95+ Vocabulary Words for IELTS

Here are 95 vocabulary words for ielts that you can use for ielts speaking and writing. IELTS vocabulary words that are given here in this article have specific characteristics such as being c1 and c2 vocabulary for ielts. 

Make sure that you go through the entire article so that you all the words that you can use in your ielts exam. So, let's jump into the lesson. 

IELTS Vocabulary List

1. Use "extraordinary" in place of "very special". 

Very special means "better, greater or otherwise different from what is usual. And "extraordinary" means "very unusual or remarkable"

Example: Sofia's voice has an extraordinary hypnotic quality.

Thus, extraordinary means very unusual or remarkable and can be used in place of "very special".

2. Use "exact" in place of "very accurate". 

Very accurate means "correct in all details". And "exact" here means correct or true in every way.

Example: Experts give you the exact details of something.

Thus, "exact" means precise, error-free and correct and can be used in place of "very accurate".

3. Use "obvious" in place of "very clear".

Very clear here means "very easy to perceive, understand or interpret" without any doubt or confusion, and "obvious" means "easily perceived or understood". 

Example: There's an obvious difference between the two.

Thus, "obvious" means crystal clear and can be used in place of "very clear". 

4. Use "serene" in place of "very calm". 

Very calm here means "not showing or feeling nervousness, anger or other strong emotions". And "serene" means very peaceful, calm and free from disturbance.

Example: When saints close their eyes, they look serene.

Thus, "serene" can be used in place of "very calm". 

5. Use "exasperating" in place of "very annoying".

Very annoying means causing great irritation and annoyance. And "exasperating" means "intensely irritating and frustrating". 

Example: Your son is really exasperating.

Thus, "exasperating" can be used in place of "very annoying".

6. Use "swamped" in place of "very busy".

Very busy means "having a great deal to do", and "swamped" means very busy—having more work than one can easily manage.

Example: I can't call you now because I'm swamped with work.

Thus "swamped" means very busy.

7. Use "energetic" in place of "very active or lively".

Very active means "engaging or ready to engage in physically energetic pursuits", and "energetic" means "showing or involving great activity or vitality".

Example: After working all day, no one feels energetic.

Thus "energetic" means very active or lively.

8. Use "bosom" in place of "very close or intimate (friend)".

Very close or intimate means "closely acquainted or familiar", and "bosom" means "very close or intimate".

Example: John is my bosom friend.

Thus, "bosom" means very close.

9. Use "dolorous" in place of "very depressed".

Very depressed means "in a state of unhappiness or despondency".

And "dolorous" means "feeling or expressing great sorrow or distress".

Example: "The family has been dismal and dolorous throughout the storm."

Thus "dolorous" means very mournful, sorrowful or depressed.

10. Use "filthy" in place of "very dirty".

Very dirty means greatly covered or marked with an unclean substance. And "filthy" means "disgustingly dirty" or extremely dirty.

Example: This school is filthy with no sanitation.

Thus, "filthy" means very dirty.

11. Use "captivating" in place of "very interesting".

Very interesting means "holding or catching the attention". And "captivating" means "holding your attention by being extremely interesting".

Example: These stories are captivating.

Thus, "captivating" means extremely interesting or appealing.

12. Use "slack" in place of "very loose".

Very loose means not firmly or tightly fixed. And "slack" means "not taut or held tightly in position. 

Example: It's a slack rope.

13. Use "archaic" in place of "very old-fashioned".

Very old-fashioned means "not modern—out of fashion". And "archaic" also means very old-fashioned.

Example: Some particular words in English are archaic.

Thus "archaic" can be used in place of "very old-fashioned".

14. Use "thunderous" in place of "very loud".

Very loud means "producing or capable of producing much noise", and "thunderous" means "extremely loud" 

Example: The singer got a thunderous applause from the audience.

15. Use "rapid" in place of "very quick".

Very quick means moving fast or doing something in a short time". And "rapid" means "happening in a short time or at a great rate".

Example: "The 1990s were a period of rapid change/growth."

Thus, "rapid" means very quick or fast.

16. Use "hushed" in place of "very quiet". 

Very quiet means "making little noise or no noise". And "hushed" means "of a voice or conversation, quiet and serious".

Example: They talked in hushed voices when everyone was sleeping.

Thus, "hushed" means very quiet.

17. Use "terrifying" in place of "very scary". 

Very scary means "frightening or causing fear". And "terrifying" means causing extreme fear.

Example: The nightmare I saw last night was terrifying.

Thus, "terrifying" means very scary.

18.Use "powerful" in place of "very strong".

Very strong means having the power to perform physically demanding tasks. And "powerful" here means "of a person or animal, very strong and muscular"

Example: John is a powerful person.

Thus, "powerful" means very strong.

19. Use "severe" in place of "very hard".

Very hard here means something that's difficult to understand or solve, and "severe" here means "demanding great ability, skill or resilience".

Example: He has to take a severe test of stamina.

Thus, "severe" means very difficult to understand and can be used in place of "very hard".

20. Use "dire" in place of "very serious". 

Very serious here means "significant or worrying because of possible danger or risk". And "dire" means "extremely serious or urgent".

Example: "Misuse of drugs can have dire consequences."

Thus, "dire" means extremely serious.

21. Use "soaring" in place of "very high".

Very high means "of great vertical extent" and "soaring" means "reaching a great height". 

Example: Burj Khalifa is a soaring building.

Thus, "soaring" means very high. 

22. Use "perturbed" in place of "very anxious".

Very anxious means "feeling or showing worry" and "perturbed" means "feeling anxiety or concern".

Example: John seemed perturbed about the noises children were making.

Thus "perturbed" means disturbed, worried and anxious.

23. Use "soaked" in place of "very wet".

Very wet means "covered or saturated with water or another liquid", and "soaked" means "extremely wet". 

Example: It's raining heavily. You'll get soaked in the rain if you go out.

Thus, "soaked" means very wet.

24. Use "dazzling" in place of "very bright".

Very bright means "reflecting much light which causes some object to shine", and "dazzling" means "extremely bright which blinds the eyes temporarily" 

Example: The sunlight was dazzling. 

Thus, "dazzling" means very bright.

25. Use "immaculate" in place of "very clean".

Very clean means "free from dirt, marks or stains", and "immaculate" means "perfectly clean, neat or tidy" 

Example: This shirt is immaculate.

Thus, "immaculate" means very clean. 

26. Use "excellent" in place of "very good". 

Very good means "of high quality or standard", and "excellent" means "extremely good or outstanding". 

Example: John did an excellent job.

Thus, "excellent" means very good.

27. Use "expeditiously" in place of "very fast". 

Very fast means "at high speed", and "expeditiously" means very quickly.

Example: The work was done expeditiously.

Thus, expeditiously means very fast or quickly.

28. Use "pellucid" in place of "very clear".

Very clear means some transparent object through which you can see. And "pellucid" means "translucently clear".

Example: The trees reflected in the pellucid water.

Thus, "pellucid" means some object very clear or transparent through which one can see.

29. Use "thrilled" in place of "very excited".

Very excited means "very enthusiastic and eager", and "thrilled" means very excited.

Example: I was really thrilled when I saw the soaring peak of the mountain.

Thus, "thrilled" can be used in place of "very excited". 

30. Use "weighty" in place of "very heavy".

Very heavy means difficult to lift, and "weighty" means "weighing a great deal".

Example: A fat man is weighty to lift. 

Thus, "weighty" can be used in place of "very heavy".

31. Use "amiable" in place of "very friendly".

Very friendly means "behaving in a pleasant and kind way", and "amiable" means showing a friendly manner. 

Example: John is kind towards everyone. He is really an amiable person.

Thus, "amiable means very friendly.

32. Use "intelligent" in place of  "very clever".

Very clever means "quick to understand, learn and apply ideas", and "intelligent" means showing high level of intelligence and cleverness.

Example: John is an intelligent person.

Thus, "intelligent" means very clever or brilliant.

33. Use "disparate" in place of "very different".

Very different means "not the same as another", and "disparate" means "different in every way".

Example: The American culture is disparate from that of India.

Thus, "disparate" means very different.

34. Use "avaricious" in place of "very greedy". 

Very greedy here means having intense and selfish desire for wealth or power. And "avaricious" means having extreme greed or desire for wealth or material gain.

Example: John is avaricious by nature.

Thus, "avaricious" means extremely greedy. 

35. Use "modest" in place of "very humble".

Very humble means "low estimate of one's importance", and "modest" "unassuming in the estimation of one's abilities or achievements".

Example: John refuses to take any credit. He is a modest man. 

Thus, "modest" can be used in place of "very humble".

36. Use "benevolent" in place of "very kind".

Very kind means showing a very friendly, generous and considerate nature. And "benevolent" means "well meaning, kindly and helpful".

Example: My teacher is a benevolent person.

Thus, "benevolent" can be used in place of "very kind". 

37. Use "slovenly" in place of "very messy". 

Both "very messy" and "slovenly" mean very untidy or dirty.

Example: He has slovenly hair.

Thus "slovenly" means very messy or untidy.

38. Use "terrified" in place of "very scared".

Very scared means "fearful or frightened", and "terrified" means extremely fearful.

Example: I was terrified at seeing a lion approaching me.

Thus, "terrified" means extremely afraid and can be used in place of "very scared".

39. Use "valorous" in place of "very brave".

Very brave means "showing courage", and "valorous" means showing great courage in the face of danger.

Example: John knows no danger. He is really a valorous person.

Thus, "valorous" means very brave.

40. Use "lengthy" in place of "very long".

Very long here means taking a great deal of time, and "lengthy" means "of considerable or unusual length". 

Example: I don't want to involve in a lengthy discussion. 

Thus, "lengthy" means very long.

41. Use "cautious" in place of "very careful". 

Very careful means to make sure of avoiding future dangers. And "cautious" also means to avoid potential dangers. 

Example: Be cautious about clicking on links.

Thus, "cautious" means to be very careful.

42. Use "effortless" in place of "very simple".

Very simple means "of something, easily understood or done". And "effortless" means something uncomplicated that doesn't require any effort. 

Example: Making tea is effortless for me.

Thus, "effortless" can be used in place of "very simple".

43. Use "ancient" in place of "very old". 

Very old here means something that belongs to the past or the earliest time. And "ancient" means something that belongs to the very distant past.

Example: The Chinese civilization is one of the ancient civilizations in the world.

Thus, "ancient" means something very old. 

44. Use "petrified" in place of "very afraid".

Very afraid means "very frightened —feeling fear or anxiety" And "petrified"  means "extremely frightened".

Example: My little son is petrified of being on his own in the house at night.

Thus, "petrified" means very frightened and can be used in place of "very afraid".

45. Use "distraught" in place of "very upset".

Very upset here means "being unhappy, disappointed or worried" And "distraught" means "very worried and upset".

Example: They were all distraught over the loss of their grandmother.

Thus, "distraught" means extremely worried, unhappy or upset.

46. Use "sagacious" in place of "very wise". 

Very wise means "a person who is able to make good judgements based on knowledge and experience", and "sagacious" means "having the ability to judge well"

Example: John makes good judgements. He's really a sagacious person. 

Thus, "sagacious" means "having the ability to make good judgements" and can be used in place of "very wise". 

47. Use "adorable" in place of "very cute".

Very cute means "attractive or pretty, especially in a childish, youthful or delicate way", and "adorable" means "inspiring great affection and delight because of appealing appearance".

Example: John has two really adorable cats.

Thus, "adorable" means very cute".

48. Use "overjoyed" in place of "very glad".

Very glad means "feeling great pleasure or happiness", and "overjoyed" means "extremely happy".

Example: My parents were overjoyed at my success.

Thus, "overjoyed" means "extremely happy" and can be used in place of "very glad". 

49. Use "gaunt" in place of "very thin".

Very thin means "having too little flesh or fat on the body" and "gaunt" means "over-thin because of suffering, hunger or age".

Example: John is an old, tall and gaunt person.

Thus, "gaunt" means very thin.

50. Use "apprehensive" in place of "very nervous".

Very nervous means "getting anxious or worried", and "apprehensive" means "anxious or fearful that something bad will happen" 

Example: John feels apprehensive about being on his own in the house at night.

Thus, "apprehensive" means fearful or anxious and can be used in place of "very nervous".

51. Use "sleek" in place of "very smooth".

Very smooth means "having an even and regular surface—polished" and "sleek" means "smooth or glossy".

Example: Sofia has sleek hair. 

Thus, "sleek" means very smooth.

52. Use "sluggish" in place of "very slow".

Very slow means "not quick or fast" and "sluggish" means "slow-moving".

Example: My bike feels sluggish. There's something wrong with it.

Thus, "sluggish" means "operating or moving very  slow" and can be used in place of "very slow". 

53. Use "scrawny" in place of "very skinny".

Very skinny means "of a person, unattractively or unusually thin", and "scrawny" means very thin and bony.

Example: John, an old man, has a scrawny physique. 

Thus, "scrawny" means very thin or skinny.

54. Use "delicious" in place of "very tasty".

Very tasty means "of food, having a pleasant flavor that appeals to tongue", and "delicious" means "highly pleasant to the taste".

Example: Everyone likes delicious home-made food.

Thus, "delicious" means "highly tasty" and can be used in place of "very tasty".

55. Use "excruciating" in place of "very painful".

Very painful here means "of a body part, affected with pain" and "excruciating" means extremely painful.

Example: John has an excruciating pain in his lower back.

Thus, "excruciating" means very painful.

56. Use "frail" in place of "very weak".

Very weak means "having little physical strength or energy" and "frail" means "of a person, weak or delicate" 

Example: My grandfather is frail now.

Thus, "frail" means physically weak and can be used in place of "very weak".

57. Use "frequently" in place of "very often".

Very often means regularly or frequently. And "frequently" means "regularly or habitually". 

Example: They visit London frequently.

Thus, "frequently" means very often.

58. Use "ferocious" in place of "very wild".

Very wild means "having or displaying a violent attitude" and "ferocious" means severely fierce, cruel or violent. 

Example: It's a ferocious beast. Don't go close to it.

Thus, "ferocious" means very wild.

59. Use "scalding" in place of "very hot". 

Very hot means "having a high degree of heat". And "scalding" means "extremely hot".

Example: The coffee was scalding.

Thus, "scalding" means very hot.

60. Use "ravenous" in place of "very hungry".

Very hungry means "feeling or showing the need for food", and "ravenous" means "extremely hungry".

Example: John didn't eat all day. He is ravenous now.

Thus, "ravenous" means very hungry.

61. Use "towering" in place of "very tall". 

Very tall means "something or someone of great or more than usual height". And "towering" means "extremely tall". 

Example: Burj Khalifa is a towering building.

Thus, "towering" means "extremely tall" and can be used in place of "very tall".

62. Use "stingy" in place of "very mean".

Very mean means "someone who doesn't want to spend money". And "stingy" means "a close-fisted person—a person who doesn't spend money".

Example: John's boss is a stingy fellow.

Thus, "stingy" means "close-fisted" and can be used in place of "very mean".

63. Use "perplexed" in place of "very confused".

Very confused means "someone who is unable to understand or think clearly". And "perplexed" means "of a person, unable to think clearly, logically and decisively".

Example: The students were completely perplexed after hearing the questions.

Thus, perplexed means "very confused".

64. Use "perilous" in place of "very risky".

Very risky means "full of the possibility of danger, failure or loss". And "perilous" means "extremely dangerous or risky".

Example: The journey John undertook last year was quite perilous.

Thus, perilous means "extremely dangerous" and can be used instead of "very risky".

65. Use "minuscule" in place of "very small".

Very small means "of a size less than usual". And "minuscule" means "extremely small or tiny".

Example: John had run out of food. He ate only two minuscule pieces of cake.

Thus, minuscule means "extremely small" and can be used instead of "very small".

66. Use "mind-numbing" in place of "very boring".

Very boring means "something not interesting". And "mind-numbing" means "extremely boring".

Example: It was such a mind-numbing film that I nearly fell asleep during it.

Thus, mind-numbing means "extremely dull" and can be used instead of "very boring".

67. Use "deafening" in place of "very noisy".

Very noisy means "making a lot of noise". And "deafening" means "making so much noise as to make it impossible to hear anything else".

Example: The singer got a deafening applause from the audience.

Thus, deafening means "extremely noisy" and can be used instead of "very noisy".

68. Use "gleaming" in place of "very shiny".

Very shiny means "of a surface, reflecting light because it's very clean". And "gleaming" means "very clean or shining".

Example: Those white shoes are gleaming.

Thus, gleaming means "very bright and clean" and can be used in place of "very shiny".

69. Use "huge" in place of "very large".

Very large means "something of a great size, extent or capacity". And "huge" means "something, extremely large or enormous".

Example: Burj Khalifa is a huge building.

Thus, huge means "extremely great size" and can be used instead of "very large".

70. Use "obese" in place of "very fat".

Very fat means "a person or animal having excessive flesh". And "obese" means "extremely fat".

Example: John has grown obese.

Thus, obese means "overweight" and can be used instead of "very fat".

71: Use "affluent" in place of "very rich".

Very rich means "someone who has an abundance of wealth". And "affluent" also means "someone who has a lot of wealth". 

Example: John owns 3 huge companies. He's really an affluent person.

Thus, "affluent" means "very rich.

72: Use "hilarious" in place of "very funny".

Very funny means "something comical that causes great laughter or amusement". And "hilarious" means "something extremely amusing".

Example: His jokes are really hilarious. 

Thus, "hilarious" means "something causing a lot of laughter" and can be used in place of "very funny".

73: Use "hideous" in place of "very ugly". 

Very ugly means "something or someone who is unpleasant and unattractive in appearance". And "hideous" means "extremely ugly". 

Example: The washroom was absolutely hideous.

Thus, "hideous" means "very unattractive" and can be used in place of "very ugly".

74: Use "Brief" in place of "very short". 

Very short in this context means "something not lasting for long or of little length". And "brief" means "something that doesn't last for long.

Example: John made a brief visit to his old house. 

Thus, "brief" means "not lasting" and can be used in place of "very short".

75: Use "desolate" in place of "very sad". 

Very sad means "feeling great unhappiness". And "desolate" also means "feeling great unhappiness, misery and loneliness.

Example: John felt desolate after his father had died.

Thus, "desolate" means "extremely unhappy" and can be used in place of "very sad".

76: Use "freezing" in place of "very cold".

Very cold means "very low temperature which causes trembling". And "freezing" means "extremely cold—causing trembling". 

Example: Today is freezing. 

Thus, "freezing" means "having low temperature causing trembling" and can be used in place of "very cold".

77: Use "effortless" in place of "very easy".

Very easy means "something that can be done or achieved without great effort". And "effortless" means "something that doesn't require physical or mental exertion".

Example: For me, writing an essay is effortless.

Thus, "effortless" means "extremely easy".

78: Use "fatigued" in place of "very tired".

Very tired means "drained of strength, vitality and energy because of arduous effort". And "fatigued" means "extremely tired due to physical or mental exertion".

Example: He was fatigued by the arduous journey he undertook last week.

Thus, fatigued means "very tired".

79: Use "atrocious" in place of "very bad". 

Very bad means "of a low standard or quality". And "atrocious" means "extremely bad". 

Example: Some poets attempted atrocious imitation of good poetry.

Thus, "atrocious" means "having extremely poor quality" and can be used instead of "very bad".

80: Use "indolent" in place of "very lazy". 

Very lazy means "not willing to work or use energy". And "indolent" means "wanting to avoid physical or mental exertion".

Example: John doesn't want to engage himself in any work. He is really an indolent fellow.

Thus, indolent means "very lazy".

81: Use "destitute" in place of "very poor".

Very poor means "someone who doesn't have wealth". And "destitute" means "extremely poor—someone who doesn't have wealth".

Example: The flood made thousands of people destitute.

Thus, "destitute" means "describing penniless condition" and can be used in place of "very poor".

82: Use "furious" in place of "very angry".

Very angry means "a strong feeling that makes you want to hurt someone". And "furious" means "extremely angry or having a strong feeling of anger".

Example: John is now furious. Don't come close to him.

Thus "furious" means "full of anger" and can be used in place of "very angry".

83: Use "gorgeous" in place of "very beautiful".

Very beautiful means "something or someone who is very attractive". And "gorgeous" means "very pleasant or attractive".

Example: Your baby is absolutely gorgeous.

Thus, "gorgeous" means "something or someone who is very beautiful" and can be used in place of "very beautiful".

84: Use "costly" in place of "very expensive". 

Very expensive means "something that's very high-priced". And "costly" means "something that costs you a lot".

Example: iPhone is a costly cell phone.

Thus, "costly" means "very high-priced" and can be used in place of "very expensive".

85: Use "essential" in place of "very important".

Very important means "something highly necessary". And "essential" means "something extremely necessary".

Example: "Good vision is essential for a pilot."

Thus, "essential" means "something that's needed very much" and can be used instead of "very important".

86: Use "cutthroat" in place of "very competitive". 

Very competitive means " something highly demanded". And "cutthroat" also means "highly demanded".

Example: IELTS is one of the most cutthroat exams in the world.

Thus, "cutthroat" means "something that people want very much".

87. Use "profound" in place of "very wise".

Very wise means having great knowledge, experience and good judgement. And "profound" here means "of a person or statement, having or showing in-depth knowledge or insight.

Example: Aristotle was a profound philosopher.

88. Use "shallow" in place of "very stupid".

Very stupid here means "having or showing a great lack of intelligence or common sense". And "shallow" here means "not showing serious or careful thought".

Example: John is physically attractive, but mentally shallow.

89. Use "proficient" in place of "very skilled".

Very skilled means "having or showing the knowledge, ability or training to perform a certain activity or task well". And "proficient" means "competent" or skilled in doing or using something"

Example: John is proficient in English.

90. Use "discourteous" in place of "very rude".

Very rude means a person who is not very polite; offensive or embarrassing. And "discourteous" means "showing rudeness and a lack of consideration for other people".

Example: The student seemed to be discourteous.

91. Use "courteous" in place of "very polite".

Very polite means "having or showing behavior that's respectful and considerate of other people". And "courteous" means "polite, respectful and considerate in manner".

Example: Although John often disagrees with me, he is courteous to me.

92. Use "feeble" in place of "very weak".

Very weak means "having little physical strength or energy". And "feeble" means "weak and without energy, strength or power".

Example: My grandfather, a 98 year old man, has grown feeble.

93. Use "iniquitous" in place of "very immoral".

Very immoral means "morally wrong, or outside society's standards of acceptable, honest and moral behavior". And "iniquitous" means "grossly (extremely) unfair and morally wrong or very unfair or wrong". 

Example: It's an iniquitous tax, because the poor will pay relatively more.

94. Use "rigorous" in place of "very careful".

Very careful means "making (very) sure of avoiding potential danger, mishap and harm". And "rigorous" here means "extremely thorough and careful". 

Example: A rigorous test of consumer products was conducted yesterday.

95. Use "magnanimous" in place of "very kind".

Very king means "having or showing a (very) friendly, generous and considerate nature". And "magnanimous" means "very kind and generous towards an enemy or someone you have defeated".

Example: "The team's manager was magnanimous in victory, and praised the losing team."

96. Use "strenuous" in place of "very difficult".

Very difficult means "needing much effort or skill to accomplish, deal with, or understand". And "strenuous" means "needing or using a lot of physical or mental effort or energy".

Example: John was advised not to do any strenuous exercise/task.