IELTS Guide Phil

For many IELTS candidates aiming for Band 8 or higher in the Speaking test, vocabulary is a crucial factor. While it’s important to be natural and fluent, integrating high-level vocabulary—especially lesser-known but precise words—can significantly impress examiners. These words often express nuanced meanings and convey sophistication in communication.

Below is a curated list of 100 less common but powerful English words ideal for IELTS Speaking. Each word comes with a concise definition and a practical example sentence. Mastering and using these in your speaking answers can elevate your lexical resource score dramatically.

100 Lesser-Known Words with Definitions and Examples

1. altruistic – selflessly concerned for the well-being of others
   She’s one of the most altruistic people I know, always volunteering at shelters.
2. belligerent – hostile and aggressive
   Some people become belligerent when discussing politics.
3. coerce – to force someone to do something through pressure or threats
   I was coerced into joining the group project, even though I preferred working alone.
4. debilitating – causing weakness or impairment
   The flu had a debilitating effect on my ability to focus during exams.
5. eloquent – fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing
   The speaker was so eloquent that everyone was fully engaged.
6. frivolous – not having any serious purpose or value
   Many argue that social media is filled with frivolous content.
7. galvanize – to inspire or stimulate into action
   The climate crisis has galvanized young people to protest globally.
8. hinder – to delay or obstruct the progress of something
   Lack of sleep can hinder academic performance.
9. impeccable – flawless; perfect
   His English pronunciation was absolutely impeccable.
10. jubilant – feeling or expressing great joy
    I felt jubilant when I received my IELTS results.
11. kudos – praise or recognition for achievement
    She received kudos for her exceptional presentation skills.
12. lucid – expressed clearly and easy to understand
    His explanation of quantum physics was surprisingly lucid.
13. meticulous – showing great attention to detail
    She’s meticulous in her exam preparation.
14. nonchalant – calm and relaxed, not displaying anxiety
    He remained nonchalant despite the stressful situation.
15. oblivious – unaware or unconscious of surroundings
    He was oblivious to the time while watching the movie.
16. placid – not easily upset or excited
    The baby remained placid even in a noisy room.
17. quaint – attractively unusual or old-fashioned
    We stayed in a quaint cottage in the countryside.
18. resilient – able to recover quickly from adversity
    Children are often more resilient than adults after a crisis.
19. scrutinize – to examine closely and thoroughly
    I scrutinized my essay for any grammar mistakes.
20. tenacious – persistent and determined
    Her tenacious attitude helped her achieve Band 9.
21. ubiquitous – present or found everywhere
    Smartphones have become ubiquitous in today’s society.
22. vigilant – keeping careful watch for danger or difficulties
    The guards remained vigilant throughout the night.
23. wary – cautious about possible dangers
    I’m always wary when answering unknown phone calls.
24. yearn – to desire strongly
    I yearn for a peaceful place to study.
25. zealous – showing strong enthusiasm or passion
    He’s zealous about environmental activism.
26. astute – having or showing practical intelligence
    She gave an astute analysis of the problem.
27. benevolent – well-meaning and kind
    Our teacher is both strict and benevolent.
28. candid – truthful and straightforward
    He was candid in his feedback about my speaking.
29. diligent – showing care in one’s work
    She is diligent in preparing for each part of the IELTS.
30. eclectic – deriving ideas from a broad range of sources
    He has an eclectic taste in music and books.
31. acumen – keen insight or shrewdness
    She has remarkable business acumen for someone her age.
32. bask – to lie or relax in warmth or happiness
    I like to bask in the sun on a quiet afternoon.
33. concur – to agree or have the same opinion
    Experts concur that sleep is essential for productivity.
34. daunting – intimidating or seemingly difficult to deal with
    The speaking test seemed daunting at first.
35. elated – ecstatically happy
    He felt elated after receiving his results.
36. fathom – to understand after much thought
    I couldn’t fathom how she managed to finish so quickly.
37. gratify – to please or satisfy
    It gratifies me to help others with their goals.
38. heed – to pay attention to advice or warnings
    She failed because she didn’t heed the instructions.
39. ingenuity – the quality of being inventive or resourceful
    The ingenuity of his solution was impressive.
40. jaded – tired or bored after having too much of something
    Many students feel jaded after continuous studying.
41. keen – eager or enthusiastic
    She has a keen interest in social issues.
42. lament – to express sorrow or regret
    He lamented not preparing more thoroughly.
43. mundane – lacking interest or excitement; dull
    Some find writing essays a mundane task.
44. notion – a belief or idea
    The notion that grammar isn’t important is incorrect.
45. overt – done or shown openly
    There was overt support for his proposal.
46. perplexed – confused or puzzled
    I was perplexed by some of the Reading questions.
47. quiver – to tremble or shake slightly
    Her voice quivered during the speaking test.
48. refute – to disprove or argue against
    He refuted the claim with solid evidence.
49. succinct – brief and clearly expressed
    Her answer was succinct and to the point.
50. turmoil – a state of great disturbance or confusion
    The city was in turmoil after the event.
51. unfazed – not perturbed or affected by something
    He remained unfazed under pressure.
52. vivid – producing strong, clear images in the mind
    Her description of the place was vivid.
53. wholesome – conducive to moral or general well-being
    We had a wholesome discussion about our goals.
54. yearning – a deep longing or desire
    There’s a yearning in me to travel abroad.
55. zest – enthusiasm and energy
    He tackled the challenge with zest.
56. amiable – friendly and pleasant
    The examiner had an amiable personality.
57. brevity – concise and exact use of words
    Brevity is important in Writing Task 1.
58. contemplate – to think deeply or consider
    I contemplated my future after graduation.
59. deter – to discourage from taking action
    Fear of failure shouldn’t deter you.
60. enthrall – to captivate or charm
    The speaker enthralled the entire audience.
61. futile – incapable of producing results; pointless
    Arguing with him felt futile.
62. grueling – extremely tiring and demanding
    Preparing for IELTS can be a grueling process.
63. humdrum – lacking variety; boring
    She was tired of her humdrum routine.
64. immerse – to involve oneself deeply
    I immersed myself in English podcasts.
65. jubilantly – in a joyful and triumphant manner
    He shouted jubilantly after passing the test.
66. kindred – similar in nature or character
    We shared kindred interests in literature.
67. lucidly – clearly and easily understood
    She spoke so lucidly about the issue.
68. meander – to wander aimlessly
    We meandered through topics during the interview.
69. nuance – a subtle difference in meaning or expression
    Understanding nuances is vital in IELTS Speaking.
70. ostracize – to exclude from a group or society
    He was ostracized for his differing opinions.
71. pivotal – of crucial importance
    Vocabulary is pivotal for a high band score.
72. quench – to satisfy thirst or desire
    A cool drink quenched my thirst after the test.
73. reverent – feeling or showing deep respect
    She spoke in a reverent tone about her mentor.
74. scoff – to mock or speak scornfully
    Some people scoff at unconventional methods.
75. tedious – too long or slow; tiresome
    The process of editing can be tedious.
76. undermine – to weaken gradually
    Lack of sleep can undermine your performance.
77. vouch – to confirm or support as true
    I can vouch for the effectiveness of daily practice.
78. wane – to decrease gradually
    My anxiety began to wane after some practice.
79. yearn – to long for something deeply
    I yearn to live and work abroad.
80. zeal – great energy or enthusiasm
    He worked with great zeal on his project.
81. audible – able to be heard
    Her voice was barely audible due to nerves.
82. brusque – abrupt or blunt in manner
    The examiner’s brusque tone caught me off guard.
83. coherent – logical and consistent
    Make sure your ideas are coherent in Part 3.
84. dormant – inactive but capable of becoming active
    My language skills were dormant until I practiced again.
85. efface – to erase or make insignificant
    Time will efface the embarrassment of errors.
86. flourish – to grow or develop well
    My confidence flourished with practice.
87. gaffe – a social or verbal blunder
    He made a gaffe by mispronouncing a word.
88. heedful – careful and attentive
    Be heedful of time in the exam.
89. indulge – to allow oneself to enjoy something
    I indulged in watching English movies after the test.
90. jeopardize – to put in danger or risk
    Procrastinating can jeopardize your IELTS success.
91. keenly – with intense interest
    She listened keenly during the mock interview.
92. lamentable – deplorably bad or unfortunate
    His grammar errors were lamentable.
93. mundanity – the quality of being ordinary or dull
    She avoided the mundanity of routine answers.
94. nonplussed – surprised and confused
    I was nonplussed by the unexpected topic.
95. opportune – well-timed or convenient
    It was an opportune moment to mention my achievement.
96. placate – to soothe or calm
    He placated the interviewer with a well-phrased response.
97. quirky – unusual in an interesting way
    Her quirky personality made her answer memorable.
98. resounding – emphatic or unmistakable
    It was a resounding success for our speaking club.
99. savvy – well-informed and perceptive
    She gave a savvy answer to a difficult question.
100. tenacity – determination and persistence
     With tenacity, you can definitely achieve a Band 8+.

Final Thoughts

Using less common and precise vocabulary in your IELTS Speaking exam demonstrates lexical resource, a key criterion for high band scores. However, remember that the goal isn’t to sound complicated but to express your thoughts naturally and clearly. Master these words through regular practice and try to use them in mock speaking sessions.

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