Adjective Flashcards
Cynical
cynical
adjective disapproving
UK /ˈsɪn.ɪ.kəl/ US /ˈsɪn.ɪ.kəl/
C2
believing that people are only interested in themselves and are not sincere:
She has a pretty cynical view of men.
I’ve always been deeply cynical about politicians.
used to say that someone’s feelings or emotions are used to your own advantage:
She works in that most cynical of industries - advertising.
He praises my cooking but it’s just a cynical ploy to get me to make him dinner.
Extraordinary
extraordinary
adjective
UK /ɪkˈstrɔː.dɪn.ər.i/ US /ɪkˈstrɔːr.dən.er.i/
B1
very unusual, special, unexpected, or strange:
He told the extraordinary story of his escape.
Her voice had an extraordinary hypnotic quality.
an extraordinary coincidence
Is he lame?
lame adjective (NOT SATISFACTORY)
(especially of an excuse or argument) weak and unsatisfactory:
a lame excuse
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Not good enough
Eloquent
eloquent
adjective
UK /ˈel.ə.kwənt/ US /ˈel.ə.kwənt/
giving a clear, strong message:
She made an eloquent appeal for action.
The pictures were an eloquent reminder of the power of the volcano.
I think it is a very difficult balance between a story and a narrative that is moving and profound
profound adjective (EXTREME)
C2
felt or experienced very strongly or in an extreme way:
His mother’s death when he was aged six had a very profound effect on him.
The invention of the contraceptive pill brought about profound changes in the lives of women.
Those two lines of poetry express perfectly the profound sadness of loss.
My grandfather has a profound mistrust of anything new or foreign.
There was a note of profound irritation in his voice.
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
felt or experienced with a lot of force
strongI felt a strong urge to hug him.
powerfulAnger is one of the most powerful human emotions.
intenseShe learned that even intense emotional pain passes.
fierceThe people have a fierce pride in their country.
deepHe suffered from a deep feeling of inadequacy.
deep-seatedHe has a deep-seated loathing of snobbery.
Obscure
obscure
adjective
UK /əbˈskjʊər/ US /əbˈskjʊr/
obscure adjective (NOT KNOWN)
not known to many people: an obscure island in the Pacific an obscure 12th-century mystic SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Unknown and unfamiliar
Tricky
tricky
adjective
UK /ˈtrɪk.i/ US /ˈtrɪk.i/
tricky adjective (DIFFICULT)
B2
If a piece of work or problem is tricky, it is difficult to deal with and needs careful attention or skill:
It’s tricky to learn to ride a skateboard, but you never forget how.
I’m in a tricky situation - whatever I do I’ll offend someone.
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
not easy to deal with or understands
tricky adjective (DECEIVING)
likely to deceive people:
He’s a tricky fellow – you can’t always trust him.
It was really remarkable watching it
remarkable
adjective
UK /rɪˈmɑː.kə.bəl/ US /rɪˈmɑːr.kə.bəl/
B2
unusual or special and therefore surprising and worth mentioning:
Nelson Mandela was a truly remarkable man.
Meeting you here in Rome is a remarkable coincidence.
The 20th century was remarkable for its inventions.
Explicit
explicit
adjective
UK /ɪkˈsplɪs.ɪt/ US /ɪkˈsplɪs.ɪt/
C2
clear and exact:
I gave her very explicit directions how to get here.
She was very explicit about (= said very clearly and exactly) what she thought was wrong with the plans.
I wasn’t aware that I would be paying - you certainly didn’t make it explicit (= state it clearly).
Compare
implicit
C2
showing or talking about sex or violence in a very detailed way:
a sexually explicit movie
Gritty singing
gritty adjective (UNPLEASANT)
showing or having a lot of unpleasant details or features:
a gritty portrayal of urban poverty
a gritty documentary
a gritty London suburb
strong and determined in dealing with an unpleasant situation:
a gritty, no-nonsense approach
gritty adjective (BRAVE)
brave and determined:
He showed the gritty determination that we’ve come to expect from him.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Awful moment
awful
adjective
UK /ˈɔː.fəl/ US /ˈɑː.fəl/
awful adjective (BAD)
A2 extremely bad or unpleasant: He suffered awful injuries in the crash. We had awful weather. She has an awful boss. What an awful thing to say! Would life be so awful without a car? The food was awful. She'd been ill and she looked awful.
Hideous moment
hideous
adjective
UK /ˈhɪd.i.əs/ US /ˈhɪd.i.əs/
extremely ugly or bad:
They’ve just built some hideous new apartment blocks on the seafront.
She wears the most hideous colour combinations you could ever imagine.
hideous
adjective
US /ˈhɪd·i·əs/
offensive, extremely ugly, or shocking:
The bathroom was pink and green and silver – it was absolutely hideous.
All these political campaign seems so slick
slick
adjective
UK /slɪk/ US /slɪk/
operating or performing skilfully and effectively, without problems and without seeming to need effort:
Manilow gave the slick, polished performance that we’ve come to expect.
A slick pass from Eaves to Brinkworth set up the goal.
disapproving
skilful and effective but not sincere or honest:
It’s that sort of slick sales talk that I mistrust.
Voracious
There is a voracious appetite of news
voracious
adjective
UK /vəˈreɪ.ʃəs/ US /vəˈreɪ.ʃəs/
very eager for something, especially a lot of food:
He has a voracious appetite (= he eats a lot).
He’s a voracious reader of historical novels (= he reads a lot of them eagerly and quickly).
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Hungry & thirsty
This campaign is about the future, not rumours, not sleaze and I care about the sanctity of this process
sleaze
noun
UK /sliːz/ US /sliːz/
[ U ]
activities, especially business or political, of a low moral standard:
The sleaze factor was the major reason for his electoral defeat.
Graciously
graciously 優雅地
adverb
UK /ˈɡreɪ.ʃəs.li/ US /ˈɡreɪ.ʃəs.li/
politely and pleasantly:
She graciously accepted the flowers that were presented to her.
He graciously invited me to photograph him in his home studio.
See
gracious
He was very complimentary to me
complimentary
adjective
UK /ˌkɒm.plɪˈmen.tər.i/ US /ˌkɑːm.pləˈmen.t̬ɚ.i/
complimentary adjective (PRAISING)
praising or expressing admiration for someone:
The reviews of his latest film have been highly complimentary.
She wasn’t very complimentary about your performance, was she?
Our guests said some very complimentary things about the meal I’d cooked.
Opposite
uncomplimentary
Appalling
appalling
adjective
UK /əˈpɔː.lɪŋ/ US /əˈpɑː.lɪŋ/
C1
very bad:
appalling weather
The drive home was appalling.
C2
shocking and very bad:
appalling injuries
Prisoners were kept in the most appalling conditions. witnessed some appalling acts of barbarism during the war.
Conditions in the prison are said to be appalling.
Your table manners are appalling - don’t you know how to use a knife and fork?
After her appalling behaviour, we had no option but to dismiss her.
The standard of cleanliness in some of these restaurants is frankly appalling.
Charismatic
Because he is so charismatic and so charming, you can’t bear to let him down
charismatic
adjective
UK /ˌkær.ɪzˈmæt.ɪk/ US /ˌker.ɪzˈmæt̬.ɪk/
charismatic adjective (CHARACTER)
Charisma 感召力
C2
used to describe a person who has charisma:
Few were able to resist this charismatic and persuasive leader.
a special power that some people have naturally that makes them able to influence other people and attract their attention and admiration:
On screen Garbo had this great charisma so that you couldn’t take your eyes off her.
How did a man of so little personal charisma get to be prime minister?
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Attracting and tempting
Unnerving
unnerving
adjective
UK /ʌnˈnɜː.vɪŋ/ US /ʌnˈnɝː.vɪŋ/
making someone feel less confident and slightly frightened:
Meeting a twin brother I didn’t know I had was an unnerving experience.
He has an unnerving habit of repeatedly glancing over my shoulder and out of the window.
See
unnerve
Soprano voice
soprano 高音
adjective MUSIC specialized
UK /səˈprɑː.nəʊ/ US /səˈpræn.oʊ/
having a voice that uses the highest notes:
She sang regularly as a soprano soloist in many choral works.
The soprano voice of a 13-year-old boy singing rang through the building.
Tedious
tedious
adjective
US /ˈtid·i·əs/
boring and tiring, esp. because long or often repeated:
tedious work/tasks
Sumptuous
sumptuous
adjective
UK /ˈsʌmp.tʃu.əs/ US /ˈsʌmp.tʃu.əs/
impressive in a way that seems expensive:
The celebrity guests turned up dressed in sumptuous evening gowns.
Synonyms
deluxegrand luxuriousopulent
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Expensive & luxurious
Horrendous
horrendous
adjective
UK /həˈren.dəs/ US /həˈren.dəs/
extremely unpleasant or bad:
a horrendous accident/tragedy/crime
horrendous suffering/damage
Conditions in the refugee camps were horrendous.
The firm made horrendous (= very big) losses last year.
Synonyms
abominableabysmal (BAD)atrocious (VERY BAD)awful (BAD)diredire mainly UK informaldreadful (FRIGHTENING)dreadful (LOW QUALITY) mainly UKfrightful old-fashioned informalghastlygrim (WITHOUT HOPE)horriblehorrid old-fashioned informalhorrificterrible (UNPLEASANT)
Escalating
escalating
adjective [ not gradable ] US /ˈes·kəˌleɪ·t̬ɪŋ/
escalating tensions/prices
Ton become one of the most divisive figures of our modern age
divisive 分化
adjective
UK /dɪˈvaɪ.sɪv/ US /dɪˈvaɪ.sɪv/
used to describe something that causes great and sometimes unfriendly disagreement within a group of people:
The Vietnam war was an extremely divisive issue in the US
Light, bantering conversation
bantering. 善意的與人開玩笑
adjective
UK /ˈbæn.tə.rɪŋ/ US /ˈbæn.t̬ɚ.ɪŋ/
involving conversation that is funny and not serious:
I grew weary of his bantering style of conversation.
She adopted a bantering tone as they spoke.
See
banter
Margaret Thatcher was ferociously conscientious. She dispatched work very quickly
conscientious
adjective
UK /ˌkɒnʃiˈenʃəs/ US
serious about your work and putting a lot of effort into doing it in a careful way:
Greg Smith is a conscientious and dedicated worker who will be an asset to your company.
ferociously
adverb
UK /fəˈrəʊ.ʃəs.li/ US /fəˈroʊ.ʃəs.li/
in a frightening and violent way:
A lioness defends her young ferociously.
He was ferociously attacked.
in a strong, powerful, or very determined way:
The group ferociously denounced the ban.
See
ferocious
Margaret Thatcher is a Formidable player
formidable 另人敬畏的
adjective
UK /fɔːˈmɪd.ə.bəl/ US /fɔːrˈmɪd.ə.bəl/
C2 causing you to have fear or respect for something or someone because that thing or person is large, powerful, or difficult: a formidable obstacle/task a formidable adversary/enemy/opponent a formidable intellect
She was once a political nonentity, but has since won a formidable reputation as a determined campaigner.
She is a formidable figure who commands a great deal of respect .
My tennis is really improving - I’ve got a formidable two-handed backhand.
My father, he was a college or university materials but couldn’t go. Therefore, he was desperately anxious to give me every chance that he hadn’t had. And I owe everything this this
anxious adjective (EAGER)
B2
eager to do something:
[ + to infinitive ] I’m anxious to get home to open my presents.
[ + that ] I’m anxious that we get there on time because I don’t think there’ll be many seats left.
B1
worried and nervous:
My mother always gets a bit anxious if we don’t arrive when we say we will.
I saw my sister’s anxious face at the window.
The drought has made farmers anxious about the harvest.
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
worried
