Advanced Vocabulary Starting with "S"

283 entries

• sabbatical A period of paid leave granted to a university teacher or professional for st...
• saboteur A person who deliberately destroys, damages, or obstructs something, especial...
• sacrosanct Regarded as too important or valuable to be interfered with; inviolable. Orig...
• sagacious Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgement; shrewd and wise.
• salient Most noticeable, important, or prominent; standing out from the rest.
• salinisation The process by which the salt content of soil or water increases to harmful l...
• sallow Having an unhealthy yellowish or brownish tinge to the complexion, suggesting...
• sanctions Penalties or punitive measures imposed by one country or group on another as ...
• sanguine Optimistic or positive, especially in a difficult situation; historically, ha...
• sarcasm The use of irony to mock, wound, or convey contempt, often through remarks th...
• sardonic Grimly mocking or cynical in a way that suggests contempt or scorn. Describes...
• satellite An object that orbits a larger celestial body, either naturally (such as the ...
• satire The use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticise p...
• saturate To soak thoroughly with liquid; to fill something completely so that no more ...
• savanna A tropical or subtropical grassland with scattered trees, found in regions wi...
• savant A learned person, especially one with detailed knowledge in a specialised fie...
• sawtooth A waveform that rises linearly and then drops sharply, resembling the jagged ...
• scaffold In education, to provide temporary support structures that help learners acco...
• scalability The ability of a system, network, or process to handle increasing amounts of ...
• scalable Able to be expanded or adapted in size, scope, or capacity to handle increase...
• scalar A quantity that has magnitude only, without any associated direction. Example...
• scalpel A small, extremely sharp knife with a thin blade, used by surgeons and anatom...
• scathing Severely critical; expressing harsh and withering disapproval. Used to descri...
• scatter To throw or distribute loosely in various directions, or to cause a group to ...
• scenario A postulated sequence or development of events; a plausible description of ho...
• sceptic A person inclined to question or doubt accepted opinions, claims, or establis...
• scepticism A questioning or doubting attitude towards accepted beliefs, claims, or knowl...
• schism A deep and often irreconcilable division within a group, organisation, or com...
• schizophrenia A severe, long-term mental health condition characterised by distortions in t...
• scholarly Involving or relating to serious academic study; showing the methods, thoroug...
• scholarship A grant of money awarded to a student to support their education, typically b...
• scintillate To sparkle or shine with flashes of light. Figuratively, to be brilliantly cl...
• scrupulous Diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details; or having strong mora...
• scrutinise To examine or inspect something very carefully and thoroughly.
• scrutiny Close, careful examination or observation of something, especially in order t...
• sculpture The art of making three-dimensional forms, especially by carving stone or woo...
• secession The formal withdrawal of a region or group from a larger political entity, su...
• secular Not connected with religious or spiritual matters; relating to worldly affair...
• secularise To remove the influence or control of religion from an institution, society, ...
• secularism The principle that government and public institutions should be kept separate...
• sedation The administration of a drug to produce a state of calm or sleep, used to red...
• sedative A drug or substance that promotes calm or induces sleep by reducing irritabil...
• sedentary Characterised by much sitting and little physical activity. Used of lifestyle...
• sediment Solid material such as sand, silt, or clay that settles to the bottom of a li...
• sedimentary Relating to or formed from sediment — particles of rock, mineral, and organic...
• sedimentation The process by which particles of sand, silt, clay, or organic matter settle ...
• seditious Inciting or encouraging rebellion against the authority of a state or ruler; ...
• segregate To separate or set apart from others, particularly along racial, social, or c...
• segregation The enforced or systematic separation of people based on race, ethnicity, rel...
• seismic Relating to earthquakes or other vibrations of the Earth; figuratively, havin...
• seismograph An instrument that detects and records the intensity, direction, and duration...
• self-evident So obvious that no proof or explanation is needed; evident from the thing its...
• semantics The branch of linguistics concerned with the meaning of words, phrases, and s...
• semblance An outward appearance or form of something, especially when the reality is di...
• semiconductor A material with electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an in...
• seminal Strongly influencing later developments; creative and original, serving as th...
• seminar A small-group discussion class at a university, typically involving the prese...
• sempiternal Eternal and unchanging; everlasting. A literary and philosophical term that i...
• senescence The biological process of ageing, in which cells and organisms gradually dete...
• sensationalism The use of exciting or shocking stories, language, or images to provoke publi...
• sensor A device that detects or measures a physical property — such as temperature, ...
• sententious Given to moralising in a self-righteous or pompous way; excessively fond of m...
• sepsis A life-threatening condition in which the body's immune response to an infect...
• sequester To isolate or set apart, whether a person from external influence, assets und...
• sequestration The process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, or m...
• serendipitous Occurring or discovered by happy accident or chance, typically while looking ...
• serendipity The occurrence of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way; the faculty ...
• serenity The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled; a quality of stillness and...
• serf A labourer in the feudal system who was bound to the land and obliged to work...
• serotonin A neurotransmitter that contributes to feelings of wellbeing, happiness, and ...
• servile Excessively willing to serve or please others; showing a lack of self-respect...
• servomechanism An automatic control system that uses error-sensing negative feedback to corr...
• severance Compensation paid to an employee upon dismissal or termination of employment,...
• shrewd Having or showing sharp powers of judgement; clever and practical, especially...
• shrill High-pitched and piercing in sound; when applied to speech or writing, unplea...
• sibilant Having or producing a hissing sound, particularly the sounds associated with ...
• siege A military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or fortress, cutti...
• signatory A person, organisation, or country that has signed a formal agreement, treaty...
• silviculture The practice of controlling the growth, composition, health, and quality of f...
• simplistic Treating complex issues or problems as if they were much simpler than they re...
• simulate To imitate or reproduce the conditions, behaviour, or appearance of something...
• simultaneous Occurring, operating, or done at the same time; existing or happening concurr...
• sine A trigonometric function equal to the ratio of the opposite side to the hypot...
• sinecure A position or office that requires little or no work but provides a salary or...
• sinewy Lean and muscular, with visible tendons and muscle definition; by extension, ...
• sinkhole A depression or hole in the ground caused by the collapse of the surface laye...
• sinusoidal Having the shape or characteristics of a sine wave — a smooth, periodic curve...
• slander A false spoken statement that damages a person's reputation; the spoken form ...
• soar To fly or rise high in the air; to increase rapidly and dramatically above th...
• sobriety The state of being sober — either not drunk or, more broadly, serious, measur...
• socioeconomic Relating to or involving a combination of social and economic factors, such a...
• socratic Relating to the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates or his method of teaching ...
• solicit To ask for or try to obtain something from someone, especially formally or ea...
• solicitous Showing attentive concern or anxious care for someone's comfort, wellbeing, o...
• solidarity Unity or agreement of feeling, action, or purpose among individuals within a ...
• soliloquy A speech in a play in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud while alo...
• solipsism The philosophical idea that only one's own mind is sure to exist, and that kn...
• solubility The ability of a substance to dissolve in a solvent, typically expressed as t...
• solvable Capable of being solved or resolved. In mathematics, describes an equation, p...
• solvency The ability of a person, company, or institution to meet its long-term financ...
• solvent Having sufficient assets to cover all debts and liabilities; financially soun...
• somnolent Sleepy or drowsy; inducing drowsiness. Used both of people who are feeling sl...
• sonar A system that uses sound waves propagated through water to detect, locate, an...
• sonata A composition for one or two instruments, typically in three or four movement...
• sonic Relating to or using sound waves, or travelling at the speed of sound (approx...
• sonnet A poem of fourteen lines using a fixed rhyme scheme and metre, traditionally ...
• sonorous Having a deep, full, and impressively rich sound; resonant and imposing in tone.
• sophisticated Having a refined worldly awareness and knowledge; complex and developed to a ...
• sophistication The quality of being sophisticated; worldly experience, refinement, or impres...
• sophistry The use of clever but fundamentally flawed reasoning, especially to deceive o...
• sophomoric Displaying the overconfidence and intellectual pretension of someone with onl...
• soporific Tending to induce drowsiness or sleep; extremely boring or tedious. As a noun...
• soundbite A short, memorable phrase or sentence extracted from a longer speech or inter...
• sovereign Possessing supreme or ultimate power and authority; independent and self-gove...
• sovereignty Supreme authority and power of a state to govern itself independently; the fu...
• spartan Showing no interest in comfort or luxury; rigorously self-disciplined and fru...
• specification A detailed description of the design, materials, dimensions, and standards re...
• specious Superficially plausible but actually wrong or misleading. Describes arguments...
• spectator A person who watches an event, performance, or activity, especially a sportin...
• spectral Relating to a spectrum, particularly the range of wavelengths of electromagne...
• spectrometer An instrument used to measure the properties of light or other radiation acro...
• spectroscopy The scientific study and investigation of spectra produced when matter intera...
• spectrum A continuous range or sequence of related qualities, ideas, or values; in phy...
• speculate To form theories or conjectures without firm evidence, or to invest in ventur...
• speculation The act of forming opinions or theories without firm evidence; in finance, th...
• speculative Based on conjecture or theory rather than firm evidence, or involving a high ...
• sphere A perfectly round three-dimensional shape in which every point on the surface...
• spike A sudden, sharp increase in something, typically temporary. As a verb, to inc...
• splendid Magnificent, very impressive, or excellent; also used as an exclamation of ap...
• splint A rigid or flexible device used to immobilise and support an injured body par...
• spontaneous Occurring or arising naturally and without external cause or planning; perfor...
• sporadic Occurring at irregular intervals or in scattered, isolated instances; not ste...
• sporadically Occurring at scattered, unpredictable intervals; happening infrequently and w...
• sprain An injury to a ligament caused by sudden stretching or twisting, resulting in...
• spreadsheet A computer application or document that organises data into rows and columns,...
• spurious Not genuine, authentic, or true; false or fabricated, often with the intent t...
• squalid Extremely dirty, neglected, and unpleasant, especially as a result of poverty...
• stabilise To make or become steady, stable, or unlikely to change or fluctuate further.
• stagnant Having no current or flow, and often becoming foul as a result; showing no ac...
• stagnate To cease developing or progressing; to become inactive, sluggish, or unchanging.
• staid Sedate, respectable, and unadventurous in character or manner. Describes peop...
• stakeholder A person, group, or organisation that has an interest or concern in a busines...
• stalactite A tapering formation that hangs from the ceiling of a cave, formed by the slo...
• stalagmite A mound or pillar of rock rising from the floor of a cave, formed by the depo...
• stalemate A situation in which neither side can gain an advantage; in chess, a position...
• standardise To cause something to conform to a uniform standard, ensuring consistency acr...
• standardised Made to conform to a standard; brought into line with a uniform set of specif...
• stanza A group of lines forming the basic recurring unit in a poem; a verse.
• static Lacking movement, development, or vitality; remaining unchanged or fixed over...
• statute A written law passed by a legislative body such as Parliament; also, a rule o...
• statute-of-limitations A law prescribing a time limit within which legal proceedings must be brought...
• staunch Firm, loyal, and unwavering in one's support, beliefs, or principles. As a ve...
• steadfast Resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering in loyalty, belief, or commitment.
• stent A small, expandable tube or mesh device inserted into a blocked or narrowed p...
• stentorian Extremely loud and powerful, typically describing a voice or sound that comma...
• steppe A large, flat, treeless grassland, especially the vast expanses found in Cent...
• stereotype A widely held but oversimplified and generalised image or idea of a particula...
• sterilisation The process of making something free from bacteria or other living microorgan...
• stethoscope A medical instrument used for listening to internal sounds of the body, parti...
• steward A person responsible for managing or looking after property, resources, or ev...
• stewardship The responsible management and care of something entrusted to one's charge, e...
• stigma A mark of disgrace or shame associated with a particular circumstance, qualit...
• stigmatise To regard or treat someone or something as worthy of disgrace or strong disap...
• stimulus Something that provokes a response or reaction, particularly in a physiologic...
• stipend A fixed regular sum paid as a salary or allowance, especially to a member of ...
• stipulate To demand or specify a requirement, typically as part of an agreement, contra...
• stipulation A condition or requirement that is demanded as part of an agreement, contract...
• stochastic Involving or characterised by randomness or probability, where outcomes canno...
• stoic A person who endures pain, hardship, or misfortune without displaying emotion...
• stoical Enduring pain, hardship, or adversity without showing feelings or complaining...
• stoichiometry The branch of chemistry concerned with the quantitative relationships between...
• stoicism The endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and without...
• stolid Calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation. Describes a person...
• strategic Relating to the identification and pursuit of long-term or overall aims and o...
• stratification The arrangement or classification of something into different layers or level...
• stratify To form or arrange into distinct layers, levels, or social strata, often impl...
• stratospheric Relating to the stratosphere — the layer of the Earth's atmosphere between ro...
• streaming The continuous transmission of audio or video content over the internet, allo...
• streamline To make a system, organisation, or process more efficient and effective by si...
• strident Loud, harsh, and grating in sound or manner; presenting views or demands in a...
• stringent Strict, precise, and demanding, especially in the enforcement of rules, regul...
• stupor A state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility, typically caused by shock, ...
• stymie To prevent or hinder the progress of something; to present an obstacle that b...
• subatomic Smaller than or occurring within an atom. Subatomic particles include protons...
• subconscious The part of the mind that influences thoughts, feelings, and behaviour withou...
• subcutaneous Situated or applied beneath the skin. In medicine, it describes injections, t...
• subjective Based on personal feelings, opinions, or interpretations rather than external...
• subjugate To bring a people, country, or group under domination or control, especially ...
• subjunctive A verb mood used to express wishes, hypothetical situations, demands, or sugg...
• sublimate To channel instinctive impulses or emotions, especially socially unacceptable...
• sublimation In psychology, the channelling of unacceptable impulses or emotions into soci...
• sublime Of outstanding spiritual, intellectual, or moral worth; of such excellence or...
• subordinate Lower in rank, status, or importance; as a noun, a person under the authority...
• subpoena A legal document ordering a person to attend court as a witness or to produce...
• subrogation The legal right of an insurer or other party who has paid a claim to step int...
• subscriber A person who pays regularly to receive a publication, service, or access to c...
• subservient Excessively willing to obey or serve others; behaving in a way that demonstra...
• subsidence The gradual sinking or settling of the ground surface, caused by the removal ...
• subsidiary A company controlled by a larger parent company; as an adjective, less import...
• subsidise To support financially by contributing money, typically from public funds, to...
• subsidy A sum of money granted by the government or a public body to help an industry...
• subsonic Travelling at or relating to speeds below the speed of sound (below approxima...
• substantiate To provide evidence or proof to support a claim, statement, or theory.
• substantive Having real importance, value, or substance; meaningful and significant rathe...
• substrate An underlying substance or layer on which something acts or is deposited. In ...
• subsume To include or incorporate something within a larger category, group, or princ...
• subterfuge A trick, deception, or stratagem used to achieve a goal or avoid detection, e...
• subtle Delicate, elusive, or difficult to detect; making fine distinctions that requ...
• subtlety The quality of being subtle; a fine distinction, delicate nuance, or understa...
• suburban Relating to or characteristic of a suburb — a residential area on the outskir...
• subvent To provide financial support or a grant to an institution, project, or activi...
• subversive Seeking or intended to undermine an established system, institution, or set o...
• succinct Briefly and clearly expressed; covering what is needed without unnecessary wo...
• succumb To yield to a superior force, pressure, or overwhelming desire; to be unable ...
• suffrage The right to vote in political elections; the exercise of this right. Most co...
• suggestive Tending to suggest or imply something without stating it directly; indicating...
• summarise To give a brief, condensed account of the main points of something, omitting ...
• summative Relating to assessment that evaluates a learner's achievement at the end of a...
• sumptuous Splendid, luxurious, and costly in appearance; suggesting great expense and l...
• supercilious Behaving or looking as though one considers oneself superior to others; displ...
• superconductor A material that conducts electricity with zero electrical resistance when coo...
• superficial Existing or occurring at or on the surface; not thorough, deep, or complete. ...
• superficially On the surface; to a shallow degree or only in outward appearance, without de...
• superfluous More than is needed or wanted; unnecessary or excessive.
• supernova The catastrophic explosion of a massive star at the end of its life cycle, pr...
• supersede To take the place of something older, less effective, or less valid; to repla...
• supersonic Travelling at or relating to speeds exceeding the speed of sound (above Mach ...
• supplant To replace or take the position of someone or something, especially through f...
• supple Bending and moving easily without stiffness; by extension, adaptable and resp...
• supplementary Provided in addition to what is already present or available; serving to comp...
• supplicate To make a humble, earnest plea or request, especially to someone in a positio...
• suppress To forcibly put an end to something, prevent it from being expressed, or keep...
• supreme Highest in rank, authority, or quality; greatest or most extreme in degree; u...
• surcharge An additional charge or fee added to the usual cost of something; an extra pa...
• surety A person who takes responsibility for another's debt or obligation, or the mo...
• surfeit An excessive amount of something, especially food or drink; an overabundance ...
• surge A sudden, powerful forward or upward movement; a sudden large increase in som...
• surgical Relating to or used in surgery; figuratively, describing an action carried ou...
• surjective Describing a function in which every element of the codomain is mapped to by ...
• surmise To suppose or infer something without sufficient evidence to be certain; an e...
• surmount To overcome a difficulty, obstacle, or challenge; to succeed in dealing with ...
• surplus An amount of something that exceeds what is needed or used; an excess of reve...
• surreal Having the quality of a dream; bizarre, fantastical, or dreamlike in a way th...
• surrealist Relating to or characteristic of surrealism, an artistic and literary movemen...
• surreptitious Done secretly or by stealth, especially because the action would not be appro...
• surrogate A person or thing that acts as a substitute for another; a replacement that t...
• surveillance Close observation of a person, group, or area, especially by an authority or ...
• surveyor A person who examines and records the features, condition, or boundaries of l...
• susceptance The imaginary component of admittance in an AC circuit, representing the ease...
• susceptible Likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing, or open an...
• suspension The temporary removal of a student from school as a disciplinary measure; mor...
• sustainability The ability to maintain or support a process continuously over time, especial...
• sustenance Food and drink regarded as a source of strength and nourishment; more broadly...
• suture A stitch or series of stitches used to hold together the edges of a wound or ...
• sybarite A person who is excessively fond of luxury and sensual pleasure; someone devo...
• sycophant A person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain adv...
• sycophantic Behaving in an excessively flattering or obsequious way towards someone in a ...
• syllable A unit of pronunciation consisting of a single uninterrupted sound, typically...
• syllabus A detailed outline of the topics, readings, and assignments to be covered in ...
• syllogism A form of deductive reasoning consisting of two premises and a conclusion, wh...
• symbiosis A close and long-term biological interaction between two different organisms,...
• symbolic Serving as a symbol; representing something abstract through the use of image...
• symbolism The use of symbols to represent ideas, qualities, or concepts; a late 19th-ce...
• symphony An elaborate musical composition for a full orchestra, typically in four move...
• symposium A formal conference or meeting at which experts discuss a particular topic; a...
• symptomatic Displaying symptoms of a disease or condition. Also used figuratively to mean...
• synapse A junction between two nerve cells where electrical or chemical signals are t...
• synchronise To cause two or more things to happen, operate, or move at the same time or r...
• syndicalist A person who advocates syndicalism, a movement seeking to transfer ownership ...
• syndicate A group of individuals or organisations combined to promote a common interest...
• syndrome A group of symptoms that consistently occur together and characterise a parti...
• synergistically In a way that produces a combined effect greater than the sum of the individu...
• synergy The combined effect of elements working together that is greater than the sum...
• synonym A word or phrase that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word...
• synonymous Having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or phrase; so clos...
• synopsis A brief summary or general survey of the main points of a text, film, play, o...
• synoptic Providing a general overview or summary of a subject, seeing the whole togeth...
• syntax The set of rules governing how words and phrases are arranged to form grammat...
• synthesis The combination of different ideas, elements, or substances to form a coheren...
• syringe A device consisting of a tube fitted with a plunger and a hollow needle, used...
• systematically In a methodical, organised manner following a fixed plan or system; done acco...
• systematise To arrange something according to an organised system or method, bringing ord...
• systemic Relating to or affecting an entire system rather than just a part of it; fund...