Cambridge English C1 Advanced vocabulary

Cambridge English: C1 Advanced

Precise advanced vocabulary for nuanced arguments, formal writing, and complex discussions.

Independent Cambridge English study resource — not official exam material.

Teens and up
Academic English
Advanced · C1
30 words

Play word detective with these words All 6 ways to practise

The words

Every word in this set, with what it means. Tap a word to hear it.

adequate: good enough for a particular purpose or need; “The report provides adequate evidence for a cautious conclusion.”
apparent: easy to notice or understand; seeming to be true; “The apparent difference disappeared after the data was checked.”
coherent: clear, logical, and connected in a way that is easy to understand; “The essay presents a coherent explanation of the problem.”
compelling: very convincing or persuasive; “The documentary makes a compelling case for reform.”
controversial: causing disagreement or strong public debate; “The committee discussed a controversial planning proposal.”
convey: to communicate an idea, feeling, or message; “The image conveys a sense of urgency.”
crucial: extremely important to a result or situation; “Clear communication is crucial during an emergency.”
eliminate: to remove or get rid of something completely; “The redesign should eliminate unnecessary steps.”
inherent: existing as a natural or permanent part of something; “Every measurement has some inherent uncertainty.”
nevertheless: despite what has just been said; “The evidence is limited; nevertheless, the pattern is interesting.”
precise: exact and accurate rather than general; “Please give a precise definition of the key term.”
reluctant: not willing or eager to do something; “The board was reluctant to change the long-standing policy.”
retain: to keep something or continue to have it; “The course aims to retain experienced teachers.”
scarce: not available in large enough quantities; “Fresh water is scarce in the region during summer.”
undermine: to make something weaker or less effective; “A careless comment can undermine public trust.”
undergo: to experience a process or change; “The historic building will undergo a major repair.”
valid: based on sound reasoning or acceptable evidence; “The criticism is valid, but it does not answer the main question.”
widespread: existing or happening in many places or among many people; “The update received widespread support from users.”
inevitable: certain to happen and impossible to avoid; “Some disruption is inevitable during the move.”
sophisticated: advanced, complex, or showing good judgment; “The software uses a sophisticated system to detect errors.”
ambiguous: having more than one possible meaning or interpretation; “The instructions were ambiguous, so several teams made different choices.”
contemplate: to think carefully and deeply about something; “The council is contemplating a change to the parking rules.”
discrete: separate and clearly different from other things; “The survey measured three discrete aspects of wellbeing.”
explicit: stated clearly and directly, leaving no doubt; “The agreement contains explicit rules about data use.”
feasible: possible and practical to do successfully; “The engineers presented a feasible plan for reducing waste.”
infer: to reach a conclusion from evidence rather than direct statements; “Readers can infer the author's attitude from the final paragraph.”
intrinsic: belonging naturally to something and not depending on outside factors; “The researchers discussed the intrinsic value of public art.”
plausible: reasonable and likely to be true; “The explanation is plausible, although more evidence is needed.”
profound: very great, serious, or strongly felt; “The invention had a profound effect on medical research.”
subsequent: happening or coming after something else; “Subsequent studies reached a similar conclusion.”