English Language OCR Vocabulary List

aberration

Something that differs from the norm.

abhor

To hate, detest.

acquiesce

To agree without protesting.

alacrity

Eagerness, speed.

allegory

A story that represents a deeper moral/political idea.

amiable

Friendly.

ameliorate

To make (something bad/unsatisfactory) better.

ambiguous

Open to more than one meaning.

ambivalent

Having mixed feelings.

appease

To calm, satisfy.

arcane

Obscure, secret, known only by a few.

articulate

Able to express ideas clearly.

austere

Severe, plain, strict.

avarice

Excessive greed.

ballad

A poem intended to be sung, often telling a story with love or moral lessons; usually repetitive.

baser

Without moral principles.

brazen

Excessively bold, brash, clear and obvious.

brusque

Short, abrupt, dismissive.

cacophonous

Harsh, discordant sound.

cajole

To urge, coax.

callous

Harsh, cold, unfeeling.

candour

Honesty, frankness.

chide

To voice disapproval.

circumspect

Cautious.

clandestine

Secret.

coerce

To make somebody do something by force or threat.

cogent

Clear, logical, convincing.

coherent

Logically consistent, intelligible.

complacency

Self-satisfied ignorance of danger.

conceit

An unusual or extended metaphor.

connotation

The implied meaning of a word.

confidant

A person entrusted with secrets.

connive

To plot, scheme.

cumulative

Increasing, building upon itself.

cynical

Believing the worst of others, especially that all acts are selfish.

deb ase

To lower the quality or esteem of something.

decry

To criticize openly.

deferential

Showing respect for another’s authority.

demure

Quiet, modest, reserved.

deride

To laugh at mockingly, scorn.

despot

One who has total power and rules brutally.

didactic

Intended to teach or moralise.

diligent

Showing care in doing one’s work.

discourse

Communication of thought by words.

eloquent

Fluent, persuasive in expression; expressive, articulate, moving.

elated

Overjoyed, thrilled.

embezzle

To steal money by falsifying records.

empathy

Sensitivity to another’s feelings as if they were one’s own.

enmity

Ill will, hatred, hostility.

erudite

Showing deep knowledge; learned.

euphemism

A polite or indirect way of saying something harsh.

euphonious

Pleasing, harmonious sound.

evocative

Brings strong images/feelings to mind.

extol

To praise, revere.

fabricate

To make up, invent.

feral

Wild, savage.

forsake

To give up, renounce.

fractious

Troublesome or irritable.

freudian slip

An unintentional error caused by unconscious thoughts.

furtive

Secretive, sly.

gluttony

Excessive eating or drinking.

gratuitous

Uncalled for, unwarranted.

haughty

Disdainfully proud.

hyperbolic

Exaggerated for effect.

hypocrisy

Pretending to believe what one does not.

implicit

Implied, not plainly expressed.

impeccable

Exemplary, flawless.

impertinent

Rude, insolent.

implacable

Incapable of being appeased or mitigated.

impudent

Casually rude, insolent, impertinent.

incisive

Clear, sharp, direct; sharp, direct, cutting.

indolent

Lazy.

inept

Not suitable or capable, unqualified.

inevitable

Unavoidable, bound to happen.

infamy

Notoriety, extreme ill repute.

inhibit

To restrain or hinder.

innate

Inborn, native, inherent.

insatiable

Incapable of being satisfied.

insular

Separated and narrow-minded; tight-knit, closed off.

intrepid

Brave in the face of danger.

inveterate

Firmly established, habitual; stubbornly established by habit.

ire

Anger.

juxtaposition

Placing two contrasting ideas close together.

jubilant

Extremely joyful, happy.

lithe

Graceful, flexible, supple.

lucid

Easy to understand, clear.

lurid

Ghastly, sensational; shockingly vivid or sensational.

maxim

A common saying expressing a principle of conduct.

melancholic

Sad, gloomy.

meticulous

Extremely careful and precise.

modicum

A small amount of something.

morose

Gloomy or sullen; sullen, ill-tempered.

motif

A recurring element with symbolic meaning.

maverick

An independent, nonconformist person.

myriad

Consisting of a very great number; countless.

nadir

The lowest point of something.

narrative voice

The narrator’s POV, style, tone, etc.

nominal

Insignificant, trifling.

novice

Beginner.

nuance

A slight variation in meaning, tone, expression; a subtle distinction or variation.