BEST Vocabulary Words for IELTS – 497

Utter: complete or extreme

Sentence: The meeting was a complete and utter waste of time.

Scarce: not easy to find or get:

Sentence: Food and clean water were becoming scarce.

Notion: a general inclusive concept

Sentence: I have only a vague notion of what she does for a living.

Lofty: of imposing height; especially standing out above others

Sentence: The elegant square was shaded by lofty palms

Heed: pay close attention to

Sentence: The airline has been criticized for failing to heed advice/warnings about lack of safety routines.

Facile: arrived at without due care or effort; lacking depth

Sentence: We must avoid facile recriminations about who was to blame.

Flourish: grow vigorously

Sentence: My tomatoes are flourishing this summer – it must be the warm weather.

Vex: disturb, especially by minor irritations

Sentence: This issue looks likely to continue to vex the government.

Retort: a quick reply to a question or remark

Sentence: “I’m going to tell him,” said Max. “Just you try!” came the retort.

Exalt: praise, glorify, or honor

Sentence: “the party will continue to exalt their hero”