300+ Essential TOEFL Vocabulary Words (Free PDF Download)

Abate

To become less intense or widespread.

The storm abated by morning, leaving calm skies.

Aberration

A departure from what is normal or expected.

His poor test score was an aberration; he is usually a top student.

Abhor

To regard with disgust and hatred.

She abhors any form of cruelty to animals.

Abridge

To shorten (a text, film, etc.) without losing the sense.

The audiobook is an abridged version of the 800-page novel.

Abscond

To leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detection.

The thief absconded with the jewels before the police arrived.

Abundant

Existing or available in large quantities.

The region has abundant natural resources.

Accentuate

To make more noticeable or prominent.

The lighting accentuated the sharp lines of the sculpture.

Accolade

An award or privilege granted as a special honor.

Winning the championship was the highest accolade of her career.

Accumulate

To gather or increase gradually over time.

Dust tends to accumulate in unused rooms.

Acerbic

Sharp and forthright in speech or tone.

Her acerbic wit often intimidated people.

Acquiesce

To accept something reluctantly but without protest.

With a sigh, he acquiesced to their demands.

Acrimony

Bitterness or ill feeling.

The divorce was settled with surprising speed and without acrimony.

Adept

Very skilled or proficient at something.

She is adept at solving complex mathematical problems.

Adequate

Satisfactory or acceptable in quality or quantity.

The hotel's facilities were adequate for our short stay.

Adhere

To stick fast to a surface or substance.

The old stamp adhered firmly to the envelope.

Adjacent

Next to or adjoining something else.

The cafe is adjacent to the bookstore.

Admonish

To warn or reprimand someone firmly.

The coach admonished the team for their lack of effort.

Adroit

Clever or skillful in using the hands or mind.

His adroit handling of the crisis prevented a disaster.

Adulation

Excessive admiration or praise.

The young star was overwhelmed by the adulation of her fans.

Adverse

Preventing success or development; harmful.

The project was delayed by adverse weather conditions.

Advocate (v)

To publicly recommend or support.

She advocates for stricter environmental laws.

Aesthetic

Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty.

The building's design has a pleasing aesthetic quality.

Affable

Friendly, good-natured, and easy to talk to.

He was an affable host, making everyone feel welcome.

Affluent

Having a great deal of money; wealthy.

They live in an affluent suburb of the city.

Aggrandize

To increase the power, status, or wealth of.

The biography was criticized for seeking to aggrandize the dictator's legacy.

Alacrity

Brisk and cheerful readiness.

She accepted the challenge with alacrity.

Alienate

To cause someone to feel isolated or estranged.

His rude comments alienated many of his colleagues.

Alleviate

To make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe.

This medication helps alleviate the symptoms.

Allure

The quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive.

The allure of the unknown drew the explorers onward.

Ambiguous

Open to more than one interpretation; unclear.

His reply was ambiguous and didn't answer the question.

Ambivalent

Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas.

She felt ambivalent about the job offer.

Ameliorate

To make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.

The new policy aims to ameliorate poverty in the region.

Amicable

Characterized by friendliness and absence of discord.

They reached an amicable divorce settlement.

Ample

Enough or more than enough; plentiful.

We have ample time to finish the work.

Anachronism

A thing belonging to a period other than the one in which it exists.

The knight in shining armor was an anachronism in the modern city.

Analogous

Comparable in certain respects.

The heart's function is analogous to that of a pump.

Anarchy

A state of disorder due to absence of authority.

The collapse of the government led to a period of anarchy.

Anomaly

Something that deviates from what is standard or expected.

The test results showed an anomaly that required further study.

Antagonize

To cause someone to become hostile.

His constant criticism began to antagonize the team.

Antipathy

A deep-seated feeling of dislike; aversion.

She felt a strong antipathy towards the proposed law.

Apathy

Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

Voter apathy led to a very low turnout.

Apprehensive

Anxious or fearful that something bad will happen.

She was apprehensive about the upcoming surgery.

Arbitrary

Based on random choice or personal whim, not reason.

The arbitrary decision made no sense to anyone.

Arcane

Understood by few; mysterious or secret.

The ritual involved some arcane symbols.

Arduous

Involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult.

The arduous journey through the mountains took weeks.

Articulate (adj)

Having or showing the ability to speak fluently.

She was remarkably articulate for a seven-year-old.

Ascertain

To find (something) out for certain.

We need to ascertain the facts before making a decision.

Ascetic

Characterized by severe self-discipline and abstention from indulgence.

The monk led an ascetic life of prayer and fasting.

Assiduous

Showing great care and perseverance.

She was assiduous in her preparation for the exam.

Assuage

To make an unpleasant feeling less intense.

The apology did little to assuage her anger.

Astute

Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations.

An astute investor, he sold his stocks before the crash.

Atrophy

To gradually decline in effectiveness due to underuse.

Muscles can atrophy if they are not used.

Audacious

Showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks.

The general made an audacious plan to attack at dawn.

Austere

Severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance.

The room was furnished in an austere style.

Avarice

Extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

The tale is a warning against avarice.

Axiomatic

Self-evident or unquestionable.

It is axiomatic that a whole is greater than any of its parts.

Banal

Lacking in originality; obvious and boring.

His comments were banal and uninteresting.

Belie

To fail to give a true impression of.

His calm smile belied the anxiety he felt inside.

Benefactor

A person who gives money or other help to a person or cause.

An anonymous benefactor donated a million dollars.

Beneficial

Favorable or advantageous; resulting in good.

Sunshine is beneficial to most plants.

Benevolent

Well meaning and kindly.

He was a benevolent leader, always thinking of his people.

Berate

To scold or criticize angrily.

The teacher berated the student for cheating.

Bias

Prejudice in favor of or against something.

The article showed a clear political bias.

Bolster

To support or strengthen.

He used facts to bolster his argument.

Bombastic

High-sounding but with little meaning; inflated.

The politician's bombastic speech failed to impress.

Brevity

Concise and exact use of words.

The report was praised for its brevity and clarity.

Cacophony

A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.

A cacophony of car horns filled the city street.

Candid

Truthful and straightforward; frank.

I appreciate your candid feedback.

Capricious

Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood.

The capricious weather made planning the picnic impossible.

Castigate

To reprimand (someone) severely.

The newspaper editorial castigated the mayor for his inaction.

Catalyst

A person or thing that precipitates an event.

Her speech acted as a catalyst for political change.

Caustic

Sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way.

His caustic remarks hurt her feelings.

Censure

To express severe disapproval of.

The committee voted to censure the senator for misconduct.

Chicanery

The use of trickery to achieve a goal.

The election was marred by allegations of chicanery.

Chronology

The arrangement of events in order of occurrence.

The book provides a chronology of the king's reign.

Circumspect

Wary and unwilling to take risks.

Investors should be circumspect when markets are volatile.

Clamor

A loud and confused noise, especially of people shouting.

The clamor of the crowd could be heard for blocks.

Clarify

To make a statement or situation less confused.

Could you clarify your second point, please?

Coalesce

To come together to form one mass or whole.

The factions coalesced into a single, powerful union.

Coerce

To persuade an unwilling person via force or threats.

He claimed he was coerced into signing the confession.

Cogent

Clear, logical, and convincing.

She presented a cogent argument for the new policy.

Coherent

Logical and consistent; forming a unified whole.

She was too upset to give a coherent account of the accident.

Coincide

To occur at the same time.

The festival coincides with the lunar new year.

Collaborate

To work jointly on an activity or project.

The two artists collaborated on the mural.

Commensurate

Corresponding in size or degree; in proportion.

The salary should be commensurate with experience.

Complacent

Showing smug satisfaction with oneself.

We cannot afford to be complacent about the competition.

Complement

To add to something in a way that enhances it.

The wine complements the cheese perfectly.

Comprehensive

Complete; including all or nearly all aspects.

The agency provides comprehensive healthcare services.

Concede

To admit that something is true or valid.

He was forced to concede that he had made a mistake.

Conciliatory

Intended or likely to placate or pacify.

He made conciliatory gestures to end the dispute.

Concur

To be of the same opinion; agree.

The judges all concurred with the final decision.

Condone

To accept or allow behavior that is considered wrong.

The school does not condone bullying of any kind.

Conducive

Making a certain situation or outcome likely.

A quiet room is conducive to studying.

Conflagration

A large, destructive fire.

The historic district was destroyed in the conflagration.

Conform

To comply with rules, standards, or laws.

All products must conform to safety regulations.

Confound

To cause surprise or confusion.

The results of the experiment confounded the scientists.

Congenial

Pleasant because of personality, qualities, or interests.

She found the work atmosphere very congenial.

Conglomerate

A thing consisting of a number of different parts.

The media conglomerate owns several television networks.

Conjecture

An opinion formed on incomplete information.

His conclusion was based on conjecture, not fact.

Connoisseur

An expert judge in matters of taste.

He is a connoisseur of fine wines.

Consecutive

Following continuously; in unbroken sequence.

It snowed for three consecutive days.

Consensus

A general agreement.

The committee reached a consensus on the proposal.

Consequently

As a result; therefore.

He didn't study and, consequently, failed the exam.

Conspicuous

Standing out so as to be clearly visible.

She felt conspicuous in her bright red dress.

Constituent

A part of a whole.

Analyze the constituent parts of the argument.

Constrain

To compel or force into a particular course of action.

Budgets constrain what we can spend.

Construe

To interpret (a word or action) in a particular way.

His silence could be construed as agreement.

Consummate (adj)

Showing great skill and flair.

She is a consummate professional.

Contempt

The feeling that a person is beneath consideration.

He looked at the liar with utter contempt.

Contentious

Causing or likely to cause an argument.

The contentious issue divided the community.

Contiguous

Sharing a common border; touching.

The 48 contiguous states of the USA.

Contingent

Dependent on something uncertain.

Our plans are contingent on the weather.

Contradict

To deny the truth of a statement by asserting the opposite.

The witness's story contradicted the evidence.

Contrive

To create or bring about by deliberate use of skill.

She contrived a way to meet him accidentally.

Conundrum

A confusing and difficult problem or question.

The ethical conundrum had no easy answer.

Converge

To come together from different directions.

The roads converge in the town center.

Convey

To transport or communicate.

The artist's work conveys a sense of deep sadness.

Copious

Abundant in supply or quantity.

She took copious notes during the lecture.

Corroborate

To confirm or give support to a statement or theory.

New evidence corroborated the witness's account.

Credible

Able to be believed; convincing.

He offered a credible explanation for his absence.

Credulous

Having too great a readiness to believe things.

Only the most credulous person would believe that story.

Criterion

A principle or standard by which something is judged.

The main criterion for selection is academic merit.

Critique

A detailed analysis and assessment.

She wrote a sharp critique of the proposed policy.

Crucial

Decisive or critical, especially in the success of something.

This is a crucial stage in the project.

Culpable

Deserving blame.

The judge found him culpable of negligence.

Cursory

Hasty and therefore not thorough.

He gave the report a cursory glance.

Curtail

To reduce in extent or quantity.

The government decided to curtail public spending.

Dearth

A scarcity or lack of something.

There is a dearth of affordable housing in the city.

Debilitate

To make someone weak and infirm.

A long illness can debilitate even a strong person.

Decorous

In keeping with good taste and propriety.

The guests maintained a decorous silence.

Decry

To publicly denounce.

He decried the lack of funding for the arts.

Deference

Humble submission and respect.

He treated his elders with great deference.

Deficient

Lacking in some necessary quality or element.

The soil is deficient in nitrogen.

Definitive

Of the most authoritative; conclusive.

This is the definitive guide to the subject.

Defunct

No longer existing or functioning.

He worked for a now-defunct newspaper.

Delegate (v)

To entrust a task or responsibility to another person.

A good manager knows how to delegate effectively.

Deleterious

Causing harm or damage.

The drug has deleterious side effects.

Delineate

To describe or portray precisely.

The report clearly delineates the steps required.

Demagogue

A political leader who seeks support by appealing to prejudices.

The demagogue used fear to gain power.

Demur

To raise doubts or objections.

She demurred at the suggestion that she was responsible.

Denigrate

To criticize unfairly; disparage.

He was accused of trying to denigrate his opponent.

Deplete

To use up the supply or resources of.

Overfishing has depleted the stock of cod.

Deplore

To feel or express strong disapproval of.

We deplore all acts of violence.

Depravity

Moral corruption; wickedness.

The novel explores the depths of human depravity.

Deride

To express contempt for; ridicule.

His theories were derided by his peers.

Derive

To obtain something from a source.

The word is derived from ancient Greek.

Desiccate

To remove the moisture from something.

The desiccated plants crumbled to dust.

Desultory

Lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm.

They made a desultory attempt to clean the room.

Deter

To discourage someone from doing something.

High fines are meant to deter illegal parking.

Detrimental

Tending to cause harm.

Smoking is detrimental to your health.

Deviate

To depart from an established course.

Please do not deviate from the agreed-upon plan.

Diatribe

A forceful and bitter verbal attack.

He launched into a long diatribe against the management.

Dichotomy

A division or contrast between two things.

The dichotomy between good and evil.

Diffident

Modest or shy due to a lack of self-confidence.

He was diffident about speaking in public.

Dilapidated

In a state of disrepair or ruin.

They bought a dilapidated old house and renovated it.

Dilatory

Slow to act; intended to cause delay.

The senator used dilatory tactics to stall the bill.

Dilettante

A person who cultivates an area superficially.

He was a dilettante in music, playing several instruments poorly.

Discern

To perceive or recognize something.

It was hard to discern his true feelings.

Discrepancy

A lack of compatibility or similarity.

There is a discrepancy between the two accounts.

Discrete

Individually separate and distinct.

The change happened in three discrete stages.

Discretion

The quality of behaving to avoid offense.

The use of the funds is at the manager's discretion.

Disingenuous

Not candid or sincere, typically by pretending ignorance.

His apology seemed disingenuous.

Disinterested

Not influenced by personal involvement; unbiased.

We need a disinterested third party to mediate.

Dismissive

Feeling that something is unworthy of consideration.

He was dismissive of her concerns.

Disparage

To regard or represent as being of little worth.

He never missed an opportunity to disparage his rivals.

Disparate

Essentially different in kind; not comparable.

They came from disparate backgrounds.

Disseminate

To spread information widely.

The organization works to disseminate knowledge.

Dissident

A person who opposes official policy.

Political dissidents were imprisoned.

Dissipate

To disperse or scatter.

The fog began to dissipate as the sun rose.

Dissonance

A lack of harmony among musical notes; incongruity.

There is a dissonance between his words and his actions.

Distend

To swell or cause to swell from internal pressure.

The balloon distended as it filled with air.

Distinguish

To recognize or treat as different.

It's hard to distinguish the twins from each other.

Divergent

Tending to be different or develop in different directions.

They held divergent opinions on the subject.

Divulge

To make known private or sensitive information.

He refused to divulge the source of his information.

Docile

Ready to accept control or instruction; submissive.

The horse was remarkably docile.

Dogmatic

Inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true.

His dogmatic approach stifled discussion.

Duplicity

Deceitfulness; double-dealing.

She discovered his duplicity when she found the hidden letters.

Ebullient

Cheerful and full of energy.

She was in an ebullient mood after the win.

Eclectic

Deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad range of sources.

He has eclectic tastes in music.

Efficacy

The ability to produce a desired or intended result.

The efficacy of the new drug is still being tested.

Egregious

Outstandingly bad; shocking.

An egregious error in judgment.

Elaborate (v)

To develop or present in detail.

Could you elaborate on your first point?

Elicit

To evoke or draw out a response.

The question elicited a strong reaction from the audience.

Eloquent

Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing.

He gave an eloquent speech in defense of freedom.

Elucidate

To make clear; explain.

The diagram helped to elucidate the complex process.

Elusive

Difficult to find, catch, or achieve.

The elusive butterfly finally landed on a flower.

Embellish

To make a story more interesting by adding details.

He tends to embellish his tales of travel.

Eminent

Famous and respected within a particular sphere.

An eminent historian.

Empathy

The ability to understand the feelings of another.

The counselor showed great empathy.

Empirical

Based on observation or experience rather than theory.

They gathered empirical evidence to support their claim.

Emulate

To match or surpass a person or achievement.

Young actors often try to emulate their idols.

Enervate

To cause someone to feel drained of energy.

The hot, humid climate enervated him.

Engender

To cause or give rise to a feeling or situation.

His comments engendered a lot of anger.

Enhance

To intensify, increase, or improve the quality of.

The spices enhanced the flavor of the dish.

Enigma

A person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand.

The artist remains an enigma.

Enmity

The state or feeling of being actively opposed.

There was deep enmity between the two families.

Enshrine

To preserve a right, tradition, or idea in a form that ensures it is protected.

The right to free speech is enshrined in the constitution.

Ephemeral

Lasting for a very short time.

The ephemeral beauty of cherry blossoms.

Epitome

A perfect example of a particular quality or type.

She is the epitome of grace under pressure.

Equanimity

Mental calmness, especially in a difficult situation.

He accepted the news with surprising equanimity.

Equitable

Fair and impartial.

An equitable distribution of resources.

Equivocal

Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous.

His answer was equivocal and unsatisfying.

Erratic

Not even or regular in pattern or movement.

The bus service is erratic on weekends.

Erudite

Having or showing great knowledge or learning.

An erudite scholar.

Esoteric

Intended for or understood by only a small number of people.

The discussion focused on esoteric philosophical points.

Espouse

To adopt or support a cause, belief, or way of life.

She espoused the principles of non-violence.

Ethereal

Extremely delicate and light in a way that seems not of this world.

The singer's voice had an ethereal quality.

Etymology

The study of the origin of words.

The etymology of the word "philosophy" is Greek.

Eulogy

A speech or piece of writing that praises someone highly.

He delivered a moving eulogy at the funeral.

Euphemism

A mild or indirect word substituted for one considered harsh.

"Passed away" is a euphemism for "died."

Euphoria

A feeling of intense excitement and happiness.

She felt a wave of euphoria upon hearing the news.

Evade

To escape or avoid, especially by cleverness or trickery.

The fugitive managed to evade the police for months.

Evince

To reveal the presence of a quality or feeling.

His smile evinced his satisfaction.

Evoke

To bring or recall to the conscious mind.

The song evoked memories of her childhood.

Exacerbate

To make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse.

His comments only exacerbated the conflict.

Exacting

Making great demands on one's skill, attention, or resources.

The work is exacting and requires great precision.

Exalt

To hold in very high regard; think or speak very highly of.

The poet was exalted as a national treasure.

Exasperate

To irritate intensely; infuriate.

Her constant questions began to exasperate him.

Exemplary

Serving as a desirable model; representing the best of its kind.

His conduct was exemplary.

Exhaustive

Including or considering all elements or aspects; fully comprehensive.

They conducted an exhaustive search.

Exonerate

To absolve someone from blame for a fault or wrongdoing.

New evidence exonerated the prisoner.

Expedient (adj)

Convenient and practical, possibly improper or immoral.

It is expedient to delay the announcement.

Expedite

To make an action or process happen sooner.

We can expedite the delivery for an extra fee.

Explicit

Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion.

He gave explicit instructions.

Extol

To praise enthusiastically.

The coach extolled the team's effort.

Extraneous

Irrelevant or unrelated to the subject being dealt with.

Please avoid extraneous details in your report.

Extrapolate

To extend the application of a method to unknown situations.

We can extrapolate from the data to predict future trends.

Extricate

To free someone from a constraint or difficulty.

He managed to extricate himself from the awkward situation.

Exuberant

Filled with lively energy and excitement.

Exuberant crowds celebrated the victory.

Fabricate

To invent or concoct something, typically with deceitful intent.

He fabricated an excuse for being late.

Facetious

Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor.

He was being facetious when he said the office was a spa.

Facilitate

To make an action or process easier.

The new software will facilitate data analysis.

Fallacious

Based on a mistaken belief.

His argument was fallacious.

Fastidious

Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.

He is fastidious about his appearance.

Fathom

To understand a difficult problem after much thought.

I couldn't fathom why he had lied.

Feasible

Possible to do easily or conveniently.

Is it feasible to finish by Friday?

Felicitous

Well chosen or suited to the circumstances.

A felicitous turn of phrase.

Ferret (v)

To search tenaciously for and find something.

She ferreted out the truth from the documents.

Fervent

Having or displaying a passionate intensity.

A fervent supporter of human rights.

Fickle

Changing frequently, especially as regards one's loyalties.

The weather here is notoriously fickle.

Fidelity

Faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief.

Fidelity is important in a marriage.

Figurative

Departing from a literal use of words; metaphorical.

In a figurative sense, he was drowning in paperwork.

Fiscal

Relating to government revenue, especially taxes.

The government's fiscal policy.

Flabbergasted

Extremely surprised or shocked.

I was flabbergasted by the news.

Flagrant

Conspicuously or obviously offensive.

A flagrant violation of the rules.

Fledgling

New and inexperienced.

A fledgling democracy.

Florid

Having a red or flushed complexion; excessively intricate.

Florid prose filled with elaborate metaphors.

Flout

To openly disregard a rule or convention.

They flouted the building regulations.

Fluctuate

To rise and fall irregularly in number or amount.

Prices fluctuate with market demand.

Foment

To instigate or stir up undesirable sentiment.

He was accused of fomenting unrest.

Forbearance

Patient self-control; restraint and tolerance.

She showed great forbearance during the long delay.

Forestall

To prevent or anticipate an event by taking advance action.

We took steps to forestall a crisis.

Forthright

Direct and outspoken; straightforward.

She was forthright in her criticism.

Fortuitous

Happening by chance rather than intention.

A fortuitous meeting led to a new job.

Fractious

Irritable and quarrelsome.

The fractious child needed a nap.

Frivolous

Not having any serious purpose or value.

A frivolous lawsuit.

Frugal

Sparing or economical with regard to money or food.

They lead a simple, frugal life.

Futile

Incapable of producing any useful result; pointless.

A futile attempt to change his mind.

Gainsay

To deny or contradict a fact or statement.

No one can gainsay the evidence.

Galvanize

To shock or excite into taking action.

The disaster galvanized the community into action.

Garner

To gather or collect something.

She garnered support for her proposal.

Garrulous

Excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters.

A garrulous taxi driver.

Genre

A style or category of art, music, or literature.

My favorite film genre is science fiction.

Germane

Relevant to a subject under consideration.

That point is not germane to our discussion.

Glib

Fluent but insincere and shallow.

He was glib and charming, but untrustworthy.

Gregarious

Fond of company; sociable.

She is very gregarious and loves parties.

Guile

Sly or cunning intelligence.

He used guile and trickery to achieve his aims.

Gullible

Easily persuaded to believe something; credulous.

He was gullible enough to believe the con artist.

Hackneyed

Lacking significance through having been overused.

A hackneyed plot device.

Harangue (n)

A lengthy and aggressive speech.

He delivered a harangue about laziness.

Harbinger

A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another.

The first robin is a harbinger of spring.

Haughty

Arrogantly superior and disdainful.

A haughty aristocrat.

Hedonist

A person who believes pleasure is the most important thing in life.

As a hedonist, he lived for good food and fine wine.

Hegemony

Leadership or dominance, especially by one country over others.

The cultural hegemony of Hollywood.

Heresy

Belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious doctrine.

His views were denounced as heresy.

Hiatus

A pause or gap in a sequence, series, or process.

The band went on hiatus for two years.

Hierarchy

A system in which members are ranked according to status.

The corporate hierarchy.

Hypothesis

A supposition made as a starting point for further investigation.

His hypothesis was proven correct.

Iconoclast

A person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions.

A cultural iconoclast.

Idiosyncrasy

A mode of behavior peculiar to an individual.

One of his idiosyncrasies is eating pizza with a fork.

Idyllic

Extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque.

An idyllic country cottage.

Ignominious

Deserving or causing public disgrace or shame.

An ignominious defeat.

Illicit

Forbidden by law, rules, or custom.

Illicit drug trade.

Immutable

Unchanging over time or unable to be changed.

The immutable laws of physics.

Impair

To weaken or damage something.

Loud noise can impair your hearing.

Impartial

Treating all rivals or disputants equally; fair.

An impartial judge.

Impede

To delay or prevent by obstructing them.

Deep mud impeded our progress.

Impenetrable

Impossible to pass through or understand.

Impenetrable jargon.

Imperative

Of vital importance; crucial.

It is imperative that we act now.

Imperious

Arrogant and domineering.

An imperious manner.

Impertinent

Not showing proper respect; rude.

An impertinent question.

Impervious

Not allowing fluid to pass through; unable to be affected by.

He was impervious to criticism.

Impetuous

Acting or done quickly and without thought.

An impetuous decision.

Implacable

Unable to be appeased or pacified.

Implacable enemies.

Implication

The conclusion that can be drawn from something.

The implication of his statement was clear.

Implicit

Implied though not plainly expressed.

Implicit criticism.

Implore

To beg someone earnestly or desperately.

She implored him to stay.

Importune

To ask persistently or pressingly.

He importuned her for a loan.

Impunity

Exemption from punishment or freedom from the consequences.

He thought his wealth allowed him to act with impunity.

Inadvertent

Not resulting from or achieved through deliberate planning.

An inadvertent mistake.

Inane

Silly; stupid.

Inane chatter.

Inaugurate

To begin or introduce a system, policy, or period.

The exhibition inaugurated a new era for the museum.

Incarcerate

To imprison or confine.

He was incarcerated for tax fraud.

Incessant

Continuing without pause or interruption.

Incessant rain.

Incipient

In an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop.

Incipient signs of the disease.

Incisive

Intelligently analytical and clear-thinking.

An incisive critique.

Inclination

A person's natural tendency or urge to act or feel in a particular way.

He shows no inclination to retire.

Inconsequential

Not important or significant.

Inconsequential details.

Incorporate

To take in or contain as part of a whole.

The design incorporates many new features.

Incorrigible

Not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed.

An incorrigible optimist.

Indefatigable

Persisting tirelessly.

An indefatigable campaigner.

Indigenous

Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place.

Indigenous plants and animals.

Indolent

Wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy.

Hot weather makes me feel indolent.

Ineffable

Too great or extreme to be expressed in words.

Ineffable beauty.

Inept

Having or showing no skill; clumsy.

An inept manager.

Inert

Lacking the ability or strength to move.

An inert body was lying on the floor.

Inexorable

Impossible to stop or prevent.

The inexorable march of time.

Ingenious

Clever, original, and inventive.

An ingenious solution.

Ingenuous

Innocent and unsuspecting.

An ingenuous smile.

Inherent

Existing in something as a permanent, essential attribute.

The risks inherent in the plan.

Inhibit

To hinder, restrain, or prevent.

Fear can inhibit learning.

Inimical

Tending to obstruct or harm.

Actions inimical to peace.

Innate

Inborn; natural.

Innate talent.

Innocuous

Not harmful or offensive.

An innocuous comment.

Innovate

To make changes by introducing new methods or ideas.

The company continues to innovate.

Inscrutable

Impossible to understand or interpret.

An inscrutable smile.

Insidious

Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, with harmful effects.

An insidious disease.

Insipid

Lacking flavor; lacking vigor or interest.

Insipid conversation.

Insular

Ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one's own experience.

An insular community.

Insurgency

An active revolt or uprising.

The government fought the insurgency for years.

Integral

Necessary to make a whole complete; essential.

She is an integral part of the team.

Integrate

To combine one thing with another to form a whole.

We need to integrate the new data.

Intractable

Hard to control or deal with.

An intractable problem.

Intransigent

Unwilling to change one's views or agree.

Intransigent negotiators.

Intrepid

Fearless; adventurous.

Intrepid explorers.

Intrinsic

Belonging naturally; essential.

The intrinsic value of gold.

Inundate

To overwhelm with things to be dealt with.

We were inundated with applications.

Invective

Insulting, abusive, or highly critical language.

A stream of invective.

Inveterate

Having a particular habit, activity, or interest long-established.

An inveterate liar.

Invigorate

To give strength or energy to.

The cold shower invigorated him.

Irascible

Easily angered.

An irascible old man.

Ire

Anger.

He drew the ire of his boss.

Irrevocable

Not able to be changed, reversed, or recovered.

An irrevocable decision.

Jargon

Special words used by a profession that are difficult for others to understand.

Legal jargon.

Jubilant

Feeling or expressing great happiness.

Jubilant fans celebrated the victory.

Judicious

Having, showing, or done with good judgment.

A judicious use of resources.

Juxtapose

To place close together for contrasting effect.

The exhibition juxtaposes works from different eras.

Keen

Having or showing eagerness or enthusiasm.

A keen swimmer.

Labyrinthine

Like a labyrinth; irregular and twisting.

Labyrinthine corridors.

Laconic

Using very few words.

A laconic reply.

Lament (v)

To express passionate grief about.

She lamented the loss of her friend.

Lampoon (v)

To publicly criticize using ridicule or sarcasm.

The cartoon lampooned the president.

Languid

Displaying a disinclination for physical exertion.

A languid afternoon.

Larceny

Theft of personal property.

He was charged with larceny.

Latent

Existing but not yet developed or manifest.

Latent talent.

Laud (v)

To praise highly.

He was lauded for his bravery.

Lavish (adj)

Sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious.

A lavish wedding.

Lethargic

Affected by lethargy; sluggish and apathetic.

The heat made everyone lethargic.

Levity

Humor or frivolity, especially the treatment of a serious matter.

A moment of levity in the proceedings.

Lexicon

The vocabulary of a person, language, or branch of knowledge.

The lexicon of sailing.

Liability

The state of being responsible for something; a person or thing causing trouble.

His knee injury was a liability to the team.

Liaison

Communication or cooperation between groups.

She acts as a liaison between the departments.

Licentious

Disregarding accepted rules and conventions.

Licentious behavior.

Limpid

Clear and unclouded.

Limpid blue eyes.

Litigate

To go to law; be a party to a lawsuit.

They chose to litigate the dispute.

Lucid

Expressed clearly; easy to understand.

A lucid explanation.

Ludicrous

So foolish, unreasonable, or out of place as to be amusing.

A ludicrous idea.

Lugubrious

Looking or sounding sad and dismal.

A lugubrious expression.

Luminous

Full of or shedding light; bright or shining.

The luminous dial of the watch.

Magnanimous

Generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival.

A magnanimous victor.

Magnate

A wealthy and influential person, especially in business.

A shipping magnate.

Malady

A disease or ailment.

A mysterious malady.

Malaise

A general feeling of discomfort, illness, or uneasiness.

A deep social malaise.

Malicious

Characterized by malice; intending to do harm.

Malicious gossip.

Malleable

Able to be hammered or pressed out of shape; easily influenced.

Gold is a malleable metal.

Mandate (n)

An official order or commission to do something.

The election gave him a mandate for change.

Manifest (adj)

Clear or obvious to the eye or mind.

His nervousness was manifest.

Marred

Spoiled or damaged the appearance of.

The celebration was marred by violence.

Maudlin

Self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental.

He became maudlin after a few drinks.

Maverick

An independent-minded person who does not go along with a group.

A political maverick.

Meager

Lacking in quantity or quality.

A meager salary.

Mediate

To intervene between people in a dispute.

The UN tried to mediate between the warring factions.

Mercenary (adj)

Primarily concerned with making money.

His motives were purely mercenary.

Meticulous

Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.

Meticulous planning.

Metropolis

A large, important city.

A bustling metropolis.

Meticulous

Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.

Meticulous planning.

Mitigate

To make less severe, serious, or painful.

Measures to mitigate the effects of the drought.

Modicum

A small quantity of a particular thing.

A modicum of common sense.

Mollify

To appease the anger or anxiety of someone.

He tried to mollify his angry customer.

Monotonous

Dull, tedious, and repetitious; lacking in variety.

A monotonous job.

Morose

Sullen and ill-tempered.

He became morose after his defeat.

Mundane

Lacking interest or excitement; dull.

Mundane tasks.

Myriad (adj)

Countless or extremely great in number.

The myriad stars in the sky.

Nadir

The lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization.

The defeat was the nadir of his career.

Naive

Showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment.

A naive belief in simple solutions.

Nascent

Just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential.

A nascent democracy.

Nebulous

In the form of a cloud or haze; vague or ill-defined.

Nebulous concepts.

Negligent

Failing to take proper care in doing something.

Negligent driving.

Neophyte

A person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief.

A neophyte in the world of politics.

Nettle (v)

To irritate or annoy.

I was nettled by his constant questions.

Nocturnal

Done, occurring, or active at night.

Nocturnal animals.

Nonchalant

Feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed.

He gave a nonchalant shrug.

Nostalgia

A sentimental longing for the past.

A sense of nostalgia for his childhood.

Notorious

Famous or well known, typically for some bad quality or deed.

A notorious criminal.

Novel (adj)

New or unusual in an interesting way.

A novel approach to the problem.

Nuance

A subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.

The nuance of her performance.

Nullify

To make legally null and void; invalidate.

The contract was nullified by the court.

Obfuscate

To make obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.

The politician tried to obfuscate the issue.

Objective (adj)

Not influenced by personal feelings; unbiased.

An objective analysis.

Obliterate

To destroy utterly; wipe out.

The town was obliterated by the bombing.

Oblivious

Not aware of or concerned about what is happening.

Oblivious to the danger.

Obsequious

Obedient or attentive to an excessive degree.

Obsequious waiters.

Obsolete

No longer produced or used; out of date.

Obsolete technology.

Obstinate

Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion.

An obstinate child.

Obstreperous

Noisy and difficult to control.

Obstreperous behavior.

Obtuse

Annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand.

He was being deliberately obtuse.

Ominous

Giving the impression that something bad is going to happen.

Ominous black clouds.

Omnipotent

Having unlimited power.

An omnipotent deity.

Onerous

Involving a great deal of effort, trouble, or difficulty.

An onerous task.

Opaque

Not able to be seen through; not transparent.

Opaque glass.

Opportune

Done or occurring at a favorable time.

An opportune moment to leave.

Opulent

Ostentatiously rich and luxurious.

Opulent surroundings.

Orator

A skilled public speaker.

A powerful orator.

Orthodox

Conforming to what is traditionally accepted as right or true.

Orthodox beliefs.

Ossify

To turn into bone; become rigid or fixed.

Ossified attitudes.

Ostensible

Stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so.

The ostensible reason for his visit.

Ostentatious

Characterized by vulgar or pretentious display.

Ostentatious jewelry.

Oust

To drive out or expel from a position or place.

He was ousted as chairman.

Overwrought

In a state of nervous excitement or anxiety.

She was overwrought after the argument.

Palatable

Pleasant to taste; acceptable to the mind.

A palatable solution.

Palliate

To make less severe without removing the cause.

Treatment can palliate the symptoms.

Panacea

A solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases.

There is no panacea for poverty.

Paradigm

A typical example or pattern of something; a model.

A new paradigm for scientific research.

Paradox

A seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement that may be true.

The paradox of freedom is that it requires limits.

Paragon

A person or thing regarded as a perfect example.

A paragon of virtue.

Paramount

More important than anything else; supreme.

Safety is of paramount importance.

Pariah

An outcast.

He was made a social pariah.

Parochial

Having a limited or narrow outlook.

Parochial attitudes.

Parsimonious

Unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy.

A parsimonious lifestyle.

Partisan (adj)

Prejudiced in favor of a particular cause.

Partisan politics.

Pathos

A quality that evokes pity or sadness.

The scene was full of pathos.

Paucity

The presence of something in only small quantities.

A paucity of evidence.

Pedantic

Excessively concerned with minor details or rules.

A pedantic teacher.

Penchant

A strong or habitual liking for something.

He has a penchant for fast cars.

Penury

Extreme poverty; destitution.

He died in penury.

Perfunctory

Carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection.

A perfunctory inspection.

Peripheral

Relating to or situated on the edge.

Peripheral vision.

Perjury

The offense of willfully telling an untruth in court.

He was charged with perjury.

Pernicious

Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual way.

The pernicious influence of social media.

Perpetuate

To make continue indefinitely.

The myth was perpetuated by the media.

Persistent

Continuing firmly in a course of action despite difficulty.

Persistent rain.

Personable

Having a pleasant appearance and manner.

A very personable young man.

Pertinent

Relevant or applicable to a particular matter.

Pertinent questions.

Pervasive

Spreading widely throughout an area or group.

A pervasive smell of smoke.

Petulant

Childishly sulky or bad-tempered.

A petulant remark.

Philanthropy

The desire to promote the welfare of others.

A donation made out of philanthropy.

Phlegmatic

Having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition.

A phlegmatic temperament.

Piety

The quality of being religious or reverent.

Acts of piety.

Pivotal

Of crucial importance.

A pivotal moment in history.

Placate

To make less angry or hostile.

He tried to placate the angry crowd.

Placid

Not easily upset or excited.

A placid lake.

Plagiarism

The practice of taking someone else's work and passing it off as one's own.

He was accused of plagiarism.

Plausible

Seeming reasonable or probable.

A plausible explanation.

Plethora

A large or excessive amount of something.

A plethora of options.

Poignant

Evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret.

A poignant memory.

Polarize

To divide into two sharply contrasting groups.

The issue has polarized the community.

Polemical

Relating to strong verbal or written attacks.

A polemical essay.

Ponderous

Slow and clumsy because of great weight.

Ponderous machinery.

Pragmatic

Dealing with things sensibly and realistically.

A pragmatic approach to problems.

Precarious

Not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall.

A precarious ledge.

Precipitate (v)

To cause an event to happen suddenly.

The crisis precipitated his resignation.

Preclude

To prevent from happening; make impossible.

His injury precluded him from playing.

Precocious

Having developed certain abilities at an earlier age than usual.

A precocious child.

Predilection

A preference or special liking for something.

A predilection for spicy food.

Preeminent

Surpassing all others; very distinguished.

The preeminent scientist of his generation.

Premise

A previous statement from which another is inferred.

The argument is based on a false premise.

Preposterous

Contrary to reason or common sense; utterly absurd.

A preposterous idea.

Prescient

Having knowledge of events before they take place.

A prescient warning.

Presumptuous

Failing to observe the limits of what is permitted.

It would be presumptuous of me to comment.

Prevaricate

To avoid giving a direct answer; to lie.

He seemed to prevaricate when asked about his plans.

Pristine

In its original condition; unspoiled.

Pristine wilderness.

Probity

The quality of having strong moral principles.

A judge renowned for his probity.

Proclivity

A tendency to choose or do something regularly.

A proclivity for exaggeration.

Procrastinate

To delay or postpone action.

He procrastinated until the last minute.

Prodigal

Spending money or resources recklessly.

Prodigal habits.

Prodigious

Remarkably or impressively great in extent or degree.

A prodigious memory.

Profound

Very great or intense.

Profound changes.

Prolific

Producing much fruit or foliage; producing many works.

A prolific writer.

Prominent

Important; famous.

A prominent politician.

Promulgate

To promote or make widely known.

The new law was promulgated by the king.

Propensity

An inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way.

A propensity for violence.

Propitiate

To win or regain the favor of.

Sacrifices made to propitiate the gods.

Prosaic

Having the style of prose; lacking poetic beauty.

Prosaic language.

Proscribe

To forbid, especially by law.

Gambling was proscribed.

Protean

Tending or able to change frequently or easily.

A protean actor.

Provincial

Of or concerning a province; narrow-minded.

A provincial attitude.

Provocative

Causing annoyance, anger, or another strong reaction.

A provocative remark.

Prudent

Acting with or showing care for the future.

A prudent investor.

Pugnacious

Eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight.

A pugnacious defender of his beliefs.

Pulchritude

Beauty.

She was famed for her pulchritude.

Punctilious

Showing great attention to detail or correct behavior.

Punctilious about grammar.

Pungent

Having a sharply strong taste or smell.

Pungent cheese.

Quandary

A state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do.

I'm in a quandary about what to do next.

Quell

To put an end to a rebellion or disorder by force.

Troops were sent in to quell the riots.

Querulous

Complaining in a whining manner.

A querulous voice.

Quintessential

Representing the most perfect example of a quality.

The quintessential English village.

Quixotic

Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical.

A quixotic quest.

Quotidian

Of or occurring every day; daily.

His quotidian routine.

Rancor

Bitterness or resentfulness, especially long-standing.

He spoke without rancor.

Rant (v)

To speak or shout at length in a wild, impassioned way.

He ranted about the injustice.

Ratify

To give formal consent to; make officially valid.

The treaty was ratified by the Senate.

Raucous

Making a loud and harsh sound.

Raucous laughter.

Raze

To completely destroy a building, town, etc.

The village was razed to the ground.

Rebuke (v)

To express sharp disapproval or criticism.

She rebuked him for his negligence.

Recalcitrant

Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude.

A recalcitrant child.

Recant

To say that one no longer holds an opinion or belief.

He was forced to recant his heresy.

Reciprocate

To respond to a gesture or action by making a corresponding one.

I hope to reciprocate your hospitality someday.

Recluse

A person who lives a solitary life and tends to avoid others.

The poet was a recluse.

Reconcile

To restore friendly relations between.

They were finally reconciled.

Rectify

To put right; correct.

Steps were taken to rectify the situation.

Redundant

No longer needed or useful; superfluous.

Redundant workers.

Refute

To prove a statement or theory to be wrong or false.

The scientist refuted the claim.

Regale

To entertain or amuse with talk.

He regaled us with stories of his travels.

Regress

To return to a former or less developed state.

The patient began to regress.

Reiterate

To say something again or a number of times.

Let me reiterate my point.

Relegate

To consign or dismiss to an inferior rank or position.

The team was relegated to a lower division.

Relentless

Unceasingly intense.

Relentless pressure.

Relinquish

To voluntarily cease to keep or claim; give up.

He relinquished his claim to the throne.

Remiss

Lacking care or attention to duty; negligent.

It was remiss of me to forget.

Renounce

To formally declare one's abandonment of a claim, right, or possession.

He renounced his title.

Reprehensible

Deserving censure or condemnation.

Reprehensible behavior.

Reprieve (n)

A cancellation or postponement of a punishment.

The prisoner was granted a last-minute reprieve.

Reproach (v)

To address in such a way as to express disapproval.

Her eyes reproached him.

Repudiate

To refuse to accept or be associated with.

He repudiated the allegations.

Rescind

To revoke, cancel, or repeal a law, order, or agreement.

The government rescinded the unpopular tax.

Resilient

Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.

Children are often very resilient.

Resolute

Admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering.

She was resolute in her refusal.

Resonant

Deep, clear, and continuing to sound or ring.

A resonant voice.

Respite

A short period of rest or relief from something difficult.

A brief respite from the noise.

Resplendent

Attractive and impressive through being richly colorful.

Resplendent in a gold gown.

Restitution

The restoration of something lost or stolen to its owner.

He was ordered to pay restitution.

Reticent

Not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily.

She was reticent about her past.

Retract

To draw back.

The cat retracted its claws.

Revere

To feel deep respect or admiration for something.

He is revered as a national hero.

Rhetoric

The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing.

Political rhetoric.

Ridicule (n)

The subjection of someone to mockery and derision.

He was held up to ridicule.

Rife

Especially of something undesirable of common occurrence.

Rumors were rife.

Robust

Strong and healthy; vigorous.

A robust economy.

Rudimentary

Involving or limited to basic principles.

Rudimentary tools.

Rue (v)

To bitterly regret something one has done.

She will rue the day she said that.

Ruminate

To think deeply about something.

He ruminated on his failures.

Sagacious

Having or showing keen mental discernment.

A sagacious judge of character.

Salient

Most noticeable or important.

The salient points of the argument.

Sanctimonious

Making a show of being morally superior to others.

Sanctimonious preaching.

Sanction (v)

To give official permission or approval.

The law sanctions the procedure.

Sanguine

Optimistic or positive, especially in a bad situation.

He is sanguine about his chances.

Sardonic

Grimly mocking or cynical.

A sardonic smile.

Satiate

To satisfy a desire fully.

The huge meal satiates hunger. 

Magoosh TOEFL Vocabulary Flashcards

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Academic Word List (AWL)

Core Word List

A researched list of 570 essential word families found across academic disciplines.

Manhattan Review Free Flashcards

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PrepScholar 327 TOEFL Words

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