19/07/20(RC: 38-53;5lb) Flashcards
cynical
- ADJECTIVE
If you describe someone as cynical, you mean they believe that people always act selfishly.
…his cynical view of the world.
Synonyms: sceptical, mocking, ironic, sneering
conviction
- COUNTABLE NOUN [usu N that]
A conviction is a strong belief or opinion.
It is our firm conviction that a step forward has been taken.
Their religious convictions prevented them from taking up arms.
Synonyms: belief, view, opinion, principle
injudicious
ADJECTIVE
If you describe a person or something that they have done as injudicious, you are critical of them because they have shown very poor judgment.
[formal, disapproval]
He blamed injudicious comments by bankers for last week’s devaluation.
Synonyms: unwise, foolish, rash, hasty
retrospective
- COUNTABLE NOUN
A retrospective is an exhibition or showing of work done by an artist over many years, rather than his or her most recent work.
The actress will preside over a retrospective of her films.
They honoured him with a retrospective exhibition in 1987.
Synonyms: review, revision, another look, reassessment - ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Retrospective feelings or opinions concern things that happened in the past.
Afterwards, retrospective fear of the responsibility would make her feel almost faint.
retrospectively ADVERB [ADVERB with verb]
Retrospectively, it seems as if they probably were negligent.
To ascribe opinions retrospectively is of course very dangerous. - ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Retrospective laws or legal actions take effect from a date before the date when they are officially approved.
Bankers are quick to condemn retrospective tax legislation.
shore up
PHRASAL VERB
If you shore up something that is weak or about to fail, you do something in order to strengthen it or support it.
The democracies of the West may find it hard to shore up their defences.
electorate
COUNTABLE NOUN [with singular or plural verb]
The electorate of a country or area is all the people in it who have the right to vote in an election.
He has the backing of almost a quarter of the electorate.
…the Maltese electorate.
aloof
- ADJECTIVE [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
Someone who is aloof is not very friendly and does not like to spend time with other people.
[disapproval]
He seemed aloof and detached.
Synonyms: distant, cold, reserved, cool
skittish
squeamish
- ADJECTIVE
If you describe a person or animal as skittish, you mean they are easily made frightened or excited.
The declining dollar gave heart to skittish investors.
Synonyms: nervous, lively, excitable, jumpy
ADJECTIVE [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you are squeamish, you are easily upset by unpleasant sights or situations.
I’m terribly squeamish. I can’t bear gory films.
I am not squeamish about blood.
exuberant
- ADJECTIVE
If you are exuberant, you are full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness.
…an exuberant young girl who decided to become a screen actress.
undue
ADJECTIVE [ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe something bad as undue, you mean that it is greater or more extreme than you think is reasonable or appropriate.
This would help the families to survive the drought without undue suffering.
It might give the Commission undue influence over the coming negotiations.
It is unrealistic to put undue pressure on ourselves by saying we are the best.
Synonyms: excessive, too much, inappropriate, extreme
naysayer
NOUN
someone who opposes something or says no to it
He ignored naysayers in his party and decided to run for election.
insurmountable
ADJECTIVE
A problem that is insurmountable is so great that it cannot be dealt with successfully.
The crisis doesn’t seem like an insurmountable problem.
Synonyms: insuperable, impossible, overwhelming, hopeless
exposure
- UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
Exposure to something dangerous means being in a situation where it might affect you.
Exposure to lead is known to damage the brains of young children. [+ to]
…the potential exposure of people to nuclear waste.
Synonyms: vulnerability, subjection, susceptibility, laying open - UNCOUNTABLE NOUN [usually with poss]
The exposure of a well-known person is the revealing of the fact that they are bad or immoral in some way.
…the exposure of stars in so-called morally compromising situations. [+ of]
Their sporting reputation has suffered enormously from Johnson’s exposure. - VARIABLE NOUN
In photography, the exposure is the amount of light that is allowed to enter a camera when taking a photograph.
[technical]
A tripod also lets you shoot long exposures at night.
…an exposure of 1/18sec at f/11.
Against a deep blue sky or dark storm-clouds, you may need to reduce the exposure.
assemblage
COUNTABLE NOUN
An assemblage of people or things is a collection of them.
[formal]
He had an assemblage of old junk cars filling the backyard. [+ of]
Synonyms: group, company, meeting, body
bizarre
ADJECTIVE
Something that is bizarre is very odd and strange.
The game was also notable for the bizarre behaviour of the team’s manager.
You know, that book you lent me is really bizarre.
Synonyms: strange, odd, unusual, out there [slang]
unapproachable
ADJECTIVE
If you describe someone as unapproachable, you mean that they seem to be difficult to talk to and not very friendly.
She was somewhat unapproachable but I’m sure she wanted to be friendly.
impersonal
- ADJECTIVE
If you describe a place, organization, or activity as impersonal, you mean that it is not very friendly and makes you feel unimportant because it involves or is used by a large number of people.
[disapproval]
Before then many children were cared for in large impersonal orphanages.
The health service has been criticized for being too impersonal.
notion
- COUNTABLE NOUN [NOUN that]
A notion is an idea or belief about something.
We each have a notion of just what kind of person we’d like to be. [+ of]
I reject absolutely the notion that privatisation of our industry is now inevitable. [+ that]
I’d had a few notions about being a journalist.
Synonyms: idea, view, opinion, belief
intrude
- VERB
If you say that someone is intruding into a particular place or situation, you mean that they are not wanted or welcome there.
The press has been blamed for intruding into people’s personal lives in an unacceptable way. [V + into/on/upon]
I don’t want to intrude on your meeting. [Vinto/on/upon n]
I hope I’m not intruding. [VERB]
contemplate
- VERB
If you contemplate an action, you think about whether to do it or not.
For a time he contemplated a career as an army medical doctor. [VERB noun]
She contemplates leaving for the sake of the kids. [VERB verb-ing]
Synonyms: consider, plan, think of, propose
exude
- VERB
If someone exudes a quality or feeling, or if it exudes, they show that they have it to a great extent.
[formal]
The guerrillas exude confidence. Every town, they say, is under their control. [VERB noun]
She exudes an air of relaxed calm. [VERB noun]
A dogged air of confidence exuded. [VERB]
Synonyms: radiate, show, display, exhibit
resonate
- VERB
If something resonates, it vibrates and produces a deep, strong sound.
The bass guitar began to thump so loudly that it resonated in my head. [VERB]
Synonyms: reverberate, echo, resound, vibrate
assent
- UNCOUNTABLE NOUN [oft with poss]
If someone gives their assent to something that has been suggested, they formally agree to it.
He gave his assent to the proposed legislation. [+ to/for]
Without their assent a political settlement cannot be reached.
Synonyms: agreement, accord, sanction, approval
rhetoric
- UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
If you refer to speech or writing as rhetoric, you disapprove of it because it is intended to convince and impress people but may not be sincere or honest.
[disapproval]
What is required is immediate action, not rhetoric.
The harsh rhetoric had so soured officials that the two sides were barely speaking.
perpetrate
VERB
If someone perpetrates a crime or any other immoral or harmful act, they do it.
[formal]
A high proportion of crime in any country is perpetrated by young males. [VERB noun]
Tremendous wrongs were being perpetrated on the poorest and least privileged human beings. [beV-ed on/against n]
You begin to ask yourself what kind of person perpetrated this crime. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: commit, do, perform, carry out
subsistence
- UNCOUNTABLE NOUN [oft NOUN noun]
Subsistence is the condition of just having enough food or money to stay alive.
…below the subsistence level.
The standard of living today is on the edge of subsistence.
hoard
- VERB
If you hoard things such as food or money, you save or store them, often in secret, because they are valuable or important to you.
They’ve begun to hoard food and gasoline and save their money. [VERB noun]
Consumers did not spend and create jobs; they hoarded. [VERB]
The tea was sweetened with a hoarded tin of condensed milk. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: save, store, collect, gather
enshrine
VERB
If something such as an idea or a right is enshrined in something such as a constitution or law, it is protected by it.
The essentials of the deal will be enshrined in a document. [be VERB-ed + in]
The apartheid system which enshrined racism in law still existed. [VERB noun preposition]
Synonyms: preserve, protect, treasure, cherish
dismantle
- VERB
If you dismantle a machine or structure, you carefully separate it into its different parts.
He asked for immediate help from the United States to dismantle the warheads. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: take apart, strip, demolish, raze
sanctity
UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
If you talk about the sanctity of something, you mean that it is very important and must be treated with respect.
…the sanctity of human life. [+ of]
Synonyms: sacredness, inviolability, inalienability, hallowedness
conscience
the part of you that judges how moral your own actions are and makes you feel guilty about bad things that you have done or things you feel responsible for:
a guilty conscience
a question/matter of conscience
You didn’t do anything wrong - you should have a clear conscience (= not feel guilty).
My conscience would really bother me if I wore a fur coat.
UK He’s got no conscience at all (= does not feel guilty) about leaving me to do the housework.
More examples
A sense of guilt was deeply embedded in my conscience.
Let your conscience be your guide.
The charity used photos of starving children in an attempt to jolt the public conscience .
Dan’s mentioning Julia pricked my conscience and I gave her a call.
He salves his conscience by giving money to charity.
- UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
Conscience is doing what you believe is right even though it might be unpopular, difficult, or dangerous.
He refused for reasons of conscience to sign a new law legalising abortion.
…the law on freedom of conscience and religious organizations.
precarious
- ADJECTIVE
If your situation is precarious, you are not in complete control of events and might fail in what you are doing at any moment.
Our financial situation had become precarious.
…the Government’s precarious position.
Synonyms: insecure, dangerous, uncertain, tricky More Synonyms of precarious
precariously ADVERB [ADVERB with verb, ADVERB adjective/adverb]
The hunter-gatherer lifestyle today survives precariously in remote regions.
precariousness UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
Wells was well aware of the precariousness of human life. [+ of] - ADJECTIVE
Something that is precarious is not securely held in place and seems likely to fall or collapse at any moment.
They looked rather comical as they crawled up precarious ladders.
precariously ADVERB [ADVERB with verb, ADVERB adjective/adverb]
One of my grocery bags was still precariously perched on the car bumper.
