CEFR Level
devoutly religious or showing strong moral and spiritual devotion
"He led a pious life, always helping those in need."
having a pleasantly sharp or spicy taste; interestingly provocative
"The chef added a piquant sauce to the dish to enhance its flavor."
to stimulate interest or curiosity; to arouse resentment or anger
"Her remarks piqued his curiosity about the secret project."
a tropical fruit with bright pink or red skin and white flesh speckled with black seeds
"The pitaya has a mild, sweet flavor and a unique appearance."
deserving or arousing pity; sad and pathetic
"The stray dog looked up with a piteous expression."
a hidden or unexpected danger or difficulty
"Investors must be aware of the pitfalls of the market."
concise and meaningful; full of substance
"She gave a pithy comment that summarized the issue perfectly."
deserving sympathy or compassion
"The stray dog looked pitiable in the rain."
showing no pity or compassion; cruel
"The pitiless ruler ignored the suffering of his people."
a very small or inadequate amount of money
"She worked long hours for a mere pittance."
A significant change in business strategy or direction.
"The company decided to pivot its business strategy."
of crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something else
"Her role was pivotal in the success of the project."
to make someone less angry or hostile; to calm or soothe
"He tried to placate the angry customer with a refund."
a substance with no therapeutic effect, used as a control in testing new drugs
"The patient was given a placebo to compare the effect of the real drug."
calm and peaceful, not easily disturbed
"She had a placid expression despite the chaos around her."
the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own
"The student was expelled for committing plagiarism in his essay."
to take someone else's work or ideas and present them as your own
"He was warned not to plagiarize his friend's essay."
Troubled or afflicted persistently by problems or difficulties.
"People are plagued by anxiety and depression."
a person who brings a case against another in a court of law
"The plaintiff filed a lawsuit against the company."
expressing sadness or sorrow
"He raised a plaintive cry for help."
a braid of hair or straw; to braid
"She decided to plait her hair before the party."
The flower bud of a banana plant, used as a vegetable in cooking
"We cooked plantain flower curry for dinner."
the liquid part of blood; ionized gas; blood serum without clotting proteins
"Blood plasma contains various proteins and nutrients."
the quality of being easily shaped or molded; adaptability
"The brain's plasticity allows it to adapt after injury."
relating to a close relationship that is not romantic or sexual
"They have a platonic friendship that has lasted for years."
The quality of being reasonable or probable.
"The plausibility of his explanation convinced the jury."
a person who writes plays
"Shakespeare is considered the greatest playwright of all time."
a remark made in order to be polite or friendly; light conversation or jokes
"They exchanged pleasantries before the meeting began."
a fold in fabric made by doubling the material back upon itself
"She added a pleat to the skirt for extra volume."
an excessive amount of something
"She has a plethora of books on her shelf."
easily bent or flexible; adaptable
"The metal is pliable enough to be shaped into jewelry."
flexible; easily influenced or adaptable
"She has a pliant personality that adapts well to new situations."
a difficult or dangerous situation
"The refugees described their plight during the war."
to work slowly and steadily, often with effort or difficulty
"He plodded through his homework despite feeling tired."
slow-moving and unexciting; showing steady effort
"The movie was entertaining but a bit plodding in the middle."
a clever plan or action designed to gain an advantage
"She used a clever ploy to win the debate."
having or showing courage and determination
"The plucky child rescued the kitten from the tree."
the feathers covering a bird's body
"The peacock's plumage was vibrant and eye-catching."
to measure the depth of water or examine closely
"They used a line to plumb the depth of the lake."
a large, soft feather or something resembling a feather
"The soldier wore a red plume on his helmet."
to fall straight down at high speed
"Stock prices plummeted after the sudden market crash."
Falling or dropping suddenly and steeply; decreasing rapidly
"The fertility rate in Bangladesh is plummeting."
a person who steals goods, especially during war or civil disorder
"The plunderers ransacked the village after the battle."
the state of being multiple; the greater part or majority
"In the election, she won by a plurality of votes."
a doctor specializing in foot care
"I have an appointment with the podiatrist for my ankle pain."
the study or theory of poetry and its principles
"He wrote a book on poetics explaining the art of verse."
the quality of evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret; emotionally touching
"The poignancy of the farewell brought tears to everyone's eyes."
evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret; deeply touching
"The movie's ending was so poignant that many in the audience were moved to tears."
graceful and elegant bearing in a person; composure under stress
"She maintained her poise even under intense questioning."
the state of having two opposite or contradictory tendencies, opinions, or aspects
"The polarity between the two political parties is growing stronger."
