C2 words for IELTS – Group 2
- Conundrum – a confusing and difficult problem or question
Examples:- Solving this math problem was a conundrum that took me hours to figure out.
- The mystery of the missing keys was a conundrum that baffled the detectives.
- The ethical conundrum of cloning is still being debated by scientists and lawmakers.
- Ephemeral – lasting for a very short time
Examples:- The beauty of cherry blossoms is ephemeral and only lasts for a few days.
- The success of the internet startup was ephemeral and it quickly went bankrupt.
- The popularity of the latest fashion trend is ephemeral and it will soon be replaced by something else.
- Inscrutable – difficult to understand or interpret
Examples:- The politician’s motives were inscrutable and no one knew what he was really after.
- The ancient text was inscrutable to the modern scholar without translation.
- The expression on his face was inscrutable, making it hard to tell if he was happy or sad.
- Myriad – a very large number or variety
Examples:- The city had a myriad of restaurants to choose from.
- The book contained a myriad of facts and figures about the history of the region.
- The artist used a myriad of colors to create a vibrant and complex painting.
- Nefarious – wicked or criminal
Examples:- The nefarious plot of the villains was to take over the world.
- The nefarious actions of the dictator were condemned by the international community.
- The thieves had a nefarious plan to rob the bank and get away with the money.
- Querulous – complaining or whining in a petulant manner
Examples:- The querulous customer complained about the service even though nothing was wrong.
- The querulous child whined about not getting the toy he wanted.
- The querulous tone of her voice annoyed her coworkers.
- Salient – most noticeable or important
Examples:- The salient point of the argument was that the proposal was too expensive.
- The salient feature of the new car was its fuel efficiency.
- The salient fact in the case was that the defendant had an alibi for the time of the crime.
- Ubiquitous – present, appearing, or found everywhere
Examples:- Smartphones are ubiquitous in modern society.
- Fast food chains are ubiquitous in the United States.
- The internet is ubiquitous and connects people all over the world.
- Vexatious – causing annoyance, frustration, or worry
Examples:- The vexatious delay in the flight schedule caused many passengers to miss their connecting flights.
- The vexatious noise of the construction site next door kept the neighbors up all night.
- The vexatious behavior of the students disrupted the class and made it difficult to teach.
- Zealous – having great enthusiasm or passion for something
Examples:- The zealous soccer fans cheered loudly for their team.
- The zealous entrepreneur worked tirelessly to build her company from the ground up.
- The zealous artist poured his heart and soul into his paintings.
- Aberration – a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected
Examples:- The sudden rain in the middle of summer was an aberration from the usual weather pattern.
- The politician’s stance on the issue was an aberration from his party’s platform.
- The athlete’s poor performance in the competition was an aberration from his usual record.
- Bombastic – high-sounding but with little meaning, inflated
Examples:- The politician’s speech was filled with bombastic rhetoric that didn’t address any real issues.
- The artist’s abstract paintings were often criticized for their bombastic use of color and form.
- The CEO’s email to employees was filled with bombastic language about the company’s success.
- Cacophony – a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds Examples:
- The construction site next door was a cacophony of drilling, hammering, and shouting.
- The city traffic during rush hour was a cacophony of honking, screeching, and revving engines.
- The band’s performance was marred by a cacophony of out-of-tune instruments and off-beat rhythms.
- Disparage – regard or represent as being of little worth, belittle Examples:
- The critic’s review disparaged the movie as being cliché and unoriginal.
- The boss’s constant criticism and disparagement of his employees demotivated the team.
- The politician’s opponent disparaged his record as a failed leader.
- Enigma – a person, thing, or situation that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand Examples:
- The disappearance of the plane remains an enigma to investigators.
- The artist’s abstract painting was an enigma to many viewers who couldn’t decipher its meaning.
- The sudden change in the CEO’s behavior was an enigma to his employees.
- Furtive – attempting to avoid notice or attention, secretive Examples:
- The spy’s furtive movements were captured on video by a surveillance camera.
- The teenager’s furtive attempts to sneak out of the house at night were thwarted by her parents.
- The employee’s furtive glance at her phone during the meeting was noticed by her boss.
- Gregarious – fond of company, sociable Examples:
- The gregarious host of the party made everyone feel welcome and included.
- The dog was so gregarious that it greeted every visitor to the house with wagging tail.
- The politician’s gregarious personality made him popular among his constituents.
- Harbinger – a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another Examples:
- The first snowfall of the year is often seen as a harbinger of winter.
- The economic downturn was a harbinger of the recession that was to come.
- The sudden drop in the stock market was a harbinger of the financial crisis.
- Axiomatic – self-evident, unquestionable
- It’s axiomatic that all living things need water to survive.
- The idea that people have the right to free speech is axiomatic in democratic societies.
- It’s axiomatic that two parallel lines will never intersect.
- Equanimity – calmness, composure, evenness of temper
- The surgeon maintained her equanimity throughout the lengthy and complex operation.
- He faced the criticism with equanimity and did not let it bother him.
- Even when the situation got heated, she remained a model of equanimity.
- Genuflect – to kneel, bow or bend in reverence or worship
- When entering the church, many people will genuflect and cross themselves.
- The athlete genuflected before the game as a sign of respect for his opponents.
- As a gesture of gratitude, she genuflected before her mentor and thanked him.
- Intransigent – stubborn, unwilling to compromise
- The union leaders were intransigent in their demands for higher wages.
- Despite the overwhelming evidence, he remained intransigent in his belief that the Earth was flat.
- She found it difficult to work with intransigent colleagues who refused to consider other viewpoints.
- Juxtapose – to place side by side for comparison or contrast
- The exhibit juxtaposed contemporary art with classic paintings from the Renaissance.
- The author juxtaposed the protagonist’s inner thoughts with her outward actions.
- The contrast between the modern skyscrapers and the historic buildings is striking when they are juxtaposed.
- Limpid – clear, transparent, easy to understand
- Her voice was as limpid and pure as a mountain stream.
- The explanation was so limpid that even a child could understand it.
- The writer’s style is limpid, making his ideas accessible to readers.
- Metamorphosis – a profound change in form or nature
- The butterfly undergoes a metamorphosis from a caterpillar to a winged insect.
- The town underwent a metamorphosis from a sleepy village to a bustling metropolis.
- Her experiences during the war caused a metamorphosis in her beliefs and attitudes.
- Perspicacious – having keen insight, mentally sharp
- The perspicacious detective quickly solved the crime.
- The student’s perspicacious analysis of the poem impressed her teacher.
- She is known for her perspicacious observations and insightful comments.
- Querulous – complaining, whining, fretful
- The querulous child constantly asked “Are we there yet?” during the long car ride.
- The patient was querulous and demanded constant attention from the nurses.
- Her querulous tone of voice made it difficult for others to take her seriously.
- Vituperate – to criticize or berate harshly, to use abusive language towards
- The politician vituperated his opponent during the debate, using personal attacks instead of addressing the issues.
- He vituperated his boss in a scathing email that he later regretted sending.
- Her mother-in-law would often vituperate her cooking, making her feel unwelcome in her own home.
- Nonplussed – bewildered, confused, unsure how to react
- He was nonplussed by her unexpected confession of love.
- The teacher was nonplussed when the student asked a question that she couldn’t answer.
- She was left feeling nonplussed by the strange turn of events.
- Obdurate – stubborn, unyielding, resistant to persuasion
- The obdurate child refused to eat her vegetables, no matter how much her parents pleaded.
- The obdurate boss would not listen to any suggestions from her employees.
- Despite the overwhelming evidence, the obdurate defendant maintained his innocence.