300 Smart Words That You Should Know

·     Abate- to become weaker: to decrease in strength

·     Aberrant- different from the usual or natural type

·     Abeyance- a state of temporary disuse or suspension

·     Abscond- to go away or escape from a place secretly

·     Abstemious- not self-indulgent, especially when eating and drinking

·     Admonish- warn or reprimand someone firmly

·   Adulterate- to make something such as food or drink impure or weaker by adding something of poor quality

·    Aesthetic- concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty

·    Aggregate- a whole formed by combining several (typically disparate) elements

·   Alacrity- brisk and cheerful readiness

·   Alleviate- make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe

·   Amalgamate- combine or unite to form one organization or structure

·   Ambiguous- (of language) open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning

·   Ambivalence- the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

·   Ameliorate- make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better

·   Anachronism- a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned

·   Analogous- comparable in certain respects, typically in a way that makes clearer the nature of the things compared

·   Anomalous- deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected

·   Antipathy- a deep-seated feeling of dislike; aversion

·   Apathy- lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

·   Appease- pacify or placate (someone) by acceding to their demands

·   Apprise- inform or tell (someone)

·   Approbation- approval or praise

·   Appropriate- suitable or proper in the circumstances

·   Arduous- involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring

·   Artless- without guile or deception

·   Ascetic- characterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons

·   Assiduous- showing great care and perseverance

·   Assuage- make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense

·   Attenuate- reduce the force, effect, or value of

·   Audacious- showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks

·   Austere-severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance

·   Autonomous- (of a country or region) having self-government, at least to a significant degree

·   Aver-state or assert to be the case

·   Banal- so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring

·   Belie- (of an appearance) fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict

·   Beneficent- (of a person) generous or doing good.

·   Bolster- a long, thick pillow that is placed under other pillows for support.

·   Bombastic- high-sounding but with little meaning; inflated

·   Boorish- rough and bad-mannered; coarse

·   Burgeon- begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish

·   Burnish- polish (something, especially metal) by rubbing

·   Buttress- a projecting support of stone or brick built against a wall

·   Cacophonous-involving or producing a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds

·   Capricious- given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior

·   Castigation- reprimand (someone) severely

·   Catalyst- a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change.

·   Caustic- able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action

·   Chicanery- the use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose

·   Coagulate- (of a fluid, especially blood) change to a solid or semisolid state

·   Coda-the concluding passage of a piece or movement, typically forming an addition to the basic structure.

·   Cogent- (of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing.

·   Commensurate- corresponding in size or degree; in proportion

·   Compendium- a collection of concise but detailed information about a particular subject, especially in a book or other publication.

·   Complaisant- willing to please others; obliging; agreeable

·   Compliant- inclined to agree with others or obey rules, especially to an excessive degree

·   Conciliatory- intended or likely to placate or pacify

·   Condone- accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to continue

·   Confound-cause surprise or confusion in (someone), especially by acting against their expectations

·   Connoisseur- an expert judge in matters of taste

·   Cumbersome- large or heavy and therefore difficult to carry or use; unwieldy

·   Debilitate- make (someone) weak and infirm

·   Decorum- behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety

·   Deduce- arrive at (a fact or a conclusion) by reasoning; draw as a logical conclusion

·   Déjà vu- a feeling of having already experienced the present situation

·   Deify- worship, regard, or treat (someone or something) as a god

·   Delectable- (of food or drink) delicious

·   Demure- (of a woman or her behavior) reserved, modest, and shy

·   Deplorable- deserving strong condemnation

·   Dialectic- the art of investigating or discussing the truth of opinions.

·   Dichotomy- a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different

·   Eclectic- deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources

·   Eccentric- (of a person or their behavior) unconventional and slightly strange

·   Elicit- evoke or draw out (a response, answer, or fact) from someone in reaction to one’s own actions or questions

·   Elusive- difficult to find, catch, or achieve

·   Emanate- (of something abstract but perceptible) issue or spread out from (a source)

·   Enigmatic- difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious

·   En masse- in a group; all together

·   Endemic- (of a disease or condition) regularly found among particular people or in a   certain area

·   Eradicate- destroy completely; put an end to

·   Evasive- tending to avoid commitment or self-revelation, especially by responding only indirectly

·   Faux Pas- an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation.

·   Fiasco- a thing that is a complete failure, especially in a ludicrous or humiliating way

·   Futility- pointlessness or uselessness

·   Fortuitous- happening by accident or chance rather than design

·   Formidable- inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable

·   Fractious- (typically of children) irritable and quarrelsome

·   Funereal- having the mournful, somber character appropriate to a funeral

·   Fledging- (of a young bird) develop wing feathers that are large enough for flight.

·   Fidelity- faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support

·   Flippant- not showing a serious or respectful attitude

·   Galvanize- shock or excite (someone), typically into taking action

·   Gamut- the complete range or scope of something

·   Gargantuan- enormous

·   Globular- globe-shaped; spherical.

·   Gormandize- indulge in good eating; eat greedily.

·   Grandeur- splendor and impressiveness, especially of appearance or style

·   Gradation- a scale or a series of successive changes, stages, or degrees

·   Gregarious- (of a person) fond of company; sociable

·   Gratuitous- uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted

·   Halcyon- denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful

·   Haphazard- lacking any obvious principle of organization

·   Hapless- (especially of a person) unfortunate

·   Herculean- requiring great strength or effort

·   Hiatus- a pause or gap in a sequence, series, or process

·   Ignoble- not honorable in character or purpose

·   Ignominious- deserving or causing public disgrace or shame

·   Illicit- forbidden by law, rules, or custom

·   Impasse- a situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of disagreement; a deadlock

·   Impertinent- not showing proper respect; rude

·   Jocular- fond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful

·   Jettison- throw or drop (something) from an aircraft or ship

·   Jejune- naive, simplistic, and superficial

·   Juxtapose- place or deal with close together for contrasting effect

·   Jingoistic- extreme patriotism, especially in the form of aggressive or warlike foreign policy

·   Kibosh- put an end to; dispose of decisively

·   Kinetic- of, relating to, or resulting from motion

·   Kudos- praise and honor received for an achievement.

·   Keynote- a prevailing tone or central theme, typically one set or introduced at the start of a conference

·   Kinesiology- the study of the mechanics of body movements.

·   Laconic- (of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words

·   Laggard- a person who makes slow progress and falls behind others

·   Lascivious- (of a person, manner, or gesture) feeling or revealing an overt and often offensive sexual desire

·   Latent- (of a quality or state) existing but not yet developed or manifest; hidden; concealed

·   Lethargic- affected by lethargy; sluggish and apathetic

·   Levity- humor or frivolity, especially the treatment of a serious matter with humor or in a manner lacking due respect

·   Liaison- communication or cooperation that facilitates a close working relationship between people or organizations

·   Loquacious- tending to talk a great deal; talkative.

·   Ludicrous- so foolish, unreasonable, or out of place as to be amusing; ridiculous

·   Lucid- expressed clearly; easy to understand

·   Malignant- (of a disease) very virulent or infectious.

·   Maniacal- a person exhibiting extreme symptoms of wild behavior, especially when violent and dangerous

·   Masticate- chew (food).

·   Maverick- an unorthodox or independent-minded person

·   Mawkish- sentimental in a feeble or sickly way

·   Megalomania- obsession with the exercise of power, especially in the domination of others.

·   Mendacious- not telling the truth; lying

·   Mesmerize- hold the attention of (someone) to the exclusion of all else or so as to transfix them

·   Misconstrue- interpret (something, especially a person’s words or actions) wrongly

·   Mnemonic- a device such as a pattern of letters, ideas, or associations that assists in remembering something.

·   Narcissistic- having an excessive or erotic interest in oneself and one’s physical appearance

·   Narcolepsy- a condition characterized by an extreme tendency to fall asleep whenever in relaxing surroundings.

·   Nascent- (especially of a process or organization) just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential

·   Nefarious- (typically of an action or activity) wicked or criminal

·   Ne plus ultra- the perfect or most extreme example of its kind; the ultimate

·   Noblesse Oblige- the nobility.

·   Nocturnal- done, occurring, or active at night

·   Nom de guerre- an assumed name under which a person engages in combat or some other activity or enterprise.

·   Nonchalance- the state of being nonchalant

·   Non sequitur- a conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement.

·   Oblivious- not aware of or not concerned about what is happening around one

·   Obsequious- obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree

·   Obsolete- no longer produced or used; out of date

·   Onus- used to refer to something that is one’s duty or responsibility

·   Optimal- best or most favorable; optimum

·   Opus- any artistic work, especially one on a large scale

·   Onerous- (of a task, duty, or responsibility) involving an amount of effort and difficulty that is oppressively burdensome

·   Ostensibly- apparently or purportedly, but perhaps not actually

·   Ostracize- exclude (someone) from a society or group

·   Onomatopoeia- the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named

·   Pacify- quell the anger, agitation, or excitement of

·   Pandemic- (of a disease) prevalent over a whole country or the world.

·   Paradigm- a typical example or pattern of something; a model

·   Paragon- a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality

·   Paroxysm- a sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion or activity

·   Paucity- the presence of something only in small or insufficient quantities or amounts; scarcity

·   Peccadillo- a small, relatively unimportant offense or sin.

·   Pedantic- of or like a pedant

·   Penultimate- last but one in a series of things; second to the last

·   Perennial- lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring

·   Perpetuate- make (something, typically an undesirable situation or an unfounded belief) continue indefinitely

·   Peruse- read (something), typically in a thorough or careful way

·   Pervasive- (especially of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people

·   Picayune- petty; worthless

·   Pinnacle- the most successful point; the culmination

·   Placid- (of a person or animal) not easily upset or excited

·   Platonic- (of love or friendship) intimate and affectionate but not sexual

·   Plethora- a large or excessive amount of (something)

·   Polarize- divide or cause to divide into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs

·   Polemics- a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something

·   Portend- be a sign or warning that (something, especially something momentous or calamitous) is likely to happen

·   Posit- assume as a fact; put forward as a basis of argument

·   Potable safe to drink; drinkable

·   Pragmatic- dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations

·   Precarious- not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse

·   Precedent- an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances

·   Precocious- (of a child) having developed certain abilities or proclivities at an earlier age than usual

·   Preemptive- serving or intended to preempt or forestall something, especially to prevent attack by disabling the enemy

·   Pretense- an attempt to make something that is not the case appear true

·   Primordial- existing at or from the beginning of time; primeval

·   Pristine- in its original condition; unspoiled

·   Prodigal- spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant

·   Procrastinate- delay or postpone action; put off doing something

·   Proliferate- increase rapidly in numbers; multiply

·   Promiscuity- the fact or state of being promiscuous

·   Protégé- p a person who is guided and supported by an older and more experienced or influential person

·   Protocol- the official procedure or system of rules governing affairs of state or diplomatic occasions

·   Proverbial- (of a word or phrase) referred to in a proverb or idiom

·   Prudent- acting with or showing care and thought for the future

·   Pulchritude- beauty

·   Raconteur- r a person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing way

·   Raillery- good-humored teasing

·   Raiment- clothing

·   Raison d’être- r the most important reason or purpose for someone or something’s existence

·   Rambunctious- uncontrollably exuberant; boisterous.

·   Ramification- a consequence of an action or event, especially when complex or unwelcome

·   Rancor- r bitterness or resentfulness, especially when long-standing

·   Rapacity- aggressive greed

·   Rapprochement- (especially in international relations) an establishment or resumption of harmonious relations

·   Ratiocinate- form judgments by a process of logic

·   Recalcitrant- having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline

·   Recant- say that one no longer holds an opinion or belief, especially one considered heretical

·   Recapitulate- summarize and state again the main points of

·   Reciprocity- the practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit, especially privileges granted by one country or organization to another.

·   Recriminate- make counteraccusations

·   Rectitude- morally correct behavior or thinking; righteousness

·   Redact- edit (text) for publication.

·   Redolent- strongly reminiscent or suggestive of (something)

·   Reflexive- denoting a pronoun that refers back to the subject of the clause in which it is used

·   Rejoinder- a reply, especially a sharp or witty one

·   Salacious- treating sexual matters in an indecent way and typically conveying undue interest in or enjoyment of the subject

·   Salient- most noticeable or important

·   Salubrious- health-giving; healthy

·   Sangfroid- composure or coolness, sometimes excessive, as shown in danger or under trying circumstances

·   Sapient- wise, or attempting to appear wise

·   Sardonic- grimly mocking or cynical

·   Sartorial- of or relating to tailoring, clothes, or style of dress

·   Satiety- the feeling or state of being sated.

·   Saturnine- slow and gloomy

·   Satyr- a man who has strong sexual desires.

·   Savoir faire- the ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations.

·   Scintilla- a tiny trace or spark of a specified quality or feeling

·   Scion- a descendant of a notable family

·   Secular- denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis

·   Sedentary- tending to spend much time seated; somewhat inactive

·   Serendipity- the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way

·   Sinecure- a position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit.

·   Sojourn- a temporary stay

·   Spurious- not being what it purports to be; false or fake

·   Supercilious- behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others

·   Tabula Rasa- an absence of preconceived ideas or predetermined goals; a clean slate

·   Taciturn- (of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.

·   Tangential- of, relating to, or along a tangent

·   Tantamount- equivalent in seriousness to; virtually the same as

·   Tautology- the saying of the same thing twice in different words, generally considered to be a fault of style

·   Teleological- the explanation of phenomena by the purpose they serve rather than by postulated causes

·   Temerity- excessive confidence or boldness; audacity

·   Temper- a person’s state of mind seen in terms of their being angry or calm

·   Tempestuous- characterized by strong and turbulent or conflicting emotion

·   Tenet- a principle or belief, especially one of the main principles of a religion or philosophy

·   Tendentious- expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view, especially a controversial one

·   Tenacious- tending to keep a firm hold of something; clinging or adhering closely

·   Tete-a-tete- a private conversation between two people

·   Thaumaturge- a worker of wonders and performer of miracles; a magician

·   Titular- holding or constituting a purely formal position or title without any real authority

·   Toothsome- temptingly tasty

·   Tractable- easy to control or influence

·   Transient- lasting only for a short time; impermanent

·   Tryst- a private, romantic rendezvous between lovers

·   Tumid- swollen

·   Ubiquitous- present, appearing, or found everywhere

·   Umbrage- offense or annoyance

·   Unassuming- not pretentious or arrogant; modest

·   Unbridled- uncontrolled; unconstrained

·   Unceremonious- having or showing a lack of courtesy; rough or abrupt

·   Unctuous- excessively or ingratiatingly flattering; oily

·   Ungainly- awkward; clumsy

·   Unilateral- performed by or affecting only one person, group, or country involved in a particular situation, without the agreement of another or the others

·   Unimpeachable- not able to be doubted, questioned, or criticized; entirely trustworthy

·   Unsavory- disagreeable to taste, smell, or look at.

·   Vacuous- having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless

·   Vagary- an unexpected and inexplicable change in a situation or in someone’s behavior

·   Vainglorious- inordinate pride in oneself or one’s achievements; excessive vanity.

·   Vapid- offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging

·   Vanguard- a group of people leading the way in new developments or ideas

·   Vehement- showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or intense

·   Venal- showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery

·   Venial- denoting a sin that is not regarded as depriving the soul of divine grace. Often contrasted with mortal

·   Veracity- conformity to facts; accuracy

·   Verdant- green with grass or other rich vegetation.

·   Vers libre- another term for free verse

·   Vignette- a brief evocative description, account, or episode.

·   Vociferous- (especially of a person or speech) vehement or clamorous

·   Wanderlust- a strong desire to travel

·   Wane- (of the moon) has a progressively smaller part of its visible surface illuminated, so that it appears to decrease in size.

·   Wanton- (of a cruel or violent action) deliberate and unprovoked

·   Watershed- an area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas.

·   Wayfaring- (of a person) traveling on foot

·   Weltschmerz- a feeling of melancholy and world-weariness.

·   Wherewithal- the money or other means needed for a particular purpose

·   Xanadu- an idealized place of great or idyllic magnificence and beauty

·   Xenophile- an individual who is attracted to foreign peoples, manners, or cultures.

·   Yahoo- a rude, noisy, or violent person.

·   Xenophobic- having or showing an intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries

·   Yawnful- yawning, as the result of boredom, tedium, or the like

·   Za-zen- is a meditative discipline that is typically the primary religious practice

·   Zeitgeist-the general beliefs, ideas, and spirit of a time and place

·   Zest- lively excitement

·   Zenith- the strongest or most successful period of time

·   Yammer- to talk in an annoying way usually for a long time