| Word |
Meaning |
Example |
| Abnegation |
Self-denial or renunciation |
His abnegation of luxury impressed everyone. |
| Alacrity |
Cheerful readiness or eagerness |
She agreed with alacrity. |
| Benevolent |
Well-meaning and kindly |
The benevolent woman donated generously. |
| Candor |
The quality of being open and honest |
He spoke with refreshing candor. |
| Debacle |
A sudden and shameful failure |
The event was a total debacle. |
| Eloquent |
Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing |
Her eloquent speech won applause. |
| Facetious |
Treating serious issues with inappropriate humor |
His facetious joke wasn’t well received. |
| Gregarious |
Fond of company; sociable |
He’s gregarious and loves parties. |
| Hinder |
To cause delay or obstruction |
Lack of resources can hinder progress. |
| Impeccable |
Flawless; perfect |
Her manners are impeccable. |
| Juxtapose |
To place side by side for comparison |
The painting juxtaposes modern and classic styles. |
| Kudos |
Praise and honor |
Kudos to the winners! |
| Lethargic |
Sluggish and inactive |
After lunch, he felt lethargic. |
| Meticulous |
Showing great attention to detail |
She’s meticulous in her work. |
| Nostalgia |
Longing for the past |
A wave of nostalgia hit him. |
| Obsolete |
Outdated, no longer in use |
Those gadgets are now obsolete. |
| Pragmatic |
Realistic and practical |
He’s very pragmatic about money. |
| Quintessential |
Perfect example of a quality |
She’s the quintessential artist. |
| Resilient |
Able to recover quickly from difficulties |
Children are resilient. |
| Scrutinize |
To examine closely |
Scrutinize the document before signing. |
| Tenacious |
Persistent, determined |
Her tenacious spirit is admirable. |
| Ubiquitous |
Present everywhere |
Smartphones are ubiquitous today. |
| Venerable |
Commanding respect |
The venerable professor retired. |
| Wary |
Cautious about potential dangers |
Be wary of online scams. |
| Xenophile |
Someone attracted to foreign cultures |
A xenophile enjoys world travel. |
| Yearn |
Longing or desire |
He yearned for freedom. |
| Zealous |
Passionate and enthusiastic |
The zealous volunteer worked tirelessly. |
| Ambiguous |
Open to multiple meanings |
Her answer was ambiguous. |
| Blatant |
Obvious and offensive |
That was a blatant error. |
| Conundrum |
A confusing problem |
Solving that puzzle is a conundrum. |
| Diligent |
Hardworking |
A diligent student gets good grades. |
| Empathy |
Understanding others’ feelings |
Show empathy in tough situations. |
| Frivolous |
Silly or unimportant |
Avoid frivolous spending. |
| Hypothetical |
Based on assumptions |
Let’s imagine a hypothetical case. |
| Inept |
Clumsy, unskilled |
His inept management caused issues. |
| Jargon |
Special words used by professionals |
Legal jargon can be confusing. |
| Kinetic |
Relating to motion |
Kinetic energy powers movement. |
| Lucid |
Clear and easy to understand |
She gave a lucid explanation. |
| Mundane |
Boring, lacking interest |
He hates mundane tasks. |
| Novice |
Beginner |
She’s a novice in painting. |
| Ominous |
Suggesting something bad will happen |
The storm clouds looked ominous. |
| Paradox |
A contradictory but true statement |
“Less is more” is a paradox. |
| Quirk |
Odd behavior |
His quirk is talking to plants. |
| Rational |
Logical and sensible |
Stay rational in a crisis. |
| Subtle |
Not obvious |
There was a subtle hint of sarcasm. |
| Tactful |
Sensitive in dealing with people |
She was tactful when declining. |
| Uncanny |
Strange or mysterious |
He has an uncanny ability to guess. |
| Vivid |
Bright and clear |
She described it in vivid detail. |
| Whimsical |
Playful and imaginative |
The design is whimsical. |
| Yearning |
A deep longing |
He felt a yearning for his homeland. |
