Advanced Vocabulary: Definitions and Usage of Key Words in English

copious

in large amounts; abundant

unambiguous

clear

inconspicuous

not easily seen; subtle; not noticeable

inevitable

certain to happen; unavoidable

meticulous

extremely careful; particular about details

Equivocal

open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous

Tangential

digressing; diverting

inculcate

to teach; impress in the mind

harbinger

a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another

proxy

substitute

substantiated

supported with proof or evidence; verified

sporadic

irregular

transpose

to put into a different order or place; to reverse or transfer the order

subvert

To upset; to overthrow; to ruin

surmount

to overcome, rise above

underpinned

supported

subjugate

to conquer

untenable

(adj.) not capable of being held or defended; impossible to maintain

insolent

showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect

Denote

to indicate

renounce

to give up or resign something

obstinate

stubborn

multifarious

having great variety; numerous and diverse

supplant

to take the place of, supersede

prevade

to spread throughout

supersede

to replace

diminution

lessening; reduction in size

proponents

promoters; supporters

Attrition

a wearing down over time

Attest

to declare to be true

begrudgingly

reluctantly

invoke

to call upon

sporadically

Occasionally, Irregularly

abound

to exist in great numbers

discern

to see clearly, recognize

eschew

to avoid, shun, keep away from

Buttress

(v.) to support, prop up, strengthen; (n.) a supporting structure

Abrogate

cancel; deny; repeal

Decorum

proper behavior

Dogmatic

stubbornly opinionated

Infallible

free from error; absolutely dependable

Impede

To obstruct or interfere with; to delay

Imperceptible

barely noticeable

Innocuous

harmless

Nuanced

a very slight difference

obfuscate

to confuse; to bewilder

obscure

difficult to see, vague

paucity

scarcity

Pragmatic

practical

precarious

Dangerous; risky; lacking in security or stability

pretentious

making an extravagant outward show, self-important

profusion

abundance

prolific

(adj.) abundantly productive; abundant, profuse

prudent

wise, careful, cautious

recant

(v.) to withdraw a statement or belief to which one has previously been committed, renounce, retract

repudiates

to completely reject; to disown; to refuse to accept

repressed

held back; restrained

revered

respected

rudimentary

basic

specious

(adj.) deceptive, apparently good or valid but lacking real merit

subsumed

include or absorb (something) in something else.

subversive

(adj.) intended to undermine or overthrow; (n.) one who advocates or attempts to undermine a political system

surmise

to guess

transcending

to rise above or go beyond the limits

Ubiquitous

present or existing everywhere

Unpretentious

modest; not showy

unobtrusive

not noticeable

tenuous

very weak or slight

affinity

A likeness, a natural relationship, a kinship

Engendering

causing to exist

Profusion

abundance

Transpose

switch

subversive

revolutionary

Intermittent

not continuous; happening at intervals

Supposition

the act of assuming to be true or real

subsume

to include, incorporate

antecedent

predecessor;precusror

Laudable

deserving praise

paucity

scarcity

renunciation

rejection; refusal to acknowledge

ambivalence

mixed feelings or emotions

ambiguous

unclear

Dogmatic

Assertive; Strongly believe

Implausable

unbelievable

obviate

To make unnecessary; to avoid

curatil

to shorten

superseded

surpass, exceed

protracted

extended in time

innocuous

harmless

opaque

impossible to see through; preventing the passage of light

harbinger

a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another

affinity

an attraction to

equivocal

ambiguous

evenhanded

fair

prudent

wise

scrupulous

exact and precise

complacent

satisfied