tempered
All a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
All CEFR A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
Content locale
EN English BN Bengali HI Hindi ES Spanish FR French DE German RU Russian ZH Chinese JA Japanese
All Vocabulary Cards All Vocabularies
C1 adjective /ˈtɛmpərd/

tempered

Meaning
having a specified temper or disposition; strengthened or moderated.
Example
She gave a tempered response to the criticism.
C1 verb /ʃɪə/

shear

Meaning
to cut the wool off a sheep or to cut something with sharp tools like scissors or shears
Example
The farmer will shear the sheep in the spring.
C1 verb /ˈstɪɡmətaɪz/

stigmatize

Meaning
to describe or regard someone as worthy of disgrace or disapproval
Example
People with certain illnesses are often unfairly stigmatized.
C1 noun /ˌoʊvərprəˈdʌkʃən/

overproduction

Meaning
The act of producing more of something than is needed or can be consumed.
Example
The economic crisis was caused by the overproduction of goods.
C1 noun ˈrəʊvə

rover

Meaning
A vehicle for driving over rough terrain, especially one driven by remote control over extraterrestrial terrain.
Example
The rover landed on Mars to begin its exploration.
C1 adjective sɪˈlɛstʃəl

celestial

Meaning
Positioned in or relating to the sky, or outer space as observed in astronomy.
Example
The celestial bodies in the sky were clearly visible last night.
C1 noun /ˈtrɛʒərər/

treasurer

Meaning
a person responsible for managing the financial affairs of an organization
Example
The treasurer presented the annual financial report.
C1 verb dɪˈsɜːn

discern

Meaning
To perceive or recognize something; to distinguish with difficulty by sight or with the other senses.
Example
He could barely discern the distant figure in the fog.
C1 noun /ˌkʌl də ˈsæk/

cul de sac

Meaning
A street or passage closed at one end; a dead end.
Example
They bought a house at the end of a quiet cul de sac.
C1 noun /ˈskaɪ.lɑːrk/

Sky-Lark

Meaning
a small brown bird known for singing while flying high in the sky
Example
The skylark sang beautifully as it soared above the meadow.
C1 adjective /ˈdesələt/

Desolate

Meaning
deserted; lonely; barren
Example
The abandoned village looked desolate and empty.
C1 noun /fɪˈdɛl.ɪ.ti/

fidelity

Meaning
Faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support.
Example
A dog's fidelity to its owner is unmatched.
C1 adjective /ˈvɛlvəti/

velvety

Meaning
having a smooth, soft texture like velvet
Example
She spoke in a low, velvety voice.
C1 adjective /ˈsɪm.jʊ.leɪ.tɪd/

simulated

Meaning
Artificially created to look real but not actually real.
Example
The pilot trained in a simulated flight environment.
C1 adjective /ˌret.rəˈspek.tɪv/

Retrospective

Meaning
looking back on or dealing with past events or situations
Example
The museum held a retrospective exhibition of the artist's work.
C1 noun /treɪd fəˌsɪl.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən/

trade facilitation

Meaning
The simplification, modernization and harmonization of export and import processes.
Example
Trade facilitation boosts economic growth.
C1 noun /nɑːrˈkɒtɪk/

narcotic

Meaning
A drug that dulls the senses and relieves pain, often causing sleep and sometimes addiction.
Example
The police seized a large amount of narcotic substances.
C1 noun /ˈbɜːrθraɪt/

birthright

Meaning
A privilege or possession that a person has from birth.
Example
Freedom is considered a birthright of every individual.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnrɪˈkwaɪtɪd/

unrequited

Meaning
Not returned or reciprocated, especially in the context of love or affection.
Example
He suffered from unrequited love for years.
C1 noun /fɪˈziːk/

physique

Meaning
the form, size, and development of a person's body
Example
He has an athletic physique due to years of training.
C1 adjective /məˈkɑː.brə/

Macabre

Meaning
disturbing because concerned with death; gruesome and horrifying
Example
The horror movie had a macabre atmosphere.
C1 noun /ɡeɪt/

gait

Meaning
A person's manner of walking.
Example
His slow gait showed that he was tired.
C1 verb /flɪntʃ/

flinch

Meaning
to suddenly move back or away due to fear or pain
Example
He didn’t flinch when the doctor gave him the injection.
C1 adjective /ˈbleɪtənt/

blatant

Meaning
done openly and unashamedly; obvious and offensive
Example
The company's blatant disregard for safety regulations angered the public.
C1 verb /piːv/

peeve

Meaning
To annoy or irritate someone.
Example
His constant interruptions really peeve me.
C1 adjective /hɪpˈnɒtɪk/

hypnotic

Meaning
Producing sleep or a trance-like state; mesmerizing.
Example
The music had a hypnotic effect on the audience.
C1 noun /ˈwɒndərlʌst/

wanderlust

Meaning
A strong desire to travel and explore the world.
Example
Her wanderlust took her to every corner of the globe.
C1 adjective /ˈblʌdləs/

bloodless

Meaning
without bloodshed; lacking violence or vitality
Example
The revolution was surprisingly bloodless.
C1 adjective /suːˈpɜːrlətɪv/

superlative

Meaning
Of the highest quality or degree; expressing the extreme form of an adjective or adverb.
Example
Her performance was superlative, earning her a standing ovation.
C1 noun /ˈprɒvənəns/

provenance

Meaning
The origin or source of something.
Example
The museum verified the provenance of the ancient manuscript.
C1 verb/adjective /dɪˈdʒɛnəreɪt/

degenerate

Meaning
To decline or deteriorate in quality, character, or condition; or someone with low moral standards.
Example
The once thriving empire began to degenerate into chaos.
C1 adjective /ˈreɪdiənt/

radiant

Meaning
Shining brightly; expressing great happiness.
Example
She looked radiant in her wedding dress.
C1 adjective /dɪˈskriːt/

discrete

Meaning
individually separate and distinct
Example
The course is divided into three discrete modules.
C1 adjective /əbˈstrʌk.tɪv/

Obstructive

Meaning
deliberately creating difficulties or preventing progress; hindering or blocking something
Example
The obstructive policies hindered economic growth.
C1 noun, verb /ˈmæn.deɪt/

mandate

Meaning
an official order or command; to give someone authority to act in a certain way
Example
The government issued a mandate to reduce carbon emissions.
C1 adjective /kənˈtɛmptəbl/

contemptible

Meaning
deserving of contempt; despicable
Example
His deceitful actions were truly contemptible.
C1 verb /kənˈkɜːr/

concur

Meaning
To agree with someone or something.
Example
I concur with your opinion on this matter.
C1 adjective /dɪˈfʌŋkt/

defunct

Meaning
No longer existing, operating, or functioning.
Example
The company became defunct after the financial crisis.
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 noun /pɒˈstɛrɪti/

posterity

Meaning
All future generations of people.
Example
The monument was built for the benefit of posterity.
C1 adjective /ˈwɪm.zɪ.kəl/

Whimsical

Meaning
playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way
Example
The artist created whimsical sculptures that delighted children.
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 /kəˈləʊ.kwi.əl/

colloquial

Meaning
Used in ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal language.
Example
His colloquial expressions made the speech relatable.
C1 noun /ˈtæntrəm/

tantrum

Meaning
An uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration, typically in a young child.
Example
The child threw a tantrum when he didn’t get the toy.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈdʌktɪv/

inductive

Meaning
characterized by the inference of general laws from particular instances; reasoning from specific cases to general principles
Example
The scientist used inductive reasoning to form a hypothesis.
C1 adjective /ɡroʊˈtɛsk/

grotesque

Meaning
comically or repulsively ugly or distorted
Example
The sculpture was so grotesque that it frightened the children.
C1 noun ˌfɜːr.tɪ.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

fertilization

Meaning
The process of adding nutrients to soil to increase crop productivity.
Example
Organic fertilization enhances soil health.
C1 noun /həˌluː.sɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

Hallucination

Meaning
an experience involving the apparent perception of something not present; a false or distorted perception
Example
The patient experienced visual hallucinations as a side effect of the medication.
C1 noun /vɛnˈdɛtə/

vendetta

Meaning
a prolonged bitter quarrel or campaign of revenge
Example
The two families were caught in a bitter vendetta for generations.
C1 adjective /ˈdʒeɪ.dɪd/

jaded

Meaning
Tired, bored, or lacking enthusiasm, typically after having had too much of something.
Example
After years of traveling, she felt jaded by the constant movement.
C1 noun /dɪˌsem.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

dissemination

Meaning
The action or fact of spreading something, especially information, widely.
Example
The dissemination of false information is a major issue.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈkɒmp(ə)rəbl/

incomparable

Meaning
Without an equal in quality or excellence; matchless.
Example
The view from the mountain was incomparable.
C1 noun /ˈdɪŋɡi/

dinghy

Meaning
a small boat, often carried or towed by a larger vessel, used for short trips or as a lifeboat
Example
They rowed the dinghy back to the yacht.
C1 verb /ɪkˈstræpəleɪtɪŋ/

extrapolating

Meaning
Extend the application of (a method or conclusion) to an unknown situation by assuming that existing trends will continue.
Example
Extrapolating from the current data, we can estimate the trends for next year.
C1 noun /əˈkʌmplɪs/

accomplice

Meaning
a person who helps another commit a crime
Example
The thief was arrested along with his accomplice.
C1 noun /moʊt/

moat

Meaning
A deep, wide ditch surrounding a castle or town, often filled with water, for defense.
Example
The castle was protected by a wide moat filled with water.
C1 noun/verb ˈfɒr.ɪdʒ

forage

Meaning
Food for horses and cattle, especially dried hay or feed; to search for food.
Example
Animals forage for food during the winter months.
C1 noun /ˌdɛrɪˈveɪʃən/

derivation

Meaning
The origin or development of something from a source.
Example
The derivation of the word comes from Latin.
C1 adjective /əˈbreɪsɪv/

abrasive

Meaning
harsh, rough, or capable of wearing down by rubbing
Example
His abrasive tone made everyone uncomfortable.
C1 adjective /ˌmɛtəˈfɔːrɪkəl/

metaphorical

Meaning
Characteristic of or relating to metaphor; figurative rather than literal.
Example
He used metaphorical language to describe his emotions.
C1 adjective /ˈɔːrəl/

aural

Meaning
Relating to the ear or the sense of hearing.
Example
The lecture was an aural experience as well as an intellectual one.
C1 noun /ˈfænsiər/

fancier

Meaning
a person who has a special interest in a particular thing or activity, especially animals or hobbies
Example
He is a fancier of rare birds.
C1 noun /ˈdaɪəˌlɛkt/

dialect

Meaning
A particular form of a language spoken in a specific region or by a specific group.
Example
He speaks a dialect of Bengali that is common in rural areas.
C1 adverb /ˌɪnsɪˈdɛntəli/

incidentally

Meaning
by the way; used to introduce a remark not directly related to the main subject
Example
Incidentally, did you know that she studied in Paris?
C1 verb /ˌriːˈkæst/

recast

Meaning
To present or change something in a different form or style.
Example
The director decided to recast the role with a younger actor.
C1 adjective /ˌɛvərˈlæstɪŋ/

everlasting

Meaning
Lasting forever or for an indefinitely long time.
Example
The poet wrote about his everlasting love for nature.
C1 noun, verb /ˌprɒməˈneɪd/

promenade

Meaning
A leisurely walk or stroll, especially in a public place for pleasure or display.
Example
They went for a promenade along the seaside.
C1 adjective ˌɪn.trəˈspek.tɪv

introspective

Meaning
Characterized by or given to introspection; examining one's own thoughts and feelings.
Example
Writers tend to be highly introspective individuals.
C1 noun /ɪnˈædɪkwəsi/

inadequacy

Meaning
lack of sufficient ability, quality, or strength; a feeling of not being good enough
Example
She struggled with feelings of inadequacy at work despite her strong qualifications.
C1 verb /ˈnʌrɪʃ/

nourish

Meaning
To provide with food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition
Example
Good books nourish the mind.
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 /ˈækəleɪd/

accolade

Meaning
An award, honor, or expression of praise.
Example
She received an accolade for her outstanding performance.
C1 adjective /ˌaʊt əv ðə ˈweɪ/

out-of-the-way

Meaning
remote or unusual; not in a convenient or usual location
Example
They stayed in an out-of-the-way village.
C1 noun, adjective, verb /ʃæm/

sham

Meaning
something that is not what it appears to be; a false or fake thing; to pretend
Example
The deal turned out to be a sham.
C1 noun /ˈlɔːsuːt/

lawsuit

Meaning
a legal case brought to a court of law by one person against another
Example
The company faced a lawsuit over false advertising.
C1 adverb /ˌðeərəˈpɒn/

Thereupon

Meaning
immediately after that; following that event
Example
He finished his speech and thereupon left the stage.
C1 adverb /ˌmæθəˈmætɪkli/

mathematically

Meaning
in a way that relates to mathematics; using numbers, formulas, or logical calculation
Example
The problem can be solved mathematically rather than by guesswork.
C1 adjective /ˌaɪdiəˈlɪstɪk/

Idealistic

Meaning
pursuing high principles or ideals; unrealistically optimistic
Example
She has an idealistic view of changing the world.
C1 adjective /ˌdɪsɪnˈdʒɛnjʊəs/

disingenuous

Meaning
not candid or sincere; giving a false appearance of honesty or openness
Example
She gave a disingenuous excuse for missing the meeting.
C1 verb /reɪv/

rave

Meaning
to speak or write about something with great enthusiasm or admiration
Example
Critics rave about the new movie.
C1 noun /ˈpɛs.tɪ.saɪd ˈrɛz.ɪ.djuː/

pesticide-residue

Meaning
Chemical remnants left over from pesticides used on crops or in soil.
Example
Excess pesticide-residue in food can be harmful to health.
C1 verb /ˈæbdɪkeɪt/

abdicate

Meaning
To give up a position of power or responsibility, especially a throne.
Example
The king decided to abdicate the throne.
C1 noun ˌdjʊə.rəˈbɪl.ə.ti

durability

Meaning
The ability to withstand wear, pressure, or damage; hard-wearing.
Example
The durability of materials affects performance.
C1 adjective /ˌsæŋktɪˈmoʊniəs/

sanctimonious

Meaning
Making a show of being morally superior to others; hypocritically pious.
Example
He gave a sanctimonious speech about honesty while he himself was corrupt.
C1 adjective /ˈdwɪndlɪŋ/

dwindling

Meaning
Gradually reducing in number, size, or strength.
Example
The villagers relied on dwindling water supplies.
C1 verb trænˈsɛnd

transcend

Meaning
To go beyond the limits of something; to surpass or exceed
Example
His effort to transcend traditional methods was commendable.
C1 adjective /ˈtɜːrnkiː/

turnkey

Meaning
ready for immediate use; a complete product or solution
Example
The company provides turnkey solutions for small businesses.
C1 noun /ˈædʒʌŋkt/

adjunct

Meaning
a thing added to something else as a supplementary part
Example
The professor worked as an adjunct at the university.
C1 adjective /ˈfɑːð.ər.ləs/

fatherless

Meaning
without a father
Example
The fatherless child relied on the support of his community.
C1 noun /ˈɪntrɪkəsi/

intricacy

Meaning
the quality of being very detailed or complicated
Example
The intricacy of the design impressed everyone.
C1 noun /ˈɑd.ɪ.ti/

Oddity

Meaning
something that is strange or unusual; a peculiar trait
Example
His habit of sleeping standing up was considered an oddity.
C1 noun ˌɪndɪˈspensəbl̩ ˈkɒmpɪtənsi

indispensable competency

Meaning
Essential skill or ability that cannot be done without; a crucial capability that is absolutely necessary.
Example
Digital literacy is an indispensable competency in the 21st century.
C1 verb /fret/

fret

Meaning
to worry or be anxious; to be troubled
Example
Don't fret about the exam results.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnədˈvɜːrtənt/

inadvertent

Meaning
Not resulting from or achieved through deliberate planning; unintentional.
Example
Her inadvertent mistake caused a delay in the project.
C1 verb /θræʃ/

thrash

Meaning
to beat someone or something violently; to move wildly or violently
Example
The angry man threatened to thrash his opponent.
C1 noun ˈdʒen.ə.saɪd

genocide

Meaning
The deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation.
Example
The allegations of genocide raised global concerns.
C1 noun /ˈsɪk.əl/

Sickle

Meaning
a tool with a curved metal blade and short handle used for cutting grain crops
Example
The farmer harvested wheat using a traditional sickle.
C1 adjective /ˈswɛltərɪŋ/

sweltering

Meaning
uncomfortably hot
Example
The sweltering heat made it hard to work.
C1 verb, noun /miˈændər/

meander

Meaning
to wander aimlessly or follow a winding course
Example
We meandered through the old streets of the city.
C1 verb /ˈeɪ.li.ə.neɪt/

alienate

Meaning
To make someone feel isolated or estranged; to cause someone to become unfriendly.
Example
His rude behavior alienated many of his friends.
C1 adjective /ˈfɪɡərətɪv/

figurative

Meaning
not literal; using figures of speech or symbolic representation
Example
She used figurative language to describe her feelings.
C1 noun /ˈrɛtʃɪdnəs/

wretchedness

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

Vulgarity

Meaning
the quality of being rude, offensive, or indecent; lack of sophistication or good taste
Example
The comedian's jokes were criticized for their vulgarity.
C1 noun /əˈvɜːrʒən/

aversion

Meaning
a strong feeling of dislike or unwillingness towards something
Example
She has a strong aversion to smoking.
C1 noun daɪˈkɒtəmi

dichotomy

Meaning
A division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different.
Example
The dichotomy between tradition and modernity is often debated.
C1 noun /ˌkɒŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃən/

congregation

Meaning
a group of people assembled for religious worship or a common purpose
Example
The congregation gathered to hear the sermon.
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 ˈkəmˌpaʊndɪŋ

compounding

Meaning
The process whereby interest is added to an amount of money and future interest is calculated on the total.
Example
Compounding interest increases the value of investments over time.
C1 adjective /dɪˈbeɪst/

debased

Meaning
having lost quality, value, or moral character
Example
The debased currency lost the trust of the people.
C1 noun /ˈɛmbləm/

emblem

Meaning
A symbolic object, design, or figure representing an idea, group, or identity.
Example
The dove is an emblem of peace.
C1 verb /ˌrekəˈlekt/

recollect

Meaning
to remember something; to recall from memory
Example
I can't recollect where I put my keys.
C1 adverb /ˈaʊtwədli/

Outwardly

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

goad

Meaning
to provoke, annoy, or urge someone to take action
Example
He tried to goad his opponent into making a mistake.
C1 noun /kəˈθɑːrsɪs/

catharsis

Meaning
The process of releasing strong emotions, providing relief.
Example
Writing in her diary was a form of catharsis for her.
C1 noun /ˈriːkɔːrs/

recourse

Meaning
a source of help or protection in a difficult situation
Example
The students had no recourse but to appeal to the principal.
C1 verb /ˈæmpjʊteɪt/

amputate

Meaning
to cut off a limb from the body by surgery
Example
The doctors had to amputate his leg after the accident.
C1 adjective /ˈɔːrθədɑːks/

orthodox

Meaning
conforming to traditional beliefs or practices
Example
He comes from a very orthodox family.
C1 adjective /pləˈtɒnɪk/

platonic

Meaning
relating to a close relationship that is not romantic or sexual
Example
They have a platonic friendship that has lasted for years.
C1 noun /ˈɡrɪd.əl/

Griddle

Meaning
a flat heating surface for cooking food, typically made of metal
Example
She cooked pancakes on the hot griddle.
C1 noun /ˈmæk.ər.əl/

Mackerel

Meaning
a streamlined marine fish with a forked tail and wavy stripes
Example
Mackerel is rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
C1 verb /rɪˈnɛɡ/

renege

Meaning
to go back on a promise, agreement, or commitment
Example
The company reneged on its promise to increase wages.