detract
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C1 verb /dɪˈtrækt/

detract

Meaning
To reduce or take away the worth or value of something.
Example
His rude behavior will detract from his good reputation.
C1 adjective /ɪɡˈzɪləreɪtɪŋ/

exhilarating

Meaning
Making someone feel very excited, happy, or thrilled.
Example
Skydiving was the most exhilarating experience of his life.
C1 verb /broʊtʃ/

broach

Meaning
to bring up a subject for discussion
Example
She decided to broach the topic of salary with her manager.
C1 noun /ɡəˈzet/

Gazette

Meaning
an official journal or newspaper, especially one published by an organization or government
Example
The promotion was officially announced in the government gazette last week.
C1 noun /ˈbaɪ.lɔː/

by-law

Meaning
A rule made by a company, organization, or local authority to control the actions of its members.
Example
The city council passed a new by-law regulating street vendors.
C1 noun /ˈhɔːl.mɑːrk/

hallmark

Meaning
a typical characteristic or feature of someone or something
Example
Honesty is the hallmark of a good leader.
C1 noun /ˌmænɪˈfɛstoʊ/

manifesto

Meaning
a public declaration of policy and aims, especially by a political party
Example
The party released its manifesto before the election.
C1 noun /væt/

vat

Meaning
A large container used for holding liquids such as dye or wine.
Example
The workers filled the vat with freshly pressed grape juice.
C1 verb /əˈdʒuːdɪˌkeɪt/

adjudicate

Meaning
to make a formal judgment or decision about a problem or dispute
Example
The committee was formed to adjudicate disputes between the parties.
C1 noun /ˈsɪtəˌdɛl/

citadel

Meaning
A fortress protecting or dominating a city.
Example
The ancient citadel stood guard over the town for centuries.
C1 verb /ˈdæŋɡəl/

dangle

Meaning
to hang loosely or swing freely
Example
The keys dangled from his belt.
C1 adjective /ɪkˈsiːdɪŋ/

Exceeding

Meaning
going beyond; surpassing; extremely
Example
The project was completed with exceeding excellence.
C1 noun /ˌætəˈʃeɪ/

attache

Meaning
A person officially assigned to the staff of a diplomatic mission, often with a specific area of responsibility.
Example
The cultural attache organized an art exhibition in the embassy.
C1 adjective rɪˈsɛʃ.ən.er.i

recessionary

Meaning
Relating to or characterized by economic recession.
Example
Governments introduce policies to counter recessionary effects.
C1 verb /ˈdɪsləkeɪt/

dislocate

Meaning
To disturb the normal position of something, especially a joint in the body.
Example
He dislocated his shoulder while playing football.
C1 noun dɪˈsʌɪsɪvnɪs

decisiveness

Meaning
The ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.
Example
His decisiveness during the crisis saved the company.
C1 noun /ɪˈmɜː.ʃən/

immersion

Meaning
Complete engagement in an environment or experience.
Example
Immersion in VR games makes users feel like they are inside the virtual world.
C1 noun /nɔːrm/

Norm

Meaning
a standard of behavior; what is typical or expected
Example
Working late has become the norm in this company.
C1 adjective /ˈlaʊzi/

lousy

Meaning
of very poor quality; bad or unpleasant
Example
He felt lousy after catching the flu.
C1 noun ˌɪnˈsaɪtfʊlnɪs

insightfulness

Meaning
The capacity to gain an accurate and deep intuitive understanding of a person or thing.
Example
His insightfulness helped solve the complex problem.
C1 verb /ɪnˈfleɪm/

inflame

Meaning
to arouse strong feelings or provoke anger; to cause inflammation in the body
Example
The politician's remarks served to inflame public opinion.
C1 adjective /rɪˈsɜːrdʒənt/

resurgent

Meaning
Becoming strong, active, or popular again.
Example
The resurgent economy gave hope to many businesses.
C1 noun /ˈaɪsətəʊp/

isotope

Meaning
Atoms of the same element with equal number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
Example
Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope used in dating fossils.
C1 adjective /ˈhɔːltɪŋ/

halting

Meaning
slow and hesitant, especially due to lack of confidence
Example
She gave a halting reply during the interview.
C1 noun, adjective /ˈsɒlvənt/

solvent

Meaning
a liquid that dissolves other substances; also means able to pay debts
Example
Acetone is a common solvent used in laboratories.
C1 adjective /ˈskrʌmpʃəs/

scrumptious

Meaning
extremely tasty or delicious
Example
She baked a scrumptious chocolate cake for the party.
C1 noun /pəˈrɛnθəsɪs/

parenthesis

Meaning
A pair of curved marks ( ) used to enclose words or numbers; also an interruption or digression in speech or writing.
Example
The explanation was given in a parenthesis within the text.
C1 adjective /ˈɔːbərn/

auburn

Meaning
reddish-brown in color, especially used to describe hair
Example
She has long auburn hair that shines in the sunlight.
C1 noun /ˌmɪdˈsʌm.ər/

midsummer

Meaning
The middle of summer, often around the summer solstice in June.
Example
We had a festival to celebrate midsummer.
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 noun /ˈsɪstərn/

cistern

Meaning
A tank or container for storing water, usually for household use.
Example
The old house still had a cistern to collect rainwater.
C1 noun /viˈoʊlə/ or /ˈvaɪələ/

viola

Meaning
A stringed instrument slightly larger than a violin, with a deeper and mellower tone.
Example
She chose to play the viola in the school orchestra.
C1 verb /snɪər/

sneer

Meaning
to smile or speak in a mocking or contemptuous way
Example
She sneered at his attempt to sing.
C1 adjective /ˈkæl.əs/

Callous

Meaning
showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others; emotionally hardened
Example
He showed a callous disregard for others' feelings.
C1 adjective /ɔːˈtɒn.ə.məs/

autonomous

Meaning
Acting independently or having the freedom to do so.
Example
Autonomous systems ensure greater precision.
C1 verb /ˈslɪðər/

slither

Meaning
to move smoothly over a surface with a twisting, sliding motion, like a snake
Example
The snake slithered through the grass.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈkrɛdjələs/

incredulous

Meaning
unwilling or unable to believe something
Example
He gave her an incredulous look when she claimed she could fly.
C1 noun ˈprɒdʒ.ə.ni

progeny

Meaning
A descendant or the descendants of a person, animal, or plant; offspring.
Example
The philosopher's teachings have influenced many generations of progeny.
C1 adjective, adverb (informal, vulgar) /ˈfʌkɪŋ/

fucking

Meaning
used for emphasis, often expressing anger or frustration (vulgar slang)
Example
It was a fucking disaster!
C1 noun /bɑːm/

balm

Meaning
A soothing ointment or something that provides comfort or relief.
Example
The balm helped relieve the pain from her sunburn.
C1 verb /ɪnˈlaɪvən/

enliven

Meaning
to make something more lively, interesting, or cheerful
Example
Her jokes helped enliven the dull meeting.
C1 adjective /ˈdʒuː.bɪ.lənt/

jubilant

Meaning
feeling or expressing great happiness and joy
Example
The team was jubilant after winning the championship.
C1 verb /ˈhjuːmənaɪz/

humanize

Meaning
To make something more humane, kind, or relatable.
Example
The teacher tried to humanize the lesson with personal stories.
C1 noun /ˈwɒrənt/

Warrant

Meaning
a legal document that gives police the authority to do something; justification or authority for an action
Example
The police obtained a search warrant before entering the building.
C1 adjective /ˈsted.fæst/

Steadfast

Meaning
firm in belief, determination, or adherence; unwavering
Example
She remained steadfast in her commitment to helping the poor.
C1 adjective /ˈnær.oʊ ˈmaɪn.dɪd/

Narrow-minded

Meaning
unwilling to consider new ideas; prejudiced; intolerant; having a limited perspective
Example
His narrow-minded attitude prevented him from accepting new ideas.
C1 verb /ˈnuːtər/

neuter

Meaning
To remove the reproductive organs of an animal; or having no gender.
Example
They decided to neuter their cat to prevent more kittens.
C1 noun dɪˈtætʃ.mənt

detachment

Meaning
The state of being objective or aloof; not being emotionally involved.
Example
Buddhist philosophy encourages detachment from material desires.
C1 adjective /dɪˈraɪsɪv/

derisive

Meaning
Expressing contempt or ridicule.
Example
She gave a derisive laugh at his attempt to sing.
C1 noun /məˈnɒɡəmi/

monogamy

Meaning
The practice of being married to or in a relationship with only one person at a time.
Example
Many cultures encourage monogamy as the ideal form of marriage.
C1 noun /heɪz/

Haze

Meaning
a slight obscuration of the lower atmosphere, typically caused by fine suspended particles; confusion
Example
The morning haze lifted gradually as the sun rose higher in the sky.
C1 noun /prəˈpraɪəti/

propriety

Meaning
Conformity to accepted standards of behavior or morality.
Example
He always behaved with the utmost propriety in public.
C1 verb /hɔːl/

haul

Meaning
to pull or drag something heavy with effort
Example
The workers hauled the boxes into the truck.
C1 noun/verb /ˈsuː.tʃər/

suture

Meaning
A stitch or row of stitches holding together the edges of a wound or surgical incision.
Example
The doctor used a suture to close the wound.
C1 adverb /ˈaʊtwədli/

Outwardly

Meaning
on the surface; externally; in appearance
Example
Outwardly, he seemed calm, but inside he was nervous.
C1 verb /praɪ/

pry

Meaning
to look closely into something; to try to find out private information
Example
She tried to pry into her neighbor’s private life.
C1 noun /ɪnˈækjʊrəsi/

inaccuracy

Meaning
lack of accuracy or precision; an incorrect or wrong detail
Example
The report contained several factual inaccuracies.
C1 adjective /ˈfræɡməntɪd/

fragmented

Meaning
Having been broken into fragments; disjointed or incomplete.
Example
The information was fragmented and difficult to understand.
C1 noun /ˌɪntɪˈmeɪʃən/

intimation

Meaning
A subtle or indirect hint or suggestion.
Example
She gave no intimation of her plans.
C1 noun kəmˈpleɪ.sən.si

complacency

Meaning
Excessive self-satisfaction with one's achievements that can hinder progress.
Example
His complacency led to a decline in his performance.
C1 adjective /ɪˈmeʒərəbəl/

Immeasurable

Meaning
too large or extensive to measure; boundless
Example
The immeasurable love of a mother knows no bounds.
C1 adjective /ˈnɔːtɪkəl/

nautical

Meaning
relating to ships, sailors, or navigation on water
Example
He studied nautical charts before setting sail.
C1 adjective ˈkwɒn.tɪ.faɪ.ə.bəl

quantifiable

Meaning
Able to be expressed or measured as a quantity; capable of being counted or calculated.
Example
The impact of the project is quantifiable.
C1 noun /kriːd/

creed

Meaning
A system of religious or spiritual beliefs or a guiding principle.
Example
Freedom of speech is part of his personal creed.
C1 adjective /ˈdek.stər.əs/

dexterous

Meaning
Showing or having skill, especially with the hands; mentally adroit and skillful.
Example
A dexterous programmer can write complex codes effortlessly.
C1 noun /ˈɪrˌplʌɡ/

earplug

Meaning
a device inserted into the ear to block out noise or water
Example
He wore earplugs to sleep during the noisy night.
C1 noun kəˈlɛktɪvɪzəm

collectivism

Meaning
The practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it.
Example
Collectivism emphasizes the importance of group over individual interests.
C1 adjective /ˈpiːvɪʃ/

peevish

Meaning
Easily irritated, especially by unimportant things.
Example
The child grew peevish when denied candy.
C1 noun /blaɪt/

blight

Meaning
A disease or condition that causes plants to wither; something that spoils or damages.
Example
The drought was a blight on the farmer’s crops.
C1 noun ˈdɛf.ər.əns

deference

Meaning
Humble submission and respect.
Example
He showed deference to his elderly mentor.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈmaɪndfəl/

Unmindful

Meaning
not paying attention; careless; heedless
Example
She was unmindful of the danger around her.
C1 noun ˈdaɪ.nə.sti

dynasty

Meaning
A line of hereditary rulers of a country; a succession of people from the same family who play a prominent role in business, politics, or another field.
Example
The Ming dynasty ruled China for centuries.
C1 verb /bɪˈɡɛt/

beget

Meaning
to bring about or give rise to; to father or produce
Example
Violence begets more violence.
C1 noun /ˈdʒuː.və.naɪl/

Juvenile

Meaning
a young person below the age of adult criminal responsibility; relating to young people
Example
The juvenile court handles cases involving young offenders under eighteen.
C1 verb /ɪnˈɡroʊs/

engross

Meaning
to absorb all the attention or interest of someone
Example
She was so engrossed in the book that she forgot the time.
C1 adjective /ˌeɪθiˈɪstɪk/

atheistic

Meaning
Relating to or characteristic of atheists or atheism.
Example
She grew up in an atheistic household with no religious rituals.
C1 noun /ɪnˈsaɪtmənt/

incitement

Meaning
the action of provoking unlawful or violent behavior
Example
He was arrested for incitement to riot.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈkuːθ/

uncouth

Meaning
Lacking good manners, refinement, or grace; awkward or rough.
Example
His uncouth behavior shocked the guests at the party.
C1 adverb /ˈfɪksɪdli/

Fixedly

Meaning
in a steady, unmoving manner; with intense concentration
Example
He stared fixedly at the painting.
C1 noun /ˈpɔːr.kjə.paɪn/

Porcupine

Meaning
a large rodent with defensive spines or quills on its body
Example
The porcupine raised its quills when threatened.
C1 noun /ˈtɒr.ənt/

Torrent

Meaning
a strong and fast-moving stream of water or other liquid; a sudden, violent, and copious outpouring
Example
The heavy rain created a torrent of water rushing down the mountain.
C1 noun /kənˈsep.ʃən/

Conception

Meaning
the forming of an idea or plan; the fertilization of an ovum by a sperm; the action of conceiving
Example
The conception of this innovative project took several months of brainstorming.
C1 noun, verb /pliːt/

pleat

Meaning
a fold in fabric made by doubling the material back upon itself
Example
She added a pleat to the skirt for extra volume.
C1 noun /miːlˈjuː/

milieu

Meaning
A person's social environment or surroundings.
Example
She grew up in an artistic milieu.
C1 adjective /dɪˈskrɪmɪˌneɪtɪŋ/

discriminating

Meaning
Having refined taste or good judgment; able to recognize subtle differences.
Example
She is known for her discriminating taste in art.
C1 noun /tækˈsɒnəmi/

taxonomy

Meaning
The science or practice of classifying things, especially organisms.
Example
Modern taxonomy helps scientists organize and study biodiversity.
C1 noun /ˈkærət/

carat

Meaning
a unit of weight for precious stones, equal to 200 milligrams
Example
She received a two-carat diamond ring for her engagement.
C1 adjective /təˈren.ʃəl/

Torrential

Meaning
falling rapidly in copious streams; extremely heavy rainfall
Example
The torrential rain flooded the streets within hours.
C1 noun ˈhaɪ.drə.dʒən ˈpaʊ.əd bʌsɪz

hydrogen-powered buses

Meaning
Buses powered by hydrogen fuel cells that produce only water vapor as emission.
Example
Hydrogen-powered buses reduce air pollution.
C1 noun /ˈɪnlɛt/

inlet

Meaning
A small arm of the sea, a lake, or a river; an opening or passage for entry.
Example
The boat entered a narrow inlet along the coast.
C1 verb /kənˈfaʊnd/

confound

Meaning
to confuse or surprise someone, often by acting against their expectations
Example
The magician's trick seemed to confound the entire audience.
C1 noun /ˈkɒnsəl/

consul

Meaning
an official appointed by a government to live in a foreign city and protect its citizens and interests there
Example
The consul assisted travelers who lost their passports.
C1 noun /ˈpɛdɪɡriː/

pedigree

Meaning
the recorded ancestry or lineage of a person, family, or animal; the history or origin of something
Example
The dog has a pedigree that traces back several generations.
C1 noun /ˈrɛtʃɪdnəs/

wretchedness

Meaning
a state of misery, unhappiness, or poor condition
Example
The novel depicts the wretchedness of war victims.
C1 noun /spæt/

spat

Meaning
a short, petty quarrel or argument
Example
They had a brief spat about who should do the dishes.
C1 adjective /ɪˈnɒkjuəs/

innocuous

Meaning
Not harmful or offensive.
Example
His remark was completely innocuous and not meant to offend anyone.
C1 noun /ˌɪmɔːrˈtæləti/

immortality

Meaning
the state of living forever; eternal life or lasting fame beyond death
Example
Many ancient cultures believed that heroes could achieve immortality through great deeds.
C1 adjective /ˈbaɪtɪŋ/

Biting

Meaning
extremely cold; sharply critical or harsh
Example
The biting cold made everyone shiver.
C1 adjective /ˌfɑːrˈfɛtʃt/

far-fetched

Meaning
unlikely to happen or be true; improbable
Example
His explanation for being late was a bit far-fetched.
C1 verb /ˈstæmər/

stammer

Meaning
To speak with sudden involuntary pauses and a tendency to repeat the initial letters of words.
Example
The nervous student began to stammer during his speech.
C1 adjective /dɪˈsɜːrnɪŋ/

discerning

Meaning
having good judgment or insight; able to distinguish well
Example
He is a discerning reader who notices subtle details.
C1 noun ɪnˈdʌldʒəns

indulgence

Meaning
The practice of allowing oneself to enjoy the pleasure of something.
Example
His indulgence in junk food affected his health.
C1 adjective /ɪˈrɛfjʊtəbəl/

Irrefutable

Meaning
impossible to deny or disprove; undeniable
Example
The evidence against him was irrefutable.
C1 adjective /ˈkɔː.zəl/

causal

Meaning
relating to or acting as a cause
Example
There is a causal link between smoking and cancer.
C1 noun /ˈmɪʃ.ən.ɛr.i/

Missionary

Meaning
A person sent on a religious mission to promote their faith in a foreign country
Example
The missionary spent years teaching and helping people in remote villages.
C1 adjective /ˌɪn.dɪˈspen.sə.bəl/

indispensable

Meaning
Absolutely necessary, essential
Example
Water is indispensable for human survival.
C1 noun /ˈɪntərˌluːd/

interlude

Meaning
A short period of time that comes between two events; an interval.
Example
There was a brief musical interlude between the two acts of the play.
C1 noun /læps/

Lapse

Meaning
a temporary failure of concentration, memory, or judgment; the termination of a right or privilege
Example
There was a brief lapse in security that allowed the intruder to enter the building.
C1 verb /ˈtæmpər/

tamper

Meaning
To interfere with something in a harmful, unauthorized, or improper way.
Example
The evidence was tampered with before the trial.
C1 noun prɪˈzɜː.və.tɪvz

preservatives

Meaning
A substance used to preserve foodstuffs, wood, or other materials against decay.
Example
Many processed foods contain harmful preservatives.
C1 noun /fɔːrˈkloʊʒər/

foreclosure

Meaning
The legal process by which a lender takes control of a property from a borrower who has failed to make payments.
Example
The family lost their home due to foreclosure after missing several mortgage payments.
C1 adjective /ˈpjuː.nɪ.tɪv/

punitive

Meaning
Inflicting or intended as punishment.
Example
The company faced punitive measures for violating the law.
C1 noun /diːˌtɒksɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

detoxification

Meaning
The process of removing toxic substances from a living organism.
Example
Detoxification helps to cleanse the body of harmful substances.
C1 noun /ˈtræpɪŋz/

trappings

Meaning
the outward signs, features, or objects associated with a role, event, or status
Example
The king appeared with all the trappings of royalty.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈedəbəl/

Inedible

Meaning
not suitable or safe for eating; not edible
Example
The mushrooms were poisonous and completely inedible.
C1 noun /ɪmˈprɪzənmənt/

imprisonment

Meaning
the act of putting someone in prison; the state of being confined as punishment
Example
He faced imprisonment for violating the court order.
C1 noun /ˈdʒet.i/

Jetty

Meaning
a landing stage or small pier at which boats can dock or be moored
Example
The fishing boats were tied up at the wooden jetty near the harbor.
C1 noun ˌpriː.dɪs.pəˈzɪʃ.ən

predisposition

Meaning
A natural tendency or inclination toward a particular behavior or condition.
Example
Genetic factors can influence a person's predisposition to diseases.
C1 adjective /kɜːrt/

curt

Meaning
Rudely brief in speech or manner.
Example
His curt reply made everyone uncomfortable.
C1 adjective /ˈkɒɡ.nɪ.zənt/

cognizant

Meaning
Having knowledge or being aware of something.
Example
He was cognizant of the risks before starting the project.
C1 adjective ˈzɛləs

zealous

Meaning
Having or showing great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective; fervent.
Example
The zealous volunteers worked tirelessly for the cause.