Vocabulary is 25% of your marks for IELTS Writing and Speaking. If you want to get 7 or higher for IELTS Writing and IELTS Speaking, you should avoid basic words — we offer synonyms for the most common words here. 

 

 

A lot

— a shocking quantity, a great deal, a plethora, a

Amazing

— incredible, unbelievable, improbable, fabulous, wonderful, fantastic, astonishing, astounding, extraordinary

Awful

— dreadful, terrible, abominable, bad, poor, unpleasant

Bad

— loathsome, horrific, evil, immoral, wicked, corrupt, sinful, depraved, rotten, contaminated, spoiled, tainted, harmful, injurious, unfavorable, defective, inferior, imperfect, substandard, faulty, improper, inappropriate, unsuitable, disagreeable, unpleasant, cross, nasty, unfriendly, irascible, horrible, atrocious, outrageous, scandalous, infamous, wrong, noxious, sinister, putrid, snide, deplorable, dismal, gross, heinous, nefarious, base, obnoxious, detestable, despicable, contemptible, foul, rank, ghastly, execrable

Beautiful

— pretty, lovely, handsome, attractive, gorgeous, dazzling, splendid, magnificent, comely, fair, ravishing, graceful, elegant, fine, exquisite, aesthetic, pleasing, shapely, delicate, stunning, glorious, heavenly, resplendent, radiant, glowing, blooming, sparkling

Begin

— start, open, launch, initiate, commence, inaugurate, originate

Big

— enormous, huge, immense, gigantic, vast, colossal, gargantuan, large, sizable, grand, great, tall, substantial, mammoth, astronomical, ample, broad, expansive, spacious, stout, tremendous, titanic, mountainous

Brave

— courageous, fearless, dauntless, intrepid, plucky, daring, heroic, valorous, audacious, bold, gallant, valiant, doughty, mettlesome

Bright

— shining, shiny, gleaming, brilliant, sparkling, shimmering, radiant, vivid, colorful, lustrous, luminous, incandescent, intelligent, knowing, quick-witted, smart, intellectual

Boring

— dull, tiring,, tiresome, uninteresting, slow, dumb, stupid, unimaginative, lifeless, dead, insensible, tedious, wearisome, listless, expressionless, plain, monotonous,
humdrum, dreary

Calm

— quiet, peaceful, still, tranquil, mild, serene, smooth, composed, collected, unruffled, level-headed, unexcited, detached, aloof

Come

— approach, advance, near, arrive, reach

Dangerous

— perilous, hazardous, risky, unsafe

Dark

— shadowy, unlit, murky, gloomy, dim, dusky, shaded, sunless, black, dismal, sad

Decide

— determine, settle, choose, resolve

Definite

— certain, sure, positive, determined, clear, distinct, obvious

Delicious

— savory, delectable, appetizing, palatable, delightful, enjoyable, toothsome

Describe

— portray, characterize, picture, narrate, relate, recount, represent, report, record

Destroy

— ruin, demolish, raze, waste

 

Eager

— keen, fervent, enthusiastic, involved, interested, alive to

End

— stop, finish, terminate, conclude, close, halt, cessation, discontinuance

Enjoy

— appreciate, delight in, be pleased, indulge in, luxuriate in, bask in, relish, devour, savor, like

Explain

— elaborate, clarify, define, interpret, justify, account for

Fair

— just, impartial, unbiased, objective, unprejudiced, honest

Fall

— drop, descend, plunge, topple, tumble

False

— fake, fraudulent, counterfeit, spurious, untrue, unfounded, erroneous, deceptive, groundless, fallacious

Famous

— well-known, renowned, celebrated, famed, eminent, illustrious, distinguished, noted, notorious

Fast

— quick, rapid, speedy, fleet, hasty, snappy, mercurial, swiftly, rapidly, quickly, snappily, speedily, lickety-split, posthaste, hastily, expeditiously, like a flash

Fat

— stout, corpulent, fleshy, beefy, paunchy, plump, full, rotund, tubby, pudgy, chubby, chunky, burly, bulky, elephantine

Fear

— fright, dread, terror, alarm, dismay, anxiety, scare, awe, horror, panic, apprehension

Fly

— soar, hover, flit, wing, flee, waft, glide, coast, skim, sail, cruise

Funny

— humorous, amusing, droll, comic, comical, laughable, silly

Get

acquire, obtain, secure, procure, gain, fetch, find, score, accumulate, win, earn, rep, catch, net, bag, derive, collect, gather, glean, pick up, accept, come by, regain, salvage

Go

— recede, depart, fade, disappear, move, travel, proceed

Good

— stunning, stellar, excellent, fine, superior, wonderful, marvelous, qualified, suited, suitable, apt, proper, capable, generous, kindly, friendly, gracious, obliging, pleasant, agreeable, pleasurable, satisfactory, well-behaved, obedient, honorable, reliable, trustworthy, safe, favorable, profitable, advantageous, righteous, expedient, helpful, valid, genuine, ample, salubrious, estimable, beneficial, splendid, great, noble, worthy, first-rate, top-notch, grand, sterling, superb, respectable, edifying

Great

— noteworthy, worthy, distinguished, remarkable, grand, considerable, powerful, much, mighty

Gross

— improper, rude, coarse, indecent, crude, vulgar, outrageous, extreme, grievous, shameful, uncouth, obscene, low

Happy

— pleased, contented, satisfied, delighted, elated, joyful, cheerful, ecstatic, jubilant, tickled, gratified, glad, blissful, overjoyed

Hate

— despise, loathe, detest, abhor, disfavor, dislike, disapprove, abominate

Have

— hold, possess, own, contain, acquire, gain, maintain, believe, bear, beget, occupy, absorb, fill, enjoy

Help

— aid, assist, support, encourage, back, wait on, attend, serve, relieve, succor,

 

Hurry

— rush, run, speed, race, hasten, urge, accelerate, bustle

Hurt

— damage, harm, injure, wound, distress, afflict, pain

Idea

— thought, concept, conception, notion, understanding, opinion, plan, view, belief

Important

— necessary, vital, critical, indispensable, valuable, essential, significant, primary, principal, considerable, famous, distinguished, notable, well-known

Interesting

— fascinating, engaging, sharp, keen, bright, intelligent, animated, spirited, attractive, inviting, intriguing, provocative, though-provoking, challenging, inspiring, involving, moving, titillating, tantalizing, exciting, entertaining, piquant, lively, racy, spicy, engrossing, absorbing, consuming, gripping, arresting, enthralling, spellbinding, curious, captivating, enchanting, bewitching, appealing

Keep

— hold, retain, withhold, preserve, maintain, sustain, support

Kill

— slay, execute, assassinate, murder, destroy, cancel, abolish

Lazy

— indolent, slothful, idle, inactive, sluggish

 

Like

— admire, appreciate, go for, love, adore, approve, cherish, dig, esteem, exclaim, fancy, prize, relish, savor, be gratified by, be keen on, be partial to, be pleased by, be sweet on

Little

— tiny, diminutive, shrimp, runt, miniature, puny, exiguous, dinky, cramped, limited, itsy-bitsy, microscopic, slight, petite, minute

Look

— gaze, see, glance, watch, survey, study, seek, search for, peek, peep, glimpse, stare, contemplate, examine, gape, ogle, scrutinize, inspect, leer, behold, observe, view, witness, perceive, spy, sight, discover, notice, recognize, peer, eye, gawk, peruse, explore

Love

— like, admire, esteem, fancy, care for, cherish, adore, treasure, worship, appreciate, savor

Make

— create, originate, invent, beget, form, construct, design, fabricate, manufacture, produce, build, develop, do, effect, execute, compose, perform, accomplish, earn, gain, obtain, acquire, get

Mark

— label, tag, price, ticket, impress, effect, trace, imprint, stamp, brand, sign, note, heed, notice, designate

 

Move

— plod, go, creep, crawl, inch, poke, drag, toddle, shuffle, trot, dawdle, walk, traipse, mosey, jog, plug, trudge, slump, lumber, trail, lag, run, sprint, trip, bound, hotfoot, high-tail, streak, stride, tear, breeze, whisk, rush, dash, dart, bolt, fling, scamper, scurry, skedaddle, scoot, scuttle, scramble, race, chase, hasten, hurry, hump, gallop, lope, accelerate, stir, budge, travel, wander, roam, journey, trek, ride, spin, slip, glide, slide, slither, coast, flow, sail, saunter, hobble, amble, stagger, paddle, slouch, prance, straggle, meander, perambulate, waddle, wobble, pace, swagger, promenade, lunge

Moody

— temperamental, changeable, short-tempered, glum, morose, sullen, mopish, irritable, testy, peevish, fretful, spiteful, sulky, touchy

Neat

— clean, orderly, tidy, trim, dapper, natty, smart, elegant, well-organized, super, desirable, spruce, shipshape, well-kept, shapely

New

— fresh, unique, original, unusual, novel, modern, current, recent

Old

— feeble, frail, ancient, weak, aged, used, worn, dilapidated, ragged, faded, broken-Part - portion, share, piece, allotment, section, fraction, fragment

 

People

— individuals, citizens, youth / mature adults

Place

— space, area, spot, plot, region, location, situation, position, residence, dwelling, set, site, station, status, state

Plan

— plot, scheme, design, draw, map, diagram, procedure, arrangement, intention, device, contrivance, method, way, blueprint

Popular

— well-liked, approved, accepted, favorite, celebrated, common, current

Predicament

— quandary, dilemma, pickle, problem, plight, spot, scrape, jam

Put

— place, set, attach, establish, assign, keep, save, set aside, effect, achieve, do, build

Quiet

— silent, still, soundless, mute, tranquil, peaceful, calm, restful

Really

— truly, seriously, remarkably, significantly

Right

— correct, accurate, factual, true, good, just, honest, upright, lawful, moral, proper, suitable, apt, legal, fair

Run

— race, speed, hurry, hasten, sprint, dash, rush, escape, elope, flee

Say/Tell

— inform, notify, advise, relate, recount, narrate, explain, reveal, disclose, divulge, declare, command, order, bid, enlighten, instruct, insist, teach, train, direct, issue, remark, converse, speak, affirm, suppose, utter, negate, express, verbalize, voice, articulate, pronounce, deliver, convey, impart, assert, state, allege, mutter, mumble, whisper, sigh, exclaim, yell, sing, yelp, snarl, hiss, grunt, snort, roar, bellow, thunder, boom, scream, shriek, screech, squawk, whine, philosophize, stammer, stutter, lisp, drawl, jabber, protest, announce, swear, vow, content, assure, deny, dispute

Scared

— afraid, frightened, alarmed, terrified, panicked, fearful, unnerved, insecure, timid, shy, skittish, jumpy, disquieted, worried, vexed, troubled, disturbed, horrified, terrorized, shocked, petrified, haunted, timorous, shrinking, tremulous, stupefied, paralyzed, stunned, apprehensive

Show

— display, exhibit, present, note, point to, indicate, explain, reveal, prove, demonstrate, expose

Slow

— unhurried, gradual, leisurely, late, behind, tedious, slack

 

Small

— tiny, diminutive, shrimp, runt, miniature, puny, exiguous, dinky, cramped, limited, itsy-bitsy, microscopic, slight, petite, minute

Stop

— cease, halt, stay, pause, discontinue, conclude, end, finish, quit

Story

— tale, myth, legend, fable, yarn, account, narrative, chronicle, epic, sage, anecdote, record, memoir

Strange

— odd, peculiar, unusual, unfamiliar, uncommon, queer, weird, outlandish, curious, unique, exclusive, irregular

Take

— hold, catch, seize, grasp, win, capture, acquire, pick, choose, select, prefer, remove, steal, lift, rob, engage, bewitch, purchase, buy, retract, recall, assume, occupy, consume

Tell

— disclose, reveal, show, expose, uncover, relate, narrate, inform, advise, explain, divulge, declare, command, order, bid, recount, repeat

Think

— judge, deem, assume, believe, consider, contemplate, reflect, mediate

Trouble

— distress, anguish, anxiety, worry, wretchedness, pain, danger, peril, disaster, loyal, dependable, sincere, staunch

Ugly

— hideous, frightful, frightening, shocking, horrible, unpleasant, monstrous, terrifying, gross, grisly, ghastly, horrid, unsightly, plain, homely, evil, repulsive, repugnant, gruesome

Unhappy

— miserable, uncomfortable, wretched, heart-broken, unfortunate, poor, downhearted, sorrowful, depressed, dejected, melancholy, glum, gloomy, dismal, discouraged, sad

Use

— employ, utilize, exhaust, spend, expend, consume, exercise

 

Very

— absolutely, awfully, certainly, decidedly, deeply, eminently, exceedingly, excessively, extraordinarily, extremely, greatly, highly, incredibly, noticeably, particularly, pretty, profoundly, remarkably, surprisingly, terribly, truly, uncommonly, unusually, wonderfully

Wrong

— incorrect, inaccurate, mistaken, erroneous, improper, unsuitable