finicky
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C2 adjective /ˈfɪnɪki/

finicky

Meaning
difficult to please; very particular about details
Example
He is so finicky about his food that he only eats organic vegetables.
C2 noun /ˈfɒpəri/

foppery

Meaning
Foolish or excessive concern with one's appearance or manners; pretentious behavior.
Example
His obsession with fashion was dismissed as mere foppery.
C2 noun /floʊ/

floe

Meaning
a large sheet of floating ice
Example
The polar bears rested on the ice floe.
C2 adjective /ˈfer.əs/

ferrous

Meaning
containing or consisting of iron
Example
Ferrous metals are commonly used in construction.
C2 adjective /ˈfʌndʒəbl/

fungible

Meaning
interchangeable; able to replace or be replaced by another identical item
Example
In finance, money is considered a fungible asset.
C2 adjective /ˈfraʊzi/

frowzy

Meaning
Unkempt, messy, or having a musty, unpleasant smell.
Example
He entered the room with a frowzy appearance after sleeping on the couch.
C2 verb /ˈfɒn.dəl/

fondle

Meaning
To stroke or caress lovingly or gently.
Example
She fondled the kitten gently in her lap.
C2 noun /ˈfɔːrˌseɪl/

foresail

Meaning
The principal sail set on the foremast of a sailing vessel.
Example
The crew adjusted the foresail to catch the wind.
C2 adjective /ˈfɒksi/

foxy

Meaning
Clever, cunning, or attractive.
Example
He came up with a foxy plan to win the game.
C2 verb /ˌfɔːrɔːrˈdeɪn/

foreordain

Meaning
to determine or decree something in advance; to predestine
Example
Some believe that our lives are foreordained by fate.
C2 verb /fɔɪst/

foist

Meaning
To impose something unwelcome or unnecessary on someone.
Example
He tried to foist his old books onto his friends.
C2 noun /ˌfjuːzɪˈleɪd/

fusillade

Meaning
A series of shots fired or missiles thrown all at the same time or in quick succession.
Example
The soldiers advanced under a fusillade of bullets.
C2 verb /fɔrˈswɛr/

forswear

Meaning
to renounce or reject; to give up completely
Example
He forswore his old habits and started a new life.
C2 noun /feɪnt/

feint

Meaning
a deceptive or pretended movement, especially in fighting or sports
Example
The boxer made a feint to the left before striking to the right.
C2 noun /frɒnd/

frond

Meaning
A large, divided leaf of a fern, palm, or similar plant.
Example
The fern's frond stretched gracefully over the garden path.
C2 noun /ˈfɔːltˌfaɪndər/

faultfinder

Meaning
a person who habitually finds fault with others
Example
He is such a faultfinder that nothing anyone does is ever good enough.
C2 adjective /ˈfætʃuəs/

fatuous

Meaning
silly or foolish, especially in a self-satisfied way
Example
His fatuous comments during the meeting annoyed everyone.
C2 noun /ˈfeɪ.tə.lɪ.zəm/

fatalism

Meaning
the belief that all events are predetermined and inevitable
Example
He embraced fatalism, believing that nothing he did could change his destiny.
C2 adjective /ˈflʌməksd/

flummoxed

Meaning
Completely confused or bewildered.
Example
He looked flummoxed after hearing the strange question.
C2 noun /ˈfuːləri/

foolery

Meaning
Silly or foolish behavior or actions.
Example
His constant foolery made the meeting hard to take seriously.
C2 adverb /ˌfɔːrθˈwɪθ/

Forthwith

Meaning
immediately; without delay; at once
Example
The manager ordered the employee to stop the unsafe practice forthwith.
C2 noun /ˈflæt.ər.ər/

Flatterer

Meaning
a person who lavishes praise, often insincerely and in order to gain advantage
Example
The king was surrounded by flatterers who only told him what he wanted to hear.
C2 noun /fɔːn/

faun

Meaning
a mythological creature that is half human and half goat
Example
The sculpture depicted a playful faun dancing in the forest.
C2 noun /ˈfɔːrkɔːrt/

forecourt

Meaning
an open area in front of a large building, especially a petrol station or hotel
Example
The car was parked in the hotel forecourt.
C2 adjective /fəˈlɪsɪtəs/

felicitous

Meaning
well-chosen, appropriate, or pleasing; marked by good fortune or happiness
Example
She made a felicitous remark that lightened the mood.
C2 adjective/noun /fɪˈduː.ʃi.er.i/

fiduciary

Meaning
Involving trust, especially with regard to the relationship between a trustee and a beneficiary.
Example
Banks have fiduciary duties towards their clients.
C2 adjective /fəˈloʊniəs/

felonious

Meaning
relating to or involved in serious criminal activity
Example
He was charged with felonious assault after the incident.
C2 noun /ˈfɔːrˌnɑːlɪdʒ/

foreknowledge

Meaning
Awareness of something before it happens or exists.
Example
The prophet claimed to have foreknowledge of the event.
C2 adjective /ˈfʊl.səm/

fulsome

Meaning
Excessively flattering or insincere; abundant or generous in amount.
Example
He offered fulsome praise to his boss.
C2 adjective /fɪˈdjuːʃəl/

fiducial

Meaning
based on trust or confidence; serving as a standard of reference
Example
The fiducial point on the map ensures accurate measurements.
C2 verb /fɪltʃ/

filch

Meaning
to steal something in a sneaky or petty way
Example
He tried to filch a candy bar from the shop.
C2 noun /fiːf/

fief

Meaning
an estate of land held under the feudal system; a domain or area of control
Example
The knight was granted a fief by the lord for his service.
C2 adjective /ˈfʊl.dʒənt/

fulgent

Meaning
Shining brightly; dazzling.
Example
The fulgent stars lit up the night sky.
C2 noun /foʊl fʊt/

Foal-foot

Meaning
a yellow flowering plant with leaves shaped like a horse's hoof, also known as coltsfoot
Example
The foal-foot plant grows wild in many meadows and is often the first flower to bloom in spring.
C2 noun /ˈfriːˌθɪŋkər/

freethinker

Meaning
A person who forms opinions based on reason and independent thought rather than tradition or authority.
Example
Voltaire was considered a great freethinker of his time.
C2 adjective /ˈfæn.sɪ.ləs/

fanciless

Meaning
without imagination or creativity; plain or ordinary
Example
His drawings were simple and fanciless.
C2 verb /flɛdʒ/

fledge

Meaning
To develop wing feathers large enough for flight; to bring up until able to fly.
Example
The young birds will fledge in a few weeks.
C2 adjective /ˈfiːtɪd/

foetid

Meaning
having an offensive, unpleasant smell
Example
The foetid smell from the garbage made it hard to breathe.
C2 noun /fiːˈkʌndɪti/

fecundity

Meaning
the ability to produce an abundance of offspring or new growth; fertility
Example
The fecundity of the river delta supports diverse wildlife.
C2 noun /ˈflɒtsəm/

flotsam

Meaning
Floating debris from a shipwreck or things discarded and left floating.
Example
The beach was littered with flotsam after the storm.
C2 noun /ˈfrækɑː/

fracas

Meaning
A noisy disturbance or quarrel.
Example
The fracas outside the bar drew the attention of the police.
C2 adjective /ˈfæsaɪl/

Facile

Meaning
easily achieved; superficial; lacking depth
Example
His facile explanation didn't address the real problem.
C2 adjective /ˈfluːviəl/

fluvial

Meaning
relating to or found in a river
Example
The fluvial deposits indicated the presence of an ancient river system.
C2 verb /fɔːrˈboʊd/

forebode

Meaning
To predict or have a strong inner feeling of a future misfortune or evil.
Example
Dark clouds forebode a coming storm.
C2 adjective fɔːˈtjuː.ɪ.təs

fortuitous

Meaning
Happening by accident or chance rather than design; lucky or fortunate.
Example
Their meeting was purely fortuitous.
C2 adjective /fækˈtɪʃəs/

factitious

Meaning
artificial or fabricated; not natural or genuine
Example
The excitement in his story seemed factitious and forced.
C2 adjective /ˈfɪliəl/

filial

Meaning
relating to a son or daughter; showing respect or affection toward parents
Example
He showed filial respect by caring for his aging parents.
C2 adjective /ˈfræk.ʃəs/

Fractious

Meaning
irritable and quarrelsome; difficult to control; bad-tempered
Example
The fractious child refused to follow any of the teacher's instructions.
C2 noun /flɔːˈrɛsəns/

florescence

Meaning
The process, state, or period of flowering.
Example
The garden reached its peak florescence in spring.
C2 adjective /ˈflæs.ɪd/

Flaccid

Meaning
soft and limp; lacking firmness; drooping
Example
The plant's leaves became flaccid after days without water.
C2 noun /friːz/

frieze

Meaning
a decorative horizontal band, often sculpted or painted, usually on a wall near the ceiling
Example
The frieze above the entrance depicts scenes from ancient mythology.
C2 noun /fəˈlɪsɪti/

felicity

Meaning
intense happiness; the ability to find appropriate expression for one's thoughts
Example
She was known for her felicity in conversation and cheerful nature.
C2 adjective /ˈfiːbraɪl/

febrile

Meaning
having or showing the symptoms of a fever; or highly excitable or agitated
Example
The patient was in a febrile state with high temperature.
C2 noun /ˈfɔːrʃɔːr/

foreshore

Meaning
The part of the shore between the high and low tide marks
Example
Children were playing on the foreshore, collecting shells.
C2 noun /fluːk/

fluke

Meaning
A stroke of luck; an unexpected piece of good fortune.
Example
Winning the lottery was a complete fluke.
C2 noun /ˈfaɪnəri/

finery

Meaning
expensive or elaborate clothes, decorations, or accessories
Example
She attended the party in her finest finery.
C2 adjective /ˈfraɪəbl/

friable

Meaning
Easily crumbled or reduced to powder.
Example
The old brick wall was friable and broke apart at a touch.
C2 noun /ˈfæn.feər/

fanfare

Meaning
a short ceremonial tune or display of publicity to attract attention
Example
The new product was launched with much fanfare.
C2 adjective /ˈfɒp.ɪʃ/

Foppish

Meaning
excessively concerned with one's appearance and clothes; vain about dress
Example
His foppish behavior and expensive clothes made him stand out.
C2 noun /ˈfiːəlti/

fealty

Meaning
loyalty or allegiance, especially to a sovereign or lord
Example
The knight swore fealty to his king.
C2 verb /ˈfɛtər/

fetter

Meaning
to restrain or restrict someone’s freedom
Example
The strict rules fettered the creativity of the students.
C2 verb /ˈfrʌktɪˌfaɪ/

fructify

Meaning
To make fruitful or productive; to bear fruit.
Example
The new policies will help fructify the economic potential of the region.
C2 verb /fleɪ/

flay

Meaning
to strip off the skin of something or criticize severely
Example
The chef flayed the fish before cooking it.
C2 verb /fleɪl/

flail

Meaning
to wave or swing something about wildly; to thrash about
Example
He flailed his arms to keep afloat in the water.
C2 noun /foʊ ˈpɑː/

faux pas

Meaning
a social blunder or mistake in etiquette
Example
He committed a major faux pas by forgetting her birthday.
C2 noun /ˈfriːˌmeɪsən/

freemason

Meaning
A member of an international fraternity known as Freemasonry, focused on moral and spiritual values.
Example
His grandfather was a respected freemason in the community.
C2 adjective /ˈfrɒθi/

frothy

Meaning
Full of or covered with small bubbles; light and insubstantial.
Example
She ordered a cup of frothy cappuccino.
C2 verb /fɪˈneɪɡəl/

finagle

Meaning
to obtain something by cleverness or trickery
Example
He finagled a free ticket by pretending to be a VIP guest.
C2 noun /ˈfʊl.krəm/

fulcrum

Meaning
The point or support on which a lever pivots; a central or essential point of activity or support.
Example
The teacher became the fulcrum of change in the school.
C2 verb /ˈfrɪzəl/

frizzle

Meaning
to fry something until it becomes crisp and curled, or to make a sizzling noise
Example
The bacon began to frizzle in the pan.
C2 adjective /ˈfædɪʃ/

faddish

Meaning
Following a temporary trend or fashion
Example
Wearing neon clothes was a faddish style in the 1980s.
C2 noun /ˈfɔːθ.raɪt.nəs/

forthrightness

Meaning
The quality of being honest and straightforward; directness.
Example
Her forthrightness made her a respected journalist.
C2 noun /fækˈtoʊtəm/

factotum

Meaning
an employee who does many different types of work; a general servant
Example
He worked as a factotum, handling both clerical and maintenance duties.
C2 noun /ˈfɪli/

filly

Meaning
a young female horse
Example
The filly ran swiftly across the meadow.
C2 noun /ˈfʌriər/

furrier

Meaning
A person who prepares or deals in furs.
Example
The furrier displayed fine coats in his shop.
C2 noun /ˈflætʃələns/

flatulence

Meaning
the accumulation of gas in the digestive system; excessive gas in the stomach or intestines
Example
Eating beans can sometimes cause flatulence.
C2 adjective /ˈfæl.oʊ/

fallow

Meaning
Describing land that is left unplanted for a period to restore its fertility, allowing soil to recover nutrients and break pest and disease cycles.
Example
Farmers leave their fields fallow to restore soil fertility.
C2 verb /fɪˈlɪsɪˌteɪt/

felicitate

Meaning
to congratulate; to express good wishes
Example
We felicitated the graduating students at the ceremony.
C2 verb /frɪz/

frizz

Meaning
to form into small, tight curls or cause hair to become fuzzy and tangled
Example
The humid weather caused her hair to frizz.
C2 adjective /ˈfæð.əm.ləs/

fathomless

Meaning
impossible to understand or measure; very deep
Example
The ocean seemed fathomless as it stretched to the horizon.
C2 adjective /ˈflɒrɪd/

florid

Meaning
Having a red or flushed complexion; or excessively ornate and intricate.
Example
The speaker’s florid style made the lecture hard to follow.
C2 adjective /fjuːˈnɪəriəl/

funereal

Meaning
having the mournful, somber character of a funeral
Example
The room was filled with a funereal silence after the announcement.
C2 noun ˌfjuːmɪˈɡeɪʃən

fumigation

Meaning
The practice of disinfecting or purifying an area using gas or smoke.
Example
Fumigation is an effective method to control pest infestations.
C2 noun /ˈfrɔːdjʊləns/

fraudulence

Meaning
The quality or state of being fraudulent; deceitfulness.
Example
The audit revealed fraudulence in the financial statements.
C2 noun /ˌfrɪdʒɪˈdɛːriəm/

frigidarium

Meaning
a large cold pool in ancient Roman baths used for cooling off after hot baths
Example
The ruins of the Roman frigidarium are still visible today.
C2 noun /ˈfaɪər.brænd/

firebrand

Meaning
a person who is passionate about a cause, often inciting change or action
Example
The activist was a true firebrand, inspiring everyone around him to join the protest.
C2 noun /fləˈtɪlə/

flotilla

Meaning
A small fleet of ships or boats operating together.
Example
A flotilla of fishing boats left the harbor at dawn.
C2 adjective /ˈfʊtˌluːs/

footloose

Meaning
Free to go anywhere or do anything; not tied down by responsibilities.
Example
After graduating, he felt footloose and ready to explore the world.
C2 noun /ˈfɔɪbəl/

foible

Meaning
A minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character.
Example
She loved him despite his little foibles.
C2 adjective /ˈfɛkləs/

feckless

Meaning
lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible
Example
His feckless attitude at work caused several missed deadlines.
C2 noun /ˈfɪɡmənt/

figment

Meaning
something invented or imaginary; a fabrication of the mind
Example
The story of the haunted house is just a figment of her imagination.
C2 adjective /ˈflaɪti/

flighty

Meaning
unstable, impulsive, or easily distracted; lacking seriousness or stability
Example
She’s too flighty to stick with one job for long.
C2 noun /fækˈsɪmɪli/

facsimile

Meaning
an exact copy or reproduction of a document
Example
He sent a facsimile of the contract to the client.
C2 adjective /ˈfjuːzəbl/

fusible

Meaning
Capable of being melted or fused.
Example
The engineer used a fusible alloy in the experiment.
C2 verb /flɪt/

flit

Meaning
to move quickly and lightly from one place to another
Example
Butterflies flitted from flower to flower.
C2 adjective /ˈfuːlˌhɑːrdi/

foolhardy

Meaning
Recklessly bold or rash; taking foolish risks.
Example
It was foolhardy of him to climb the mountain without proper gear.
C2 noun /ˈfjʊr.ʌŋ.kəl/

Furuncle

Meaning
a painful pus-filled bump under the skin caused by infected, inflamed hair follicles
Example
The doctor prescribed antibiotics to treat the painful furuncle on his neck.
C2 adjective /ˈfʌŋɡəs/

fungous

Meaning
relating to or resembling a fungus
Example
The damp basement had a fungous smell.
C2 noun /ˈfʌstɪən/

fustian

Meaning
pompous or pretentious speech or writing; originally a type of thick cloth
Example
The politician's speech was filled with fustian and empty promises.
C2 noun /ˈfoʊksl/

forecastle

Meaning
The forward part of a ship below the deck, traditionally used as living quarters for the crew.
Example
The sailors gathered in the forecastle after their shift.
C2 noun /ˈfriːˌbuːtər/

freebooter

Meaning
A pirate or plunderer who roams freely in search of wealth.
Example
The freebooter raided the merchant ships along the coast.
C2 noun /ˈfiːæt/

fiat

Meaning
an official order or decree; authoritative command
Example
The new policy was enacted by royal fiat.
C2 noun /ˈfetiʃ/

fetich

Meaning
an object believed to have magical powers or to be inhabited by a spirit
Example
The villagers treated the statue as a powerful fetich.
C2 adjective /ˈfɔːnɪŋ/

fawning

Meaning
displaying exaggerated flattery or affection
Example
Her fawning compliments made everyone uncomfortable.
C2 verb /ˈfjuːmɪˌɡeɪt/

fumigate

Meaning
to disinfect or purify an area by using chemical fumes
Example
They fumigated the warehouse to kill the insects.
C2 verb /fɔːrˈfɛnd/

forfend

Meaning
to protect or defend against something undesirable; to prevent
Example
May good fortune forfend any danger from our journey.
C2 verb /ˈflʌməks/

flummox

Meaning
To confuse or bewilder someone completely.
Example
The complicated puzzle flummoxed the students.
C2 verb /ˈflædʒəˌleɪt/

flagellate

Meaning
to whip or flog someone, either literally or as a form of punishment or self-discipline
Example
In history, some monks would flagellate themselves as penance.
C2 noun /ˈfoʊ.li.oʊ/

folio

Meaning
A sheet of paper folded once to form two leaves (four pages) of a book; also a term for a large book or manuscript.
Example
The library houses an ancient Shakespeare folio.
C2 adjective /ˈflɪpənt/

flippant

Meaning
not showing a serious or respectful attitude
Example
His flippant remarks annoyed the teacher.
C2 noun /ˈfɪlɪɡri/

filigree

Meaning
delicate ornamental work of fine wire, usually of gold or silver
Example
The necklace was decorated with intricate gold filigree.
C2 adjective /ˈfɛtɪd/

fetid

Meaning
having a strong, unpleasant smell
Example
The fetid smell from the garbage was unbearable.
C2 noun /ˈflɛdʒlɪŋ/

fledgeling

Meaning
A young bird that has just developed its feathers and is learning to fly; a beginner.
Example
The fledgeling was trying hard to take its first flight.
C2 adjective /ˈfrɒlɪksəm/

Frolicsome

Meaning
joyful; playful; merry; cheerful
Example
The frolicsome children laughed and played in the park.
C2 verb /ˈfrɪtər/

fritter

Meaning
To waste time, money, or energy on trivial matters.
Example
He frittered away his savings on unnecessary gadgets.
C2 adjective /fluːˈɛnʃəl/

fluential

Meaning
Having the power to influence or flowing freely (rare/archaic usage).
Example
The fluential speaker captivated the entire audience.
C2 noun /ˈfræŋkɪnsɛns/

frankincense

Meaning
An aromatic gum resin used in incense and perfumes, often in religious ceremonies.
Example
The temple was filled with the sweet smell of burning frankincense.
C2 noun /fluː/

flue

Meaning
A pipe or channel for smoke and waste gases produced by a fire, gas heater, or power station.
Example
The chimney flue needs to be cleaned regularly.
C2 adjective /ˈfɪt.fəl/

fitful

Meaning
occurring in irregular bursts; not continuous or steady
Example
He had a fitful sleep due to the storm.
C2 noun /ˈfɜːrnəri/

fernery

Meaning
a place or greenhouse where ferns are cultivated
Example
The garden's fernery was full of exotic plants.
C2 verb /frɪsk/

frisk

Meaning
To search a person by patting their clothing to check for concealed items.
Example
The security guard frisked the man at the entrance.