48 Big Words You Should Use To Amp Up Your Vocabulary
Memorize a few of these big words and you’ll already appear smarter to those around you, even if you’ve only been in college for a week. Just try to use them correctly – oh gosh, we cannot stress this enough.
Abrogate
adj – repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement).
Abstentious
adj – self-restraining; not indulging an appetite especially for food or drink
Anachronistic
adj – belonging to a period other than that being portrayed.
Anagnorisis
noun – the point in a play, novel, etc., in which a principal character recognizes or discovers another character’s true identity or the true nature of their own circumstances.
Aquiver
adj – quivering, trembling
Assiduous
adj – showing great care and perseverance.
Axiomatic
Adj – self-evident or unquestionable
Capricous
adj given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.
Circumlocution
noun – the use of many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive.
Concupiscent
adj – filled with sexual desire; lustful.
Defervescence
noun – the lessening of a fever
desideratum
noun – something that is needed or wanted.
Elucidate
verb – to make (something) clear; explain.
Enervating
adj – causing one to feel drained of energy or vitality.
Ennui
noun – a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement. Boredom.
Equanimity
noun – mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation.
Excogitate
verb – think out, plan, or devise.
Fastidious
adj – very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
Gasconade
noun – extravagant boasting.
Infinitesimal
adj – extremely small.
Nefarious
adj – wicked or criminal.
Nidificate
verb – to build a nest
Obfuscate
verb – render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.
Obtuse
adjective – annoyingly sensitive or slow to understand
Parsimonious
adjective – unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy or frugal.
Perfidious
adj – deceitful and untrustworthy.
Perfunctory
adj – carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection.
Perspicacious
adj – having a ready insight into and understanding of things.
Quid Pro Quo
noun- a favor or advantage granted or expected in return for something.
Remunerative
adj – financially rewarding; lucrative.
Sesquipedalian
adj – characterized by long words; long-winded.
Solipsism
noun – the view or theory that the self is all that can be known to exist.
Sycophant
noun – a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage.
Ubiquitous
adj – present, appearing, or found everywhere.
Umbrage
noun – offense or annoyance.
Unparagoned
adj – having no equal, matchless, peerless
Vitriol
noun – cruel and bitter criticism.