reprehensible
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C1 adjective /ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnsəbl̩/

reprehensible

Meaning
Deserving strong criticism or blame.
Example
His dishonest actions were truly reprehensible.
C1 adjective /ˈvɪskəs/

viscous

Meaning
Having a thick, sticky consistency between solid and liquid.
Example
Honey is a viscous liquid that flows slowly.
C1 noun /brʌnt/

brunt

Meaning
the worst part or main impact of something unpleasant
Example
The small town bore the brunt of the storm.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnkənˈsiːvəbl̩/

inconceivable

Meaning
Impossible to imagine or believe; beyond comprehension.
Example
It seemed inconceivable that she could finish the marathon after such little training.
C1 adjective /səˈtɪrɪkəl/

satirical

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

slur

Meaning
An insulting remark or suggestion; or to speak indistinctly.
Example
He made a slur against her character.
C1 adjective /kənˈvɜːrdʒənt/

convergent

Meaning
tending to move toward a common point or result
Example
The two rivers have a convergent path before entering the lake.
C1 noun /ˌsɪmbɪˈəʊsɪs/

symbiosis

Meaning
A mutually beneficial relationship between different people or groups.
Example
The symbiosis between the two companies led to mutual growth.
C1 noun /foʊ/

foe

Meaning
an enemy or opponent
Example
The knight fought bravely against his foe.
C1 noun /woʊ/

woe

Meaning
great sorrow, distress, or trouble
Example
Her heart was filled with woe after hearing the sad news.
C1 noun /aɪ/

aye

Meaning
an affirmative vote or expression of agreement
Example
The committee voted aye on the proposal.
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 /ˈɡriːvəns/

grievance

Meaning
A real or imagined cause for complaint, especially unfair treatment.
Example
The workers voiced their grievances to the management.
C1 noun, verb /tɪndʒ/

tinge

Meaning
a slight added color, flavor, or feeling; to add a slight amount of color or quality
Example
Her voice was tinged with sadness.
C1 adjective fæsˈtɪd.i.əs

fastidious

Meaning
Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
Example
She is fastidious about maintaining cleanliness.
C1 verb /ʌnˈnɜːrv/

unnerve

Meaning
to make someone lose confidence, courage, or composure
Example
The hostile questions began to unnerve the witness.
C1 adjective /ˌiːɡəˈtɪstɪkəl/

egotistical

Meaning
Excessively self-absorbed or conceited.
Example
Her egotistical behavior made it difficult for her to maintain friendships.
C1 noun /ˈfjuː.də.lɪ.zəm/

feudalism

Meaning
the social system in medieval Europe in which people worked and fought for nobles who gave them protection and land in return
Example
Feudalism shaped the political structure of medieval Europe.
C1 verb /bɪˈwɪldər/

bewilder

Meaning
to cause someone to be confused or puzzled
Example
The complex instructions bewildered the students.
C1 noun /ˌʌnbɪˈliːf/

Unbelief

Meaning
lack of religious belief; skepticism or doubt
Example
His unbelief in the supernatural made him a skeptic.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈlaɪ.tənd/

Enlightened

Meaning
having or showing a rational, modern outlook; having spiritual knowledge or understanding
Example
The enlightened teacher shared wisdom with all her students.
C1 noun /ˌprɒpəˈɡeɪʃən/

propagation

Meaning
The action of spreading and promoting an idea, theory, etc.
Example
The propagation of ideas through social media is rapid.
C1 noun /ɪnˈkɜːrʒən/

incursion

Meaning
A sudden attack or invasion into a place or territory.
Example
The army repelled the enemy incursion at the border.
C1 noun /ˈtæn.dəm/

Tandem

Meaning
a bicycle built for two riders, one behind the other
Example
The couple enjoyed riding their tandem bicycle through the park.
C1 noun /ˈtoʊ.pæz/

Topaz

Meaning
a precious stone, typically colorless, yellow, or blue, used in jewelry
Example
The queen's crown was adorned with a magnificent blue topaz.
C1 adjective; noun /ɪˈmɔːrtl/

immortal

Meaning
living forever; never dying; lasting forever in fame or memory
Example
Legends often describe heroes as immortal beings who never die.
C1 adjective /bɪˈrɛft/

bereft

Meaning
Deprived of or lacking something, especially a nonmaterial asset.
Example
After the betrayal, he felt bereft of hope and trust.
C1 adjective /məˈroʊs/

morose

Meaning
sullen, gloomy, or ill-tempered
Example
He became morose after losing his job.
C1 verb ɪˈluːd

elude

Meaning
Evade or escape from, typically in a skillful or cunning way; avoid being caught.
Example
The thief managed to elude the police.
C1 noun/verb /ɪˈstiːm/

esteem

Meaning
Respect and admiration, typically for a person.
Example
She is held in high esteem by her colleagues.
C1 noun /koʊlt/

Colt

Meaning
a young male horse, especially one under four years old
Example
The farmer trained the young colt to accept a saddle.
C1 noun, adverb /ˈeɪliəs/

alias

Meaning
A false or assumed identity; also used to mean 'otherwise called'.
Example
The criminal was known by the alias 'Shadow'.
C1 noun /ˈdɛməɡɒɡ/

demagogue

Meaning
A political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.
Example
The crowd was swayed by the fiery speeches of the demagogue.
C1 noun /ˈtuːsəm/

twosome

Meaning
A pair of people considered together, often in a romantic or competitive context.
Example
They entered the dance competition as a twosome.
C1 noun /ɪkˈstrɛmɪti/

extremity

Meaning
The farthest point or limit of something; a severe or extreme condition.
Example
He was pushed to the extremity of his patience.
C1 verb /əbˈdʌkt/

abduct

Meaning
to take someone away illegally by force or deception
Example
The criminal tried to abduct the child in broad daylight.
C1 noun /ˈlɪmboʊ/

limbo

Meaning
A state of uncertainty or neglect; an intermediate or transitional state.
Example
The project was left in limbo after the funding was withdrawn.
C1 verb /ˈdʒɜːrmɪneɪt/

germinate

Meaning
To begin to grow or develop, especially referring to a seed.
Example
The seeds germinate quickly in moist soil.
C1 adverb /ɪnˈdɛfɪnətli/

indefinitely

Meaning
for an unlimited or unspecified period of time
Example
The project has been postponed indefinitely.
C1 noun /ˌsʌpəˈzɪʃən/

supposition

Meaning
An assumption or belief that something is true without certain proof.
Example
His plan was based on the supposition that the market would recover quickly.
C1 noun /ˈɪtʃ.i.nəs/

itchiness

Meaning
The quality or condition of feeling an irritating sensation on the skin that causes a desire to scratch.
Example
Eye itchiness often leads to rubbing.
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 verb /ˈæn.ə.teɪt/

annotate

Meaning
to add notes or comments to a text, diagram, or document for explanation or clarification
Example
The teacher asked the students to annotate the poem with their interpretations.
C1 noun /ˈhɑː.mɪ.saɪd/

Homicide

Meaning
the deliberate and unlawful killing of one person by another; murder
Example
The detective was assigned to investigate the homicide that occurred downtown last night.
C1 noun /ˈsaɪnəs/

sinus

Meaning
A cavity within a bone or tissue, especially those in the bones of the face connected with the nasal cavities.
Example
He suffered from a sinus infection that caused headaches.
C1 noun/verb /vɔːlt/

vault

Meaning
A secure room for storing valuables; also to leap or spring over something.
Example
The bank kept its gold bars in a secure vault.
C1 noun ˌpriːˌɒkjʊˈpeɪʃən

preoccupation

Meaning
The state of being absorbed in thought; mental distraction.
Example
His preoccupation with work led to neglecting his personal life.
C1 noun /ˈbjuːɡəl/

Bugle

Meaning
a brass musical instrument similar to a trumpet but without valves, used especially for military calls
Example
The soldier played the bugle to signal the start of the ceremony.
C1 noun/verb /ˈslʌmbər/

slumber

Meaning
A state of sleep; to sleep lightly or rest.
Example
The child slumbered peacefully through the night.
C1 noun /ˌvaɪ.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/

viability

Meaning
Ability to work successfully; feasibility.
Example
The viability of the project depends on funding.
C1 verb /ɪmˈbɛd/

imbed

Meaning
To fix firmly or deeply in a surrounding mass.
Example
The journalist imbedded himself with the troops to report firsthand.
C1 adjective /ˌpɛd.əˈɡɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl/

pedagogical

Meaning
Relating to teaching and education; concerned with the methods and practice of teaching.
Example
The school adopted new pedagogical techniques to improve learning.
C1 noun, verb /ˈbʌtrəs/

buttress

Meaning
a structure built against a wall for support; to support or strengthen
Example
The cathedral walls were buttressed to prevent collapse.
C1 noun/verb /ˈɡlɪmər/

glimmer

Meaning
A faint or wavering light; to shine with a faint light.
Example
A glimmer of hope shone in her eyes.
C1 verb /ˈspɪərˌhɛd/

spearhead

Meaning
to lead or initiate an action, project, or movement
Example
She spearheaded the campaign for environmental awareness.
C1 noun /ˌfɪziˈɑːlədʒi/

physiology

Meaning
the scientific study of the functions and mechanisms in a living system
Example
She is majoring in human physiology at the university.
C1 verb /ˈkʌl.mɪ.neɪt/

culminate

Meaning
To reach the final or climactic stage of a process or activity.
Example
Years of hard work culminated in his success.
C1 verb /dɪˈfɔːrm/

deform

Meaning
to change the shape or form of something, especially in a way that makes it ugly or damaged; to distort
Example
The intense heat began to deform the plastic container.
C1 noun /ˌpɜː.mɪˈæbɪlɪti/

permeability

Meaning
The quality or state of being permeable; allowing liquids or gases to pass through.
Example
The permeability of the soil affects water retention.
C1 adjective /ˈprɪnsəpəld/

principled

Meaning
acting in accordance with moral or ethical standards
Example
He is a principled leader who always puts honesty first.
C1 adjective /prɪˈzʌmp.tʃu.əs/

presumptuous

Meaning
Overconfident, rude, or taking liberties without permission.
Example
It was presumptuous of him to make that decision without consulting others.
C1 noun /ɪmˈbɑː.ɡoʊ/

embargo

Meaning
A trade ban, restriction, or prohibition imposed by a government or international organization on a country.
Example
The UN imposed an embargo on arms exports.
C1 noun /ˈmɜːrsəˌnɛri/

mercenary

Meaning
a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army; also used to describe someone motivated solely by money.
Example
The mercenary fought for whoever paid the highest wage.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnkəʊˈhɪərənt/

incoherent

Meaning
Not clear or easy to understand; lacking logical connection.
Example
His explanation was so incoherent that nobody could follow it.
C1 adjective, noun /ɔːɡˈzɪliəri/

auxiliary

Meaning
(adjective) providing supplementary or additional help and support; (noun) a person or thing that provides auxiliary support
Example
The hospital has an auxiliary power generator in case of emergencies.
C1 verb /ˈfrɒlɪk/

frolic

Meaning
to play and move about cheerfully, energetically, or playfully
Example
The children frolicked in the garden all afternoon.
C1 adjective /ˈlæv.ɪʃ/

Lavish

Meaning
expensive; elaborate; extravagant; generous
Example
The wedding was a lavish celebration with hundreds of guests.
C1 verb /kəˈluːd/

collude

Meaning
To secretly cooperate or conspire with others, often for a deceitful purpose.
Example
The two companies colluded to fix prices in the market.
C1 verb /ˌoʊvərˈruːl/

overrule

Meaning
to reject or disallow by exercising one's superior authority; to override a decision
Example
The judge overruled the objection from the defense attorney.
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 adjective /rɪˈpres.ɪv/

Repressive

Meaning
restraining freedom or preventing self-expression; oppressive
Example
The repressive government banned all forms of protest.
C1 noun prəˈpɛn.sə.ti

propensity

Meaning
An inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way.
Example
He has a propensity for taking risks in business.
C1 adjective /dɪˈspɜːrst/

dispersed

Meaning
Scattered or spread across a wide area.
Example
The dispersed population made it difficult to provide public services.
C1 adjective /ˈprevələnt/

Prevalent

Meaning
widespread; existing very commonly; generally occurring
Example
Smoking is still prevalent among teenagers despite health warnings.
C1 verb /rɪˈpʌls/

repulse

Meaning
to drive back an attack or attacker by force; to cause intense dislike or disgust
Example
The army managed to repulse the enemy attack.
C1 adjective /ˌkɒndɪˈsɛndɪŋ/

condescending

Meaning
having or showing an attitude of patronizing superiority
Example
Her condescending tone upset her colleagues.
C1 verb /ˈbæbəl/

babble

Meaning
to talk rapidly and continuously in a foolish way
Example
The baby babbles all day long.
C1 noun /ˈdrʌdʒəri/

drudgery

Meaning
Hard, menial, or dull work.
Example
She wanted to escape the drudgery of her daily routine.
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 noun /ˈkuːdɒs/

kudos

Meaning
Praise and honor received for an achievement.
Example
She received kudos for her excellent performance.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈseɪʃəbl̩/

insatiable

Meaning
impossible to satisfy; always wanting more
Example
Her insatiable curiosity drove her to read every book in the library.
C1 adjective /ˌkævəˈlɪər/

cavalier

Meaning
showing a lack of proper concern; dismissive or offhand
Example
He had a cavalier attitude toward safety regulations.
C1 noun /ˈmʌltɪplaɪər/

multiplier

Meaning
a number or factor by which another number is multiplied; something that increases the effect or value of something else
Example
In economics, government spending can act as a multiplier for economic growth.
C1 adjective /ˌmɪsəˈleɪniəs/

Miscellaneous

Meaning
various; diverse; mixed; assorted
Example
The box contained miscellaneous items from different periods.
C1 noun /ˈruː.bi/

Ruby

Meaning
a precious red gemstone; a deep red variety of corundum
Example
The ruby ring was her most treasured possession.
C1 adjective /əˈprɛs.ɪv/

Oppressive

Meaning
Harsh and authoritarian; overwhelming; causing distress; tyrannical;
Example
The oppressive heat made it difficult to work outside during the summer.
C1 noun /ænˈtɪθəsɪs/

antithesis

Meaning
A person, thing, or idea that is the direct opposite of another; a rhetorical device contrasting opposing ideas in parallel structure.
Example
Love is the antithesis of hate.
C1 noun /ˈkɪŋ.fɪʃ.ər/

King-Fisher

Meaning
a small bird with bright blue and orange feathers that catches fish by diving into water
Example
The colorful kingfisher dove into the pond to catch a fish.
C1 noun /pʌn/

pun

Meaning
A humorous use of words that suggests different meanings or words that sound alike.
Example
He made a clever pun about the bakery's bread rising.
C1 noun/verb /skɜːrdʒ/

scourge

Meaning
A source of great pain or punishment; to whip or inflict suffering on someone.
Example
Disease and poverty remain a scourge in many regions.
C1 adjective /wɒn/

wan

Meaning
looking pale or sickly; lacking color or vitality
Example
After the long illness, his face looked wan and tired.
C1 noun /ˈvɪɡər/

vigor

Meaning
Physical strength, energy, or enthusiasm.
Example
She tackled the project with great vigor and determination.
C1 noun /ˌædʒ.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən/

agitation

Meaning
a state of nervousness, excitement, or unrest; or action of stirring up public concern
Example
There was visible agitation among the crowd.
C1 adjective ˌɪn.təˈdɪs.ɪ.plɪ.nər.i

interdisciplinary

Meaning
Relating to more than one branch of knowledge.
Example
The interdisciplinary approach in education enhances problem-solving skills.
C1 noun /ʌnkənˈsɜːrn/

Unconcern

Meaning
lack of worry or interest; indifference
Example
She showed complete unconcern about the criticism.
C1 noun /ˈsɒlstɪs/

solstice

Meaning
the two times in the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the equator (summer and winter solstice)
Example
People celebrate the summer solstice with festivals and rituals.
C1 noun /ˌmiːtiəˈrɒlədʒi/

meteorology

Meaning
The scientific study of the atmosphere and weather.
Example
He chose to specialize in meteorology to study weather patterns.
C1 noun /pərˈveɪər/

purveyor

Meaning
a person or business that supplies goods, services, or information
Example
He is a well-known purveyor of fine wines.
C1 noun/verb kənˈdʒɛk.tʃər

conjecture

Meaning
An opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information; to form an opinion or supposition about something.
Example
The scientist's conjecture was later proven true.
C1 adjective /ˈviːnəs/

venous

Meaning
relating to the veins that carry blood to the heart
Example
The doctor examined the patient’s venous circulation.
C1 adjective /ˈprɪs.tiːn/

pristine

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

surveyor

Meaning
A person who measures and maps land, buildings, or other features.
Example
The surveyor measured the land for construction.
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 /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 /ʃoʊl/

shoal

Meaning
a large group of fish swimming together; a shallow place in water
Example
We saw a shoal of fish near the coast.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈflæməˌtɔːri/

inflammatory

Meaning
causing inflammation in the body; arousing anger, hostility, or strong emotion
Example
His inflammatory speech triggered protests across the city.
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 adjective /dɪˈfɛnsəbəl/

defensible

Meaning
Capable of being protected against attack or criticism; justifiable.
Example
Her decision was legally defensible.
C1 verb /kwɛl/

quell

Meaning
To suppress or put an end to something, usually by force.
Example
The police were called to quell the violent protest.
C1 adverb /ˌðɛrəˈbaʊt/

thereabout

Meaning
Approximately or around that place, amount, or time.
Example
The repairs will cost five hundred dollars or thereabout.
C1 verb /ˈkʌn.dʒər/

conjure

Meaning
to summon something as if by magic; to imagine vividly
Example
The magician conjured a rabbit out of the hat.
C1 noun /kuːp/

coop

Meaning
a small enclosure or cage for chickens or other birds
Example
The farmer checked the chickens in the coop every morning.
C1 verb /ˌriː.kənˈviːn/

reconvene

Meaning
to gather or assemble again, especially for a meeting
Example
The committee will reconvene after lunch.
C1 adjective /əˈbliːk/

Oblique

Meaning
slanting; diagonal; indirect or evasive
Example
The artist drew an oblique line across the canvas.
C1 adjective /ˈrek.wɪ.zɪt/

Requisite

Meaning
made necessary by particular circumstances; required
Example
Good communication skills are requisite for this job.
C1 verb /ˈkrʌmpəl/

crumple

Meaning
to crush something into folds or wrinkles
Example
He crumpled the paper and threw it in the bin.
C1 adjective /ˈfɒnɪk/

phonic

Meaning
relating to speech sounds or their production; connected to phonics
Example
Children learn phonic rules to read new words accurately.
C1 adjective /ˈpɛnɪtənt/

penitent

Meaning
Feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong.
Example
She was penitent after shouting at her friend.
C1 verb /ˈpoʊ.lə.raɪz/

polarize

Meaning
to divide or cause to divide into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs
Example
The controversial decision polarized public opinion.
C1 noun, adjective /ˌæntiˈsɛptɪk/

antiseptic

Meaning
A substance that prevents the growth of disease-causing microorganisms; clean and free from germs.
Example
The nurse applied an antiseptic to the wound.
C1 adjective /ˌoʊvərˈrɔt/

overwrought

Meaning
extremely agitated or nervous; excessively elaborate
Example
She was too overwrought to speak clearly after the accident.