Advanced Vocabulary: Definitions, Synonyms, and Examples

Caricatured

To give a comically or grotesquely exaggerated representation of someone or something.

Arbitrary

Based on random choice or personal whim rather than reason or system.

Austere

Severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance.

Dubious

Hesitating or doubting.

Immutable

Unchangeable; not capable of change.

Impugned

To dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of a statement or motive; call into question.

Polemical

Relating to strong verbal or written attacks, especially on controversial subjects.

Objurgation

A harsh rebuke or severe scolding.

Paucity

The presence of something in insufficient quantities; scarcity.

Anomalous

Deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected.

Blighted

To have a severely damaging or detrimental effect on.

Raillery

Good-humored teasing or light-hearted mockery.

Obfuscation

The action of making something obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.

Candor

The quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness.

Inimical

Tending to obstruct or harm; unfriendly or hostile.

Belied

To give a false impression of; to contradict or show to be false.

Dexterity

Skill in performing tasks, especially with the hands; mental quickness or cleverness.

Affluence

The state of having a great deal of money, wealth, or material goods.

Anecdote

A short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person, often used to illustrate a point.

Modish

In the current fashion or style; stylish or trendy.

Ambiguity

The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; uncertainty or inexactness in meaning.

Sanguine

Optimistic or positive, especially in a difficult situation.

Equivocal

Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous, often intentionally to mislead or avoid commitment.

Banal

So lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring; commonplace.

Elusive

Difficult to find, catch, achieve, or understand.

Dubious (adjective)

Hesitating or doubting.

Enfeeble (verb)

To make weak or feeble; to deprive of strength.

Delineate (verb)

To describe or portray something precisely; to outline clearly.

Pejorative (adjective)

Expressing contempt or disapproval.

Pejorative (noun)

A word or phrase with negative connotations, often used to belittle.

Conundrum (noun)

A confusing and difficult problem or question; a riddle.

Misnomer (noun)

A wrong or inaccurate name or designation.

Disquietude (noun)

A state of uneasiness, anxiety, or restlessness.

Magnanimity (noun)

Generosity and nobility of spirit, especially in forgiving others.

Aplomb (noun)

Self-confidence or assurance, especially in a demanding situation.

Denigrate (verb)

To criticize unfairly or belittle; to attack the reputation or character of someone or something.

Fringe (noun)

The outer, marginal, or extreme part of something (especially a group or society).

Fringe (adjective)

Not part of the mainstream; unconventional, peripheral.

Deft (adjective)

Demonstrating skill and cleverness, especially with the hands or in handling situations.

Tantamount to (phrase/adjective)

Equivalent in seriousness, value, or effect; virtually the same as.

Germane to (phrase/adjective)

Relevant to a subject under consideration; closely related and appropriate.

Dissembler (noun)

A person who hides their true feelings or motives under a false appearance; a liar or pretender.

Ascetic (adjective)

Practicing strict self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious or spiritual reasons.

Ascetic (noun)

A person who lives a simple, disciplined life without indulgences.

Martinet (noun)

A strict disciplinarian, especially in the armed forces; someone who demands exact conformity to rules.

Sophist (noun)

A person who uses clever but fallacious or deceptive reasoning; historically, a teacher of rhetoric and philosophy in ancient Greece.

Pastiche (noun)

A creative work (literature, music, art, etc.) that imitates the style of one or more other works, often as a tribute.

An Allegorical

Containing allegory—where characters, events, or settings symbolically represent abstract ideas or moral qualities.

A Coherent

Logical and consistent; forming a unified whole.

A Temperate

Showing moderation or self-restraint; mild in behavior or climate.

A Derivative

Imitative of another work; lacking originality.

A Derivative (noun)

Something that is based on or derived from another source.

Ad Hoc

Formed, arranged, or done for a particular purpose as necessary; not planned in advance.

Acerbically

In a sharp, biting, or harshly critical manner.

Prolix

Using too many words; tediously lengthy or wordy.

Gently

In a mild, kind, or soft manner; without force or harshness.

Preternaturally Reticent

Extremely or unusually reserved, quiet, or unwilling to speak.

Blithely Oblivious

Cheerfully unaware or unconcerned about something important or troubling.

Turgid

Swollen or bloated, especially with fluid.

Turgid (Definition 2)

Overly complex or pompous in language or style.

Truculent

Aggressively defiant, hostile, or quick to argue or fight.

Torpid

Mentally or physically inactive; sluggish or lethargic.

Temerarious

Recklessly bold or rash.

Tenacious

Holding firmly to a belief, goal, or object; persistent and determined.

Insofar (as)

To the extent or degree that; within the limits of.

Abstruseness

The quality of being difficult to understand; deep or complex in an obscure way.

Vacuity

Emptiness or lack of substance, meaning, or intelligence.

Construe

To interpret or understand the meaning of something in a particular way.

Anoint

To smear or rub with oil as part of a religious or ceremonial practice.

Collude

To secretly cooperate or conspire with others, often for a deceitful or illegal purpose.

Bungling

Clumsy or incompetent, especially in handling tasks or responsibilities.

Boon

A thing that is helpful or beneficial; a blessing or timely benefit.

Ubiquitous

Present, appearing, or found everywhere; widespread.

Prevarication

The act of evading the truth; lying or speaking in an intentionally misleading way.

Indolence

Avoidance of activity or exertion; laziness.

Blighted (verb)

To have a severely damaging or detrimental effect on.

Blighted (adjective)

Damaged, ruined, or affected negatively—often in reference to environments or prospects.

Shirk

To avoid or neglect (a duty or responsibility), often by stealth or laziness.

Rapprochement

The establishment or resumption of harmonious relations, especially between countries, groups, or people who were previously hostile.

Continuity

The unbroken and consistent existence or operation of something over time.

Ebullient

Cheerful and full of energy; overflowing with enthusiasm or excitement.

Garrulous

Excessively talkative, especially about trivial matters.

Solicitous

Showing concern, care, or attention—often in a hovering or anxious way.

Munificent

More generous than is usual or necessary; lavishly giving.

Irresolute

Showing or feeling hesitancy; uncertain; lacking determination.

Laconic

Using very few words; brief and to the point, often in a cool or mysterious way.

Fastidious

Very attentive to detail; hard to please; excessively concerned with cleanliness or perfection.

Taciturn

Reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.

Innocuous

Not harmful or offensive; unlikely to cause injury or provoke strong emotion.

Uncontrollable

Impossible to manage, restrain, or predict.

Undetectable

Not able to be discovered or noticed.

Intractable

Hard to control, manage, or deal with; difficult or stubborn.

Dormant

Inactive or asleep but capable of becoming active; not currently in use or motion.

Inoffensive

Not likely to offend, provoke, or harm; mild or agreeable.

Obviated

Removed (a need or difficulty); prevented or avoided by taking early action.

Forestalled

Prevented or hindered something by taking action ahead of time.

Inscrutable

Impossible to understand or interpret; mysterious or unreadable.

Conjecture

A conclusion or opinion formed without complete evidence; a guess.

Conjecture (verb)

To form an opinion or supposition based on incomplete information.

Curtailment

The action or process of reducing or limiting something.