70 English Formal Vocabulary
Collected by Ali Hosseinipour
- Abundant (adjective):
Definition: Present in large quantities; plentiful.
Example: The region is known for its abundant natural resources.
- Ambiguous (adjective):
Definition: Open to more than one interpretation; unclear.
Example: His response was so ambiguous that I couldn’t determine his true intentions.
- Circumvent (verb):
Definition: To find a way around or avoid something, usually through cleverness or deception; dodge.
Example: The team devised a plan to circumvent the traffic and arrive on time.
- Disparate (adjective):
Definition: Essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison; incongruent.
Example: The two cultures had disparate traditions and customs.
- Eminent (adjective):
Definition: Highly respected or well-known, often in a specific field; renowned.
Example: The conference featured talks by eminent scientists from around the world.
- Exemplify (verb):
Definition: To serve as a typical example of; to illustrate.
Example: The character’s actions exemplify the theme of bravery in the story.
- Formidable (adjective):
Definition: Inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable; tough.
Example: The team faced a formidable challenge but managed to overcome it.
- Incessant (adjective):
Definition: Continuing without interruption; constant.
Example: The incessant noise from the construction site made it difficult to concentrate.
- Juxtapose (verb):
Definition: To place or deal with two or more things side by side for comparison or contrast.
Example: The artist juxtaposed warm and cool colors to create a visually striking composition.
- Nurture (verb):
Definition: To care for and encourage the growth or development of something; foster.
Example: Parents play a crucial role in nurturing their children’s talents and interests.
- Pervasive (adjective):
Definition: Spread throughout every part; prevalent.
Example: The influence of technology is pervasive in modern society.
- Quintessential (adjective):
Definition: Representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class; epitome.
Example: The Eiffel Tower is often seen as the quintessential symbol of Paris.
- Reiterate (verb):
Definition: To repeat for emphasis or clarity; recapitulate.
Example: The professor took a moment to reiterate the main points of the lecture.
- Sagacious (adjective):
Definition: Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; wise.
Example: Her sagacious advice helped me make an informed decision.
- Tenacious (adjective):
Definition: Holding firmly; persistent in maintaining or adhering to something; obstinate.
Example: The athlete’s tenacious spirit helped him overcome numerous challenges.
- Voracious (adjective):
Definition: Having a strong desire for a particular activity or pursuit; eager to consume great amounts; insatiable.
Example: She has a voracious appetite for reading and finishes several books a week.
- Zealot (noun):
Definition: A person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other beliefs; fanatic.
Example: The religious zealot preached passionately on street corners about his beliefs.
- Aesthetic (adjective):
Definition (adjective): Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty.
Example: The art gallery showcased a variety of aesthetic styles and techniques.
- Benevolent (adjective):
Definition: Kindly and well-meaning; generous.
Example: The benevolent gesture of donating to the charity helped many people in need.
- Capitulate (verb):
Definition: To surrender or give in to an opponent or demand; relent.
Example: After hours of negotiation, they finally capitulated to the terms of the agreement.
- Dearth (noun):
Definition: A scarcity or lack of something; shortage.
Example: There was a dearth of fresh vegetables during the winter months.
- Effervescent (adjective):
Definition: lively in personality or behavior; sparkling.
Example: Her effervescent personality brought energy to every social gathering.
- Garrulous (adjective):
Definition: Excessively talkative, especially about trivial matters; loquacious.
Example: The garrulous neighbor would often chat for hours without getting to the point.
- Harbinger (noun):
Definition: A sign or indication of something to come; a precursor.
Example: The sudden drop in temperature was seen as a harbinger of the approaching storm.
- Indignant (adjective):
Definition: Feeling or showing anger and annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment; irritated.
Example: The employees were indignant about the sudden change in their working conditions.
- Lethargic (adjective):
Definition: Lacking energy; sluggish.
Example: After a long day of work, she felt too lethargic to go to the gym.
- Mundane (adjective):
Definition: Lacking interest or excitement; dull.
Example: The daily routine can sometimes feel mundane and monotonous.
- Nefarious (adjective):
Definition: Wicked, villainous, or criminal.
Example: The detective was determined to bring down the nefarious criminal organization.
- Ostentatious (adjective):
Definition: Showy in an attempt to impress others; pretentious.
Example: The mansion’s ostentatious decorations seemed excessive to many visitors.
- Pernicious (adjective):
Definition: Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way; malicious.
Example: The pernicious effects of pollution on the environment are becoming increasingly evident.
- Quell (verb):
Definition: To suppress or extinguish (a feeling, rebellion, etc.); to put an end to; repress.
Example: The police managed to quell the protests before they turned violent.
- Reticent (adjective):
Definition: Not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily; reserved.
Example: The usually reticent artist opened up about his creative process during the interview.
- Trepidation (noun):
Definition: A feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen; apprehension.
Example: She approached the stage with a sense of trepidation before her first public speech.
- Ubiquitous (adjective):
Definition: Present, appearing, or found everywhere; pervasive.
Example: The ubiquitous use of smartphones has changed the way we communicate.
- Wane (verb):
Definition: To decrease in intensity or size; to decline gradually; diminish.
Example: As the night progressed, the moon’s brightness began to wane.
- Xenophobia (noun):
Definition: Dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries; racial intolerance.
Example: The rise of xenophobia led to tensions between local residents and immigrants.
- Yield (verb):
Definition: To produce or provide; to give way or surrender.
Example: The farm yielded a bountiful harvest of fruits and vegetables.
- Zephyr (noun):
Definition: A gentle, mild breeze; gust.
Example: The zephyr rustled the leaves of the trees on the tranquil summer day.
- Acquiesce (verb):
Definition: To accept or comply with something passively or reluctantly; comply.
Example: After much negotiation, they decided to acquiesce to the terms of the contract.
- Belligerent (adjective):
Definition: Hostile and aggressive; ready to fight; warlike.
Example: The belligerent attitude of the two rival teams led to on-field conflicts.
- Cacophony (noun):
Definition: A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds; disharmony.
Example: The city’s streets were filled with the cacophony of honking horns and shouting vendors.
- Dichotomy (noun):
Definition: a difference between two completely opposite ideas or things.
Example: The novel explores the dichotomy between good and evil in human nature.
- Ebullient (adjective):
Definition: Cheerful and full of energy; enthusiastic.
Example: Her ebullient personality made her a favorite at social gatherings.
- Facetious (adjective):
Definition: Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor.
Example: His facetious comments during the meeting were met with disapproval.
- Gregarious (adjective):
Definition: Fond of company; sociable.
Example: The gregarious young man made friends easily and enjoyed group activities.
- Hapless (adjective):
Definition: Unfortunate or unlucky.
Example: The hapless traveler lost his luggage and missed his connecting flight.
- Impervious (adjective):
Definition: Not allowing fluid to pass through; resilient.
Example: The jacket was impervious to water, keeping the child dry in the rain.
- Luminous (adjective):
Definition: Emitting or reflecting light; shining.
Example: The night sky was filled with luminous stars that lit up the darkness.
- Malleable (adjective):
Definition: Capable of being shaped or molded; flexible.
Example: The artist found the clay to be malleable, allowing her to create intricate sculptures.
- Nostalgia (noun):
Definition: A sentimental longing or affection for the past; reminiscence.
Example: The old photographs brought a wave of nostalgia for the simpler times of childhood.
- Obliterate (verb):
Definition: To destroy completely; to wipe out.
Example: The powerful explosion obliterated the building, leaving behind only debris.
- Panacea (noun):
Definition: A solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases; cure-all.
Example: While technology can improve many things, it is not a panacea for all societal issues.
- Ravenous (adjective):
Definition: Extremely hungry; voracious.
Example: After a long hike, we were ravenous and eagerly devoured our meal.
- Truncate (verb):
Definition: To shorten by cutting off a part; to curtail.
Example: Due to time constraints, the speaker had to truncate the presentation.
- Whimsical (adjective):
Definition: Playfully quaint, especially in an appealing and amusing way; fanciful.
Example: The artist’s whimsical paintings often featured surreal and imaginative scenes.
- Yearn (verb):
Definition: To have an intense feeling of longing or desire; crave.
Example: She yearned to travel and explore new places.
- Zealous (adjective):
Definition: having a strong and enthusiastic pursuit of a goal or cause; passionate.
Example: The volunteers were zealous in their efforts to raise awareness about environmental issues.
- Alleviate (verb):
Definition: To make suffering, deficiency, or a problem less severe; lessen.
Example: The medicine helped alleviate the patient’s pain and discomfort.
- Debilitate (verb):
Definition: To weaken or make someone or something physically or mentally impaired; incapacitate.
Example: The illness debilitated his ability to perform everyday tasks.
- Ephemeral (adjective):
Definition: Lasting for a very short time; transient.
Example: The beauty of the cherry blossoms is ephemeral, as they bloom for only a few weeks.
- Fervent (adjective):
Definition: Having or displaying a passionate intensity; ardent.
Example: Her fervent dedication to the cause inspired others to join the movement.
- Impetus (noun):
Definition: A force that causes something to happen or be done; enticement.
Example: The recent economic downturn provided the impetus for companies to cut costs.
- Keen (adjective):
Definition: Having a sharp perception or intellect; sharp.
Example: Her keen observations allowed her to identify details that others often overlooked.
- Oblivion (noun):
Definition: The state of being completely forgotten or unknown; forgotten.
Example: The once-famous actor had faded into oblivion after years of inactivity.
- Tenuous (adjective):
Definition: Very weak or slight; insubstantial.
Example: The tenuous connection between the two events was difficult to prove.
- Vex (verb):
Definition: To make someone feel annoyed or frustrated; displease.
Example: The technical issues with the software continued to vex the development team.
- Eloquent (adjective):
Definition: the quality of fluent, persuasive, and impactful expression, often in speech or writing; the ability to convey complex ideas or emotions with clarity and grace; articulate.
Example: The president’s eloquent speech inspired the nation to come together in times of crisis.
- Meticulous (adjective):
Definition: being extremely careful and thorough in one’s work or attention to detail; careful.
Example: The architect’s meticulous planning and design ensured that every aspect of the building met the highest standards of functionality and aesthetics.
- Prolific (adjective):
Definition: producing a large amount of work, ideas, or results.
Example: The artist was known for being prolific, creating dozens of intricate paintings each year that captivated art enthusiasts worldwide.
- Acerbic (adjective):
Definition: Sharp, bitter, or sarcastic in tone or expression; caustic.
Example: His acerbic remarks during the debate left a lasting impression on his opponents.