adapted by D.Potter (i.e. AmE → BrE + selection) from Focus on IELTS AWL (Academic Word List) & Morris College aberrant deviating from what is normal abstract thought of apart from concrete realities, specific objects accumulate to gather or collect, often in gradual degrees | heap up accurate free from error or defect | consistent with a standard, rule, or model advocate to speak or write in favour of | support or urge by argument aesthetic relating to beauty or art aggregate amounting to a whole | total alleviate to relieve | improve partially allocate to set apart for a particular purpose | assign or allot alternative a choice limited to one of two or more possibilities alter to make different in some particular way, as size, style, course, or modify amalgamate to combine into a unified whole ambiguous open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations ambivalence the state of having conflicting emotional attitudes ameliorate to improve amend to modify, rephrase, or add to or subtract from (a motion, bill, constitution, etc.) anachronism something out of proper time analogous comparable analogy a similarity between like features of two things, on which a comparison may be based analyse to separate (a material or abstract entity) into constituent parts or elements anarchy absence of government | state of disorder annual of, for, or pertaining to a year | yearly anticipate to realize beforehand | foretaste or foresee antipathy dislike | hostility apathy indifference apparent readily seen | exposed to sight | open to view appease to calm | pacify | placate append to add as a supplement, accessory, or appendix | subjoin appreciate to judge with understanding | to be grateful for approach to come near or nearer to approbation approval | praise appropriate suitable or fitting for a particular purpose, person, occasion, etc. approximate near or approaching a certain state, condition, goal, or standard arbitrary subject to individual will or judgement without restriction arduous extremely difficult | laborious artless guileless | natural ascetic one who practices self denial aspect appearance to the eye or mind assemble to fit together the parts of assess to fix or determine the value or amount assiduous diligent | hard working assign to give or allocate | allot assist to give support or aid to assume to take for granted or without proof | suppose | postulate assure to declare earnestly to | inform or tell positively | state with confidence attach to fasten or affix | join | connect attain to reach, achieve, or accomplish | gain | obtain attenuate to weaken attitude manner, disposition, feeling, position attribute to regard as resulting from a specified cause audacious daring | bold austere unadorned author a person who writes a novel, poem, essay authority the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes automate to apply the principles of automation to a mechanical process autonomous self-governing | independent available suitable or ready for use | of use or service banal commonplace | trite belie misrepresent | give a false impression beneficent kindly | doing good benefit something that is advantageous or good | an advantage bias a particular tendency or inclination bolster to give a boost to | prop up | support bombastic pompous | using inflated language boorish rude | insensitive brief lasting or taking a short time | using few words | concise | succinct cacophonous unpleasant or harsh sounding capable having power and ability | efficient | competent capacity the ability to receive or contain capricious fickle castigation punishment | criticism | chastisement catalyst something causing change category any general or comprehensive division | a class caustic burning | sarcastically biting cease to stop | discontinue | to come to an end challenge a call or summons to engage in any contest, as of skill, strength channel a navigable route between two bodies of water chart a sheet exhibiting information in tabular form chemical a substance produced by or used in a chemical process chicanery trickery | fraud circumstance a condition, detail, or attribute, with respect to time, place, manner clarify to make (an idea, statement, etc.) clear or intelligible classic of the first or highest quality, class, or rank clause a syntactic construction containing a subject and predicate coagulate thicken | congeal | coda concluding section of a musical or literary composition | something that summarizes or concludes codify to systematize coherent logically connected | consistent coincide to occupy the same place in space, or the same relative position collapse to fall or cave in | crumble suddenly colleague an associate commence to begin | start commensurate proportional commission the act of committing or giving in charge commit to give in trust or charge | consign commodity an article of trade or commerce, especially a product as distinguished from a service communicate to impart knowledge of | make known community a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality compatible capable of existing or living together in harmony compendium brief, comprehensive summary compensate to recompense for something compile to put together complaisant trying to please | overly polite | obliging | willing to please complement something that completes or makes perfect complex composed of many interconnected parts compliant yielding component a constituent part | element | ingredient compound composed of two or more parts, elements, or ingredients comprehensive of large scope | covering or involving much | inclusive comprise to include or contain compute to determine by calculation | reckon | calculate conceive to form (a notion, opinion, purpose, etc.) concentrate to bring or draw to a common centre or point of union | converge concept a general notion or idea conciliatory overcoming distrust or hostility conclude to bring to an end | finish | terminate concurrent occurring or existing simultaneously or side by side conduct personal behaviour | way of acting | bearing or deportment confer to consult together | compare opinions confine to enclose within bounds | limit or restrict confirm to establish the truth, accuracy, validity, or genuineness of conflict to come into collision or disagreement | be contradictory, or in opposition conform to act in accordance or harmony | comply confound to baffle | perplex | mix up connoisseur a person possessing expert knowledge or training | a person of informed and discriminating taste. consent to permit, approve, or agree | comply or yield consequent following as an effect or result | resulting considerable rather large or great in size, distance or extent consist to be made up or composed constant not changing or varying | uniform | regular | invariable constitute to compose | form | to appoint to an office or function constrain to force, compel, or oblige construct to build or form by putting together parts | frame | devise consult to seek advice or information from | ask guidance from consume to destroy or expend by use | use up contact the act or state of touching | as of two things or people contemporary existing, occurring, or living at the same time contentious quarrelsome | causing quarrels context the parts of a statement influencing its meaning or effect contract an agreement between for the doing or not doing a specific action contradict to assert the contrary or opposite of | deny directly and categorically contrary opposite in nature or character | diametrically or mutually opposed: contrary to fact contrast to compare in order to show unlikeness or differences | note the opposite natures contribute to give to a common supply, fund, etc., as for charitable purposes contrite very sorrowful for a wrong controversy a prolonged public dispute or disputation concerning a matter of opinion convene to come together or assemble, usually for some public purpose converge to approach | tend to meet | come together converse to talk informally with another or others | exchange views, opinions, etc., by talking convert to change (something) into a different form or properties | transmute | transform convince to move by argument or evidence to belief, agreement, consent, or a course of action convoluted twisted | complicated cooperate to work or act together or jointly for a common purpose or benefit coordinate of the same order or degree | equal in rank or importance corporate of, for, or belonging to a corporation or corporations correspond to be in agreement or conformity (often followed by with or to ) couple two of the same sort considered together | pair craven cowardly criteria a standard of judgement or criticism | a rule or principle for evaluating or testing something crucial involving an extremely important decision or result | decisive | critical culture the quality that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, etc. currency something that is used as a medium of exchange | money daunt to discourage | intimidate | dishearten debate a discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints decade a period of ten years decline to withhold or deny consent to do, enter into or upon, etc. | refuse deduce to derive as a conclusion from something known or assumed default to fail to act deference respect | regard for another's wish definite clearly defined or determined | not vague or general | fixed | precise | exact delineate to represent or depict demonstrate to make evident or establish by arguments or reasoning | prove denigrate to slur someone's reputation denote to be a mark or sign of | indicate depress to make sad or gloomy | lower in spirits | deject | dispirit deride to mock derivative something derived | unoriginal derive to receive or obtain from a source or origin (usually followed by from ). desiccate to dry up | completely desultory random | disconnected | rambling detect to discover or catch (a person) in the performance of some act deterrent something that discourages or hinders deviate to turn aside, as from a route, way, course, etc. devote to give up or concentrate on a particular pursuit, occupation, purpose, cause, etc. dichotomy division into two usually contradictory parts differentiate to form or mark differently from other such things | distinguish diffuse to spread out digression act of straying away from the main point dimension a property of space | extension in a given direction disabuse to free from misconception discerning perceptive | Exhibiting keen insight and good judgement discordant not in tune discredit to dishonour | disgrace | cause to be doubted discrepancy difference between discrete apart or detached from others | separate | distinct discriminate to make a distinction on the basis of the group category rather than according to actual merit disingenuous not candid | crafty disinterested unprejudiced | objective disjointed lacking order or coherence | dislocated dismiss put away from consideration | reject disparage to belittle disparate dissimilar displace to compel (a person or persons) to leave home, country, etc. dispose to give a tendency or inclination to | incline disseminate spread | scatter | disperse dissolution disintegration | debauchery dissonance discord | lack of harmony distil extract the essential elements distinct distinguished as not being the same | not identical | separate (sometimes followed by from ) distort to twist awry or out of shape | make crooked or deformed distribute to divide and give out in shares | deal out | allot diverge vary | go in different directions from the same point diverse of a different kind, form, character, etc. | unlike divest to strip | deprive | rid dogmatic stating opinions without proof domain a field of action, thought, influence, etc. domestic of or pertaining to the home, the household, household affairs, or the family dominate to rule over | govern | control dormant inactive drama a composition involving conflict or contrast of character | a play dupe to deceive | trick dynamic pertaining to or characterized by energy or effective action eclectic selecting from various sources economy thrifty management | frugality in the expenditure or consumption of money, materials, etc. efficacy efficiency | effectiveness effrontery shameless boldness | presumptuousness elicit to provoke | draw out eliminate to remove or get rid of, especially as being in some way undesirable embellish adorn | ornament | enhance, as a story emerge to come forth into view or notice, as from concealment or obscurity emphasis special stress laid upon, or importance attached to, anything empirical derived from observation experiment emulate imitate | copy endemic inherent | belonging to an area energy the capacity for vigorous activity | available power enforce to put or keep in force | compel obedience to: to enforce a rule engender to cause | produce enormous greatly exceeding the common size, extent, etc. environment the aggregate of surrounding things, conditions, or influences | surroundings. ephemeral short-lived | fleeting equate to regard, treat, or represent as equivalent equivalent equal in value, measure, force, effect, significance, etc. equivocate to intentionally use vague language erode to eat into or away | destroy by slow consumption or disintegration erudite learned | scholarly esoteric hard to understand | known only to a chosen few establish to found, institute, build, or bring into being on a firm or stable basis estimate to form an approximate judgement or opinion regarding the worth, amount, size, weight, etc. ethic the body of moral principles or values governing or distinctive of a particular culture or group euphemism use of agreeable or inoffensive language in place of unpleasant or offensive language evaluate to determine or set the value or amount of | appraise exacerbate to aggravate | make worse exigency crisis | urgent requirement explicit fully and clearly expressed or demonstrated | leaving nothing merely implied | unequivocal exploit a striking or notable deed | feat | spirited or heroic act extract to get, pull, or draw out, usually with special effort, skill, or force extrapolation the act of estimation by projecting known information facetious joking (often inappropriately) | humorous facilitate to make less difficult fallacious based on false ideas or facts fatuous foolishly self satisfied fawning seeking favour by flattering federal pertaining to or of the nature of a union of states under a central government distinct from the individual governments felicitous apt | suitably expressed | appropriate | well chosen fervour warmth and intensity of emotion finite having bounds or limits | not infinite | measurable fledgling beginner | novice flexible capable of being bent, usually without breaking flout to treat scornfully fluctuate to change continually | shift back and forth | vary irregularly frugality thrift futile ineffective, useless | fruitless gainsay to deny | dispute | oppose garrulous very talkative | wordy goad to prod | urge on gouge to tear out | scoop out | overcharge grandiloquent pompous | bombastic | gregarious sociable guarantee a promise , especially one in writing, that something is of specified quality, etc. guileless free of cunning or deceit | artless gullible easily deceived harangue long pompous speech | tirade hierarchy any system of persons or things ranked one above another homogeneous composed of identical parts | uniform in compositions hyperbole purposeful exaggeration for effect hypothesis a proposition assumed as a premise in an argument iconoclastic attacking cherished traditions ideology the body of doctrine that guides an individual, social movement, institution, class, or large group idolatry idol worship | blind or excess devotion immigrate to come to a country of which one is not a native, usually for permanent residence immutable unchangeable impair to damage | injure impassive showing no emotion impede hinder | block impermeable impossible to penetrate imperturbable not easily disturbed impervious impossible to penetrate | incapable of being effected implacable inflexible | incapable of being pleased implement any article used in some activity, especially an instrument, tool, or utensil implicate to show to be also involved, usually in an incriminating manner implicit implied | understood but not stated implode collapse inward violently impose to lay on or set as something to be borne, endured, obeyed, fulfilled, paid, etc. inadvertently carelessly | unintentionally incentive something to incite to action, as a reward offered for increased productivity inchoate imperfectly formed or formulated incidence the rate or range of occurrence of something, especially of something unwanted incongruity state of not fitting inconsequential insignificant | unimportant incorporate introduce something into another thing already in existence | combine indigence poverty indolent habitually lazy | idle inert unable to move | sluggish inevitable unable to be avoided, evaded, or escaped | certain | necessary infrastructure the basic underlying framework or features of a system or organization ingenuous naive and trusting | lack | unsophisticated inherent firmly established by nature or habit initial of, pertaining to, or occurring at the beginning | first: the initial step in a process innocuous harmless innovate to introduce something new | make changes in anything established insinuate to suggest | say indirectly | imply insipid lacking in flavour | dull institute to set up | establish | organize insularity narrow-mindedness | isolation integrate to bring together or incorporate (parts) into a whole intelligent having good understanding or a high mental capacity | quick to comprehend animals interval an intervening period of time intervene to come between disputing people, groups, etc. | intercede | mediate intractable not easily managed intransigence stubbornness | refusal of any compromise | intrinsic belonging to a thing by its very nature inundate to cover with water | overwhelm invective verbal abuse investigate to examine, study, or inquire into systematically | search or examine into the particulars of invest to put (money) to use, by purchase or expenditure, in something offering potential profits invoke to call for with earnest desire | make supplication or pray for involve to include as a necessary circumstance, condition, or consequence irascible irritable | easily angered irresolute unsure how to act | weak isolate to set or place apart | detach or separate so as to be alone itinerary route of a traveller's journey laconic using few words lassitude lethargy | sluggishness latent present but hidden | potential laud to praise legislate to make or enact laws lethargic inactive levity light manner of attitude levy an imposing or collecting, as of a tax, by authority or force liberal favourable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs locate to identify or discover the place or location of loquacious talkative lucid bright clear | intelligible luminous bright | brilliant | glowing magnanimity generosity | nobility maintain to keep in existence or continuance | preserve | retain major one of superior rank, ability, etc., in a specified class malingerer to feign illness to escape duty malleable capable of being shaped by pounding | impressionable manipulate to manage or influence skilfully, especially in an unfair manner maverick dissenter maximize to increase to the greatest possible amount or degree mediate to settle (disputes, strikes, etc.) as an intermediary between parties medical of or pertaining to the science or practice of medicine metamorphosis change | transformation meticulous very careful | fastidious migrate to go from one country, region, or place to another minimize to reduce to the smallest possible amount or degree misanthrope some one who hates humanity mitigate to cause to become less harsh | severe or painful | alleviate mollify to soothe monitor a person appointed to assist in the conduct of a class or school, or keep order morose Ill-humoured | sullen mundane worldly as opposed to spiritual | everyday negate to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of neophyte novice | beginner obsequious overly submissive obviate to make unnecessary | to anticipate and prevent occlude to shut | block officious too helpful | meddlesome onerous burdensome orient the countries of Asia, especially East Asia oscillate move back and forth ostentatious trying to attract attention | showy | pretentious | paradigm an example that serves as a pattern or model paragon model of perfection or excellence partisan one-sided | committed to a party, group or cause pathological departing from normal condition pedantic showing off learning penchant inclination penury extreme poverty perennial present throughout the years | persistent perfidious faithless | disloyal | untrustworthy permeable penetrable | porous | perspective a technique of depicting volumes and spatial relationships on a flat surface phenomenon a fact, occurrence, or circumstance observed or observable phlegmatic calm in temperament | sluggish piety devoutness | reverence for God placate to make sb feel less angry about sth plasticity condition of being able to be shaped or formed | pliability platitude stale | overused expression plethora excess | over-abundance plummet to fall | plunge pragmatic practical preamble introductory statement | preliminary statement precarious uncertain precipitate to cause to happen | throw down from a height precursor predecessor presumptuous rude | improperly bold pristine untouched | uncorrupted proliferate to increase rapidly propensity inclination | tendency pungent strong, sharp in smell or taste | penetrating | caustic to the point pursue to follow in order to overtake, capture, kill, etc. | chase quibble to argue or insignificant and irrelevant details rarefied refined rational agreeable to reason | reasonable | sensible recalcitrant resisting authority or control recluse person who lives in seclusion and often in solitude refractory resisting ordinary methods of treatment refute disprove | to contradict relegate to consign to an inferior position reluctance unwillingness | disinclination reprobate morally unprincipled person repudiate to reject as having no authority resolution determination | resolve reticent not speaking freely | reserved | reluctant revenue the income of a government from taxation, excise duties, customs, or other sources, reverent expressing deep respect | worshipful sage wise salubrious healthful satiate to satisfy secrete produce and release a substance into an organism sequence the following of one thing after another | succession solicitous concerned | attentive | eager soporific sleep producing spectrum band of colours produced when sunlight passes through a prism sporadic irregular | deviating from the norm stigma mark of disgrace or inferiority stipulate to specify as an essential condition strut to swagger | display to impress others substantiate to support with proof or evidence supersede to replace, especially to displace as inferior or antiquated tacit silently understood | implied tangential peripheral | digressing tenuous weak | insubstantial tirade long, violent speech | verbal assault torpor lethargy | dormancy tortuous having many twist and turns | highly complex transgression act of trespassing or violating a law or rule truculence aggressiveness | ferocity vacillate to waver | oscillate venerate to adore | honour | respect veracious truthful | accurate verbose wordy viable practicable | capable of developing viscous syrupy, sticky, gluey volatile tending to vary frequently | fickle warranted justified welter to wallow or roll | toss about | be in turmoil whimsical capricious | fanciful zealot one who is fanatically devoted to a cause