Adjetives B2

Question 1

Appalling

Answer 1

/əˈpɔː.lɪŋ/
-Very bad: appalling weather; The drive home was appalling.
​
-Shocking and very bad: appalling injuries; Prisoners were kept in the most appalling conditions.

Question 2

Bewildered

Answer 2

/bɪˈwɪl·dərd/
​
Confused and uncertain:

He sat up in bed, bewildered, unsure of where he was.

Question 3

Breezy

Answer 3

/briː.zi/
​
With wind that is quite strong but pleasant:

It was a breezy day, just right for sailing.

Question 4

Bumpy

Answer 4

/ˈbʌm.pi/
​
Not smooth:

We drove along a narrow, bumpy road.
It might be a bumpy flight (= an uncomfortable and rough flight) because there’s a lot of air turbulence ahead.

Question 5

clumsy

Answer 5

/ˈklʌm.zi/
​
1. A clumsy person often has accidents because they do not behave in a careful, controlled way:

That’s the third glass you’ve smashed this week - you’re so clumsy!
​
2. Awkward in movement or manner:

The first mobile phones were heavy and clumsy to use, but nowadays they are much easier to handle.
He gave a clumsy bow.
​
3. Not skilful in the way you deal with or express something:

Her clumsy handling of the situation only made it worse.

Question 6

conscientious

Answer 6

/ˌkɒn.ʃiˈen.ʃəs/
​
Putting a lot of effort into your work:

A conscientious student

Question 7

crooked

Answer 7

/ˈkrʊk.ɪd/

Not forming a straight line, or having many bends:

You have to drive slowly on these crooked country roads.
His front teeth are crooked.

Question 8

damp

Answer 8

/dæmp/
​
Slightly wet, especially in a way that is not pleasant or comfortable:

The grass is still damp.
This shirt still feels a bit damp.
It was a damp, misty morning.

Question 9

deafening

Answer 9

/ˈdef.ən.ɪŋ/
​
Extremely loud:

The music was deafening.

Question 10

drab

Answer 10

/dræb/
​
Boring, especially in appearance; having little colour and excitement:

She walked through the city centre with its drab, grey buildings and felt depressed.
I feel so drab in this grey uniform.

Question 11

ear-splitting

Answer 11

/ˈɪəˌsplɪt.ɪŋ/ (also ear-piercing)
​
An ear-splitting sound is so loud or high that it hurts your ears:

an ear-splitting explosion
ear-piercing screams

Question 12

eerie

Answer 12

/ˈɪə.ri/
​
Strange in a frightening and mysterious way:

She heard the eerie noise of the wind howling through the trees.
He had the eerie feeling that he had met this stranger before.

Question 13

envious

Answer 13

/ˈen.vi.əs/
​
Wishing you had what another person has:

I’m very envious of your new coat - it’s beautiful.

Question 14

faint

Answer 14

/feɪnt/
(=SLIGHT)
​
Not strong or clear; slight:

A faint sound/noise/smell
The lamp gave out a faint glow.
She gave me a faint smile of recognition.

Question 15

flaky

Answer 15

/ˈfleɪ.ki/
(=IN SMALL PIECES)
​
Coming off easily in small, flat, thin pieces:

Dry, flaky skin
A flaky scalp

Question 16

flinch

Answer 16

/flɪntʃ/
​
Verb: To make a sudden, small movement because of pain or fear:

He didn’t even flinch when the nurse cleaned the wound.

Question 17

frail

Answer 17

/freɪl/
​
Weak or unhealthy, or easily damaged, broken, or harmed:

A frail old lady
I last saw him just last week and thought how old and frail he looked.
The country’s frail economy

Question 18

frantic

Answer 18

/ˈfræn.t̬ɪk/
(=VERY WORRIED/FRIGHTENED)
​
Almost out of control because of extreme emotion, such as worry:

Where on earth have you been? We’ve been frantic with worry.

Question 19

gobsmacked

Answer 19

/ˈɡɒb.smækt/
​
So surprised that you cannot speak:

He was completely gobsmacked when he won the award.

Question 20

groggy

Answer 20

/ˈɡrɒɡ.i/
​
Weak and unable to think clearly or walk correctly, usually because of tiredness or illness:

I felt a little bit groggy for a couple of days after the operation.

Question 21

grubby

Answer 21

/ˈɡrʌb.i/
​
1. (informal) Dirty:

He was wearing some old shorts and a grubby T-shirt.
Don’t wipe your grubby hands on my clean towel!
​
2. (Disapproving) If you describe an activity or someone’s behaviour as grubby, you do not think that it is honest, fair, or acceptable:

She sees the business of making money as just grubby opportunism.

Question 22

gullible

Answer 22

/ˈɡʌl.ə.bəl/
​
Easily deceived or tricked, and too willing to believe everything that other people say:

There are any number of miracle cures on the market for people gullible enough to buy them.

Question 23

haughty

Answer 23

/ˈhɔː.ti/
​
Unfriendly and seeming to consider yourself better than other people:

She has a rather haughty manner.

Question 24

hectic

Answer 24

/ˈhek.tɪk/
​
Full of activity, or very busy and fast:

A hectic schedule
The area has become a haven for people tired of the hectic pace of city life.

Question 25

hollow

Answer 25

/ˈhɒl.əʊ/
(=EMPTY)
​
1. Having a hole or empty space inside:

a hollow tube
Hollow blocks are used because they are lighter.
a hollow log
hollow cheeks/eyes
​
2. If you have hollow cheeks or eyes, your cheeks curve in or your eyes look deep in your head because you are old, tired, or ill.

Question 26

hush

Answer 26

/hʌʃ/
​
Asudden, calm silence:

There was a deathly hush after she made the announcement.
A hush fell over the room.

-Mainly uk informal Let’s have some hush, please! (= Be quiet, please!)

Question 27

husky

Answer 27

/ˈhʌs.ki/
( for VOICE)
​
A voice that is husky is low and rough, often in an attractive way, or because of illness:

She’s got a nice husky voice - very sexy.
You sound husky - do you have a cold?

Question 28

industrious

Answer 28

/ɪnˈdʌs.tri.əs/
​
An industrious person works hard:

An industrious worker
She’s extremely competent and industrious.

Question 29

loose

Answer 29

/luːs/
(=NOT FASTENED)
​
1. Not firmly held or fastened in place:

There were some loose wires hanging out of the wall.
The nails in the wall had worked themselves loose.
The prisoners were so thin that their skin hung loose.
​
2. Loose hair is not tied back:

Her hair was hanging loose to her shoulders.
​
3. Loose things are not held together or attached to anything else:

A few loose sheets of paper were lying around.

Question 30

mild

Answer 30

/maɪld/
​
1. Not violent, severe, or extreme:

She can’t accept even mild criticism of her work.
He has suffered a mild heart attack - nothing too serious.

Question 31

prickly

Answer 31

/ˈprɪk.əl.i/ /ˈprɪk.li/
​
Covered with prickles:

Chestnuts had burst out of their prickly green husks.
I find this sweater slightly prickly (= it makes the skin sore).

Question 32

raging

Answer 32

/ˈreɪ.dʒɪŋ/
​
1. Very severe or extreme:

a raging toothache
a raging thirst
He's got a raging (= high) temperature.
a raging bore
​
2. very strong or violent:

A raging temper
The rain had turned the stream into a raging torrent.

Question 33

ripe

Answer 33

/raɪp/

(Of fruit or crops) Completely developed and ready to be collected or eaten:

Those bananas aren’t ripe yet - they’re still green.

Question 34

rubbery

Answer 34

/ˈrʌb.ər.i/
Feeling or bending like rubber:

The cheese wasn’t very nice - it was rubbery.
If you cook it for too long it will have a rubbery texture.
My legs felt all rubbery (= weak) after the race.

Question 35

ruthless

Answer 35

/ˈruːθ.ləs/
​
Not thinking or worrying about any pain caused to others; cruel:

ruthless ambition
a ruthless dictator
Some people believe that to succeed in this world you have to be ruthless.

Question 36

shabby

Answer 36

/ˈʃæb.i/
(=BAD CONDITION)

1. Looking old and in bad condition because of being used for a long time or not being cared for:

He wore a shabby old overcoat.
Her home is a rented one-bedroom apartment in a shabby part of town.
The refugees were shabby (= wore old clothes in bad condition) and hungry.

Question 37

shallow

Answer 37

/ˈʃæl.əʊ/
(=NOT DEEP)
​
Having only a short distance from the top to the bottom:

The stream was fairly shallow so we were able to walk across it.
She told her children to stay in the shallow end (of the swimming pool).

Question 38

skilful

Answer 38

/ˈskɪl.fəl/
​
1. Good at doing something, especially because you have practised doing it:

Police officers have to be skilful drivers.
​
2. Done or made very well:

a skilful piece of playing on the clarinet

Question 39

slippery

Answer 39

/ˈslɪp.ər.i/

1. If something is slippery, it is wet or smooth so that it slides easily or causes something to slide:

slippery soap
a slippery floor
The road was wet and slippery.
​
2. (informal disapproving) Someone who is slippery cannot be trusted:

He’s as slippery as an eel - you can never get a straight answer out of him.

Question 40

soothing

Answer 40

/ˈsuː.ðɪŋ/
(LESS ANGRY)

Making you feel calm:

I put on some nice soothing music.
Her words had a soothing effect.

Question 41

sour

Answer 41

/saʊər/
​
1. having a sharp, sometimes unpleasant, taste or smell, like a lemon, and not sweet:

These plums are a bit sour.

Question 42

stale

Answer 42

/steɪl/
​
1. No longer new or fresh, usually as a result of being kept for too long:

The bread/biscuits/cake had gone stale.
The morning after the party, their apartment smelled of stale cigarette smoke.
​
2. Not fresh and new; boring because too familiar:

stale jokes/news
​
3. Used to describe someone who has lost interest in what they are doing because of being bored or working too hard:

They had been working together for over five years and they had both become a little stale.

Question 43

steady

Answer 43

/ˈsted.i/
(=GRADUAL)
​
Happening in a smooth, gradual, and regular way, not suddenly or unexpectedly:

The procession moved through the streets at a steady pace.
Orders for new ships are rising, after several years of steady decline.

Question 44

steep

Answer 44

/stiːp/
(=NOT GRADUAL)
​
1. Rising or falling at a sharp angle:

a steep slope
It’s a steep climb to the top of the mountain, but the view is worth it.
The castle is set on a steep hill/hillside.
​
2. A steep rise or fall is one that goes very quickly from low to high or from high to low:

There has been a steep increase/rise in prices.

Question 45

stocky

Answer 45

/ˈstɒk.i/

A stocky person, especially a man, is fairly short and has a body that is wide across the shoulders and chest:

The man was described as short and stocky and very strong.

Question 46

stubborn

Answer 46

/ˈstʌb.ən/

1. (disapproving) A stubborn person is determined to do what he or she wants and refuses to do anything else:

They have huge arguments because they’re both so stubborn.
​
2. Things that are stubborn are difficult to move, change, or deal with:

He was famed for his stubborn resistance and his refusal to accept defeat.
Stubborn stains can be removed using a small amount of detergent.

Question 47

tame

Answer 47

/teɪm/
(=NOT WILD)
​
(Especially of animals) not wild or dangerous, either naturally or because of training or long involvement with humans:

After a few months’ contact the monkeys become very tame.

Question 48

wary

Answer 48

/ˈweə.ri/
​
1. Not completely trusting or certain about something or someone:

I’m a little wary of/about giving people my address when I don’t know them very well.

Question 49

wealthy

Answer 49

/ˈwel.θi/
​
Rich:

He’s a very wealthy man.
With their natural resources they are potentially a very wealthy country.

Question 50

weary

Answer 50

/ˈwɪə.ri/ US ​ /ˈwɪr.i/
​
1. Very tired, especially after working hard for a long time:

I think he’s a little weary after his long journey.
Here, sit down and rest your weary legs.

2. (weary of)​ bored with something because you have experienced too much of it:

I’ve been going out with the same people to the same places for years and I’ve just grown weary of it.

Question 51

weather-beathen

Answer 51

/ˈweðəˌbiː.tən/
​
Something such as skin or a building material that is weather-beaten has been changed or damaged by the weather:

a weather-beaten face (= a face which is brown and has many deep lines)
ancient, weather-beaten columns

Question 52

wee

Answer 52

scottish english or informal UK ​ /wiː/
​
Small; little:

You were just a wee lad the last time I saw you.
Would you care for a wee bit more to eat?

Question 53

well-groomed

Answer 53

/ˌwel ˈɡruːmd/
​
Having a neat and pleasant appearance that is produced with care:

A tall, well groomed man in a business suit walked in.

Question 54

well-off

Answer 54

/ˌwel ˈɒf/ US ​ /ˌwel ˈɑːf/
well off adjective (RICH)
​
Rich:

Her family was very well off.

Question 55

woolly

Answer 55

/ˈwʊl.i/

Made of wool (lana), or made of something that looks like wool:

a woolly hat/jumper