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IELTS Advanced Vocabulary

English → English · 101 words

These 101 advanced vocabulary words can help you to improve your IELTS score. Each word has an example sentence so you can master the words in context and better understand their meaning.

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English English
zenith the highest point or most successful time
zeal great enthusiasm or eagerness
wanton excessive, uncontrolled and even cruel
voracious very eager for something, especially of food
vociferous being loud and insistent
vex make someone feel annoyed, frustrated, or worried
venerable honored or admired because of age or status
umbrage offense or annoyance
truculent aggressive, cruel or savage
taciturn silent or untalkative
superfluous exceeding what is sufficient or necessary
staid serious, boring, and slightly old-fashioned
serendipity the occurrence of an unplanned fortunate events
salient most noticeable or important
rife something unpleasant and very common or frequent
repudiate to refuse to accept something
refurbish renovate and redecorate
rash unwise or done without careful consideration
quaint attractively unusual or old-fashioned
predilection a preference or special liking for something
plethora a large or excessive amount of something
perusal the action of reading through or examining something
penchant a strong or habitual liking for something
panacea a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases
obtuse stupid or slow to understand
obsequious too eager to praise or obey someone
oblivious not aware of what is happening around one
nuance a subtle difference in meaning, expression, or sound
novice a person who is not experienced in a job or situation
nominal existing in name only
nadir lowest or most unsuccessful point in situation
myriad a countless or extremely great number
morose sullen and ill-tempered
modicum a small quantity of a particular thing
meticulous very careful and with great attention to every detail
maverick a person who thinks and acts in an independent way
lurid unpleasantly bright in colour, vivid
lithe healthy, attractive, and graceful
knack acquired or natural skill at doing something
jubilant feeling or expressing great happiness and triumph
inveterate someone who does something very often and cannot stop doing it
intrepid fearless, extremely brave
insular isolated, narrow-minded, not willing to accept different ideas
insatiable impossible to satisfy
innate a quality which you are born with, not learned
inhibit hinder action or process
infamy an evil or wicked act
inept having or showing no skill
indolent lazy, showing no real interest or effort
incisive intelligently analytical and clear-thinking
impudent not showing due respect for another person
implacable unable to be changed, satisfied, or stopped
impertinent someone rude and not showing proper respect
impeccable perfect, with no problems or bad parts
hypocrisy pretending to be what you are not, or to believe something that you do not
haughty someone arrogantly superior and disdainful
gratuitous something done without good reason
gluttony habitual greed or excess in eating
furtive attempting to avoid notice or attention, done secretly
fractious easily upset or annoyed
forsake abandon or leave
flabbergasted greatly surprised or astonished
feral something existing in a wild state
fabricate invent something in order to deceive
extol praise enthusiastically
erudite having or showing great knowledge
enmity a state or feeling of active opposition or hostility
empathy the ability to understand and share the feelings of another
embezzle steal money or misappropriate funds
eloquent fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing
elated extremely happy and excited
diligent careful and using a lot of effort
despot a ruler or other person who holds absolute power
deride express contempt for something
demure reserved and shy
deferential polite and showing respect
decry publicly denounce
debase reduce something in quality or value
cumulative increasing or increased in quantity by successive additions
connive secretly allow something immoral, illegal, or harmful to occur
confidant a person with whom one shares a secret or private matter
concession something that you agree to give someone or allow them to do
complacency a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself
coherent logical and consistent
coerce persuade unwilling person to do something by using force or threats
clandestine planned or done in secret
circumspect wary and unwilling to take risks
chide to speak to someone severely because they have behaved badly
candor the quality of being open and honest
callous showing or having insensitive and cruel disregard for others
cajole to persuade someone with flattery
brusque quick and rude in manner or speech
brazen shameless or not showing respect
avarice excessive greed for wealth
arcane something understood by few people, mysterious or secret
appease to make concessions to someone by satisfying their demand
amiable pleasant and friendly
alacrity brisk and cheerful readiness
acquiesce accept something reluctantly but without protest
abhor regard with disgust and hatred
aberration a difference from what is normal or usual