5 Advanced Words With P
Following words drawn in the style of 'word as image' with minimal typography illustrations
Part of Visual Dictionary Project
Perennial, Pernicious, and more
Minimal visual illustrations for perennial, pernicious, perfunctory, prosthetic and predicament
Something perennial keeps coming back, year after year. Like flowers that return every spring, or problems that never quite go away. It's the opposite of a one-time thing—perennial stuff persists.
The word works for plants that survive winter and bloom again, but also for anything recurring: hope, trends, issues. If it shows up again and again, it's perennial.
Something pernicious is harmful in a sneaky, slow way—damage you don't notice until it's already serious. Think toxic smoke slowly poisoning the air, or lies quietly destroying trust. Pernicious things work hidden.
You'll see this word in serious situations: pernicious lies, habits, diseases. When something is pernicious, it's not just harmful—it's dangerously insidious, causing deep damage in ways that aren't obvious at first.
A predicament is a difficult situation where you're stuck between bad choices. Like standing at a crossroads with both paths looking risky. You're trapped with no easy way out.
It's more than just a problem—it's a problem that puts you in a bind. Forgot homework and don't know whether to lie or confess? That's a predicament—caught with no good options.
A prosthetic is an artificial body part that replaces one that's missing or not working. Prosthetic legs, arms, hands help people move, work, and live. Modern prosthetics let people run, climb, and do amazing things.
Prosthetics aren't just replacements—they're tools that restore ability and independence. From simple wooden legs to high-tech robotic limbs, they bridge the gap between loss and living fully.
Something perfunctory is done with zero enthusiasm—just going through the motions without care or interest. Like a cashier mumbling "have a nice day" without looking at you. There's no heart in it.
A perfunctory handshake is limp, a perfunctory apology is hollow, a perfunctory check is rushed and careless. You're just ticking boxes to get it over with.
Advanced Vocabulary Quiz
Test your understanding of 5 essential academic words through context-based questions designed for IELTS, TOEIC, and TOEFL preparation.
A manager gives 'perfunctory praise' to her team after a major success. What message does this send?
Sentence Construction
Write meaningful sentences demonstrating precise usage of 5 advanced vocabulary words.
Demonstrate your understanding by writing sentences that capture the precise meaning of each word. Your sentences should show you understand the nuances, not just the dictionary definition.
Write about a problem, trend, or phenomenon that keeps coming back. Your sentence should make it clear why 'perennial' is more accurate than just 'recurring' or 'repeated'.
Describe something harmful that works slowly and secretly. Your sentence should show why 'pernicious' is stronger and more specific than just 'harmful' or 'bad'.
Describe a situation where someone faces competing values or conflicting bad options. Show why it's a predicament, not just a difficult decision.
Use 'prosthetic' for an artificial replacement—could be a physical limb, or metaphorically (prosthetic memory, prosthetic vision). Show how it restores or extends function.
Describe an action or gesture done mechanically, without real interest or enthusiasm. Your sentence should capture the hollowness or lack of genuine feeling.