Expanding your vocabulary is more than just learning new words; it’s about unlocking the ability to understand and articulate complex ideas more effectively. A robust vocabulary not only enhances your comprehension skills but also allows you to express your thoughts with greater precision and clarity.

This can significantly impact your performance on standardized tests, where understanding nuanced language and selecting the right words in writing sections are crucial. By investing time in growing your vocabulary, you are equipping yourself with a key academic advantage that can lead to higher test scores and a stronger overall performance.

Here are 35 words you can add to your growing vocabulary.

1) Abhor

Part of Speech: Verb
Definition: To regard with disgust and hatred.
Example Sentence: She abhors the smell of cigarette smoke and avoids places where smoking is allowed.

2) Abrogate

Part of Speech: Verb
Definition: To repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement).
Example Sentence: The government decided to abrogate the outdated law.

3) Affluent

Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Having a great deal of money; wealthy.
Example Sentence: The affluent neighborhood was filled with large mansions and luxury cars.

4) Amiable

Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner.
Example Sentence: The amiable host greeted every guest with a warm smile.

5) Apocryphal

Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true.
Example Sentence: The story of George Washington cutting down a cherry tree is often considered apocryphal.

6) Cardinal

Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Of the greatest importance; fundamental.
Example Sentence: Honesty is a cardinal principle of good leadership.

7) Castigate

Part of Speech: Verb
Definition: To reprimand someone severely.
Example Sentence: The coach castigated the players for their lack of effort during the game.

8) Clandestine

Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit.
Example Sentence: The spy carried out a clandestine operation to gather information.

9) Consternation

Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: Feelings of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected.
Example Sentence: There was widespread consternation when the team lost the match in the final seconds.

10) Deference

Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: Humble submission and respect.
Example Sentence: Out of deference to her parents, she agreed to postpone her trip.

11) Deride

Part of Speech: Verb
Definition: To express contempt for; ridicule.
Example Sentence: The critics derided the film for its lack of originality.

12) Diffident

Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence.
Example Sentence: The diffident student hesitated to raise her hand in class.

13) Dulcify

Part of Speech: Verb
Definition: To sweeten or soften something, often in demeanor or tone.
Example Sentence: His gentle words dulcified the tense atmosphere in the room.

14) Efficacious

Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Effective; producing the desired outcome.
Example Sentence: The new drug was found to be highly efficacious in treating the disease.

15) Erudition

Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: The quality of having or showing great knowledge or learning; scholarship.
Example Sentence: Her erudition on the subject impressed the entire audience.

16) Exhume

Part of Speech: Verb
Definition: To dig out (something buried, especially a corpse) from the ground.
Example Sentence: The body was exhumed for further examination as part of the investigation.

17) Expatiate

Part of Speech: Verb
Definition: To speak or write at length or in detail.
Example Sentence: The professor expatiated on the topic of climate change for nearly an hour.

18) Facetious

Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant.
Example Sentence: His facetious remarks during the meeting were not well received by his colleagues.

19) Fecund

Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Capable of producing an abundance of offspring or new growth; fertile.
Example Sentence: The fecund soil in the region supports a rich variety of plant life.

20) Foist

Part of Speech: Verb
Definition: To impose an unwelcome or unnecessary person or thing on.
Example Sentence: He tried to foist his outdated beliefs on the younger generation.

21) Foment

Part of Speech: Verb
Definition: To instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action).
Example Sentence: The rebels were accused of fomenting a revolution against the government.

22) Incidence

Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: The occurrence, rate, or frequency of a disease, crime, or something else undesirable.
Example Sentence: There has been an increase in the incidence of flu cases this winter.

23) Incognito

Part of Speech: Adverb/Adjective
Definition: (of a person) having one’s true identity concealed.
Example Sentence: The celebrity attended the event incognito to avoid attracting attention.

24) Insuperable

Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Impossible to overcome.
Example Sentence: The team faced insuperable odds but refused to give up.

25) Interminable

Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Endless (often used hyperbolically).
Example Sentence: The meeting felt interminable, dragging on for hours without resolution.

26) Meliorism

Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: The belief that the world can be made better by human effort.
Example Sentence: Her work in social activism was driven by her belief in meliorism.

27) Moxie

Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: Force of character, determination, or nerve.
Example Sentence: It takes a lot of moxie to start a new business in today’s economy.

28) Neologism

Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: A newly coined word or expression.
Example Sentence: The tech industry is full of neologisms that are quickly adopted into everyday language.

29) Obstreperous

Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Noisy and difficult to control.
Example Sentence: The obstreperous crowd made it difficult for the speaker to be heard.

30) Remuneration

Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: Money paid for work or a service.
Example Sentence: She received a generous remuneration for her consulting work.

31) Salience

Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: The quality of being particularly noticeable or important; prominence.
Example Sentence: The salience of the issue made it a central topic of discussion during the debate.

32) Surreal

Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Having the qualities of surrealism; bizarre.
Example Sentence: The movie’s surreal imagery left the audience both fascinated and confused.

33) Svelte

Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: (of a person) slender and elegant.
Example Sentence: The svelte model walked down the runway with grace and poise.

34) Tractable

Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: (of a person or animal) easy to control or influence.
Example Sentence: The dog was surprisingly tractable for a breed known to be stubborn.

35) Venerable

Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character.
Example Sentence: The venerable professor had been teaching at the university for over 50 years.