's best to think things over calmly and thoroughly, rather than make rash decisions.

refurbish

v. to restore, clean up

After being refurbished the old Triumph motorcycle commanded the handsome price of $6000.

repudiate

v. to reject, refuse to accept

Tom made a strong case for an extension of his curfew, but his mother repudiated it with a few biting words.

rife

adj. abundant

Surprisingly, the teacher's writing was rife with spelling errors.

salient

adj. significant, conspicuous

One of the salient differences between Alison and Helen is that Alison is a couple of kilos heavier.

serendipity

n. luck, finding good things without looking for them

In an amazing bit of serendipity, penniless Mark found a $50 bill on the back seat of the bus.

staid

adj. sedate, serious, self-restrained

The staid butler never changed his expression no matter what happened.

superfluous

adj. exceeding what is necessary

Samantha had already won the campaign so her constant flattery of others was superfluous.

sycophant

n. one who flatters for self-gain

Some see the people in the cabinet as the Prime Minister's closest advisors, but others see them as sycophants.

taciturn

adj. not inclined to talk

Though Magda never seems to stop talking, her brother is quite taciturn.

truculent

adj. ready to fight, cruel

This club doesn't really attract the dangerous types, so why was that bouncer being so truculent?

umbrage

n. resentment, offence

He called me a lily-livered coward, and I took umbrage at the insult.

venerable

adj. deserving of respect because of age or achievement

The venerable High Court judge had made several key rulings in landmark cases throughout the years.

vex

v. to confuse or annoy

My boyfriend vexes me by pinching my bottom for hours on end.

vociferous

adj. loud, boisterous

I'm tired of his vociferous whining so I'm breaking up with him.

wanton

adj. undisciplined, lewd, lustful

Joanna's wanton demeanor often made the frat guys next door very excited.

zenith

n. the highest point, culminating point

I was too nice to tell Emily that she had reached the absolute zenith of her career with that one top 10 hit of hers.