Advanced Vocabulary: Roots, Synonyms, and Contexts for Language Learners

Miscreant

A person who behaves badly or in a way that breaks the law.

Incredulous

Unwilling or unable to believe something.

Credence

Belief in or acceptance of something as true.

Credulity

A tendency to be too ready to believe that something is real or true.

Concurrent

Existing, happening, or done at the same time.

Concur

To agree or have the same opinion.

Concourse

A large open area inside a public building, especially an airport or train station.

Recourse

A source of help or support in a difficult situation.

Endemic

Regularly found and restricted to a particular area or people.

Epidemic

A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.

Pandemic

An epidemic that has spread across a large region, typically affecting a large number of people.

Demagogue

A political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.

Predict

To say or estimate that a specified thing will happen in the future.

Addict

A person who is addicted to a particular substance, typically an illegal drug.

Dictatorial

Of or typical of a ruler with total power; tyrannical.

Edict

An official order or proclamation issued by a person in authority.

Contradict

To assert the opposite of a statement made by someone.

Disseminate

To spread or disperse something, especially information, widely.

Disparity

A great difference.

Dissent

(v.) to disagree; (n.) disagreement

Discordant

(adj.) Lacking harmony or agreement; clashing, harsh, or disagreeable

Disconsolate

Without consolation or comfort; unhappy.

Disparate

Essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison.

Equate

To consider one thing to be the same as or equivalent to another.

Equanimity

Mental calmness, stability, or composure, especially in a difficult situation.

Equable

Not easily disturbed or angered; calm and even-tempered.

Equinox

The time or date (twice a year) at which the sun crosses the celestial equator, when day and night are of equal length.

Equivocate

To use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself.

Euphonious

Pleasant to hear; harmonious.

Euphony

The quality of being pleasing to the ear, especially through a harmonious combination of words.

Euphemism

A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt.

Expurgate

To remove matter thought to be objectionable or unsuitable from a book or account.

Efface

To erase a mark from a surface.

Expatiate

To speak or write at length or in detail.

Emolument

A salary, fee, or profit from employment or office.

Excoriate

To criticize severely and publicly.

Emit

To produce and discharge something, especially gas or radiation.

Diffident

Modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence.

Perfidious

Deceitful and untrustworthy.

Confidant

A person with whom one shares a secret or private matter.

Infidel

A person who does not believe in a particular religion, especially Christianity.

Confident

Feeling or showing certainty about something.

Confide

To tell someone about a secret or private matter while trusting them not to repeat it to others.

Genial

Friendly and cheerful.

Genesis

The origin or mode of formation of something.

Generate

To produce or create something.

Program

A planned series of events, activities, or performances.

Monograph

A detailed written study of a single specialized subject or an aspect of it.

Calligraphy

Decorative handwriting or handwritten lettering.

Diagram

A simplified drawing showing the appearance, structure, or workings of something.

Monogram

A motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters, typically the initials of a name.

Prologue

A separate introductory section of a literary or musical work.

Monologue

A long speech by one actor in a play or movie, or as part of a theatrical or broadcast program.

Dialogue

Conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or movie.

Epilogue

A section or speech at the end of a book or play that serves as a conclusion.

Analogous

Comparable in certain respects, typically in a way that makes clearer the nature of the things compared.

Loquacious

Tending to talk a great deal; talkative.

Colloquial

Used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary.

Colloquium

An academic conference or seminar.

Eloquent

Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing.

Apathy

Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

Empathy

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

Sympathy

Feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune.

Apathetic

Showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

Antipathy

A deep-seated feeling of aversion (dislike)

Pathetic

Arousing pity, especially through vulnerability or sadness.

Preposterous

Contrary to reason or common sense; utterly absurd or ridiculous.

Postlude

A concluding piece of music, especially one performed at the end of a church service.

Posterity

All future generations of people.

Preponderant

Having greater power, influence, or effect than something else.

Precedent

An earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances.

Preeminent

Surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way.

Prelude

An action or event serving as an introduction to something more important.

Recurrent

happening repeatedly