Speak Like a Scholar: 30 Words to Impress Your Audience

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Speak Like a Scholar: 30 Words to Impress Your Audience

SAT May Vocabulary

The ability to articulate thoughts clearly and comprehensively is foundational in conveying intelligence and confidence. For students, mastering a diverse vocabulary is not merely about acing spelling bees or writing essays; it’s about unlocking the full potential of their cognitive and communicative abilities. A rich vocabulary enhances comprehension across subjects, facilitates critical thinking, and boosts retention of information. This is especially crucial when preparing for standardized tests, such as the SAT, ACT, or GRE, where a deep understanding of language can dramatically affect scores. In tutoring settings, a broad vocabulary enables tutors to explain complex concepts more effectively and helps students grasp and engage with material at a deeper level.

Moreover, expanding one’s vocabulary is a lifelong benefit that extends beyond academic assessments. It nurtures eloquence and persuasiveness—skills invaluable in any professional field. Thus, by fostering vocabulary growth, we equip learners not only to excel in their immediate educational challenges but also to succeed in their broader career and personal life.

Here are 30 new words to enrich your vocabulary.

1) Artifice

  • Definition: Clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others.
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • Example Sentence: The spy used artifice and deceit to obtain the classified information.

2) Belie

  • Definition: To give a false impression of; to contradict.
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • Example Sentence: His calm face belied the turmoil he felt inside.

3) Bogart

  • Definition: To selfishly appropriate or keep something without sharing
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • Example Sentence: He was notorious for bogarting the conversation at every meeting.

4) Burgeon

  • Definition: Begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish.
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • Example Sentence: The tech industry continues to burgeon, with new startups appearing almost daily.

5) Caterwaul

  • Definition: To make a shrill howling or wailing noise like that of a cat.
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • Example Sentence: The cats caterwauled all night, which kept the neighborhood awake.

6) Caveat

  • Definition: A warning or proviso of specific stipulations, conditions, or limitations.
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • Example Sentence: There is a caveat to this agreement that requires both parties to disclose all their financial assets.

7) Circumlocution

  • Definition: The use of many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive.
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • Example Sentence: His answer was full of circumlocution, avoiding a straightforward response to a simple question.

8) Coalesce

  • Definition: To come together to form one mass or whole; to unite or merge.
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • Example Sentence: The various rumors and stories coalesced into a widely accepted legend over time.

9) Demagogue

  • Definition: A political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • Example Sentence: The demagogue manipulated public emotions to gain power

10) Ebullient

  • Definition: Overflowing with enthusiasm or excitement; exuberant.
  • Part of Speech: Adjective
  • Example Sentence: Her ebullient nature made her the life of the party, as she laughed and danced without a care.

11) Enervate

  • Definition: To cause someone to feel drained of energy or vitality; weaken.
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • Example Sentence: The intense heat of the sun enervated her to the point of exhaustion.

12) Exodus

  • Definition: A mass departure of people.
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • Example Sentence: The exodus of young workers from rural areas to cities has dramatically changed the demographic landscape.

13) Expiate

  • Definition: To atone for (guilt or sin).
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • Example Sentence: She sought to expiate her guilt by offering an apology to those she had wronged.

14) Extemporize

  • Definition: To improvise, especially in a manner of speaking or performing.
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • Example Sentence: She had to extemporize when she forgot her lines on stage.

15) Fatuous

  • Definition: Silly and pointless.
  • Part of Speech: Adjective
  • Example Sentence: He gave a fatuous smile when asked a serious question, which annoyed everyone in the room.

16) Forfend

  • Definition: To avert, prevent, or protect (something) from happening.
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • Example Sentence: He prayed to forfend any misfortune during his travels.

17) Inviolable

  • Definition: Never to be broken, infringed, or dishonored.
  • Part of Speech: Adjective
  • Example Sentence: The sanctity of the site is inviolable, and must never be disturbed.

18) Ken

  • Definition: One’s range of knowledge or sight.
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • Example Sentence: Such complex topics were beyond the ken of most casual readers.

19) Melee

  • Definition: A confused fight, skirmish, or scuffle.
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • Example Sentence: A melee broke out among the spectators when the game was called off.

20) Palpable

  • Definition: So intense as to seem almost tangible; easily perceptible.
  • Part of Speech: Adjective
  • Example Sentence: The tension in the room was palpable, and everyone felt uneasy.

21) Panoply

  • Definition: A complete or impressive collection of things; a splendid display.
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • Example Sentence: The museum’s exhibition featured a panoply of artifacts from ancient civilizations.

22) Proliferate

  • Definition: To increase rapidly in numbers; multiply.
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • Example Sentence: The cells began to proliferate uncontrollably, which was a crucial sign of disease.

23) Propound

  • Definition: To put forward (an idea, theory, or point of view) for consideration by others.
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • Example Sentence: The philosopher propounded a complex theory during the lecture.

24) Retinue

  • Definition: A group of advisers, assistants, or others accompanying an important person.
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • Example Sentence: The celebrity arrived at the event with an extensive retinue.

25) Sophomoric

  • Definition: Pretentious or juvenile.
  • Part of Speech: Adjective
  • Example Sentence: His arguments were deemed sophomoric and lacking depth.

26) Tawdry

  • Definition: Showy but cheap and of poor quality.
  • Part of Speech: Adjective
  • Example Sentence: The shop was filled with tawdry jewelry that appealed to certain kitschy tastes.

27) Tendentious

  • Definition: Expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view, especially a controversial one.
  • Part of Speech: Adjective
  • Example Sentence: The tendentious documentary was criticized for its biased portrayal of the events.

28) Voracious

  • Definition: Having a huge appetite; ravenous.
  • Part of Speech: Adjective
  • Example Sentence: He had a voracious appetite for knowledge, devouring books faster than anyone else.

29) Zealot

  • Definition: A person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • Example Sentence: He was a zealot who would stop at nothing to advance his cause, often alienating those around him with his intensity.

30) Zhuzh

  • Definition: To make something more lively and interesting, stylish, or appealing, often through a minor change or addition.
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • Example Sentence: She zhuzhed up her outfit with a bright scarf.