Core 13+ Vocabulary Words (50+)
This list focuses on high‑value vocabulary that strengthens comprehension and writing for the 13+ exam. Each entry shows a quick word sense, a clear definition, an example sentence, and a one‑question practice check.
abate
to die down
reduce in intensity or amount
Example: The storm began to abate by evening.
Abate most nearly means…
ambivalent
mixed feelings
having simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings
Example: She felt ambivalent about moving schools.
Ambivalent most nearly means…
pragmatic
practical
dealing with things sensibly and realistically
Example: He suggested a pragmatic plan that used what we had.
Which is pragmatic?
alleviate
ease, lessen
to make suffering or a problem less severe
Example: Extra practice can alleviate exam stress.
Alleviate is closest to…
ubiquitous
everywhere
present, appearing, or found everywhere
Example: Smartphones are ubiquitous among teens.
Ubiquitous most nearly means…
meticulous
very careful
showing great attention to detail; very precise
Example: Her meticulous notes were neat and complete.
Meticulous notes are…
vindicate
clear of blame
to clear from accusation, suspicion, or doubt
Example: The facts vindicated his earlier claim.
To vindicate is to…
didactic
instructive
intended to teach, often with a moral lesson
Example: The story had a didactic message about honesty.
Didactic most nearly means…
esoteric
specialized, obscure
understood by only a small number with specialized knowledge
Example: That was an esoteric physics topic.
Esoteric most nearly means…
censure
strong disapproval
express severe disapproval of, often formally
Example: The council voted to censure the member.
Censure is closest to…
capricious
impulsive, changeable
given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
Example: Her capricious choices made planning hard.
Capricious describes someone who is…
deleterious
harmful
causing harm or damage
Example: Smoking has deleterious effects on health.
Deleterious most nearly means…
aesthetic
beauty‑related
relating to beauty or the appreciation of beauty
Example: The building’s aesthetic design won an award.
Aesthetic relates to…
anomaly
irregularity
something that deviates from what is standard or expected
Example: This warm winter is an anomaly.
Anomaly most nearly means…
bolster
support, strengthen
to support or strengthen
Example: Tutoring can bolster confidence.
Bolster most nearly means…
conjecture
guess, inference
an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information
Example: That theory is still conjecture.
Conjecture most nearly means…
deride
mock, ridicule
to express contempt for; ridicule
Example: Some derided the plan as naive.
To deride is to…
diffident
shy, reserved
modest or shy because of a lack of self‑confidence
Example: He gave a diffident answer in class.
Diffident most nearly means…
eclectic
varied, mixed sources
deriving ideas or style from a broad range of sources
Example: She has eclectic musical tastes.
An eclectic style is…
equivocal
ambiguous
open to more than one interpretation
Example: His equivocal reply avoided commitment.
Equivocal most nearly means…
magnanimous
generous, forgiving
generous in forgiving an insult or injury
Example: She was magnanimous after winning.
Magnanimous most nearly means…
mitigate
lessen, reduce
to make less severe or painful
Example: Seatbelts mitigate injuries.
Mitigate is closest to…
partisan
biased supporter
a strong supporter of a cause; biased
Example: Partisan views can distort debate.
Partisan media is often…
pedantic
overly fussy about rules
excessively concerned with minor details or rules
Example: His pedantic comments slowed us down.
Pedantic most nearly means…
perfunctory
done routinely
carried out with minimum effort or reflection
Example: She gave a perfunctory nod.
A perfunctory task is…
placate
calm down
to make someone less angry or hostile
Example: He placated the upset customer.
Placate most nearly means…
prosaic
dull, ordinary
lacking poetic beauty; commonplace
Example: The essay was clear but prosaic.
Prosaic most nearly means…
reticent
reserved, quiet
not revealing one’s thoughts readily
Example: She was reticent about her plans.
Reticent most nearly means…
sanguine
optimistic
optimistic or positive, especially in a difficult situation
Example: Despite delays, the team stayed sanguine.
Sanguine most nearly means…
spurious
false, fake
not genuine; false
Example: The article used spurious claims.
Spurious most nearly means…
tacit
unspoken
understood or implied without being stated
Example: There was a tacit agreement to start early.
Tacit most nearly means…
zealous
very enthusiastic
having or showing zeal; passionate
Example: Zealous volunteers worked through the night.
Zealous most nearly means…
laconic
using few words
using very few words
Example: His laconic answer ended the debate.
A laconic answer is…
arduous
difficult
involving a lot of effort
Example: Hiking the steep path was arduous.
Arduous most nearly means…
astute
clever
having sharp judgement and insight
Example: She made an astute observation.
Astute is closest to…
boisterous
rowdy
noisy, energetic, and cheerful
Example: The class grew boisterous after lunch.
Boisterous behaviour is…
copious
plentiful
abundant in supply or quantity
Example: She took copious notes.
Copious most nearly means…
credulous
gullible
too ready to believe things
Example: The credulous child believed the tale.
A credulous person is…
dauntless
fearless
showing determination and courage
Example: The dauntless climber continued.
Dauntless most nearly means…
frugal
careful with money
economical; avoiding waste
Example: They live a frugal lifestyle.
Frugal most nearly means…
lucid
clear, easy to follow
expressed clearly; easy to understand
Example: Her instructions were lucid.
Lucid most nearly means…
impartial
fair, unbiased
treating all equally; not favouring one side
Example: The judge remained impartial.
Impartial most nearly means…
succinct
brief
clearly and concisely expressed
Example: Give a succinct summary.
A succinct response is…
ephemeral
short‑lived
lasting for a very short time
Example: The sunset’s colours were ephemeral.
Ephemeral most nearly means…
obstinate
stubborn
stubbornly refusing to change opinion
Example: The child was obstinate about bedtime.
Obstinate most nearly means…
prudent
wise, careful
acting with care and thought for the future
Example: It’s prudent to revise daily.
Prudent most nearly means…
resilient
able to recover
able to withstand or recover quickly
Example: Children are resilient after setbacks.
Resilient most nearly means…
tenacious
persistent
holding firmly; determined
Example: Her tenacious effort paid off.
Tenacious most nearly means…
eloquent
expressive, fluent
fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing
Example: He gave an eloquent speech.
Eloquent most nearly means…
exacerbate
make worse
to make a problem or situation worse
Example: Skipping sleep can exacerbate stress.
Exacerbate most nearly means…
FAQ
Quick answers to common questions.