Word |
Meaning |
Example |
Abnegation |
Self-denial or renunciation |
His abnegation of luxury impressed everyone. |
Alacrity |
Cheerful readiness or eagerness |
She agreed with alacrity. |
Benevolent |
Well-meaning and kindly |
The benevolent woman donated generously. |
Candor |
The quality of being open and honest |
He spoke with refreshing candor. |
Debacle |
A sudden and shameful failure |
The event was a total debacle. |
Eloquent |
Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing |
Her eloquent speech won applause. |
Facetious |
Treating serious issues with inappropriate humor |
His facetious joke wasn’t well received. |
Gregarious |
Fond of company; sociable |
He’s gregarious and loves parties. |
Hinder |
To cause delay or obstruction |
Lack of resources can hinder progress. |
Impeccable |
Flawless; perfect |
Her manners are impeccable. |
Juxtapose |
To place side by side for comparison |
The painting juxtaposes modern and classic styles. |
Kudos |
Praise and honor |
Kudos to the winners! |
Lethargic |
Sluggish and inactive |
After lunch, he felt lethargic. |
Meticulous |
Showing great attention to detail |
She’s meticulous in her work. |
Nostalgia |
Longing for the past |
A wave of nostalgia hit him. |
Obsolete |
Outdated, no longer in use |
Those gadgets are now obsolete. |
Pragmatic |
Realistic and practical |
He’s very pragmatic about money. |
Quintessential |
Perfect example of a quality |
She’s the quintessential artist. |
Resilient |
Able to recover quickly from difficulties |
Children are resilient. |
Scrutinize |
To examine closely |
Scrutinize the document before signing. |
Tenacious |
Persistent, determined |
Her tenacious spirit is admirable. |
Ubiquitous |
Present everywhere |
Smartphones are ubiquitous today. |
Venerable |
Commanding respect |
The venerable professor retired. |
Wary |
Cautious about potential dangers |
Be wary of online scams. |
Xenophile |
Someone attracted to foreign cultures |
A xenophile enjoys world travel. |
Yearn |
Longing or desire |
He yearned for freedom. |
Zealous |
Passionate and enthusiastic |
The zealous volunteer worked tirelessly. |
Ambiguous |
Open to multiple meanings |
Her answer was ambiguous. |
Blatant |
Obvious and offensive |
That was a blatant error. |
Conundrum |
A confusing problem |
Solving that puzzle is a conundrum. |
Diligent |
Hardworking |
A diligent student gets good grades. |
Empathy |
Understanding others’ feelings |
Show empathy in tough situations. |
Frivolous |
Silly or unimportant |
Avoid frivolous spending. |
Hypothetical |
Based on assumptions |
Let’s imagine a hypothetical case. |
Inept |
Clumsy, unskilled |
His inept management caused issues. |
Jargon |
Special words used by professionals |
Legal jargon can be confusing. |
Kinetic |
Relating to motion |
Kinetic energy powers movement. |
Lucid |
Clear and easy to understand |
She gave a lucid explanation. |
Mundane |
Boring, lacking interest |
He hates mundane tasks. |
Novice |
Beginner |
She’s a novice in painting. |
Ominous |
Suggesting something bad will happen |
The storm clouds looked ominous. |
Paradox |
A contradictory but true statement |
“Less is more” is a paradox. |
Quirk |
Odd behavior |
His quirk is talking to plants. |
Rational |
Logical and sensible |
Stay rational in a crisis. |
Subtle |
Not obvious |
There was a subtle hint of sarcasm. |
Tactful |
Sensitive in dealing with people |
She was tactful when declining. |
Uncanny |
Strange or mysterious |
He has an uncanny ability to guess. |
Vivid |
Bright and clear |
She described it in vivid detail. |
Whimsical |
Playful and imaginative |
The design is whimsical. |
Yearning |
A deep longing |
He felt a yearning for his homeland. |