Boost Your IELTS Band Score with Powerful Vocabulary
Building a strong vocabulary is one of the most critical aspects of achieving a high score in the IELTS exam. Whether you’re preparing for the Academic or General Training module, a rich vocabulary not only improves your writing and speaking scores but also enhances comprehension in reading and listening sections.
This curated list of advanced vocabulary words is specially designed for IELTS aspirants aiming for a band score of 7.5+. Each word includes its meaning, grammatical category, and practical examples to ensure deep understanding and real-world application.
Click on each word below to explore its meaning and learn how to use it effectively. Mastering these terms will improve fluency, confidence, and overall language precision—essential for success in the IELTS test.
Set 1: Words 1-30
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1. Abase
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Meaning: To lower in rank, prestige, or esteem
(verb)
The dictator sought to abase his political opponents through public humiliation.
She refused to abase herself by begging for the job she deserved.
2. Abash
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Meaning: To make ashamed or uneasy
(verb)
His critical remarks abashed the young performer, making her forget her lines.
Nothing could abash the confident speaker, even when faced with tough questions.
3. Abjure
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Meaning: To renounce or reject solemnly
(verb)
The convert was required to abjure his former religious beliefs.
She abjured all claims to the throne, preferring a simple life.
4. Ablution
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Meaning: A cleansing with water or other liquid
(noun)
The priest performed his morning ablutions before the ceremony.
In many religions, ritual ablutions are required before prayer.
5. Abnegate
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Meaning: To deny oneself something
(verb)
The monk chose to abnegate worldly pleasures in pursuit of spiritual enlightenment.
She abnegated dessert to stick to her diet, despite the tempting chocolate cake.
6. Abominate
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Meaning: To detest or loathe
(verb)
I abominate cruelty to animals in any form.
The vegetarian abominated the idea of eating meat.
7. Abrogate
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Meaning: To repeal or do away with (a law, right, or agreement)
(verb)
The new government moved to abrogate the unpopular tax law.
No country should abrogate its international treaties without just cause.
8. Abscond
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Meaning: To leave secretly, often to avoid capture
(verb)
The thief absconded with the jewels before the police arrived.
The accountant absconded with company funds, leaving no trace of his whereabouts.
9. Abstemious
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Meaning: Moderate in eating and drinking
(adjective)
Despite the lavish banquet, he remained abstemious, eating only small portions.
Her abstemious lifestyle contributed to her longevity and good health.
10. Accede
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Meaning: To agree or yield to a demand
(verb)
After much negotiation, the company acceded to the workers’ demands for higher wages.
The king acceded to the throne after his father’s abdication.
11. Accentuate
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Meaning: To emphasize or highlight
(verb)
The lighting was used to accentuate the main features of the sculpture.
She wore red lipstick to accentuate her smile.
12. Acclimate
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Meaning: To adjust to a new environment
(verb)
It took him a few weeks to acclimate to the mountain climate.
Students must acclimate quickly to the fast-paced university life.
13. Accolade
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Meaning: An award or honor
(noun)
She received an accolade for her outstanding community service.
The Nobel Prize is a prestigious accolade in the field of science.
14. Accost
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Meaning: To approach and speak aggressively
(verb)
A stranger accosted him on the street demanding money.
Reporters accosted the celebrity as she left the courthouse.
15. Acerbic
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Meaning: Sharp, bitter, or harsh in tone
(adjective)
His acerbic comments hurt more than he intended.
The critic’s acerbic review devastated the young author.
16. Acquiesce
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Meaning: To agree reluctantly but without protest
(verb)
She acquiesced to the board’s decision after much hesitation.
Without much resistance, he acquiesced to their request.
17. Acrimonious
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Meaning: Bitter in temper or tone
(adjective)
Their discussion turned acrimonious over time.
An acrimonious debate ensued in the parliament.
18. Acumen
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Meaning: Quickness of perception or insight
(noun)
Her business acumen led to the startup’s success.
He’s admired for his legal acumen.
19. Adamant
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Meaning: Unyielding, inflexible
(adjective)
She was adamant about keeping the original design.
He remained adamant in his refusal to apologize.
20. Adduce
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Meaning: To bring forward as evidence
(verb)
He adduced several studies to support his argument.
No evidence was adduced to prove the claim.
21. Admonish
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Meaning: To warn or reprimand firmly
(verb)
The teacher admonished the students for being late.
She was admonished for her careless remarks.
22. Adroit
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Meaning: Skillful, clever, or resourceful
(adjective)
She is adroit at handling difficult clients.
His adroit use of language impressed the panel.
23. Adumbrate
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Meaning: To foreshadow vaguely
(verb)
The dark clouds adumbrated a coming storm.
The introduction adumbrates the themes of the novel.
24. Aegis
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Meaning: Protection or sponsorship
(noun)
The project was developed under the aegis of the UN.
They felt safe under the aegis of the law.
25. Aestheticism
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Meaning: Devotion to beauty and art
(noun)
Aestheticism influenced many artists in the 19th century.
Her aestheticism shaped the entire design process.
26. Affable
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Meaning: Friendly, easy to talk to
(adjective)
He is an affable host who makes everyone feel at home.
Her affable nature won her many friends.
27. Affinity
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Meaning: A natural connection or attraction
(noun)
She felt an immediate affinity for the city.
They share an affinity for classical music.
28. Affluent
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Meaning: Wealthy, having an abundance of material goods
(adjective)
They live in an affluent neighborhood.
An affluent society often faces unique challenges.
29. Aggrandize
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Meaning: To increase power, wealth, or status
(verb)
He tried to aggrandize himself by exaggerating his role in the project.
The king aggrandized his empire through conquest.
30. Agog
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Meaning: Highly excited by eagerness
(adjective)
The children were agog with excitement before the trip.
Fans were agog at the announcement of the band’s reunion.
30. Agog
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Meaning: Highly excited by eagerness
(adjective)
The children were agog with excitement before the trip.
Fans were agog at the announcement of the band’s reunion.
Set 2: Words 31–60
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31. Alacrity
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Meaning: Cheerful willingness or readiness
(noun)
She accepted the invitation with surprising alacrity.
The volunteers responded with alacrity to the emergency call.
32. Allay
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Meaning: To lessen or relieve
(verb)
The medication helped allay her fears.
The government’s efforts did little to allay public anxiety.
33. Altruistic
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Meaning: Unselfish, concerned with the welfare of others
(adjective)
Her altruistic nature made her popular among the students.
Altruistic acts often bring more satisfaction than material rewards.
34. Ambiguous
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Meaning: Open to multiple interpretations
(adjective)
The message was so ambiguous that nobody knew how to respond.
He gave an ambiguous answer that only created more confusion.
35. Ameliorate
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Meaning: To improve or make better
(verb)
Steps were taken to ameliorate living conditions in the refugee camps.
Regular practice can ameliorate performance issues.
36. Amenable
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Meaning: Open to suggestion, easily persuaded
(adjective)
The manager was amenable to the idea of flexible working hours.
He was amenable to any proposal that didn’t involve extra cost.
37. Amorphous
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Meaning: Without a definite shape or form
(adjective)
The idea remained amorphous until it was more clearly defined.
Amorphous clouds floated gently in the sky.
38. Anathema
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Meaning: Something or someone detested or shunned
(noun)
The idea of cheating is anathema to him.
Violence is anathema in most religious doctrines.
39. Anguish
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Meaning: Severe mental or physical pain
(noun)
He cried out in anguish as the news was delivered.
The anguish of losing a child is unimaginable.
40. Anomaly+
Meaning: Something that deviates from the norm
(noun)
The scientist noticed an anomaly in the data.
Anomalies in the results led to further investigation.
41. Antagonistic+
Meaning: Showing opposition or hostility
(adjective)
He had an antagonistic attitude towards authority.
The two nations remained antagonistic for decades.
42. Antithesis+
Meaning: The direct opposite
(noun)
Love is the antithesis of hate.
Her actions were the antithesis of her promises.
43. Apathy+
Meaning: Lack of interest or concern
(noun)
The voter turnout was low due to widespread apathy.
She was criticized for her apathy towards social issues.
44. Appease+
Meaning: To calm or pacify
(verb)
He tried to appease the angry mob.
The concessions were made to appease the opposition.
45. Apprehensive+
Meaning: Anxious or fearful that something bad will happen
(adjective)
She felt apprehensive about the final exam.
Despite the risks, he was not apprehensive.
46. Arduous+
Meaning: Difficult and tiring
(adjective)
Climbing the mountain was an arduous task.
She completed the arduous journey with determination.
47. Articulate+
Meaning: Able to express ideas clearly
(adjective / verb)
He is an articulate speaker who inspires many.
She struggled to articulate her thoughts.
48. Ascertain+
Meaning: To find out for certain
(verb)
The police tried to ascertain the cause of the fire.
He couldn’t ascertain whether she was serious or joking.
49. Aspire+
Meaning: To have a strong desire to achieve something
(verb)
She aspired to become a doctor.
Many students aspire to study abroad.
50. Assuage+
Meaning: To make something less severe
(verb)
The kind words helped assuage his guilt.
He tried to assuage the pain with a joke.
51. Astute+
Meaning: Clever and perceptive
(adjective)
She gave an astute analysis of the situation.
The astute businessman knew the deal was bad.
52. Avert+
Meaning: To prevent something bad from happening
(verb)
Quick action helped avert a disaster.
He looked away to avert his gaze.
53. Banal+
Meaning: Lacking originality, boring
(adjective)
The movie was filled with banal dialogues.
His ideas were dismissed as banal and uninspiring.
54. Belie+
Meaning: To give a false impression of
(verb)
His calm face belied his inner panic.
The cheerful decor belies the serious purpose of the building.
55. Benevolent+
Meaning: Kind and generous
(adjective)
The benevolent donor helped hundreds of children.
He gave her a benevolent smile.
56. Berate+
Meaning: To scold or criticize harshly
(verb)
The coach berated the players after their poor performance.
She was berated by her boss for being late.
57. Blatant+
Meaning: Very obvious and offensive
(adjective)
His blatant lies shocked everyone.
It was a blatant attempt to cheat the system.
58. Bolster+
Meaning: To support or strengthen
(verb)
The evidence bolstered his argument.
New features helped bolster the app’s popularity.
59. Brevity+
Meaning: Concise and exact use of words
(noun)
The brevity of his speech impressed everyone.
She valued clarity and brevity in communication.
60. Bucolic+
Meaning: Relating to the countryside; rural
(adjective)
They enjoyed a bucolic weekend in the village.
The painting depicted a bucolic landscape.
Set 3: Words 61–90
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61. Assuage
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Meaning: To make an unpleasant feeling less intense
(verb)
He tried to assuage his guilt by helping others.
A warm cup of tea can assuage your nerves.
62. Astute
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Meaning: Having or showing sharp judgment
(adjective)
She made an astute observation about the market trend.
An astute leader can sense the mood of the people.
63. Atavistic
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Meaning: Reverting to ancient or ancestral traits
(adjective)
His atavistic instincts kicked in during the emergency.
The tribal dance had an atavistic energy.
64. Attenuate
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Meaning: To weaken or reduce in force
(verb)
The drug can attenuate pain and inflammation.
Time had attenuated the intensity of her grief.
65. Augur
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Meaning: To predict or foreshadow
(verb)
Dark clouds augur a storm.
The early success augurs well for the company’s future.
66. Austere
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Meaning: Severe or strict in manner
(adjective)
The principal had an austere demeanor.
The monk led an austere lifestyle with minimal possessions.
67. Avarice
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Meaning: Extreme greed for wealth
(noun)
His avarice led him to betray his friends.
The avarice of the corrupt official knew no bounds.
68. Aver
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Meaning: To declare confidently
(verb)
She averred that she was innocent of all charges.
The lawyer averred that the facts supported his client’s case.
69. Avid
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Meaning: Eager, enthusiastic
(adjective)
He is an avid reader of science fiction novels.
She’s an avid fan of classical music.
70. Avuncular
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Meaning: Like an uncle, especially in kindness
(adjective)
He had an avuncular affection for the young interns.
His avuncular advice was always appreciated.
71. Axiom
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Meaning: A universally recognized truth
(noun)
It is an axiom that supply creates its own demand.
The axiom of equality is fundamental in mathematics.
72. Azure
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Meaning: Bright blue in color
(adjective)
The sky was a clear azure this morning.
She wore an azure dress that caught everyone’s eye.
73. Abscission
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Meaning: The act of cutting off
(noun)
Abscission of dead branches helps trees grow stronger.
The surgeon performed abscission of the damaged tissue.
74. Accoutrements
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Meaning: Additional items of dress or equipment
(noun)
He came with all the accoutrements of a professional chef.
The knight’s armor and accoutrements were on full display.
75. Actuate
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Meaning: To cause to operate
(verb)
A sensor actuates the door when someone approaches.
Her passion actuated her to start the charity.
76. Ailurophile
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Meaning: A person who loves cats
(noun)
Her home was decorated with items that revealed she was an ailurophile.
Ailurophiles often share cat videos online.
77. Alimentary
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Meaning: Relating to nourishment or sustenance
(adjective)
The alimentary canal plays a vital role in digestion.
Alimentary habits vary greatly across cultures.
78. Allegory
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Meaning: A story that symbolizes a greater meaning
(noun)
George Orwell’s *Animal Farm* is an allegory about totalitarianism.
The movie works as an allegory of personal growth.
79. Alliteration
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Meaning: The repetition of consonant sounds
(noun)
“Peter Piper picked a peck” is a famous example of alliteration.
Poets often use alliteration for musical effect.
80. Amalgamate
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Meaning: To combine into one
(verb)
The two firms amalgamated to form a new company.
Cultures can amalgamate to form new traditions.
81. Anodyne
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Meaning: A pain reliever
(noun/adjective)
She took an anodyne to relieve the headache.
His words were anodyne, meant to soothe rather than provoke.
82. Anomie
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Meaning: Lack of moral standards in a society
(noun)
Periods of rapid change often lead to anomie in society.
Anomie was evident in the lawless behavior of the citizens.
83. Antediluvian
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Meaning: Extremely old or outdated
(adjective)
His antediluvian views were out of place in the modern world.
The museum had antediluvian artifacts from the early civilization.
84. Aphorism
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Meaning: A short, witty saying
(noun)
“Actions speak louder than words” is a common aphorism.
The book was full of wise aphorisms.
85. Apoplectic
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Meaning: Overcome with anger
(adjective)
He was apoplectic with rage at the delay.
Her apoplectic reaction surprised everyone in the room.
86. Aquiline
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Meaning: Curved like an eagle’s beak
(adjective)
He had an aquiline nose that gave him a noble appearance.
The sculpture’s aquiline features were meticulously carved.
87. Arbiter
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Meaning: One who settles disputes
(noun)
The court acted as the final arbiter of the case.
He was considered the arbiter of taste in fashion.
88. Arrogate
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Meaning: To claim without justification
(verb)
The dictator arrogated absolute power to himself.
You can’t arrogate the right to speak for everyone.
89. Astringent
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Meaning: Harsh or severe
(adjective)
His astringent remarks offended many people.
The editor’s astringent style made the article sharper.
90. Auroral
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Meaning: Related to the dawn
(adjective)
The auroral glow lit up the early sky.
Her skin had an auroral radiance under the morning light.
Set 4: Words 91-120
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Set 15: Words 421-450
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