Writing Vocabulary: 100 Hard Words

Vocabulary is the base of your writing. Studying the 100 challenging and less common writing words is a quick way to polish your writing and get a better score.
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 By Mary Dapin

Writing Vocabulary: 100 Hard Words

Writing level relies on your vocabulary skill, especially in the academic writing test. Studies show that your vocabulary range and accuracy impact at least 25% of your writing band. So, writing vocabulary is very important to improve writing skills.

In general, students' writings are around hundreds of words. If you want to have a good score, you cannot use generic or basic words thoroughly. Try to highlight your idea with 5-7 hard or low-frequency words that are similar to the following 100 words. It will impress the examiners or readers that you have strong vocabulary skills.

You may think the list is too short. However, writing isn't like reading; in reading, you cannot choose words, but in writing, you can select words by yourself. So, these 100 words can play a significant role in your writing. Of course, you can extend your writing vocabulary if you want to get a higher level.


Word List
aberration   Speak
something that differs from the norm
abhor   Speak
fill with horror and loathing; horrify; hate
acquiesce   Speak
assent; agree without protesting
alacrity   Speak
cheerful promptness or willingness; eagerness; speed or quickness
amiable   Speak
good-natured and likable; lovable; warmly friendly
appease   Speak
bring peace, quiet, or calm to; satisfy or relieve
arcane   Speak
secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated
avarice   Speak
greediness for wealth; insatiable desire of gain
brazen   Speak
having loud, usually harsh, resonant sound; shameless
brusque   Speak
abrupt and curt in manner or speech; rudely abrupt, unfriendly
cajole   Speak
influence or urge by gentle urging or flattering
callous   Speak
emotionally hardened; unfeeling
candor   Speak
frankness; quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech
chide   Speak
scold mildly so as to correct or improve; express disapproval
circumspect   Speak
carefully aware of all circumstances; cautious
clandestine   Speak
secret; conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
coerce   Speak
restrain by force, especially by law or authority; repress; curb
coherent   Speak
adhesive; cohesive; sticking together ; logical; sound; capable of thinking and expressing yourself in a clear and consistent manner
complacency   Speak
feeling of contented self-satisfaction, especially when unaware of upcoming trouble
confidant   Speak
a person entrusted with secrets
connive   Speak
to plot, scheme
cumulative   Speak
increasing by successive addition
debase   Speak
reduce in quality or value; lower in esteem; degrade
decry   Speak
express strong disapproval of; disparage
deferential   Speak
showing deference; respectful and considerate
demure   Speak
modest and reserved in manner or behavior
deride   Speak
ridicule; make fun of; laugh at with contempt
despot   Speak
tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; eastern Orthodox bishop
diligent   Speak
assiduous; industrious; hard-working
elated   Speak
overjoyed; extremely happy and excited
eloquent   Speak
vividly or movingly expressive; persuasive
embezzle   Speak
appropriate fraudulently to one's own use, as property entrusted to one's care; apply to one's private uses by a breach of trust
empathy   Speak
understanding and entering into another's feelings
enmity   Speak
ill will; hatred; quality or state of being hostile
erudite   Speak
learned; scholarly, with emphasis on knowledge gained from books
extol   Speak
praise highly; glorify; celebrate
fabricate   Speak
build; put together out of components or parts
feral   Speak
not domestic; wild; existing in wild or untamed state
flabbergasted   Speak
astonished; appalled, amazed, or stunned
forsake   Speak
leave someone who needs or counts on you
fractious   Speak
inclined to make trouble; disobedient; irritable
furtive   Speak
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
gluttony   Speak
excess in eating; extravagant indulgence of the appetite for food; voracity
gratuitous   Speak
given freely; unwarranted; granted without recompense; unearned
haughty   Speak
high; lofty; bold; arrogant; overbearing
hypocrisy   Speak
act or practice of a hypocrite
impeccable   Speak
faultless; incapable of sin or wrongdoing
impertinent   Speak
improperly forward or bold; rude
implacable   Speak
incapable of being pacified; not to be relieved;
impudent   Speak
casually rude, insolent, impertinent
incisive   Speak
penetrating, clear, and sharp, as in operation or expression
indolent   Speak
lazy; slow to heal, grow, or develop; inactive
inept   Speak
lacking of judgment, sense, or reason; unsuited; inappropriate; foolish
infamy   Speak
notoriety, extreme ill repute
inhibit   Speak
restrain; prevent or forbid; hold back
innate   Speak
possessed at birth; inborn
insatiable   Speak
not easily satisfied; impossible to satiate or satisfy; greedy
insular   Speak
of isolated people, especially having a narrow viewpoint
intrepid   Speak
fearless; indicating or springing from courage
inveterate   Speak
deep-rooted; firmly and long established; habitual
jubilant   Speak
happy; merry; joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success
knell   Speak
the solemn sound of a bell, often indicating a death
lithe   Speak
flexible; moving and bending with ease
lurid   Speak
causing shock or horror; gruesome
maverick   Speak
one that refuses to abide or be independent; an unbranded range animal
maxim   Speak
proverb; formulation of fundamental principle or general truth
meticulous   Speak
excessively careful; marked by extreme care in treatment of details
modicum   Speak
limited quantity; small or moderate amount; any small thing
morose   Speak
ill humored; sullen; depressingly dark; gloomy; persistent
myriad   Speak
of very large or indefinite number; of ten thousand
nadir   Speak
lowest point; point on sphere opposites zenith diametrically
nominal   Speak
in name only; insignificantly small
novice   Speak
beginner; person new to a field or activity
nuance   Speak
subtle or slight degree of difference
oblivious   Speak
inattentive or unmindful; lacking all memory; forgetful
obsequious   Speak
slavishly attentive; attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
obtuse   Speak
lacking in insight or discernment; stupid
panacea   Speak
remedy for all diseases, evils, or difficulties; a cure-all
parody   Speak
work or performance that imitates another work or performance with ridicule or irony; make fun of
penchant   Speak
strong inclination; definite liking
perusal   Speak
a careful examination, review
plethora   Speak
excess; overfullness in any respect; superabundance
predilection   Speak
condition of favoring or liking; tendency towards; preference
quaint   Speak
odd; old-fashioned; picturesque; unfamiliar or unusual in character
rash   Speak
hasty, incautious
repudiate   Speak
disown; refuse to acknowledge; reject validity or authority of
rife   Speak
excessively abundant or numerous; in widespread existence, practice, or use
salient   Speak
prominent or protruding; projecting outwardly; moving by leaps or springs
serendipity   Speak
gift for finding valuable or desirable things by accident; accidental good fortune or luck
staid   Speak
sober; serious, organized, and professional; characterized by dignity and propriety
superfluous   Speak
being beyond what is required or sufficient
sycophant   Speak
one who attempts to win favor by flattering influential people; bootlicker; yes man
taciturn   Speak
silent or reserved in speech; saying little; not inclined to speak or converse
tefurbish   Speak
to restore, clean up
truculent   Speak
disposed to fight; belligerent; aggressively hostile
umbrage   Speak
resentment, offence
venerable   Speak
deserving high respect; impressive by reason of age; profoundly honored
vex   Speak
annoy; disturb, especially by minor irritations; be a mystery or bewildering to
vociferous   Speak
offensively loud; noisy; making outcry
wanton   Speak
unrestrained; willfully malicious; immoral or unchaste
zenith   Speak
point directly overhead in sky; summit

Spelling Exercise
Read [Esc] (1)
something that differs from the norm


Spelling Word: aberration
Read [Esc] (2)
fill with horror and loathing; horrify; hate


Spelling Word: abhor
Read [Esc] (3)
assent; agree without protesting


Spelling Word: acquiesce
Read [Esc] (4)
cheerful promptness or willingness; eagerness; speed or quickness


Spelling Word: alacrity
Read [Esc] (5)
good-natured and likable; lovable; warmly friendly


Spelling Word: amiable
Read [Esc] (6)
bring peace, quiet, or calm to; satisfy or relieve


Spelling Word: appease
Read [Esc] (7)
secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated


Spelling Word: arcane
Read [Esc] (8)
greediness for wealth; insatiable desire of gain


Spelling Word: avarice
Read [Esc] (9)
having loud, usually harsh, resonant sound; shameless


Spelling Word: brazen
Read [Esc] (10)
abrupt and curt in manner or speech; rudely abrupt, unfriendly


Spelling Word: brusque
Read [Esc] (11)
influence or urge by gentle urging or flattering


Spelling Word: cajole
Read [Esc] (12)
emotionally hardened; unfeeling


Spelling Word: callous
Read [Esc] (13)
frankness; quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech


Spelling Word: candor
Read [Esc] (14)
scold mildly so as to correct or improve; express disapproval


Spelling Word: chide
Read [Esc] (15)
carefully aware of all circumstances; cautious


Spelling Word: circumspect
Read [Esc] (16)
secret; conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods


Spelling Word: clandestine
Read [Esc] (17)
restrain by force, especially by law or authority; repress; curb


Spelling Word: coerce
Read [Esc] (18)
adhesive; cohesive; sticking together ; logical; sound; capable of thinking and expressing yourself in a clear and consistent manner


Spelling Word: coherent
Read [Esc] (19)
feeling of contented self-satisfaction, especially when unaware of upcoming trouble


Spelling Word: complacency
Read [Esc] (20)
a person entrusted with secrets


Spelling Word: confidant
Read [Esc] (21)
to plot, scheme


Spelling Word: connive
Read [Esc] (22)
increasing by successive addition


Spelling Word: cumulative
Read [Esc] (23)
reduce in quality or value; lower in esteem; degrade


Spelling Word: debase
Read [Esc] (24)
express strong disapproval of; disparage


Spelling Word: decry
Read [Esc] (25)
showing deference; respectful and considerate


Spelling Word: deferential
Read [Esc] (26)
modest and reserved in manner or behavior


Spelling Word: demure
Read [Esc] (27)
ridicule; make fun of; laugh at with contempt


Spelling Word: deride
Read [Esc] (28)
tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; eastern Orthodox bishop


Spelling Word: despot
Read [Esc] (29)
assiduous; industrious; hard-working


Spelling Word: diligent
Read [Esc] (30)
overjoyed; extremely happy and excited


Spelling Word: elated
Read [Esc] (31)
vividly or movingly expressive; persuasive


Spelling Word: eloquent
Read [Esc] (32)
appropriate fraudulently to one's own use, as property entrusted to one's care; apply to one's private uses by a breach of trust


Spelling Word: embezzle
Read [Esc] (33)
understanding and entering into another's feelings


Spelling Word: empathy
Read [Esc] (34)
ill will; hatred; quality or state of being hostile


Spelling Word: enmity
Read [Esc] (35)
learned; scholarly, with emphasis on knowledge gained from books


Spelling Word: erudite
Read [Esc] (36)
praise highly; glorify; celebrate


Spelling Word: extol
Read [Esc] (37)
build; put together out of components or parts


Spelling Word: fabricate
Read [Esc] (38)
not domestic; wild; existing in wild or untamed state


Spelling Word: feral
Read [Esc] (39)
astonished; appalled, amazed, or stunned


Spelling Word: flabbergasted
Read [Esc] (40)
leave someone who needs or counts on you


Spelling Word: forsake
Read [Esc] (41)
inclined to make trouble; disobedient; irritable


Spelling Word: fractious
Read [Esc] (42)
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy


Spelling Word: furtive
Read [Esc] (43)
excess in eating; extravagant indulgence of the appetite for food; voracity


Spelling Word: gluttony
Read [Esc] (44)
given freely; unwarranted; granted without recompense; unearned


Spelling Word: gratuitous
Read [Esc] (45)
high; lofty; bold; arrogant; overbearing


Spelling Word: haughty
Read [Esc] (46)
act or practice of a hypocrite


Spelling Word: hypocrisy
Read [Esc] (47)
faultless; incapable of sin or wrongdoing


Spelling Word: impeccable
Read [Esc] (48)
improperly forward or bold; rude


Spelling Word: impertinent
Read [Esc] (49)
incapable of being pacified; not to be relieved;


Spelling Word: implacable
Read [Esc] (50)
casually rude, insolent, impertinent


Spelling Word: impudent
Read [Esc] (51)
penetrating, clear, and sharp, as in operation or expression


Spelling Word: incisive
Read [Esc] (52)
lazy; slow to heal, grow, or develop; inactive


Spelling Word: indolent
Read [Esc] (53)
lacking of judgment, sense, or reason; unsuited; inappropriate; foolish


Spelling Word: inept
Read [Esc] (54)
notoriety, extreme ill repute


Spelling Word: infamy
Read [Esc] (55)
restrain; prevent or forbid; hold back


Spelling Word: inhibit
Read [Esc] (56)
possessed at birth; inborn


Spelling Word: innate
Read [Esc] (57)
not easily satisfied; impossible to satiate or satisfy; greedy


Spelling Word: insatiable
Read [Esc] (58)
of isolated people, especially having a narrow viewpoint


Spelling Word: insular
Read [Esc] (59)
fearless; indicating or springing from courage


Spelling Word: intrepid
Read [Esc] (60)
deep-rooted; firmly and long established; habitual


Spelling Word: inveterate
Read [Esc] (61)
happy; merry; joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success


Spelling Word: jubilant
Read [Esc] (62)
the solemn sound of a bell, often indicating a death


Spelling Word: knell
Read [Esc] (63)
flexible; moving and bending with ease


Spelling Word: lithe
Read [Esc] (64)
causing shock or horror; gruesome


Spelling Word: lurid
Read [Esc] (65)
one that refuses to abide or be independent; an unbranded range animal


Spelling Word: maverick
Read [Esc] (66)
proverb; formulation of fundamental principle or general truth


Spelling Word: maxim
Read [Esc] (67)
excessively careful; marked by extreme care in treatment of details


Spelling Word: meticulous
Read [Esc] (68)
limited quantity; small or moderate amount; any small thing


Spelling Word: modicum
Read [Esc] (69)
ill humored; sullen; depressingly dark; gloomy; persistent


Spelling Word: morose
Read [Esc] (70)
of very large or indefinite number; of ten thousand


Spelling Word: myriad
Read [Esc] (71)
lowest point; point on sphere opposites zenith diametrically


Spelling Word: nadir
Read [Esc] (72)
in name only; insignificantly small


Spelling Word: nominal
Read [Esc] (73)
beginner; person new to a field or activity


Spelling Word: novice
Read [Esc] (74)
subtle or slight degree of difference


Spelling Word: nuance
Read [Esc] (75)
inattentive or unmindful; lacking all memory; forgetful


Spelling Word: oblivious
Read [Esc] (76)
slavishly attentive; attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery


Spelling Word: obsequious
Read [Esc] (77)
lacking in insight or discernment; stupid


Spelling Word: obtuse
Read [Esc] (78)
remedy for all diseases, evils, or difficulties; a cure-all


Spelling Word: panacea
Read [Esc] (79)
work or performance that imitates another work or performance with ridicule or irony; make fun of


Spelling Word: parody
Read [Esc] (80)
strong inclination; definite liking


Spelling Word: penchant
Read [Esc] (81)
a careful examination, review


Spelling Word: perusal
Read [Esc] (82)
excess; overfullness in any respect; superabundance


Spelling Word: plethora
Read [Esc] (83)
condition of favoring or liking; tendency towards; preference


Spelling Word: predilection
Read [Esc] (84)
odd; old-fashioned; picturesque; unfamiliar or unusual in character


Spelling Word: quaint
Read [Esc] (85)
hasty, incautious


Spelling Word: rash
Read [Esc] (86)
disown; refuse to acknowledge; reject validity or authority of


Spelling Word: repudiate
Read [Esc] (87)
excessively abundant or numerous; in widespread existence, practice, or use


Spelling Word: rife
Read [Esc] (88)
prominent or protruding; projecting outwardly; moving by leaps or springs


Spelling Word: salient
Read [Esc] (89)
gift for finding valuable or desirable things by accident; accidental good fortune or luck


Spelling Word: serendipity
Read [Esc] (90)
sober; serious, organized, and professional; characterized by dignity and propriety


Spelling Word: staid
Read [Esc] (91)
being beyond what is required or sufficient


Spelling Word: superfluous
Read [Esc] (92)
one who attempts to win favor by flattering influential people; bootlicker; yes man


Spelling Word: sycophant
Read [Esc] (93)
silent or reserved in speech; saying little; not inclined to speak or converse


Spelling Word: taciturn
Read [Esc] (94)
to restore, clean up


Spelling Word: tefurbish
Read [Esc] (95)
disposed to fight; belligerent; aggressively hostile


Spelling Word: truculent
Read [Esc] (96)
resentment, offence


Spelling Word: umbrage
Read [Esc] (97)
deserving high respect; impressive by reason of age; profoundly honored


Spelling Word: venerable
Read [Esc] (98)
annoy; disturb, especially by minor irritations; be a mystery or bewildering to


Spelling Word: vex
Read [Esc] (99)
offensively loud; noisy; making outcry


Spelling Word: vociferous
Read [Esc] (100)
unrestrained; willfully malicious; immoral or unchaste


Spelling Word: wanton
Read [Esc] (101)
point directly overhead in sky; summit


Spelling Word: zenith