Useful words for college essays relating to describing writing/language.

Jess O. (Australia)
This vocab list encompasses 200 words that are useful for essays - including alternatives for said/stated/thought/theorised, as well as words that describe writing and speech. For good measure, I have incorporated words that may also be useful for the critique of theories. I hope this is helpful!
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. recapitulate
    summarize briefly
  2. posit
    take as a given; assume as a postulate or axiom
  3. stipulate
    make an express demand or provision in an agreement
  4. stated
    declared as fact; explicitly stated
  5. propound
    put forward, as of an idea
  6. postulation
    a formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority
  7. enumeration
    the act of counting; reciting numbers in ascending order
  8. opine
    express one's view openly and without fear or hesitation
  9. promulgate
    state or announce
  10. vituperative
    marked by harshly abusive criticism
  11. parry
    avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing
  12. maunder
    speak in a rambling or incoherent way
  13. pontificate
    talk in a dogmatic and pompous manner
  14. equivocate
    be deliberately ambiguous or unclear
  15. hector
    talk to or treat someone in a bossy or bullying way
  16. bandy
    discuss lightly
  17. acquiesce
    agree or express agreement
  18. inveigh
    complain bitterly
  19. espouse
    choose and follow a theory, idea, policy, etc.
  20. extemporise
    perform without preparation
  21. explicate
    elaborate, as of theories and hypotheses
  22. apprise
    inform somebody of something
  23. clamor
    utter or proclaim insistently and noisily
  24. demurrer
    (law) a formal objection to an opponent's pleadings
  25. enjoin
    give instructions to or direct somebody to do something
  26. impugn
    attack as false or wrong
  27. interpolation
    an action or remark that interrupts something
  28. parley
    a negotiation between enemies
  29. rhapsodize
    say with great enthusiasm
  30. remonstrate
    argue in protest or opposition
  31. moue
    a disdainful grimace
  32. heresy
    a belief that rejects the orthodox tenets of a religion
  33. supposition
    the cognitive process of conjecturing
  34. polemic
    a verbal or written attack, especially of a belief or dogma
  35. disputatious
    showing an inclination to disagree
  36. equivocate
    be deliberately ambiguous or unclear
  37. apocryphal
    being of questionable authenticity
  38. conjecture
    believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
  39. epistle
    a specially long, formal letter
  40. axiom
    a proposition that is not susceptible of proof or disproof
  41. gesticulate
    show, express, or direct through movement
  42. rhetoric
    study of the technique for using language effectively
  43. aphorism
    a short pithy instructive saying
  44. panegyric
    formally expressing praise
  45. encomium
    a formal expression of praise
  46. latitude
    an imaginary line around the Earth parallel to the equator
  47. monograph
    a detailed and documented treatise on a particular subject
  48. platitude
    a trite or obvious remark
  49. hypothesis
    a tentative insight that is not yet verified or tested
  50. dogma
    a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative
  51. theorem
    an idea accepted as a demonstrable truth
  52. caprice
    a sudden desire
  53. cogitate
    consider carefully and deeply
  54. phantasm
    something existing in perception only
  55. diatribe
    thunderous verbal attack
  56. grandiloquent
    lofty in style
  57. pithy
    concise and full of meaning
  58. apropos
    of a suitable, fitting, or pertinent nature
  59. taciturn
    habitually reserved and uncommunicative
  60. laconic
    brief and to the point
  61. parlance
    a manner of speaking natural to a language's native speakers
  62. accost
    approach and speak to someone aggressively or insistently
  63. sententious
    concise and full of meaning
  64. ponderous
    having great mass and weight and unwieldiness
  65. didactic
    instructive, especially excessively
  66. terse
    brief and to the point
  67. ostensible
    appearing as such but not necessarily so
  68. reticent
    not inclined to talk or provide information
  69. vacillate
    be undecided about something
  70. ameliorate
    make better
  71. preponderance
    a superiority in numbers or amount
  72. scintilla
    a tiny or scarcely detectable amount
  73. axiomatic
    evident without proof or argument
  74. obfuscate
    make obscure or unclear
  75. epitomize
    embody the essential characteristics of
  76. suffuse
    cause to spread or flush or flood through, over, or across
  77. pervade
    spread or diffuse through
  78. percolate
    cause to pass through a permeable substance
  79. adduce
    advance evidence for
  80. irradiate
    cast rays of light upon
  81. imbibe
    take in liquids
  82. conglomerate
    collect or gather
  83. inculcate
    teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions
  84. schism
    division of a group into opposing factions
  85. antipode
    direct opposite
  86. dichotomous
    divided into two sharply distinguished parts
  87. quotidian
    found in the ordinary course of events
  88. anomalous
    deviating from the general or common order or type
  89. perspicuous
    transparently clear; easily understandable
  90. invidious
    containing or implying a slight or showing prejudice
  91. erudite
    having or showing profound knowledge
  92. redolent
    serving to bring to mind
  93. inimitable
    matchless
  94. propitious
    presenting favorable circumstances
  95. Zeitgeist
    the spirit of the time
  96. fortuitous
    lucky; occurring by happy chance
  97. parochial
    narrowly restricted in outlook or scope
  98. esoteric
    understandable only by an enlightened inner circle
  99. egregious
    conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
  100. repudiate
    refuse to acknowledge, ratify, or recognize as valid
  101. perspicacious
    mentally acute or penetratingly discerning
  102. judicious
    marked by the exercise of common sense in practical matters
  103. utilitarian
    having a useful function
  104. pragmatic
    concerned with practical matters
  105. efficacious
    producing or capable of producing an intended result
  106. expedient
    appropriate to a purpose
  107. reductionist
    someone who explains complex theories in simpler terms
  108. elucidate
    make clear and comprehensible
  109. aegis
    kindly endorsement and guidance
  110. approbation
    official acceptance or agreement
  111. upbraid
    express criticism towards
  112. punctilious
    marked by precise accordance with details
  113. dilettante
    an amateur engaging in an activity without serious intention
  114. perfidious
    tending to betray
  115. malady
    impairment of normal physiological function
  116. clandestine
    conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
  117. noetic
    of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind
  118. ardor
    feelings of great warmth and intensity
  119. fugacious
    lasting a very short time
  120. contemporaneous
    occurring in the same period of time
  121. denizen
    a person who inhabits a particular place
  122. dilatory
    wasting time
  123. celerity
    a rate that is rapid
  124. outmoded
    no longer in fashion
  125. nullify
    declare invalid
  126. finesse
    subtly skillful handling of a situation
  127. spurious
    plausible but false
  128. auspicious
    indicating favorable circumstances and good luck
  129. pernicious
    exceedingly harmful
  130. gratuitous
    unnecessary and unwarranted
  131. ignominy
    a state of dishonor
  132. iniquitous
    characterized by injustice or wickedness
  133. abortive
    failing to accomplish an intended result
  134. antediluvian
    so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period
  135. consolidate
    make firm or secure; strengthen
  136. enjoin
    give instructions to or direct somebody to do something
  137. impugn
    attack as false or wrong
  138. truism
    an obvious statement of fact
  139. invective
    abusive language used to express blame or censure
  140. laudatory
    full of or giving praise
  141. precept
    a rule of personal conduct
  142. fatuous
    devoid of intelligence
  143. feckless
    generally incompetent and ineffectual
  144. belie
    be in contradiction with
  145. calumny
    a false accusation of an offense
  146. trite
    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
  147. voluble
    marked by a ready flow of speech
  148. appertain
    be a part or attribute of
  149. improvident
    not given careful thought
  150. fortify
    make strong or stronger
  151. extirpate
    destroy completely, as if down to the roots
  152. expunge
    remove by erasing or crossing out or as if by drawing a line
  153. inert
    slow and apathetic
  154. retrograde
    going from better to worse
  155. colossal
    so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
  156. monumental
    of outstanding significance
  157. exponentially
    in a manner of rapid growth
  158. profuse
    produced or growing in extreme abundance
  159. copious
    large in number or quantity
  160. sundry
    consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
  161. commensurate
    corresponding in size or degree or extent
  162. mediocre
    moderate to inferior in quality
  163. paucity
    an insufficient quantity or number
  164. palpable
    capable of being perceived
  165. incontrovertible
    impossible to deny or disprove
  166. evident
    clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
  167. enigmatic
    not clear to the understanding
  168. evoke
    call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
  169. engender
    call forth
  170. paradox
    a statement that contradicts itself
  171. disparity
    inequality or difference in some respect
  172. schism
    division of a group into opposing factions
  173. polarity
    a relation between two opposite attributes or tendencies
  174. idiosyncrasy
    a behavioral attribute peculiar to an individual
  175. customary
    commonly used or practiced
  176. quintessential
    representing the perfect example of a class or quality
  177. atypical
    not representative of a group, class, or type
  178. indubitable
    too obvious to be doubted
  179. earnest
    characterized by a firm, sincere belief in one's opinions
  180. acuity
    sharpness of vision
  181. accolade
    a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
  182. atrocious
    shockingly brutal or cruel
  183. deplorable
    of very poor quality or condition
  184. nefarious
    extremely wicked
  185. embellish
    add details to
  186. fabricate
    make up something artificial or untrue
  187. peripheral
    related to the key issue but not of central importance
  188. astute
    marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
  189. sagacious
    acutely insightful and wise
  190. prudent
    marked by sound judgment
  191. circumspect
    careful to consider potential consequences and avoid risk
  192. inane
    devoid of intelligence
  193. robust
    sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction
  194. advantageous
    appropriate for achieving a particular end
  195. ineffectual
    not producing an intended consequence
  196. interrogate
    pose a series of questions to
  197. appraise
    consider in a comprehensive way
  198. attest
    provide evidence for
  199. contradict
    prove negative; show to be false
  200. recant
    formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief
Created on Fri Jan 03 01:24:44 EST 2014 (updated Sat Feb 22 22:35:34 EST 2014)

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