Tactful
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C1 adjective /ˈtækt.fəl/

Tactful

Meaning
showing skill and sensitivity in dealing with others or difficult situations
Example
He gave a tactful response to avoid hurting her feelings.
C1 noun /ˈfæm.ɪn/

Famine

Meaning
extreme scarcity of food; a period when food is extremely scarce
Example
The severe drought led to widespread famine in the region.
C1 adjective /ˈɡreɪsləs/

graceless

Meaning
Lacking elegance, charm, or social refinement.
Example
His graceless behavior embarrassed everyone at the party.
C1 noun, verb /raʊt/

rout

Meaning
A decisive defeat; to defeat completely.
Example
The army routed the enemy forces in the battle.
C1 verb /əˈkrɛdɪt/

accredit

Meaning
to officially recognize, authorize, or approve someone or something
Example
The university is accredited by the national education board.
C1 adjective /dɪˈplɔːrəbl/

deplorable

Meaning
deserving strong condemnation; shockingly bad in quality
Example
The refugees were living in deplorable conditions.
C1 noun /huːf/

Hoof

Meaning
the hard part covering the foot of horses, cattle, sheep, and other animals
Example
The horse's hoof was injured after stepping on a sharp rock.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈspiːkəbl/

unspeakable

Meaning
too bad or shocking to be expressed in words
Example
The survivors endured unspeakable horrors during the war.
C1 adjective /kɔɪ/

coy

Meaning
reluctant to give details or reveal feelings; shy or reserved
Example
She gave a coy smile when asked about her plans.
C1 adjective /ˈpɜːrmiəbl̩/

permeable

Meaning
allowing liquids or gases to pass through
Example
The soil in this area is very permeable to water.
C1 noun /ˈmænɪkɪn/

mannequin

Meaning
a life-sized model of a human figure used by shops to display clothes
Example
The mannequin in the shop window was dressed in a red gown.
C1 noun əbˈzɔːrp.ʃən

absorption

Meaning
The process or action by which one thing absorbs or is absorbed by another.
Example
Plants help in the absorption of carbon dioxide.
C1 verb diːˈsɛn.sɪ.taɪz

desensitize

Meaning
To make someone less sensitive or reactive to something through repeated exposure.
Example
Constant exposure to violence can desensitize people.
C1 noun /ˈwɪzərdri/

wizardry

Meaning
The art or practice of magic; great skill or expertise in something.
Example
The programmer's wizardry amazed everyone in the room.
C1 noun /kənˈfaɪnmənt/

confinement

Meaning
the state of being confined or restricted
Example
The prisoner endured years of confinement.
C1 adjective /ˈspel.baʊnd/

Spellbound

Meaning
completely fascinated and unable to move or think about anything else; enchanted
Example
The children sat spellbound as the magician performed his tricks.
C1 verb pleɪɡd

plagued

Meaning
Troubled or afflicted persistently by problems or difficulties.
Example
People are plagued by anxiety and depression.
C1 noun /ˈtjuːmʌlt/

tumult

Meaning
A loud, confused noise, especially caused by a crowd; commotion or disorder.
Example
The protest created a tumult in the city square.
C1 noun /ˈɪm.pæs/

impasse

Meaning
A situation where no progress is possible.
Example
The negotiations reached an impasse, delaying the agreement.
C1 verb /məˈlɛst/

molest

Meaning
to assault or abuse someone, especially in a sexual or physical way
Example
The criminal was arrested for attempting to molest a child.
C1 verb /bæsk/

bask

Meaning
to lie in warmth and light; to enjoy something pleasurable
Example
The cat basks in the sunny window.
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 adjective /məˈlɛvələnt/

malevolent

Meaning
Having or showing a wish to do evil or harm to others.
Example
The malevolent glare in his eyes frightened the children.
C1 noun /ˈæmfɪˌθiətər/

amphitheater

Meaning
A large open circular or oval building with rising tiers of seats, used for public events.
Example
The concert was held in an ancient amphitheater.
C1 adjective /kræs/

crass

Meaning
lacking sensitivity, refinement, or intelligence
Example
His crass remarks offended everyone at the meeting.
C1 noun /fɪlθ/

filth

Meaning
dirty or disgusting matter; moral corruption
Example
The streets were full of filth after the storm.
C1 noun /ˌprɒk.ləˈmeɪ.ʃən/

Proclamation

Meaning
an official public announcement, especially one made by someone in authority
Example
The king issued a proclamation declaring peace.
C1 verb /wiːld/

wield

Meaning
To hold and use a weapon, tool, or power effectively.
Example
The warrior wielded his sword with great skill.
C1 noun/verb /ˈvɑːrnɪʃ/

varnish

Meaning
A liquid that is applied to wood or other materials to form a hard, shiny surface; also to apply such a liquid.
Example
The carpenter varnished the table to give it a glossy finish.
C1 noun, verb /dɪsˈɑːnər/

dishonor

Meaning
a state of shame or loss of respect; to bring shame upon someone or something
Example
The soldier felt he had brought dishonor to his family.
C1 noun /kɑːrˈtɒɡrəfi/

cartography

Meaning
The science or practice of drawing maps.
Example
She studied cartography at university to learn how to design maps.
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 /ˈmɪm.ɪk/

Mimic

Meaning
A person who copies or imitates the actions, speech, or mannerisms of others
Example
The talented mimic could perfectly imitate famous celebrities.
C1 adjective /kənˈsɛntrɪk/

concentric

Meaning
having a common center, as in circles or spheres
Example
The artist drew concentric circles on the canvas.
C1 noun dɪˌlɪb.əˈreɪ.ʃən

deliberation

Meaning
Long and careful consideration or discussion.
Example
The agreement was finalized after much deliberation.
C1 noun prɪˈsɪʒ.ən ˈæɡ.rɪ.kʌl.tʃər

precision agriculture

Meaning
The technique of conducting agricultural work using advanced technology.
Example
Precision agriculture optimizes resource use and increases efficiency.
C1 noun/verb /ˈsaɪ.fər/

cipher

Meaning
A secret or disguised way of writing; a code; to put a message into secret writing.
Example
Military messages are protected using a cipher.
C1 adjective /əˈθɔːrɪtətɪv/

authoritative

Meaning
Having or showing authority; commanding and self-confident; reliable as a source of information.
Example
She spoke in an authoritative tone that silenced the room.
C1 adjective /ˈkɒz.mɪk/

cosmic

Meaning
relating to the universe or cosmos; vast
Example
Astronomers study cosmic phenomena to understand the universe.
C1 verb /rɪˈmɪt/

remit

Meaning
To send money in payment or as a gift; to cancel or refrain from exacting a debt or punishment.
Example
He promised to remit the payment by the end of the week.
C1 adjective /ˈpeɪtrənaɪzɪŋ/

patronizing

Meaning
showing kindness that is perceived as condescending or superior
Example
His patronizing tone offended the audience.
C1 adjective /præɡˈmæt.ɪk/

pragmatic

Meaning
Dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than idealistic considerations.
Example
He took a pragmatic approach to solving the financial crisis.
C1 adjective /ˌaɪ.di.əˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl/

ideological

Meaning
Relating to or based on a system of ideas or beliefs.
Example
The two parties are divided by deep ideological differences.
C1 adjective ɪɡˈzɛmpləri

exemplary

Meaning
Serving as a desirable model; representing the best of its kind.
Example
She was praised for her exemplary work ethic and dedication.
C1 verb /əˈpɔːl/

appall

Meaning
To shock or horrify someone with something unpleasant or bad.
Example
The cruelty of the crime appalled the entire community.
C1 verb /tɔːnt/

taunt

Meaning
to provoke or challenge someone with insulting remarks
Example
The bully tried to taunt him with cruel words.
C1 adjective /ɪɡˈzɔːr.bɪ.tənt/

exorbitant

Meaning
Unreasonably high in price or cost; excessive.
Example
The hotel charged an exorbitant price for a basic room.
C1 adjective /bɪˈnaɪn/

benign

Meaning
Gentle, kind, or not harmful (especially of a disease or tumor).
Example
The doctor assured her that the tumor was benign.
C1 noun /ˈdrɪz.əl/

Drizzle

Meaning
light rain falling in very fine drops; a very light rainfall
Example
The gentle drizzle continued throughout the morning, making everything misty.
C1 noun /səˈlaɪ.və/

Saliva

Meaning
the watery liquid secreted into the mouth by glands
Example
The dentist asked her to rinse the saliva from her mouth.
C1 adjective /ˌɪndɪˈskriːt/

indiscreet

Meaning
Not careful in what one says or does, likely to reveal secrets or offend.
Example
It was indiscreet of him to mention the plan in public.
C1 verb/noun /ˈsɒldər/

solder

Meaning
To join metal parts together by melting and putting a filler metal into the joint
Example
He soldered the broken wires back together.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈkɒm.prə.maɪ.zɪŋ/

Uncompromising

Meaning
unwilling to change one's views or to agree about something; showing an unwillingness to make concessions to others
Example
He was uncompromising in his demand for a full apology.
C1 noun /weɪl/

Wail

Meaning
a prolonged cry of pain, grief, or anger; to cry loudly
Example
The child's wail could be heard throughout the house.
C1 noun /ˈloʊ.kəst/

Locust

Meaning
a large insect that flies in groups and eats crops
Example
The locusts destroyed the entire wheat field.
C1 noun /ˈsɔːrsəri/

sorcery

Meaning
the use of magical powers, especially through spells and enchantments
Example
The villagers believed the illness was caused by sorcery.
C1 noun /ˈtaɪ.rənt/

Tyrant

Meaning
a cruel and oppressive ruler; a person who exercises power in a harsh manner
Example
The people rebelled against the cruel tyrant.
C1 adjective /ˈɒptɪkəl/

optical

Meaning
related to or used in seeing or sight
Example
The optical illusion fooled everyone at the exhibition.
C1 noun ˈdɛtrɪ.mənt

detriment

Meaning
Harm, damage, impairment.
Example
Smoking is a detriment to health.
C1 noun /bəˈrɒmɪtər/

barometer

Meaning
an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure
Example
The barometer indicated a storm was approaching.
C1 verb /ˌriːɪmˈbɜːrs/

reimburse

Meaning
to pay back money to someone who has spent it or lost it
Example
The company reimbursed him for travel expenses.
C1 adjective /ˈliː.ni.ənt/

Lenient

Meaning
tolerant; forgiving; merciful; not strict in punishment or judgment
Example
The teacher was lenient with students who submitted their homework late.
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 adjective ˈɒb.stɪ.nət

obstinate

Meaning
Refusing to change one's mind or accept others' advice easily.
Example
He remained obstinate despite the logical arguments.
C1 verb /əˈsæsɪneɪt/

assassinate

Meaning
To murder someone important, often a political or religious leader, usually by surprise attack.
Example
The rebels planned to assassinate the king.
C1 noun /ˈblɪs.tər/

Blister

Meaning
a small bubble on the skin filled with serum and caused by friction, burning, or other damage
Example
The new shoes gave her a painful blister on her heel.
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 noun /ˈsæf.aɪər/

Saphire

Meaning
a precious stone that is typically blue in color
Example
The royal crown was adorned with a large sapphire.
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 noun /ˈmeɪniə/

Mania

Meaning
Mental illness marked by periods of great excitement; extreme enthusiasm
Example
She had a mania for collecting vintage postcards from around the world.
C1 noun /ˈɪn.floʊ/

inflow

Meaning
The movement of things such as money, people, or water into a place.
Example
The inflow of tourists boosted the local economy.
C1 verb /ˌkɒndɪˈsɛnd/

condescend

Meaning
to behave as if one is superior while being gracious to others
Example
He would not condescend to answer such a trivial question.
C1 verb /bɪˈriːv/

bereave

Meaning
to deprive someone of a loved one through death
Example
She was bereaved of her husband last year.
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 /seɪdʒ/

Sage

Meaning
wise; showing wisdom from experience; prudent; having good judgment
Example
The sage advice from the elder helped solve the problem.
C1 verb /səbˈvɜːrt/

subvert

Meaning
to undermine or overthrow an established system, authority, or institution
Example
The rebels tried to subvert the government.
C1 noun /oʊˈeɪ.sɪs/

Oasis

Meaning
a fertile spot in a desert where water is found; a pleasant refuge
Example
The travelers found an oasis after days in the desert.
C1 noun /ˈlɪbərəlɪzəm/

liberalism

Meaning
a political and social philosophy advocating individual freedoms, democracy, and equality
Example
Liberalism emphasizes freedom of speech and human rights.
C1 verb əˈnaɪ.ə.leɪt

annihilate

Meaning
Destroy utterly; obliterate; reduce to nothing.
Example
The explosion annihilated the entire village.
C1 adjective /kənˈtɛmptʃuəs/

contemptuous

Meaning
showing or expressing contempt; scornful
Example
She gave him a contemptuous glance.
C1 verb /rænt/

rant

Meaning
to speak or shout in an angry, uncontrolled way
Example
He ranted about the unfair treatment at work.
C1 noun /ˈɔr.i.ənt/

Orient

Meaning
the East, especially countries of eastern Asia; to determine one's position or direction
Example
Many spices come from the Orient.
C1 noun /əˈkuːstɪks/

acoustics

Meaning
the science of sound, or the properties of a space that affect how sound is heard
Example
The hall’s excellent acoustics made the orchestra sound rich and clear.
C1 adjective /ˈpɪt.i.ə.bəl/

pitiable

Meaning
deserving sympathy or compassion
Example
The stray dog looked pitiable in the rain.
C1 noun /ˌɪntərˈmiːdiˌɛri/

intermediary

Meaning
A person who acts as a link between people in order to try to bring about an agreement; a mediator.
Example
The diplomat served as an intermediary between the two conflicting nations.
C1 noun /ˈkɒb.lər/

Cobbler

Meaning
a person who repairs shoes and other leather goods
Example
The cobbler fixed my broken shoes perfectly.
C1 adjective /tɛmˈpɛstjuəs/

tempestuous

Meaning
Characterized by strong and turbulent emotions or stormy conditions.
Example
Their tempestuous relationship often swung between love and anger.
C1 adjective /ˈhɪd.i.əs/

Hideous

Meaning
extremely ugly or unpleasant; causing shock or disgust
Example
The monster in the movie had a hideous appearance.
C1 verb /ˌoʊvərˈpaʊər/

overpower

Meaning
To defeat or gain control over someone or something by using greater strength or force.
Example
The soldiers managed to overpower the enemy forces.
C1 noun /ˌpeɪ.li.ɒnˈtɒl.ə.dʒi/

paleontology

Meaning
the branch of science concerned with fossil animals and plants
Example
She decided to study paleontology at university.
C1 adjective /rɪˈpen.tənt/

Repentant

Meaning
feeling or expressing sincere regret and remorse; sorry for one's actions
Example
The repentant thief returned the stolen money.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈskeɪðd/

unscathed

Meaning
Without suffering any injury, damage, or harm.
Example
She escaped from the accident unscathed.
C1 adjective /ˈpaɪ.əs/

Pious

Meaning
devoutly religious; showing reverence for God
Example
The pious monk spent hours in prayer every day.
C1 verb /bruːd/

brood

Meaning
to think deeply about something that makes one unhappy; also, a group of young birds hatched at the same time
Example
He sat alone, brooding over his failures.
C1 noun /ˈdɪm.pəl/

Dimple

Meaning
a small depression in the flesh, either one that exists permanently or one that forms when smiling
Example
Her charming dimples appeared whenever she smiled at the children.
C1 noun ˈeʃ.ə.lɒn

echelon

Meaning
A level or rank in an organization, a profession, or society.
Example
He climbed to the upper echelon of the corporate world.
C1 adjective ʌnˈwɔːr.rən.tɪd

unwarranted

Meaning
Not justified or necessary; without good reason.
Example
His anger toward the staff was completely unwarranted.
C1 noun /ˈsɛvərəns/

severance

Meaning
the act of ending something, especially a relationship or employment; compensation paid upon termination
Example
The company offered him severance pay after his job ended.
C1 noun /ɡriːn ˈkəʊ.kə.nʌt/

Green Coconut

Meaning
a young coconut with green outer shell containing refreshing coconut water
Example
We drank fresh water from a green coconut on the beach.
C1 verb /ˈstrætɪfaɪ/

stratify

Meaning
to arrange or divide into layers, classes, or categories
Example
The researchers plan to stratify the data based on age groups.
C1 verb məˈnɒp.ə.laɪz

monopolize

Meaning
Control exclusively, dominate market.
Example
The company tried to monopolize the market.
C1 verb /ˈtiːtər/

teeter

Meaning
to move or balance unsteadily; to wobble
Example
The glass began to teeter on the edge of the table.
C1 adjective ʌnˈmætʃt

unmatched

Meaning
Not equaled or rivaled by any other; without equal.
Example
The freedom fighters showed unmatched bravery.
C1 noun, verb /kriːs/

crease

Meaning
a line or fold produced on paper, cloth, or other material; to make a fold or wrinkle
Example
She ironed the shirt carefully to remove every crease.
C1 noun /ˈfæs.ɪt/

facet

Meaning
One of the many aspects or features of something; a particular part or element of something.
Example
Every facet of the project was carefully analyzed.
C1 adjective /ˈɡæstrɪk/

gastric

Meaning
Relating to the stomach.
Example
She was prescribed medicine for her gastric problems.
C1 noun /ˈmɔːrtər/

mortar

Meaning
a mixture used in building to bond bricks or stones together; also, a small cannon for firing shells
Example
The workers applied mortar between the bricks.
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 /ˈʌndərˌteɪkər/

undertaker

Meaning
A person whose job is to prepare the dead for burial and arrange funerals.
Example
The undertaker prepared the body for the funeral service.
C1 noun /ˌmɔːrəˈtɔːriəm/

moratorium

Meaning
A temporary suspension or delay of an activity, law, or obligation.
Example
The government announced a moratorium on new mining licenses.
C1 noun /pəˈrɪm.ɪ.tər/

perimeter

Meaning
the continuous line forming the boundary of a closed geometric figure or area
Example
The soldiers guarded the perimeter of the camp.
C1 noun /ˌɪn.dɪˈsɪʒ.ən/

Indecision

Meaning
the inability to make decisions quickly; uncertainty about what to do
Example
Her indecision about which job offer to accept caused her to miss both opportunities.
C1 adjective /fɪkˈtɪʃəs/

fictitious

Meaning
not real or true; imaginary or fabricated
Example
The story he told was entirely fictitious.
C1 noun /ˈkɒnfɪdænt/

confidant

Meaning
A person with whom one shares a secret or private matter, trusting them not to repeat it.
Example
She found a true confidant in her childhood friend.
C1 adjective ɪmˈpɛkəbl

impeccable

Meaning
In accordance with the highest standards; faultless.
Example
His impeccable taste in fashion was admired by all his peers.
C1 adjective /ˈstɛlər/

stellar

Meaning
Relating to stars; outstanding or excellent.
Example
She gave a stellar performance in the play.
C1 noun /njʊəˈrəʊ.sɪs/

neurosis

Meaning
A relatively mild mental illness that is not caused by organic disease, involving symptoms of stress.
Example
His neurosis made social interactions difficult.
C1 verb /smɛlt/

smelt

Meaning
to extract metal from its ore by heating and melting
Example
The workers smelt iron from its ore in the factory.
C1 noun /miːlˈjuː/

milieu

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

reestablish

Meaning
to set up or restore something again after it has been disrupted
Example
The government worked hard to reestablish peace in the region.
C1 verb /skɒf/

scoff

Meaning
to speak about something in a mocking or dismissive way
Example
He scoffed at the idea of moving abroad.