English: 📚30 Everyday Words to Replace with Stronger Vocabulary for English Exams

English GCSE

Let’s talk about vocabulary. You don’t need to memorize a dictionary for your English exams, but steering clear of basic words can make your writing stand out.

Words like sad, happy, fun, and excited are fine for casual conversation, but in exams, they lack the depth needed to impress examiners.

Here’s a list of 30 basic words you can swap for more refined vocabulary to add impact to your essays:

1. Sad → Replace with: melancholy, sorrowful, despondent, heartbroken

2. Happy → Replace with: ecstatic, jubilant, content, elated

3. Fun → Replace with: enjoyable, entertaining, thrilling, delightful

4. Excited → Replace with: thrilled, exhilarated, overjoyed, jubilant

5. Big → Replace with: immense, enormous, substantial, vast

6. Small → Replace with: petite, compact, minute, modest

7. Good → Replace with: exceptional, superb, excellent, remarkable

8. Bad → Replace with: atrocious, dreadful, subpar, inadequate

9. Nice → Replace with: pleasant, amiable, courteous, admirable

10. Angry → Replace with: furious, irate, exasperated, enraged

11. Scared → Replace with: terrified, apprehensive, petrified, fearful

12. Boring → Replace with: mundane, monotonous, tedious, uninspiring

13. Tired → Replace with: exhausted, weary, drained, lethargic

14. Cold → Replace with: chilly, frosty, frigid, icy

15. Hot → Replace with: scorching, sweltering, blistering, stifling

16. Fast → Replace with: swift, rapid, brisk, expeditious

17. Slow → Replace with: leisurely, sluggish, unhurried, gradual

18. Smart → Replace with: intelligent, ingenious, astute, insightful

19. Dumb → Replace with: foolish, naive, uninformed, irrational

20. Pretty → Replace with: beautiful, stunning, gorgeous, attractive

21. Ugly → Replace with: unsightly, unappealing, unattractive, grotesque

22. Easy → Replace with: simple, effortless, straightforward, uncomplicated

23. Hard → Replace with: difficult, challenging, arduous, strenuous

24. Rich → Replace with: affluent, wealthy, prosperous, opulent

25. Poor → Replace with: impoverished, destitute, disadvantaged, underprivileged

26. Strong → Replace with: powerful, resilient, robust, vigorous

27. Weak → Replace with: fragile, frail, feeble, delicate

28. Old → Replace with: ancient, elderly, aged, antiquated

29. Young → Replace with: youthful, juvenile, adolescent, inexperienced

30. Important → Replace with: crucial, significant, vital, paramount

Pro Tip:

When swapping words, make sure they fit the context. A word like jubilant might not always replace happy, especially if the tone of your sentence is neutral. Choose words that match the nuance you want to convey.

Refining your vocabulary doesn’t just impress examiners; it also helps you articulate your thoughts more effectively. So, go ahead, swap those basic words and show off your linguistic flair in your next exam!

What are your favorite vocabulary upgrades? Let me know in the comments!