C1 · Advanced

Argument & Persuasion — C1 English Vocabulary

This C1 vocabulary list gathers 60 advanced English words about argument & persuasion — making, winning and conceding a case. Every word comes with its British-English pronunciation and a natural example sentence, so you learn each one in real context. When you are ready, open the flashcards to practise and remember them for good.

  1. cogent/ˈkəʊ.dʒənt/

    “She made a cogent argument.”

  2. incisive/ɪnˈsaɪ.sɪv/

    “Her analysis was incisive.”

  3. rebut/rɪˈbʌt/

    “He tried to rebut the charge.”

  4. repudiate/rɪˈpjuː.di.eɪt/

    “They repudiate the accusation.”

  5. tenet/ˈten.ɪt/

    “It is a central tenet of his theory.”

  6. corollary/kəˈrɒl.ər.i/

    “Higher pay is a corollary of growth.”

  7. caveat/ˈkæv.i.æt/

    “I accept it, with one caveat.”

  8. nuance/ˈnjuː.ɑːns/

    “He missed the nuance of her point.”

  9. equivocate/ɪˈkwɪv.ə.keɪt/

    “Do not equivocate; give a clear answer.”

  10. dogmatic/dɒɡˈmæt.ɪk/

    “He is dogmatic in his views.”

  11. polemic/pəˈlem.ɪk/

    “The book is a fierce polemic.”

  12. undermine/ˌʌn.dəˈmaɪn/

    “Such leaks undermine his case.”

  13. demagogue/ˈdem.ə.ɡɒɡ/

    “The crowd cheered the demagogue.”

  14. fallacious/fəˈleɪ.ʃəs/

    “That is a fallacious argument.”

  15. specious/ˈspiː.ʃəs/

    “His reasoning is specious.”

  16. tenable/ˈten.ə.bəl/

    “The position is no longer tenable.”

  17. untenable/ʌnˈten.ə.bəl/

    “Their claim became untenable.”

  18. vindication/ˌvɪn.dɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

    “The result was a vindication of his views.”

  19. concur/kənˈkɜː/

    “Most experts concur with her.”

  20. demur/dɪˈmɜː/

    “Nobody dared to demur.”

  21. reaffirm/ˌriː.əˈfɜːm/

    “They reaffirm their stance.”

  22. syllogism/ˈsɪl.ə.dʒɪ.zəm/

    “He explained it with a syllogism.”

  23. sophistry/ˈsɒf.ɪ.stri/

    “His speech was mere sophistry.”

  24. galvanise/ˈɡæl.və.naɪz/

    “Great speeches galvanise a crowd.”

  25. acquiesce/ˌæk.wiˈes/

    “They rarely acquiesce to demands.”

  26. remonstrate/ˈrem.ən.streɪt/

    “Fans often remonstrate with the referee.”

  27. posit/ˈpɒz.ɪt/

    “Critics posit a bold theory.”

  28. rationalisation/ˌræʃ.ən.əl.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/

    “It was a clever rationalisation.”

  29. crux/krʌks/

    “That is the crux of the matter.”

  30. subtlety/ˈsʌt.əl.ti/

    “He appreciates subtlety.”

  31. advocacy/ˈæd.və.kə.si/

    “Her advocacy changed the law.”

  32. wrangle/ˈræŋ.ɡəl/

    “They wrangle over every detail.”

  33. quibble/ˈkwɪb.əl/

    “Let us not quibble over pennies.”

  34. capitulate/kəˈpɪt.jə.leɪt/

    “The board refused to capitulate.”

  35. eloquence/ˈel.ə.kwəns/

    “Her eloquence won the debate.”

  36. diatribe/ˈdaɪə.traɪb/

    “He launched into a diatribe.”

  37. lambaste/læmˈbeɪst/

    “Critics lambaste the film.”

  38. stipulation/ˌstɪp.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/

    “There was one stipulation.”

  39. gist/dʒɪst/

    “I got the gist of his argument.”

  40. coax/kəʊks/

    “Try to coax him into agreeing.”

  41. vehement/ˈviː.ə.mənt/

    “He gave a vehement denial.”

  42. contentious/kənˈten.ʃəs/

    “It is a contentious topic.”

  43. unanimous/juːˈnæn.ɪ.məs/

    “The vote was unanimous.”

  44. categorical/ˌkæt.əˈɡɒr.ɪ.kəl/

    “He gave a categorical denial.”

  45. adamant/ˈæd.ə.mənt/

    “She was adamant about leaving.”

  46. implore/ɪmˈplɔː/

    “I implore you to reconsider.”

  47. belabour/bɪˈleɪ.bə/

    “Do not belabour the point.”

  48. pertinent/ˈpɜː.tɪ.nənt/

    “She raised a pertinent question.”

  49. moot/muːt/

    “It is now a moot point.”

  50. fervour/ˈfɜː.və/

    “He spoke with great fervour.”

  51. axiom/ˈæk.si.əm/

    “It is treated as an axiom.”

  52. haggle/ˈhæɡ.əl/

    “They haggle over the price.”

  53. relent/rɪˈlent/

    “In the end they relent.”

  54. cajole/kəˈdʒəʊl/

    “They cajole him into helping.”

  55. retort/rɪˈtɔːt/

    “She gave a sharp retort.”

  56. salient/ˈseɪ.li.ənt/

    “He noted the salient facts.”

  57. polarise/ˈpəʊ.lə.raɪz/

    “Such issues polarise the country.”

  58. credence/ˈkriː.dəns/

    “The report lends credence to the theory.”

  59. affirmation/ˌæf.əˈmeɪ.ʃən/

    “She gave a firm affirmation.”

  60. persuasively/pəˈsweɪ.sɪv.li/

    “He argued persuasively for change.”