IELTS Vocabulary
Accismus – a form of irony in which a person feigns a lack of interest in something that he or she actually desires.
Sentence – A classic example of accismus, the fox dismissed the grapes in Aesop’s fable even though he wanted to devour them.
Acumen – skill in making correct decisions and judgments in a particular subject, such as business or politics.
Sentence – Van Leer inherited some of his father’s acumen but none of his money and certainly none of his love for money.
Anachronistic – a person, thing, or idea that exists out of its time in history, especially one that happened or existed later than the period being shown, discussed, etc.
Sentence – The longer we live, the more anachronistic our culture becomes.
Anthropomorphize – to show or treat an animal, god, or object as if it is human in appearance, character, or behavior.
Sentence – He offered the following example: While park signs in the West exhort people to ‘Keep Off the Grass, ‘ Chinese versions tend to anthropomorphize nature as a way to gently engage the stomping masses.
Apricate – To expose to sunlight.
Sentence – The cat lay apricating on the back of the couch near the window.
Bastion – something that keeps or defends a belief or a way of life that is disappearing or threatened.
Sentence – At the same time, however, the bastion of traditional scriptural authority was also being challenged from other quarters.
Behoove – it is a duty or responsibility for someone to do something.
Sentence – In the meantime, it behooves us all, patients and doctors alike, to learn how the health insurance industry works.
Burgeon – to develop or grow quickly.
Sentence – The main beneficiaries of those expanded horizons and burgeoning creative confidence were just those younger composers who are now busy writing operas.
Convivial – friendly and making you feel happy and welcome.
Sentence – He is said to have been convivial, widely knowledgeable, with a fertile imagination and a whimsical sense of humour.
Conundrum – a problem that is difficult to deal with.
Sentence – This creeping classical conundrum could have untold beneficial effects on the population as a whole.
Credulity – willingness to believe that something is real or true, especially when this is unlikely.
Sentence – It strained credulity to believe that a nuclear war would not lead to the destruction of the planet.
Crepuscular – relating to or like the time of day just before the sun goes down, when the light is not bright.
Sentence – Many Catfish are crepuscular, that is to say they are most active during the hours of twilight around dawn and dusk.
Edify – to improve someone’s mind
Sentence – John tried to use his free time to edify himself, reading any book he could get his hands on.
Effete – weak and without much power
Sentence – Her beautifully manicured nails were an effete affectation, getting in the way every time she tried to type.
Egregious – extremely bad in a way that is very noticeable.
Sentence – The legal system currently punishes the most egregious forms of child abuse and neglect, but such crimes are difficult to prove.
Eschew – to avoid something intentionally, or to give something up
Sentence – We celebrate individuality, but eschew the individualism that stifles creativity inhibits collaboration, and limits intelligence.
Fatuous – stupid, not correct, or not carefully thought about.
Sentence – It’s no good making fatuous suggestions … It would be better if you concentrated on sewing some buttons on my shirts.
