Core GCSE Vocabulary Words (50+)
A strong vocabulary supports GCSE English Language & Literature—both analysis and expression. Below you’ll find high‑frequency academic words with an essence line, a clear definition, an example, and a quick practice check.
aberration
Example: The sudden snowstorm in July was an aberration in the otherwise warm summer.
What does 'aberration' mean?
avarice
Example: His avarice led him to betray his closest allies.
What does 'avarice' mean?
brazen
Example: She made a brazen attempt to dominate the conversation.
A 'brazen' action is:
cajole
Example: He tried to cajole his classmates into joining the club.
To 'cajole' someone is to:
coherent
Example: Her essay was well structured and coherent.
A 'coherent' argument is:
deride
Example: Critics derided the play for its weak dialogue.
To 'deride' is to:
indolent
Example: He spent the afternoon in indolent relaxation.
What does 'indolent' mean?
serendipity
Example: Finding her old friend at the market felt like serendipity.
What best defines 'serendipity'?
venerable
Example: The venerable professor retired after 50 years of teaching.
A 'venerable' figure is:
avaricious
Example: The avaricious businessman prioritized profit over ethics.
An 'avaricious' person is:
chide
Example: She chided him for arriving so late.
To 'chide' means to:
clandestine
Example: They held a clandestine meeting in the basement.
A 'clandestine' meeting is:
impeccable
Example: Her impeccable record made her the ideal candidate.
What does 'impeccable' mean?
insatiable
Example: He had an insatiable thirst for knowledge.
What does 'insatiable' mean?
furtive
Example: She cast a furtive glance toward the exit.
A 'furtive' look is:
gratuitous
Example: His insulting remarks were gratuitous and hurtful.
What does 'gratuitous' mean?
haughty
Example: The haughty student dismissed others as ignorant.
What does 'haughty' mean?
hypocrisy
Example: His criticism of others revealed his hypocrisy.
What is 'hypocrisy'?
imbue
Example: The teacher sought to imbue her students with a love of literature.
To 'imbue' someone means to:
implicit
Example: There was implicit trust between them.
What does 'implicit' mean?
incessant
Example: The incessant rain dampened the town’s spirits.
What does 'incessant' mean?
ineffable
Example: The beauty of the sunset was ineffable.
Something 'ineffable' is:
juxtapose
Example: The exhibition juxtaposes modern art with classical pieces.
To 'juxtapose' means to:
lament
Example: The poem laments the passing of youth.
To 'lament' means to:
lucid
Example: Her explanation was lucid and helpful.
A 'lucid' explanation is:
magnanimous
Example: He was magnanimous in victory, praising his opponent.
A 'magnanimous' person is:
malevolent
Example: The malevolent glare sent shivers down her spine.
What does 'malevolent' mean?
meticulous
Example: The scientist kept meticulous records of her experiments.
A 'meticulous' worker is:
nefarious
Example: The villain’s nefarious schemes were uncovered.
What does 'nefarious' mean?
nostalgia
Example: He felt nostalgia as he walked through his old school.
What does 'nostalgia' mean?
obstinate
Example: She remained obstinate despite all the evidence.
An 'obstinate' person is:
ostentatious
Example: The millionaire threw an ostentatious party.
An 'ostentatious' display is:
paradigm
Example: This novel became a paradigm of modern literature.
A 'paradigm' is:
perfunctory
Example: He gave a perfunctory nod before leaving.
A 'perfunctory' action is:
pervasive
Example: The smell of smoke was pervasive in the house.
What does 'pervasive' mean?
placate
Example: The manager placated the customer with an apology.
To 'placate' someone means to:
precocious
Example: The precocious child amazed adults with her vocabulary.
A 'precocious' child is:
prolific
Example: The prolific writer published three novels in a year.
A 'prolific' author is:
quintessential
Example: She is the quintessential romantic heroine.
What does 'quintessential' mean?
resilient
Example: Children are often more resilient than adults expect.
A 'resilient' person is:
sagacious
Example: The sagacious leader guided the team to success.
A 'sagacious' person is:
scrupulous
Example: He was scrupulous about keeping accurate records.
Someone 'scrupulous' is:
spurious
Example: The claim was dismissed as spurious.
A 'spurious' statement is:
substantiate
Example: The lawyer failed to substantiate his argument with facts.
To 'substantiate' a claim is to:
superfluous
Example: His explanation was superfluous and lengthy.
A 'superfluous' detail is:
tenacious
Example: Her tenacious spirit helped her succeed.
A 'tenacious' person is:
ubiquitous
Example: Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern society.
Something 'ubiquitous' is:
vacillate
Example: She vacillated between studying law and medicine.
To 'vacillate' means to:
vehement
Example: He gave a vehement denial of the accusation.
A 'vehement' response is:
vindicate
Example: The new evidence vindicated the wrongly accused man.
To 'vindicate' means to:
FAQ
Quick answers to common questions.