TOEFL Word List
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100 words
Meaning:To agree or give consent, often reluctantly or after initial hesitation.
Pronunciation:/əkˈsiːd/
Synonym:Agree, consent
Antonym:Refuse, deny
Sample:After long negotiations, the company finally acceded to the union's demands.
Meaning:An award, honor, or praise given to someone for their achievements.
Pronunciation:/ˈækəleɪd/
Synonym:Award, honor
Antonym:Criticism, censure
Sample:The author received an accolade for her groundbreaking novel.
Meaning:An agreement or treaty; also to give or grant someone power or status.
Pronunciation:/əˈkɔːrd/
Synonym:Agreement, harmony
Antonym:Disagreement, conflict
Sample:The two nations signed a peace accord to end the conflict.
Meaning:Cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness.
Pronunciation:/əˈlækrɪti/
Synonym:Eagerness, enthusiasm
Antonym:Reluctance, hesitation
Sample:She accepted the invitation with alacrity.
Meaning:Open to more than one interpretation; unclear or inexact.
Pronunciation:/æmˈbɪɡjuəs/
Synonym:Vague, unclear
Antonym:Clear, definite
Sample:The instructions were ambiguous, causing confusion among the team.
Meaning:Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than reason or system.
Pronunciation:/ˈɑːrbɪtrɛri/
Synonym:Random, capricious
Antonym:Systematic, logical
Sample:The manager’s arbitrary decision upset many employees.
Meaning:With suspicion, distrust, or disapproval.
Pronunciation:/əˈskæns/
Synonym:Skeptically, doubtfully
Antonym:Approvingly, trustingly
Sample:They looked askance at the stranger entering their village.
Meaning:To make something greater by adding to it; increase.
Pronunciation:/ɔːɡˈmɛnt/
Synonym:Increase, enhance
Antonym:Decrease, reduce
Sample:The company plans to augment its workforce next year.
Meaning:Extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
Pronunciation:/ˈævərɪs/
Synonym:Greed, cupidity
Antonym:Generosity, charity
Sample:His avarice led him to cheat his business partners.
Meaning:A cause of great distress or annoyance.
Pronunciation:/beɪn/
Synonym:Curse, burden
Antonym:Blessing, benefit
Sample:Traffic jams are the bane of city commuters.
Meaning:Playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks.
Pronunciation:/ˈbæntər/
Synonym:Teasing, joking
Antonym:Seriousness, solemnity
Sample:Their light banter made the meeting enjoyable.
Meaning:To give a false impression; to contradict.
Pronunciation:/bɪˈlaɪ/
Synonym:Contradict, misrepresent
Antonym:Confirm, prove
Sample:His calm manner belied the anger he felt inside.
Meaning:To present an honor, right, or gift.
Pronunciation:/bɪˈstoʊ/
Synonym:Grant, confer
Antonym:Take, withhold
Sample:The university bestowed an honorary degree on the scholar.
Meaning:Lacking strong features or characteristics; uninteresting.
Pronunciation:/blænd/
Synonym:Tasteless, dull
Antonym:Flavorful, exciting
Sample:The soup was bland and needed more seasoning.
Meaning:Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside or country life.
Pronunciation:/bjuːˈkɒlɪk/
Synonym:Pastoral, rural
Antonym:Urban, citylike
Sample:They enjoyed a bucolic retreat in the countryside.
Meaning:A defensive wall; something serving as a defense or protection.
Pronunciation:/ˈbʊlwərk/
Synonym:Fortification, safeguard
Antonym:Weakness, vulnerability
Sample:Education is a bulwark against ignorance.
Meaning:Showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others.
Pronunciation:/ˈkæləs/
Synonym:Heartless, unfeeling
Antonym:Compassionate, sensitive
Sample:His callous remarks hurt everyone in the room.
Meaning:Truthful and straightforward; frank.
Pronunciation:/ˈkændɪd/
Synonym:Honest, open
Antonym:Deceptive, evasive
Sample:She gave a candid interview about the challenges she faced.
Circumspect
Tap to reveal
Meaning:Wary and unwilling to take risks.
Pronunciation:/ˈsɜːrkəmspekt/
Synonym:Cautious, prudent
Antonym:Reckless, careless
Sample:Investors need to be circumspect in uncertain markets.
Meaning:To find a way around an obstacle; to overcome by cleverness.
Pronunciation:/ˌsɜːrkəmˈvɛnt/
Synonym:Bypass, evade
Antonym:Confront, face
Sample:They tried to circumvent the law with loopholes.
Meaning:To come together to form one whole.
Pronunciation:/ˌkoʊəˈlɛs/
Synonym:Merge, unite
Antonym:Separate, divide
Sample:The different groups coalesced into a powerful alliance.
Meaning:Clear, logical, and convincing.
Pronunciation:/ˈkoʊdʒənt/
Synonym:Persuasive, compelling
Antonym:Unconvincing, weak
Sample:She gave a cogent argument in favor of the new policy.
Meaning:To interpret or understand the meaning of something.
Pronunciation:/kənˈstruː/
Synonym:Interpret, understand
Antonym:Misinterpret, confuse
Sample:His silence was construed as agreement.
Meaning:Abundant in supply or quantity.
Pronunciation:/ˈkoʊpiəs/
Synonym:Plentiful, abundant
Antonym:Sparse, insufficient
Sample:The meeting produced copious notes for future reference.
Meaning:Excessively fat.
Pronunciation:/ˈkɔːrpjələnt/
Synonym:Obese, overweight
Antonym:Thin, slender
Sample:The corpulent cat struggled to jump onto the sofa.
Meaning:Belief in or acceptance of something as true.
Pronunciation:/ˈkriːdəns/
Synonym:Trust, belief
Antonym:Doubt, disbelief
Sample:The evidence gave credence to the witness’s story.
Meaning:Able to be believed; convincing.
Pronunciation:/ˈkrɛdəbəl/
Synonym:Believable, plausible
Antonym:Implausible, doubtful
Sample:The detective found a credible lead in the investigation.
Meaning:A scarcity or lack of something.
Pronunciation:/dɜːrθ/
Synonym:Shortage, deficiency
Antonym:Abundance, surplus
Sample:There was a dearth of affordable housing in the city.
Meaning:Respectful submission or yielding to the judgment, opinion, or will of another.
Pronunciation:/ˈdɛfərəns/
Synonym:Respect, esteem
Antonym:Disrespect, defiance
Sample:He showed deference to his elders at the family gathering.
Meaning:To use up the supply or resources of something.
Pronunciation:/dɪˈpliːt/
Synonym:Exhaust, drain
Antonym:Replenish, restore
Sample:Overfishing will deplete the ocean’s resources.
Meaning:Intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction.
Pronunciation:/dɪˈdæktɪk/
Synonym:Educational, instructive
Antonym:Uninformative, misleading
Sample:The novel has a didactic tone, teaching readers about kindness.
Meaning:Modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence.
Pronunciation:/ˈdɪfɪdənt/
Synonym:Shy, timid
Antonym:Confident, bold
Sample:The diffident student hesitated to answer the question.
Meaning:To disturb the composure of; unsettle.
Pronunciation:/ˌdɪskənˈsɜːrt/
Synonym:Unnerve, upset
Antonym:Comfort, reassure
Sample:The unexpected news disconcerted everyone in the room.
Meaning:Digressing from subject to subject.
Pronunciation:/dɪsˈkɜːrsɪv/
Synonym:Rambling, wandering
Antonym:Focused, concise
Sample:His discursive speech made it hard to follow the main point.
Meaning:To give out portions or spread over an area.
Pronunciation:/dɪˈstrɪbjuːt/
Synonym:Allocate, dispense
Antonym:Collect, gather
Sample:Volunteers will distribute food to the homeless.
Meaning:To make known (private or sensitive information).
Pronunciation:/daɪˈvʌldʒ/
Synonym:Reveal, disclose
Antonym:Conceal, hide
Sample:He refused to divulge the secrets of the project.
Meaning:An official order or proclamation issued by a person in authority.
Pronunciation:/ˈiːdɪkt/
Synonym:Decree, command
Antonym:Request, suggestion
Sample:The king issued an edict banning all unauthorized gatherings.
Meaning:Lacking strength or vitality; worn out or exhausted.
Pronunciation:/ɪˈfiːt/
Synonym:Decadent, weak
Antonym:Vigorous, strong
Sample:The once powerful empire is now effete and crumbling.
Meaning:To happen or occur afterward or as a result.
Pronunciation:/ɪnˈsuː/
Synonym:Follow, result
Antonym:Precede, cause
Sample:A heated argument ensued after the controversial announcement.
Meaning:To ask earnestly or beg.
Pronunciation:/ɪnˈtriːt/
Synonym:Plead, implore
Antonym:Demand, command
Sample:She entreated him to stay and reconsider his decision.
Meaning:To make an approximate judgment or calculation.
Pronunciation:/ˈɛstəˌmeɪt/
Synonym:Guess, approximate
Antonym:Measure, calculate exactly
Sample:They estimate the project will be completed by June.
Meaning:To judge or determine the significance, worth, or quality of something.
Pronunciation:/ɪˈvæljueɪt/
Synonym:Assess, appraise
Antonym:Neglect, ignore
Sample:The teacher will evaluate the students’ essays next week.
Meaning:To speak or write at length or in detail.
Pronunciation:/ɪkˈspeɪʃieɪt/
Synonym:Elaborate, expound
Antonym:Summarize, condense
Sample:The professor expatiated on the history of ancient Rome.
Meaning:To make full use of and derive benefit from (a resource), sometimes unfairly.
Pronunciation:/ˈɛksplɔɪt/
Synonym:Utilize, take advantage of
Antonym:Neglect, ignore
Sample:The company exploits natural resources for profit.
Meaning:Silly and pointless.
Pronunciation:/ˈfætʃuəs/
Synonym:Foolish, idiotic
Antonym:Intelligent, sensible
Sample:His fatuous comments irritated everyone in the meeting.
Meaning:Possible to do easily or conveniently.
Pronunciation:/ˈfiːzəbl/
Synonym:Practical, achievable
Antonym:Impractical, impossible
Sample:It is feasible to complete the project within the deadline.
Meaning:A complete failure, especially a ludicrous or humiliating one.
Pronunciation:/fiˈæskoʊ/
Synonym:Disaster, mess
Antonym:Success, triumph
Sample:The event was a fiasco due to poor planning.
Meaning:To rise and fall irregularly in number or amount.
Pronunciation:/ˈflʌktʃueɪt/
Synonym:Vary, oscillate
Antonym:Remain steady, stabilize
Sample:Prices tend to fluctuate during the holiday season.
Meaning:To prevent someone from achieving a goal; to cause feelings of annoyance.
Pronunciation:/ˈfrʌstreɪt/
Synonym:Thwart, hinder
Antonym:Help, assist
Sample:Traffic jams can frustrate commuters.
Meaning:To produce or create something.
Pronunciation:/ˈdʒɛnəˌreɪt/
Synonym:Produce, create
Antonym:Destroy, extinguish
Sample:Solar panels generate electricity from sunlight.
Meaning:An insulting or mocking remark; to make such remarks.
Pronunciation:/dʒaɪb/
Synonym:Taunt, jeer
Antonym:Compliment, praise
Sample:The players exchanged gibes during the intense match.
Meaning:(Of words or a speaker) Fluent but insincere or shallow.
Pronunciation:/ɡlɪb/
Synonym:Slick, superficial
Antonym:Thoughtful, sincere
Sample:He gave a glib response to the reporter’s question.
Meaning:A proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence, as a starting point for further investigation.
Pronunciation:/haɪˈpɒθəsɪs/
Synonym:Theory, supposition
Antonym:Fact, certainty
Sample:The scientist tested the hypothesis through a series of experiments.
Ignominious
Tap to reveal
Meaning:Deserving or causing public disgrace or shame.
Pronunciation:/ˌɪɡnəˈmɪniəs/
Synonym:Humiliating, disgraceful
Antonym:Honorable, respectable
Sample:The team’s ignominious defeat ended their championship hopes.
Meaning:Public shame or disgrace.
Pronunciation:/ˈɪɡnəmɪni/
Synonym:Humiliation, dishonor
Antonym:Honor, respect
Sample:He faced ignominy after the scandal was revealed.
Meaning:Unable to be placated or appeased; relentless.
Pronunciation:/ɪmˈplækəbəl/
Synonym:Unyielding, relentless
Antonym:Merciful, appeasable
Sample:The implacable enemy refused to negotiate peace.
Meaning:Occurring as a minor accompaniment; subordinate.
Pronunciation:/ˌɪnsɪˈdɛntəl/
Synonym:Secondary, minor
Antonym:Main, primary
Sample:There were some incidental expenses during the trip.
Indefatigable
Tap to reveal
Meaning:Persisting tirelessly.
Pronunciation:/ˌɪndɪˈfætɪɡəbəl/
Synonym:Tireless, persistent
Antonym:Lazy, fatigued
Sample:Her indefatigable spirit inspired everyone around her.
Meaning:To bring oneself into favor with someone by flattering or trying to please them.
Pronunciation:/ɪnˈɡreɪʃiˌeɪt/
Synonym:Flatter, charm
Antonym:Alienate, offend
Sample:He tried to ingratiate himself with the new boss.
Inscrutable
Tap to reveal
Meaning:Impossible to understand or interpret.
Pronunciation:/ɪnˈskruːtəbl/
Synonym:Mysterious, enigmatic
Antonym:Clear, obvious
Sample:Her expression was inscrutable, revealing no emotion.
Meaning:To explain the meaning of; to understand something in a particular way.
Pronunciation:/ɪnˈtɜːrprɪt/
Synonym:Explain, elucidate
Antonym:Misinterpret, confuse
Sample:The data can be interpreted in several different ways.
Meaning:Annoying; irritating.
Pronunciation:/ˈɜːrksəm/
Synonym:Annoying, bothersome
Antonym:Pleasant, enjoyable
Sample:The constant noise was irksome to the residents.
Meaning:Showing or feeling hesitancy; uncertain.
Pronunciation:/ɪˈrɛzəluːt/
Synonym:Hesitant, indecisive
Antonym:Decisive, resolute
Sample:He was irresolute about which career path to choose.
Meaning:Special words or expressions used by a profession or group that are difficult for others to understand.
Pronunciation:/ˈdʒɑːrɡən/
Synonym:Terminology, lingo
Antonym:Plain language, jargon-free
Sample:The technical jargon confused the newcomers.
Meaning:To be in agreement or harmony; also a taunting or sarcastic remark.
Pronunciation:/dʒaɪb/
Synonym:Agree, match (as verb); taunt, jeer (as noun)
Antonym:Clash, disagree
Sample:Their stories jibe perfectly with the eyewitness accounts.
Meaning:Work, especially hard physical work; also childbirth.
Pronunciation:/ˈleɪbər/
Synonym:Work, toil
Antonym:Rest, relaxation
Sample:The labor of building the house took several months.
Meaning:So foolish, unreasonable, or out of place as to be amusing.
Pronunciation:/ˈluːdɪkrəs/
Synonym:Absurd, ridiculous
Antonym:Sensible, reasonable
Sample:The idea that pigs can fly is ludicrous.
Meaning:The intention or desire to do evil or cause harm.
Pronunciation:/ˈmælɪs/
Synonym:Hatred, spite
Antonym:Kindness, goodwill
Sample:He acted with malice and cruel intent.
Meaning:A person's ability to cope well with difficulties; spirit and resilience.
Pronunciation:/ˈmɛtl/
Synonym:Courage, determination
Antonym:Weakness, cowardice
Sample:The soldiers showed great mettle in battle.
Meaning:A community, place, or situation regarded as encapsulating in miniature the characteristics of something much larger.
Pronunciation:/ˈmaɪkrəˌkɒzəm/
Synonym:Miniature world, epitome
Antonym:Macrocosm, large scale
Sample:The village is a microcosm of the entire country.
Meaning:Sullen and ill-tempered.
Pronunciation:/məˈroʊs/
Synonym:Gloomy, sulky
Antonym:Cheerful, happy
Sample:He became morose after hearing the bad news.
Meaning:Lacking interest or excitement; dull; of the earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one.
Pronunciation:/ˈmʌndeɪn/
Synonym:Ordinary, boring
Antonym:Extraordinary, exciting
Sample:She wanted to escape her mundane routine.
Meaning:To irritate or annoy someone.
Pronunciation:/ˈnɛtl/
Synonym:Irritate, vex
Antonym:Please, delight
Sample:His constant criticism began to nettle her.
Meaning:Stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action.
Pronunciation:/ˈɒbdjʊrət/
Synonym:Stubborn, unyielding
Antonym:Flexible, compliant
Sample:Despite pleas, he remained obdurate in his decision.
Meaning:To get or acquire something.
Pronunciation:/əbˈteɪn/
Synonym:Acquire, get
Antonym:Lose, forfeit
Sample:She was able to obtain a visa to travel abroad.
Meaning:To remove a need or difficulty; to prevent something undesirable.
Pronunciation:/ˈɒbvieɪt/
Synonym:Prevent, eliminate
Antonym:Cause, allow
Sample:The new software obviates the need for manual calculations.
Meaning:To keep someone in subjection and hardship, especially by unjust authority.
Pronunciation:/əˈprɛs/
Synonym:Persecute, tyrannize
Antonym:Liberate, free
Sample:The regime was known to oppress its citizens.
Meaning:Insisting on immediate attention or obedience, especially in a brusque or imperious way.
Pronunciation:/pəˈrɛmptəri/
Synonym:Authoritative, commanding
Antonym:Gentle, lenient
Sample:The officer gave a peremptory order to halt.
Meaning:To spread throughout something; to penetrate.
Pronunciation:/ˈpɜːrmieɪt/
Synonym:Pervade, infiltrate
Antonym:Withdraw, recede
Sample:The smell of freshly baked bread permeated the house.
Meaning:A remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful.
Pronunciation:/ˈplætɪˌtjuːd/
Synonym:Cliché, truism
Antonym:Originality, insight
Sample:The speech was full of empty platitudes.
Meaning:Existing or coming before in time, order, or importance.
Pronunciation:/ˈpraɪər/
Synonym:Previous, earlier
Antonym:Subsequent, later
Sample:They had a prior engagement and could not attend.
Meaning:Nearness in space, time, or relationship.
Pronunciation:/prɒkˈsɪmɪti/
Synonym:Closeness, nearness
Antonym:Distance, remoteness
Sample:The school’s proximity to the park is convenient for students.
Meaning:Complaining in a rather petulant or whining manner.
Pronunciation:/ˈkwɛrʊləs/
Synonym:Complaining, petulant
Antonym:Content, cheerful
Sample:The querulous child refused to eat his vegetables.
Meaning:The area of variation between upper and lower limits; to vary or extend.
Pronunciation:/reɪndʒ/
Synonym:Scope, span
Antonym:Limit, restriction
Sample:The mountain range stretches across several countries.
Meaning:To express sharp disapproval or criticism of someone because of their behavior or actions.
Pronunciation:/rɪˈbjuːk/
Synonym:Scold, reprimand
Antonym:Praise, commend
Sample:The teacher rebuked the student for being tardy.
Meaning:Strongly reminiscent or suggestive of something; fragrant or sweet-smelling.
Pronunciation:/ˈrɛdə.lənt/
Synonym:Evocative, scented
Antonym:Odorless, bland
Sample:The kitchen was redolent with the smell of baking bread.
Meaning:A person who deserts and betrays an organization, country, or set of principles.
Pronunciation:/ˈrɛnəɡeɪd/
Synonym:Traitor, defector
Antonym:Loyalist, supporter
Sample:The soldier was branded a renegade after defecting.
Meaning:To get or bring something back.
Pronunciation:/rɪˈtriːv/
Synonym:Recover, regain
Antonym:Lose, forfeit
Sample:The dog was trained to retrieve the ball.
Meaning:To examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.
Pronunciation:/ˈskruːtəˌnaɪz/
Synonym:Inspect, examine
Antonym:Overlook, ignore
Sample:The accountant scrutinized the financial records.
Meaning:To smile or gesture in an affectedly coquettish, coy, or ingratiating manner.
Pronunciation:/ˈsɪmpər/
Synonym:Smirk, grin
Antonym:Frown, glare
Sample:She gave a simper when praised, trying to appear modest.
Meaning:Not likely to change or fail; firmly established.
Pronunciation:/ˈsteɪbəl/
Synonym:Steady, secure
Antonym:Unstable, insecure
Sample:The patient's condition is stable after surgery.
Meaning:Extremely impressive; amazing.
Pronunciation:/stjuːˈpɛndəs/
Synonym:Amazing, extraordinary
Antonym:Ordinary, unimpressive
Sample:She gave a stupendous performance on stage.
Meaning:To support physically or mentally; to maintain.
Pronunciation:/səˈsteɪn/
Synonym:Support, maintain
Antonym:Weaken, diminish
Sample:The shelter provided food to sustain the homeless during winter.
Meaning:Swollen and distended or congested; (of language or style) tediously pompous or bombastic.
Pronunciation:/ˈtɜːrdʒɪd/
Synonym:Swollen, inflated; pompous, bombastic
Antonym:Simple, plain
Sample:His turgid speech bored everyone in attendance.
Meaning:A trace or remnant of something that is disappearing or no longer exists.
Pronunciation:/ˈvɛstɪdʒ/
Synonym:Remnant, trace
Antonym:Whole, entirety
Sample:The ruins are the last vestiges of the ancient civilization.
Meaning:To speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner.
Pronunciation:/ˈvɪlɪˌfaɪ/
Synonym:Defame, slander
Antonym:Praise, compliment
Sample:The politician was vilified by the media during the campaign.
Meaning:To refrain from insisting on or using (a right or claim).
Pronunciation:/weɪv/
Synonym:Relinquish, forgo
Antonym:Insist, claim
Sample:They agreed to waive the fee as a gesture of goodwill.
Meaning:Existing or happening over a large area or among many people.
Pronunciation:/ˈwaɪdˌsprɛd/
Synonym:Extensive, prevalent
Antonym:Limited, rare
Sample:The disease caused widespread panic across the region.
Meaning:A person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.
Pronunciation:/ˈzɛlət/
Synonym:Fanatic, extremist
Antonym:Moderate, indifferent
Sample:The zealot refused to listen to any opposing views.
Meaning:The time at which something is most powerful or successful; the highest point.
Pronunciation:/ˈziːnɪθ/
Synonym:Peak, apex
Antonym:Nadir, bottom
Sample:The artist reached the zenith of her career in her thirties.
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