100 Words Everyone Should Know

ARTICULATE

adjective/verb · ar-TIK-yuh-lit. Able to express ideas clearly and fluently. “She’s remarkably articulate for someone who’s only been in the role a month.”

CONCISE

adjective · kuhn-SYSE. Giving information clearly in a few words; free of unnecessary detail. “Please keep your update concise, two sentences is enough.”

CLARIFY

verb · KLAR-ih-fye. To make a statement or situation clearer or easier to understand. “Could you clarify what you meant by ‘soon’?”

CANDID

adjective · KAN-did. Honest and direct, even when the truth is uncomfortable. “Thanks for being candid about the project’s risks.”

TACTFUL

adjective · TAKT-fuhl. Careful not to upset or offend someone while still being honest. “She found a tactful way to decline the invitation.”

PARAPHRASE

verb · PAR-uh-frayz. To express someone else’s meaning using different words. “Let me paraphrase what you just said to make sure I understood.”

ELABORATE

verb · ih-LAB-uh-rayt. To add more detail or explanation to something already said. “Could you elaborate on the second point?”

SMALL TALK

noun · SMAWL tawk. Light, polite conversation about unimportant topics. “We made small talk in the elevator before the meeting.”

MISCOMMUNICATION

noun · mis-kuh-myoo-nih-KAY-shuhn. A failure to communicate clearly, leading to confusion. “The delay was just a miscommunication between the two teams.”

RECIPROCATE

verb · rih-SIP-ruh-kayt. To respond to an action or feeling with a similar one. “He smiled, and she reciprocated warmly.”

DELEGATE

verb · DEL-ih-gayt. To assign a task or responsibility to someone else. “A good manager knows when to delegate rather than do everything herself.”

PROACTIVE

adjective · pro-AK-tiv. Acting in advance to deal with an expected situation, rather than reacting after it happens. “Being proactive about deadlines saved us a lot of stress.”

STAKEHOLDER

noun · STAYK-hohl-der. A person or group with an interest or investment in a decision or project. “We need sign-off from every stakeholder before launch.”

STREAMLINE

verb · STREEM-lyne. To make a process simpler and more efficient. “The new software helped streamline our onboarding process.”

LEVERAGE

verb · LEV-er-ij. To use something to maximum advantage. “We can leverage our existing customer base to promote the new feature.”

ACCOUNTABLE

adjective · uh-KOWN-tuh-buhl. Required to explain or justify one’s actions; responsible. “Each team lead is accountable for their own budget.”

COLLABORATE

verb · kuh-LAB-uh-rayt. To work jointly with others on a task or project. “The two departments collaborated on the redesign.”

FEEDBACK

noun · FEED-bak. Information or opinions given about someone’s performance or work, used as a basis for improvement. “The manager gave detailed feedback after the presentation.”

INITIATIVE

noun · ih-NISH-uh-tiv. The ability to act independently and take the first step without being told. “She showed real initiative by fixing the bug before anyone reported it.”

PRIORITIZE

verb · pry-OR-ih-tyze. To treat something as more important than other things. “We need to prioritize the client’s request over internal cleanup.”

HYPOTHESIS

noun · hy-POTH-uh-sis. A proposed explanation made on limited evidence, used as a starting point for further testing. “Her hypothesis was that sleep quality affected test scores.”

CREDIBLE

adjective · KRED-uh-buhl. Believable and worthy of trust, especially based on evidence. “The report cited several credible sources.”

OBJECTIVE

adjective · uhb-JEK-tiv. Based on facts rather than personal feelings or opinions. “Try to keep your analysis objective, not just your gut reaction.”

SUBJECTIVE

adjective · suhb-JEK-tiv. Based on personal opinion, feeling, or perspective rather than fact. “Beauty is famously subjective.”

CITE

verb · SYTE. To quote or refer to a source as evidence for a statement. “Make sure to cite your sources in the bibliography.”

SYNTHESIZE

verb · SIN-thuh-syze. To combine separate ideas or pieces of information into a coherent whole. “The essay synthesizes research from three different fields.”

EMPIRICAL

adjective · em-PEER-ih-kuhl. Based on observation or experiment rather than theory alone. “The claim needs empirical support, not just intuition.”

CONTEXT

noun · KON-tekst. The circumstances or background that help explain a situation, event, or statement. “Without more context, that quote sounds harsher than it was meant.”

PREMISE

noun · PREM-is. A statement or idea taken to be true, used as the basis for an argument. “His whole argument rests on a shaky premise.”

CORRELATION

noun · kor-uh-LAY-shuhn. A mutual relationship or connection between two things, without necessarily implying cause. “There’s a correlation between the two variables, but not necessarily causation.”

EMPATHY

noun · EM-puh-thee. The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. “Good managers show empathy when employees are struggling.”

RESILIENT

adjective · rih-ZIL-yuhnt. Able to recover quickly from setbacks or difficulty. “Kids are often more resilient than we give them credit for.”

AMBIVALENT

adjective · am-BIV-uh-luhnt. Having mixed or contradictory feelings about something. “I feel ambivalent about the move, excited, but also nervous.”

APPREHENSIVE

adjective · ap-rih-HEN-siv. Anxious or fearful about something that might happen. “She was apprehensive about the results.”

OVERWHELMED

adjective · oh-ver-WELMD. Having a feeling of being buried by too much to handle at once. “He felt overwhelmed by the number of messages waiting for him.”

VULNERABLE

adjective · VUL-ner-uh-buhl. Open to being hurt, emotionally or physically; exposed. “Sharing that story made her feel vulnerable.”

CONTENT

adjective · kuhn-TENT. In a state of peaceful satisfaction; not wanting more than what you have. “He seemed genuinely content with his quiet life.”

RESENTMENT

noun · rih-ZENT-muhnt. Bitter indignation felt as a result of unfair treatment. “Years of being overlooked built up into quiet resentment.”

COMPASSION

noun · kuhm-PASH-uhn. A feeling of sympathy for someone’s suffering, combined with a wish to help. “The nurses treated every patient with compassion.”

FRUSTRATED

adjective · fruh-STRAY-tid. Feeling annoyed or discouraged because of an inability to change or achieve something. “She was frustrated by the slow internet connection.”

SUBTLE

adjective · SUT-uhl. So delicate or precise that it’s not immediately obvious. “There’s a subtle difference between the two shades of blue.”

VIVID

adjective · VIV-id. Producing powerful, clear images or impressions in the mind. “She gave a vivid description of the storm.”

INTRICATE

adjective · IN-trih-kit. Very detailed and complicated in design or structure. “The watch had an intricate mechanism inside.”

DISTINCT

adjective · dih-STINKT. Clearly different or separate from something else; recognisable. “The two proposals have distinct advantages.”

PERVASIVE

adjective · per-VAY-siv. Spreading widely throughout a place or group of people. “The smell of coffee was pervasive throughout the office.”

STRIKING

adjective · STRY-king. Very noticeable or attractive; drawing immediate attention. “The building’s striking design stood out on the skyline.”

AMBIGUOUS

adjective · am-BIG-yoo-uhs. Open to more than one interpretation; not clearly defined. “The instructions were ambiguous, so everyone read them differently.”

ELABORATE

adjective · ih-LAB-uh-rit. Detailed and complicated in design or planning. “They threw an elaborate party for the anniversary.”

UNDERSTATED

adjective · un-der-STAY-tid. Presented in a subtle, restrained way rather than exaggerated. “The design was understated but elegant.”

TANGIBLE

adjective · TAN-juh-buhl. Able to be perceived clearly, especially by touch; real and concrete. “We need tangible proof, not just a promise.”

INFER

verb · in-FUR. To work out something not stated directly, based on evidence and reasoning. “From her tone, I inferred she wasn’t happy with the decision.”

IMPLY

verb · im-PLY. To suggest something indirectly without stating it outright. “His silence seemed to imply agreement.”

SKEPTICAL

adjective · SKEP-tih-kuhl. Not easily convinced; having doubts about a claim. “I’m skeptical that the plan will work without more funding.”

ASSUMPTION

noun · uh-SUMP-shuhn. Something accepted as true without proof. “We made an assumption about the budget that turned out to be wrong.”

BIAS

noun · BY-uhs. An inclination or prejudice for or against something, often unfair. “The survey questions showed a clear bias toward one answer.”

CONTRAST

noun/verb · KON-trast. A clear difference when two things are compared. “The new results contrast sharply with last year’s.”

NUANCE

noun · NOO-ahns. A subtle difference in meaning, tone, or feeling. “Translation often loses the nuance of the original language.”

RATIONALE

noun · rash-uh-NAL. The set of reasons behind a decision or belief. “Can you explain the rationale for the new policy?”

PRAGMATIC

adjective · prag-MAT-ik. Dealing with things sensibly and practically, rather than by theory or ideals. “We took a pragmatic approach given the tight deadline.”

RELEVANT

adjective · REL-uh-vuhnt. Closely connected to the matter at hand; applicable. “That statistic isn’t really relevant to this discussion.”

COHERENT

adjective · koh-HEER-uhnt. Logical and consistent; easy to follow. “The essay needed a more coherent structure.”

REDUNDANT

adjective · rih-DUN-duhnt. Unnecessary because it repeats something already stated. “‘Free gift’ is redundant, a gift is already free.”

SUCCINCT

adjective · suk-SINKT. Expressed clearly in few words; brief and to the point. “Her summary was succinct and easy to skim.”

NARRATIVE

noun · NAR-uh-tiv. A spoken or written account of connected events; a story. “The report reads more like a narrative than a set of statistics.”

TONE

noun · TOHN. The general character or attitude expressed in a piece of writing or speech. “Watch your tone in that email, it reads as sharper than you probably intend.”

DRAFT

noun/verb · DRAFT. A preliminary version of a piece of writing, not yet final. “Send me a rough draft by Friday and we’ll refine it together.”

EDIT

verb · ED-it. To revise and correct a piece of writing for accuracy, clarity, or style. “I’ll edit the draft before it goes to the client.”

STRUCTURE

noun · STRUK-cher. The way parts of a piece of writing are arranged and organised. “The article’s structure made a complex topic easy to follow.”

EMPHASIZE

verb · EM-fuh-syze. To give special importance to a particular point. “The report emphasizes the need for faster shipping times.”

CLICHÉ

noun · klee-SHAY. An expression used so often it has lost its original impact. “‘At the end of the day’ has become a bit of a cliché.”

TRUST

noun · TRUST. Firm belief in the reliability, honesty, or ability of someone. “Trust takes years to build and moments to lose.”

BOUNDARY

noun · BOWN-duh-ree. A limit that defines acceptable behaviour between people. “She set a clear boundary about not working weekends.”

RECONCILE

verb · REK-uhn-syle. To restore friendly relations after a disagreement. “The brothers finally reconciled after years apart.”

SUPPORTIVE

adjective · suh-POR-tiv. Providing encouragement or emotional help. “Her friends were supportive throughout the whole process.”

GENUINE

adjective · JEN-yoo-in. Truly what it seems to be; sincere and not fake. “His apology felt genuine, not just a formality.”

MUTUAL

adjective · MYOO-choo-uhl. Shared or felt equally by both parties. “The respect between them was clearly mutual.”

COMMIT

verb · kuh-MIT. To pledge oneself to a course of action or relationship. “They decided to commit to counselling before giving up.”

VALIDATE

verb · VAL-ih-dayt. To recognise or affirm that someone’s feelings or experience are legitimate. “Just listening and validating her frustration helped more than advice would have.”

ESTRANGED

adjective · ih-STRAYND. No longer close or in contact with someone, especially a family member. “He’d been estranged from his father for a decade.”

CONFIDANT

noun · KON-fih-dant. A person one shares private matters or secrets with. “She’d always been his closest confidant.”

DELIBERATE

verb · dih-LIB-uh-rayt. To think carefully about a decision before making it. “The jury deliberated for six hours before reaching a verdict.”

INEVITABLE

adjective · in-EV-ih-tuh-buhl. Certain to happen; unable to be avoided. “Given the sales trend, layoffs felt inevitable.”

PRIORITY

noun · pry-OR-ih-tee. A thing regarded as more important than others and dealt with first. “Getting the release out on time is our top priority.”

CONSEQUENCE

noun · KON-suh-kwens. A result or effect of an earlier action or decision. “Missing the deadline had real consequences for the whole team.”

COMPROMISE

noun/verb · KOM-pruh-myze. An agreement reached by each side giving up part of what it wanted. “They reached a compromise on the budget by cutting the smaller expenses.”

FEASIBLE

adjective · FEE-zuh-buhl. Possible to do easily or practically. “It’s not feasible to finish by Monday with the current team size.”

HESITANT

adjective · HEZ-ih-tuhnt. Slow to act or decide because of uncertainty or reluctance. “She was hesitant to sign without reading the fine print.”

DECISIVE

adjective · dih-SY-siv. Able to make decisions quickly and confidently. “A decisive leader can steer a team through a crisis.”

WEIGH

verb · WAY. To consider and compare the value or importance of different options. “Weigh the risks carefully before you commit any money.”

RECONSIDER

verb · ree-kuhn-SID-er. To think again about a decision, often to possibly change it. “After the feedback, we decided to reconsider the whole plan.”

SUSTAINABLE

adjective · suh-STAY-nuh-buhl. Able to be maintained at a certain level without depleting resources. “The company switched to more sustainable packaging.”

OVERSTIMULATED

adjective · oh-ver-STIM-yuh-lay-tid. Given so much sensory input or activity that it becomes exhausting. “After scrolling for an hour, I felt completely overstimulated.”

BURNOUT

noun · BURN-owt. A state of physical and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. “She took a week off to recover from burnout.”

ALGORITHM

noun · AL-guh-rith-uhm. A set of rules a computer follows to complete a task, such as ranking content. “The app’s algorithm decides which posts you see first.”

MISINFORMATION

noun · mis-in-fer-MAY-shuhn. False or inaccurate information, especially spread without intent to deceive. “Misinformation about the vaccine spread quickly online.”

CONVENIENCE

noun · kuhn-VEEN-yuhns. The quality of being useful, easy, or suitable for one’s needs. “The convenience of grocery delivery made a real difference during that busy month.”

DIGITAL DETOX

noun · DIJ-ih-tuhl DEE-toks. A period of time deliberately avoiding screens and devices. “They went on a digital detox for the weekend and left their phones at home.”

REMOTE

adjective · rih-MOHT. Done or working from a location away from a central office. “Her whole team has worked remote since 2021.”

AUTHENTIC

adjective · aw-THEN-tik. Genuine and true to one’s own character, rather than performed. “Audiences respond better to authentic marketing than polished perfection.”

PERCEIVE

verb · per-SEEV. To become aware of or interpret something through the senses or the mind. “Customers perceive a slower checkout as a sign of poor service, even when the wait is short.”