counteract
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C1 verb /ˌkaʊntərˈækt/

counteract

Meaning
to act against something in order to reduce its effect
Example
The medicine helps counteract the side effects of the treatment.
C1 adjective əsˈtjuːt

astute

Meaning
Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage.
Example
His astute observations helped solve the complex problem.
C1 noun /ˈsɪlk.wɜːrm/

Silk-worm

Meaning
the caterpillar of a moth that produces silk fibers used to make silk fabric
Example
Silkworms feed on mulberry leaves to produce silk.
C1 noun /ˈæptɪˌtjuːd/

aptitude

Meaning
a natural ability or talent to do something well
Example
She has a strong aptitude for learning new languages.
C1 adjective /ˈtɒrɪd/

torrid

Meaning
Very hot and dry; full of strong emotions or passion.
Example
The desert heat was torrid during the day.
C1 adverb ˌekspəˈnenʃəli

exponentially

Meaning
At a rapidly increasing rate; growing or expanding very quickly and intensely.
Example
Internet adoption is growing exponentially worldwide.
C1 adjective /kənˈteɪ.dʒəs/

Contagious

Meaning
likely to spread to and affect others; infectious
Example
Her laughter is contagious and makes everyone smile.
C1 verb /rɪˈtɑːrd/

retard

Meaning
to delay or slow down the progress of something
Example
Lack of funds may retard the development of the project.
C1 noun /ˈnɛm.ə.sɪs/

nemesis

Meaning
A long-standing rival or an inescapable agent of downfall.
Example
For years, he considered his colleague to be his nemesis.
C1 noun ˈkɑːr.bən ˌsiː.kwəˈstreɪ.ʃən

carbon sequestration

Meaning
The process of capture and long-term storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide to mitigate or defer global warming.
Example
Forests play a key role in carbon sequestration.
C1 noun ˈsɪmbəlɪzəm

symbolism

Meaning
The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.
Example
The use of symbolism in the novel is masterful.
C1 noun /ˈdɛsɪˌbɛl/

decibel

Meaning
a unit used to measure the intensity of sound
Example
The noise level in the factory exceeded 90 decibels.
C1 noun /ˈpɒpjʊlɪst/

populist

Meaning
A politician or person who seeks to appeal to ordinary people who feel their concerns are ignored by elites.
Example
The populist leader promised to put the needs of common citizens first.
C1 noun /æbˈstrækʃən/

abstraction

Meaning
the process of forming general ideas by removing specific details; an abstract concept or idea
Example
Abstraction allows complex ideas to be represented in a simplified form.
C1 adjective /ɪˈrɛvəkəbl/

irrevocable

Meaning
Not able to be revoked, changed, or undone.
Example
She made an irrevocable decision to leave the company.
C1 adjective /səˈtɪrɪkəl/

satirical

Meaning
containing or using satire to criticize or mock
Example
The satirical cartoon mocked the government's new policy.
C1 verb /ˈstriːm.laɪn/

streamline

Meaning
To make a process simpler and more efficient.
Example
The company aims to streamline production to reduce costs.
C1 noun /ˌdɜːrməˈtɑːlədʒi/

dermatology

Meaning
The branch of medicine concerned with the skin and its diseases.
Example
He studied dermatology at medical school.
C1 verb /ˌmɪsˈkaʊnt/

miscount

Meaning
To count wrongly or inaccurately.
Example
He miscounted the number of chairs in the hall.
C1 verb /siːp/

seep

Meaning
to flow or leak slowly through small openings or pores
Example
Water began to seep through the cracks in the wall.
C1 adjective /ˈdɔːr.mənt/

Dormant

Meaning
inactive; sleeping; temporarily suspended; not currently active
Example
The volcano has been dormant for over a century.
C1 noun /jiːst/

Yeast

Meaning
microorganisms used in baking and brewing to cause fermentation
Example
Add yeast to the flour to make the bread rise.
C1 noun /ˈbæs.ti.ən/

bastion

Meaning
a stronghold or fortification; a place or institution strongly defending particular principles
Example
The castle stood as a bastion against enemy attacks.
C1 verb /ɪnˈfjuːz/

infuse

Meaning
to fill or spread through something; to instill a quality, idea, or feeling
Example
The teacher tried to infuse her students with a love for reading.
C1 adjective /ˈɪnfəməs/

infamous

Meaning
well known for some bad quality or deed
Example
The dictator was infamous for his cruelty.
C1 adjective ˈtæktɪkəl

tactical

Meaning
Relating to or constituting actions carefully planned to gain a specific military or political end.
Example
Tactical thinking is crucial in business negotiations.
C1 adjective /ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋkt/

indistinct

Meaning
Not clear or sharply defined; vague or blurred.
Example
The sound of voices was indistinct in the distance.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnəˈfɛktɪd/

unaffected

Meaning
Not influenced or touched by something; genuine and natural.
Example
He remained unaffected by the criticism and kept working hard.
C1 noun /ˈɡlædiˌeɪtər/

gladiator

Meaning
A man trained to fight in public contests in ancient Rome.
Example
The gladiator fought bravely in the arena.
C1 noun /əˈseɪlənt/

assailant

Meaning
a person who attacks another
Example
The police arrested the assailant at the scene.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈθɪŋkɪŋ/

unthinking

Meaning
done without careful thought; automatic or thoughtless
Example
His unthinking remark hurt her feelings.
C1 noun /ˈtrɪviə/

trivia

Meaning
Details or information that are considered unimportant or of little value.
Example
The quiz was filled with fun trivia about movies and music.
C1 adjective /ˈbæʃ.fəl/

Bashful

Meaning
shy; timid; modest; easily embarrassed
Example
The bashful child hid behind her mother when meeting strangers.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnhɒˈspɪtəbl/

inhospitable

Meaning
Harsh and difficult to live in; unfriendly or unwelcoming to guests.
Example
The desert is an inhospitable environment for most plants.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈplɔːzəbl/

implausible

Meaning
Not seeming reasonable or probable; unlikely to be true.
Example
The story she told was so implausible that no one believed her.
C1 noun /dɪn/

din

Meaning
a loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise
Example
The din of traffic outside made it hard to concentrate.
C1 noun /ˈwɪŋˌspæn/

wingspan

Meaning
the distance from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other wing
Example
The eagle has an impressive wingspan of over two meters.
C1 noun /ɪkˈspʌlʃən/

expulsion

Meaning
The act of forcing someone to leave a place, especially a school or country.
Example
His constant misbehavior led to his expulsion from school.
C1 noun /ˈnoʊmæd/

nomad

Meaning
A person who has no permanent home and moves from place to place.
Example
The desert was once home to nomads who lived by herding animals.
C1 adjective /ˈpɔɪ.njənt/

poignant

Meaning
evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret; deeply touching
Example
The movie's ending was so poignant that many in the audience were moved to tears.
C1 adjective /iːsˈθɛθɪkəl/

aesthetical

Meaning
concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty; related to artistic taste or appearance
Example
The architect focused on the aesthetical balance of the building.
C1 adjective /vɪnˈdɪk.tɪv/

Vindictive

Meaning
having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge
Example
His vindictive behavior towards his former colleagues was unprofessional.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈdʒʊəriəs/

injurious

Meaning
Causing or likely to cause harm or damage.
Example
Smoking is injurious to health.
C1 noun /kɑːɡ/

cog

Meaning
A tooth on the rim of a wheel or gear; metaphorically, a minor but necessary part of a larger system.
Example
He felt like just a small cog in a big machine.
C1 verb /ɪmˈbɛl.ɪʃ/

embellish

Meaning
To make something more attractive by adding decorative details or exaggerating.
Example
He tends to embellish stories to make them more interesting.
C1 noun/verb ˈfɒr.ɪdʒ

forage

Meaning
Food for horses and cattle, especially dried hay or feed; to search for food.
Example
Animals forage for food during the winter months.
C1 verb /ˈmɛzməˌraɪz/

mesmerize

Meaning
To capture complete attention; to hypnotize or fascinate.
Example
The dancer's graceful movements mesmerized the audience.
C1 adjective /ˈærɪd/

arid

Meaning
extremely dry; lacking in interest or excitement
Example
The desert is known for its arid climate.
C1 adjective dɪˈskrɪmɪnətɔːri

discriminatory

Meaning
Making or showing an unfair or prejudicial distinction between different categories of people or things.
Example
Discriminatory policies triggered protests.
C1 noun /lɔnˈdʒɛvəti/

longevity

Meaning
Long life or long existence of something.
Example
Good habits contribute to health and longevity.
C1 noun /ˈoʊvərˌsiːər/

overseer

Meaning
a person who supervises work or workers; a manager
Example
The overseer made sure the workers followed safety rules.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnɪnˈhɪbɪtɪd/

uninhibited

Meaning
Not restrained or restricted; free in behavior or expression.
Example
She gave an uninhibited laugh at the joke.
C1 adjective /ɪˈluː.sɪv/

Illusive

Meaning
deceptive; appearing to exist but not real; misleading
Example
The promise of easy money proved to be illusive and misleading.
C1 noun /ˌsɛlf əˌfɜːˈmeɪʃən/

self-affirmation

Meaning
The practice of affirming one's own worthiness and value as an individual.
Example
Daily self-affirmation can boost your confidence.
C1 noun /ˈfʌŋɡəs/

fungus

Meaning
a spore-producing organism feeding on organic matter, including molds, yeast, and mushrooms
Example
A strange fungus was growing on the old tree.
C1 adjective /ˌsʌbˈkɒn.ʃəs/

subconscious

Meaning
Of or concerning the part of the mind which one is not fully aware of but which influences actions and feelings.
Example
Fears often come from the subconscious mind.
C1 noun /ˈtæbloʊ/

tableau

Meaning
a striking or artistic scene or arrangement of people or objects, often presented on stage or in art
Example
The actors froze in a tableau that captured the final moment of the play.
C1 verb, noun /dɪsˈkrɛdɪt/

discredit

Meaning
To harm the reputation of someone or something; loss of respect or credibility.
Example
The scandal discredited the politician in the eyes of the public.
C1 adjective /ˈkæni/

canny

Meaning
Having good judgment, especially in business or practical matters; shrewd.
Example
She made a canny investment in real estate.
C1 noun /tʃɪt/

Chit

Meaning
a short note, typically a brief informal letter; a voucher for a sum owed
Example
She left a chit on the table asking him to call her back.
C1 noun /ˈæbsɛs/

abscess

Meaning
A swollen area within body tissue containing pus, usually caused by infection.
Example
The dentist treated the abscess in his tooth.
C1 noun /ˌɪntəkəˈnɛktɪvɪti/

interconnectivity

Meaning
The state of being interconnected or the degree of connectivity between components
Example
The rise of interconnectivity has transformed global communication.
C1 adjective ˌɜː.ɡəˈnɒm.ɪk

ergonomic

Meaning
Designed for efficiency and comfort in the working environment; user-friendly and reducing strain.
Example
The chair has an ergonomic design for better posture.
C1 adjective /ˈpruː.dənt/

Prudent

Meaning
wise; careful; cautious;
Example
It's prudent to save money for the future.
C1 adjective /stiːpt/

steeped

Meaning
Completely surrounded by or filled with a particular quality, influence, or experience.
Example
The town is steeped in history and tradition.
C1 noun /ˌænɛkˈseɪʃən/

annexation

Meaning
the act of adding or taking control of territory or property, especially by a state
Example
The annexation of the region led to international condemnation.
C1 noun /əbˈzɜːrvətɔːri/

observatory

Meaning
A building equipped for observing astronomical or meteorological events.
Example
The observatory is open to the public on weekends.
C1 noun /ˈfæk.ʃən/

Faction

Meaning
a small organized dissenting group within a larger one
Example
Different factions within the party disagreed about the new policy.
C1 verb /sleɪ/

slay

Meaning
to kill violently; informally, to impress greatly
Example
The hero vowed to slay the dragon.
C1 noun /ˈten.jər/

Tenure

Meaning
the period of time during which someone holds an office or position
Example
During his tenure as CEO, the company expanded globally.
C1 noun, adjective /ˌproʊlɪˈtɛəriən/

proletarian

Meaning
Relating to the working class, especially those who do not own property.
Example
The movement was rooted in proletarian struggles.
C1 verb /lʌl/

lull

Meaning
to soothe or calm; to cause to sleep or rest
Example
The gentle music lulled the baby to sleep.
C1 verb /məˈtɪərɪəlaɪz/

materialize

Meaning
To become real or actual; to appear suddenly or in a physical form.
Example
The opportunity he had been waiting for finally materialized.
C1 verb /ˈpæs.ɪ.faɪ/

pacify

Meaning
To quell the anger, agitation, or excitement of someone.
Example
The mother tried to pacify her crying child.
C1 noun /ˈblɛm.ɪʃ/

blemish

Meaning
A small mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something.
Example
The mirror had a small blemish on the surface.
C1 adjective /praɪˈmiːvəl/

primeval

Meaning
Relating to the earliest ages in history; ancient and primitive.
Example
The explorers ventured into the primeval forest untouched by humans.
C1 noun /ɪkˈstræv.ə.ɡəns/

Extravagance

Meaning
lack of restraint in spending money; excessive expense
Example
The wedding celebration was criticized for its unnecessary extravagance.
C1 verb /ˈwaɪtˌwɑːʃ/

whitewash

Meaning
to cover up faults, errors, or unpleasant facts; to paint with white paint or lime
Example
The report was criticized for trying to whitewash the company's failures.
C1 noun /ˈbenɪˌfæktər/

Benefactor

Meaning
a person who gives money or other help to support a person or cause; a patron
Example
The anonymous benefactor donated millions to the hospital.
C1 noun /ˈɒf.sprɪŋ/

offspring

Meaning
a person's child or children; an animal's young
Example
The bird carefully fed its offspring.
C1 noun /ˈeɪ.kər.ɪdʒ/

acreage

Meaning
An area of land measured in acres.
Example
The farmer owns a large acreage of fertile land.
C1 noun /ɪˈvændʒəlɪst/

evangelist

Meaning
A person who seeks to convert others to the Christian faith, especially by public preaching.
Example
The evangelist traveled across the country spreading his message.
C1 verb /rɪˈsiːd/

recede

Meaning
To move back or further away from a previous position.
Example
The floodwaters began to recede after the heavy rain stopped.
C1 noun /rɪˈbʌtəl/

rebuttal

Meaning
a statement or argument made to oppose or disprove another
Example
Her rebuttal was clear and convincing.
C1 noun /ˈlæd.i/

laddie

Meaning
A young boy or lad.
Example
The old man gave the young laddie a kind smile.
C1 noun /rʌk/

Ruck

Meaning
a situation where a crowd of people are pushing against each other; a disorderly crowd
Example
There was a ruck at the football match.
C1 adjective /kəˈləʊ.kwi.əl/

colloquial

Meaning
Used in ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal language.
Example
His colloquial expressions made the speech relatable.
C1 adjective /ˈraʊ.di/

Rowdy

Meaning
disorderly; unruly; noisy and disruptive
Example
The rowdy children were making too much noise.
C1 noun ˈkəmˌpaʊndɪŋ

compounding

Meaning
The process whereby interest is added to an amount of money and future interest is calculated on the total.
Example
Compounding interest increases the value of investments over time.
C1 noun /flʌks/

flux

Meaning
continuous change or movement; the rate of flow of something
Example
The company was in a state of constant flux during the reorganization.
C1 verb /ˈfɔːlsɪfaɪ/

falsify

Meaning
to make something false or to misrepresent
Example
He tried to falsify the documents to avoid taxes.
C1 noun/adjective /kənˈfɛdərət/

confederate

Meaning
a person, group, or state joined in an alliance or union; relating to a confederacy
Example
The confederate soldiers fought bravely in the war.
C1 adjective /ˈprɪs.tiːn/

pristine

Meaning
In its original condition; unspoiled, clean, and fresh.
Example
The forest remains in a pristine condition.
C1 verb /ɪnˈskraɪb/

inscribe

Meaning
to write or carve words or symbols on a surface
Example
They inscribed her name on the trophy.
C1 noun /ˈɪd.i.əm/

idiom

Meaning
A group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual words.
Example
The idiom 'break the ice' means to start a conversation in a friendly way.
C1 verb /ˈæmpjʊteɪt/

amputate

Meaning
to cut off a limb from the body by surgery
Example
The doctors had to amputate his leg after the accident.
C1 noun /ænˈtæɡənɪzəm/

antagonism

Meaning
active hostility or opposition
Example
There was clear antagonism between the two political parties.
C1 verb /ɪmˈbrɔɪl/

embroil

Meaning
to involve someone deeply in a conflict, argument, or difficult situation
Example
The politician was embroiled in a major corruption scandal.
C1 noun /ˈwiː.vər bɜːd/

Weaver bird

Meaning
a small bird that builds elaborate woven nests from grass and twigs
Example
The weaver bird skillfully constructs its intricate nest.
C1 noun /vəˈnɪər/

veneer

Meaning
A thin decorative covering of fine wood applied to a coarser wood or other material; a superficially attractive appearance.
Example
The table was covered with a thin veneer of mahogany.
C1 adjective /ˈɛntərˌpraɪzɪŋ/

enterprising

Meaning
showing initiative and resourcefulness; willing to take risks to achieve success
Example
She is an enterprising young entrepreneur.
C1 noun /ˈsteɪ.ʃən.ər/

Stationer

Meaning
a person who sells paper, pens, pencils, and other office supplies
Example
The stationer recommended the best pens for writing exams.
C1 adjective /ˈdaɪ.si/

dicey

Meaning
Risky or unpredictable; potentially dangerous.
Example
Investing in that company looks pretty dicey right now.
C1 adjective /ˈspɛktrəl/

spectral

Meaning
Relating to a ghost or specter; ghostly. Also relating to a spectrum.
Example
The old mansion had a spectral atmosphere at night.
C1 adjective /ˌɛpɪˈsɒdɪk/

episodic

Meaning
Happening occasionally or in separate parts; related to episodes.
Example
Her interest in art was episodic, coming and going over the years.
C1 adjective /ˈθrɪfti/

thrifty

Meaning
using money and resources carefully and not wastefully
Example
She is very thrifty and always saves money for the future.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈɔːdəbl/

inaudible

Meaning
Unable to be heard.
Example
Her voice was almost inaudible over the noise.
C1 noun /ˈæntɪˌdoʊt/

antidote

Meaning
A substance that neutralizes the effects of a poison; something that relieves or counteracts.
Example
The doctor quickly administered an antidote to the snake venom.
C1 verb /ɪnˈfrɪndʒ/

infringe

Meaning
To actively break the terms of a law, agreement, or right.
Example
Copying this software without permission will infringe copyright laws.
C1 adjective ʌnˈtʃɑːtɪd

uncharted

Meaning
Not mapped or surveyed; unknown or unexplored.
Example
The mission aimed to explore uncharted areas of the planet.
C1 noun /kəˈmoʊʃən/

commotion

Meaning
A state of noisy confusion or disturbance.
Example
The sudden commotion in the market drew everyone's attention.
C1 noun /ˈskruːpəl/

scruple

Meaning
A moral or ethical consideration that restrains actions.
Example
He had no scruples about lying to get ahead.
C1 adjective /ˈræmpənt/

rampant

Meaning
existing or spreading unchecked, often in an undesirable way
Example
Corruption was rampant in the city administration.
C1 verb /ɪnˈdaɪt/

indict

Meaning
to formally accuse someone of committing a serious crime
Example
The grand jury decided to indict the politician for corruption.
C1 verb /əˈtɛst/

attest

Meaning
To provide or serve as clear evidence of; to confirm or certify the truth of something.
Example
The witness attested to the accuracy of the report.
C1 adjective /ˈtʌf.tɪd/

Tufted

Meaning
having a tuft or tufts; furnished with a tuft or clump of threads, hairs, or other material
Example
The tufted sofa looked elegant in the living room.
C1 verb /slaʊtʃ/

slouch

Meaning
To stand, sit, or move in a lazy or awkward way.
Example
He slouched in the chair, looking tired.
C1 adjective /sɪˈkluːdɪd/

secluded

Meaning
Placed apart from other people or things; private and quiet.
Example
They spent their vacation in a secluded beach house.
C1 verb /vaʊtʃ/

vouch

Meaning
to confirm or assert the truth or reliability of something
Example
I can vouch for his honesty.
C1 noun /ˌæɡ.rəˈveɪ.ʃən/

aggravation

Meaning
The act of making a situation worse or the state of being worsened.
Example
The delay caused great aggravation for the passengers.
C1 verb /ˈhɪpnətaɪz/

hypnotize

Meaning
to put someone into a state of hypnosis; to influence someone's mind deeply
Example
The magician tried to hypnotize the audience.