English Vocabulary for CUET PG Law: 500 High-Frequency Words
Introduction: Why Vocabulary Matters in CUET PG Law
In competitive exams like CUET PG Law, a strong command of English vocabulary is not just an added advantage—it can often be the difference between a top score and an average one. The English / language / comprehension section tests you on word usage, synonyms, antonyms, contextual meanings, idioms, and more. Moreover, many legal arguments, comprehension passages, and reasoning questions assume familiarity with fairly advanced vocabulary.
For law aspirants, vocabulary holds extra weight: you’ll encounter legal terminologies, argumentation vocabulary, and cross-disciplinary words (political, social, historical) more frequently. A specialized list of 500 high-frequency English words tailored for law entrance / PG law exams can give you a competitive edge, boosting accuracy, speed, and confidence.
In this blog, we present:
- A curated list of 500 key vocabulary words (with meanings and usage)
- Clustering of words by themes (legal, argumentation, general academic)
- Effective memorization & retention strategies
- How to integrate these words into CUET PG law prep
- Practice / revision techniques and tips
Let’s begin.
How This 500-Word List Was Chosen
Before jumping into the list, it’s useful to know why and how these particular words matter:
- The list draws from commonly used competitive exam vocabulary lists and law entrance word lists
- Words are chosen for frequency in legal discourse, exam contexts, academic reading, and cross-disciplinary usage (politics, governance, social issues).
- Definitions focus on one core meaning relevant to exam usage; example sentences help contextualize usage for law / general reading.
- The list is arranged alphabetically but also grouped by theme to aid cluster learning.
Sample Vocabulary with Meanings & Usage (Selected 70 Words)
Here are some sample entries from the 500 word list
Word | Part of Speech | Meaning / Definition | Example Sentence (Law / Academic Context) |
Abrogate | verb | to abolish or annul by authority | The government sought to abrogate the old statute that infringed fundamental rights. |
Acquiesce | verb | to accept something reluctantly but without protest | Though he disagreed, he eventually acquiesced to the tribunal’s verdict. |
Adjudicate | verb | to make a formal judgment or decision | The arbitrator will adjudicate the dispute and issue a binding award. |
Ameliorate | verb | to make better or more tolerable | Proposed reforms may ameliorate the oppressive regulatory framework. |
Arbitrate | verb | to settle a dispute by a neutral party | Many commercial contracts include a clause to arbitrate in case of disagreement. |
Austere | adjective | severe or strict in manner or appearance | The judge’s austere courtroom demeanour demanded strict decorum. |
Autonomy | noun | the right of self-government, independence | A university’s academic autonomy is crucial for independent scholarship. |
Benevolent | adjective | well-meaning, kind, generous | The foundation’s benevolent funding aided scholarship programs. |
Bequeath | verb | to leave property or legacy by will | He decided to bequeath his library to the law college. |
Cajole | verb | to persuade by flattery or coaxing | She was able to cajole the reluctant witness into giving testimony. |
Capricious | adjective | unpredictable, subject to sudden changes | The tribunal criticized the executive’s capricious use of power. |
Clemency | noun | mercy or lenience shown by someone in power | The convict petitioned the president for clemency citing humanitarian grounds. |
Coerce | verb | to compel by force or threat | He claimed the confession had been coerced under duress. |
Complacent | adjective | self-satisfied, unconcerned | A complacent attitude can be fatal in competitive law exams. |
Conciliate | verb | to pacify or reconcile opposing parties | The mediator attempted to conciliate the rival factions. |
Condone | verb | to overlook or forgive an offense | The court refused to condone violations of due process. |
Conspicuous | adjective | easily seen or noticeable | The whistleblower’s role became conspicuous after the judgment. |
Contempt | noun | disrespect or disobedience to authority | Contempt of court is punishable by fines or imprisonment. |
Contentious | adjective | causing or likely to cause argument | The bill became contentious in parliamentary debates. |
Culpable | adjective | deserving blame or responsibility | He was held culpable for negligence in the contractual breach. |
Debilitate | verb | to weaken or sap strength | The long litigation process can debilitate smaller firms. |
Derivative | adjective | derived from something else; not original | The judgment was criticized for its derivative reasoning. |
Denounce | verb | to publicly condemn or criticize | The opposition denounced the new law as unconstitutional. |
Dissent | noun / verb | to disagree or express disagreement | Some judges dissented from the majority opinion. |
Disparate | adjective | fundamentally different or dissimilar | The two judgments offered disparate interpretations of the statute. |
Dissuade | verb | to persuade someone not to take a course of action | He tried to dissuade his client from an ill-advised appeal. |
Dogmatic | adjective | asserting opinions strongly as incontrovertible facts | A dogmatic approach stifles open legal reasoning. |
Elicit | verb | to draw out or provoke a response | Counsel tried to elicit relevant testimony from the witness. |
Embellish | verb | to make more attractive by adding detail | He tried to embellish his affidavit with extra facts. |
Empathy | noun | capacity to understand others’ feelings | A judge should have empathy to assess extenuating circumstances. |
Equanimity | noun | calmness and composure in difficult circumstances | She maintained equanimity even in the heat of courtroom debate. |
Esoteric | adjective | intended for a small, specialized audience | The doctrine remained esoteric and inaccessible to laypersons. |
Exacerbate | verb | to worsen or aggravate | High litigation costs may exacerbate delays in justice. |
Frivolous | adjective | lacking seriousness or merit | The court dismissed the petition as frivolous. |
Guile | noun | deceitful cunning or trickery | One must not rely on guile in matters of statutory interpretation. |
Impede | verb | to obstruct or hinder | The appellant alleged that procedural anomalies impeded fair hearing. |
Implicit | adjective | implied though not plainly expressed | The contract included implicit guarantees of performance. |
Inadvertent | adjective | unintentional or accidental | The omission was inadvertent, not deliberate. |
Incumbent | adjective / noun | necessary for someone as a duty / person holding office | It is incumbent upon counsel to disclose precedents. |
Indict | verb | to formally charge with a crime | The accused was indicted for conspiracy. |
Inept | adjective | lacking skill or ability | The defense counsel’s inept presentation weakened the case. |
Inherent | adjective | existing in something as a permanent part | Judicial review is inherent in constitutional systems. |
Insidious | adjective | proceeding in a gradual, subtle way but harmful | Some biases operate insidiously within legal systems. |
Insipid | adjective | lacking flavor or interest | The argument was dismissed for being insipid and underdeveloped. |
Intrepid | adjective | fearless; adventurous | The intrepid litigant persevered in a difficult appeal. |
Irrefutable | adjective | impossible to refute or deny | The evidence presented was irrefutable. |
Lethargic | adjective | sluggish or lacking energy | A lethargic filing pace can cost timely appeals. |
Magnanimous | adjective | generous or forgiving, especially to rival | The judge’s magnanimous disposition earned respect. |
Malevolent | adjective | having evil intentions | The counsel warned of malevolent motives behind the motion. |
Mitigate | verb | to make less severe | Good remedial steps may mitigate the penalty. |
Nefarious | adjective | wicked or criminal | The contract’s hidden clauses had nefarious consequences. |
Obdurate | adjective | stubbornly refusing to change opinion | The defendant remained obdurate despite appeals. |
Obfuscate | verb | to render unclear or confusing | The lawyer’s argument tended to obfuscate rather than clarify. |
Obsolete | adjective | no longer in use | The legal rule became obsolete after the amendment. |
Onerous | adjective | burdensome, oppressive | The statute’s obligations were found to be onerous. |
Ostensible | adjective | appearing as such but not necessarily real | The contract’s ostensible purpose masked hidden costs. |
Paragon | noun | a model of excellence | She was regarded as a paragon of judicial integrity. |
Penchant | noun | a strong inclination or liking | The judge’s penchant for textualism was clear. |
Perfunctory | adjective | done routinely or superficially | The perfunctory response failed to satisfy the court. |
Clustering Vocabulary by Theme
To better learn and recall, cluster the 500 words into thematic groups. Here are a few categories:
- Legal / Judicial / Governance Vocabulary
- Abrogate, adjudicate, arbitrate, litigation, statutory, jurisprudence, precedent, redress, injunction, habeas, writ, doctrine, unconstitutional, de facto, de jure
- Argumentation / Reasoning Vocabulary
- Cogent, fallacy, presumption, inference, juxtapose, dichotomy, paradox, delineate, implication, rebuttal, rationale
- Academic / Formal Essay Vocabulary
- Synthesize, concomitant, ubiquitous, empirical, paradigm, ambiguous, comprehensive, inevitable, corroborate
- Social / Political / Policy Vocabulary
- Autonomy, benevolent, egalitarian, hegemony, oligarchy, dissent, subjugation, emancipation, disenfranchise
- Emotion / Attitude / Character
- Magnanimous, malevolent, benevolent, callous, obdurate, conciliatory, rancour, vindictive
By studying in clusters, your brain builds associations, making recall easier during exam conditions.
Strategies to Learn & Retain the 500 Words
- Spaced Repetition & Flashcards
Use tools (physical cards or apps like Anki / Quizlet) and review words in increasing intervals (1 day, 3 days, 7 days, etc.). This method is backed by cognitive science for long-term retention.
2. Use in Sentences & Context
Write your own sentences using each word, especially in legal or academic contexts. Contextual use cements memory.
3. Root, Prefix & Suffix Analysis
Many words share common roots (e.g. “auto,” “bi,” “bene,” “poly,” “para,” “chrono”). Understanding roots helps you guess meanings of unfamiliar words.
4. Daily Mini Quizzes
Quiz yourself on 10–15 words each day. Use mixed recall (meanings, synonyms, antonyms, usage). Rotate between clusters.
5. Group Study & Peer Usage
Use the words while discussing legal topics or essay writing with peers. Teaching or explaining meaning to others boosts memory.
6. Reading & Underlining
Read legal articles, judgments, editorials. When you encounter these words, underline and revisit your list. Active reading reinforces vocabulary.
7. Anchor Words & Mnemonics
For trickier words, use mnemonic devices or anchor them to familiar ideas. E.g. “obdurate” sounds like “obstinate / durable” — stubbornly unbending.
Integrating Vocabulary into CUET PG Law Preparation
Beyond memorization, here’s how to weave this vocabulary into your core exam prep:
1. Use in Comprehension Passages
When practicing reading passages, actively replace difficult words in your reading with words from your list. This reinforces recognition.
2. Synonym / Antonym Questions
Many CUET PG law language sections will test synonyms/antonyms. Having a ready bank of words helps you pick precise options.
]3. Essay & Legal Opinion Writing
In your written answers or assignments, try to incorporate these words (appropriately) to elevate your writing style and coherence.
4. Error Spotting / Sentence Correction
Some words from the list are easily misused (e.g. “implicit / explicit,” “perfunctory / perfunctory,” “onerous / onerous”). Knowing correct usage reduces errors.
5. Cross-sectional Benefits
The vocabulary will also aid you in reading law textbooks, articles, judgments, and statutes—making comprehension faster and smoother.
Practice & Revision Schedule for the 500 Words
To manage 500 words effectively without overwhelm, here’s a recommended schedule over ~10 weeks:
- Week 1–2: 100 words (10–15 daily) + flashcards + usage sentences
- Week 3–4: Next 100 words, plus review of prior 100 using spaced repetition
- Week 5–6: Next 100 + reinforce earlier sets
- Week 7–8: Next 100 + periodic revision
- Week 9–10: Last 100 + full revision cycles, mock vocabulary quizzes, mixed sets
Also integrate periodic full vocabulary tests (50–100 words) under timed conditions to simulate exam recall pressure.
Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
- Learning too many new words at once: leads to shallow retention. Use small daily sets.
- Ignoring revision: If you don’t revisit, you’ll forget. Spaced repetition is key.
- Memorizing definitions only: Without usage, you may not recognize context.
- Not clustering: Studying 500 random words is harder; cluster them by theme.
- Neglecting tricky usage / nuance: Some words are close in meaning; focus on collocations and legal context.
- Overusing fancy words incorrectly: If you misuse a word in an answer, it can backfire. Use cautiously and accurately.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is 500 words enough for CUET PG law?
Yes—it provides a strong base. Combined with reading and corridor vocabulary exposure, these 500 should cover many tested words and help with comprehension and usage.
Q2. How many new words per day should I learn?
Aim for 8-12 new words with revisions of older ones. Adjust based on your pace.
Q3. Should I focus only on legal terms?
No—general academic and formal vocabulary is equally important as legal terms in comprehension and reasoning.
Q4. How much time should vocabulary study take each day?
About 20–30 minutes for new words + 10–15 minutes for revision should be effective if consistent.
Q5. When should I start this vocabulary regimen?
Start as early as possible—ideally 2–3 months before exam. If late, compress but maintain daily consistency.
Conclusion
Mastering 500 high-frequency vocabulary words tailored for CUET PG Law can significantly improve your reading speed, comprehension, precision in synonym/antonym questions, and the overall verbal section performance. But merely knowing a list is not enough—you must learn smart: use clustering, spaced repetition, usage in legal sentences, periodic quizzes, reading contextual materials, and steady revision.
With consistent effort, even a modest daily schedule can lead to mastery within weeks. Combine this vocabulary strength with your core law preparation, and you’ll approach CUET PG 2026 with greater confidence and linguistic agility.
All the best—learn smart, revise often, and succeed.
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