IELTS Advanced Vocabulary
abandon: to give up completely --- abandoned the sinking ship.
synonyms: relinquish, forgo, forsake
academic: pertaining to school; theoretical academic interests---an academic discussion with no practical implications.
synonym: scholastic
accelerate: to quicken, speed tip --- took an accelerated course in order to graduate early.
synonym: expedite (adj. expeditious)
antonym: retard
adversity: misfortune --- calm in the face of adversity.
synonyms: affliction, mischance, reverses
aggressive (noun: aggression. an unprovoked attack): self---assertive; attacking, offensive --- annoyed people by his aggressive attitude
synonyms: bumptious, officious, obtrusive
antonyms: meek, humble, retiring, diffident
ambiguous: uncertain, vague, capable of being inter--- in more than one way --- puzzled by the ambiguous statement.
synonyms: hazy, obscure, equivocal, dubious, nebulous
antonyms: explicit, unquestionable
anonymous: of unknown authorship---an anonymous publication.
apprehensive (verb: apprehend): fearful --- being unprepared, John is apprehensive of the examination.
artful: sly; crafty --- attained his mean objective by artful measures.
synonyms: cunning, wily, adroit, ingenious, guileful
antonyms: guileless, ingenuous, artless
atheist: one who denies that god exists --- the atheist declared, "there is no god."
synonyms: infidel, agnostic, sceptic
attribute (verb): assign ---attributed his success to bard work.
synonym: ascribe
(noun): an inherent quality ---generosity was his outstanding attribute.
authentic: genuine ---proved to be an authentic document.
synonyms: veritable
antonyms; apocryphal, counterfeit, spurious, bogus
banter: good-natured teasing or ridicule---the two wits exchanged banter to the amuse the audience.
synonyms: raillery, chaff
biased: prejudiced --- misled by a biased point of view.
synonyms: bigoted, arbitrary, partial, partisan
antonyms: disinterested, equitable
bizarre: queer; unusual in appearance--- bizarre clothes
synonyms: odd, fantastic, grotesque, eccentric
bog: a swamp --- sank into the spongy bog.
synonyms: morass, fen, quagmire, mire
candid (noun: candor): frank, outspoken; impartial--- a candid reply that could hardly be more forthright.
synonyms: artless, ingenuous, unbiased
antonyms: guileful, evasive
chronic: continuing a long time; habitual---a chronic complaint persisting for years.
synonyms: persistent, unremitting, inveterate, incessant, constant
antonyms: intermittent, sporadic, infrequent
civil:
1. of or having to do with citizens or the state --- we have civil duties as well as civil
liberties.
2. polite, courteous --- answered in a civil fashion.
synonyms: respectful, gracious
coalition (verb: coalesce): alliance; merging of various units into one unit --- three parties forming a coalition to rule the country.
synonyms: amalgamation, consolidation, fusion
collusion: working together secretly for an evil purpose --- acted in collusion to overthrow the government.
synonyms: collaboration, conspiracy, conniving, machination
compatible: harmonious; able, to get along together ---They parted because they were not compatible.
synonyms: congruous, consistent
antonyms: incongruous, discordant, incompatible
compensation: payment for services --- just compensation for his labor.
synonyms: stipend, remuneration, recompense, emolument
complacent: self-satisfied --- looked on his own performance with a complacent smile.
synonym: smug
condole (noun: condolence): to express sympathy with another in sorrow, pain, or misfortune --- condoled with each other in their grief.
synonyms: commiserate, show compassion, solace
condone: to forgive or overlook (an offense) ---- condoned the deed in view of the offender's age.
synonyms: extenuate, palliate, mitigate, gloss
consensus. general agreement ----the consensus of the committee was that no action should be taken.
synonym: accord
cosmopolitan (noun): one who is at home in all countries --- a cosmopolitan can feel at
ease anywhere in the world.
(adj.): free from local prejudices --- a world-wide traveller is a cosmopolitan in tastes and attitudes.
synonyms: catholic
antonyms: parochial, provincial
crass: coarse and stupid --- displayed crass ignorance.
synonym: gross
credible: worthy of belief --- a credible story, true to life.
antonym: incredible
creditable: deserving or reflecting credit or honour --- applauded for his creditable performance.
synonyms: praiseworthy, meritorious, commendable
antonyms: discreditable, infamous, opprobrious, ignominious
curt: rudely abrupt ---offended by the curt response.
synonyms: blunt, brusque, bluff
antonyms: affable, civil
delinquent (noun): an offender --- found to be a delinquent by the court.