500 Top Vocabulary Words

Overview

The PaperRater 500 is a collection of 500 academic words for use by students in high school and above. Each word is valuable in that it displays a high level of sophistication, and practical in that it can be used often enough to be worth memorizing. For example, the word numismatist means a person who collects coins. Use of this word may convey an extensive vocabulary, but it is does not lend itself to enough contexts or it is too esoteric to make it practical and is therefore of no value to the average student. On the other hand, the word ephemeral also displays a refined vocabulary AND it can be used relatively often in one's writing.

Top 500 Vocabulary Word List

abase abash abhor ablution abode abolish abominable abrogate abysmal accede accord acumen adroit adversary advocate aesthetic affable affinity affluence aghast agility agitate allegory aloof ambiguous ambivalence ameliorate amiable amiss amity

amorous annihilate annotate anomaly antiquated aperture apothecary apparent apparition appease aptitude arbitrary ardor articulate artifice assent astronomical astute atheistic audacious augment averse avert avid badger begrudge beguile belligerent bemused benefactor

benevolent berate beseech blithe bode boorish bountiful brazen brevity bureaucracy cadence caliber capricious cavalier censure ceremonious certitude chagrin charisma chaste chide colloquial colossal complacency compliance concede conceit concur condone confidant

confiscate confound connotation conspire consternation contingent copious countenance cower craven cryptic culinary cunning dauntless decipher decorum defiance defile deft degradation demeanor deplore depravity derision desolate detrimental deviate devoid diligence dire

discernible disclaim disconcert discord discrepancy discrete discretion disdain dishearten disjointed disparity dissent diversion divulge docile dubious dutiful eccentric eloquence elusive embellish embody empathy enamored encompass enduring engross enigma enormity entice

epitome erratic erudite evasive evoke exasperate exemplary exemplify exhilarating expedite expertise explicate explicit exquisite exuberance exude fabricate facetious facilitate factitious falter fanciful fathom fathomless feign felicity fervent fictitious fidelity figment

finery finesse flair fluctuate fluency fluster foreboding formidable forthcoming fortitude frivolous functional fundamental furtive futile garbled gargantuan garrulous gaudy gaunt generality generate genre ghastly gingerly gist glutton grandeur gratify grimace

grudging gruesome gusto habituate haphazard hapless harrowing haughtiness havoc heedless hideous hierarchy hilarity hindrance horde humdrum hyperbole hypercritical hypothetical illicit immaculate imminent impartial impeccable impending imperative impertinent implore imply impromptu

inadvertently incentive incessant incident incoherent inconsequential inconsistency incorporate indecision indicative indolent indulgent inevitable infallible infamous infantile infer infinitesimal ingenious inherent inhibit innovation inquisitive insightful insinuate insipid insolence integral interjection intimate

intrepid intrigue intrinsic invalidate irksome irrelevant jeopardize jostle jovial jubilation juxtapose kudos laborious lament languid lank lethargic liability limber lineage listless lithe loathe lucid ludicrous luminous magnitude manifestation mannerism marvel

meager melancholy menace mesmerize mimicry minuscule misapprehension misgivings mishap mitigate monotony monumental morose mortify mundane muster muted myriad nauseate nebulous negate nimble nonchalance nondescript nostalgia notable novelty obligatory oblivious obstinate

ominous opaque opportune optimist optional ornate orthodox ostentatious outlandish paltry panacea paramount paranoia parched parody partial partiality patronize pedigree penchant pensive perceptive perpetual pertinent pessimism placid plausible plethora pliable precarious

precedent precise preclude predetermine premonition preposterous prestige presume pretentious pretext prevail prevalent problematic prodigious profusion prominent prosperous proximity prudent quell query quibble quietude quizzical rationalize reciprocate rectify recuperate reimburse relent

remorse renown reparable reparation replenish replica replicate reprehensible repress reprieve reprimand reproach reprove repulsion reputable resourceful reverent reverie revert revulsion riveting robust sanction sanguine sardonic savor scanty scholarly scowl scrutinize

secular serenity severity shirk shrewd simplistic singular sinister solemnity solicit solitude somber sophisticated sparse spontaneity sporadic stately stickler stifle strident stringent studious subdue subjective submissive subsequent substantial subtlety sullen superficial

superfluous surpass susceptible sustain symmetry tactful tangible tedium temperament temperate tenacity tentative terse thematic timidity tranquillity transcendent ulterior unassuming uncanny unceremonious unequivocal uniformity unprecedented unsavory unscathed unwarranted unwieldy upbraid validate

valor venerate venue vernacular vex viable vigilant vigor vile visage vivacious volatile voluminous wanton warranted whimsical wince wistful wreak zest

Topics covered: vocabulary, words, word list