The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a widely recognized standardized test that assesses the English proficiency of non-native speakers. One crucial aspect of excelling in the TOEFL exam is a strong command of English vocabulary.
A rich and varied vocabulary not only enhances your overall language skills but also plays a significant role in scoring well on the TOEFL. In this article, we will explore 300+ important vocabulary words that are commonly encountered in the TOEFL exam.
1. Abnegation
The denial and rejection of a doctrine or belief; the act of not allowing yourself to have something, especially something you like or want.
2. Abstruse
Difficult to understand, especially when you think it could be explained more simply.
3. Accustomed
Familiar with something; usual (for example: She quickly became accustomed to new job).
4. Act up
Means to behave badly or strangely (for example: My computer’s acting up; I think it’s a virus).
5. Adherence
Means the fact of someone behaving exactly according to rules, beliefs, etc. (for example: Strict adherence to the constitution).
6. Adjacent
Very near; next to; nearby (for example: The city and adjacent suburbs).
7. Adjure
Means to command solemnly; ask for or request earnestly; to order someone to do something.
8. Admission
Is a statement acknowledging the truth of something (for example: An admission of guilt).
9. Adulterate
Means to make (something) impure or weaker by adding something of inferior quality; to make a substance less pure by adding something else to it.
10. Affectation
A deliberate pretense or exaggerated display; something that is not part of your personality but that you do to impress people.
11. Aggregate
Is a whole formed by combining several elements. To aggregate is to add together.
12. Akrasia
Is a state of mind in which someone acts against their better judgment through the “weakness of will.”
13. Alacrity
Brisk and cheerful readiness; quickly and with enthusiasm.
14. Algorithm
Is a procedure or formula for solving a problem, based on conducting a sequence of specified actions.
15. Allegory
Is a story or picture with a hidden meaning. The characters in allegories are symbols which represent particular ideas.
16. Alleviate
Means to make something easier to deal with or endure; to make something bad less severe.
17. Allure
Means the quality of being attractive, exciting, or interesting.
18. Allusion
Is a figure of speech that makes a reference to a place, person, or event. This can be real or imaginary and may refer to anything, including fiction, folklore, historical events, or religious manuscripts (for example: When she lost her job, she acted like a Scrooge, and refused to buy anything that wasn’t necessary).
19. Amalgamate
To bring together, unite; to combine different things to create something new.
20. Ambiguity
Means something unclear or confusing or it can be understood in more than one way (for example: There are some ambiguities in the legislation).
21. Ambivalence
Is a state of having simultaneous conflicting reactions, beliefs, or feelings towards some object.
22. Amend
Means to make minor changes to the text (piece of legislation, etc.) in order to make it more fair or accurate, or to reflect changing circumstances.
23. Amicable
Means friendly, agreeable; characterized by or showing goodwill, peaceable.
24. Amusing
Entertaining and funny; causing laugh (for example: An amusing story).
25. Anachronistic
Out-of-date, not attributed to the correct historical period.
26. Anagram
Is a word or phrase made by transposing the letters of another word or phrase. In other words, any phrase or word that exactly reproduces the letters in another order is an anagram. For example, the word secure is an anagram of rescue; angel is an anagram of glean; state is an anagram of taste, etc.
27. Anew
Once more; again; in a new, typically more positive, way.
28. Angle for
Try to get something indirectly, by hinting or suggesting (for example: She’s been angling for an invitation, but I don’t want him to come).
29. Anxious
Feeling or showing worry, nervousness.
30. Apogee
Is the highest point in the development of something; a climax or culmination. In astronomy, it means the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is furthest from the earth. It is the opposite of perigee (the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite when it is closest to the earth).
31. Apotheosis
Is the glorification of a subject to divine level; the highest point in the development of something; a culmination.
32. Appease
Make peace with; pacify or placate (someone) by acceding to their demands (for example: She claimed that the government had only changed the law in order to appease their critics).
33. Apprise
Means to inform somebody of something (for example: We must apprise them of the dangers that may be involved).
34. Archetype
Means something that is considered to be a perfect or typical example of a particular kind of person or thing, because it has all their most important characteristics. For example, the United States is the archetype of a federal society.
35. Arid
Means extremely dry or deathly boring. If you describe something, such as a period of your life, as arid, you mean that it has so little interest, excitement, or purpose that it makes you feel bored or unhappy.
36. Asceticism
Means a simple and strict lifestyle with no luxury and physical pleasures.
37. Ask after
Means to enquire about someone’s health, how life is going (for example: She asked after me and I told her I’m fine).
38. Ask around
Means to ask a number of people for information of help (for example: I have no idea, but I’ll ask around at work).
39. Ask over
It simply means to invite (for example: They have asked us over for drinks on Saturday).
40. Assertion
Is a statement, usually backed up by some kind of solid proof or reasoning; a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief.
41. Assertiveness
Characterized by bold or confident statements and behavior; not afraid to say what’s on mind.
42. Assiduous
Means persistent, hard-working. If you call someone assiduous, it means they’re careful, methodical and very persistent.
43. Assume
To believe that something is true, even though you have no proof (for example: I’m assuming everyone here has a mobile phone).
44. Assumption
Something that you consider likely to be true even though no one has told you directly or even though you have no proof.
45. Attain
Succeed in achieving; to reach or succeed in getting something (for example: Attain a goal).
46. Attrition
The process of gradually making something weaker and destroying it through sustained attack or pressure (for example: Terrorist groups and the government have been engaged in a costly war of attrition).
47. Augment
Make (something) greater by adding to it; to increase the size or value of something (for example: We need to augment the ring to five).
48. Austere
Means stern and forbidding. If you describe something as austere, you approve of its plain and simple appearance.
49. Avail
To be of use, help, worth, or advantage (to), as in accomplishing an end (for example: My attempts to improve the situation were of little/no avail).
50. Axiom
Is a statement that is taken to be true, to serve as a premise or starting point for further reasoning and arguments.
51. Backlog
Means a number of things which have not yet been done but which need to be done (for example: I’ve got a huge backlog of work to do).
52. Ball up
Means to confuse or make things complicated (for example: The new project has balled me up – I have no idea what to do).
53. Banter
Good-humored, playful conversation; the playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks.
54. Bargain down
Persuade someone to drop the price of something they’re selling.
55. Bash about
Means to mistreat physically (for example: If you bash your monitor about like that, it won’t last long).
56. Bashful
Self-consciously timid, often feeling uncomfortable with other people and easily embarrassed.
57. Bash out
Means to write something quickly without much preparation (for example: I bashed the essay out the night before I had to hand it in).
58. Bear down on
Means to move towards (for example: He spotted her on the other side of the room and bore down on her).
59. Bear up under
Means to cope with something difficult or stressful (for example: She’s bearing up under the pressure).
60. Beat out
Narrowly win in competition (for example: That marathon runner barely beat out his rival at the tape).
61. Beforehand
At an earlier or preceding time; in advance; prior to; earlier (than a particular time).
62. Bellicose
Inclined or ready to fight; aggressively hostile.
63. Benevolent
Friendly and helpful; characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings.
64. Benign
Means pleasant, gentle, and kind (for example: A benign old lady).
65. Bewilder
To become perplexed and confused (for example: Beware of false people and situations that may bewilder you temporarily).
66. Bias
Means the action of supporting or opposing a particular person or thing in an unfair way or different from the way you treat other people.
67. Bicker
To argue about things that are not important and trivial (for example: My parents bicker, but love each other).
68. Blare
Means to make a loud and unpleasant noise (for example: If something such as a siren or radio blares or if you blare it, it makes a loud, unpleasant noise).
69. Boil up
Feel a negative emotion strongly (for example: Anger was boiling up inside me).
70. Bone up on
Study hard for a goal or reason (for example: I need to bone up on my English grammar for that test on Friday).
71. Brackish
Means distasteful and unpleasant (for example: Brackish water is slightly salty and unpleasant).
72. Brazen
Obvious, without any attempt to be hidden. If you describe a person/behavior as brazen, you mean that they are very bold and don’t care what other people think about them or their actions.
73. Cadaverous
Having appearance or color of dead human body; looking very pale and ill.
74. Cajole
Means to persuade someone to do something by encouraging them softly or being good to them.
75. Camaraderie
Brotherhood, partnership, jovial unity, sociability amongst friends.
76. Canny
Clever and able to think quickly, especially in business or financial matters.
77. Cantankerous
Means ill humored, irritable, marked by ill-tempered contradiction or opposition, ugly, malicious.
78. Cap off
Finish or complete, often with some decisive action (for example: He capped of the meeting with an interesting proposal).
79. Castigation
To criticize someone or something severely; verbal punishment. The word comes from the Latin castigus which means “to make pure”.
80. Catharsis
Is the purging of the emotions, especially through certain kinds of art (as music or tragedy) that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tension.
81. Cavil
To raise irritating and trivial objections; to argue or protest about unimportant details.
82. Circuitous
Indirect, taking the longest route (for example: A circuitous journey/path is longer than it needs to be because it is not direct).
83. Circumlocution
Can be described as the use of too many words to say something, especially in order to avoid saying something clearly; an indirect way of expressing something.
84. Clandestine
Kept secret or done secretively (for example: Our group held weekly clandestine meetings).
85. Coercion
Means the use of force to persuade someone to do something that they are unwilling to do.
86. Cogent
Reasonable and convincing; based on evidence; forcefully persuasive.
87. Cognitive
Relating to the mental process involved in knowing, learning, and understanding things.
88. Coincide
Means to happen at or near the same time or during the same period, to occupy exactly the same space.
89. Come forward
Means to volunteer information about something, like a crime (for example: The police are encouraging people to come forward with any information about the kidnapped girl).
90. Comity
Is a state or atmosphere of harmony or mutual civility; polite and considerate behaviour towards others based on mutual respect.
91. Commensurate
Equal in significance; corresponding in size or degree.
92. Concede
Means to admit or accept that something is true after first denying or resisting it.
93. Conciliation
Is the act of placating and overcoming distrust and animosity; the action or process of ending a disagreement.
94. Condescending
Showing or characterized by a patronizing or superior attitude toward others.
95. Confidant
Means someone to whom private matters are told. A confidant is the person you tell your secrets to.
96. Conformity
Is the act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms.
97. Congruence
Is the consistency of different elements, objects, components of any structure, their harmonious work and consistency with each other, due to which harmonious work and integrity of the overall structure are achieved.
98. Connotation
Is a feeling or idea that is suggested by a particular word although it need not be a part of the word’s meaning, or something suggested by an object or situation (for example, the word “lady” has connotations of refinement and excessive femininity that some women find offensive).
99. Construe
Make sense of; to understand the meaning, especially of other people’s actions and statements, in a particular way.
100. Contention
The disagreement that results from opposing arguments; the act of competing as for profit or a prize.
101. Convergence
The state of separate elements joining or coming together (for example: If roads or paths converge, they move towards the same point where they join).
102. Countenance
Give sanction or support to; tolerate or approve (for example: If someone will not countenance something, they do not agree with it and will not allow it to happen).
103. Credulous
Having a tendency to believe on slight evidence; easily imposed upon; unsuspecting and very gullible.
104. Curtail
Reduce in extent or quantity; terminate or abbreviate before its intended or proper end.
105. Cut off
The phrasal verb has different meanings, but it’s usually used to say that someone or something is prevented from leaving a place or interrupted (for example: That car just cut me off and I almost crashed into it).
106. Daunting
Seeming difficult to deal with in prospect; making you feel slightly frightened or worried about your ability to achieve this (for example: A daunting task).
107. Delectable
Delightful; delicious; extremely pleasing to the sense of taste.
108. Delighted
Means a feeling or showing great pleasure (for example: A delighted smile).
109. Delineate
Portray; depict; draw or trace outline of; sketch out.
110. Delinquent
Means failing in duty, offending by neglect of duty. A delinquent person behaves in a way that is illegal or not acceptable to most people.
111. Denigrate
To speak damagingly of; to criticize something in a way that shows you think it has no value/ importance at all.
112. Denounce
Condemn openly; criticize; make known in formal manner.
113. Deprivation
Is the lack (or feeling of lack) of material benefits considered to be basic necessities in a society; the lack of something considered to be a necessity in general (sleep deprivation, food deprivation, etc.; as an example, plants experiencing water deprivation will shrivel up and die).
114. Depute
Means transfer power to someone; appoint or instruct (someone) to perform a task for which one is responsible.
115. Derogatory
Showing strong disapproval and not showing respect.
116. Deteriorate
Become progressively worse (for example: Relations between the companies had deteriorated sharply).
117. Deterrent
Means something immaterial that interferes with action or progress (for example: The stop sign on the corner is supposed to be a deterrent that discourages speeding).
118. Diatribe
Is an angry speech or article which is extremely critical of someone’s ideas or activities.
119. Didactic
Instructive; intended to teach, especially excessively.
120. Die back
When the parts of a plant above ground die, but the roots remain alive (for example: The plant dies back in the winter).
121. Digression
The act of turning aside, straying from the main point, esp. in a speech or argument.
122. Diligent
Having or showing care and integrity in one’s work or duties.
123. Disclose
Expose to view as by removing a cover; to make something known publicly, or to show something that was hidden.
124. Disconsolate
Sad; cheerless; gloomy; hopeless or not expecting.
125. Discordant
Not in agreement or harmony.
126. Disdain
Means to regard with scorn or contempt. If you disdain to do something, you do not do it, because you feel that you are too important to do it.
127. Disparage
Express a negative opinion of (for example: He never missed an opportunity to disparage his competitors).
128. Dispassionate
Able to be rational and make fair judgments or decisions that are not influenced by personal feelings or emotions.
129. Docile
Easily handled or managed; submissive; ready to accept control or instruction.
130. Doctrine
(from Latin doctrina (meaning “teaching, instruction”)) is a belief or set of beliefs, especially political or religious ones that are taught and accepted by a particular group.
131. Dour
Means hard; inflexible; obstinate; gloomy in manner or appearance.
132. Downshifting
Is the practice of simplifying one’s lifestyle and becoming less materialistic; the act of leaving a well-paid but difficult and stressful job (escaping from “work and spend cycle”) to do something that gives you more time and satisfaction, but less money.
133. Duplicity
Means dishonest behavior that is intended to trick someone.
134. Easygoing
Means relaxed and tolerant in attitude or manner; not easily upset or worried (for example: A friendly, easy-going type of guy).
135. Ebullient
Overflowing with fervor, enthusiasm, or excitement; high-spirited.
136. Eclecticism
Is a combination of dissimilar, internally unrelated and possibly incompatible attitudes, ideas, concepts, styles, etc. The essence of eclecticism is the use of disparate elements to create something new.
137. Effrontery
Audacious behavior that you have no right to; extreme rudeness.
138. Eloquent
Expressing what you mean using clear and effective language; fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing.
139. Elucidate
Means to explain something or make something clear.
140. Emancipation
Means any effort to procure economic and social rights, political rights or equality, often for a specifically disenfranchised group, or more generally, in the discussion of such matters.
141. Embassy
Means an official residence or offices of an ambassador (for example: The France embassy in Moscow).
142. Embezzle
Means to steal money/wealth that people trust you to look after.
143. Empirical
Means something that is based on investigation, observation, experimentation, or experience. If knowledge is empirical, it’s based on observation rather than theory.
144. Enervate
Cause (someone or something) to feel drained of energy; weaken.
145. Enigma
Means a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand.
146. Ennui
Is a feeling of being bored and having no interest in anything.
147. Entreat
Try hard to convince someone to do something (for example: Entreat the child to eat vegetables).
148. Epigram
Means a brief, interesting, memorable, and sometimes surprising or satirical statement; a short saying or poem which expresses an idea in a very clever and amusing way.
149. Epitome
Is the typical or highest example of a stated quality (for example: This hotel was the epitome of British colonial elegance in Jamaica; Maureen was the epitome of sophistication).
150. Ephemeral
Means momentary, transient, fleeting; lasting for a very short time.
151. Equivocation
(“calling two different things by the same name”) is an informal fallacy resulting from the use of a particular word/expression in multiple senses throughout an argument leading to a false conclusion. For example:
152. Euphemism
(from Greek euphemia (meaning “the use of words of good omen”)) is a polite word or expression that is used to refer to taboo topics (such as disability, sex, excretion, and death). For example, “passed away” is a euphemism for “died”.
153. Exacerbation
The process of making some problem, disease, or bad situation that is already bad even worse.
154. Exemplify
Means to clarify by giving an illustration of.
155. Extemporize
Perform or speak without preparation.
156. Extrapolate
In general, it means using facts about the present or about one thing or group to make a guess about the future or about other things or groups (for example, if you travel to Canada and encounter only friendly, kind natives, you might extrapolate that all Canadians are friendly).
157. Facetious
Treating serious issues with intentionally inappropriate humor; flippant.
158. Fallacious
Containing or based on incorrect reasoning; not correct.
159. Fastidious
Giving careful attention to detail; very attentive.
160. Fawn over
Praise someone in an excessive way to get their favour or something from them (for example: He fawned over the inspectors in the hope that they would give him a good grade).
161. Foible
Means a slight weakness in someone’s character (for example: The minor foible in the woman’s character made her unsuitable for the career she really wanted).
162. Forbearance
Self-control; patience; restraint (for example: His forbearance to reply was alarming).
163. Frenzy
Is a state or period of uncontrolled excitement or wild behavior. Frenzy is often used when talking about a group of people (or animals) who get worked up at the same time about the same thing.
164. Frivolous
Not serious in attitude or behavior; not having any serious purpose or value.
165. Frugal
Means thrifty, cheap; simple and plain and costing little.
166. Frustration
Can be described as the feeling of being upset or annoyed as a result of being unable to change or achieve something.
167. Galvanize
Means to shock or affect someone enough to produce a strong and immediate reaction, typically into taking action.
168. Gangling
Unusually tall and thin; not able to move gracefully.
169. Gestalt
Something that has particular qualities when you consider it as a whole which is not obvious when you consider only the separate parts of it.
170. Gluttonous
Means a person who eats or consumes immoderate amounts of food and drink; excessively greedy.
171. Grandiloquent
Style or way of using language in very complex way, in order to attract admiration and attention; big words used in a overly self-assured way.
172. Groggy
Feeling tired, weak, or confused, especially because you are ill or have not had enough sleep.
173. Gullible
Easily persuaded to believe something.
174. Hackneyed
Means something cliche that has been overused or done too much.
175. Harangue
Is a loud pompous statement expressed by strong emotions.
176. Haughty
Means arrogant and condescending. When you’re haughty, you have a big attitude and you behave as if you are better than others.
177. Hectic
Full of activity, or very busy and fast.
178. Hitherto
Means up to this point; until the present time.
179. Hold off
Means to stop someone from attacking or beating you (for example: I couldn’t hold my opponents off and lost the game).
180. Hunt out
Search until you find something (for example: It took me ages to hunt out the keys).
181. Icky
Very unpleasant to touch, look at, taste, or smell.
182. Ignominious
Deserving or bringing disgrace or shame.
183. Immersion
Means the fact of becoming completely involved in something (like project, subject, etc.).
184. Impecunious
Having little or no money (for example: A titled but impecunious royal family).
185. Impetuous
Means rash, impulsive, acting without thinking.
186. Implications
Is the effect that decision or action will have on something in the future (for example: Our company is cutting back its spending and I wonder what the implications will be for my department).
187. Impregnable
Resistant to capture or penetration; strong enough to resist or withstand attack; not to be taken by force. If you describe a building or other place as impregnable, you mean that it cannot be broken into or captured.
188. Incensed
Angered at something unjust or wrong (for example: Teacher was incensed at his lack of concentration).
189. Inchoate
Not completely developed or clear. If something is inchoate, it is new or not yet properly developed.
190. Inconsequential
Unimportant, trivial (for example: His work seems trivial and inconsequential).
191. Indelible
Not able to be removed or erased. An example of indelible is ink that cannot be washed out of a shirt.
192. Indigenous
Indigenous people or things belong to the country in which they are found, rather than coming there from another country.
193. Indolent
Wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy, slothful.
194. Indubitable
Means something that cannot be doubted (for example: An indubitable fact).
195. Inexorable
Incapable of being persuaded or placated; continuing without any possibility of being stopped.
196. Infatuation
A foolish and usually extravagant passion or love.
197. Infuse
Means to instill a quality of; to fill someone or something with an emotion or quality; add scent or flavor by steeping ingredients in it.
198. Ingrate
A person who shows no gratitude; ungrateful.
199. Injunction
Is a judicial remedy to prohibit a party from doing something.
200. Insinuate
To say something which seems to mean something unpleasant without saying it openly; to suggest indirectly or subtly.
201. Insurgent
A rebel or revolutionary; in opposition to a civil authority or government.
202. Interpolation
Is an interruption or an addition inserted into something spoken or written. If you tell a story and then add some new parts, those are interpolations.
203. Intransigent
Refusing to compromise, often on an extreme opinion (for example: The company is intransigent and rejects any notion of a settlement).
204. Intrepid
(from Latin intrepidus, formed from the prefix in (not) + trepidus (alarmed)) – extremely brave and showing no fear of dangerous situations; fearless; adventurous (often used for rhetorical or humorous effect).
205. Intrinsic
Essential; extremely important (for example: Access to the internet is intrinsic to a high quality of life).
206. Inveterate
Habitual; someone who does something very often.
207. Invigorating
Making one feel strong and full of energy (for example: An invigorating swim).
208. Jack up
Means to increase sharply (for example: They have jacked up the price of oil this month).
209. Jaded
Bored or lacking enthusiasm, typically because you have experienced something too many times.
210. Jaw away
Talk just for the point of talking rather than having anything to say.
211. Jejune
Understanding or describing something in a way that is too simple, naive, or simplistic.
212. Jubilation
Is a feeling of great happiness, triumph or joy.
213. Juxtaposition
Means two things placed beside each other for the sake of implicit comparison.
214. Lash into
Means to criticize someone strongly (for example: He lashed into them for that mistake).
215. Lash out
Suddenly become violent (for example: He lashed out and broke my nose).
216. Laudable
Deserving praise and commendation. Laudable refers to something or someone who does the right thing or the morally proper action.
217. Leisure
Means a time when one is not working or occupied; free time.
218. Lobbying
Is the act of trying to persuade governments to make decisions or support something. Lobbying can be done by many sorts of people, alone or in groups. These people are called lobbyists.
219. Loquacious
Talking or tending to talk a great deal or freely; talkative; garrulous.
220. Ludicrous
So foolish, stupid, unreasonable, or inappropriate as to be amusing; ridiculous.
221. Lucid
Very clear and easy to understand.
222. Lucrative
Profitable; producing a lot of money (for example: The book business is not very lucrative).
223. Maddening
Means extremely annoying or displeasing.
224. Malicious
Unkind and showing a strong feeling of wanting to hurt someone (for example: Malicious rumours).
225. Mediocre
Not very good; of average quality and you think it should be better (for example: The acting in this film is mediocre).
226. Memorandum
Is a short written report prepared specially for a person or group of people that contains information about a particular matter.
227. Mercurial
Characterized by rapid change or temperament; sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind.
228. Metaphor
Is a figure of speech that directly refers to one thing by mentioning another for rhetorical effect. It does not use a word in its basic literal sense. Instead, it uses a word in a kind of comparison.
229. Mettle
Means a person’s ability to cope well with difficulties; strong-willed.
230. Misalliance
Means an unsuitable or unhappy alliance (especially with regard to marriage).
231. Modicum
A small quantity of a particular thing (for example: I was pleased with the overall response and I think we collectively felt a modicum of relief).
232. Mundane
Means ordinary, commonplace. Something that is mundane is very ordinary and not at all interesting or unusual.
233. Mutter
To talk indistinctly, usually in a low voice.
234. Nomenclature
Is a system of names or terms, or the rules for forming these terms in a particular field of arts or sciences. In other words, nomenclature is a system for giving names to things within a particular profession or field.
235. Nonchalant
Calm, casual, seeming unexcited; behaving in a calm manner, often in a way that suggests you are not interested or do not care.
236. Notwithstanding
In spite of; in spite of the fact that (for example: Notwithstanding the evidence).
237. Novice
A beginner, someone without training or experience.
238. Nugatory
Worth nothing or of little value/importance.
239. Obfuscation
Is the act or an instance of making something obscure, dark, or difficult to understand.
240. Oblivion
Is the state of being completely forgotten, unknown, or destroyed. In philosophy, eternal oblivion is the permanent cessation of one’s consciousness upon death.
241. Obloquy
Is a censure, blame, or abusive language aimed at a person or thing, especially by numerous persons or by the society.
242. Obsequious
Means attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery.
243. Obstreperous
Noisy, aggressive, and difficult to control.
244. Odious
Extremely unpleasant and causing or deserving hate.
245. Opaque
Not able to be seen through; not easily understood. Use the adjective opaque either for something that doesn’t allow light to pass through (like a heavy curtain) or for something difficult to understand.
246. Ostensible
Stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so (for example: This new archaeological discovery is an ostensible source of hundreds of valuable artifacts).
247. Ostentation
Is a show of something such as money, power, or skill that is intended to impress people.
248. Outbreak
Is a sudden occurrence of something unwelcome, such as war or disease. This term most commonly used in epidemiology. When more cases of a disease than expected are recorded in one area an outbreak is declared.
249. Outlier
Means an extreme deviation from the mean; a person, thing, or fact that is so different that can’t be used for general conclusions.
250. Outmoded
No longer in fashion; old-fashioned.
251. Oxymoron
Is a combination of two words used together that have, or seem to have, opposite meanings. Some examples of an oxymoron: Great Depression; cruel to be kind; painfully beautiful; alone together; wise fool; true myth, etc.
252. Pal around
Be friendly and spend time with someone (for example: We palled around at college).
253. Paradigm
Is a model of something, or a very clear and typical example of something; a distinct set of concepts or thought patterns, including theories, research methods, postulates, and standards for what constitutes legitimate contributions to a field.
254. Parched
Shriveled; dried out because of too much heat and not enough rain.
255. Parsimonious
Excessively unwilling to spend money or use resources.
256. Peel away
Leave a group by moving in a different direction (for example: Some of the crowd peeled away to get out of the crush).
257. Peremptory
Speaking or behaving rudely, as if you expect other people to obey/submit you immediately and without any questions.
258. Perfidious
Faithless, disloyal, untrustworthy. If you describe someone as perfidious, you mean that they have betrayed someone or cannot be trusted.
259. Perpetual
Continuing forever or indefinitely; never ending or changing.
260. Pert
Characterized by a lightly saucy or impudent quality.
261. Pile
Means a heap of things lying one on top of another (for example: She placed the books in a neat pile).
262. Placate
Means to make (someone) less angry or hostile; to appease or pacify, especially by concessions or conciliatory gestures.
263. Play along
Pretend to agree or accept something in order to keep someone happy or to get more information (for example: I disagreed with the idea but I had to play along because everyone else liked it).
264. Plethora
Means a very large amount of something, especially a larger amount than you need, want, or can deal with.
265. Plump down
Put something in a place without taking care (for example: He plumbed his bag down and kicked his shoes off).
266. Polemic
An aggressive argument against a specific opinion, doctrine, etc.
267. Polish off
To finish; consume (for example: She polishes off half a bottle of green tea every night).
268. Pop in
Visit for a short time (for example: She popped in for a coffee on her way home).
269. Pop off
Means to talk loudly; complain (for example: He’s always popping off when things don’t work properly).
270. Postulate
Means something assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted, especially when used as a basis for an argument; a fundamental element; a basic principle.
271. Pragmatic
Dealing with the problems that exist in a reasonable and logical way instead of depending on theories.
272. Prattle
Means to talk in a silly way for a long time about things that are not important or without saying anything important.
273. Precipitate
Means to make something happen quickly, suddenly or sooner than expected.
274. Preponderance
Exceeding in heaviness; the largest part or greatest amount. If there’s a preponderance of something, there is a lot of it.
275. Presumption
Is the act of believing that something is true without having any proof. In the law of evidence, a presumption of a particular fact can be made without the aid of proof in some situations.
276. Prevaricate
Means to avoid telling the truth by not directly answering a question.
277. Procrastination
Is the avoidance of doing a task that needs to be accomplished; the behavior of putting off actions or tasks to a later time. Sometimes, procrastination takes place until the “last minute” before a deadline.
278. Proliferation
Is a rapid increase in the number or amount of something.
279. Propitious
Giving or indicating a good chance of success; favorable (for example: He received a propitious offer).
280. Prosaic
Dull, commonplace; without interest, imagination, and excitement.
281. Prostration
Is the placement of the body in a reverentially or submissively prone position as a gesture; the action of lying with the face down and arms stretched out, especially as a sign of respect or worship.
282. Protract
Lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer. If you have a disagreement with a friend that you continue for days, you are protracting the argument.
283. Prudent
Careful, cautious; avoiding risks.
284. Queue
Is a line of people waiting for something (for example: Are you in the queue for tickets?).
285. Quintessence
Is the most typical example of something. For example, the Parthenon in Greece was considered the quintessence of the perfectly proportioned building.
286. Quixotic
Hopeful or romantic in a way that is extremely idealistic; unrealistic and impractical.
287. Rancorous
Means hateful. A rancorous argument or person is full of bitterness and anger.
288. Ratification
Is the act of voting on a decision or signing a written agreement to make it official.
289. Reclusive
Preferring to live in isolation; avoiding the company of other people.
290. Recondite
Means something that is difficult or impossible for most to understand, or that most people don’t know about.
291. Refurbish
Renovate and redecorate something; improve the appearance or functionality of.
292. Refute
Prove to be wrong or false; overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof.
293. Rejuvenate
To make someone feel or look younger or have more energy (for example: Rejuvenating therapy).
294. Reluctance
Means an unwillingness to do something (for example: I don’t understand his reluctance to do the job).
295. Remiss
Means careless and not doing a duty well enough; lacking care or attention to duty (for example: He was extremely remiss in performing the tasks).
296. Renovation
Repair, making something new again.
297. Repudiate
Refuse to accept, acknowledge, ratify, or recognize as valid.
298. Resilient
Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions; bounce back.
299. Rigid
Something that fixed; not flexible; not able to be bent or moved (for example: His face rigid with pain; I was rigid with fear; rigid exam schedule).
300. Rubicon
Is a point of no return; to cross/pass the Rubicon means to take a decisive, irrevocable step.
301. Sacrosanct
Holy, something that should not be criticized.
302. Salient
Significant; conspicuous; most important (for example: One of the salient differences between Amanda and John is that Amanda is a couple of kilos heavier; Only salient points can be indicated; The salient facts are the most important facts).
303. Sanctum
A sacred place, especially a shrine within a temple or church.
304. Sardonic
Means a disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful, cynical and mocking.
305. Schism
Division of a group into opposing factions. When there is a schism, a group or organization divides into two groups as a result of differences in thinking and beliefs.
306. Scrupulous
Characterized by extreme care and great effort; extremely attentive to details; very concerned to avoid doing wrong.
307. Scrutinize
To look at something very closely or very carefully.
308. Sedulous
Persistent; careful and using a lot of effort (for example: Sedulous student).
309. Serendipity
Means an occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way (for example: A fortunate stroke of serendipity).
310. Settle Down
Means to begin living a stable, quieter, and routine life (for example: Are you ever going to settle down and get married?).
311. Settle For
Means to accept someone or something that is not exactly what you wanted because you cannot have what you wanted (for example: Injuries and illness forced the team to settle for third place).
312. Shambles
Is a state of total disorder and mess (for example: My career was in a shambles).
313. Shatter
Means to break suddenly into very small pieces, or to make something break in this way.
314. Snap At (someone)
To say a quick phrase in an annoyed/angry way (for example: When I asked my wife if lunch was ready, she snapped at me).
315. Sophistry
Is the clever use of arguments that seem true but are really false, in order to deceive people.
316. Spurious
Means plausible but false; not being what it purports to be; fake.
317. Stagnation
(from Latin stagnatum (meaning “standing water, pond, and swamp”)) is the state of lack of activity, growth, or development.
318. Status quo
Is a Latin phrase meaning the existing state of affairs, particularly with regard to social or political issues. In the sociological sense, it generally applies to maintain or change existing social structure and values.
319. Strident
Means unpleasantly loud and harsh.
320. Superficial
Appearing to be true or real only until examined more closely.
321. Supplicant
Is a person who asks someone who is in a position of power for something in a very humble way.
322. Surfeit
Means an excessive amount of something (for example: A surfeit of food).
323. Synecdoche
Is a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa (for example: “A pair of hands” is a synecdoche for “a worker”; “the law” for “a police officer”).
324. Synergy
Is the combined power of a group of things when they are working together that is greater than the total power achieved by each working separately.
325. Taboo
Is a vehement prohibition of an action based on the belief that such behavior is either too sacred or too accursed for ordinary individuals to undertake.
326. Taciturn
Means uncommunicative. Someone who is taciturn does not speak often and does not say very much.
327. Tatty
Old and in bad condition (for example: The stairs looked a bit tatty for a house which has been open only for a few days).
328. Tautology
Is the use of different words to say the same thing twice in the same statement (for example: “They spoke in turn, one after the other” is considered a tautology because “in turn” and “one after the other” mean the same thing).
329. Teeming
Abundantly filled or swarming with something, as with people (for example: The Internet is teeming with viruses).
330. Tenacious
Determined to do something and unwilling to stop trying even when the situation becomes difficult, keeping a firm grip on.
331. Terrestrial
Of or relating to the earth or its inhabitants. An example of a terrestrial is a person who lives on the planet.
332. Tortuous
Indirect; winding; with many turns and changes of direction.
333. Track Down
Means to locate someone or something after a long search (for example: I finally managed to track him down in New York).
334. Transcendental
Literally means beyond the limits of cognition and earthly experience. Transcendental describes anything that has to do with the spiritual, non-physical world.
335. Underlie
Be the cause or basis of something (for example: What really underlies most heart disease?).
336. Undertake
Guarantee something; promise to do a particular thing; to put oneself under obligation to perform; begin to do something (for example: Undertake to learn to swim).
337. Unify
To bring together; to combine; make or become united, uniform, or whole.
338. Unkempt
Not properly maintained or cared for (for example: His hair was unkempt and dirty).
339. Use Up
Exhaust; use completely (for example: I’ve used up all my holiday entitlement).
340. Vacillate
Means to waver between different opinions or actions.
341. Venerate
To regard with great respect.
342. Verisimilitude
Being believable, or having the appearance of being true (for example: You can improve your game by using the real sounds of the ocean, to create verisimilitude).
343. Vicarious
Experienced as a result of watching, listening to, or reading about the activities of other people, rather than by doing the activities yourself. For example, lots of people use television as their vicarious form of social life.
344. Vicissitude
Is a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwanted or unpleasant.
345. Vilify
Spread negative information about something or someone.
346. Vindicate
To clear from blame or suspicion; to prove that what someone said or did was right or true, after other people thought it was wrong.
347. Vitriolic
Harsh, bitter, or malicious in tone. Vitriolic language or behaviour is cruel and full of hate.
348. Volatile
Likely to change rapidly and unpredictably (for example: A volatile person can suddenly become angry or violent).
349. Wanton
Undisciplined, lustful. A wanton action deliberately causes harm, damage, or waste without having any reason to.
350. Watershed
Literally means a region of land within which water flows down into a specified body; but also describes a critical point that marks a division or a change of course; a turning point.
351. Wry
Humorously sarcastic or mocking; showing that you think something is funny but not very pleasant, often by the expression on your face.
352. Zeugma
Is the use of a word to modify or govern two or more words usually in such a manner that it applies to each in a different sense or makes sense with only one (for example: She broke his car and his heart; He opened his mind and his wallet at the movies; He fished for compliments and for trout).
Conclusion
A strong vocabulary is a key asset in tackling the TOEFL exam successfully. These carefully selected words not only showcase your language proficiency but also demonstrate your ability to understand and use nuanced expressions.
Regular practice and exposure to diverse reading materials will further enhance your vocabulary and contribute to overall success in the TOEFL exam. Remember, building a robust vocabulary is a gradual process, so make it a habit to incorporate these words into your daily language practice.
Good luck!
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