100 Words Every C2 English Learner Should Know

No.	Item	Definition
1.	acquiesce	Accept something reluctantly without protesting.
2.	affable	Friendly and easy to talk to.
3.	albeit	Although; even though.
4.	aloof	Emotionally distant and not friendly.
5.	ambivalent	Having mixed or conflicting feelings about something.
6.	arbitrary	Based on preference or chance, not reason.
7.	astute	Quick to understand situations and exploit opportunities.
8.	bolster	Support or strengthen something.
9.	cajole	Persuade through flattery or persistent gentle pressure.
10.	capitulate	Stop resisting and accept another’s demands.
11.	circumvent	Find a way around an obstacle.
12.	cogent	Clear, logical, and convincing.
13.	concede	Admit something is true, often reluctantly.
14.	condone	Accept or overlook behavior considered wrong.
15.	conjecture	An explanation formed without sufficient evidence.
16.	contention	An opinion or claim advanced in argument.
17.	corroborate	Confirm a statement with additional evidence.
18.	curtail	Reduce or limit something.
19.	delineate	Describe or mark something’s boundaries precisely.
20.	dichotomy	A division between two sharply contrasting things.
21.	discern	Recognize or detect something not immediately obvious.
22.	discrepancy	A difference between things that should match.
23.	dispassionate	Not influenced by strong emotions.
24.	disseminate	Spread information widely.
25.	divulge	Reveal private or secret information.
26.	dogmatic	Presenting beliefs as unquestionably true.
27.	dubious	Doubtful, suspicious, or not reliably true.
28.	dwindle	Gradually become smaller or fewer.
29.	elicit	Draw out a response or information.
30.	eloquent	Expressing ideas fluently and persuasively.
31.	elucidate	Explain something and make it clear.
32.	empirical	Based on observation or experiment, not theory.
33.	entrench	Establish something so firmly that change becomes difficult.
34.	espouse	Support or adopt a belief or cause.
35.	evasive	Avoiding direct answers or clear commitments.
36.	exacerbate	Make a problem or situation worse.
37.	expedite	Make a process happen more quickly.
38.	extrapolate	Estimate beyond known information using existing patterns.
39.	fallacy	A mistaken belief or error in reasoning.
40.	formidable	Inspiring respect or fear through difficulty or power.
41.	galvanize	Shock or excite someone into taking action.
42.	impetus	Something that encourages action or development.
43.	incessant	Continuing without interruption, often annoyingly.
44.	indispensable	Absolutely necessary; impossible to do without.
45.	intangible	Not physical or easily measured.
46.	integrity	Honesty and adherence to strong moral principles.
47.	intransigent	Unwilling to compromise or change a position.
48.	intrinsic	Belonging naturally to something’s essential character.
49.	judicious	Showing careful thought and good judgment.
50.	juxtapose	Place things together to highlight their differences.
51.	leverage	Influence used to gain an advantage.
52.	magnanimous	Generous and forgiving, especially toward a rival.
53.	meticulous	Extremely careful about small details.
54.	mitigate	Make something less harmful or severe.
55.	notwithstanding	Despite something.
56.	nuance	A subtle difference in meaning or feeling.
57.	obsolete	No longer used because something newer exists.
58.	obstinate	Stubbornly refusing to change an opinion.
59.	obviate	Remove a need or prevent a difficulty.
60.	onerous	Involving burdensome effort or responsibility.
61.	ostensibly	Apparently, but perhaps not actually.
62.	perpetuate	Cause something to continue, especially something undesirable.
63.	pervasive	Present or spreading throughout something.
64.	placate	Make someone less angry or upset.
65.	precipitate	Cause something to happen suddenly or prematurely.
66.	preclude	Prevent something or make it impossible.
67.	premise	An assumption on which an argument rests.
68.	presumptuous	Overstepping limits through excessive confidence or familiarity.
69.	proliferate	Increase or spread rapidly.
70.	quandary	Uncertainty about what to do.
71.	rebuke	Express sharp disapproval of someone’s behavior.
72.	redress	Remedy an injustice or unfair situation.
73.	redundant	Unnecessary because no longer useful or duplicated.
74.	refute	Prove a statement or argument wrong.
75.	relinquish	Give up possession, control, or a claim.
76.	repudiate	Reject something firmly or deny its validity.
77.	rescind	Officially cancel a decision, agreement, or law.
78.	reticent	Unwilling to reveal thoughts or feelings.
79.	salient	Most noticeable or important.
80.	scrupulous	Careful to act honestly and correctly.
81.	scrutiny	Close and careful examination.
82.	solicit	Ask for something, often formally.
83.	spurious	False or not what it claims.
84.	stifle	Suppress or prevent something from developing.
85.	stipulate	Specify something as a condition or requirement.
86.	substantiate	Support a claim with evidence.
87.	succinct	Expressed clearly in few words.
88.	tacit	Understood or accepted without being explicitly stated.
89.	tenable	Able to be defended with reasonable arguments.
90.	tenuous	Weak, uncertain, or only slightly supported.
91.	transcend	Go beyond ordinary limits or boundaries.
92.	transient	Lasting only a short time.
93.	ubiquitous	Present or found everywhere.
94.	unequivocal	Clear and leaving no room for doubt.
95.	verbose	Using more words than necessary.
96.	viable	Capable of working successfully or surviving.
97.	vindicate	Show that someone was right or blameless.
98.	vindictive	Wanting to hurt someone in revenge.
99.	volatile	Likely to change suddenly or become violent.
100.	wane	Gradually lose strength, intensity, or importance.