100+ Important Vocabulary Words for CLAT Exam 2026

Importance of English Vocabulary in CLAT

The following are the primary reasons why vocabulary for the CLAT exam is important:

• The CLAT English Language portion includes vocabulary-based questions, including synonyms, antonyms, and word definitions.
  Improves reading comprehension.
• A strong CLAT vocabulary allows you to better grasp complicated words and phrases in comprehension sections, resulting in more accurate responses.
• Boosts Grammar Accuracy and Error Spotting: Understanding proper word use enhances your ability to identify grammatical faults and sentence repair enquiries.
• Saves Time During the Exam: Knowing a wide range of English vocabulary terms enables you to easily interpret and answer questions, saving you time.
• Improves Critical Thinking: Understanding the meanings of key terms allows you to infer meanings, make inferences, and respond to inference-based questions more successfully.
• Improves overall communication skills. Strong vocabulary skills not only aid in the CLAT but also boost your ability to communicate concepts well in writing and speech.
• Aids in Other CLAT Sections: Legal Reasoning and Logical Reasoning, where knowing important terminology and phrases is essential to providing accurate answers, benefit from having a CLAT vocabulary.

Few Important English Words for CLAT exam are as follows:

Serendipity - A happy accident or coincidence, often resulting in a pleasant surprise. Example: I found my dream job through serendipity when a friend mentioned an opening at their company.

Resilience - The ability to bounce back or recover quickly from difficult situations or setbacks. Example: Despite facing several rejections, her resilience helped her stay motivated and eventually land her dream job.

Empathy - The ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Example: She showed empathy towards her friend who was going through a tough time by lending a listening ear and offering support.

Integrity - The quality of being honest, moral, and sticking to one's principles. Example: The company values integrity in their employees, expecting them to always act ethically and take responsibility for their actions.

Tenacity - The quality of never giving up or becoming discouraged, even in the face of challenges. Example: Despite facing numerous failures, his tenacity motivated him to keep pushing forward until he reached his goal.

Innovation - The introduction of new ideas, methods, or products.

Example: The company encourages innovation among its employees, providing them with resources and incentives to come up with creative solutions.

Collaboration - Working together with others towards a common goal.

Example: The project's success was a result of effective collaboration among team members, who pooled their skills and knowledge to complete the task.

Diversity - The inclusion of individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, or perspectives. Example: The university prides itself on its diverse student body, encouraging cross-cultural understanding and fostering a rich learning environment.

Sustainability - The practice of using resources in a way that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.Example: The company implemented sustainable practices, such as reducing waste and investing in renewable energy, to minimise their environmental impact.

Empowerment - The process of enabling individuals to take control of their own lives, make independent decisions, and achieve personal and professional growth. Example: The leadership program focused on empowering participants by providing them with the necessary skills and support to excel in their careers.

Adaptability - The ability to adjust or modify oneself to new circumstances or conditions.Example: The candidate's adaptability was evident when she quickly learned and adapted to a new software system during her first week on the job.

Initiative - The willingness to take action without being prompted or told to do so. Example: She showed great initiative by volunteering to lead a new project within the department, showcasing her leadership skills and eagerness to contribute.

Communication - The process of exchanging information, ideas, and thoughts between individuals or groups. Example: Good communication is essential in a team setting to ensure everyone is on the same page and working towards common goals

Perseverance - The determination to continue despite obstacles or difficulties. Example: Despite facing numerous rejections, his perseverance led him to finally secure a publishing deal for his book.

Accountability - Taking responsibility for one's actions or decisions.

Example: The manager emphasised the importance of accountability, holding each team member responsible for their assigned tasks and deliverables.

Flexibility - The ability to adapt and adjust to changing circumstances or requirements. Example: The company values employees who are flexible and can easily switch tasks or priorities to accommodate unexpected changes.

Initiative - The willingness to take action without being prompted or told to do so. Example: She showed great initiative by volunteering to lead a new project within the department, showcasing her leadership skills and eagerness to contribute.

Imperative thinking - The ability to analyse information objectively and make reasoned judgments or decisions. Example: The candidate demonstrated strong critical thinking skills during the interview by asking thought-provoking questions and providing well-reasoned responses.

Collaboration - Working together with others towards a common goal.

Example: The project's success was a result of effective collaboration among team members, who pooled their skills and knowledge to complete the task.

Egregious: Extremely regrettable or disturbing. Example: A statesman made an egregious error by displaying such ignorance.

Also, check - How to Prepare for CLAT English Language

Abundance - A large quantity or amount of something (Example: The garden was filled with an abundance of colourful flowers.)

Ambiguous - Open to more than one interpretation; unclear (Example: The meaning of his statement was ambiguous; it could have different meanings depending on the context.)

Benevolent - Characterised by or expressing goodwill or kind feelings (Example: The benevolent old man donated a significant amount of money to the charity.)

Catalyst - A person or thing that precipitates an event or change

(Example: The new technology acted as a catalyst for economic growth.)

Conscientious - Diligent and careful in one's work or duties(Example: She is a conscientious student who always completes her assignments on time.)

Deteriorate - To become worse or deteriorate in quality or condition (Example: The patient's health started to deteriorate after a few days in the hospital.)

Fallacy: A fallacy is an untrue or incorrect belief. Example: The idea of self-esteem has a tendency to be fallacious."

Ostracize : It refers to exclusion or rejection from a group or community. Example: Because of her extreme political views, she spent many years being ostracised by the scientific community.

Gratitude - A feeling of thankfulness or appreciation

(Example: She expressed her gratitude to her parents for their support and love.)

Hypothesis - A proposed explanation based on limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation

(Example: The scientist formulated a hypothesis to explain the observed phenomena.)

Impede - To hinder or obstruct the progress of something

(Example: The heavy traffic impeded our journey to the airport.)

Juxtapose - To place side by side for the purpose of comparison or contrast (Example: The artist juxtaposed light and dark colours in her painting to create a striking effect.)

Kinship - A close relationship or connection between two or more people or things (Example: There is a strong kinship between the two neighbouring tribes.)

Lucid - Expressed clearly; easy to understand

(Example: His explanation was so lucid that even a beginner could understand it.)

Mitigate - To make it less severe, harsh, or painful

(Example: The government implemented measures to mitigate the impact of the economic crisis.)

Nostalgia - A sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past

(Example: Looking at old photographs always evokes a sense of nostalgia.)

Obliterate - To destroy or wipe out completely

(Example: The bomb obliterated the entire building, leaving nothing behind.)

Paradigm - A typical example or pattern of something; a model

(Example: The new research presents a paradigm shift in the way we understand climate change.)

Quench - To satisfy a desire or thirst by drinking or fulfilling a need

(Example: Drinking a cold glass of water can quench your thirst on a hot summer day.)

Resilient - Able to recover quickly from difficult conditions or setbacks

(Example: Despite facing many challenges, she remained resilient and determined to achieve her goals.)

Scepticism - A sceptical attitude; doubting or questioning the validity of something (Example: His scepticism towards the new product made him hesitant to purchase it.)

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Transient - Lasting only for a short period; temporary

(Example: The city attracts many transient tourists who visit for a few days and then move on.)

Unanimous - Fully in agreement or sharing the same opinion

(Example: The board members reached a unanimous decision on the new company policy.)

Versatile - Capable of adapting or performing in various ways or fields

(Example: She is a versatile actress who can excel in both comedy and drama roles.)

Wary - Feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems

(Example: After being scammed before, he became wary of online purchases.)

Zealous - Having or showing great enthusiasm or passionate devotion

(Example: The zealous fans cheered loudly for their favourite team during the match.)

Alleviate - To make suffering, pain, or hardship less severe or burdensome

(Example: The medication helps alleviate the symptoms of the disease.)

Brevity - Concise and exact use of words in writing or speech

(Example: His speech was admired for its brevity; he expressed his thoughts in a few minutes.)

Coherent - Logical and consistent; able to be understood

(Example: Her argument was coherent, with each point supporting the main idea.)

Deprived - Lacking the necessities of life; lacking in certain things or opportunities (Example: The children grew up in a deprived neighbourhood without access to proper education.)

Elusive - Difficult to find, catch, or achieve

(Example: The fugitive remained elusive, constantly evading the police.)

Frugal - Economical in using resources or money; avoiding waste

(Example: She leads a frugal lifestyle by saving money and only buying what she needs.)

Galvanise - To shock or excite someone into taking action

(Example: The inspiring speech galvanized the audience to join the cause.)

Homogeneous - Consisting of parts or people that are similar to each other

(Example: The country has a homogeneous population with a shared language and culture.)

Inquisitive - Curious or inquiring; eager to learn or investigate

(Example: The inquisitive child asks a lot of questions about the world around them.)

Lethargic - Lacking in energy or enthusiasm; sluggish

(Example: After a long day at work, she felt lethargic and couldn't find the energy to do anything else.)

Meticulous - Showing great attention to detail; extremely careful and precise (Example: The artist was meticulous, spending hours perfecting every brushstroke in the painting.)

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Novice - A person new to or inexperienced in a field or situation

(Example: As a novice guitar player, she practised diligently to improve her skills.)

Obsolete - No longer in use or no longer relevant

(Example: The typewriter became obsolete with the invention of computers and word processors.)

Paradox - A statement or situation that seems contradictory or goes against common sense but may be true

(Example: The paradox of love is that it can bring both joy and pain at the same time.)

Quandary - A state of uncertainty or perplexity; a difficult situation

(Example: She found herself in a quandary, uncertain about which career path to take.)

Resolute - Admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering

(Example: Despite the challenges, the team remained resolute in their commitment to reach their goal.)

Scrutinise - To examine or inspect carefully and critically

(Example: The researchers scrutinised the data to identify any errors or inconsistencies.)

Trepidation - A feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen (Example: He approached the job interview with trepidation, worried about the outcome.)

Ubiquitous - Present, appearing, or found everywhere

(Example: Smartphones have become ubiquitous in our everyday lives.)

Viable - Capable of working successfully; feasible or practical

(Example: The business plan presented a viable opportunity for investment.)

Whimsical - Playful or amusing in an unusual or imaginative way

(Example: The whimsical decorations in the park added a touch of magic to the environment.)

Yield - To produce or provide; to give up or surrender

(Example: The farmer's fields yielded a bountiful harvest this year. / He decided to yield to his opponent's demands to avoid further conflict.)

Zenith - The highest point or peak of something

(Example: Her career reached its zenith when she won the prestigious award.)

Alliteration - The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words (Example: "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers" is an example of alliteration.)

Ambivalence - The state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something

(Example: She felt ambivalence about accepting the job offer because it required moving to a new city.)

Clandestine - Done in secret, especially to conceal illicit or improper activities (Example: The spy operated under a clandestine identity, keeping his true purpose hidden.)

Diatribe - A forceful and bitter verbal attack or criticism

(Example: The politician's speech turned into a diatribe against his opponents.)

Ephemeral - Lasting for a very short time; transient

(Example: The beauty of cherry blossoms is ephemeral; they only bloom for a few weeks each spring.)

Fervent - Showing great intensity of feeling or enthusiasm

(Example: She held a fervent belief in the power of education to change lives.)

Gregarious - Fond of the company of others; sociable

(Example: She was a gregarious person who enjoyed throwing parties and being surrounded by friends.)

Hyperbole - Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally (Example: Saying "I've told you a million times" is an example of hyperbole.)

Incognito - With one's identity concealed; in disguise

(Example: The celebrity went incognito by wearing a hat and sunglasses to avoid being recognized.)

Juxtaposition - The act of placing two things together for contrasting effect

(Example: The artist used a juxtaposition of light and dark colours to create depth in the painting.)

Languish - To lose vitality or become weak

(Example: The flowers languished in the hot sun, without enough water to thrive.)

Malicious - Intending to harm or cause pain, often motivated by ill will

(Example: His malicious gossip spread rumours and damaged reputations.)

Nebulous - Unclear, vague, or ill-defined

(Example: Her future plans were still nebulous; she hadn't decided on a specific career path.)

Perfunctory - Carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection

(Example: She gave a perfunctory apology without genuinely acknowledging her mistake.)

Querulous - Habitually complaining or whining

(Example: The querulous customer complained about every minor detail of the service.)

Rueful - Expressing sorrow or regret, especially in a wry or humorous way

(Example: He gave a rueful smile as he recounted the embarrassing mishap.)

Serendipity - The occurrence of fortunate events by chance

(Example: Finding a rare book you've been searching for in a secondhand shop is a serendipitous moment.)

Taciturn - Inclined to silence; reserved in speech

(Example: He was a taciturn man who rarely spoke, preferring to listen instead.)

Ubiquity - The state of being everywhere or seeming to be present in all places (Example: With the rise of social media, the ubiquity of smartphones is evident.)

Vex - To irritate, annoy, or provoke (Example: The constant loud music from the neighbours vexed him, disturbing his peace.)

Wistful - Having or showing a feeling of longing or melancholy

(Example: Looking at old photographs made her feel wistful, reminiscing about past memories.)

Xenophobia - An intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures

(Example: The rise of xenophobia led to increased discrimination and hostility towards immigrants.)

Yearn - To have a strong desire or longing for something

(Example: She yearned for adventure and dreamed of travelling the world.)

Zenith - The highest point or peak of something

(Example: Her career reached its zenith when she became the CEO of a multinational corporation.)

Ambiguous - Open to more than one interpretation; unclear

(Example: The ambiguous statement left room for different interpretations.)

Catalyst - A person or thing that causes change or stimulates an action or event (Example: The introduction of new technology acted as a catalyst, boosting productivity in the workplace.)

Delineate - To describe or portray in detail; to outline or depict

(Example: The architect delineated the plans for the new building, showing the exact dimensions and layout.)

Esoteric - Intended for or understood by only a small number of people with specialised knowledge or interest

(Example: The author's novel contained esoteric references that only scholars in the field could fully comprehend.)

Fortitude - Mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, or challenges (Example: She showed great fortitude in dealing with her illness, never giving up hope.)

Hackneyed - Lacking significance or freshness due to overuse; clichéd

(Example: The teacher criticised the student's essay for using hackneyed phrases and clichés.)

A few foreign words for beginners with their origin:

From French:

Rendezvous (n.) - A meeting at a specific time and place.

Déjà vu (n.) - The feeling of having already experienced something new.

Genre (n.) - A category of artistic expression (e.g., movie genre).

Entrepreneur (n.) - Someone who starts a business.

From Latin:

Alumni (n. pl.) - Graduates of a particular school or university.

Curriculum (n.) - The course of study for a school or program.

Incognito (adv.) - In disguise or not revealing one's identity.

Status quo (n.) - The current state of affairs.

Bonus (n.) - Something extra or unexpected, often a benefit.

From Italian:

Piano (n.) - A musical instrument with keys struck by hammers.

A cappella (adv.) - Singing without musical accompaniment.

Pasta (n.) - A type of Italian food made from dough.

Bravo (exclam.) - Well done!

From Spanish:

Fiesta (n.) - A festival or party.

Siesta (n.) - An afternoon rest, especially in hot weather.

From German:

Angst (n.) - A feeling of anxiety or dread.

Gesundheit (exclam.) - Bless you (said after someone sneezes).

Also, check - A Detailed Guide About CLAT English Language