Vocabulary

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https://www.hitbullseye.com/high-vocabulary-words-list.php
Level 1: Let’s get warmed up
-=Criterion=-: The ideal in terms of which something can be judged
The criterion for admission to business school is academics plus interview.
-=Devout=-: Earnest
She gave her devout wishes for their success.
-=Futility=-: Uselessness as a consequence of having no practical result
A sense of emptiness and futility of life pervaded him.
-=Nullify=-: Declare invalid
He used his broad executive powers to nullify the decision of the committee.
-=Plaintiff=-: A person who brings an action in a court of law
Plaintiffs and defendants are both litigants.
-=Reputed=-: Look on as or consider
He is a reputed scientist.

Level 2: Let’s take it up a notch
-=Benevolent=-: Intending or showing kindness
He was a very benevolent employer.
-=Brigand=-: An armed thief who is (usually) a member of a band
He looked like a scruffy brigand.
-=Cynic=-: Someone who is critical of the motives of others
A cynic might see this as simply a ploy to make us part with some money but we know he is in genuine need for it.
-=Defamatory=-: Harmful and often untrue; tending to discredit
The article was highly defamatory.
-=Deluge=-: An overwhelming number or amount
The maintenance office was deluged with complaints.
-=Deranged=-: Driven insane
He was deranged by the loss of his family in the car-crash.
-=Diminutive=-: Very small
A diminutive figure stood at the entrance of the magnificent hall.
-=Frail=-: Physically weak
She lay in bed looking particularly frail after her illness.
-=Guise=-: An artful or simulated semblance
The police were huddled in the street in the guise of beggars to catch the offenders.
-=Potent=-: Having great influence
The lawyer gave potent arguments.
-=Pragmatic=-: Concerned with practical matters
She suggested a pragmatic solution to the problem.
-=Rail=-: A barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
He leant on the rails to bid her goodbye at the shipyard.
-=Repent=-: Feel remorse for; feel sorry for
He repented for his intemperate behaviour.

Level 3: Time to be a master
-=Aloof=-: Remote in manner
He stood apart with aloof dignity.
-=Canard=-: A deliberately misleading fabrication
Canards can fall apart pretty quickly; one has to be careful with them.
-=Carnage=-: The savage and excessive killing of many people
Their peaceful protest ended in carnage.
-=Corpulent=-: Excessively fat
His corpulent figure betrayed his self-indulgent lifestyle.
-=Deprecate=-: Belittle
The boss deprecated his junior’s behaviour and subjected him to some harsh criticism.
-=Dulcet=-: Pleasing to the ear
The dulcet tones of the cello were admired by the audience.
-=Excoriate=-: Express strong disapproval of
The editorial excoriated the administration for its reaction.
-=Impromptu=-: An extemporaneous speech or remark
They put up an impromptu concert for the visitors.
-=Iniquity=-: Absence of moral or spiritual values
He rails against the iniquities of capitalism.
-=Largess=-: A gift or money given
The president has been travelling around the world distributing largesse.
-=Libel=-: Print slanderous statements against
The news magazine was accused of libelling him.
-=Malevolent=-: Wishing or appearing to wish evil to others; arising from intense ill will or hatred
Her stare was malevolent, her mouth a thin line while staring at the beggars.
-=Mercenary=-: Marked by materialism
Despite his mercenary motives he is not a cynic.
-=Mollify=-: Make more temperate, acceptable.
She managed to mollify the angry customers.
-=Pariah=-: A person who is rejected
I was treated like a pariah for the rest of the journey.
-=Profuse=-: Produced or growing in extreme abundance
The plant produces profuse bright blue flowers.
-=Raiment=-: Especially fine or decorative clothing
The lady was robed in raiment of beauty, made by the artisans of Benares.
-=Subservient=-: Serving or acting as a means or aid
Her willingness to be subservient to her children isolated her.
-=Unctuous=-: Oily, creamy, greasy
Goose fat gives the most unctuous flavour.
-=Vestige=-: An indication that something has been present
She had lost every vestige of her puppy fat.
-=Wistful=-: Showing pensive sadness
The dog looked into the butcher’s window with a wistful expression in his eyes.

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https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/article/3073525/10-complicated-useful-english-words-you-should-add-your
-=Fallacy (noun) – [FAL-uh-see]=-
something that uses invalid or faulty reasoning; the related adjective is fallacious [fuh-lay-shus]. An example of a fallacy or fallacious argument: all cats are animals. Ginger is an animal, therefore, Ginger is a cat.

Use it in a sentence: It is a fallacy to assume all poor people are uneducated.

When to use it: Knowing about different types of fallacies and being able to identify them can help you win an argument. Point out a fallacy next time someone says something that doesn’t quite add up.

The best way to get better at debating is to enter real competitions

-=Flippant (adjective) – [FLIP-nt]=-
not serious/respectful about a serious subject in an attempt to be funny

Use it in a sentence: Jeffrey’s flippant attitude towards the teacher got him sent to the principal’s office.

When to use it: We all have friends who fit this description. Use flippant to describe your cheeky friends who like to make fun of serious situations.

-=Ingrate (noun) – [IN-grate]=-
a very ungrateful person

Use it in a sentence: Billy’s friends thought he was an ingrate after he yelled at his helper for not cleaning his room fast enough.

When to use it: The word “ingrate” is often used as an insult. It’s not very nice to call people ingrates, but it can be used to describe a character in a story who is acting like a spoilt brat.

The benefits of debate can help you succeed in all areas of life, not just competitions

-=Livid (adjective) – [LIV-id]=-
furiously angry

Use it in a sentence: Joe was absolutely livid when he found out someone had stolen his bike – veins were popping out of his forehead.

When to use it: Save this word for when you’re next-level angry. Like, truly furious.

-=Capricious (adjective) – [ka-PRI-shus]=-
describes someone who displays sudden changes of mood or behaviour

Use it in a sentence: Jenny’s mood is capricious; she can be lovely and sweet one moment, and horribly mean the next.

When to use it: You can use it to describe a friend whose emotions tend to change suddenly. But beware, they might suddenly turn from delightful to angry if you do.

Here's how you're going to ace your HKDSE English language Paper 4 oral exam

-=Platitude (noun) – ['pla-ti-tewd]=-
a saying or phrase that has been repeated too  many times to be useful

Use it in a sentence: Drake once said: “You only live once”, or Yolo. This has been said so often it has become a platitude.

When to use it: When you have friends who insist on giving you amazing “advice” that you’ve heard a thousand times before.

-=Vitriol (noun) – ['vit-ree-ol]=-
bitter, harsh criticism

Use it in a sentence: After Johnny broke up with Sarah, she spread vitriol about what a terrible person he is.

When to use it: This word is used to describe especially harsh criticism.

Speaking a language, not reading it from a textbook, is the best way to learn it

-=Prolific (adjective) – [pro-LIF-ik]=-
producing a large number or amount of something

Use it in a sentence: Shawn Mendes is a prolific musician; he keeps coming out with hit after hit.

When to use it: Save this for people who are truly great at what they do, in terms of both the quantity and quality of their work.

-=Condone (verb) – [cun-DOHN (like home)]=-
to accept and allow behaviour that is considered wrong or offensive

Use it in a sentence: You’ve thrown toilet paper all over my house! I cannot condone this type of behaviour.

When to use it: Condone is typically used in formal settings to describe what is and is not allowed.

-=Disingenuous (adjective) – [dis-in-JEN-you-us]=-
misleading or dishonest

Use it in a sentence: Brian’s apology was disingenuous; I caught him laughing with his friends right after he made it.

When to use it: Disingenuous can be used to describe anything from a blatant lie, to sneaky statements meant to mislead.

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https://www.espressoenglish.net/advanced-english-vocabulary-16-words-for-speaking/
-=Yell / Shout / Scream / Shriek=- = Speak Loudly
You might yell, shout, scream, or shriek if you are:

Communicating with someone who is far away (usually yell / shout)
“The soccer coach shouted instructions to the players on the field.”
Angry (usually yell, shout, or scream)
“My boss yelled at me after I missed an important deadline.”
Afraid or surprised (usually scream / shriek)
“Barbara shrieked when she found a giant spider in her bed.”
In pain (usually scream / shriek)
“The little boy started screaming when he accidentally closed his finger in the car door.”
Scream and shriek can also refer to making loud vocal sounds that are not words (especially in the case of fear, surprise, or pain).

-=Cheer=- = Yell / Shout In A Happy/Excited Way
People often cheer at sports games and after a great music/theater performance:

“Everyone cheered when the Brazilian team scored a goal.”
-=Whisper=- = Speak Extremely Quietly
This is an example of whispering.

You would whisper in a movie theater so as not to disturb the other people – or when you don’t want anyone else to hear what you’re saying.

-=Mumble=- = Speak Quietly And  Not Clearly, Without Opening Your Mouth Very Much
People often mumble when they don’t want to talk, or when they’re nervous, embarrassed, or have low confidence in general.

“My son mumbled an apology to my daughter after breaking her favorite toy.”
-=Mutter / Murmur=- = Speak In A Quiet Voice
The difference between these two is that mutter is usually complaining and saying negative things, whereas murmur is neutral.

“He left the store muttering about the terrible customer service.”
“My piano teacher murmured a few words of encouragement to me before I went on stage to perform.”
A similar word to mutter is grumble, meaning to complain in a quiet, low-pitched voice.

-=Whine=- = Complain In An Annoying, High-Pitched Voice
“My kids started whining when I told them they couldn’t watch TV until they had finished their homework.”
(“But mooooom, that’s not faaaaiiir, I’ll miss my favorite prograaaaam!”)
-=Ramble=- = Speak Continuously For A Long Time With Too Many Details Or Different Topics
“You shouldn’t ramble during a job interview. Try to keep your answers concise and relevant.”
-=Chat=- = Have An Informal Conversation
You can use “chat” for informal conversations both online and offline.

“The teacher was chatting with a few students in the hallway.”
-=Stutter / Stammer=- = Speak Repeating Some Sounds
If someone says: “P-p-please don’t d-do that” – they are stuttering or stammering. Some people do this frequently because they have a speech problem, and other people do it occasionally when they are extremely afraid or nervous.

-=Gossip=- = Talk About Other Peoples’ Lives, Especially Negative Things Or Secret Details
“My neighbor loves to gossip – I think she’s got some dirt on everyone who lives in this apartment building.” (“Dirt” is a slang word for some scandalous or secret information)
Gossip is both a verb and a noun for this type of speaking.

-=Snap At (Someone)=- = Say A Quick Phrase In An Annoyed/Angry Way
“When I asked my wife if dinner was ready, she snapped at me.”
(“If you want dinner, make it yourself!”)

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