Vocabulary List of Advanced English Terms

Recount

Tell someone about something; give an account of an event or experience.

Rectify

Put right; correct.

Redundant

Not or no longer needed or useful; superfluous.

Refute

Prove (a statement or theory) to be wrong or false; disprove.

Relegate

Assign to a lower rank or position.

Remorse

Deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed.

Renounce

Formally declare one's abandonment of (a claim, right, or possession).

Repel

Drive or force back or away.

Reprehensible

Deserving censure or condemnation.

Reprimand

A formal expression of disapproval.

Reprove

Reprimand or censure (someone).

Repudiate

Refuse to accept or be associated with.

Reserve (N)

A supply of a commodity not needed for immediate use but available if required.

Resigned

Having accepted something unpleasant that one cannot do anything about.

Resolution

A firm decision to do or not to do something.

Resolve (N)

Firm determination to do something.

Restraint

A measure or condition that keeps someone or something under control.

Reticence

The quality of being reserved or restrained in speech.

Retract

Withdraw (a statement or accusation) as untrue or unjustified.

Reverent

Feeling or showing deep and solemn respect.

Rhetorical

Relating to the art of rhetoric (persuasive speaking or writing).

Rigor

The quality of being extremely thorough and accurate.

Robust

Strong and healthy; vigorous.

Sage

A profoundly wise person.

Sanction (V)

Give official permission or approval for an action.

Satirical

Using humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize people's stupidity or vices.

Saturate

Cause (something) to become thoroughly soaked.

Scanty

Small or insufficient in quantity or amount.

Scrupulous

Diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details.

Scrutinize

Examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.

Seclusion

The state of being private and away from other people.

Servile

Having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others.

Skeptic

A person inclined to question or doubt accepted opinions.

Sluggish

Slow-moving or inactive.

Somber

Dark or dull in color or tone; gloomy.

Sporadic

Occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places.

Squander

Waste (something, especially money or time) in a reckless manner.

Stagnant

Showing no activity; dull and sluggish.

Static (ADJ)

Lacking in movement, action, or change.

Submissive

Ready to conform to the authority or will of others.

Subordinate (ADJ)

Lower in rank or position.

Subside

Become less intense, violent, or severe.

Substantiate

Provide evidence to support or prove the truth of.

Succinct

Briefly and clearly expressed.

Superficial

Existing or occurring at or on the surface.

Superfluous

Unnecessary, especially through being more than enough.

Surpass

Exceed; be greater than./be better than./do or be better than ever before.

Surreptitious

Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.

Susceptible

Likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.

Sustain

Strengthen or support physically or mentally.

Sycophant

A person who acts obsequiously toward someone important to gain advantage.

Taciturn

Reserved or uncommunicative in speech.

Temper (V)

Improve the hardness and elasticity of (steel or other metal) by reheating and then cooling it./act as a neutralizing or counterbalancing force to (something).

Tentative

Not certain or fixed; provisional.

Terse

Sparing in the use of words; abrupt.

Thrive

Grow or develop well or vigorously.

Tranquillity

The quality or state of being calm and peaceful.

Transient

Lasting only for a short time.

Trite

Overused and consequently of little import; lacking originality.

Turbulence

Violent or unsteady movement of air or water, or of some other fluid.

Turmoil

A state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty.

Undermine

Erode the base or foundation of (a rock formation)./ lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability of, especially gradually or insidiously.

Uniformity

The quality or state of being uniform.

Unwarranted

Not justified or authorized.

Usurp

Take (a position of power or importance) illegally or by force.

Vacillate

Alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive.

Venerate

Regard with great respect; revere.

Verbose

Using or expressed in more words than are needed.

Vigor

Physical strength and good health.

Vilify

Speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner.

Vindicate

Clear (someone) of blame or suspicion.

Virtuoso

A person highly skilled in music or another artistic pursuit.

Volatile

Liable to change rapidly and unpredictably.

Whimsical

Playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way.

Zealot

A person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.