Advanced Word List – 8

A good vocabulary is crucial to acing Verbal section in GRE, CAT, SAT and other such exams. In this series of articles, we have compiled 1000 words that frequently feature in competitive exams.Spread over 25 lists of 40 words, these lists offer you a chance to learn the most essential English words.
Each word in the list is accompanied with its meaning and followed by a usage example. The words are categorized on three levels: 1, 2 and 3, according to the degree of difficulty. Go through the word lists and strengthen your vocabulary database.
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Level 1: Let’s get warmed up
Disciple: Someone who believes and helps to spread the doctrine of another
The religious leader’s disciples followed him blindly.
Indoctrinate: Teach doctrines to; teach uncritically
The dictator tried to indoctrinate schoolchildren with the ideas of his party.
Lush: Produced or growing in extreme abundance
The lush green farms looked beautiful in spring.
Omnivorous: Feeding on both plants and animals
Most bears are omnivores, with the exception of polar bears.
Ponder: Reflect deeply on a subject
He pondered on the suggestion.
Restrictive: Serving to restrict
The restrictive trade policy forced the traders to do business in other countries.
Unabated: Continuing at full strength or intensity
Strong unabated winds blew throughout the night.
Level 2: Let’s take it up a notch
Balk: Refuse to comply
She balked at the idea of compromise.
Blunt: To make less effective
She was adept at blunting criticism with a smile.
Destitution: A state without friends or money or prospects
Equality will not relieve destitution but will spread it evenly.
Eccentric: Conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
He has an eccentric habit of collecting stray cats.
Fulsome: Unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech
He gave her fulsome compliments.
Indict: Accuse formally of a crime
He was later indicted on corruption charges.
Metamorphosis: A striking change in appearance or character or circumstances
It is interesting to watch the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly.
Nostalgia: Longing for something past
He felt a wave of nostalgia for the life he had left behind.
Opulence: Wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living
He is surrounded by possessions which testify his opulence.
Penance: Remorse for your past conduct
He is doing penance for a lifetime of crime.
Pesky: Causing irritation or annoyance
The pesky flies hovered over the eatables.
Rife: Most frequent or common
After the failure of the harvest disease and starvation were rife.
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Level 3: Time to be a master
Abstemious: Sparing in consumption of especially food and drink
They are used to leading an abstemious life.
Decadence: The state of being degenerate in mental or moral qualities
He lived a life of total decadence.
Derogatory: Expressive of low opinion
He passed derogatory comments about everyone who came in contact with him.
Desultory: Marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose
We made some desultory conversation while waiting for the bus.
Disparate: Fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind
A disparate group of people across the city protested against the rise in prices.
Edifice: A structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
She was armed with a list of historical edifices which she must not fail to visit.
Extant: Still in existence; not extinct or destroyed or lost
The oldest extant copy is dated 1492.
Levity: Feeling an inappropriate lack of seriousness
Levity during working hours was not tolerated by his boss.
Lugubrious: Excessively mournful
He plays the violin so slowly that it becomes lugubrious.
Maudlin: Effusively or insincerely emotional
He turned maudlin after three drinks.
Nebulous: Lacking definite form or limits
We glimpsed a nebulous figure through the mist.
Obsequious: Attempting to win favour from influential people by flattery
He bowed in an obsequious manner.
Puissant: Powerful
The puissant Red Indian chief was not open to discussion.
Redolent: Having a strong pleasant odour
The redolent aroma of the pines filled the air.
Repose: Freedom from activity
He took his repose by the swimming pool.
Reviled: Spread negative information about
Some of us admire them, some revile them, but most people can't imagine joining their ranks.
Scion: A descendent or heir
He was the scion of an aristocratic family that lost their fortune in the revolution.
Sultry: Characterized by oppressive heat and humidity
Summers are usually sultry and oppressive.
Supplication: A prayer asking God's help as part of a religious service
He raised his arms in a gesture of supplication.
Trenchant: Characterized by or full of force and vigour
He was shattered by the trenchant criticism.
Vicissitudes: A variation in circumstances or fortune
He was continuously stiffening himself to withstand life’s vicissitudes.
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