Advanced Words for Competitive Exams
High-level vocabulary • 708 advanced words available
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abdicate
to give up a position of power or responsibility, especially formally and willingly
Example:
"The king decided to abdicate the throne in favor of his son."
abient
Having a tendency to move away from or avoid a stimulus; characterized by withdrawal.
Example:
"The frightened animal displayed abient behavior when approached by humans."
abnegation
the act of rejecting something; self-denial
Example:
"Monastic life often involves abnegation of worldly pleasures."
abrogate
to officially end or repeal a law, agreement, or custom
Example:
"The government decided to abrogate the outdated law."
abstemious
not self-indulgent, especially in food or drink
Example:
"She lived an abstemious lifestyle, avoiding alcohol and luxury."
abstemiousness
The practice or quality of exercising restraint, especially in eating, drinking, or other pleasures.
Example:
"Her abstemiousness helped her maintain a disciplined lifestyle. Means: Her habit of avoiding excess helped her live in a controlled and disciplined way."
abstruse
difficult to understand; obscure or complex in meaning
Example:
"The professor’s lecture on quantum physics was too abstruse for most students."
accede
to agree to a request or demand; to assume an office or position
Example:
"The board finally acceded to the workers’ demands."
accoutrement
An item of clothing, equipment, or accessory associated with a particular activity or role.
Example:
"The hikers checked every piece of camping accoutrement before leaving. Means: The hikers checked all their camping equipment before departing."
acerbic
sharply or bitingly critical, sarcastic, or ironic in temper, mood, or tone
Example:
"Her acerbic comments during the review stung the team."
achromic
Without color; lacking pigmentation or coloration.
Example:
"The scientist observed an achromic patch on the specimen's surface."
acquiesce
to accept or agree to something reluctantly but without protest
Example:
"She acquiesced to the decision to relocate for the job."
acquittal
a judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which they were charged
Example:
"The defendant was overjoyed at his acquittal."
acroamatic
Intended for advanced or specialist instruction, especially instruction given orally to a select audience.
Example:
"The professor’s acroamatic lecture assumed extensive knowledge of quantum theory. Means: The lecture was intended for advanced students and assumed specialist knowledge."
acumen
keen insight or ability to make good judgments quickly
Example:
"Her business acumen impressed the investors."
Adjure
To urge, appeal to, or command someone solemnly and earnestly.
Example:
"The judge adjured the witness to tell the truth. Means: The judge earnestly commanded the witness to be truthful."
adscititious
Added or attached from an external source; supplementary rather than original.
Example:
"The editor removed several adscititious passages from the manuscript. Means: The editor removed passages that had been added from outside the original text."
adulation
excessive admiration or praise, often insincere
Example:
"The celebrity was used to constant adulation from her fans."
Adumbrate
To outline or sketch something faintly; to foreshadow or indicate something in a partial or preliminary way.
Example:
"The report adumbrated a new policy without explaining its details. Means: The report gave a rough indication of a new policy but did not fully explain it."
adventitious
Arising from an external, accidental, or unexpected source rather than being inherent or original.
Example:
"The plant developed adventitious roots along its stem. Means: The plant formed roots in an unusual external location rather than only from its original roots."
advertent
giving attention; attentive or mindful
Example:
"The report was written in an advertent manner."
aegis
the protection, support, or sponsorship of a powerful person or organization
Example:
"The project was developed under the aegis of the UN."
aggrandize
to increase the power, status, or wealth of; to praise beyond what is justified
Example:
"The leader sought to aggrandize his family through strategic appointments."
alacrity
a cheerful readiness to do something; eagerness
Example:
"She accepted the invitation with alacrity and joy."
Aleatory
Dependent on chance or determined by random factors.
Example:
"The experiment used an aleatory process to assign participants to groups. Means: The experiment assigned participants to groups by chance."
alibi
A claim or evidence that someone was elsewhere when an alleged act occurred; an excuse or justification.
Example:
"The suspect had a solid alibi for the night of the robbery."
altruistic
unselfishly concerned for or devoted to the welfare of others
Example:
"Her altruistic donation helped build a new community centre."
ambivalent
having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone
Example:
"She felt ambivalent about moving to a new city."
ameliorate
to make something better or less severe; improve
Example:
"The new policy helped ameliorate the housing shortage."
amelioration
the act of making something better or more tolerable
Example:
"Social reforms led to the amelioration of living conditions."