Introduction
Have you ever been in a situation where you wanted to sound smart but couldn’t find the right words? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Sometimes, we struggle to find the right words to express our thoughts and ideas. That’s where this list of 101 words comes in handy. These words are not only impressive but also easy to use in everyday conversations. So, let’s dive in and explore these words that will make you sound smart.
1. Ambivalent
Ambivalent means having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone. For example, “I am ambivalent about going to the party tonight because I have to work early tomorrow morning.”
2. Acumen
Acumen means the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions. For example, “She has great business acumen, which has helped her succeed in her career.”
3. Capricious
Capricious means given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior. For example, “The weather is so capricious lately, it’s hard to know what to wear.”
4. Cogent
Cogent means clear, logical, and convincing. For example, “His argument was cogent and well-supported with evidence.”
5. Conflate
Conflate means to combine two or more ideas or things into one. For example, “She is conflating two different issues, which is causing confusion.”
6. Disparate
Disparate means essentially different in kind. For example, “The two paintings are so disparate, it’s hard to believe they were painted by the same artist.”
7. Egregious
Egregious means outstandingly bad or shocking. For example, “The company’s egregious behavior led to a public outcry.”
8. Equanimity
Equanimity means mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation. For example, “She faced the crisis with remarkable equanimity.”
9. Facetious
Facetious means treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor. For example, “His comments were meant to be facetious, but they came across as insensitive.”
10. Fortuitous
Fortuitous means happening by chance or accident rather than design. For example, “It was fortuitous that I ran into my old friend at the grocery store.”
11. Garrulous
Garrulous means excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters. For example, “The garrulous woman at the party dominated the conversation.”
12. Hackneyed
Hackneyed means lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite. For example, “His speech was full of hackneyed phrases and cliches.”
13. Hegemony
Hegemony means leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others. For example, “The United States has maintained its hegemony over the world’s economy for many years.”
14. Imbroglio
Imbroglio means an extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing situation. For example, “The company’s financial imbroglio led to a loss of investor confidence.”
15. Inchoate
Inchoate means just begun and so not fully formed or developed; rudimentary. For example, “Her plan was still inchoate and needed more work before it could be implemented.”
16. Ineffable
Ineffable means too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words. For example, “The beauty of the sunset was ineffable.”
17. Inexorable
Inexorable means impossible to stop or prevent. For example, “The inexorable march of technology has changed the world in ways we couldn’t have imagined.”
18. Insidious
Insidious means proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects. For example, “The insidious effects of climate change are becoming increasingly apparent.”
19. Intransigent
Intransigent means unwilling or refusing to change one’s views or to agree about something. For example, “The intransigent politician refused to compromise on the issue.”
20. Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition means the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect. For example, “The artist’s use of juxtaposition created a striking visual effect.”
Conclusion
These are just a few examples of the many words you can use to sound smart. By expanding your vocabulary, you can express yourself more clearly and effectively. So, next time you’re struggling to find the right words, try using one of these impressive words to make you sound smart.