Here are 10 vocabulary words to bolster your communications

Dec 01, 2020

Learning new words can help you get ideas across more powerfully

A mechanic with a wide range of tools at hand has an advantage over a fellow mechanic who has few. That’s equally true of communications, whether orally or by writing. Add more serviceable words to your vocabulary and you’ll be better able to formulate thoughts and convey them to others.

Here are 10 words that may prove useful additions to one’s communications toolbox. These words are powerful and descriptive without being overly pedantic.

Adroit: having or showing skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations. Used in a sentence: Mark was adroit when it came to handling audience questions and moving on smoothly to the next topic.
Abject: sunk to or existing in a low state or condition, very bad or severe. Used in a sentence: Tom felt like an abject failure after forfeiting his insurance license.
Consummate: extremely skilled and accomplished. Used in a sentence: My grandfather was an engraver by trade, a consummate craftsman.
Infer: to derive as a conclusion from facts or premises. Used in a sentence: Shelia inferred from Beth’s standoffish behavior that she was angry about their earlier conversation. Note: People often use this word incorrectly as a synonym for “imply.” A person who’s implying something is expressing it in an indirect manner. A person who’s inferring something is only deriving or deducing it from what someone else said. I implied the threat and you inferred it.
Modicum: a small portion, a limited quantity. Used in a sentence: Despite teaching a class on investing, Jennifer had only a modicum of expertise in the subject.
Mogul: a great personage, magnate. Used in a sentence: Earl was well known as a real-estate mogul in the tri-state area.
Nadir: the lowest point. Used in a sentence: The Baltimore Orioles committed four errors in last night’s game, which represents the nadir of their season so far.
Proscribe: to condemn or forbid as harmful or unlawful, prohibit. Used in a sentence: The town decided it was best to proscribe gambling within its borders.
Quintessential: perfectly typical or representative of a particular kind of person or thing. Used in a sentence: The school’s star athlete was tall, quick and agile: the quintessential basketball player.
Surreptitious: done, made, or acquired by stealth. The county commissioners had a surreptitious meeting at a local bar to decide how to coordinate their voting at the next meeting.