📘 30 Academic Vocabulary Words to Boost Your TOEFL Score – Psychology & Academic Skills
Getting ready for the TOEFL Reading and Writing sections?
These 30 academic words will help you better comprehend complex texts, improve your academic writing, and sound more fluent during the Speaking test.
Each word includes a clear definition, TOEFL-style usage, and pronunciation tips to help with listening and speaking practice.
🔢 Word List with Usage & Tips
🧠 Psychology & Human Behavior
- Abhor
• Meaning: To hate deeply
• Example: Many people abhor violence in any form.
• Pronunciation: /əbˈhɔːr/ - Abstain
• Meaning: To voluntarily avoid or hold back
• Example: He chose to abstain from alcohol during exams.
• Pronunciation: /æbˈsteɪn/ - Abnegate
• Meaning: To deny oneself (pleasures or rights)
• Example: The monk chose to abnegate material wealth.
• Pronunciation: /ˈæb.nɪ.ɡeɪt/ - Abnegation
• Meaning: The act of self-denial
• Example: Her lifestyle was one of abnegation and simplicity.
• Pronunciation: /ˌæb.nəˈɡeɪ.ʃən/ - Abject
• Meaning: Extremely bad or hopeless
• Example: They lived in abject poverty.
• Pronunciation: /ˈæb.dʒekt/ - Abjure
• Meaning: To formally renounce
• Example: He abjured his former beliefs.
• Pronunciation: /əbˈdʒʊər/ - Abet
• Meaning: To encourage wrongdoing
• Example: She was charged with abetting the thief.
• Pronunciation: /əˈbet/ - Abscond
• Meaning: To run away secretly
• Example: The criminal absconded with the money.
• Pronunciation: /əbˈskɒnd/ - Absolve
• Meaning: To free from guilt or blame
• Example: The priest absolved him of his sins.
• Pronunciation: /əbˈzɒlv/ - Absolution
• Meaning: Formal release from guilt
• Example: He prayed for absolution.
• Pronunciation: /ˌæb.səˈluː.ʃən/
🔁 General Use / Transitions / Connectors
- Abate
• Meaning: To reduce in intensity
• Example: The storm finally began to abate.
• Pronunciation: /əˈbeɪt/ - Accelerate
• Meaning: To speed up
• Example: The new method accelerated the process.
• Pronunciation: /əkˈsel.ə.reɪt/ - Accentuate
• Meaning: To emphasize
• Example: She accentuated the key points in her essay.
• Pronunciation: /əkˈsen.tʃu.eɪt/ - Abstract
• Meaning: Theoretical or not concrete
• Example: The theory is too abstract for beginners.
• Pronunciation: /ˈæb.strækt/ - Abstruse
• Meaning: Difficult to understand
• Example: The professor’s explanation was abstruse.
• Pronunciation: /æbˈstruːs/ - Absurd
• Meaning: Ridiculously unreasonable
• Example: The idea seemed absurd at first.
• Pronunciation: /əbˈsɜːd/ - Abundant
• Meaning: Plentiful
• Example: There is abundant evidence to support the theory.
• Pronunciation: /əˈbʌn.dənt/ - Abysmal
• Meaning: Extremely bad
• Example: The service was abysmal.
• Pronunciation: /əˈbɪz.məl/
🕊️ Religion & Culture
- Ablution
• Meaning: Ritual washing
• Example: Ablution is a common practice before prayer.
• Pronunciation: /əˈbluː.ʃən/ - Ablutions
• Meaning: Acts of cleansing
• Example: He performed his morning ablutions.
• Pronunciation: /əˈbluː.ʃənz/ - Abeyance
• Meaning: Temporary suspension
• Example: The law was held in abeyance.
• Pronunciation: /əˈbeɪ.əns/
⚖️ Law & Politics
- Abrogate
• Meaning: To abolish officially
• Example: The government abrogated the outdated law.
• Pronunciation: /ˈæb.rə.ɡeɪt/ - Accede
• Meaning: To agree or consent formally
• Example: The king acceded to the treaty.
• Pronunciation: /əkˈsiːd/
🎓 Education & Academic Skills
- Abbreviate
• Meaning: To shorten
• Example: ‘Dept.’ is an abbreviation for department.
• Pronunciation: /əˈbriː.vi.eɪt/ - Accessible
• Meaning: Easy to approach or use
• Example: The lecture notes are accessible online.
• Pronunciation: /əkˈses.ə.bəl/ - Accommodate
• Meaning: To adjust or make room for
• Example: The school accommodated all students’ needs.
• Pronunciation: /əˈkɒm.ə.deɪt/ - Accolade
• Meaning: An award or praise
• Example: The scientist received many accolades.
• Pronunciation: /ˈæk.ə.leɪd/ - Adept
• Meaning: Highly skilled
• Example: She is adept at solving complex problems.
• Pronunciation: /əˈdept/ - Admonish
• Meaning: To warn or reprimand
• Example: The teacher admonished the student for cheating.
• Pronunciation: /ədˈmɒn.ɪʃ/ - Advocate
• Meaning: To support or recommend publicly
• Example: He advocates for educational reform.
• Pronunciation: /ˈæd.və.keɪt/
🎯 Practice Questions (TOEFL Style)
1. Which word fits the blank?
“The witness refused to ______ the truth under pressure.”
A) abet B) abjure C) advocate D) abstain
Answer: B) abjure
2. Which word describes a terrible situation?
A) Abundant B) Abysmal C) Abstract D) Absolve
Answer: B) Abysmal
3. In academic essays, writers often ______ key points.
A) abbreviate B) accelerate C) accommodate D) accentuate
Answer: D) accentuate
🎓 TOEFL Tip of the Day
In both the Speaking and Writing sections, using formal academic vocabulary like abstain, advocate, abrogate, and accessible will help you sound polished and earn higher scores.
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