CEFR Level
hidden or secret, often with a selfish motive
"He invited her with an ulterior motive."
a final demand or statement of terms
"The workers gave the company an ultimatum to raise their wages."
Not able to be explained or justified.
"She felt an unaccountable fear as she entered the dark room."
Not recognized, admitted, or accepted; ignored or unnoticed
"Her contributions to the project went unacknowledged."
Plain and simple; not decorated.
"The room was unadorned, with only a table and a chair."
not mixed or diluted with any different or extra elements; pure
"She felt unadulterated joy when she heard the news."
Not influenced or touched by something; genuine and natural.
"He remained unaffected by the criticism and kept working hard."
Complete agreement by everyone in a group.
"The proposal was accepted with complete unanimity."
Not pretentious or arrogant; modest.
"Despite his success, he remained unassuming and humble."
impossible to achieve, reach, or accomplish
"For many, becoming a professional athlete remains an unattainable dream."
Not proper or appropriate for a person; unsuitable.
"His rude behavior was unbecoming of a leader."
A lack of belief, especially in religious faith.
"His heart was full of doubt and unbelief."
Not willing or able to believe; skeptical or doubtful
"She gave him an unbelieving look when he claimed to have met a celebrity."
Uncontrolled and unrestrained.
"The protesters showed unbridled enthusiasm for change."
Strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way.
"She has an uncanny ability to predict the future."
not disputed or questioned; accepted without opposition; having no rival
"He remained the unchallenged champion for five years."
Not mapped or surveyed; unknown or unexplored.
"The mission aimed to explore uncharted areas of the planet."
not polite or courteous; rude and discourteous in behavior
"His uncivil remarks during the meeting offended everyone present."
not developed in terms of civilization; lacking social organization and culture; barbarous
"The explorers encountered an uncivilized tribe deep in the Amazon rainforest."
not claimed by anyone; not demanded or requested; abandoned or ownerless
"The unclaimed luggage was stored in the airport's lost property department."
not willing to make concessions; firm and resolute
"She remained uncompromising in her principles."
lack of worry or interest; indifference
"She showed complete unconcern about the criticism."
not in accordance with a political constitution
"The court ruled that the law was unconstitutional."
in a way that is not based on or conforming to accepted standards or norms
"She dresses unconventionally, mixing bold colors and patterns that surprise everyone."
To remove the cork from a bottle; to open a bottle, especially of wine
"He uncorked the wine and poured a glass for everyone."
Lacking good manners, refinement, or grace; awkward or rough.
"His uncouth behavior shocked the guests at the party."
lacking good manners, refinement, or education; uncivilized
"His uncultured behavior embarrassed everyone at the dinner party."
not intimidated or discouraged by difficulty, danger, or disappointment
"Despite the setbacks, she remained undaunted in pursuing her goals."
To charge less than the correct or fair amount.
"The shopkeeper accidentally undercharged me for the groceries."
a competitor thought to have little chance of winning; a weaker party in a contest
"The underdog team surprised everyone by winning the championship."
insufficiently exposed to light (in photography) or not given enough attention
"The photo was underexposed and looked too dark."
a piece of clothing worn under outer clothes, usually next to the skin
"He bought new undergarments for the wedding."
done secretly and dishonestly; deceitful
"The politician was accused of using underhand tactics to win the election."
acting or done in a dishonest or secret way
"They exposed the company's underhanded dealings with its suppliers."
to be the hidden cause or basis of something
"Strong cultural traditions underlie the community's practices."
Groups of people who lack basic necessities or advantages that are available to other members of society.
"Underprivileged groups benefit from social initiatives."
to fail to recognize the full value or importance of something or someone
"Many people underrate the benefits of regular exercise."
Smaller than the usual or expected size.
"The undersized puppy struggled to keep up with its siblings."
To describe something as being less important or serious than it really is.
"He tends to understate his achievements."
Presented in a subtle and restrained way.
"She wore an elegant but understated dress."
An actor who learns another's role to act as a replacement if needed.
"The understudy performed when the lead actor fell ill."
A person whose job is to prepare the dead for burial and arrange funerals.
"The undertaker prepared the body for the funeral service."
To assign too low a value or importance to something or someone.
"She felt that her boss consistently undervalued her contributions."
The criminal world of organized crime or the mythical world of the dead.
"The detective spent years studying the secrets of the underworld."
More than is reasonable, excessive, or inappropriate.
"He placed undue pressure on his employees to meet the deadline."
To dig up from the ground or to discover something hidden.
"Archaeologists unearthed ancient artifacts at the site."
Strange or unnatural in a way that seems not of this world
"The forest was filled with an unearthly glow."
