Cambridge English: C2 Proficiency

The words

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

albeit

although or even though

“The plan was successful, albeit more expensive than expected.”

assertive

confident and direct while expressing an opinion or need

“An assertive reply can protect a boundary without creating conflict.”

candid

honest and direct, even when the truth is uncomfortable

“The review offered a candid assessment of the project's weaknesses.”

concede

to admit that something is true, often unwillingly

“The author concedes that the evidence is not yet complete.”

conspicuous

easy to see or notice, often because it is unusual

“The most conspicuous gap in the report is the lack of local data.”

deter

to discourage someone from doing something

“Higher fines may deter companies from ignoring the regulation.”

dilemma

a situation in which a difficult choice must be made between options

“The committee faced a dilemma over speed versus accuracy.”

discerning

good at recognizing quality, difference, or subtle detail

“A discerning reader will notice the qualification in the final claim.”

eloquent

using language clearly and effectively to express an idea

“Her eloquent speech connected a personal story with a wider issue.”

exacerbate

to make a problem or bad situation worse

“A rushed decision could exacerbate the shortage.”

exemplify

to be a typical example of something

“The case exemplifies the benefits of careful planning.”

formidable

very difficult to deal with or defeat

“The team faced a formidable challenge but continued to improve.”

holistic

considering a whole system rather than only separate parts

“The clinic takes a holistic approach to patient wellbeing.”

impartial

not favoring one side or person over another

“An impartial chairperson helped the discussion remain productive.”

inadvertent

not intended or planned

“The report contained an inadvertent error in one table.”

meticulous

very careful and precise about every detail

“Her meticulous notes made the complex process easy to review.”

pervasive

existing or spreading widely throughout a place or group

“The pervasive use of phones has changed how people find information.”

pragmatic

solving problems in a practical way rather than following theory alone

“The committee took a pragmatic approach to the limited budget.”

reconcile

to make two different ideas or situations agree or coexist

“The proposal tries to reconcile economic growth with conservation.”

scrutinize

to examine something very carefully

“The auditors scrutinized the figures before approving the report.”

succinct

expressed clearly and briefly

“The summary was succinct but still captured the central argument.”

tentative

not certain or final; made as a first suggestion

“The researchers reached a tentative conclusion pending more data.”

unprecedented

never having happened or been seen before

“The city experienced unprecedented demand for emergency housing.”

versatile

able to be used for many different purposes or activities

“The versatile tool is useful in both the laboratory and the field.”

vindicate

to show that someone or something was right or justified

“The later evidence vindicated the decision to delay the launch.”

ambivalence

mixed feelings or uncertainty about something

“There is public ambivalence about replacing the historic building.”

connotation

an additional feeling or meaning suggested by a word

“The word has a positive connotation in this context.”

discourse

written or spoken communication about a particular subject

“The study examines public discourse about artificial intelligence.”

provisional

temporary or subject to later change

“The committee published a provisional timetable for consultation.”

substantiate

to support a claim with evidence

“The researcher could not substantiate the most ambitious prediction.”