CAT 2026 Vocabulary
Common Admission Test 2026
Complete list of 100 vocabulary words for CAT 2026 exam preparation. Essential for VARC section with detailed explanations and contextual examples.
Start LearningAbout Common Admission Test 2026
CAT is a computer-based test for admission to MBA programs at IIMs and other top B-schools in India. It tests quantitative ability, data interpretation, logical reasoning, and verbal ability.
Exam Sections
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Quantitative Ability (QA)
Why Vocabulary Matters
Strong vocabulary is essential for VARC section, especially for reading comprehension, para-jumbles, and vocabulary-based questions. CAT tests your ability to understand complex texts and nuanced meanings.
Essential Vocabulary Words
Master these 100 high-frequency words to excel in your CAT 2026 exam
abstruse
adjectiveDifficult to understand; obscure
Example: The professor's abstruse theories confused most students.
acumen
nounThe ability to make good judgments and quick decisions
Example: Her business acumen helped the company thrive.
adroit
adjectiveClever or skillful in using hands or mind
Example: The diplomat was adroit in handling sensitive negotiations.
aesthetic
adjectiveConcerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty
Example: The building has great aesthetic appeal.
altruistic
adjectiveShowing a disinterested and selfless concern for others
Example: Her altruistic nature led her to volunteer at the shelter.
Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas
Example: She felt ambivalent about accepting the job offer.
anachronism
nounSomething belonging to a period other than that in which it exists
Example: The old typewriter was an anachronism in the modern office.
anecdote
nounA short amusing or interesting story about a real incident
Example: He shared an amusing anecdote from his childhood.
antagonist
nounA person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone
Example: The protagonist faced his antagonist in the final chapter.
antipathy
nounA deep-seated feeling of dislike
Example: There was mutual antipathy between the two rivals.
Of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated
Example: The story about his heroism is probably apocryphal.
To pacify or placate someone by acceding to their demands
Example: The government tried to appease the protesters.
archaic
adjectiveVery old or old-fashioned
Example: The law is archaic and needs to be updated.
ardent
adjectiveEnthusiastic or passionate
Example: She is an ardent supporter of environmental causes.
articulate
adjectiveHaving the ability to speak fluently and coherently
Example: He is an articulate speaker who expresses ideas clearly.
ascetic
adjectiveCharacterized by severe self-discipline and abstention
Example: The monk led an ascetic lifestyle.
Showing great care and perseverance
Example: Her assiduous efforts led to success.
assuage
verbTo make an unpleasant feeling less intense
Example: The medicine helped assuage the pain.
astute
adjectiveHaving the ability to accurately assess situations
Example: She made an astute observation about the market.
Showing a willingness to take bold risks
Example: The audacious plan surprised everyone.
auspicious
adjectiveConducive to success; favorable
Example: It was an auspicious beginning to the new venture.
avarice
nounExtreme greed for wealth or material gain
Example: His avarice led to his downfall.
So lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring
Example: The movie's plot was banal and predictable.
belligerent
adjectiveHostile and aggressive
Example: His belligerent attitude made negotiations difficult.
benign
adjectiveGentle and kindly; not harmful
Example: The tumor was benign and easily removed.
bombastic
adjectiveHigh-sounding but with little meaning
Example: His bombastic speech failed to impress the audience.
boorish
adjectiveRough and bad-mannered; coarse
Example: His boorish behavior offended the guests.
brevity
nounConcise and exact use of words
Example: The brevity of his speech was appreciated.
burgeon
verbTo begin to grow or increase rapidly
Example: The tech industry is burgeoning in the region.
cacophony
nounA harsh, discordant mixture of sounds
Example: The cacophony of car horns was deafening.
callous
adjectiveShowing or having an insensitive disregard for others
Example: His callous remarks hurt her feelings.
candor
nounThe quality of being open and honest
Example: I appreciate your candor in this matter.
capitulate
verbTo cease to resist; surrender
Example: The army was forced to capitulate.
castigate
verbTo reprimand severely
Example: The critic castigated the film for its poor quality.
A person or thing that precipitates an event
Example: The incident was a catalyst for change.
caustic
adjectiveSarcastic in a scathing and bitter way
Example: Her caustic wit made people uncomfortable.
censure
verbTo express severe disapproval of
Example: The committee censured him for his actions.
charlatan
nounA person falsely claiming to have special knowledge
Example: The doctor turned out to be a charlatan.
Wary and unwilling to take risks
Example: He was circumspect in his dealings with strangers.
Kept secret or done secretively
Example: They held a clandestine meeting.
coalesce
verbTo come together to form one mass or whole
Example: The various groups coalesced into a single movement.
colloquial
adjectiveUsed in ordinary or familiar conversation
Example: The essay was written in colloquial language.
commensurate
adjectiveCorresponding in size or degree; proportionate
Example: The salary is commensurate with experience.
compendium
nounA collection of concise information
Example: The book is a compendium of useful facts.
complacency
nounA feeling of smug satisfaction with oneself
Example: Complacency can lead to failure.
complicity
nounThe state of being involved with others in an illegal activity
Example: He denied complicity in the crime.
conciliatory
adjectiveIntended to placate or pacify
Example: He adopted a conciliatory tone.
connoisseur
nounAn expert judge in matters of taste
Example: She is a connoisseur of fine wine.
contentious
adjectiveCausing or likely to cause an argument
Example: The proposal is highly contentious.
contrite
adjectiveFeeling or expressing remorse
Example: He was contrite about his mistake.
copious
adjectiveAbundant in supply or quantity
Example: She took copious notes during the lecture.
cosmopolitan
adjectiveFamiliar with and at ease in many different countries
Example: She has a cosmopolitan outlook.
craven
adjectiveContemptibly lacking in courage
Example: His craven behavior disappointed everyone.
credulous
adjectiveHaving or showing too great a readiness to believe things
Example: He was too credulous and easily deceived.
cryptic
adjectiveHaving a meaning that is mysterious or obscure
Example: He left a cryptic message.
culpable
adjectiveDeserving blame
Example: He was found culpable for the accident.
cursory
adjectiveHasty and therefore not thorough
Example: He gave the document a cursory glance.
dearth
nounA scarcity or lack of something
Example: There is a dearth of qualified candidates.
decorum
nounBehavior in keeping with good taste and propriety
Example: The ceremony was conducted with decorum.
defamatory
adjectiveDamaging the good reputation of someone
Example: The article contained defamatory statements.
Showing respect and esteem
Example: He was deferential to his elders.
deleterious
adjectiveCausing harm or damage
Example: Smoking has deleterious effects on health.
demagogue
nounA political leader who seeks support by appealing to prejudices
Example: The demagogue stirred up the crowd.
demure
adjectiveReserved, modest, and shy
Example: She gave a demure smile.
denigrate
verbTo criticize unfairly; disparage
Example: He denigrated his opponent's achievements.
derivative
adjectiveImitative of the work of another person
Example: The film was criticized as derivative.
despondent
adjectiveIn low spirits from loss of hope
Example: He felt despondent after the failure.
despot
nounA ruler with absolute power, typically one who exercises it cruelly
Example: The country was ruled by a despot.
dexterous
adjectiveShowing or having skill, especially with the hands
Example: The surgeon's dexterous movements were impressive.
Intended to teach, particularly in a moral way
Example: The novel has a didactic tone.
diffident
adjectiveModest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence
Example: He was diffident about his abilities.
digress
verbTo leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing
Example: I don't mean to digress, but this is important.
dilapidated
adjectiveIn a state of disrepair or ruin
Example: The dilapidated building was unsafe.
dilettante
nounA person who cultivates an area of interest without real commitment
Example: He was dismissed as a dilettante.
discerning
adjectiveHaving or showing good judgment
Example: She has a discerning eye for quality.
discord
nounDisagreement between people
Example: There was discord among the team members.
discrepancy
nounA lack of compatibility between facts or claims
Example: There was a discrepancy in the accounts.
disdain
nounThe feeling that someone is unworthy of respect
Example: She looked at him with disdain.
disinterested
adjectiveNot influenced by personal involvement; impartial
Example: A judge must be disinterested.
To regard or represent as being of little worth
Example: Don't disparage his efforts.
disseminate
verbTo spread widely
Example: The organization disseminates information about health.
Lack of harmony among musical notes or opinions
Example: There was cognitive dissonance in his beliefs.
divergent
adjectiveTending to be different or develop in different directions
Example: They held divergent views on the issue.
dogmatic
adjectiveInclined to lay down principles as undeniably true
Example: His dogmatic approach stifled debate.
dormant
adjectiveTemporarily inactive
Example: The volcano has been dormant for centuries.
ebullient
adjectiveCheerful and full of energy
Example: She was in an ebullient mood.
eclectic
adjectiveDeriving ideas from a broad range of sources
Example: She has eclectic taste in music.
efficacious
adjectiveSuccessful in producing a desired result
Example: The treatment proved efficacious.
Expressing feelings of gratitude or approval in an unrestrained manner
Example: She was effusive in her praise.
egregious
adjectiveOutstandingly bad; shocking
Example: It was an egregious error.
elicit
verbTo evoke or draw out a response
Example: The question elicited an angry response.
eloquence
nounFluent or persuasive speaking or writing
Example: His eloquence moved the audience.
To make something clear; explain
Example: Could you elucidate your position?
To match or surpass, typically by imitation
Example: He tried to emulate his mentor.
endemic
adjectiveRegularly found among particular people or in a certain area
Example: Malaria is endemic in tropical regions.
enervate
verbTo cause someone to feel drained of energy
Example: The heat enervated the workers.
enigmatic
adjectiveDifficult to interpret or understand; mysterious
Example: She gave an enigmatic smile.
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