elucidate
/ɪˈlusəˌdeɪt/Another word for explain — making something difficult really clear, often step by step.
Example: The professor took time to elucidate the theory for us.
C120 words · Advanced
Word Choice & Register vocabulary — C1
Precise, formal vocabulary for academic and professional writing — elucidate, mitigate, corroborate and relinquish — the exact verbs a research paper or a legal document calls for.
20 questions
Words in this set
20mitigate
/ˈmɪtəˌɡeɪt/Another word for reduce — making a risk or amount of damage less serious.
Example:
New regulations were introduced to mitigate the flood risk.
augment
/ɔɡˈmɛnt/Another word for increase — adding more to something you already have, like a skill or budget.
Example:
The company hired freelancers to augment its design team.
concurrent
/kənˈkɜrənt/The technical word for happening at the same time, used about two prison sentences or overlapping events.
Example:
He is serving two concurrent prison sentences.
exacerbate
/ɪɡˈzæsərˌbeɪt/Another word for worsen — making an already difficult problem even more serious.
Example:
Cutting the budget will only exacerbate the staffing shortage.
corroborate
/kərˈɑbərˌeɪt/The academic word for confirming a claim, used when new evidence supports it.
Example:
Two independent witnesses corroborate her account of the accident.
substantiate
/səbˈstæntʃiˌeɪt/The academic word for backing up a claim with solid evidence, used about an argument or a theory.
Example:
The lawyer needed more data to substantiate her claim.
undermine
/ˈʌndərˌmaɪn/Another word for weaken — gradually damaging someone's confidence, authority or argument.
Example:
Constant criticism began to undermine her confidence.
nuanced
/ˈnuɑnst/Another word for subtle — showing fine, careful distinctions rather than simple ideas.
Example:
Her analysis offered a more nuanced view of the crisis.
discrepancy
/dɪˈskrɛpənsi/The academic word for a difference between things that should match, used about numbers, reports or accounts.
Example:
Auditors found a discrepancy in the company's accounts.
ascertain
/ˌæsərˈteɪn/The formal word for find out, used when you check facts carefully before being certain.
Example:
Investigators tried to ascertain the cause of the fire.
commence
/kəˈmɛns/The formal word for begin, used in official announcements and ceremonies.
Example:
The ceremony will commence at exactly nine o'clock.
relinquish
/rɪˈlɪŋkwɪʃ/The formal word for give up, used about power or control.
Example:
The king was forced to relinquish his throne.
acquire
/əˈkwaɪər/The formal word for get, used about skills or property.
Example:
She managed to acquire fluent French within a year.
expedite
/ˈɛkspɪˌdaɪt/The formal word for speed up, used about a process or a delivery.
Example:
We called the office to expedite the paperwork.
irrevocable
/ˌɪˈrɛvəkəbəl/The opposite of reversible — impossible to cancel or change once it's been decided.
Example:
Once signed, the decision becomes irrevocable.
utilise
The formal word for use, used in official or technical writing.
Example:
The factory plans to utilise solar power within two years.
procure
/proʊˈkjʊr/The formal word for get or obtain, used in writing about official purchases or supplies.
Example:
The department managed to procure new equipment this year.
eradicate
/ɪˈrædəˌkeɪt/The formal word for get rid of completely, used about diseases or serious social problems.
Example:
The vaccine helped eradicate the disease within a decade.
divulge
/dɪˈvʌldʒ/The formal word for reveal, used when someone shares secret or private information.
Example:
She refused to divulge her sources to the journalist.
