ubiquitous
/juˈbɪkwɪtəs/Another word for widespread — appearing absolutely everywhere at once, especially certain technology or trends.
Example: Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern classrooms.
C222 words · Proficient
Word Choice & Register vocabulary — C2
Precise, formal vocabulary for research and expert writing — ubiquitous, empirical, extrapolate and vindicate — the exact terms an academic paper or a policy document calls for.
22 questions
Words in this set
22causal
/ˈkɔzəl/Another word for related — one event directly makes another happen, not just occurs alongside it.
Example:
Researchers still debate whether the drug has a causal effect on recovery.
paradigm
/ˈpɛrəˌdaɪm/The academic word for a typical pattern or model that shapes how people think about something, used about a whole field of study.
Example:
The discovery caused a paradigm shift in physics.
dichotomy
/daɪˈkɑtəmi/The academic word for a division between two things that are completely opposite, used about ideas or choices.
Example:
There's a clear dichotomy between theory and practice in this field.
empirical
/ˌɛmˈpɪrɪkəl/The academic word for something based on real observation or experiment, used about evidence rather than theory alone.
Example:
The study offers empirical evidence for the theory.
intrinsic
/ˌɪnˈtrɪnsɪk/The opposite of extrinsic — belonging to something naturally as an essential part of it.
Example:
The book's intrinsic value goes beyond its price.
pragmatic
/præɡˈmætɪk/The opposite of idealistic — dealing with problems in a sensible, practical way.
Example:
We need a pragmatic solution, not a perfect one.
hypothesis
/haɪˈpɑθəsəs/The academic word for an idea you propose to test, used when you don't yet have enough evidence to prove it.
Example:
Her hypothesis was later confirmed by the experiment.
subjective
/səbˈdʒɛktɪv/The opposite of objective — based on personal opinions and feelings rather than facts.
Example:
Beauty is famously subjective.
conducive
/kənˈdusɪv/Another word for helpful — used when conditions make something more likely to happen or succeed.
Example:
A quiet room is more conducive to studying.
obfuscate
/ˈɑbfəˌskeɪt/The opposite of clarify — to make something deliberately unclear.
Example:
The appendix seems designed to obfuscate rather than explain.
expound
/ɪkˈspaʊnd/The formal word for explaining something in real detail, used about presenting your own ideas or theories.
Example:
He loves to expound his theories about ancient history.
countenance
/ˈkaʊntənəns/The formal word for tolerating something you don't approve of, used about a decision or behaviour you allow to continue.
Example:
The board refused to countenance any further delays.
peruse
/pərˈuz/The formal word for reading something slowly and carefully, used about checking every detail before you decide.
Example:
She sat down to peruse the contract before signing it.
solicit
/səˈlɪsɪt/The formal word for officially asking for money, help or support, used about a charity approaching the public.
Example:
The charity will solicit donations outside the station this weekend.
ameliorate
/əˈmiljərˌeɪt/The formal word for improve, used in writing about making a bad situation better.
Example:
New policies were introduced to ameliorate the crisis.
extrapolate
/ɛkˈstræpəˌleɪt/The formal word for estimating unknown information, used when you apply facts you already know to a new situation.
Example:
Researchers can extrapolate future trends from this data.
vindicate
/ˈvɪndəkeɪt/The formal word for proving someone was right or innocent, used when they had earlier been doubted or blamed.
Example:
New evidence finally vindicated the accused man.
capitulate
/kəˈpɪtʃulɪt/The formal word for surrender, used when someone finally stops resisting and gives in.
Example:
After weeks of pressure, the board capitulated to the demands.
exonerate
/ɪɡˈzɑnərˌeɪt/The formal word for officially clearing someone of blame, used in legal or official writing.
Example:
DNA evidence helped exonerate the wrongly convicted man.
castigate
/ˈkæstəˌɡeɪt/The formal word for criticising someone harshly, used in writing about severe public blame.
Example:
The report castigated the company for its safety failures.
promulgate
/proʊˈmʌlɡeɪt/The formal word for announcing a law officially, used about rules and decrees.
Example:
The ministry chose to promulgate the rule on a Friday evening.
