Advanced Vocabulary Starting with "M"

157 entries

• machiavellian Cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics or business; empl...
• machination A plot or scheme, especially one that is crafty, underhand, or designed to ac...
• macroscopic Visible to the naked eye; relating to large-scale phenomena or observations, ...
• magnanimous Generous or forgiving, especially towards a rival or someone less powerful; s...
• magnate A wealthy and influential person, especially one who dominates a particular i...
• magnetism A powerful personal charm or allure that attracts others irresistibly, as tho...
• magnificent Extremely beautiful, elaborate, or impressive; of outstanding quality or gran...
• magnify To make something appear larger than it is, especially through a lens; to inc...
• magnitude The size, extent, or importance of something. In mathematics and physics, it ...
• majestic Having or showing impressive beauty, scale, or dignity; stately and grand in ...
• maladroit Clumsy, bungling, or tactless, especially in handling people or situations. T...
• malaise A general feeling of discomfort, illness, or unease whose exact cause is diff...
• malcontent A person who is dissatisfied and inclined to rebellion or complaint. Also use...
• malevolent Having or showing a wish to do evil to others; deliberately harmful or hostile.
• malfeasance Wrongdoing or misconduct by a public official, professional, or person in a p...
• malignant In medicine, of a tumour, tending to invade normal tissue and spread to other...
• malleable Easily shaped, influenced, or adapted, whether physically (of metals and mate...
• malpractice Improper, illegal, or negligent professional behaviour, especially by a medic...
• mammography An imaging technique that uses low-dose X-rays to examine the breast tissue, ...
• mammoth Huge; enormously large. As a noun, an extinct elephant-like mammal with long ...
• mandate An official order or authorisation to carry out a policy or course of action;...
• mangrove A tropical tree or shrub that grows in salt water along coastlines, character...
• manifest As an adjective, clear and obvious to the eye or mind. As a verb, to display ...
• manifestation A visible or tangible display of a quality, feeling, or theoretical concept; ...
• manifesto A public declaration of policy, principles, or intentions, especially one iss...
• manometer An instrument for measuring the pressure of a gas or liquid, typically consis...
• manslaughter The unlawful killing of a person without the intent to kill, or where the int...
• mantissa The fractional part of a logarithm, or in computing, the significant digits o...
• manuscript A handwritten or typed document, especially an author's original text before ...
• marauder A person or group that roams about in search of things to steal or people to ...
• marginal Of minor importance or effect; relating to or at the edge or margin; (in poli...
• marginalise To treat a person or group as insignificant or peripheral, pushing them to th...
• maritime Connected with the sea, especially in relation to navigation, shipping, trade...
• markup The amount added to the cost price of goods or services to cover overheads an...
• martial Relating to war, the military, or fighting. Describes things that are warlike...
• materialism In philosophy, the view that only physical matter exists and that all phenome...
• matriarchy A social system in which women hold primary power, authority, and leadership ...
• matriculate To formally enrol or be admitted as a student at a university or college, esp...
• matrix A rectangular array of numbers, symbols, or expressions arranged in rows and ...
• maturity In finance, the date on which a bond, loan, or other financial instrument bec...
• maudlin Self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental, especially as a result of drunkennes...
• maven An expert or connoisseur; a person with special knowledge or experience in a ...
• maverick An independent-minded person who refuses to conform to the norms or policies ...
• maximise To make something as large, effective, or profitable as possible. To increase...
• mechanical Relating to machines, physical forces, or the branch of physics concerned wit...
• mechanisation The introduction of machines to replace manual labour in a process or industr...
• median The middle value in a set of numbers arranged in order of size. If the set ha...
• mediate To intervene in a dispute between others in order to bring about an agreement...
• mediation Intervention in a dispute by a neutral third party in order to bring about ag...
• medieval Relating to the Middle Ages, the period of European history from roughly the ...
• meditative Relating to or absorbed in deep thought or meditation; having a calm, reflect...
• megahertz A unit of frequency equal to one million hertz (cycles per second), used to d...
• melancholic Having a tendency towards deep sadness or thoughtful gloom; relating to the t...
• melancholy A deep, persistent sadness or gloom, often without a specific cause. As an ad...
• mellifluous Sweet-sounding and pleasant to hear, typically describing a voice, tone, or s...
• melodious Producing or having a pleasant, tuneful sequence of sounds; musical and agree...
• memoir A written account of personal experiences and memories, typically focusing on...
• memorandum A written message or note, especially in business or diplomacy; a formal docu...
• mendacious Given to lying or not telling the truth. Describes a person habitually dishon...
• mentor An experienced and trusted adviser who guides and supports a less experienced...
• mercenary A professional soldier who fights for any country or group willing to pay, ra...
• mercurial Subject to sudden and unpredictable changes of mood, behaviour, or direction;...
• merger The combination of two or more companies or organisations into a single entit...
• meritocracy A system in which advancement and positions of power are awarded based on ind...
• meritocratic Relating to or characteristic of a meritocracy — a system in which advancemen...
• meritorious Deserving reward, praise, or recognition; showing great merit.
• mesa A flat-topped hill or mountain with steep sides, typically found in arid and ...
• metabolism The set of chemical processes that occur within a living organism to maintain...
• metadata Data that provides information about other data, such as the author, date, fo...
• metamorphosis A profound change in form, structure, or character, especially by natural or ...
• metaphor A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or actio...
• metaphorical Relating to or involving a metaphor; using one thing to represent or stand fo...
• metaphysics The branch of philosophy that examines the fundamental nature of reality, inc...
• metastasis The spread of cancer from the original (primary) site to other parts of the b...
• meteor The streak of light produced when a small piece of space debris burns up upon...
• methodically In a careful, orderly, and systematic way; proceeding step by step according ...
• methodology A system of methods and principles used in a particular discipline, especiall...
• meticulous Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
• metropolitan Relating to a large city and its surrounding suburbs and commuter areas; char...
• microbiology The branch of science that studies microscopic organisms, including bacteria,...
• microclimate The climate of a very small or restricted area, especially when it differs fr...
• microfinance The provision of small-scale financial services — including loans, savings ac...
• micrometre A metric unit of length equal to one millionth of a metre (one thousandth of ...
• microplastic Extremely small pieces of plastic debris, less than five millimetres in diame...
• microscope An optical or electronic instrument that magnifies very small objects, enabli...
• microscopic So small as to be visible only with a microscope; extremely tiny. Also, relat...
• microwave Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between infrared and radio waves, ...
• middleware Software that acts as a bridge between an operating system or database and ap...
• migration The movement of people from one place to another, especially to settle in a n...
• milestone A significant event or stage in the development of something; originally, a s...
• milieu A person's social environment or surroundings. The particular social, cultura...
• millimetre A metric unit of length equal to one thousandth of a metre, used extensively ...
• mindfulness A mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, ca...
• minimalist Relating to or characterised by the deliberate use of simple, spare elements;...
• minimise To reduce something to the smallest possible amount, degree, or extent. Also,...
• minuscule Extremely small; tiny. In typography, relating to lower-case letters or a sma...
• minutes The official written record of what was discussed and decided at a meeting.
• misanthrope A person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society.
• misdemeanour A minor wrongdoing or offence; historically in law, a less serious criminal o...
• misinformation False or inaccurate information that is spread regardless of intent to deceiv...
• misleading Giving the wrong idea or impression; likely to cause someone to believe somet...
• misnomer A name or term that is inaccurate or misleading, giving a wrong impression of...
• mitigate To make something less severe, harmful, or painful; to reduce the negative ef...
• mitigating Serving to make something less severe, serious, or painful; in law, describin...
• mitigation The action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something.
• mobilise To organise and prepare people, resources, or support for a particular purpos...
• mobility The ability to move or be moved freely and easily; in sociology, the movement...
• modal A type of auxiliary verb that expresses necessity, possibility, permission, o...
• moderator A person who ensures consistency and fairness in the marking of examinations ...
• modernise To adapt something to modern needs, standards, or technology, updating outdat...
• modicum A small or moderate quantity of something, especially a quality or attribute ...
• modular Designed with standardised units or sections that can be arranged, combined, ...
• modularity The degree to which a system is composed of discrete, interchangeable compone...
• modulate To adjust or regulate the degree, pitch, or intensity of something, especiall...
• modulation The controlled variation of pitch, tone, or volume in speech or music. In ele...
• modulator A device or circuit that varies one or more properties of a carrier signal — ...
• molecule The smallest unit of a chemical compound that retains its chemical properties...
• mollify To soften someone's anger or anxiety, typically through gentle words, concess...
• momentous Of great importance or significance, especially in terms of its likely effect...
• momentum In physics, the quantity of motion of a moving body, equal to its mass multip...
• monarch A sovereign ruler, especially a king, queen, emperor, or empress, who reigns ...
• monarchic Relating to or characteristic of a monarchy, a system of government in which ...
• monetary Relating to money or currency, especially the systems and policies governing ...
• monetise To convert something into a source of revenue, or to adapt a product, service...
• monism The philosophical view that reality is fundamentally composed of one substanc...
• monochromatic Consisting of or producing light of a single wavelength or colour. In art and...
• monoculture The cultivation of a single crop in a given area, or more broadly, a culture ...
• monograph A detailed written study of a single specialised subject, typically by a sing...
• monologue A long speech by one person, especially in a play or as part of a performance...
• monopolise To dominate or have exclusive control over a commodity, market, or activity; ...
• monopoly The exclusive possession or control of the supply of a commodity or service; ...
• monotonic Consistently increasing or decreasing without any reversals in direction. Als...
• montessori An educational approach developed by Maria Montessori that emphasises child-l...
• monumental Great in importance, size, or extent. Also, relating to or serving as a monum...
• moraine An accumulation of rocks, soil, and debris deposited by a glacier, forming ri...
• morality The principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and...
• moratorium A temporary suspension or prohibition of an activity, especially one imposed ...
• morbidity The condition of being diseased or the rate of disease in a population; also,...
• morose Sullen, gloomy, and ill-tempered. Describes a person whose dark mood is evide...
• morphology The branch of linguistics that studies the internal structure of words and ho...
• mortality The state of being subject to death; the death rate in a given population, es...
• mosaic A picture or pattern produced by arranging together small coloured pieces of ...
• motif A recurring theme, image, or pattern in a work of art, literature, or music; ...
• multiculturalism The presence of, or support for, multiple cultural traditions within a single...
• multifaceted Having many different aspects, elements, or features; complex and varied.
• multifarious Many and of various types; having great variety and diversity. A formal way o...
• multilateral Involving three or more parties, especially the governments of different coun...
• multilingual Able to speak or use several languages; relating to or involving multiple lan...
• multiplexer A device that combines multiple input signals into a single output channel fo...
• mundane Lacking interest or excitement; dull and ordinary; relating to the everyday w...
• municipal Relating to a town or city and its local government; owned, provided, or mana...
• munificent Larger or more generous than is usual or necessary. Used to describe gifts, d...
• muse To reflect or meditate on something in a quiet, dreamy manner; as a noun, a s...
• mutagenesis The process by which the genetic material of an organism is permanently alter...
• mutinous Refusing to obey the orders of a person in authority; inclined to mutiny or o...
• mutualism A type of symbiotic relationship in which both organisms involved derive bene...
• mutuality The condition of sharing feelings, actions, or relationships in equal measure...