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IELTS High Score Vocabulary List (2012)
“Discover A Specially Selected List of IELTS Vocabulary Words Guaranteed T
Increase Your Score!”
By:
Timothy Dickeson
Copyright© by Timothy Dickeson – All Rights Reserved
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author and publisher of this book and the accompanying materials have used their best efforts in preparing this program. The autho
isher make no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the contents of
gram. They disclaim any warranties (expressed or implied), merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. The author and p
l in no event be held liable for any loss or other damage, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other dama
always, the advice of a competent legal, tax, accounting or other professionals should be sought.
manual contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use o
erial is prohibited.
TS is jointly owned by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL).
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Please note: All Verbs have an explanation that starts with “To”
BANDON: To give up completely - abandoned the sinking ship.
nonyms: relinquish, forgo, forsake
CADEMIC: Pertaining to school; theoretical academic interests; an academic discussion , with
actical implications.
nonym: scholastic
CCELERATE: - To quicken, speed tip - took an accelerated course in order to graduate early
nonym: expedite (adj. expeditious)
tonym: retard
DVERSITY: Misfortune - calm in the face of adversity.
nonyms: affliction, mischance, reverses
GGRESSIVE (noun: AGGRESSION. an unprovoked attack): self-assertive; attacking, offensi
noyed people by his aggressive attitude;
nonyms: bumptious, officious, obtrusivetonyms: meek, humble, retiring, diffident
MBIGUOUS: Uncertain, vague, capable of being inter- in more than one way - puzzled by the
biguous statement.
nonyms: hazy, obscure, equivocal, dubious, nebulous
tonyms: explicit, unquestionable
NONYMOUS: Of unknown authorship-an anonymous publication.
PPREHENSIVE (verb: APPREHEND): Fearful - Being unprepared, John is apprehensive of
amination.
RTFUL: Sly; crafty - attained his mean objective by artful measures.
nonyms: cunning, wily, adroit, ingenious, guileful
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tonyms: guileless, ingenuous, artless
THEIST: One who denies that God exists - The atheist declared, "There is no God."
nonyms: infidel, agnostic, sceptic
TTRIBUTE (verb): Assign -attributed his success to bard work.
nonym: ascribeoun): An inherent quality -Generosity was his outstanding attribute.
UTHENTIC: Genuine -proved to be an authentic document.
nonyms: veritable, bona fide
tonyms; apocryphal, counterfeit, spurious, bogus
ANTER : Good-natured teasing or ridicule-The two wits I exchanged banter , to the amusementaudience.
nonyms: raillery, chaff
ASED: Prejudiced - misled by a biased point of view.
nonyms: bigoted, arbitrary, partial, partisan
tonyms: disinterested, equitable
ZARRE: Queer; unusual in appearance- bizarre clothes, outlandish in the extreme.
nonyms: odd, fantastic, grotesque, eccentric
OG: A swamp - sank into the spongy bog .
nonyms: morass, fen, quagmire, mire
ANDID (noun: CANDOR): Frank, outspoken; impartial a candid reply that could hardly be mothright.
nonyms: artless, ingenuous, unbiased
tonyms: guileful, evasive
HRONIC: Continuing a long time; habitual-a. chronic complaint, persisting for years.
nonyms: persistent, unremitting, inveterate, incessant, constant
tonyms: intermittent, sporadic, infrequent
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VIL:
. Of or having to do with citizens or the state - We I civil duties as well as civil liberties.
. Polite, courteous - answered in a civil fashion.
Synonyms: respectful, gracious
OALITION (verb: COALESCE): Alliance; merging of various units into one unit - three parti
ming a coalition to rule the country.nonyms: amalgamation, consolidation, fusion
OLLUSION: Working together secretly for an evil purpose - acted in collusion to overthrow t
vernment.
nonyms: collaboration, conspiracy, conniving, machination
OMPATIBLE: Harmonious; able, to get along together parted company because they were not
mpatible.
nonyms: congruous, consistent
tonyms: incongruous, discordant, incompatible
OMPENSATION: Payment for services - just compensation for his labor.
nonyms: stipend, remuneration, recompense, emolument
OMPLACENT: Self-satisfied - looked on his own performance with a complacent smile.
nonym: smug
ONDOLE (noun: CONDOLENCE): To express sympathy with another in sorrow, pain, or
sfortune - condoled with each other in their grief.
nonyms: commiserate, show compassion, solace
ONDONE: To forgive or overlook (an offense) - condoned the deed, in view of the offender's
nonyms: extenuate, palliate, mitigate, gloss
ONSENSUS. General agreement - The consensus of the committee was that no action should b
en.
onym: accord
OSMOPOLITAN (noun): One who is at home in all countries - A cosmopolitan can feel at ea
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ywhere in the world.
dj.): Free from local prejudices - a world-wide traveller, cosmopolitan in tastes and attitudes
nonyms: Catholic
tonyms: parochial, provincial
RASS: Coarse and stupid - displayed crass ignorance.
onym: gross
REDIBLE: Worthy of belief - a credible story, true to life.
onym: incredible
REDITABLE: Deserving or reflecting Credit or honour - applauded for his creditable
rformance.
nonyms: praiseworthy, meritorious, commendabletonyms: discreditable, infamous, opprobrious, ignominious
URT: Rudely abrupt -offended by the curt response.
nonyms: blunt, brusque, bluff
tonyms: affable, civil
ELINQUENT (noun): An offender - found to be a delinquent by the court.dj.): Failing to fulfil an obligation - too many people who are delinquent in meeting their civic
ties.
nonym: derelict
EMEANOR : Behaviour; bearing - carrying himself with a proud demeanour .
onyms: deportment, mien
ENOUNCE (noun: DENUNCIATION): To speak against - denounced by the press as a traitor
nonyms: stigmatize, censure, reprehend, castigate
tonyms: laud, eulogize
EPRECIATE: To belittle or speak slightingly of - depreciated John's acting ability.
nonyms: disparage, derogate (adj. derogatory)
tonyms: enhance, magnify, extol, laud, eulogize
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EVIOUS:
(1) Winding; indirect - took a devious, rather than the direct way home.
nonym: circuitous
(2) Straying from the right course - used devious means to attain his wicked ends.
nonyms: crooked, erring
EVOUT: Devoted to religious observances - devout in his regularity of attendance at worship
nonyms: pious, religious
tonym: impious
LEMMA: A situation calling for a choice between two equally difficult alternatives; hence, a
ficult or perplexing situation - faced with a dilemma defying solution.
nonyms: predicament, quandary, plight
SCRETE: Separate - two discrete issues, totally unrelated.
STRAUGHT: Mentally distressed; distracted - distraught by trials and tribulations.
nonym: harassed
VERSE: (verb: DIVERSIFY; noun: DIVISIBILITY): Varied; different - two diverse charactee candid, the other insincere.
nonym: multifarious
VULGE: To make public or reveal - refused to divulge his source of information.
nonyms: disclose, impart
YNAMIC: Forceful - possessed dynamic energy, tireless and powerful.nonym: energetic
tonyms: static, inert, dormant, torpid, sluggish, quiescent
DIFY: To instruct or uplift, particularly in morals or religion - a story that edifies the reader, a
ll as entertains him
ACULATE: To exclaim or utter suddenly - ejaculated cry of horror.
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NGENDER : To cause, produce, or stir up-an act that engendered good will.
RRATIC: Irresponsible, eccentric; lacking a fixed purpose erratic behaviour, reflecting his qu
as.
XCEPTIONABLE: Objectionable - exceptionable behaviour, universally criticized.
nonyms: questionable, reprehensible, censurable
tonym: laudable
XEMPLARY (noun: EXEMPLAR): Serving as a model; commendable - exemplary conduct
proved by all.
nonyms: illustrative, typical; praiseworthy, laudable
XOTIC: Strange and foreign - an exotic costume imported from Asia.
XPLOIT (verb): To use for one's selfish purpose – refugees exploited by unscrupulous employ
oun): A brilliant deed - lauded for his exploits in science.
nonym: feat
XTINCT: No longer existing or active - the extinct dinosaur, alive only in history.
nonym: defunct
tonym: extant
ACADE: Front or face, especially of a building - a facade of marble.
ASIBLE: Workable - a feasible plan, proved practical by - previous experience.
tonym: impracticable
TISH.
Something that is believed to have magical powers - savages worshipping the fetish in a
remonial dance.
nonym: charm, talisman, amulet
An object of unreasoning devotion and worship – Photography, begun as a hobby, became a
ish.
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CTITIOUS: Unreal; made-up - used a fictitious name to avoid being recognized.
nonym: fabricated
AUNT: Display or wave boastfully - flaunted the excellent report before his delighted parent
EETING: Passing swiftly -the fleeting hours of happiness
nonyms: transitory, fugitive
UCTUATE: To waver from one course to another; to vary irregularly - his mood fluctuating
ery hour.
nonyms: oscillate, vacillate, undulate, sway
RUSTRATE: To prevent (the attainment of an object); to defeat or render ineffectual - His
holastic progress was frustrated by a serious illness.
nonyms: balk, thwart, foil, baffle, obstruct, discomfit
tonym: abet
ARNISH: To trim or decorate - dishes garnished attractively with greens.
nonyms: adorn, deck
REGARIOUS: Habitually fond of associating in a company or herd - gregarious sheep; that
egarious animal, man.
tonyms: lone, aloof
AIL: To greet - The crowd hailed the returning hero.
nonyms: accost, salute
OAX (noun): A trick or deception; a practical joke - played a hoax upon the credulous public.
nonym: canard
erb): To play a trick on; to deceive - He hoaxed the crowd completely with his disguise.
YPOTHESIS: An assumption made for the sake of argument - worked from a fantastic hypoth
nonym: supposition
IOSYNCRASY: A. personal peculiarity - Wearing white was one of Whistler's idiosyncrasie
nonyms: eccentricity, foible, mannerism, crotchet, aberration, quirk, singularity
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MMACULATE: Spotless; pure - an immaculate reputation.
nonyms: undefiled, unsullied, unblemished, untarnished
tonyms: defiled, sullied, blemished
MMUNE (verb: IMMUNIZE): Exempt from; protected from - immune from taxation.
nonym : unsusceptible
MPECCABLE: Faultless - performed with impeccable skill.
nonyms: consummate, irreproachable, unerring, infallible
tonyms: culpable, fallible
MPERVIOUS: Incapable of being penetrated - a mind impervious to new ideas.
nonyms: impermeable, impenetrabletonyms: permeable, pervasive
MPLICIT:
Implied but not clearly expressed - an implicit agreement.
Unquestioning - implicit confidence.
nonyms: tacit, implied
tonym: explicit
MPORT (noun): Meaning; significance or importance - a matter of great import .
nonyms: purport, moment, consequence
CISIVE: Cutting, penetrating - incisive criticism.
nonyms: sarcastic, mordant, trenchant, acute
CREMENT: An increase - a salary increment.
nonym: accrual
DIGENOUS: Native - Rice is indigenous to China.
nonyms: innate, inborn
FERENCE: A conclusion reached by reasoning from data or premises - an inference drawn f
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remarks.
nonyms: deduction, implication
GENIOUS: Demonstrating originality, skill, or resourcefulness - an ingenious device.
nonyms: dextrous, inventive, adroit
tonyms: maladroit, gauche
HIBIT: To check or hinder - inhibited his friend from a foolhardy course.
nonyms: restrain, curb
tonym: promote
STIGATE: To stir tip - instigated discontent among the soldiers.
nonyms: foment, incite
TEGRITY: Honesty, moral soundness - a man of proved integrity.
nonyms: probity, uprightness, incorruptibility
RGON: Confused, unintelligible, meaningless talk; special vocabulary used only by members
oup or trade - Variety, a newspaper written in theatrical jargon.
nonyms: gibberish, argot, cant
OPARDY: Danger - His life was in jeopardy.
nonyms: hazard, peril
DICIOUS: Wise; using or exhibiting good judgment - a well-chosen plan, termed judicious b
nonyms: discreet, politic, discerning
ATENT: Hidden; present but not fully developed - latent talent that time will reveal.nonyms: dormant, quiescent, covert, potential
tonyms: apparent, patent
AVISH:
Profuse or generous - lavish in praise.
nonyms: ample, superabundant
Given to extravagance - a lavish spender.
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nonyms: prodigal, munificent, magnanimous.
tonyms: parsimonious, niggardly, frugal, penurious
ETHAL: Deadly - a lethal weapon.
nonyms: mortal, fatal
ONGEVITY: Prolonged duration of life - a country remarkable for the longevity of its inhabita
OW: To bellow softly like cattle - the lowing herd in the meadow.
nonym: moo
UCID: Clear; transparent; easily understood - a lucid explanation of a difficult text.
nonyms: pellucid, perspicuous, intelligible, limpid, luminous, translucent
tonyms: abstruse, obscure
UDICROUS: Ridiculous; producing laughter - a ludicrous remark that set them all to roaring.
nonyms: mirthful, droll, comical, absurd
tonyms: doleful, lugubrious, dismal
ALICIOUS (noun: MALICE): Bearing, or acting with, deliberate ill-will or spite - hurting w
licious intent.nonyms: rancorous, malignant, malevolent, virulent, vindictive
tonym: benign
EDIOCRE: Average in quality - a mediocre performance, unworthy of his talents.
ONOLOGUE: A speech by one person - The actor gave his views in a dramatic monologue.
nonym: soliloquytonyms: colloquy (adj. colloquial): conversation between two or more persons; dialogue:
nversation between two persons
UNDANE: Of, or pertaining to, the world, as contrasted with the spirit - mundane affairs.
nonyms: earthly, terrestrial, secular, temporal
URKY: Dark; cloudy - a murky cavern.
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nonyms: dismal, tenebrous, fuliginous
tonyms: resplendent, glowing, lustrous, luminous, fulgent, coruscating
UTABLE: Given to frequent change in nature, mood, or form - mutable in mood as a spring w
nonyms: vacillating, fickle, inconstant, fitful, mercurial, wavering, capricious
tonyms: constant, steady
YRIAD: Innumerable - the myriad stars in the heavens.
AUTICAL: Pertaining to ships or navigation - a nautical career.
nonyms: marine, naval, maritime
OTORIOUS: Widely known (in a bad sense) - a notorious gambler.
OVICE: A beginner - conducted himself in politics like a novice.
nonyms: tyro, neophyte
tonym: virtuoso
BLIVIOUS (noun: OBLIVION): Forgetful; absent-minded - walking oblivious of his surround
nonyms: unmindful, heedless, abstracted
BSESSION: A persistent feeling, idea, activity, etc., which dominates a person; the state of be
clusively preoccupied by a fixed idea - Now that he has learned bowling, it has become his
session.
nonyms: mania, infatuation (a foolish passion), monomania
BSOLETE: No longer in use - an obsolete word, not even included by most dictionaries.
nonyms: archaic, antiquated
BTRUSIVE (verb: OBTRUDE): Thrusting oneself or itself into undue prominence - made him
noxiously obtrusive.
nonyms: intrusive, aggressive
STRACIZE: To banish; to exclude from public favour or privileges - a former premier ostrac
popular vote.
nonym: outlaw
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ARADOX: A self -contradictory statement; something 'that appears to be absurd and yet may b
Life is too important a matter to be taken seriously." - a paradox by Oscar Wilde.
nonym: anomaly
ARAPHRASE: To restate the meaning of a passage in other words - paraphrased the poem in
w lines of prose.
ARODY (noun): A humorous imitation of an author's style and mannerisms - wrote a parody on
pling's "Gunga Din."
nonym: burlesque
erb): To write a parody - parodied the popular authors of the (lay to his audience's amusement
nonym: Mimic
RVERSE: Wilfully bent on doing the wrong thing - a perverse lad, always disobeying his pa
nonyms: headstrong, forward, refractory, wayward, fractious
TRIFY: To paralyze with horror, fear, or surprise - petrified by the enemy bombardment.
nonyms: stupefy, stun, bewilder, amaze
LAGIARISM. Adopting and reproducing, without acknowledgment, the writings or ideas of
other and passing them off as one's own - denied the charge of deliberate plagiarism.
LATITUDE: A dull and commonplace remark - bored people by his pompous phrases and
atitudes.
nonyms: bromide, truism, axiom
RESTIGE: Esteem or influence accorded for recognized achievements or reputation - As Sena
enjoyed great prestige.nonym: distinction
REDATORY:
Inclined to plunder or rob; - predatory bands roaming the countryside.
Preying on, others - predatory animals prowling about.
nonyms: predacious, looting, pillaging
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RELUDE: An introduction, forerunner, or preliminary step - a short prelude to the play.
nonyms: Preface, prologue. Preamble
tonym: epilogue
RESUMPTION:
Something taken for granted - acted on a reasonable presumption.
Going beyond proper bounds; impudent boldness - His question was downright presumptionnonyms: effrontery, forwardness, arrogance
ROCRASTINATE: To postpone or put off to another time - missed his opportunity by
ocrastinating too long.
nonyms: defer, delay
ROGNOSTICATE (noun: PROGNOSIS): To forecast - The Weather Bureau prognosticates
nonyms: presage, portend, augur, forebode
ROVISIONAL: Temporary; for the time being - a provisional plan until a permanent decision
ched.
nonym: tentative
ROXIMITY: Nearness-worked in close proximity to his home.
nonyms :propinquity, vicinity
tonym: remoteness
UASH: To crush; to render void - quashed a rebellion; quashed an indictment.
nonyms: suppress, extinguish, quell; annul
ADICAL (noun): One who advocates extreme basic changes - The reform movement was led b
dical .
dj.): Thorough, extreme - radical measures adopted to meet the emergency.
tonym:(noun and adj.) conservative
AMIFICATION: A branching; sub-division - studied the subject in all its ramifications.
EFUTE: To prove incorrect or false-refuted his opponent's argument.
nonyms: rebut, confute
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tonyms: substantiate, confirm, corroborate
EITERATE: Repeat (several times) - reiterated his story once more.
ENEGADE: One who forsakes political or party principles or his religious faith - a renegade
former allegiance.
nonyms: turncoat, apostate, recreant, traitor
ESPITE:
Temporary deferment or cessation of work or pain - a brief respite from labor.
nonym: surcease
A temporary delay in the execution of -a sentence - granted the doom man a temporary respit
nonym: reprieve
ESILIENT: Elastic; light-hearted; possessing power of recovery - a resilient Spirit, refusing t
mit defeat.
nonyms: flexible, pliable, supple, limber
ETRIBUTION: The reward or punishment exacted for an injury, wickedness, or other action -
ffered just retribution for his folly.
nonyms: requital, nemesis
ETRIEVE:
To make good -retrieved a mistake.
To recover -retrieved the suitcase left at the station.
To restore - retrieved his lost fortunes.
ATELLITE:
An attentive or flattering follower - a prince surrounded by many satellites.
nonyms: lackey, toady, disciple, adherent; adj., fawning, obsequious, partisan
A country influenced or controlled by another - Freedom is conspicuously absent ,in the Sovi
ellites.
A body (natural or artificial) which revolves around a larger body, generally a planet - The m
he only natural satellite of the earth, but in recent years it has been joined by many artificial
ellites.
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ORDID: Mean and base; filthy - Sordid motives breed selfish actions.
nonyms: degraded, vile, ignoble
ORADIC: Occurring singly, at irregular intervals; scattered - sporadic cases of illness.
URN: To refuse or reject with contempt - an offer that was spurned instantly.
nonyms: repel, snub
RINGENT: Strict; compelling, constraining stringent regulations; stringent requirements.
nonyms: exacting, rigid
tonym: lax
ANGIBLE: Real; actual - tangible gains which may be seen. and counted.
nonyms: material, veritable, perceptible, substantial
ANTAMOUNT: Equivalent - an act that is tantamount to treason.
AUNT (verb). To reproach with contempt - taunted him with the charge of failure to act promp
nonyms: mock, twit, gibe, sneer, deride
oun): An insulting, jeering, or bitter remark - hurled taunts at his foes.
EEMING: In abundance, fertile, highly productive - the teeming tropics, rank with vegetation.
nonyms: swarming, fruitful, fecund, abounding
RANQUIL: Calm; peaceful - a tranquil summer night.
nonyms: placid, serene
tonyms: perturbed, ruffled, turbulent
RIVIAL: Of little - importance - a trivial offense.
nonym: paltry
tonyms: gross, momentous
ANQUISH: To subdue or conquer -an army vanquished with heavy losses.
AUNT: To boast - proudly vaunted his strength.
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nonyms: brag (noun: braggadocio, braggart), proclaim
ERSATILE: Able to do many things skilfully - versatile in all the arts.
HIM (adj.: WHIMSICAL): A sudden notion or passing fancy -frequently acted on the whim of
ment.
nonyms: caprice, vagary, crotchet
EALOUS (noun: ZEALOT: fanatic): Full of enthusiasm or eagerness -a zealous student, first in
ss.
tonym: perfunctory