The best essay vocabulary to include in any academic paper
This post is all about vocabulary for essays.
As someone who just finished my degree in creative writing, I’ve been in your position SO many times… I’ve had to write so many essays over the last four years! So, I’ve put together a list of advanced vocabulary for essays that you can easily insert into your papers to make them better.
This vocabulary for essay writing will make your life so much easier this semester!
This post is all about vocabulary for essays.
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ESSAY VOCABULARY LIST:
This essay vocab list will give you vocabulary ideas, each word’s meaning, and an example of how to use it.
Also, note that these definitions are the most concise possible definitions according to how they would most commonly be used in an essay. If you want to understand a particular word in more detail, a dictionary will of course give you more examples and uses for each word! I just wanted to avoid overloading you with information here, so that the focus can remain on the vocabulary for essays.
And, the example sentences are totally made up phrases that came to mind and are not necessarily supported by research or facts!! They’re just examples so you can understand how the word would be used in the context of an essay.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Inherent | Existing as a characteristic or necessary attribute | “The conclusion of this study carries within it the inherent assumption that…” |
| Exemplify | Be a common example of | “The results of this study exemplify current cultural norms…” |
| Considering | Taking something into account | “Considering the results of this study, it is clear that… “ |
| Manifest | Display, show, demonstrate | “The loneliness of this character manifests in their behavior when…” |
| Furthermore | In addition | “Furthermore, the study shows…” |
| Similarly | In a similar way | “Similarly, there is no proof that…” |
| Likewise | In the same way | “In the same way, the author argues…” |
| For instance | As an example | “For instance, when a person enters adulthood…” |
| Consequently | As a result | “Lawyers spend far more time studying, and consequently earn more money throughout their careers” |
| Moreover | As a further matter | “Moreover, Smith’s study discusses the impacts of…” |
| Another key point | Additionally | “Another key point is the impact of…” |
| Conversely | Introducing a statement that contrasts the previous statement | “Toddlers are unable to effectively control emotions; conversely, healthily developed adults are the best at emotional regulation.” |
| Alternatively | Another possibility | “Alternatively, doctors may diagnose…” |
| By contrast | When compared to another | “Rabbits are some of the quietest animals. By contrast, one would not be able to drown out the sound of a hyena.” |
| Nonetheless | In spite of that | “Only one study has proven this phenomenon, but it has been proven nonetheless.” |
| Notwithstanding | In spite of | “Only one study has proven this phenomenon. Notwithstanding, the results are valid.” |
| Admittedly | Introducing the recognition that something is true | “Admittedly, one could also argue against the aforementioned point by saying…” |
| Generate | Cause | “The gaps in this study have generated doubts about its validity.” |
| Fluctuate | Rise and fall irregularly | “Since spring temperatures in Ontario fluctuate so vastly, it is difficult to predict what the average spring temperature will be in future years.” |
| Evolve | Develop gradually | “While the young professional’s role has evolved, she is still less experienced…” |
| Constrain | Restrict or compel | “The limited number of universities in certain cities constrain locals’ accessibility to education.” |
| Govern | Control or regulate | “The results of this study will govern future health recommendations” |
| Instigate | Initiate | “The celebrity’s social media post instigated this debate” |
| Promote | Advance or encourage | “Although the novel appears to promote a positive message about living in a big city, the author has voiced their dislike of such locations.” |
| Advance | Move forward purposefully | “The invention of the internet advanced opportunities for many aspiring entrepreneurs” |
| Develop | To grow or to begin existing | “As resentment develops between the two characters, they find…” |
| Facilitate | To make something easier | “The implementation of online meetings has facilitated greater collaboration in organizations worldwide.” |
| Implement | To put something into effect | “The study found that people struggled to implement all ten healthy habits at the same time.” |
| Maximize | To make best use of | “To maximize results, one must…” |
| Deteriorate | To become increasingly worse | “As society’s economic climate deteriorates, it is necessary to…” |
| Minimize | To reduce or underestimate | “The author suggests the use of cell phones to minimize the effects of…” |
| Subside | To return to a normal level or lower | “As a child’s tantrum subsides, it is important for the mother to…” |
| Comprised of | Made up of | “The novel is comprised of three core themes…” |
| Incorporates | To take in or use something as a part of a whole | “The management team incorporated several safety measures into their event” |
| Negate | Make ineffective or deny the existence of something | “The author’s negative view of social media negates the importance of human connection” |
| Refute | Contradict or prove wrong | “The doctor refutes this theory based on his research which shows…” |
| Reject | Dismiss as inadequate | “Most health experts reject the idea that walking is pointless” |
| Contradict | Assert an opposing view | “The survey of citizens’ political opinions contradicts the politician’s claim that she is widely supported” |
| Contend | Assert a particular view within an argument | “The author contends that the 100-year-old study failed to take some things into consideration” |
| Assert | Put forth, confidently state | “The author asserts that a new study is needed to draw accurate conclusions” |
| Complement | Something that completes or enhances something else | “A well-written cover letter complements any resume” |
| Suggests | Put forward the idea | “Experts suggest that…” |
| Imply | Strongly suggest an idea or truth | “The character’s actions imply that they believe…” |
| Underscore | Emphasize | “The author underscored the advancement of the tech industry by…” |
| Uphold | Maintain or support | “Many people uphold their religious beliefs through habitual prayer and studying” |
| Validate | Demonstrate support | “The doctor’s theory is validated by several recent studies” |
| Verify | Ensure that something is true or justified | “Periodic surveys verify the public’s opinions on…” |
| Corroborate | Confirm a theory or finding | “The man’s text message history corroborated the timeline of his attack…” |
| Entail | Include something as a necessary aspect or consequence | “While the character’s journey entails several risks…” |
| Indicate | Show | “The results of this study indicate that…” |
| Reveal | Make known | “The character’s use of sarcasm reveals…” |
| Evaluate | Assess | “When evaluating the author’s claims, it is important to remember that…” |
| Examine | Inspect | “When the study is closely examined, it reveals…” |
| Explore | Inquire into or discuss | “The study fails to address several questions, which are important to explore…” |
| Infer | Deduce, conclude | “Although the author does not explicitly state their opinion, one can infer that…” |
| Interpret | understand | “The reader’s interpretation of the novel’s themes is dependent upon their worldview” |
| Speculate | Develop a theory without sufficient evidence | “Although there is not sufficient data to prove it, many experts speculate that…” |
| Scrutinize | Closely examine | “The dialogue of this novel has been scrutinized by literature majors for years” |
| Surmise | Assume or understand that something is true without sufficient evidence | “Many surmise that modern society is happier than 100 years ago…” |
| Denote | Indicate | “Classifying a book as ‘fantasy’ denotes creativity and imagination” |
| Typify | Be characteristic of | “Traditional tropes typify this author’s work” |
| Portray | Depict | “The character’s insecurities are portrayed through…” |
| Illustrate | Explain with concrete examples | “The author’s use of the word ‘juxtapose’ illustrates…” |
| Display | Exhibit | “The lack of chapter titles display’s the simplicity inherent in…” |
| Depict | Show or represent | “The author’s use of dark humor depicts their inherent understanding of…” |
| Pervasive | Being widely spread, unwelcome | “Anxiety is pervasive in modern day high schools…” |
| Relevant | Closely connected | “Although the author makes a compelling argument about anxiety, it is not relevant to the main point that…” |
| Accordingly | In an appropriate way | “One must consider all the evidence and act accordingly” |
| Respectively | Separately and individually in the order previously mentioned | “Smith, Baron, and Zang achieve salary increases of $5000, $7000, and $12000, respectively.” |
| Given the above | Referring to aforementioned statements or points | “Given the above, it can be concluded that…” |
| Finally | To introduce a final point | “Finally, one must acknowledge…” |
| Lastly | To end, to introduce a final point | “Lastly, there is a difference between…” |
| To conclude | In closing | “To conclude, the facts clearly show…” |
| In brief | To summarize | “In brief, the facts clearly show…” |
| In summary | In short, to conclude | “In summary, the facts clearly show…” |
| Rendered | To cause something to be changed in such a way that it no longer has use | “These findings were rendered useless when a new study came out to show…” |
| Exhibit | Display or manifest | “The character exhibits his timid nature when…” |
Hope this list of vocabulary for essays was helpful!
Best of luck on all your essays!! Follow me on Instagram for more writing tips!
Which of these vocabulary words for essay writing will you be using?
This post was all about vocabulary for essays.
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This is a fascinating post. I like the list of vocabulary with definitions. It’s a good reminder of how to write effectively by using precise words to convey meaning.