A strong vocabulary is essential for effective communication and academic success. Learning new words and their meanings can broaden your understanding of the world around you and enhance your ability to express yourself clearly. However, with so many words in the English language, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. That’s why having a vocabulary word with meaning PDF can be a valuable resource for anyone looking to expand their vocabulary.
English Words with Meaning
Abate – to decrease in intensity or amount
Abhor – to hate or detest intensely
Abstain – to refrain from doing something
Accolade – an award or honor
Accost – to approach and speak to someone aggressively or boldly
Adamant – refusing to be persuaded or to change one’s mind
Adversary – an enemy or opponent
Advocate – to support or argue for a particular cause or position
Aesthetic – relating to beauty or the appreciation of beauty
Affable – friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to
Alacrity – eagerness or willingness to do something
Alienate – to make someone feel isolated or estranged
Allay – to relieve or alleviate something, such as fears or doubts
Alleviate – to make something less severe or intense
Aloof – distant, detached, or uninvolved
Altruistic – showing a selfless concern for the well-being of others
Ambiguous – having more than one possible meaning or interpretation
Ambivalent – having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone
Ameliorate – to make something better or more tolerable
Amicable – characterized by friendliness and goodwill
Anachronistic – belonging to a period other than that being portrayed
Analogous – similar in some respects but not in others
Anecdote – a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person
Animosity – strong hostility or antagonism
Anomaly – something that deviates from what is expected or normal
Antagonist – a person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something
Antipathy – a strong feeling of dislike or aversion
Apathy – lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern
Aphorism – a concise statement of a principle or truth
Apotheosis – the highest point in the development of something
Appease – to pacify or placate someone by acceding to their demands
Apprehension – anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen
Arduous – requiring great exertion or effort
Articulate – expressing oneself clearly and effectively
Ascetic – characterized by severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence
Aspire – to have a strong desire to achieve or become something
Assuage – to make an unpleasant feeling less intense or severe
Astute – having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one’s advantage
Audacious – showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks
Augment – to make something greater by adding to it
Auspicious – promising success or good fortune
Authentic – genuine or real, not fake or copied
Autonomy – the right or condition of self-government or self-determination
Avarice – extreme greed for wealth or material gain
Aversion – a strong dislike or disinclination
Banal – lacking originality, freshness, or novelty
Belie – to give a false impression of something
Bellicose – demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight
Benign – gentle, kind, or harmless
Bequeath – to leave or pass on something, such as property or a legacy
Berate – to scold or criticize someone angrily
Blatant – done openly and unashamedly; obvious
Blithe – showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper
Bolster – to support or strengthen something
Bombastic – high-sounding but with little meaning; inflated
Boorish – rough and bad-mannered; coarse
Brazen – bold and without shame
Breach – an act of breaking or failing to observe a law, agreement, or code of conduct
Buttress – a projecting support of stone or brick built against a wall
Cache – a collection of items of the same type stored in a hidden or inaccessible place
Cajole – to persuade someone to do something by coaxing or flattery
Callous – showing no concern that other people are or might be hurt or upset; insensitive
Candor – the quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness
Capricious – given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
Carping – difficult to please; critical
Catalyst – a person or thing that precipitates an event or change
Caustic – sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way
Censure – to express severe disapproval of someone or something
Chagrin – distress or embarrassment at having failed or been humiliated
Charlatan – a person falsely claiming to have a special knowledge or skill; a fraud
Chicanery – the use of deception or subterfuge to achieve one’s purpose
Chimera – a thing that is hoped or wished for but in fact is illusory or impossible to achieve
Choleric – bad-tempered or irritable
Chronic – persisting for a long time or constantly recurring
Circumscribe – to restrict something within limits
Circumspect – wary and unwilling to take risks; cautious
Citadel – a fortress, typically on high ground, protecting or dominating a city
Clairvoyant – having or exhibiting an ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact
Clandestine – kept secret or done secretly, especially because illicit
Clemency – mercy; lenience
Coalesce – to come together and form one mass or whole
Cogent – clear, logical, and convincing
Coherent – logical and consistent
Collusion – secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy, especially in order to cheat or deceive others
Comely – pleasant to look at; attractive
Commensurate – corresponding in size or degree; in proportion
Complacency – a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements
Complicit – involved with others in an illegal activity or wrongdoing
Comport – to behave in a particular way
Compromise – an agreement or settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions
Concede – to admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it
Conciliatory – intended or likely to placate or pacify
Concord – agreement or harmony between people or groups
Condescend – to behave in a patronizing or superior manner
Confidant – a person with whom one shares a secret or private matter, trusting them not to repeat it to others
Conflagration – an extensive fire that destroys a great deal of land or property
Confluence – the junction of two rivers, especially rivers of approximately equal width; a situation in which two things come together or happen at the same time
Conjecture – an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information; a guess
Connive – to secretly allow or assist something considered immoral, illegal, or harmful to occur
Connoisseur – an expert judge in matters of taste
Consensus – general agreement among a group of people
Construe – to interpret a word or action in a particular way
Consummate – showing a high degree of skill and flair; complete or perfect
Contemptuous – showing contempt; scornful
Contentious – causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial
Contrite – feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt
Contrived – deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously
Conundrum – a confusing and difficult problem or question
Convivial – friendly, lively, and enjoyable; sociable
Copious – abundant in supply or quantity
Corpulent – excessively fat
Corroborate – to confirm or give support to a statement, theory, or finding
Coterie – a small group of people with shared interests or tastes, especially one that is exclusive of other people
Countenance – a person’s face or facial expression; to support or approve of something
Covert – not openly acknowledged or displayed; secret
Covet – to yearn to possess or have something
Craven – cowardly; lacking in courage
Credible – able to be believed; convincing
Credulous – having or showing too great a readiness to believe things; gullible
Culpable – deserving blame; guilty
Cumulative – increasing or growing by accumulation or successive additions
Cursory – hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
Curtail – to reduce in extent or quantity; to impose a restriction on
Cynical – distrustful of human sincerity or integrity; believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest
Daunt – to make someone feel intimidated or apprehensive
Debacle – a sudden and ignominious failure; a fiasco
Debilitate – to make someone weak and infirm
Decadent – characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline; luxurious and self-indulgent
Decimate – to kill, destroy, or remove a large proportion of something
Decorum – behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety; etiquette
Decrepit – elderly and infirm; worn out or ruined because of age or neglect
Defamation – the action of damaging the good reputation of someone; slander or libel
Deference – humble submission and respect
Defunct – no longer existing or functioning
Deleterious – causing harm or damage
Delineate – to describe or portray something precisely
Delinquent – typically used to describe a young person who regularly commits crimes or antisocial behavior
Deluge – a severe flood; a heavy downpour of rain; a great quantity of something
Demagogue – a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument
Denigrate – to criticize unfairly; to defame or disparage
Ebb – the movement of the tide out to sea; a gradual decline in intensity or size
Ebullient – cheerful and full of energy; exuberant
Eccentric – unconventional and slightly strange; not placed centrally or not having its axis or other part placed centrally
Eclectic – deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources
Edify – to instruct or improve morally or intellectually
Efficacious – effective; producing the desired outcome
Effigy – a sculpture or model of a person, typically one of a hated person
Effusive – expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner
Egregious – outstandingly bad; shocking
Elated – extremely happy and excited; overjoyed
Elegy – a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead
Elusive – difficult to find, catch, or achieve
Emaciated – abnormally thin or weak, especially because of illness or a lack of food
Embellish – to make something more attractive by adding decorative details or features; to exaggerate or add fictitious details to a story or account
Embolden – to give someone the courage or confidence to do something
Emulate – to match or surpass a person or achievement, typically by imitation
Enamored – filled with a feeling of love or admiration
Encumber – to restrict or burden someone or something in such a way that free action or movement is difficult
Endemic – regularly found and widespread in a particular geographic area or among a particular group of people
Endow – to provide with a quality, ability, or asset
Enervate – to cause someone or something to feel drained of energy or vitality; to weaken
Engender – to cause or give rise to a feeling, situation, or condition
Enhance – to improve the quality, value, or extent of something
Enigma – a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand
Enmity – the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something
Ennui – a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement
Enormity – the great or extreme scale, seriousness, or extent of something perceived as bad or morally wrong
Enshroud – to envelop completely and hide from view
Entail – to involve something as a necessary or inevitable part or consequence
Entice – to attract or tempt by offering pleasure or advantage
Enthrall – to capture the fascinated attention of someone
Enunciate – to pronounce or articulate words clearly and distinctly
Environ – to surround or enclose something
Epicure – a person who takes particular pleasure in fine food and drink
Epitome – a person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type
Equanimity – mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation
Equivocal – open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous
Erudite – having or showing extensive knowledge, learning, or culture
Escalate – to increase rapidly in extent, volume, or intensity
Eschew – to deliberately avoid or abstain from
Espouse – to adopt or support a cause, belief, or way of life
Facetious – Treating serious issues with inappropriate humor.
Fallacious – Based on a mistaken belief or unsound reasoning.
Fastidious – Very attentive to detail; meticulous.
Feasible – Possible to do easily or conveniently.
Fervent – Displaying passionate intensity.
Flippant – Not showing a serious or respectful attitude.
Formidable – Inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable.
Garrulous – Excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters.
Gluttonous – Excessively greedy.
Gratuitous – Given or done free of charge; unnecessary or uncalled for.
Gregarious – Fond of company; sociable.
Guileless – Innocent and without deception.
Harrowing – Extremely distressing; agonizing.
Haughty – Arrogantly superior and disdainful.
Heinous – Utterly odious or wicked.
Hermetic – Complete and airtight.
Histrionic – Overly theatrical or melodramatic in character or style.
Iconoclast – A person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions.
Idiosyncrasy – A peculiar personality trait or habit.
Illicit – Forbidden by law, rules, or custom.
Imminent – About to happen.
Impartial – Treating all rivals or disputants equally; fair and just.
Jaunty – Having or expressing a lively, cheerful, and self-confident manner.
Jocular – Fond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful.
Judicious – Having, showing, or done with good judgment or sense.
Kinetic – Relating to or resulting from motion.
Kitsch – Art or other objects that appeal to popular or uncultivated taste.
Knotty – Full of knots; extremely difficult or intricate.
Lackadaisical – Lacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy.
Languid – Slow and relaxed; displaying no vigor or energy.
Lascivious – Lustful or lewd in a vulgar way.
Laudable – Deserving praise and commendation.
Loquacious – Tending to talk a great deal; talkative.
Magnanimous – Generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person.
Malicious – Intending or intended to do harm.
Malleable – Easily influenced; pliable.
Melancholic – Characterized by or causing or expressing sadness.
Mercurial – Subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind.
Nefarious – Wicked or criminal.
Nostalgic – Characterized by a sentimental longing for the past.
Novel – New or unusual in an interesting way.
Obtuse – Annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand.
Omnipotent – Having unlimited power; able to do anything.
Onerous – Involving an amount of effort and difficulty that is oppressively burdensome.
Opportune – Well-chosen or particularly favorable or appropriate.
Paltry – Small or meager in quantity; petty; trivial.
Panacea – A solution or remedy for all problems or diseases.
Paradigm – A typical example or pattern of something; a model.
Parsimonious – Extremely frugal; unwilling to spend money or use resources.
Quaint – Attractively unusual or old-fashioned.
Quandary – A state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation.
Querulous – Complaining in a petulant or whining manner.
Rancorous – Characterized by bitterness or resentment.
Rapacious – Aggressively greedy or grasping.
Redolent – Having a strong pleasant odor; suggestive or reminiscent of something.
Sagacious – Having or showing good judgment; shrewd.
Salient – Most noticeable or important; prominent.
Sanguine – Optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation.
Scintillating – Sparkling or shining brightly; brilliantly and excitingly clever or skillful.
Serendipitous – Occurring or discovered by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
Spurious – Not genuine; false or fake.
Stoic – Enduring pain or hardship without showing feelings or complaining.
Taciturn – Reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.
Temerarious – Reckless or rash; daring.
Tenuous – Very weak or slight; insubstantial.
Timorous – Showing or suffering from nervousness, fear, or a lack of confidence.
Ubiquitous – Present, appearing, or found everywhere.
Unctuous – Excessively or ingratiatingly flattering; oily.
Undulate – Move with a smooth wavelike motion.
Vacuous – Having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless.
Vehement – Showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or intense.
Venerable – Accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character.
Wanton – Deliberate and unprovoked; sexually immodest or promiscuous.
Whimsical – Playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way.
Wistful – Having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing.
Xenophobic – Having or showing a dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.
Yearning – A feeling of intense longing for something.
Yielding – Giving way to pressure or influence; submissive.
Zealous – Showing great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.
Zephyr – A gentle breeze.
