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
Sensational
sensational
adjective
US /senˈseɪ·ʃən·nəl/
very exciting, or extremely good:
She was absolutely sensational in that movie.
disapproving Something or someone sensational purposely shocks people and attracts their interest:
Readers love sensational crime stories.
sensational
adjective
UK /senˈseɪ.ʃən.əl/ US /senˈseɪ.ʃən.əl/
C2 approving
very good, exciting, or unusual:
a sensational sports car/dress
She looks sensational (= extremely attractive) in her new dress.
Exhilarating
exhilarating 令人興奮的
adjective
UK /ɪɡˈzɪl.ə.reɪ.tɪŋ/ US /ɪɡˈzɪl.ə.reɪ.t̬ɪŋ/
making you feel very excited and happy:
an exhilarating walk in the mountains
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
causing feelings of happiness or enthusiasm
excitingRiding roller coasters is so exciting!
grippingThe book was gripping - I couldn’t put it down.
rivetingI found the movie absolutely riveting.
thrillingIt was a thrilling game in which both teams played well.
exhilaratingI find skiing absolutely exhilarating.
action-packedWe had an action-packed holiday.
electrifying
electrifying
adjective
UK /iˈlek.trɪ.faɪ.ɪŋ/ US /iˈlek.trə.faɪ.ɪŋ/
very exciting:
an electrifying performance
Synonyms
dramatic (EXCITING)excitingexhilaratinggrippingthrilling
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Exciting and interesting
Pulsating
pulsating
adjective
UK /pʌlˈseɪ.tɪŋ/ US /ˈpʌl.seɪ.t̬ɪŋ/
very interesting and exciting:
Rue St. Denis is the pulsating heart of French street life in Montreal.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Exciting and interesting
Thrilling
thrilling
adjective
UK /ˈθrɪl.ɪŋ/ US /ˈθrɪl.ɪŋ/
B2
extremely exciting:
The book is a thrilling adventure story.
thrillingIt was a thrilling game in which both teams played well.
Grisly
grisly 驚栗
adjective
UK /ˈɡrɪz.li/ US /ˈɡrɪz.li/
extremely unpleasant, especially because death or blood is involved:
The 55-year-old Canadian had suffered a grisly death.
a grisly murder
Synonyms
gruesomemacabre
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Serious and unpleasant
Gruesome
gruesome 可怕的
adjective
UK /ˈɡruː.səm/ US /ˈɡruː.səm/
extremely unpleasant and shocking, and usually dealing with death or injury:
The newspaper article included a gruesome description of the murder.
Synonyms
ghastlygrimgrislymacabre
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Serious and unpleasant
All three guitarists are accomplished players and their enthusiasm was a breath of fresh air
accomplished
adjective
UK /əˈkʌm.plɪʃt/ US /əˈkɑːm.plɪʃt/
skilled:
She’s a very accomplished pianist/painter/horsewoman.
He was accomplished in all the arts.
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
good at doing something because of practice
skilfulShe’s a skilful driver.
skilledHe’s a skilled mechanic.
Written in a good Colloquial and spoken way
colloquial
adjective
UK /kəˈləʊ.kwi.əl/ US /kəˈloʊ.kwi.əl/
(of words and expressions) informal and more suitable for use in speech than in writing:
colloquial speech
Synonym
conversational
Multidisciplinary
multidisciplinary
adjective (also multi-disciplinary)
UK /ˌmʌltiˌdɪsəˈplɪnəri/ US /ˌmʌltiˈdɪsəplɪneri/
relating to or involving people from different types of work or who have different types of knowledge:
Multidisciplinary teams of scientists are working to develop nonpolluting technologies.
a multidisciplinary activity/approach
a multidisciplinary consultancy/partnership/program
Debilitating effect of the virus
debilitating
adjective
UK /dɪˈbɪl.ɪ.teɪ.tɪŋ/ US /dɪˈbɪl.ə.teɪ.t̬ɪŋ/
making someone or something physically weak:
a debilitating condition/disease
Diabetes can be severely debilitating or even life-threatening if not treated regularly.
See
debilitate
More examples
When oil prices rise it has a debilitating effect on the economy.
These conditions cause speech and memory loss and other debilitating symptoms.
Some people wait until their illness becomes debilitating before seeking help.
Arduous conditions
arduous
adjective
UK /ˈɑː.dʒu.əs/ US /ˈɑːr.dʒu.əs/
difficult, needing a lot of effort and energy:
an arduous climb/task/journey
Synonyms
backbreakinggruelling mainly UKlaborious
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Complicated and difficult to do
Seared scallops served with garlic, red onion and red pepper finished with our legendary dressing
legendary
adjective
UK /ˈledʒ.ən.dri/ US /ˈledʒ.der.i/
legendary adjective (FAMOUS)
C1
very famous and admired or spoken about:
He became editor of the legendary Irish journal “The Bell”.
The English are legendary (= well known) for their incompetence with languages.
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
known and recognized by many people
famousShe went from poor and anonymous to rich and famous.
well knownShe’s a well-known artist.
renownedThe area is renowned for its beauty.
world-famousThey stayed in a world-famous hotel.
celebratedHe’s a celebrated writer of children’s stories.
legendaryHe once met the legendary singer, Eartha Kitt.
legendary adjective (FROM A STORY)
C1
from a legend:
a legendary Greek hero
Was King Arthur a real or a legendary character?
Zingy pineapple
zingy
adjective informal
UK /ˈzɪŋ.i/ US /ˈzɪŋ.i/
interesting and exciting
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Exciting and interesting
Rustic bread
rustic
adjective
UK /ˈrʌs.tɪk/ US /ˈrʌs.tɪk/
simple and often rough in appearance; typical of the countryside: a rustic bench/cabin The property has a certain rustic charm. Synonym countrified Compare rural
The weather conditions that are conducive to that fire spreading
conducive 導致
adjective
UK /kənˈdʒuː.sɪv/ US /kənˈduː.sɪv/
providing the right conditions for something good to happen or exist:
Such a noisy environment was not conducive to a good night’s sleep.
A quiet room is a more conducive atmosphere for studying.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Useful or advantageous
A deluge of rain
deluge
noun [ C ]
UK /ˈdel.juːdʒ/ US /ˈdel.juːdʒ/
a very large amount of rain or water:
This little stream can become a deluge when it rains heavily.
a deluge of sth
a lot of something:
The newspaper received a deluge of complaints/letters/phone calls about the article.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Precipitation: rain
Idyllic
idyllic
adjective
UK /ɪˈdɪl.ɪk/ US /aɪˈdɪl.ɪk/
An idyllic place or experience is extremely pleasant, beautiful, or peaceful:
an idyllic childhood/summer
an idyllic village in the Yorkshire Dales
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Perfect and faultless
Equivocal
“Check more meaning on dictionary”
equivocal 模梭兩可的
adjective formal
UK /ɪˈkwɪv.ə.kəl/ US /ɪˈkwɪv.ə.kəl/
not clear and seeming to have two opposing meanings, or confusing and able to be understood in two different ways:
His words to the press were deliberately equivocal - he didn’t deny the reports but neither did he confirm them.
Synonyms
ambiguousambivalent
Opposite
unequivocal
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Difficult to understand
abstruse ambiguity ambiguous ambiguously antinomy fathomless
Rowdy and combative
rowdy
adjective disapproving
UK /ˈraʊ.di/ US /ˈraʊ.di/
noisy and possibly violent: a rowdy party rowdy behaviour Synonyms raucousunruly SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Noise & noisy blast
combative
adjective formal
UK /ˈkɒm.bə.tɪv/ US /ˈkɑːm.bə.t̬ɪv/
eager to fight or argue:
The prime minister was in a combative mood, twice accusing the opposition of gross incompetence.
Synonym
bellicose formal
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Violent or aggressive
aggression
It is a speculative story about an imagined version of the world
speculative
adjective
UK /ˈspek.jə.lə.tɪv/ US /ˈspek.jə.lə.t̬ɪv/
speculative adjective (GUESS)
based on a guess and not on information:
The article was dismissed as highly speculative.
bizarre and speculative theories
Insatiable hunger
insatiable 貪得無厭的
adjective
UK /ɪnˈseɪ.ʃə.bəl/ US /ɪnˈseɪ.ʃə.bəl/
(especially of a desire or need) too great to be satisfied:
Like so many politicians, he had an insatiable appetite/desire/hunger for power.
Nothing, it seemed, would satisfy his insatiable curiosity.
Dystopian
dystopian
adjective
UK /dɪsˈtəʊ.pi.ən/ US /dɪsˈtoʊ.pi.ən/
relating to a very bad or unfair society in which there is a lot of suffering, especially an imaginary society in the future, or to the description of such a society:
She mentioned Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel “The Handmaid’s Tale,” in which fertile young women are enslaved as reproductive servants.
dystopian movies
See
dystopia
Compare
utopian
Inanimate object
inanimate
adjective
UK /ɪˈnæn.ɪ.mət/ US /ɪˈnæn.ə.mət/
having none of the characteristics of life that an animal or plant has:
He looks at me as if I’m an inanimate object.
He fell into bliss as the stars kissed his skin
bliss
noun [ U ]
UK /blɪs/ US /blɪs/
perfect happiness:
Lying on a sunny beach is my idea of sheer bliss.
For joy giving them a voice, for treating them abominably
abominably
adverb
UK /əˈbɒm.ɪ.nə.bli/ US /əˈbɑː.mə.nə.bli/
in a very bad or unpleasant way: He behaved abominably towards her. I was abominably ill-mannered as a child. See abominable More examples He treats his staff abominably.
Dingy
Dingy slum
dingy
adjective
UK /ˈdɪn.dʒi/ US /ˈdɪn.dʒi/
dark and often also dirty: a dingy room/corridor Her hair was a dingy brown colour. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Darkness & becoming dark
The stores seemed old and dingy, their lights too dim and their ceilings too low.
Paternalistic
paternalistic
adjective POLITICS usually disapproving
UK /pəˌtɜː.nəˈlɪs.tɪk/ US /pəˌtɝː.nəˈlɪs.tɪk/
(of people in authority) making decisions for other people rather than letting them take responsibility for their own lives:
The country has a paternalistic culture.
He had a paternalistic attitude toward his peers.
See
paternalism
More examples
The company was a classic paternalistic employer.
Local authorities have a paternalistic and authoritarian attitude.
Too often, health-care professionals take a paternalistic approach to patients.
Hard-fought
hard-fought
adjective
UK /ˌhɑːdˈfɔːt/ US /ˌhɑːrdˈfɑːt/
achieved after a lot of difficulty or fighting:
a hard-fought victory
P
Cactaclysmic volcanic eruptions
causing a lot of destruction, or a sudden, violent change:
These countries are on the brink of cataclysmic famine.
a cataclysmic eruption/tsunami/earthquake
She is really sensational
sensational
adjective
UK /senˈseɪ.ʃən.əl/ US /senˈseɪ.ʃən.əl/
C2 approving
very good, exciting, or unusual:
a sensational sports car/dress
She looks sensational (= extremely attractive) in her new dress.
The odd can seem insurmountable
esp. of a problem or a difficulty) so great that it cannot be dealt with successfully:
難以克服的
Odd
strange or unexpected:
It is the efficiency of these vessels that shocks me to the core, the sheer killing power of them
sheer adjective (COMPLETE)
C1 [ before noun ]
used to emphasize how very great, important, or powerful a quality or feeling is; nothing except:
The suggestion is sheer nonsense.
His success was due to sheer willpower/determination.
It was sheer coincidence that we met.
Its Chock-full of nutrients, it’s chock-full of productivity
very full: 塞滿的
The place was chock-full of people.
We are dependant on these large circulation patterns that go on in our oceans
relying on someone or something to be able to continue to exist or make progress:
The company is less dependant than some big retailers on massive stores to ensure good profitability.
Keeping their dNA Viable indefinitely, just in case the worst happens
able to continue to exist as or develop into a living being:
C2
able to work as intended or able to succeed:
In order to make the company viable, it will unfortunately be necessary to reduce staffing levels.
I am afraid your plan is not commercially/economically/financially/politically viable.
We seem to forget that the place we live in is finite and very vulnerable, and it seems to be dying before our eyes
finite
adjective
US /ˈfɑɪ·nɑɪt/
having a limit or end:
We have only a finite amount of time to complete this project.
before your very eyes
while you are watching:
Then, before my very eyes, she disappeared.
That is a very Terrifying thing to face
terrifying
adjective
UK /ˈter.ə.faɪ.ɪŋ/ US /ˈter.ə.faɪ.ɪŋ/
B2 very frightening: a terrifying experience/ordeal SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Describing things that cause fear
Peculiar idea
unusual and strange, sometimes in an unpleasant way:
She has the most peculiar ideas.
What a peculiar smell!
It’s peculiar that they didn’t tell us they were going away.
UK The video on road accidents made me feel rather peculiar (= ill).
Synonyms
bizarrecurious (STRANGE) mainly UKeccentric (STRANGE)
“Acoffe pls!”I asked, rather curtly
curt
adjective disapproving
UK /kɜːt/ US /kɝːt/
If someone's manner or speech is curt, it is rude as a result of being very quick: to give a curt nod/reply Andy was very curt with him. Synonyms brusquelaconic formalterse
Nth degree
N 次
used to describe the most recent in a long series of things, when you do not know how many there are:
I glanced at my watch for the nth time that morning.
Baffling
baffling 令人莫名其妙的, 變幻的, 不可理解的
adjective
UK /ˈbæf.lɪŋ/ US /ˈbæf.lɪŋ/
impossible for someone to understand or explain:
I found what he was saying completely baffling.
It is unnerving
unnerve
verb [ T ]
UK /ʌnˈnɜːv/ US /ʌnˈnɝːv/
to make someone feel less confident and slightly frightened:
I think it unnerved me to be interviewed by so many people.
Synonym
faze informal
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Causing anxiety and worry
He looks shocked and dismayed by something that’s just happened
dismayed
adjective
UK /dɪˈsmeɪd/ US /dɪˈsmeɪd/
feeling unhappy and disappointed:
I was dismayed to discover that he’d lied.
She was utterly dismayed by the tone of the letter.
Bruce, he was last pine-cone bound
bound adjective (FORCED)
[ after verb, + , to, infinitive ]
having a moral or legal duty to do something:
The company is bound by a special agreement to involve the union in important decisions.
She feels (duty)-bound to tell him everything.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
