Anisha has done MBA in Marketing from NMIMS And Executive Management(PMNO) from Harvard Business School. She has been instrumental in growing CATKing Digital with her experience with Marico and Henkel in the past.
The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section of the CAT exam plays a significant role in determining your overall percentile. While CAT does not directly test vocabulary like synonyms or antonyms, having a strong vocabulary helps you:
- Understand Reading Comprehension passages faster
- Grasp author’s tone and intent easily
- Eliminate wrong options smartly
- Handle para jumbles, summaries, and inference-based questions confidently
If you’re preparing for CAT 2025, mastering essential vocabulary words is a must. This article will walk you through must-know vocabulary words—with meanings and examples—that frequently occur in reading-heavy content and CAT-level material.
🧠 Why Vocabulary Matters for CAT
Many students ask, “Do I really need to learn vocabulary for CAT?” The answer is: Yes, strategically. While you won't get direct vocabulary questions like GRE or SAT, your understanding of RCs depends on your ability to comprehend complex words.
Words like esoteric, pragmatic, convoluted, or repercussion may appear in RC passages from philosophy, economics, psychology, or literature.
📘 Must-Do Vocabulary Words: Quick Reference Table
Below is a table of 20 hand-picked vocabulary words every CAT aspirant must know. These words are selected from editorials, previous CAT RCs, and IMS reading resources.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ubiquitous | Present everywhere | Smartphones are now ubiquitous in daily life. |
| Esoteric | Understood by a few | The book is full of esoteric references to Greek mythology. |
| Pragmatic | Practical and logical | She took a pragmatic approach to solve the problem. |
| Apathy | Lack of interest or emotion | Voter apathy is a major issue in local elections. |
| Lucid | Clear and easy to understand | His explanation was so lucid that even a child could get it. |
| Dogmatic | Strongly opinionated | He was dogmatic and refused to consider new ideas. |
| Enigmatic | Mysterious | The cave paintings are enigmatic and ancient. |
| Belligerent | Aggressive and hostile | His belligerent attitude ruined the discussion. |
| Meticulous | Very careful and precise | She is meticulous in her research work. |
| Cacophony | Harsh, discordant mixture of sounds | The market was filled with a cacophony of voices. |
| Repercussion | A negative consequence | The policy change had major economic repercussions. |
| Sporadic | Irregular or infrequent | Internet outages were sporadic throughout the day. |
| Insipid | Lacking flavor or interest | The speech was insipid and uninspiring. |
| Ambiguous | Open to more than one meaning | The ending of the movie was ambiguous. |
| Fortuitous | Happening by chance, lucky | It was a fortuitous meeting that led to a new opportunity. |
| Juxtapose | Place side by side for comparison | The novel juxtaposes wealth and poverty in urban life. |
| Inundate | Overwhelm with things or people | The helpline was inundated with calls. |
| Pervasive | Spread widely | Corruption is a pervasive issue in many systems. |
| Superfluous | More than what is necessary | He removed all superfluous details from the report. |
| Conundrum | A confusing and difficult problem | Choosing between two good offers is a conundrum. |
📖 How to Learn Vocabulary Effectively
Learning vocabulary doesn’t have to be boring or stressful. Use these proven techniques to build and retain words:
✅ 1. Read Editorials Daily: Make it a habit to read The Hindu, Indian Express, or LiveMint editorials. Note down new words and try using them in sentences.
✅ 2. Use Flashcards: Apps like Anki or Quizlet help you revise words on the go. Make flashcards with word + meaning + usage.
✅ 3. Word Power by Norman Lewis: This classic book builds vocabulary using roots and context, which helps with long-term retention.
✅ 4. Watch CATKing Vocab Boost Sessions: Our YouTube channel and vocab series cover 1000+ high-impact words with tricks and mnemonics.
🧠 Bonus Tip: Focus on Context
Remember: in CAT, you’re never tested on just the word—you’re tested on what it means in context.
For example:
In the sentence “His dogmatic views clashed with the team’s collaborative nature,” even if you don’t know the word "dogmatic," you can guess it’s something rigid or inflexible, based on the contrast.
So, don’t just memorize meanings—read words in sentences to understand their use.
✨ Conclusion
A strong vocabulary helps you read faster, understand better, and eliminate wrong options in CAT. Start with the list above, revise regularly, and use the words in daily conversation or writing.
At CATKing Educare, we always emphasize smart learning. Mastering vocabulary is one of those smart moves that can boost your VARC score dramatically—even if you’re starting late.
Happy Learning, and may your percentile soar high!
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