sordid
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C1 adjective /ˈsɔːrdɪd/

sordid

Meaning
involving immoral or dishonorable actions; dirty or unpleasant
Example
The newspaper exposed the politician's sordid past.
B1 adjective /ɪnˈtɜːrnəl/

internal

Meaning
situated inside; relating to the inside or inner part of something
Example
The company is conducting an internal audit this month.
C2 verb /leɪv/

lave

Meaning
To wash or bathe.
Example
She laved her face with cool water.
C1 adjective /ˈtæti/

tatty

Meaning
Worn out, shabby, or in poor condition.
Example
The sofa looked old and tatty after years of use.
C2 adjective /ɪˈrɛfrəɡəbəl/

irrefragable

Meaning
Impossible to refute, deny, or break
Example
The lawyer presented irrefragable evidence that proved his client’s innocence.
C1 noun /ˌænəsˈθetɪk/

anesthetic

Meaning
A substance that causes loss of sensation or consciousness, especially used during surgery.
Example
The doctor administered a local anesthetic before stitching the wound.
B1 adjective /ˈrel.ə.tɪv/

Relative

Meaning
considered in comparison to something else; not absolute; comparative
Example
The cost of living is relative to your income level.
C1 noun /kəˈluːʒən/

collusion

Meaning
A secret agreement or cooperation, especially for an illegal or dishonest purpose.
Example
There was evidence of collusion between the officials and the contractors.
C1 adjective /ˈɜːr.nɪst/

Earnest

Meaning
sincere; genuine; showing deep and serious conviction
Example
He made an earnest attempt to solve the problem.
C1 adverb /əˈbrɛst/

abreast

Meaning
side by side and facing the same direction; informed about something
Example
The soldiers marched two abreast down the street.
C1 noun /beɪl/

bale

Meaning
A large bundle of goods tightly wrapped and bound.
Example
The workers loaded the bale of cotton onto the truck.
C1 noun /ʃæk/

Shack

Meaning
a small, crudely built dwelling; a poorly constructed building
Example
The fisherman lived in a small shack near the beach.
C2 noun /ˈtʃæm.pæk/

Champak

Meaning
a fragrant yellow or white flower from a tree native to South Asia, used in perfumes and religious ceremonies
Example
The champak tree in the temple courtyard bloomed with golden flowers.
B2 noun /dɪsˈkʌmfərt/

discomfort

Meaning
A feeling of slight pain, unease, or awkwardness.
Example
She shifted in her chair due to discomfort in her back.
C1 noun /ˈsɪvɪks/

civics

Meaning
the study of the rights and duties of citizens and how government works
Example
Civics helps students understand their responsibilities as citizens.
A2 noun /ˈæktrəs/

actress

Meaning
a female performer in plays, movies, or television
Example
The actress looked stunning on the red carpet.
C2 adjective /ˈnɒti/

knotty

Meaning
Complicated, difficult to solve or full of knots.
Example
He faced a knotty legal issue.
C2 noun ˈfaɪ.təʊˌnjuː.tri.ənt

phytonutrient

Meaning
Chemical compounds produced by plants that are beneficial to human health but not essential nutrients.
Example
Broccoli is rich in phytonutrients that enhance immunity.
C2 verb /ɪkˈspeɪʃiˌeɪt/

expatiate

Meaning
to speak or write at length or in detail
Example
The professor expatiated on the importance of critical thinking.
C2 noun ˌhiː.məˈfɪl.i.ə

hemophilia

Meaning
A medical condition in which the ability of the blood to clot is severely reduced, causing the sufferer to bleed severely from even a slight injury.
Example
Hemophilia treatment benefits from genetic editing.
C1 verb /ˈmedɪkeɪt/

medicate

Meaning
to treat with medicine; to give drugs to someone for medical purposes
Example
The doctor will medicate the patient to reduce inflammation.
C2 adjective /ˈwɪnsəm/

winsome

Meaning
pleasant and attractive in a fresh, innocent, or charming way
Example
Her winsome smile instantly put the nervous guests at ease.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɪpɪd/

insipid

Meaning
lacking flavor, interest, or excitement; dull
Example
The soup was insipid and needed more seasoning.
C1 verb /aʊst/

oust

Meaning
To remove someone from a position or place of power or authority.
Example
The rebels ousted the dictator from power.
C2 adjective /vəˈlʌptʃuəs/

voluptuous

Meaning
Relating to or characterized by luxury and sensual pleasure; sexually attractive.
Example
The artist painted a voluptuous figure reclining on the couch.
C1 adverb ɪnˈtrɪn.zɪ.kli

intrinsically

Meaning
In a way that is naturally or inherently part of something's essential nature.
Example
Some people are intrinsically motivated to learn.
C1 noun /ˈɑːlɪˌɡɑːrki/

oligarchy

Meaning
A small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution.
Example
The nation was ruled by a wealthy oligarchy that controlled all resources.
C1 noun /roʊz ˈber.i/

Rose berry

Meaning
a type of berry with rose-like characteristics or flavor
Example
The rose berry has a delicate floral taste that reminds me of roses.
C2 verb ɪɡˈzɔːrt

exhort

Meaning
To strongly encourage or urge someone to do something.
Example
The teacher exhorted students to work hard for exams.
C1 noun /pɛnˈtæθlɒn/

pentathlon

Meaning
An athletic contest featuring five different events.
Example
She trained hard to compete in the modern pentathlon.
C1 noun /ˈpɪɡmənt/

pigment

Meaning
a natural or artificial substance used to give color to something
Example
The artist mixed different pigments to create the perfect shade of blue.
B1 noun /saɪt/

site

Meaning
a location or place, often used for a specific purpose, such as a construction site or a website
Example
The construction site is ready for the next phase of the project.
B2 adjective /ˈtɔː.kə.tɪv/

Talkative

Meaning
fond of talking; speaking freely and at length
Example
My talkative neighbor loves to chat about everything.
C1 noun /ˌmiːtiəˈrɒlədʒi/

meteorology

Meaning
The scientific study of the atmosphere and weather.
Example
He chose to specialize in meteorology to study weather patterns.
B1 noun /ˌpʌblɪˈkeɪʃən/

publication

Meaning
the act of making something publicly known or available
Example
The publication of the report sparked a debate.
C2 noun /ˈʃɛvrən/

chevron

Meaning
A V-shaped pattern, often used in military insignia or design.
Example
The sergeant’s uniform displayed three chevrons on the sleeve.
B2 noun /ˈweər.ə.baʊts/

Whereabouts

Meaning
the place where someone or something is located
Example
Nobody knows the whereabouts of the missing person.
C1 verb /prəˈkjʊər/

procure

Meaning
to obtain something, especially with effort or difficulty
Example
They managed to procure enough supplies for the expedition.
C2 noun /ˈliːdʒənəri/

legionary

Meaning
a soldier in the Roman army
Example
Each legionary carried a shield and a short sword.
C1 noun /ˈnɒnʃələns/

nonchalance

Meaning
A relaxed and calm state, showing lack of concern or interest.
Example
She answered the tough questions with surprising nonchalance.
C2 noun /ˈɛskwaɪər/

esquire

Meaning
A title of respect often used after a man's name, especially for lawyers in the United States.
Example
John Smith, Esquire, will be representing the client in court.
C2 noun /ˈkloʊtʃər/

cloture

Meaning
a procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote.
Example
The Senate invoked cloture to end the lengthy debate.
C1 noun /ˌɪnkjʊˈbeɪʃən/

incubation

Meaning
the process of keeping eggs, cells, or organisms in the right conditions for development
Example
The incubation of the eggs lasted for three weeks.
C2 noun /ˈvæsəl/

vassal

Meaning
A person or country in a subordinate position to another, especially in feudal times under a lord.
Example
The king granted land to his vassal in return for loyalty and service.
A1 noun /ˈtɪkɪt/

ticket

Meaning
a small piece of paper or card that gives the holder a right to access a service or event
Example
He bought a ticket to the concert.
A1 noun /ˈhʌzbənd/

husband

Meaning
A married man regarded in relation to his spouse.
Example
Her husband is very supportive of her career.
C1 adjective /ˌprɛfəˈrɛnʃəl/

preferential

Meaning
showing or giving advantage to one over others
Example
Members receive preferential treatment at the club.
A1 verb /peɪnt/

paint

Meaning
to apply a colored substance to a surface
Example
She loves to paint landscapes in her free time.
C1 verb /ɪmˈpiːd/

impede

Meaning
To obstruct or hinder the progress or development of something.
Example
Lack of funds can impede business growth.
B2 adverb /ˈoʊpənli/

Openly

Meaning
in a frank and honest way; without concealment; publicly
Example
She spoke openly about her struggles with mental health.
C1 adjective /pɒˈstɪəriər/

posterior

Meaning
Situated at or toward the back; later in time.
Example
The posterior part of the brain controls vision.
C2 adjective /vəˈreɪʃəs/

veracious

Meaning
Truthful, honest; habitually speaking the truth.
Example
She gave a veracious account of what happened that day.
A2 noun /jɑːrd/

Yard

Meaning
a unit of linear measure equal to 3 feet; an area of land immediately adjacent to a building
Example
The children played in the back yard.
A1 noun /ˈɡrændˌfɑːðər/

grandfather

Meaning
the father of one's father or mother
Example
My grandfather tells us stories every evening.
B2 adjective /ˈdæz.lɪŋ/

Dazzling

Meaning
extremely bright and impressive; brilliant and stunning
Example
The dazzling lights of the city amazed the tourists.
B2 adjective /ˌhaɪ ˈtɛk/

high-tech

Meaning
using or involving advanced technology.
Example
The company produces high-tech medical devices.
A1 adjective /koʊld/

Cold

Meaning
having a low temperature; lacking warmth; unfriendly
Example
The cold winter wind made everyone shiver.
C2 noun /ˈkloʊðiər/

clothier

Meaning
a person or company that makes, sells, or deals in clothes.
Example
The town’s clothier displayed fine suits in his shop window.
C2 adjective /ˌɪlˈneɪ.tʃəd/

ill-natured

Meaning
Having a bad or unpleasant character; unkind or malicious.
Example
He made an ill-natured remark about his colleague.
B2 noun ˈlæbrətɔːriz

laboratories

Meaning
A room or building equipped for scientific experiments, research, or teaching, or for the manufacture of drugs or chemicals.
Example
Advanced laboratories enabled groundbreaking discoveries.
C1 noun /ˈælkəmi/

alchemy

Meaning
A medieval practice combining elements of chemistry and philosophy, aimed at transforming matter, especially turning base metals into gold.
Example
Medieval scientists devoted their lives to alchemy.
A2 adjective /skɛrd/

scared

Meaning
feeling afraid or worried
Example
She was scared of the dark.
C1 adjective /ˈfiːbl/

feeble

Meaning
lacking physical strength or vigor; weak
Example
After the illness, she felt too feeble to stand.
C2 verb /dɔːb/

daub

Meaning
to spread a thick or sticky substance carelessly on a surface
Example
The children daubed paint all over the walls.
C1 noun /ˌkɒrəˈneɪʃən/

coronation

Meaning
the act or ceremony of crowning a sovereign or monarch
Example
The coronation of the new king was attended by thousands of people.
A2 adjective /ˈsəʊʃəl/

social

Meaning
relating to society or its organization
Example
She has a very social personality and enjoys meeting new people.
B1 noun /koʊm/

Comb

Meaning
a toothed device for arranging or cleaning the hair
Example
She used a comb to style her hair before the party.
A2 noun /brɪk/

brick

Meaning
A rectangular block of clay or similar material used in building walls and other structures.
Example
The workers laid brick after brick to build the wall.
C2 noun /ˈdʒɪb.ɪt/

Gibbet

Meaning
a gallows for hanging criminals; an upright post with a projecting arm for hanging the bodies of criminals
Example
In medieval times, criminals were often executed on a gibbet as a public warning.
C2 adjective /ˈsfɪŋks laɪk/

sphinx-like

Meaning
Mysterious, enigmatic, or difficult to interpret
Example
Her sphinx-like smile made it hard to guess what she was thinking.
C1 adjective /ˌkaʊntərɪnˈtuːɪtɪv/

counterintuitive

Meaning
contrary to what one would intuitively expect
Example
His approach seems counterintuitive but it actually works.
B1 noun /əˈtrækʃən/

Attraction

Meaning
the action or power of evoking interest or pleasure in something; a place that draws visitors
Example
The museum is the main attraction for tourists in this city.
B1 noun /leɪn/

lane

Meaning
a narrow road or path, often in the countryside or for specific traffic
Example
They walked down a quiet country lane.
A2 verb /bleɪm/

blame

Meaning
to hold responsible for a fault; to find fault with
Example
Don't blame me for the mistake.
C1 verb ɪɡˈzɛm.plɪ.faɪ

exemplify

Meaning
To be a typical example of or to illustrate something clearly, to show as an example or demonstrate.
Example
His dedication exemplifies true leadership.
B2 verb /kəmˈpraɪz/

comprise

Meaning
To consist of or be made up of something.
Example
The committee comprises five members.
C2 verb /ˈdɛpjʊˌtaɪz/

deputize

Meaning
To appoint someone as a deputy; to act as a substitute or representative.
Example
The sheriff decided to deputize several locals to help maintain order.
C2 adjective /ɡrænˈdɪləkwənt/

grandiloquent

Meaning
Using lofty, pompous, or extravagant language to impress others.
Example
The politician’s grandiloquent speech failed to connect with ordinary people.
B2 verb /ɪnˈtriːɡ/

intrigue

Meaning
to arouse curiosity or interest; to make someone fascinated
Example
The mystery novel will intrigue any reader.
B1 verb /kənˈvɪns/

convince

Meaning
to make someone believe or feel certain about something
Example
She convinced him to attend the meeting.
B2 adjective /ɪnˈtɛns/

intense

Meaning
Of extreme force, degree, or strength.
Example
She felt intense pain after the accident.
B1 noun /lɔːn/

Lawn

Meaning
an area of short, regularly mown grass in the grounds of a house or in a park
Example
She waters the lawn every morning.
C1 adjective /ˌɪndɪˈfɛnsəbl̩/

indefensible

Meaning
not able to be protected or justified
Example
The minister’s remarks were considered indefensible by the public.
C1 adjective /ˈɡreɪsləs/

graceless

Meaning
Lacking elegance, charm, or social refinement.
Example
His graceless behavior embarrassed everyone at the party.
C1 adjective /ˈdɔːr.mənt/

Dormant

Meaning
inactive; sleeping; temporarily suspended; not currently active
Example
The volcano has been dormant for over a century.
B2 verb /rɪˈkleɪm/

reclaim

Meaning
To take back or recover something; to restore to a usable state.
Example
The farmer worked to reclaim the barren land.
B2 adjective; past participle /ˈɒnəd/

honoured

Meaning
treated with respect or distinction; feeling proud and privileged
Example
She felt deeply honoured to receive the award.
C1 verb /dɪˈɡreɪd/

degrade

Meaning
To lower in dignity, quality, or value; to treat with disrespect or to deteriorate.
Example
Harsh words can degrade a person's confidence.
B2 verb dɪˈspætʃt

dispatched

Meaning
To send off to a destination or for a purpose.
Example
A team was dispatched quickly.
C1 noun /ˈræftər/

rafter

Meaning
One of the sloping beams that supports a roof.
Example
The old barn’s rafters were exposed.
B1 noun ˌdemənˈstreɪʃənz

demonstrations

Meaning
The action or process of showing the existence or truth of something by giving proof or evidence.
Example
Demonstrations occurred on March 11.
B2 verb /fʊlˈfɪl/

fulfill

Meaning
to complete or accomplish something, especially a task or promise
Example
He worked hard to fulfill his dreams.
C1 adverb /ˈɡeɪ.li/

Gaily

Meaning
in a cheerful and lively manner
Example
The children danced gaily at the festival.
C1 noun ˌmɒd.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃənz

modifications

Meaning
The action of making partial or minor changes to something.
Example
DNA modifications enable enhanced traits in crops.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈpælpəbəl/

impalpable

Meaning
unable to be felt by touch; difficult to grasp or understand
Example
There was an impalpable sense of fear in the room.
C2 noun /ˈtrɒɡlədaɪt/

troglodyte

Meaning
A person who lives in a cave or is considered old-fashioned and out of touch.
Example
Some called him a troglodyte for refusing to use modern technology.
A2 noun /ˈfɪʃ.ər.mən/

Fisherman

Meaning
a person who catches fish as a job or hobby
Example
The fisherman caught three large fish in the river today.
C2 noun /ˈɔːldərmən/

alderman

Meaning
An elected member of a municipal council in certain cities and towns.
Example
The alderman proposed a new plan for community parks.
C1 noun /kənˈfɔːrməns/

conformance

Meaning
The act of conforming to a rule, standard, or law.
Example
The product was tested for conformance with safety standards.
C1 adjective /drəˈkoʊniən/

draconian

Meaning
Extremely harsh and severe, especially laws or rules.
Example
The new regulations were criticized as draconian.
B2 adjective /ˈɡlɔːr.i.əs/

Glorious

Meaning
magnificent; famous; having great beauty or splendor
Example
The sunset was absolutely glorious.
B2 adjective /ˈskætərd/

Scattered

Meaning
spread widely apart; dispersed; occurring here and there
Example
Scattered showers are expected throughout the day.
C1 noun /ˈstæl.i.ən/

stallion

Meaning
An adult male horse that is not castrated, often used for breeding.
Example
The farm owns a powerful stallion for breeding purposes.
C1 noun /ˌɑːk.sɪˈmɔːr.ɒn/

oxymoron

Meaning
a figure of speech where two contradictory terms are combined
Example
The phrase 'deafening silence' is a classic oxymoron.
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.
C2 noun /prəˈpɪŋkwɪti/

propinquity

Meaning
the state of being close to someone or something; proximity
Example
The propinquity of their houses made them close friends.
C1 adjective /fəˈnætɪkəl/

fanatical

Meaning
showing extreme enthusiasm or obsession
Example
She has a fanatical interest in collecting vintage stamps.
B2 adjective /əˈfen.sɪv/

Offensive

Meaning
causing displeasure or resentment; insulting; aggressive
Example
His offensive remarks hurt everyone's feelings.
A2 adjective /kəˈneɪdiən/

canadian

Meaning
Relating to Canada or its people.
Example
She enjoys Canadian culture and traditions.
A1 adverb /tuː/

too

Meaning
to a higher degree than is desirable, permissible, or possible
Example
She is too tired to continue working.
C2 noun /ˈɪnˌɡreɪt/

ingrate

Meaning
An ungrateful person; someone who shows no appreciation.
Example
He worked hard for his friend, but the ingrate never thanked him.
C2 adjective /ˈeɪ.li.ə.nə.bəl/

alienable

Meaning
Able to be transferred or surrendered, usually referring to rights or property.
Example
Property rights are alienable and can be sold or transferred.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈtru/

Untrue

Meaning
not true; false; incorrect
Example
His statement about the incident was completely untrue.
C1 noun /baʊt/

Bout

Meaning
a short period of intense activity of a specified kind; a wrestling or boxing match
Example
After a bout of illness, she finally recovered and returned to work.
C2 noun /məˈlɛvələns/

malevolence

Meaning
The state or condition of being malevolent; having or showing a wish to do evil to others.
Example
His malevolence was clear in the cruel way he treated his rivals.
A1 noun /ˈteɪbəl/

table

Meaning
A piece of furniture with a flat top and legs, used for working at or placing items on.
Example
They placed the documents on the table.
B2 verb /ˈɔːltər/

alter

Meaning
to change or modify something slightly but significantly
Example
She decided to alter her dress to make it fit better.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsəˈlaʊ/

disallow

Meaning
to refuse to allow or accept something
Example
The referee disallowed the goal for offside.
B1 verb /əˈlɑːrm/

alarm

Meaning
to warn of danger; to frighten or disturb
Example
The loud noise alarmed the residents.
C2 verb /ˈɪmprɛɡneɪt/

impregnate

Meaning
To make pregnant; to fill or saturate with something.
Example
The scientist used a method to impregnate the material with resin.
C1 verb /ɪˈkweɪt/

equate

Meaning
To consider as equal or equivalent.
Example
Many people equate wealth with success.