Last Updated on August 9, 2024
It’s true. Good vocabulary plays a huge role in polishing not only writing skills but speech quality as well. It makes you stand out in the crowd. Period! A couple of fancy words mouthed by an individual would leave a lasting impression, and one would automatically consider them to be smart!
Your speech and appearance are two factors that influence your personality. Why not add some grace to the former by learning a few words that would send out a strong signal? You need not be an avid reader or bookworm, just stay with us and we’ll get you to it.
We have the perfect list of vocabulary words that would make you look smart and sound appealing! For words that are too complex to understand will be used in sentences so that you can apprehend the meaning easily.
P.s: These words are exclusively hand-picked for you. I bet you won’t find a list as imposing as this!
104 Simple Words with Complex Meanings
Gaunt
Lean and haggard because of hunger or age.
Ascetic
Severe self-discipline. One who avoids self-indulgence.
Culpable
Deserving blame.
Sleuth
A detective or investigator.
Soughing
To make a whistling or ruffling sound, such as that of the leaves in wind.
Foreordained
To appoint something beforehand. For example, success can not be foreordained.
Denigrate
To criticize unfairly.
Mundane
Of relating to practical affairs. Or one who is boring and dull. For example, returning to a mundane work routine is hard after a weekend.
Primordial
Existing from the beginning of time. Or basic/fundamental needs.
Reverence
Massive respect for something or someone.
Omniscience
The state of knowing everything. For example, God is omniscient.
Omnipresent
Being present everywhere at the same time.
Welter
Moving in a turbulent or non-orderly manner. For example, the weltering group of cows.
Accretion
Things that are formed by gradual growth or increase. For example, the accretion of cultures or financial assets.
Elide
To omit from speech. Or merge together. For example, eliding the scenes of a play.
Disavowal
Denying any responsibility or knowledge of something. For example, disavowal of earlier statements in court.
Pragmatic
A practical and sensible approach rather than a theoretical one. For example, making pragmatic decisions about life.
Dogmatic
Expressing opinions so strongly that they look like facts. For example, being dogmatically rigid in matters of choices.
Venerable
Associated with massive respect. For example, a venerable teacher.
Raucous
Making a harsh or loud noise.
Consecration
Declaring something sacred.
Aristocratic
Of belonging to an elite or supreme society/family.
Emaciated
Unusually thin or weak.
Reverberate
Having continuous or dire effects. Or the echoing of a voice.
Stoic
Being indifferent to pain or pleasure.
Bolster
To support or strengthen.
Apocryphal
Something of doubtful authenticity being circulated as the truth. For example, his apocryphal lies about me have shunned my confidence.
Innocuous
Non-offensive and unharmful. For example, an innocuous remark.
Enviable
Something that has the potential to attract envy or desire. For example, a job with a handsome salary would be enviable.
Futile
Pointless. For example, a futile effort.
Trudge
Walking slowly with heavy steps. For example, trudging with exhaustion.
Gingerly
In a careful manner. For example, walking gingerly so that no one in the house wakes up.
Profanity
Blasphemous or obscene language.
Vehement
A strong or passionate feeling.
Castigate
To reprimand severely.
Facile
To ignore the complexity of an issue. To look at something only superficially. For example, a facile observation of his bruises leads to ambiguity in the investigation.
Facade
The primary part of a building facing a street/road. Or an outward appearance that is deliberately false (to give a wrong impression). For example, don’t fall for his smile for it is only a facade to mask his pain.
Hone
To sharpen something (such as a spear) or to perfect a skill. For example, she honed her skills to earn the title of the best graphic designer in her firm.
Penchant
A strong liking or admiration for something. For example, she has a penchant for everything pink.
Caprice
A sudden change of mood. For example, I fear hanging out with her because of her capricious personality.
Abominable
Something terrible. Or something that causes moral revulsion. For example, the abominable acts of the corrupt government made the poor suffer.
Impertinence
Lack of respect or rudeness. For example, his inability to converse with other people was perceived as an impertinence.
Purview
Range of experience or thought. For example,
Wager
Risking someone else’s money. For example, he’s wagered all his father’s pension money on gambling and casinos.
Concede
Accepting something after initially declining it. For example, after catching his son red-handed he couldn’t help but concede the rumors.
Beguile
Charming someone in a deceptive manner. For example, she is easily beguiled by looks and money.
Florid
Having a red complexion.
Fend
Looking after oneself without any help from others. For example, after the death of her parents, she had to fend for bread and butter.
Bemused
Puzzled or confused.
Commital
The action of sending someone to prison or a psychiatric institution.
Sentinel
A person or thing that stands guard or watches. For example, the policeman sentinelled all the suspects until their bail was granted.
Pudgy
Fat.
Perched
Resting or sitting on something high and narrow. For example, perching on the arms of a chair.
Bellowing
A loud roar.
Clobbered
To hit someone hard or to deal with someone harshly. For example, next time he misbehaves with me I’ll clobber him.
Stride
Taking a long step.
Propitious
Favorable or something that indicates success. For example, a propitious consensus was reached once the meeting ended.
Precocious
Developing a behavior or ability before age. For example, her reading habit lent her a precocious writing talent.
Prodigy
A young individual with exceptional talent. For example, she emerged as a child prodigy with those outstanding mathematical skills.
Capitulation
Ceasing to resist a demand or opponent. The act of surrendering. For example, the opposition had to capitulate to the demands of the government.
Concord
An agreement between two groups. For example: after a vicious battle, the two teams finally decided to reach a concord.
Dubious
Hesitant or doubtful. For example, I was dubious about purchasing such a shady property.
Acrid
Unpleasant in taste or smell. For example, the acrid smoke from the chimney made me nauseous.
Cadence
Rhythm or modulation of the voice. For example, she spoke with cadence and confidence at the international conference.
Surly
Unfriendly and rude. For example, her surly behavior is the reason why she doesn’t have any friends.
Roving
Constantly moving from one place to another. For example, the roving life of a nomad.
Subliminally
Below the threshold of conscious perception. For example, commercials these days send out subliminal messages that manipulate the viewer.
Rebuttal
Disagreeing or denying formally in a debate. For example, his accusations were met with a firm rebuttal.
Partake
To have a share in something.
Asinine
Stupid or foolish.
Iconoclast
An individual who attacks or criticizes personal beliefs and religion.
Strident
A loud and harsh sound.
Proponent
Someone who proposes or advocates something. For example, he was a strong proponent of legal trade policies.
Wallow
Indulging or plunged. For example, his memories wallowed him.
Illicit
Forbidden. For example, smoking was strictly illicit in the common room.
Elicit
To get something. For example, eliciting a reaction.
Petulant
Sulky or rude. For example, his petulant behavior offended me.
Itinerary
A travel log or a planned journey.
Trope
A figurative or metaphorical use of an expression.
Botched
To carry out something carelessly. For example, a botched surgery due to lack of experience of the clinician.
Jettison
To discard.
Primly
An excessively proper manner.
Expedient
Advantageous. For example, the recruiters were only going to hire expedient individuals.
Solicitous
Showing interest or concern. For example, teachers are always solicitous about their students.
Harangue
A lengthy and aggressive speech.
Congenially
Pleasing or likable attributes because they are similar to one’s own. For example: due to his congenial personality, he has a large social circle.
Brusquely
A short and abrupt reply. For example, the cashier was brusque with the customers.
Cachet
Prestige. Or a distinguishing mark. For example, this high-end cosmetic company has a cachet that attracts a lot of customers.
Dour
Relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy.
Cryptic
Mysterious.
Conciliation
Stopping someone from being angry. For example, they both were furious so someone had to conciliate.
Contrived
Deliberately created rather than arising naturally or with the flow. For example, the contrived ending of this movie made me dislike it entirely.
Jarred
To have an unpleasant feeling or effect. For example, his loud munching jarred on my ears.
Chiding
Critical and full of rebuke. For example, the headmistress chided us for wearing dirty uniforms.
Ask Away: The FAQ Section
What are some good vocabulary words?
- Nonchalant
- Philandering
- Frivolous
- Preemptively
- Gaped
- Dolt
- Impassive
- Vituperation
- Anachronism
- Exasperation
- Abashed
- Acquiesced
- Pummeled
- Plummeted
- Mural
- Uxorious
- Petulant
- Accosted
Which vocabulary word goes with similar?
- Akin
- Alike
- Analogous
- Same
- Comparable
- Relative
- Cognate
What are the four types of vocabulary?
Listening, speaking, reading, and writing are the four types of vocabulary.
