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Want To Smash English in JAMB? Know These Words!

By • December 12, 2025 • JAMB Updates

Do you want to smash English in JAMB? Then you should know these words! Don’t forget to share this page with your friends.

As of the time of updating this page, it’s now barely 3 weeks to the JAMB Exam while reprinting starts on 10th April.

You already know English is a compulsory subject for all candidates writing the JAMB Exam.

It’s the subject with the highest number of questions.

While other subjects have 40 questions, English has 60 questions.

This is the structure of the English exam:

SECTION A: Comprehension/Summary
(a) 1 comprehension passage – 5 questions
(b) I cloze passage – 10 questions
(c) 1 reading text (Life Changer) – 10 questions

SECTION B: Lexis and Structure
(a) Sentence interpretation – 5 questions
(b) Antonyms – 5 questions
(c) Synonyms – 5 questions
(d) Sentence completion – 10 questions

SECTION C: Oral Forms
10 questions

Total: 60 questions

From the above, if you have read the Life Changer, you should be sure of 10 questions in English.

If you haven’t read the novel, CLICK HERE to download the Novel for Free. If you have read the novel already, then CLICK HERE to test yourself with questions from the novel.

Another way to solidify your chances of scoring high in English is to know many English words. If you do, you can easily answer all 25 questions in section B (Lexis & Structure).

So to ensure you score higher, we want to expose you to more words. Read and know these words and it will help you. But don’t end it there, read other words too.

Before you continue reading, share this page with your friends so they too can benefit from this page.

Also, ensure you have read these articles as it will help you:

Finally, here are some JAMB updates you shouldn’t miss:

Alright, that’s enough. Here are the words we would want you to know their meanings and synonyms

100 WORDS, MEANING AND SYNONYMOUS

1-10

  1. Aberration
    Meaning: a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically an unwelcome one.
    Synonyms: anomaly, deviation, irregularity, divergence, peculiarity
    Example: His behavior was considered an aberration by his colleagues.
  2. Amalgamate
    Meaning: combine or unite to form one organization or structure.
    Synonyms: blend, combine, merge, unite, fuse
    Example: The two companies decided to amalgamate their operations.
  3. Cacophony
    Meaning: a harsh discordant mixture of sounds.
    Synonyms: discord, noise, racket, din, clamor
    Example: The room was filled with a cacophony of sounds.
  4. Deleterious
    Meaning: causing harm or damage.
    Synonyms: harmful, detrimental, damaging, injurious, destructive
    Example: Smoking has many deleterious effects on health.
  5. Enervate
    Meaning: make (someone) feel drained of energy or vitality.
    Synonyms: weaken, debilitate, exhaust, sap, enfeeble
    Example: The hot weather seemed to enervate her energy.
  6. Fastidious
    Meaning: very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
    Synonyms: meticulous, precise, demanding, finicky, choosy
    Example: She was known for her fastidious attention to detail.
  7. Garrulous
    Meaning: excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters.
    Synonyms: talkative, chatty, loquacious, voluble, verbose
    Example: The garrulous old man loved to share his stories with everyone.
  8. Hapless
    Meaning: (especially of a person) unfortunate.
    Synonyms: unlucky, unfortunate, doomed, ill-fated, cursed
    Example: The hapless traveler lost his luggage at the airport.
  9. Ineffable
    Meaning: too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.
    Synonyms: indescribable, inexpressible, unutterable, unspeakable, transcendent
    Example: The beauty of the sunset was simply ineffable.
  10. Juxtapose
    Meaning: place or deal with close together for contrasting effect.
    Synonyms: compare, contrast, associate, place side by side, appose
    Example: The artist decided to juxtapose the old with the new in her latest work.

11-20

  1. Knell
    Meaning: the sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral.
    Synonyms: toll, chime, clang, bell, ring
    Example: The church bells began to knell in mourning.
  2. Lachrymose
    Meaning: tearful or given to weeping
    Synonyms: tearful, weepy, crying, sorrowful, mournful
    Example: The lachrymose music brought tears to her eyes.
  3. Maverick
    Meaning: an unorthodox or independent-minded person
    Synonyms: nonconformist, rebel, individualist, dissenter, renegade
    Example: He was known as a maverick in the field of politics.
  4. Nebulous
    Meaning: in the form of a cloud or haze
    Synonyms: vague, unclear, hazy, indistinct, ambiguous
    Example: The concept of happiness is often nebulous and subjective.
  5. Obfuscate
    Meaning: make obscure, unclear, or unintelligible
    Synonyms: confuse, obscure, muddle, cloud, blur
    Example: The speaker tried to obfuscate the issue with complicated jargon.
  6. Palliate
    Meaning: make (a disease or its symptoms) less severe without removing the cause.
    Synonyms: alleviate, ease, relieve, mitigate, soothe
    Example: He tried to palliate her grief with comforting words.
  7. Quixotic
    Meaning: extremely idealistic; unrealistic and impractical
    Synonyms: idealistic, romantic, visionary, impractical, unrealisitic
    Example: The plan to save the world was dismissed as quixotic by many.
  8. Reticent
    Meaning: not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily
    Synonyms: reserved, quiet, uncommunicative, taciturn, restrained
    Example: Despite numerous questions, she remained reticent about her past.
  9. Sycophant
    Meaning: a person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage
    Synonyms: flatterer, toady, minion, yes-man, lackey
    Example: The sycophant constantly praised the boss in hopes of gaining favor.
  10. Trepidation
    Meaning: a feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen.
    Synonyms: fear, anxiety, apprehension, nervousness, unease
    Example: She approached the stage with trepidation before her speech.

21-30

  1. Ubiquitous
    Meaning: existing or being everywhere at the same time
    Synonyms: omnipresent, pervasive, universal, everywhere, all-encompassing.Example: In today’s world, smartphones are ubiquitous.
  2. Vex
    Meaning: make (someone) feel annoyed, frustrated, or worried, especially with trivial matters
    Synonyms: annoy, irritate, bother, provoke, anger.His continuous chatter began to vex the other guests at the party.
  3. Wraith
    Meaning: a ghost or ghostlike image of someone, especially one seen shortly before or after their death.
    Synonyms: ghost, specter, phantom, apparition, spirit.Example: The old mansion was said to be haunted by a wraith.
  4. Xenophobia
    Meaning: the fear or dislike of anything
    Synonyms: bigotry, prejudice, racism, intolerance, hatredExample: Xenophobia can lead to discrimination and social conflict.
  5. Yoke
    Meaning: a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plough or cart that they are to pull.
    Synonyms: harness, restrain, bind, unite, link.Example: The oxen were connected by a yoke to plow the field.
  6. Zenith
    Meaning: the time at which something is most powerful or successful.
    Synonyms:peak, summit, apex, pinnacle, top.
    Example: After years of hard work, she finally reached the zenith of her career.
  7. Abscond
    Meaning: leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to escape from custody or avoid arrest.
    Synonyms: escape, flee, bolt, run away, vanish
    Example: The thief decided to abscond with the stolen jewels.
  8. Benevolent
    Meaning: well meaning and kindly.
    Synonyms: kind, charitable, generous, compassionate, philanthropic
    Example: The benevolent millionaire donated a large sum to the charity
  9. Clemency
    Meaning: instance of mercy, compassion, or forgiveness
    Synonyms: mercy, leniency, forgiveness, compassion, pardon
    Example: He pleaded for clemency in court due to his remorse.
  10. Deleterious
    Meaning: causing harm or damage.
    Synonyms: harmful, detrimental, damaging, injurious, destructive
    Example: Eating too much junk food can have deleterious effects on health.

31-40

  1. Ephemeral
    Meaning: something that lasts for a very short time
    Synonyms: transient, fleeting, short-lived, momentary, temporary
    Example: Beauty pageant fame is often ephemeral and short-lived.
  2. Flagrant
    Meaning: (of an action considered wrong or immoral) conspicuously or obviously offensive. Synonyms: blatant, glaring, outrageous, shocking, obvious
    Example: His flagrant disregard for the rules led to his expulsion.
  3. Gregarious
    Meaning: (of a person) fond of company; sociable.
    Synonyms: sociable, outgoing, friendly, affable, extroverted
    Example: She was a gregarious individual who enjoyed socializing with others.
  4. Harangue
    Meaning: a lengthy and aggressive speech.
    Synonyms: lecture, tirade, diatribe, rant, speech
    Example: The politician delivered a lengthy harangue against his opponents.
  5. Innocuous
    Meaning: producing no injury : harmless.
    Synonyms: harmless, inoffensive, benign, safe, mild
    Example: The spider appeared innocuous but was actually venomous.
  6. Juxtapose
    Meaning: place or deal with close together for contrasting effect.
    Synonyms: compare, contrast, associate, place side by side, appose
    Example: The artist decided to juxtapose light and dark in her painting.
  7. Kowtow
    Meaning: act in an excessively subservient manner.
    Synonyms: bow, grovel, obeisance, obey, submit
    Example: He refused to kowtow to the tyrannical demands of his boss.
  8. Lament
    Meaning: a passionate expression of grief or sorrow.
    Synonyms: mourn, grieve, weep, cry, sorrow
    Example: The widow continued to lament the loss of her husband.
  9. Maudlin
    Meaning: self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental.
    Synonyms: sentimental, weepy, emotional, mawkish, tearful
    Example: She became maudlin when watching romantic movies.
  10. Nefarious
    Meaning: (typically of an action or activity) wicked or criminal.
    Synonyms: wicked, evil, sinful, villainous, malicious
    Example: The nefarious plot aimed to overthrow the government.

41-50

  1. Oblique
    Meaning: neither parallel nor at right angles to a specified or implied line; slanting Synonyms: slanting, indirect, skewed, angled, inclined
    Example: She gave him an oblique glance that hinted at her true feelings.
  2. Paragon
    Meaning: a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality. Synonyms: epitome, ideal, model, exemplar, perfect example
    Example: She was considered the paragon of beauty and grace.
  3. Querulous
    Meaning: complaining in a rather petulant or whining manner.
    Synonyms: complaining, whining, petulant, grumbling, peevish
    Example: The querulous child never seemed satisfied with anything.
  4. Resplendent
    Meaning: attractive and impressive through being richly colourful or sumptuous. Synonyms: splendid, magnificent, dazzling, glorious, radiant
    Example: She looked resplendent in her elegant evening gown.
  5. Salient
    Meaning: most noticeable or important.
    Synonyms: prominent, striking, noticeable, important, conspicuous
    Example: The speaker focused on the salient points of the argument.
  6. Tumult
    Meaning: a loud, confused noise, especially one caused by a large mass of people. Synonyms: uproar, commotion, chaos, disorder, turmoil
    Example: The demonstration turned into a tumultuous riot.
  7. Umbrage
    Meaning: offence or annoyance.
    Synonyms: offense, resentment, displeasure, irritation, annoyance
    Example: He took umbrage at the slightest criticism of his work.
  8. Verbose
    Meaning: using or expressed in more words than are needed.
    Synonyms: wordy, long-winded, loquacious, talkative, garrulous
    Example: His verbose style of writing made the article difficult to read.
  9. Wane
    Meaning: (of the moon) have a progressively smaller part of its visible surface illuminated, so that it appears to decrease in size Synonyms: decrease, diminish, decline, weaken, fade
    Example: Her interest in the project began to wane as time went on.
  10. Xenial
    Meaning: of, relating to, or constituting hospitality or relations between host and guest and especially among the ancient Greeks between persons of different cities.
    Synonyms: hospitable, friendly, welcoming, gracious, cordial
    Example: The host’s xenial nature made guests feel at home.

51-60

  1. Zephyr
    Meaning: a gentle breeze.
    Synonyms: breeze, gust, wind, air, breath
    Example: The gentle zephyr rustled the leaves in the trees.
  2. Abrogate
    Meaning: repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement).
    Synonyms: annul, revoke, cancel, abolish, nullify
    Example: The dictator sought to abrogate the rights of the citizens.
  3. Clandestine
    Meaning: kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit.
    Synonyms: secret, covert, hidden, undercover, stealthy
    Example: The clandestine meeting took place under the cover of darkness.
  4. Disparate
    Meaning: essentially different in kind; not able to be compared.
    Synonyms: different, distinct, diverse, varied, dissimilar
    Example: The two cultures had disparate approaches to solving problems.
  5. Enigmatic
    Meaning: mysterious and impossible to understand completely.
    Synonyms: mysterious, puzzling, cryptic, obscure, perplexing
    Example: The enigmatic smile on her face left everyone wondering.
  6. Fecund
    Meaning: producing or capable of producing an abundance of offspring or new growth; highly fertile. Synonyms: fertile, fruitful, productive, prolific, rich
    Example: The artist’s mind was fecund with creative ideas.
  7. Hegemony
    Meaning: especially of countries) the position of being the strongest and most powerful and therefore able to control others. Synonyms: dominance, leadership, control, supremacy, influence
    Example: The country sought to establish hegemony over its neighbors.
  8. Inexorable
    Meaning: impossible to stop or prevent.
    Synonyms: relentless, unstoppable, inevitable, unyielding, implacable
    Example: The inexorable march of time waits for no one.
  9. Jettison
    Meaning: throw or drop (something) from an aircraft or ship.
    Synonyms: discard, cast off, dump, abandon, throw away
    Example: The crew decided to jettison the excess cargo to lighten the load.
  10. Kismet
    Meaning: a hypothetical force or personified power that determines the course of the future events Synonyms: destiny, fate, fortune, providence, luck
    Example: She believed that meeting him was the work of kismet.

61-70

  1. Languid
    Meaning: (of a person, manner, or gesture) having or showing a disinclination for physical exertion or effort. Synonyms: relaxed, sluggish, lethargic, listless, slow
    Example: The hot summer day made everyone feel languid and tired.
  2. Maelstrom
    Meaning: a powerful whirlpool in the sea or a river.
    Synonyms: turmoil, chaos, commotion, upheaval, whirlpool
    Example: The political situation was a maelstrom of conflicting interests.
  3. Nascent
    Meaning: (especially of a process or organization) just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential. Synonyms: budding, emerging, incipient, developing, inchoate
    Example: The nascent technology showed great promise for the future.
  4. Obsequious
    Meaning: ready or prompt to help or obey like a servant or slave at the wish or command of another person especially to gain favor. Synonyms: servile, submissive, compliant, fawning, groveling
    Example: The obsequious assistant would do anything to please his boss.
  5. Perfidious
    Meaning: deceitful and untrustworthy.
    Synonyms: treacherous, deceitful, untrustworthy, dishonest, disloyal
    Example: He revealed his perfidious nature when he betrayed his friend.
  6. Quotidian
    Meaning: of or occurring every day; daily.
    Synonyms: daily, everyday, mundane, routine, ordinary
    Example: Her quotidian tasks included cooking, cleaning, and running errands.
  7. Reticent
    Meaning: not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily
    Synonyms: reserved, silent, taciturn, uncommunicative, diffident
    Example: He remained reticent about his past experiences.
  8. Sagacious
    Meaning: having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgement; wise or shrewd. Synonyms: wise, insightful, prudent, astute, discerning
    Example: The sagacious old man provided valuable advice to the youngsters.
  9. Tenebrous
    Meaning: shut off from the light
    Synonyms: dark, shadowy, gloomy, obscure, murky
    Example: The tenebrous alleyway was not a place you wanted to linger.
  10. Undulate
    Meaning: move or go with a smooth up-and-down motion.
    Synonyms: ripple, wave, oscillate, fluctuate, move in waves
    Example: The fields of wheat undulated in the breeze like a golden sea.

71-80

  1. Vehement
    Meaning: showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or intense.
    Synonyms: passionate, intense, fervent, forceful, ardent
    Example: She made a vehement argument in favor of environmental conservation.
  2. Winsome
    Meaning: attractive or appealing in a fresh, innocent way.
    Synonyms: charming, delightful, appealing, lovable, attractive
    Example: The child’s winsome smile melted the hearts of all who saw her.
  3. Zealot
    Meaning: a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals Synonyms: fanatic, extremist, enthusiast, devotee, radical
    Example: The religious zealot refused to listen to any other opinions.
  4. Abyss
    Meaning: a deep or seemingly bottomless chasm.
    Synonyms: chasm, void, depth, pit, bottomless pit
    Example: The darkness of the abyss seemed to stretch on forever.
  5. Belligerent
    Meaning: a nation or person engaged in war or conflict, as recognized by international law. Synonyms: hostile, aggressive, combative, bellicose, confrontational
    Example: The belligerent nations were on the brink of war.
  6. Collusion
    Meaning: secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy in order to deceive others. Synonyms: conspiracy, deceit, collaboration, connivance, complicity
    Example: The two companies were accused of collusion to fix prices.
  7. Disseminate
    Meaning: spread (something, especially information) widely.
    Synonyms: spread, distribute, circulate, disperse, propagate
    Example: The organization aimed to disseminate knowledge to remote villages.
  8. Ephemeral
    Meaning: something that lasts for a very short time.
    Synonyms: short-lived, fleeting, temporary, momentary, transitory
    Example: The beauty of the cherry blossoms is ephemeral but enchanting.
  9. Fatuous
    Meaning: foolish or inane, especially in an unconscious, complacent manner; silly; witless. Synonyms: silly, foolish, stupid, ridiculous, senseless
    Example: His fatuous comments only served to provoke laughter.
  10. Guile
    Meaning: the practice of deceiving people or using other dishonest methods to achieve your aims, or the ability to deceive people for this purpose
    Synonyms: cunning, deceit, trickery, craftiness, slyness
    Example: The con artist used his guile to deceive unsuspecting victims.

81-90

  1. Harbinger
    Meaning: a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another. Synonyms: precursor, forerunner, herald, signal, omen
    Example: The first snowfall was a harbinger of the harsh winter to come.
  2. Ineffable
    Meaning: too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.
    Synonyms: indescribable, unimaginable, inexpressible, unutterable, unspeakable
    Example: The ineffable beauty of the starry night sky left him breathless.
  3. Juxtaposition
    Meaning: the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect. Synonyms: contrast, comparison, association, combination, connection
    Example: The juxtaposition of colors in the painting created a striking effect.
  4. Kindle
    Meaning: set (something) on fire.
    Synonyms: ignite, spark, light, fire up, arouse
    Example: The speaker’s words kindled a passion for change in the audience.
  5. Languish
    Meaning: (of a person, animal, or plant) lose or lack vitality; grow weak.
    Synonyms: wither, deteriorate, weaken, waste away, decline
    Example: He continued to languish in the hospital bed after the accident.
  6. Mellifluous
    Meaning: (of a sound) pleasingly smooth and musical to hear.
    Synonyms: sweet-sounding, melodious, harmonious, musical, tuneful
    Example: Her mellifluous voice captivated everyone in the room.
  7. Nebulous
    Meaning: in the form of a cloud or haze; hazy.
    Synonyms: vague, unclear, hazy, ambiguous, indistinct
    Example: The plan was nebulous and lacked concrete details.
  8. Obfuscation
    Meaning: the action of making something obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.
    Synonyms: confusion, bewilderment, mystification, clouding, obnubilation
    Example: The politician’s obfuscation of the issue only added to the confusion.
  9. Paucity
    Meaning: the presence of something in only small or insufficient quantities or amounts. Synonyms: scarcity, shortage, insufficiency, lack, dearth
    Example: The paucity of resources hindered the completion of the project.
  10. Querulous
    Meaning: complaining in a rather petulant or whining manner.
    Synonyms: complaining, whining, grumbling, peevish, discontented
    Example: The querulous customer demanded to speak to the manager.

91-100

  1. Rambunctious
    Meaning: difficult to control or handle.
    Synonyms: lively, rowdy, boisterous, unruly, wild
    Example: The children became rambunctious during the birthday party.
  2. Salient
    Meaning: most noticeable or important.
    Synonyms: noticeable, prominent, important, striking, significant
    Example: The salient features of the design stood out from the rest.
  3. Trepidation
    Meaning: a feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen.
    Synonyms: fear, anxiety, apprehension, nervousness, dread
    Example: She felt a sense of trepidation before entering the haunted house.
  4. Unctuous
    Meaning: excessively flattering or ingratiating; oily.”he seemed anxious to please but not in an unctuous way
    Synonyms: oily, insincere, flattering, smarmy, slick
    Example: The salesperson’s unctuous manner seemed too slick to be genuine.
  5. Venerate
    Meaning: regard with great respect; revere.
    Synonyms: respect, revere, honor, idolize, worship
    Example: The ancient temple was a place to venerate the gods.
  6. Whimsical
    Meaning: playfully quaint or fanciful, especially appealingly and amusingly.
    Synonyms: playful, fanciful, capricious, quirky, quirky
    Example: Her whimsical sense of style always turned heads on the street.
  7. Xenophobia
    Meaning: the fear or dislike of anything.
    Synonyms: racism, prejudice, intolerance, bigotry, discrimination
    Example: Xenophobia often leads to conflict and division in society.
  8. Yearn
    Meaning: have an intense feeling of longing for something, typically something that one has lost or been separated from. Synonyms: long, crave, desire, pine, hanker
    Example: He yearned for adventure and exploration in far-off lands.
  9. Zeal
    Meaning: dedication or enthusiasm for something.
    Synonyms: enthusiasm, passion, fervor, eagerness, dedication
    Example: She approached her work with great zeal and commitment.
  10. Aplomb
    Meaning: self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation. Synonyms: confidence, assurance, poise, self-assurance, composure
    Example: She handled the difficult situation with aplomb and grace.

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