Adjectives II

Question 1

avid

Answer 1

• very enthusiastic (for people)

e. g. an avid reader / football fan / stamp collector

Question 2

blatant

Answer 2

• very obvious, done without shame or embarrassment (used to describe bad things)
  e. g. a blatant lie / foul

Question 3

breathtaking

Answer 3

*** very beautiful, surprising or impressive
e.g. breathtaking view / scenery
For a child of his age, his knowledge of the subject was breathtaking.

Question 4

gripping

Answer 4

• ** very exciting; for films and books

e. g. It was a gripping tale of murder and intrigue.

Question 5

harrowing

Answer 5

• ** shocking, making you feel very upset (not used to describe people)
  e. g. a harrowing film / tale

Question 6

lax

Answer 6

*** not strict or not careful enough (for safety measures, security, morals, discipline, laws, etc)

Question 7

lenient

Answer 7

• ** not strict; used to describe people in a position to punish (parents, teachers, etc)
  e. g. The judge was lenient and let him off with a fine.

Question 8

meteoric

Answer 8

• ** very sudden and very quick (generally used with the noun rise)
  e. g. He was unprepared for his meteoric rise to fame.

Question 9

misleading

Answer 9

• ** giving the wrong idea or impression

e. g. misleading information / advertisements / comments, etc

Question 10

piercing

Answer 10

• loud and high-pitched (for noises)

e. g. She let out a piercing scream of terror.

Question 11

prolific

Answer 11

*** producing a large number of works (for artists, composers and writers)

Question 12

sporadic

Answer 12

• ** happening at irregular intervals

e. g. sporadic fighting / shots / violence / outbreaks

Question 13

staunch

Answer 13

• vey loyal

e. g. staunch supporter / friend / ally / Democrat, etc

Question 14

sweeping

Answer 14

• (i) too general and therefore not valid (for statements and generalisations)
  (ii) large and affecting everyone (for changes and reforms)
  e.g. ‘Women are bad drivers’ is a sweeping generalisation that is all too common these days.
  He proposed sweeping changes to the country’s electoral system.

Question 15

watertight

Answer 15

impossible to prove wrong or argue against

e.g. watertight arguments / court cast / alibi

Question 16

dreary

Answer 16

*** boring and depressing
e.g. a dreary day / life / town
Her apartment was dreary and depressing.

Question 17

dull

Answer 17

• ** boring, without life, excitement or colour

e. g. dull afternoon / people / colour / weather

Question 18

mundane

Answer 18

• ** ordinary, boring, giving little satisfaction; often used to describe jobs
  e. g. He had a mundane job in a local bank.

Question 19

tedious

Answer 19

• ** boring, and often frustrating

e. g. tedious journey / task / job

Question 20

atrocious

Answer 20

• ** extremely bad

e. g. atrocious film / mess / game, etc

Question 21

dreadful

Answer 21

• ** very bad

e. g. dreadful weather / mistakes / acting

Question 22

lousy

Answer 22

• ** (informal) very bad

e. g. lousy day / hotel / teacher / singer

Question 23

flawless

Answer 23

• ** perfect, with no faults

e. g. flawless complexion / performance

Question 24

impeccable

Answer 24

• ** perfect, faultless

e. g. impeccable appearance / reputation / taste in clothes

Question 25

unblemished

Answer 25

• sth that has not been spoilt or harmed

e. g. unblemished record / reputation / character

Question 26

arduous

Answer 26

• ** tiring and involving a lot of effort

e. g. arduous journey / task

Question 27

gruelling

Answer 27

• ** tiring and lasting a long time

e. g. gruelling schedule /day / race

Question 28

strenuous

Answer 28

• needing a lot of physical effort

e. g. strenuous activity / trip / effort / objection

Question 29

bedraggled

Answer 29

• ** untidy, dirty and wet (for people)

e. g. The two bedraggled children trudged into the house.

Question 30

dishevelled

Answer 30

• ** untidy

e. g. dishevelled clothes / hair / appearance / man

Question 31

scruffy

Answer 31

• ** untidy (for people / places); old and worn out (for clothes)
  e. g. scruffy pair of jeans / flat / boy

Question 32

astute

Answer 32

• ** clever at understanding people and situations

e. g. astute politician / decision

Question 33

crafty

Answer 33

• ** clever and good at using deception to achieve success

e. g. crafty man / plan / look

Question 34

shrewd

Answer 34

• • clever and showing good judgement of other people and situations
    e. g. shrewd businessman / investment / eyes

Question 35

wily

Answer 35

• clever, experienced at deceiving people and not easily deceived (for people / behaviour)
  e. g. wily businessman / manoeuvring

Question 36

conventional

Answer 36

• ** ordinary, normal

e. g. conventional people / opinions / ideas

Question 37

mainstream

Answer 37

• ** ordinary, conventional, neither strange nor extreme

e. g. mainstream beliefs / ideas / organisations / politics

Question 38

middle-of-the-road

Answer 38

• ** ordinary, not extreme

e. g. middle-of-the-road ideas / beliefs / music, etc

Question 39

run-of-the-mill

Answer 39

• ordinary, nothing special

e. g. run-of-the-mill computer / supermarket