Word List
Year 5 Vocabulary List
Year 5 learners are expected to form and defend their own views. This list equips them with the precise vocabulary needed to write convincingly and read analytically.
Good for
Year 5 students and upper-primary educators building critical thinking and writing skills.
Focus
Persuasive and argumentative vocabulary, literary terms, conceptual and evaluative language.
Print this list to keep a compact copy for offline study.
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001
Word
abolish
verb
Meaning
to formally put an end to a law, system, or institution
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002
Word
abstraction
noun
Meaning
the quality of dealing with ideas rather than concrete events; also a general concept extracted from specific examples
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003
Word
accomplish
verb
Meaning
to succeed in finishing something difficult
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004
Word
accountability
noun
Meaning
being responsible for your actions and expected to explain them to others
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005
Word
accumulate
verb
Meaning
to gradually gather or collect a large amount of something over time
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006
Word
activism
noun
Meaning
the practice of taking direct action to achieve political or social goals
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007
Word
adversarial
adjective
Meaning
involving opposing parties that actively oppose each other
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008
Word
advocate
verb
Meaning
to publicly support or recommend a particular cause or policy
#
009
Word
aesthetic
adjective
Meaning
relating to beauty and the appreciation of beautiful things
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010
Word
affirmative
adjective
Meaning
asserting that something is true; supportive of a proposition
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011
Word
alienation
noun
Meaning
the feeling of being isolated or cut off from a group or society
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012
Word
allegation
noun
Meaning
a claim that someone has done something wrong, before it is proved
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013
Word
alliteration
noun
Meaning
the repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of nearby words
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014
Word
allusion
noun
Meaning
an indirect or passing reference to a well-known event, person, or text
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015
Word
ambiguity
noun
Meaning
the quality of having more than one possible meaning or interpretation
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016
Word
ambiguous
adjective
Meaning
having more than one possible meaning; not clear
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017
Word
anachronism
noun
Meaning
something that is out of its time period; belonging to a different era
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018
Word
anarchy
noun
Meaning
a state of disorder due to the absence or non-recognition of authority
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019
Word
anecdote
noun
Meaning
a short personal story used to illustrate a point
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020
Word
antagonism
noun
Meaning
active hostility or opposition between competing forces or ideas
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021
Word
anthology
noun
Meaning
a published collection of works by various authors
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022
Word
apathy
noun
Meaning
lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern about something important
#
023
Word
apparatus
noun
Meaning
the equipment needed for a particular activity or purpose
#
024
Word
appeal
noun
Meaning
an argument designed to influence someone's emotions or reason
#
025
Word
arbitrary
adjective
Meaning
decided by chance or personal whim rather than by a rule or reason
#
026
Word
archival
adjective
Meaning
relating to historical records preserved for their long-term value
#
027
Word
arguably
adverb
Meaning
it can be reasonably asserted that; used to qualify a claim
#
028
Word
assertion
noun
Meaning
a confident statement of fact or belief made without proof
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029
Word
assumption
noun
Meaning
something accepted as true without being verified
#
030
Word
attrition
noun
Meaning
the gradual reduction in strength or numbers through sustained pressure or loss
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031
Word
austerity
noun
Meaning
difficult economic conditions involving reduced spending and increased hardship
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032
Word
autonomy
noun
Meaning
the right or ability to make your own decisions; independence
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033
Word
axiom
noun
Meaning
a statement or proposition regarded as self-evidently true
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034
Word
bias
noun
Meaning
an unfair preference for or against something that affects fairness of judgement
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035
Word
biodiversity
noun
Meaning
the variety of plant and animal life found in a particular habitat or on Earth
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036
Word
cadence
noun
Meaning
a rhythmic sequence or flow in prose, poetry, or speech
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037
Word
capitalism
noun
Meaning
an economic system based on private ownership and the free market
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038
Word
catalyse
verb
Meaning
to speed up or bring about a process or change
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039
Word
catalyst
noun
Meaning
something that causes or speeds up a change or reaction
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040
Word
categorically
adverb
Meaning
in an absolute and definitive way; without exception
#
041
Word
causation
noun
Meaning
the relationship between cause and effect; the act of causing something
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042
Word
censorship
noun
Meaning
the practice of suppressing material considered harmful or sensitive
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043
Word
characterisation
noun
Meaning
the way an author develops and reveals a character's personality
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044
Word
chronological
adjective
Meaning
arranged in the order in which events happened over time
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045
Word
circumspect
adjective
Meaning
careful to think about all circumstances before acting; cautious
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046
Word
coherent
adjective
Meaning
logical and well-organised so that it is easy to understand
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047
Word
cohesive
adjective
Meaning
forming a unified, integrated whole
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048
Word
collaborate
verb
Meaning
to work together with others on a shared project or goal
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049
Word
colonisation
noun
Meaning
the action of settling among and establishing control over indigenous peoples of an area
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050
Word
commodity
noun
Meaning
a raw material or product that can be bought and sold
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051
Word
compelling
adjective
Meaning
powerfully persuasive; not easy to resist or ignore
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052
Word
compromise
noun
Meaning
an agreement where both sides give something up to reach a middle ground
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053
Word
compulsory
adjective
Meaning
required by law or rule; obligatory
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054
Word
condescension
noun
Meaning
an attitude of superiority towards others; talking down to someone
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055
Word
conjecture
noun
Meaning
an opinion or conclusion reached from incomplete information; an educated guess
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056
Word
connotation
noun
Meaning
the idea or feeling that a word suggests beyond its main dictionary meaning
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057
Word
connotative
adjective
Meaning
relating to the associations and feelings attached to a word
#
058
Word
consent
noun
Meaning
permission freely given by someone for something to happen
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059
Word
consequence
noun
Meaning
a result or effect of an action or condition
#
060
Word
contemporary
adjective
Meaning
belonging to or occurring in the present time; modern
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061
Word
context
noun
Meaning
the circumstances or background that help explain the meaning of something
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062
Word
contradiction
noun
Meaning
a combination of statements or features that oppose each other
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063
Word
contradictory
adjective
Meaning
saying or showing opposite things that cannot both be true
#
064
Word
controversy
noun
Meaning
a disagreement that many people have strong feelings about
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065
Word
convention
noun
Meaning
an accepted way of doing something that is widely used in a particular form
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066
Word
conversely
adverb
Meaning
introducing a statement that is the opposite of one already made
#
067
Word
correlation
noun
Meaning
a mutual relationship between two variables that tend to change together
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068
Word
corrupted
adjective
Meaning
made dishonest or morally wrong through the abuse of power
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069
Word
counterargument
noun
Meaning
a reason given in opposition to another argument
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070
Word
counterpoint
noun
Meaning
an opposing or contrasting argument or feature
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071
Word
covert
adjective
Meaning
not openly acknowledged or displayed; hidden or secret
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072
Word
credibility
noun
Meaning
the quality of being trusted and believed
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073
Word
cumulative
adjective
Meaning
increasing or growing by adding one thing at a time over time
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074
Word
decisive
adjective
Meaning
settling an issue conclusively; showing an ability to make decisions
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075
Word
decomposition
noun
Meaning
the process by which organic matter breaks down into simpler substances
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076
Word
dehumanise
verb
Meaning
to deprive a person of positive human qualities or dignity
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077
Word
demography
noun
Meaning
the study of statistics about the population, such as age and income
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078
Word
denotation
noun
Meaning
the direct or dictionary meaning of a word, without added associations
#
079
Word
diction
noun
Meaning
the choice of words and phrases used by a writer or speaker
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080
Word
dilemma
noun
Meaning
a situation in which a choice must be made between equally undesirable alternatives
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081
Word
discourse
noun
Meaning
written or spoken communication and the conventions that govern it
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082
Word
discrimination
noun
Meaning
unfair treatment of people based on characteristics like race or gender
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083
Word
dissent
noun
Meaning
the expression of disagreement with official, prevailing, or majority opinion
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084
Word
distinguish
verb
Meaning
to recognise or point out the difference between two things
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085
Word
divisive
adjective
Meaning
causing disagreement and conflict between people
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086
Word
documentary
noun
Meaning
a film or television programme presenting factual information about real events
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087
Word
dogma
noun
Meaning
a set of principles laid down by an authority as unquestionably true
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088
Word
dominant
adjective
Meaning
having power and influence over others; most important or prevalent
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089
Word
dramatise
verb
Meaning
to present something as a play or film; or to exaggerate for effect
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090
Word
ecological
adjective
Meaning
relating to the relationship between living organisms and their environment
#
091
Word
egocentric
adjective
Meaning
thinking only of oneself without regard for others
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092
Word
elaborate
verb
Meaning
to add more detail or explanation to what has been said
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093
Word
elitism
noun
Meaning
the belief that a select group with superior qualities should lead society
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094
Word
embody
verb
Meaning
to represent or be an expression of something in a concrete form
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095
Word
empathy
noun
Meaning
the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person
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096
Word
emphasise
verb
Meaning
to give special importance or attention to something
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097
Word
empirically
adverb
Meaning
based on observation and experimental evidence rather than theory
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098
Word
empiricism
noun
Meaning
the theory that all knowledge is derived from sense-experience
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099
Word
epistemological
adjective
Meaning
relating to the study of knowledge and how we come to know things
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100
Word
equality
noun
Meaning
the state of having the same rights and opportunities as everyone else
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101
Word
equilibrium
noun
Meaning
a state of balance between opposing forces or factors
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102
Word
equitable
adjective
Meaning
fair and impartial; treating everyone justly
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103
Word
eradicate
verb
Meaning
to destroy or remove something completely
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104
Word
espionage
noun
Meaning
the practice of spying to obtain secret information
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105
Word
establish
verb
Meaning
to set something up firmly; to prove something beyond doubt
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106
Word
ethical
adjective
Meaning
relating to moral principles of right and wrong behaviour
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107
Word
ethnicity
noun
Meaning
the fact of belonging to a social group that has a common culture and tradition
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108
Word
eulogise
verb
Meaning
to speak or write in high praise of something or someone
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109
Word
exacerbate
verb
Meaning
to make a problem or bad situation worse
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110
Word
excavation
noun
Meaning
the act of digging into the ground to discover buried remains
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111
Word
exemplify
verb
Meaning
to serve as a typical or ideal example of something
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112
Word
exodus
noun
Meaning
a mass departure of people from one place to another
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113
Word
exploitation
noun
Meaning
using someone or something unfairly for your own benefit
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114
Word
expunge
verb
Meaning
to erase or remove something completely from a record or memory
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115
Word
facile
adjective
Meaning
appearing neat and comprehensive but ignoring the complexities of an issue
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116
Word
fallacy
noun
Meaning
a mistaken belief or a flawed argument that seems logical but is not
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117
Word
fallible
adjective
Meaning
capable of making mistakes; not completely reliable
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118
Word
fanatic
noun
Meaning
a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm for something
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119
Word
fluctuate
verb
Meaning
to rise and fall irregularly; to be variable and unpredictable
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120
Word
fluctuation
noun
Meaning
an irregular rise and fall in a value or level
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121
Word
forensic
adjective
Meaning
relating to the application of scientific methods to investigate crime or debate
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122
Word
foreshadowing
noun
Meaning
hints or clues in a story about what will happen later
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123
Word
foster
verb
Meaning
to encourage the development of something; to nurture
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124
Word
frugal
adjective
Meaning
economical with money or food; avoiding waste
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125
Word
fundamental
adjective
Meaning
forming a necessary base or core; absolutely essential
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126
Word
genocide
noun
Meaning
the deliberate killing of a large group of people of a particular nation or ethnicity
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127
Word
genre
noun
Meaning
a category of literary work defined by its form, style, and subject
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128
Word
globalisation
noun
Meaning
the process by which the world becomes more connected and interdependent
#
129
Word
globalise
verb
Meaning
to develop in a way that makes something extend across the whole world
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130
Word
governance
noun
Meaning
the action or manner of governing; the system by which an organisation is managed
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131
Word
gradient
noun
Meaning
a sloping surface or line; the degree of a slope
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132
Word
grievance
noun
Meaning
a real or imagined cause for complaint or protest
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133
Word
hallmark
noun
Meaning
a mark indicating quality or excellence; a distinctive feature
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134
Word
hierarchy
noun
Meaning
a system of things arranged according to levels of importance or authority
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135
Word
homogeneous
adjective
Meaning
of the same kind; uniform throughout
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136
Word
humanitarian
adjective
Meaning
concerned with or seeking to promote human welfare
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137
Word
hybridise
verb
Meaning
to produce or cause to produce a hybrid by crossbreeding or mixing
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138
Word
hypothesis
noun
Meaning
a proposed explanation for an observation that can be tested
#
139
Word
ideological
adjective
Meaning
relating to a set of ideas and beliefs about society and politics
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140
Word
ideology
noun
Meaning
a system of ideas and values that forms the basis of a political or social theory
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141
Word
illuminate
verb
Meaning
to make something clearer or easier to understand
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142
Word
implication
noun
Meaning
something suggested but not directly stated
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143
Word
inevitable
adjective
Meaning
certain to happen and impossible to prevent
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144
Word
inherently
adverb
Meaning
in a way that exists as a natural and permanent quality of something
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145
Word
injustice
noun
Meaning
unfair treatment or a lack of fairness in how people are treated
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146
Word
integrity
noun
Meaning
the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles
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147
Word
interdependence
noun
Meaning
the condition of relying on each other for survival or support
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148
Word
intertextuality
noun
Meaning
the relationship between texts that reference or respond to each other
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149
Word
irony
noun
Meaning
when something is the opposite of what you expect; saying the opposite of what you mean
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150
Word
juxtapose
verb
Meaning
to place two things close together to highlight their differences or similarities
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151
Word
kinetic
adjective
Meaning
relating to or produced by motion
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152
Word
manipulation
noun
Meaning
the unfair use of language or facts to influence someone
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153
Word
mercurial
adjective
Meaning
changing moods or opinions quickly and unpredictably
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154
Word
meticulous
adjective
Meaning
giving great attention to every small detail; very careful and precise
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155
Word
misconception
noun
Meaning
a wrong or mistaken belief about something
#
156
Word
narrative
noun
Meaning
a spoken or written account of connected events; a story
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157
Word
objectivity
noun
Meaning
the quality of being based on facts rather than personal feelings
#
158
Word
ostensibly
adverb
Meaning
apparently or seemingly, but not necessarily actually so
#
159
Word
oxidation
noun
Meaning
a chemical reaction in which a substance combines with oxygen
#
160
Word
pace
noun
Meaning
the speed at which a narrative moves or events unfold
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161
Word
paradoxical
adjective
Meaning
seeming to contradict itself, yet possibly true
#
162
Word
parody
noun
Meaning
an imitation of someone's work done in an exaggerated way for comic effect
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163
Word
perception
noun
Meaning
the way you understand or interpret something based on your senses or experience
#
164
Word
peripheral
adjective
Meaning
of minor importance; not central to the main issue
#
165
Word
photosynthesis
noun
Meaning
the process by which plants use light, water, and carbon dioxide to produce food
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166
Word
plausible
adjective
Meaning
seeming reasonable and likely to be true
#
167
Word
pragmatic
adjective
Meaning
dealing with things in a realistic and practical way rather than following theory
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168
Word
precipitation
noun
Meaning
moisture that falls from the atmosphere as rain, snow, sleet, or hail
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169
Word
predominantly
adverb
Meaning
present or occurring as the strongest or main element
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170
Word
prejudice
noun
Meaning
an unfair opinion about someone formed without proper thought or knowledge
#
171
Word
premise
noun
Meaning
a starting statement from which a conclusion is drawn in an argument
#
172
Word
privilege
noun
Meaning
a special advantage available to a particular person or group
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173
Word
progressively
adverb
Meaning
increasing in extent or severity step by step over time
#
174
Word
propaganda
noun
Meaning
information spread to promote one point of view, often in a biased way
#
175
Word
rationale
noun
Meaning
a set of reasons explaining why something was done or decided
#
176
Word
rebuttal
noun
Meaning
a direct reply that proves an argument to be wrong
#
177
Word
reform
noun
Meaning
a change made to improve a system, law, or organisation
#
178
Word
refutation
noun
Meaning
the act of proving a claim or argument is incorrect
#
179
Word
relatively
adverb
Meaning
in relation to something else; to a certain degree but not absolutely
#
180
Word
reproduction
noun
Meaning
the biological process by which organisms produce offspring
#
181
Word
respiration
noun
Meaning
the biological process of converting food into energy in living cells
#
182
Word
rhetoric
noun
Meaning
the art of using language persuasively and effectively
#
183
Word
satire
noun
Meaning
the use of humour or irony to criticise and expose weaknesses in society
#
184
Word
scepticism
noun
Meaning
a doubting attitude; a tendency to question accepted views
#
185
Word
sovereignty
noun
Meaning
the authority of a state to govern itself without outside interference
#
186
Word
stereotype
noun
Meaning
an oversimplified or fixed image of a particular type of person or thing
#
187
Word
subjectivity
noun
Meaning
the quality of being based on personal feelings rather than facts
#
188
Word
subsequently
adverb
Meaning
occurring after a specified or implied event in time
#
189
Word
substantial
adjective
Meaning
of considerable size, value, or importance; large and real
#
190
Word
subtext
noun
Meaning
an underlying meaning in a text that is not stated directly
#
191
Word
sustainability
noun
Meaning
the ability to continue something over time without damaging the environment
#
192
Word
synthesis
noun
Meaning
the combination of different ideas or sources to form a new, unified whole
#
193
Word
systematic
adjective
Meaning
done using a fixed, organised plan or method; thorough
#
194
Word
tenuous
adjective
Meaning
very weak, slight, or uncertain
#
195
Word
tone
noun
Meaning
the attitude or mood expressed in a piece of writing
#
196
Word
transformation
noun
Meaning
a complete or major change in form, nature, or appearance
#
197
Word
transparency
noun
Meaning
being open and easy to see or understand; not hiding anything
#
198
Word
unprecedented
adjective
Meaning
never done or experienced before
#
199
Word
validate
verb
Meaning
to prove that something is true or correct; to confirm
#
200
Word
wavelength
noun
Meaning
the distance between successive peaks of a wave of light or sound
Print this list to keep a compact copy for offline study.
