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You are here: Home / Words / 100 Words Every Adult Should Know

100 Words Every Adult Should Know

January 22, 2025 - pdf

100 Words Every Adult Should Know

No. Term Definition
1. Acquiesce To agree silently or reluctantly.
2. Acronym Abbreviation formed from initials.
3. Ambiguity Multiple possible meanings or uncertainty.
4. Analogy Comparison highlighting similarities.
5. Anachronism Something misplaced in time.
6. Andragogy Methods/principles of adult learning.
7. Antithesis Direct opposite or contrast.
8. Antonym Word with opposite meaning.
9. Articulate To express clearly and effectively.
10. Assonance Repeated vowel sounds in words.
11. Benchmarking To measure performance against a standard.
12. Brainstorming To generate ideas in a free-flowing way.
13. Circumspect Cautious, considering all circumstances.
14. Clandestine Secret or covert.
15. Cognition Mental processes of understanding.
16. Collaborate To work jointly on a project.
17. Colloquial Informal, everyday language.
18. Connotation Implied or emotional meaning.
19. Contrived Artificially formed or forced.
20. Conundrum Difficult puzzle or problem.
21. Correlation Relationship between two variables.
22. Criterion Standard or principle for judgment.
23. Cumulative Increasing or growing in quantity.
24. Curriculum Structured course of study.
25. Deference Respectful submission or regard.
26. Developmental Relating to growth or progress.
27. Dialect Regional variation of language.
28. Diction Word choice and phrasing.
29. Didactic Intended to teach or instruct.
30. Dissertation Lengthy, formal research paper.
31. Divergent Differing or moving apart.
32. Egregious Extremely bad or shocking.
33. Eloquence Fluent, persuasive speaking/writing.
34. Emergent Newly appearing or developing.
35. Empathy To understand another’s feelings.
36. Enigma Mysterious or puzzling situation.
37. Epitome Perfect example of something.
38. Epiphany Sudden insight or realization.
39. Epitaph Inscription on a tombstone.
40. Erudite Having great knowledge, scholarly.
41. Existential Relating to existence/meaning of life.
42. Exponential Rapidly increasing or expanding.
43. Formative Shaping or influencing development.
44. Holistic Emphasizing the whole, not parts.
45. Homonym Word identical in form, different meaning.
46. Hubris Excessive pride or self-confidence.
47. Hyperbole Deliberate exaggeration for effect.
48. Incongruous Out of place or inconsistent.
49. Infamy Extreme dishonor or notoriety.
50. Initiation Act of beginning or introduction.
51. Innate Inborn or natural characteristic.
52. Intellectual Relating to mental or academic pursuits.
53. Interactive Involving two-way communication/engagement.
54. Irony Outcome opposite of what’s expected.
55. Jargon Specialized language of a group.
56. Juxtaposition To place contrasting elements side by side.
57. Malapropism Misuse of similar-sounding words.
58. Magnanimous Generous or noble in spirit.
59. Mentor Experienced guide or adviser.
60. Metaphor Indirect comparison without “like” or “as.”
61. Meticulous Extremely careful, detail-oriented.
62. Mnemonic Memory aid or device.
63. Monologue Extended speech by one person.
64. Motif Recurring theme or element.
65. Myriad Countless or a great number.
66. Nemesis Formidable rival or persistent challenge.
67. Nominal Existing in name only.
68. Norms Standard or typical behaviors.
69. Obfuscate To make unclear or confusing.
70. Obtuse Slow to understand or insensitive.
71. Onomatopoeia Word mimicking a sound.
72. Ostentatious Showy or pretentious display.
73. Oxymoron Contradictory terms (e.g. “jumbo shrimp”).
74. Paradox Seemingly contradictory but possibly true.
75. Paraphrase To restate text in different words.
76. Pedantic Overly concerned with minor details.
77. Pedagogy Method and practice of teaching.
78. Perusal Careful reading or examination.
79. Phonemes Smallest units of sound in language.
80. Phonological Relating to sound systems in language.
81. Plagiarism To present another’s work as one’s own.
82. Plethora Overabundance or excessive amount.
83. Posthumously Occurring or published after death.
84. Preposition Relational word (e.g. “in,” “on,” “by”).
85. Pretentious To make an exaggerated show of importance.
86. Pseudonym Fictitious name, often for authors.
87. References Sources cited or consulted.
88. Reflection Serious thought or consideration.
89. Rubric A set of criteria or a guide for assessment.
90. Sardonic Grimly mocking or cynical.
91. Satire Use of humor to criticize.
92. Simile Comparison using “like” or “as.”
93. Soliloquy Speech by a character alone on stage.
94. Superfluous Unnecessary or excessive.
95. Syntax Arrangement of words/phrases in sentences.
96. Thesis Main idea or central argument.
97. Validity Soundness or legitimacy of something.
98. Vernacular Everyday language used by ordinary people.
99. Virtual Existing digitally or conceptually.
100. Vocational Relating to skilled trades or careers.
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