ulterior
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C1 adjective /ʌlˈtɪəriər/

ulterior

Meaning
hidden or secret, often with a selfish motive
Example
He invited her with an ulterior motive.
C1 noun /ˈmɪd.waɪf/

midwife

Meaning
A person, typically a woman, trained to assist women during childbirth.
Example
The midwife stayed with the mother throughout her labor.
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 adjective, noun /ˈmɑːrʃən/

martian

Meaning
Related to the planet Mars; or an imaginary being from Mars.
Example
The movie showed a Martian visiting Earth.
C1 noun /ˈhiːdəˌnɪzəm/

hedonism

Meaning
The pursuit of pleasure and self-indulgence as the highest goal.
Example
The lifestyle of the rich is often criticized as pure hedonism.
C1 noun ˈprɒdʒ.ə.ni

progeny

Meaning
A descendant or the descendants of a person, animal, or plant; offspring.
Example
The philosopher's teachings have influenced many generations of progeny.
C1 noun /ˈrɛdʒɪmənt/

regiment

Meaning
A permanent unit of an army, typically commanded by a colonel and divided into several companies.
Example
The regiment marched proudly through the streets after returning from the mission.
C1 noun /fəˈnætɪsɪzəm/

fanaticism

Meaning
the quality of being fanatical; extreme zeal or obsession
Example
Religious fanaticism can lead to intolerance and conflict.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈruːli/

Unruly

Meaning
difficult to control or manage; disorderly and disruptive
Example
The unruly crowd refused to follow the safety instructions.
C1 verb /ˈvɛnəˌreɪt/

venerate

Meaning
to regard with great respect; revere
Example
People venerate saints for their holiness.
C1 adjective /ˈtɪpsi/

tipsy

Meaning
slightly drunk
Example
She felt tipsy after just one glass of wine.
C1 adjective, noun /ˈbʊrʒ.wɑː/

bourgeois

Meaning
Relating to the middle class, often with materialistic values or conventional attitudes.
Example
The novel criticizes the bourgeois lifestyle of the city dwellers.
C1 noun /ˌʌnbɪˈliːf/

Unbelief

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

Quarrelsome

Meaning
given to arguing and fighting; argumentative and confrontational
Example
His quarrelsome nature makes it difficult to work with him.
C1 noun /ˈtæl.i/

Tally

Meaning
a count or record of a number or amount; a score or total
Example
Keep a tally of how many books you read this month.
C1 verb ɔːɡˈmɛntɪŋ

augmenting

Meaning
Increasing; making something greater in size, number, or degree
Example
Life expectancy is augmenting with advancements in healthcare.
C1 verb /ˌoʊvərˈθroʊ/

overthrow

Meaning
To remove a leader or government from power, often by force.
Example
The rebels planned to overthrow the corrupt regime.
C1 verb /bɔːk/

balk

Meaning
to hesitate or refuse to proceed or comply
Example
She balked at signing the contract without reading it fully.
C1 adjective /ɪˈrɛvəkəbl/

irrevocable

Meaning
Not able to be revoked, changed, or undone.
Example
She made an irrevocable decision to leave the company.
C1 noun, verb /slɜːr/

slur

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

Revolver

Meaning
a pistol with revolving chambers enabling several shots to be fired without reloading
Example
The detective drew his revolver from its holster.
C1 noun /ˈzɛnəˌfoʊb/

xenophobe

Meaning
a person who dislikes or fears people from other countries or cultures
Example
The politician was criticized as a xenophobe due to his anti-immigrant policies.
C1 verb /ˈmæd.ən/

madden

Meaning
To make someone very angry or extremely annoyed.
Example
The constant noise maddened him.
C1 verb /dʒæb/

jab

Meaning
To poke or thrust quickly, often with a finger or something pointed.
Example
He jabbed his finger at the map to show the location.
C1 adjective /əˈbreɪsɪv/

abrasive

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

intractable

Meaning
Difficult or impossible to manage, control, or solve.
Example
The conflict has become an intractable problem.
C1 noun /əˈliː.dʒəns/

allegiance

Meaning
Loyalty or commitment of a subordinate to a superior or of an individual to a group or cause.
Example
Soldiers take an oath of allegiance to their country.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnkəmˈpætəbl/

incompatible

Meaning
Not able to exist or work together without conflict.
Example
Their personalities were completely incompatible.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈprɒmp.tjuː/

impromptu

Meaning
Done without being planned, organized, or rehearsed; spontaneous.
Example
He gave an impromptu speech at the event.
C1 adjective /ˈpəʊ.tənt/

Potent

Meaning
having great strength, power, or effect; influential
Example
The medicine is very potent and should be taken carefully.
C1 noun /kənˈtɪnjuəm/

continuum

Meaning
A continuous sequence in which adjacent elements are not perceptibly different from each other, but the extremes are quite distinct.
Example
Life and death are often seen as part of the same continuum.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈvɪnsəbl/

invincible

Meaning
too powerful to be defeated or overcome
Example
The team seemed invincible after winning ten matches in a row.
C1 noun /rɪˈsɜː.dʒəns/

resurgence

Meaning
An increase or revival after a period of little activity, popularity, or occurrence.
Example
The city saw a resurgence in tourism after the pandemic.
C1 noun /əˌsæsɪˈneɪʃən/

assassination

Meaning
The act of killing someone important, often for political or ideological reasons.
Example
The assassination of the president shocked the nation.
C1 noun /ˈtoʊtəm/

totem

Meaning
A natural object, animal, or symbol that is revered as a spiritual emblem by a group or tribe.
Example
The eagle is considered a sacred totem in many cultures.
C1 noun /siˈɛrə klʌb/

Sierra Club

Meaning
An American environmental organization founded in 1892 by John Muir, focused on promoting conservation of the natural environment by influencing public policy decisions.
Example
John Muir founded the Sierra Club in 1892 to protect wild areas.
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 adjective /ˈʃɪvəlrəs/

chivalrous

Meaning
Behaving in a courteous, gallant, and honorable way, especially toward women.
Example
He was chivalrous, always opening doors for others.
C1 adjective /ɪˈspeʃəl/

especial

Meaning
Particularly remarkable or significant; distinguished from others
Example
This is an especial opportunity you should not miss.
C1 preposition /ˈbɑːrɪŋ/

barring

Meaning
except for; if not for
Example
Barring a miracle, the team will not win the championship.
C1 adjective /proʊˈzeɪ.ɪk/

prosaic

Meaning
ordinary, dull, or lacking imagination
Example
The teacher’s explanation was accurate but rather prosaic.
C1 noun /əˈkʌmpənɪmənt/

accompaniment

Meaning
Something that goes together with or complements another thing, often music or food.
Example
The dish was served with a spicy sauce as an accompaniment.
C1 noun /ˈjuːlədʒi/

eulogy

Meaning
A speech or piece of writing that praises someone, especially after their death.
Example
Her brother delivered a heartfelt eulogy at the funeral.
C1 verb /ˈkænvəs/

canvass

Meaning
to solicit votes or opinions; to examine thoroughly; to discuss in detail
Example
They will canvass the neighborhood for votes.
C1 noun /təˈnæs.ə.ti/

tenacity

Meaning
Determination, persistence, and the quality of not giving up
Example
His tenacity in solving problems led to his success.
C1 adjective /səbˈvɜːrsɪv/

subversive

Meaning
seeking or intended to undermine or overthrow an established system or authority
Example
The group was banned for its subversive activities.
C1 noun /rɪˈnaʊn/

Renown

Meaning
the condition of being known or talked about by many people; fame
Example
The scientist achieved international renown for her discoveries.
C1 adjective /məˈdʒen.tə/

Magenta

Meaning
a bright purplish-red color
Example
She wore a beautiful magenta dress to the party.
C1 noun /daɪˈvɜː.dʒəns/

divergence

Meaning
The process or state of diverging; a difference or deviation between two or more things.
Example
The divergence in their opinions led to a heated debate.
C1 noun /ˈraɪtʃəsnəs/

righteousness

Meaning
the quality of being morally right or justifiable
Example
His life was dedicated to righteousness and truth.
C1 adjective /əˌpɒk.əˈlɪp.tɪk/

apocalyptic

Meaning
Describing the end of the world, or something catastrophic and disastrous.
Example
The movie depicts an apocalyptic future after a nuclear war.
C1 verb /ɪˈroʊd/

erode

Meaning
to gradually wear away or destroy by natural forces such as water, wind, or chemical action
Example
The coastline has begun to erode due to constant waves.
C1 noun /ɡeɪdʒ/

Gauge

Meaning
an instrument for measuring the magnitude, amount, or contents of something
Example
The pressure gauge showed the tank was full.
C1 noun /ɡrəˈtjuːɪti/

gratuity

Meaning
A sum of money given as a tip or a retirement benefit.
Example
The waiter received a generous gratuity for his excellent service.
C1 noun ˌɪm.pʌlˈsɪv.ɪ.ti

impulsivity

Meaning
The tendency to act quickly and without thought or care; lack of self-control.
Example
His impulsivity led him to make reckless choices.
C1 noun /ˈskaʊndrəl/

scoundrel

Meaning
a dishonest or unscrupulous person; a villain
Example
That scoundrel cheated the old man out of his savings.
C1 noun /veɪl/

vale

Meaning
A valley, often used in a poetic or literary sense.
Example
The village lay hidden in a quiet green vale.
C1 noun ˌpraɪɔːrɪtaɪˈzeɪʃən

prioritization

Meaning
The action or process of deciding the relative importance or urgency of things.
Example
Effective prioritization ensures resources are used efficiently.
C1 noun /foʊ/

foe

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

snip

Meaning
to cut something quickly with scissors or a sharp tool
Example
She snipped the loose thread from her dress.
C1 adjective /pɪˈkjuːniˌɛri/

pecuniary

Meaning
relating to money or financial matters
Example
They faced pecuniary difficulties after the business failed.
C1 verb əˈkruː

accrue

Meaning
To accumulate or receive (payments or benefits) over time.
Example
Interest accrues on the savings account every month.
C1 adjective /prəˈvoʊkɪŋ/

Provoking

Meaning
causing anger or strong reaction; irritating; stimulating
Example
His provoking comments made everyone angry.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsəʊʃəbl/

unsociable

Meaning
not enjoying the company of others; avoiding social interaction
Example
He became unsociable after moving to a new city.
C1 verb /səbˈmɜːrdʒ/

submerge

Meaning
to put under water or cover with liquid
Example
The floodwaters threatened to submerge the village.
C1 verb /ɪˈleɪt/

elate

Meaning
To make someone very happy or proud.
Example
The success of the project elated the whole team.
C1 adjective /praɪˈmiːvəl/

primeval

Meaning
Relating to the earliest ages in history; ancient and primitive.
Example
The explorers ventured into the primeval forest untouched by humans.
C1 adjective /ɪˈrɛvərənt/

irreverent

Meaning
showing a lack of respect for people or things that are usually respected
Example
The comedian’s irreverent jokes offended some of the audience.
C1 adjective ˈeɪlɪəneɪtɪd

alienated

Meaning
Feeling isolated or estranged; disconnected from others or society.
Example
Alienated students are more prone to delinquency.
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 /ˈprɒk.tər/

proctor

Meaning
a person who supervises students during an examination
Example
The proctor reminded students to keep their phones switched off.
C1 noun /ˈkɒlərə/

cholera

Meaning
An infectious disease of the small intestine causing severe vomiting and diarrhea.
Example
The village suffered an outbreak of cholera after the flood.
C1 adjective /ˈfleɪɡrənt/

flagrant

Meaning
shockingly noticeable or evident; glaringly wrong
Example
It was a flagrant violation of the rules.
C1 verb /ʌpˈruːt/

uproot

Meaning
To pull something out of the ground; to remove or displace completely.
Example
They uprooted the old tree from the garden.
C1 noun /ˈdʒɪŋ.ɡəl/

Jingle

Meaning
a light ringing sound such as that made by metal objects being shaken together; a short catchy song
Example
The jingle of keys could be heard as she walked down the hallway.
C1 noun /ˈkɒnsəl/

consul

Meaning
an official appointed by a government to live in a foreign city and protect its citizens and interests there
Example
The consul assisted travelers who lost their passports.
C1 adjective /ɪkˈskruːʃieɪtɪŋ/

excruciating

Meaning
causing extreme physical or mental pain
Example
She was in excruciating pain after the accident.
C1 verb /vəˈkeɪt/

vacate

Meaning
to leave a place; to make empty by leaving
Example
The tenants must vacate the apartment by the end of the month.
C1 verb /ˈlæmɪˌneɪt/

laminate

Meaning
to cover or enclose something with a protective layer, usually plastic
Example
She laminated her important documents to protect them from damage.
C1 adjective /dæft/

daft

Meaning
Silly or foolish.
Example
It was a daft idea to go hiking without water.
C1 verb /ˈmɛzməˌraɪz/

mesmerize

Meaning
To capture complete attention; to hypnotize or fascinate.
Example
The dancer's graceful movements mesmerized the audience.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈtændʒəbl/

intangible

Meaning
Unable to be touched or grasped; not having a physical presence.
Example
Trust is an intangible quality in relationships.
C1 adjective /ˈspaɪni/

spiny

Meaning
covered with or full of spines; having sharp points
Example
The spiny cactus stood tall in the desert.
C1 noun /ˈoʊ.vər spɪl/

Over-spill

Meaning
the overflow of liquid from a container; excess that cannot be contained
Example
The overspill from the river flooded nearby farms.
C1 verb /əbˈzɒlv/

absolve

Meaning
to free someone from blame, guilt, or responsibility; to pardon
Example
The priest absolved him of his sins.
C1 adjective /ˈwɪntri/

wintry

Meaning
Characteristic of or suitable for winter; cold and bleak.
Example
The wintry wind made everyone shiver as they walked outside.
C1 noun /ˈliːʒən/

lesion

Meaning
An area of damage or abnormal change in the tissue of an organism, often caused by injury or disease.
Example
The doctor examined the skin lesion carefully.
C1 noun ɪˌməʊ.ʃəˈnæl.ɪ.ti

emotionality

Meaning
The quality of being driven by emotions rather than reason; emotional responsiveness.
Example
His emotionality often influenced his decisions.
C1 adjective /raɪf/

rife

Meaning
widespread or common, often in a negative sense
Example
Corruption was rife in the old government system.
C1 adverb spɒnˈteɪnɪəsli

spontaneously

Meaning
In a spontaneous way; naturally and without planning or external cause.
Example
Children learn spontaneously through peer interactions.
C1 adjective ˈbɜːdʒənɪŋ

burgeoning

Meaning
Beginning to grow or increase rapidly; flourishing.
Example
The burgeoning tech industry has attracted many investors.
C1 adjective /dɪˈsɜːrnəbl/

discernible

Meaning
able to be seen, recognized, or understood
Example
There was a discernible change in his behavior.
C1 adjective /ˈtep.ɪd/

Tepid

Meaning
only slightly warm; lukewarm; showing little enthusiasm
Example
The tea was tepid and unappetizing.
C1 noun /ˈpɛndjələm/

pendulum

Meaning
A weight suspended from a pivot so that it swings freely, often used to regulate clocks.
Example
The pendulum swung back and forth inside the clock.
C1 adjective /ˌkætəˈɡɒrɪkəl/

categorical

Meaning
Absolute and without exception; expressed clearly and directly.
Example
She gave a categorical denial of the allegations.
C1 noun ˌɪn.fɪlˈtreɪ.ʃən

infiltration

Meaning
The process of entering or gaining access to an organization or place surreptitiously.
Example
Cybersecurity prevents infiltration into sensitive data.
C1 verb /hjuːˈmɪlieɪt/

humiliate

Meaning
to make someone feel ashamed or foolish by injuring their dignity
Example
He was humiliated by his public failure.
C1 adjective /məˈkɑː.brə/

Macabre

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

underlie

Meaning
to be the hidden cause or basis of something
Example
Strong cultural traditions underlie the community's practices.
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 noun /pəˈfjuː.mər.i/

perfumery

Meaning
the art, business, or products of making perfumes
Example
She works in a perfumery that creates luxury scents.
C1 noun /məˈtɪəriəlɪzəm/

Materialism

Meaning
A tendency to consider material possessions more important than spiritual values
Example
The rise of materialism in modern society concerns many philosophers.
C1 adjective ɪnɪɡˈzɔːstɪbəl

inexhaustible

Meaning
Unable to be used up or worn out; limitless.
Example
His inexhaustible energy allowed him to work tirelessly on his projects.
C1 verb /reɪz/

raze

Meaning
To completely destroy or demolish something, especially a building.
Example
The old factory was razed to make way for new apartments.
C1 noun ˌmek.ə.naɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

mechanization

Meaning
The process of introducing machines or replacing manual labor with machines.
Example
Mechanization has revolutionized agriculture.
C1 verb /ɪnˈfleɪt/

inflate

Meaning
to fill with air or gas so it expands; to increase excessively or artificially
Example
The mechanic inflated the tire to the correct pressure.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈsɪmɪlər/

dissimilar

Meaning
Not alike; different.
Example
Though they are twins, their personalities are dissimilar.
C1 adjective /ˈkɔː.stɪk/

caustic

Meaning
able to burn or corrode by chemical action; severely sarcastic
Example
Her caustic remarks hurt his feelings.
C1 noun /ˌmɛrɪˈtɒkrəsi/

meritocracy

Meaning
A system in which advancement is based on individual ability or achievement.
Example
In a true meritocracy, the most capable people rise to leadership positions.
C1 adjective, verb, noun /ˈkaʊntərfɪt/

counterfeit

Meaning
made to look like something genuine in order to deceive
Example
The police seized a batch of counterfeit currency.
C1 noun /ˈɪntrɪkəsi/

intricacy

Meaning
the quality of being very detailed or complicated
Example
The intricacy of the design impressed everyone.
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 noun /rɪˈfaɪnəri/

refinery

Meaning
an industrial facility where raw materials are processed and purified
Example
The oil refinery processes thousands of barrels daily.
C1 noun /ˈkɜːrfjuː/

curfew

Meaning
a rule requiring people to stay indoors after a certain time, usually at night
Example
The city imposed a curfew during the unrest.
C1 noun /ˈmɔː.tər ænd ˈpes.əl/

Mortar and Pestle

Meaning
a bowl and grinding tool used to crush and grind spices, herbs, and other substances
Example
She ground the spices using a mortar and pestle.
C1 verb /veks/

vex

Meaning
to annoy or frustrate someone; to cause trouble
Example
The constant noise from construction vexes the residents.
C1 adjective /ˈsɜːrvaɪl/ or /ˈsɜːrvəl/

servile

Meaning
having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others
Example
His servile attitude annoyed his colleagues.
C1 verb /ˈtæn.tə.laɪz/

tantalize

Meaning
To tease or torment someone with the promise of something desirable but unattainable.
Example
The aroma of the bakery tantalized the hungry children.
C1 adjective ˌkɒn.ʃiˈen.ʃəs

conscientious

Meaning
Wishing to do what is right, especially to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly.
Example
A conscientious worker always delivers high-quality results.
C1 verb /ˌmɪsˈkaʊnt/

miscount

Meaning
To count wrongly or inaccurately.
Example
He miscounted the number of chairs in the hall.
C1 noun /ɪnˈsaɪtmənt/

incitement

Meaning
the action of provoking unlawful or violent behavior
Example
He was arrested for incitement to riot.