Advanced Vocabulary (C1–C2 · 157 lessons)
Advanced vocabulary covers subtle meaning, formal register and near-native accuracy. Open any lesson below for the explanation, examples and practice points.
ubiquitous (adj.)
present everywhere
ephemeral (adj.)
lasting a very short time
pragmatic (adj.)
practical rather than idealistic
nuance (n.)
a subtle difference
paradigm (n.)
a typical model or pattern
ostensibly (adv.)
apparently, but perhaps not truly
exacerbate (v.)
to make worse
juxtapose (v.)
to place side by side for contrast
ameliorate (v.)
to make better
capricious (adj.)
changing suddenly and unpredictably
conundrum (n.)
a confusing problem
eloquent (adj.)
fluent and persuasive in speech
enigmatic (adj.)
mysterious and hard to understand
equivocal (adj.)
open to more than one interpretation
fastidious (adj.)
very attentive to detail
gregarious (adj.)
fond of company
idiosyncratic (adj.)
peculiar to one person
inexorable (adj.)
impossible to stop
laconic (adj.)
using very few words
magnanimous (adj.)
generous and forgiving
obfuscate (v.)
to make unclear
perfunctory (adj.)
done without care
quintessential (adj.)
the perfect example
recalcitrant (adj.)
stubbornly resisting authority
sycophant (n.)
someone who flatters to gain advantage
tenacious (adj.)
persistent
vindicate (v.)
to clear of blame
zealous (adj.)
very enthusiastic
ambivalent (adj.)
having mixed feelings
ostentatious (adj.)
showy to impress
propensity (n.)
a natural tendency
abstain (v.)
to choose not to do something
acquiesce (v.)
to accept reluctantly
altruistic (adj.)
selflessly concerned for others
anomaly (n.)
something that deviates from normal
belligerent (adj.)
aggressive and hostile
candid (adj.)
honest and direct
cogent (adj.)
clear, logical and convincing
connoisseur (n.)
an expert judge of taste
cursory (adj.)
hasty and not thorough
dichotomy (n.)
a division into two opposites
didactic (adj.)
intended to teach
esoteric (adj.)
understood by only a few
exemplary (adj.)
serving as a model
garrulous (adj.)
excessively talkative
iconoclast (n.)
someone who attacks cherished beliefs
ineffable (adj.)
too great to be described
lucid (adj.)
clearly expressed
mellifluous (adj.)
sweet-sounding
mundane (adj.)
ordinary and dull
nefarious (adj.)
wicked or criminal
paradox (n.)
a seemingly contradictory truth
pernicious (adj.)
harmful in a subtle way
pervasive (adj.)
spreading widely
querulous (adj.)
complaining in a whiny way
salient (adj.)
most noticeable or important
spurious (adj.)
false or fake
taciturn (adj.)
saying little
venerate (v.)
to regard with great respect
vicarious (adj.)
experienced through another person
wary (adj.)
cautious about possible dangers
wanderlust (n.)
a strong desire to travel
nomadic (adj.)
moving from place to place
odyssey (n.)
a long adventurous journey
prognosis (n.)
the likely course of a disease
epidemic (n.)
widespread outbreak of disease
palliative (adj.)
relieving pain without curing
blockchain (n.)
a secure distributed digital ledger
obsolescence (n.)
becoming outdated
ubiquity (n.)
being everywhere
meritocracy (n.)
a system where success is earned
sabbatical (n.)
a paid break from work
workaholic (n.)
a person addicted to work
fiscal (adj.)
relating to government finances
liquidity (n.)
the ease of converting to cash
recession (n.)
an economic decline
sustainability (n.)
meeting needs without harming the future
anthropogenic (adj.)
caused by humans
biosphere (n.)
the part of Earth where life exists
epicurean (adj.)
devoted to refined pleasure of food
gastronomy (n.)
the art of good eating
palate (n.)
sense of taste
dwelling (n.)
a place to live
residence (n.)
a home, often grand
dilapidated (adj.)
in poor condition
erudite (adj.)
having great learning
pedantic (adj.)
overly concerned with details
autodidact (n.)
a self-taught person
melancholy (n.)
deep sadness
exuberant (adj.)
full of lively energy
despondent (adj.)
in low spirits
indignant (adj.)
angry at unfair treatment
progeny (n.)
offspring
matriarch (n.)
a female head of a family
lineage (n.)
a line of descent
sartorial (adj.)
relating to clothing
opulent (adj.)
luxurious
frugal (adj.)
careful with money
prowess (n.)
great skill
tenacity (n.)
determination
underdog (n.)
a team expected to lose
aesthetic (adj.)
concerned with beauty
virtuoso (n.)
a highly skilled performer
avant-garde (adj.)
experimental
cinematography (n.)
the art of film photography
jurisprudence (n.)
the theory of law
tyranny (n.)
cruel rule
diplomatic (adj.)
tactful or relating to foreign relations
autocracy (n.)
rule by one person
apex predator (n.)
a top hunter
symbiosis (n.)
a mutually beneficial relationship
metamorphosis (n.)
a complete change in form
ligament (n.)
tissue connecting bones
cartilage (n.)
flexible tissue
cerebral (adj.)
relating to the brain
quantum (adj.)
relating to tiny energy units
entropy (n.)
a measure of disorder
phenomenon (n.)
an observable event
taxonomy (n.)
classification of organisms
conurbation (n.)
a built-up region of towns
gentrification (n.)
wealthier people moving into poor areas
thoroughfare (n.)
a main road
millennium (n.)
1,000 years
transient (adj.)
temporary
conglomerate (n.)
a large company of many businesses
synergy (n.)
combined effect greater than parts
disruption (n.)
radical change to an industry
loquacious (adj.)
talkative
inarticulate (adj.)
unable to express clearly
eloquence (n.)
fluent persuasive speech
vernacular (n.)
everyday local language
obstinate (adj.)
stubbornly unyielding
benevolent (adj.)
well-meaning and kind
mercurial (adj.)
unpredictable in mood
equanimity (n.)
calmness under stress
inclement (adj.)
unpleasantly cold or wet
tempestuous (adj.)
stormy
meteorology (n.)
the study of weather
augment (v.)
to increase
circumvent (v.)
to avoid cleverly
expedite (v.)
to speed up
galvanise (v.)
to shock into action
reconcile (v.)
to make compatible
underpin (v.)
to support
infinitesimal (adj.)
extremely small
myriad (adj.)
countless
quantify (v.)
to measure
avocation (n.)
a hobby
dilettante (n.)
an amateur
philatelist (n.)
a stamp collector
embezzle (v.)
to steal entrusted money
culpable (adj.)
deserving blame
clandestine (adj.)
secret
exonerate (v.)
to clear of blame
ethos (n.)
characteristic spirit
pageantry (n.)
elaborate display
syncretism (n.)
blending of beliefs
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