Mastering These 50 + Smart English Words Will Elevate Your Communication Skills

23/03/202321/03/2023 by Mir Afzal

I am ambivalent about going to the party because I don’t know anyone there.

She felt ambivalent about the new job offer as it meant moving to a new city.

4. Superfluous – unnecessary or excessive.

Example sentences:

The extra decorations on the cake were superfluous and made it too sweet.

The long introduction in the book was superfluous and didn’t add any value to the story.

5. Serendipity – the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

Example sentences:

Meeting my best friend was a serendipitous event that changed my life.

The discovery of penicillin was a result of serendipity as it was found by accident.

6. Myriad – a countless or extremely great number of people or things.

Example sentences:

The city offers a myriad of entertainment options, from museums to theatres.

There are a myriad of different ways to cook a potato.

7. Aesthetic – concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty.

Example sentences:

The museum’s collection showcased a variety of aesthetic styles from different periods.

Her paintings were praised for their aesthetic value and unique style.

8. Pedantic – excessively concerned with minor details or rules.

Example sentences:

The teacher was so pedantic that students felt afraid to ask questions.

His pedantic approach to cooking meant that everything had to be measured exactly.

9. Magnanimous – generous or forgiving, especially towards a rival or less powerful person.

Example sentences:

The magnanimous millionaire donated a large sum of money to the charity.

Even though he lost the game, he showed a magnanimous attitude towards his opponent.

10. Esoteric – intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge or interest.

Example sentences:

The professor’s lecture was esoteric and only understood by a few students.

The book’s content was so esoteric that only experts in the field could comprehend it.

11. Cacophony – a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.

Example sentences:

The construction site was filled with a cacophony of sounds, from the drilling to the hammering.

The orchestra’s performance turned into a cacophony when the instruments were out of tune.

12. Epitome – a person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type.

Example sentences:

The entrepreneur was the epitome of success, having started several successful businesses.

The book was the epitome of a romantic novel, with its lush descriptions and happy ending.

13. Paradigm – a typical example or pattern of something; a model.

Example sentences:

The traditional family structure is often seen as the paradigm of social organization.

The introduction of smartphones has shifted the paradigm of communication.

14. Esoteric – intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge or interest.

Example sentences:

The philosopher’s esoteric theories were only understood by a few of his colleagues.

The scientist presented her esoteric research findings at a specialized conference.

15. Perspicacious – having a ready insight into and understanding of things.

Example sentences:

The new CEO’s perspicacious leadership skills helped turn around the struggling company.

The detective’s perspicacious observations led him to the culprit of the crime.

16. Ambivalent – having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.

Example sentences:

I’m ambivalent about going to the party tonight because I’m not sure if I’ll have a good time.

The artist had an ambivalent attitude towards fame, both craving it and fearing it.

17. Conundrum – a confusing and difficult problem or question.

Example sentences:

The team was faced with a conundrum when the client changed their requirements mid-project.

Solving the conundrum of climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time.

18. Frenetic – fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way.

Example sentences:

The frenetic pace of the city can be overwhelming to some people.

The politician’s frenetic campaigning style energized his supporters but exhausted his staff.

19. Idiosyncratic – peculiar or unique to an individual.

Example sentences:

The artist’s idiosyncratic style made their work instantly recognizable.

My grandmother has some idiosyncratic habits that nobody else in the family shares.

20. Languid – slow and relaxed; lacking energy or vigour.

Example sentences:

The hot summer weather made everyone feel languid and lazy.

The actor’s languid delivery of his lines conveyed a sense of ennui.

21. Myriad – a very great or indefinite number of things or people.

Example sentences:

The internet offers a myriad of resources for learning new skills.

The city’s myriad cultural offerings ensure that there’s always something to do.

22. Obfuscate – to make something obscure or unclear.

Example sentences:

The politician obfuscated the issue by giving vague answers to direct questions.

The lawyer obfuscated the case by introducing irrelevant information to confuse the jury.

23. Paragon – a perfect example of something.

Example sentences:

Her work ethic is a paragon of dedication and commitment.

The Taj Mahal is often considered a paragon of architectural beauty.

24. Quintessential – representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.

Example sentences:

The movie is the quintessential romantic comedy, filled with funny moments and a heartwarming story.

This car is the quintessential American muscle car, with its powerful engine and sleek design.

25. Resilient – able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.

Example sentences:

Despite facing many setbacks, she remained resilient and continued to work towards her goals.

The company’s resilient business model helped it weather the economic downturn.

26. Salient – most noticeable or important.

Example sentences:

The salient features of the new smartphone include its long battery life and high-resolution screen.

The salient points of his argument were clear and persuasive.

27. Ubiquitous – present, appearing, or found everywhere.

Example sentences:

Smartphones have become ubiquitous in our daily lives, used for everything from communication to entertainment.

The fast food chain is ubiquitous, with locations in nearly every city and town.

28. Vicarious – experienced through another person, rather than firsthand.

Example sentences:

She lived vicariously through her daughter’s successful academic career.

Watching a travel documentary can be a vicarious way to experience different cultures.

29. Zeitgeist – the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time.

Example sentences:

The fashion of the 1960s reflected the zeitgeist of social and cultural revolution.

The music of the 1980s captured the zeitgeist of consumerism and excess.

30. Ineffable – too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.

Example sentences:

The beauty of the sunset was ineffable, leaving the onlookers speechless.

The joy of holding her newborn child was ineffable, beyond what words could express.

After witnessing the birth of his child, he was overcome with ineffable joy.

31. Ostentatious – characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice Example sentences:

The millionaire’s ostentatious mansion was filled with gold-plated fixtures and extravagant artwork.

Her flashy jewellery and designer clothing were seen as ostentatious by her more modest friends.

32. Mellifluous – pleasing to the ear, smooth and musical in sound

Example sentences:

The singer’s mellifluous voice captivated the audience.

The symphony’s mellifluous melodies brought tears to her eyes.

33. Anachronistic – belonging to a period other than that being portrayed; out of date.

Example sentences:

The medieval knight’s armour looked anachronistic in the modern setting.

Using a typewriter in the age of computers is anachronistic.

34. Prolific – producing many works, results, or offspring.

Example sentences:

The author was known for being a prolific writer, having published over 50 books.

The scientist’s prolific research led to many breakthroughs in her field.

35. Perspicacious – having a ready insight into and understanding of things.

Example sentences:

The detective’s perspicacious mind helped him solve the case quickly.

The CEO’s perspicacious decision-making skills were key to the company’s success.

36. Discombobulate – to confuse or disconcert.

Example sentences:

The maze of hallways in the old mansion discombobulated the guests.

The unexpected plot twist discombobulated the audience.

37. Epitome – a person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type.

Example sentences:

The athlete was the epitome of perseverance, having overcome many obstacles in her career.

The small, cosy cafe was the epitome of charm and comfort.

38. Pragmatic – dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical considerations.

Example sentences:

The engineer’s pragmatic approach to problem-solving saved the company time and money.

The politician’s pragmatic policies were designed to address the needs of her constituents.

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39. Egregious – outstandingly bad or shocking

Example sentences:

The company’s treatment of its employees was truly egregious.

The judge was shocked by the defendant’s egregious disregard for the law.

40. Altruism – the belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others

Example sentences:

Many volunteers are motivated by altruism and a desire to help others.

The billionaire’s philanthropy was praised as an act of altruism.

41. Dichotomy – a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different

Example sentences:

The dichotomy between work and play is often blurred in creative fields.

The political debate exposed a deep dichotomy between the two parties.

42. Hegemony – leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others

Example sentences:

The United States has been accused of seeking global hegemony.

The cultural hegemony of Hollywood has been challenged by the rise of independent films.

43. Catharsis – the process of releasing and thereby providing relief from strong or repressed emotions

Example sentences:

Many people find catharsis in writing about their experiences.

The emotional climax of the film provided a catharsis for the audience.

44. Epiphany – a sudden realization or insight

Example sentences:

The character’s epiphany marked a turning point in the story.

She had an epiphany while meditating and realized what she needed to do.

45. Pedantic – excessively concerned with minor details or rules; overly academic or formal

Example Sentences

The professor’s lectures were often pedantic and difficult to follow.

His writing style was pedantic, making it hard for readers to engage with his ideas.

46. Fortitude – courage in the face of adversity or pain

The soldiers demonstrated incredible fortitude in the face of enemy fire.

Her fortitude and determination helped her overcome many obstacles in life.

47. Perfunctory – done without enthusiasm or effort; lacking in interest or care

Example Sentences:

His greeting was perfunctory, suggesting that he was not interested in speaking to me.

The report was written in a perfunctory manner and lacked any real depth or analysis.

48. Precocious – having developed certain abilities or tendencies at an earlier age than usual

The child was precocious, showing an advanced understanding of mathematics at a young age.

The artist was known for his precocious talent, having exhibited his work in galleries by the age of 16.

49. Apathy – lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

Example Sentences

The public’s apathy towards politics has led to low voter turnout in many elections.

The patient’s apathy towards their own health made it difficult for doctors to treat them.

50. Enigma – a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand

Example Sentences:

The Mona Lisa is an enigma that has fascinated art historians for centuries.

The disappearance of the plane remains an enigma despite years of investigation.

51. Sycophant – a person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain an advantage.

Example Sentences:

The CEO’s assistant was seen as a sycophant who always agreed with the boss.

The politician was surrounded by sycophants who were eager to curry favour with her.

52. Ennui – a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement

Example 1: She was overcome by ennui and found it difficult to get out of bed in the morning.

Example 2: The town had a pervasive sense of ennui that was hard to shake off.

It’s worth noting that the “smartness” of a word is largely dependent on the context in which it is used, and using overly complicated language can sometimes be counterproductive. It’s important to strike a balance between clear communication and using language that is appropriate for the situation.