Advanced Word List – 14

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
Adamant: Impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, reason
The minister is adamant about his resignation
Egoist: A conceited and self-centred person
He was a thorough egoist, spendthrift and a miser in one.
Falter: Move hesitatingly, as if about to give way
The automobile engine faltered midway.
Humility: A disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride
Despite his powerful position in the government, he was still a man of great humility.
Jubilant: Joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success
Jubilant crowds welcomed the victorious team when they arrived back home.
Precedent: An example used to justify similar occurrences later
The trial could set an important precedent for similar cases.
Pungent: Strong and sharp
The more herbs you use, the more pungent the sauce will be.
Level 2: Let’s take it up a notch
Bereft: Sorrowful through loss or deprivation
They are bereft of their dignity due to the deeds of their children
Complacent: Contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions
We cannot afford to be complacent about our health
Condescend: Do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
He never condescended to notice me
Constrict: Squeeze or press together
Her throat constricted with emotion
Decorum: Propriety in manners and conduct
I was treated with decorum and respect
Discreet: Marked by prudence or modesty and self-restraint
She was wearing discreet jewellery
Exultation: A feeling of extreme joy
He punched the air and waved his bat in exultation
Glean: Gather, as of natural products
At present we are gleaning information from all sources
Inveterate: Habitual
The mother was exasperated by the inveterate laziness of her children
Malign: Evil or harmful in nature or influence
Jealousy had a malign influence on their lives
Omnipotent: Having unlimited power
He lived in the shadow of his seemingly omnipotent father
Prodigy: An unusually gifted or intelligent (young) person; someone whose talents excite wonder and admiration
He is an 11 year old chess prodigy
Retrospect: A review or survey of things in the past
One can easily identify one’s faults in retrospect
Sombre: Lacking brightness or colour; dull
The pair was in a sombre mood
Voluminous: Large in volume or bulk
She was swathed in a voluminous cloak
Zenith: Peak
His career is now at its zenith and I doubt whether he can go any higher than this
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Level 3: Time to be a master
Besmirch: Charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the reputation of someone
Lawyers can besmirch reputations
Candour: Honest and straightforward in attitude and speech
He expressed his feelings with candour
Charlatan: A quack or a fraud
The so called psychic was exposed as a charlatan
Debilitate: Make weak
Fear threatened to debilitate me
Fledgling: Young and inexperienced
The judge gave sound advice to the fledgling lawyers
Foment: Bathe with warm water or medicated lotions
His legs should be fomented
Impetuous: Characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation
The impetuous stream hurled down the valley
Invective: Abusive or venomous language used to express blame or deep-seated ill will
A woman had hurled racist invective at the family
Jocose: Characterized by jokes and good humour
His conversation is carefully maintained at a level of jocose pomposity
Mortify: Cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of
He felt mortified when she slapped him
Occult: Hidden and difficult to see
The moon occulted the Mars
Peremptory: Not allowing contradiction or refusal
The boss issued peremptory commands and others could only agree to what he said
Quarry: A person who is the aim of an attack
The police lost their quarry in the crowd
Rustic: Awkwardly simple and provincial
One must enjoy the rustic charms of village life
Slovenly: Negligent of neatness especially in dress and person; habitually dirty and unkempt
Such slovenly work is simply unacceptable
Vitriolic: Harsh or corrosive in tone
There was a vicious and vitriolic attack on him in the tabloids
Wheedle: Influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
She wheedled some money out of her father
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