Are you preparing up for the Civil Service Exam in the Philippines? Boost your chances of success by dedicating time each day to expand your vocabulary. In this guide, we’ll explore 25 essential words that frequently appear in the exam. By mastering these words, you’ll enhance your comprehension skills and improve your performance in the language section.
Word | Meaning | Example |
---|---|---|
Acrimonious (adjective) | Bitter and angry in tone or manner | The debate turned acrimonious, with both sides exchanging harsh words. |
Ambivalent (adjective) | Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone | She felt ambivalent about the job offer, torn between excitement and anxiety. |
Ameliorate (verb) | To make something bad or unsatisfactory better | Measures were taken to ameliorate the situation after the crisis. |
Belligerent (adjective) | Hostile and aggressive | The belligerent attitude of the manager caused a lot of unrest among the employees. |
Cacophony (noun) | A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds | The cacophony in the market made it difficult to hear anything. |
Decorum (noun) | Behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety | He maintained decorum throughout the formal event. |
Elucidate (verb) | To make something clear; explain | The teacher was asked to elucidate the complex theory for the students. |
Facetious (adjective) | Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor | His facetious remarks during the meeting were not well-received. |
Garrulous (adjective) | Excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters | The garrulous old man told us endless stories of his youth. |
Hackneyed (adjective) | Lacking significance through having been overused | The hackneyed phrases in the speech failed to impress the audience. |
Impetuous (adjective) | Acting quickly without thought or care | His impetuous decision to quit his job surprised everyone. |
Ineffable (adjective) | Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words | The beauty of the scene was ineffable. |
Juxtapose (verb) | To place side by side for comparison | The artist juxtaposed vibrant colors to create a striking contrast. |
Languid (adjective) | Displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort | The hot weather made everyone feel languid and lethargic. |
Magnanimous (adjective) | Generous or forgiving, especially towards a rival or less powerful person | She was magnanimous in victory, praising her opponent’s effort. |
Mordacious (adjective) | Having a biting or caustic quality | His mordacious remarks often left his friends feeling hurt. |
Nebulous (adjective) | In the form of a cloud or haze; hazy | His plans for the future were still nebulous and not well-defined. |
Obfuscate (verb) | To render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible | The politician’s speech only served to obfuscate the real issues. |
Perfunctory (adjective) | Carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection | She gave a perfunctory nod to the greeting and moved on. |
Quixotic (adjective) | Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical | His quixotic quest for justice was admired by many, though deemed impractical. |
Recalcitrant (adjective) | Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude towards authority or discipline | The recalcitrant student refused to follow the school’s rules. |
Sagacious (adjective) | Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment | Her sagacious advice helped us navigate through the difficult situation. |
Sycophant (noun) | A person who acts obsequiously towards someone important to gain advantage | The sycophant was always flattering his boss to get ahead. |
Taciturn (adjective) | Reserved or uncommunicative in speech | The taciturn man rarely spoke, preferring to keep to himself. |
Tenuous (adjective) | Very weak or slight | The evidence was tenuous at best. |
Ubiquitous (adjective) | Present, appearing, or found everywhere | The ubiquitous smartphones have changed how we communicate. |