Proximity: near somebody/something in distance or time

Proxy: ng đại diện/đc ủy quyền

- You can vote either in person or by proxy./She is acting as proxy for her husband.
Prune:
+ to cut off some of the branches from a tree, bush, etc. so that it will grow better and stronger
- When should you prune apple trees?
+ to make something smaller by removing parts; to cut out parts of something
- Staff numbers have been pruned back to 175./The railway companies have pruned their timetables (= there are fewer
trains)./ Prune out any unnecessary details.
Prundit: a person who knows a lot about a particular subject and who often talks about it in public
- Political pundits agree that the government has scored a major victory.
Pulverize
Punctilious: very careful to behave correctly or to perform your duties exactly as you should
- a punctilious host/He was always punctilious in his manners.
Pungent:
+ having a strong taste or smell
- the pungent smell of burning rubber/ The air was pungent with the smell of spices.
+ direct and having a strong effect
- pungent criticism/commentary/ She is very good at writing pungent, funny dialogue.
Puny:
+ = feeble: Don’t tell me you’re afraid of that puny little kid.
+ = not very impressive: In 1981, computers were puny compared with today’s machines./ They laughed at my puny efforts.
Purge:
+ - His first act as leader was to purge the party of extremists./He purged extremists from the party.
+ - We need to purge our sport of racism./Nothing could purge the guilt from her mind.
Purport: to claim to be something or to have done something, when this may not be true = profess
- The book does not purport to be a complete history of the period./The study purports to show an increase in the incidence
of the disease.
 Purported: that has been stated to have happened or to be true, when this might not be the case
- the scene of the purported crime/A recent study into the purported health benefits of the drink was not conclusive.
Faint(-)hearted: = cowardly
- He tried not to appear faint-hearted./ He deals with subjects more fainthearted filmmakers would stay away from.
Putrid: very unpleasant
- a putrid pink colour/ I pulled back from the stench of his putrid breath.
Quaint:
- quaint old customs/a quaint seaside village
Qualm: feeling of doubt or worry about whether what you are doing is right = misgiving
- He had been working very hard so he had no qualms about taking a few days off./They broke the law without a qualm.
Quarry: an animal or a person that is being hunted or followed = prey
- The hunters lost sight of their quarry in the forest./The photographers pursued their quarry through the streets.
Queasy: slightly nervous or worried about something
- Now she’d arrived she felt queasy inside./ Her descriptions of extreme poverty and deprivation can give you a queasy
feeling.
Quell:
+ to stop something such as violent behaviour or protests
- Extra police were called in to quell the riots/risings./She started to giggle, but Bob quelled her with a look.
+ to stop or reduce strong or unpleasant feelings = calm
- to quell your fears/He’s been unable to quell his wife’s doubts/suspicions.
Quench:
+ = extinguish: Firemen tried to quench the flames raging through the building.
+ to satisfy a need or wish: Her thirst for knowledge will never be quenched./ A rational understanding of the laws of nature
can quench impossible desires.
Quiescent: temporarily quiet and not active
- The political situation was now relatively quiescent.
Quietude: the state of being still and quiet = calm
- a moment of quietude
Quirk:
+ = peculiarity: Everyone has their own little quirks and mannerisms.
+ a strange thing that happens, especially by accident
- By a strange quirk of fate they had booked into the same hotel.
- an unpredictable quirk of history
Quiver: = tremble
- Her lip quivered and then she started to cry.
- The memory of that day made him quiver with anger.
Quizzical: (of an expression) showing that you are slightly surprised
- a quizzical expression/He gave me a quizzical look when I ordered champagne.
Rabid: having and expressing extreme and unreasonable feelings:
- The attack is believed to have been carried out by a group of rabid anti-semites.
Rail: to complain angrily
- He railed against/at the injustices of the system.
Rally:
+ to come together or bring people together in order to help or support somebody/something
- The cabinet rallied behind/around the Prime Minister./ [rally to + noun] Many national newspapers rallied to his
support./The country hastily rallied its defences./The president must rally the country behind/around a clear and credible
goal.
+ to become healthier, stronger, etc. after a period of illness, weakness, etc. = recover
- He never really rallied after the operation./The champion rallied to win the second set 6–3.
+ (especially of share prices or a country’s money) to increase in value after falling in value = recover
- The company's shares had rallied slightly by the close of trading./The pound rallied against the dollar.
Rancid: if food containing fat is rancid, it tastes or smells unpleasant because it is no longer fresh
- Butter soon goes/turns (= becomes) rancid in this heat./There was a rancid smell coming from the kitchen.
Rancour: = bitterness
- There was rancour in his voice./They divorced with remarkably little rancour./She learned to accept criticism without
rancour.
Rankle: to make someone annoyed or angry for a long time
- His decision to sell the land still rankled with her./It still rankles that she got promoted, and I didn't.
Rapacious: wanting more money or goods than you need or have a right to
- a rapacious landlord/businessman/her rapacious appetite for fame
Rapt: so interested in one particular thing that you are not aware of anything else
- She sat with a rapt expression reading her book./The children watched with rapt attention.
Rationale: I don't understand the rationale for these restrictions./He tried to explain the scientific rationale behind his work.
 Rationalise (v): an attempt to rationalize his violent behaviour/She rationalized the cost by saying that an expensive carpet
would last longer than a cheaper one.
Raucous: sounding loud and rough
- raucous laughter/They grew more and more raucous as the evening went on.
Rave: + to talk or write about something in a very enthusiastic way: The critics raved about his performance in ‘Hamlet’./
Luke was still raving about the beauty of the desert.
+ to talk/shout: My parents both raved at me./ He was still raving on about irresponsible youngsters.
Raze: to completely destroy a building, town, etc. so that nothing is left
- The village was razed to the ground./The woodland was razed by fire.
Rebuff (v): to refuse a friendly offer, request or suggestion in an unkind way = reject
- They rebuffed her request for help./ She rebuffed all suggestions that she should resign.
Rebuff (n): the act of rebuffing
- Her desperate request for help was met with a rebuff./ Boren’s idea took a sharp rebuff.
Recalcitrant: unwilling to obey rules or follow instructions; difficult to control
- a recalcitrant child/pupil/ Tenants petitioned their recalcitrant landlord to finish repairs to their building.
Recant: to say, often publicly, that you no longer have the same belief or opinion that you had before = abjure
- After a year spent in solitary confinement, he publicly recanted (his views)./ Anderson recanted, saying his brother had
told him to lie.
Recast: to change something by organizing or presenting it in a different way
- She recast her lecture as a radio talk./She recast her novel as a musical comedy.
Reciprocate: to behave or feel towards somebody in the same way as they behave or feel towards you
- Her passion for him was not reciprocated./He chose to reciprocate the gift with a sample of his own art.
Recourse: the fact of having to, or being able to, use something that can provide help in a difficult situation
- If the company won’t pay me, my only recourse is legal action./The government, when necessary, has recourse to the
armed forces./She made a complete recovery without recourse to surgery./It is hoped that the dispute will be settled
without recourse to litigation.
Rectify: to rectify a fault/an error/We must take steps to rectify the situation.
 Rectitude: the quality of thinking or behaving in a correct and honest way = uprightness
- She is a model of rectitude./ Most of them led lives of selfless moral rectitude.
Redolent:
+ [redolent of sth] = evocative, reminiscent of sb/sth
- an atmosphere redolent of the sea and ships/The album is a heartfelt cry, redolent of a time before radio and television.
+ [redolent with sth] smelling strongly of the thing mentioned
- a kitchen redolent with the smell of baking/The mountain air was redolent with the scent of pine needles.
Redouble: to increase something or make it stronger
- The leading banks are expected to redouble their efforts to keep the value of the dollar down./redoubled enthusiasm/Their
doubts were redoubled by this news.
Redoubtable: if a person is redoubtable, they have very strong qualities that make you respect them and perhaps feel afraid of
them = formidable
- a redoubtable leader/Tonight he faces the most redoubtable opponent of his boxing career.
Redress: to correct sth unfair/wrong
- Attempts were made to redress some of the injustices of the previous regime./The king did little to redress the grievances
of the people.
Reimburse: to pay back money to somebody which they have spent or lost
- We will reimburse any expenses incurred./You will be reimbursed for any loss or damage caused by our company.
Juvenile  Rejuvenate: to make somebody/something look or feel younger, more lively or more modern
- His new job seemed to rejuvenate him./special creams to rejuvenate the skin
Relent:
+ to finally agree to something after refusing = give in
- ‘Well, just for a little while then,’ she said, finally relenting./The government has relented on this issue.
+ to become less determined, strong, etc.
- After two days the rain relented./The police will not relent in their fight against crime.
Relic: an object, a tradition, a system, etc. that has survived from the past
- The building stands as the last remaining relic of the town's cotton industry./The pictures on the walls were relics from the
days before her marriage.
Relinquish: to stop having something, especially when this happens unwillingly = give up
- He was forced to relinquish control of the company./They had relinquished all hope that she was alive./I relinquished her
hand (= stopped holding it) and stood up./ She relinquished possession of the house to her sister.
Remediable: that can be solved/cured
- remediable problems/diseases
Remedial:
+ aimed at solving a problem, especially when this involves correcting or improving something that has been done wrong
- remedial treatment (= for a medical problem)/Remedial action must be taken now./The building needs urgent remedial
work to make it safe.
+ connected with school students who are slower at learning than others
- remedial education/a remedial class
Remiss: =negligent
- It was remiss of them not to inform us of these changes sooner./She had clearly been remiss in her duty.
Remission:
+ a period during which a serious illness improves for a time and the patient seems to get better
- The patient has been in remission for the past six months./The symptoms reappeared after only a short remission.
+ a reduction in the amount of time somebody spends in prison, especially because they have behaved well
- With remission for good behaviour, he could be out by the end of the year./He lost two months’ remission after he attacked
another prisoner.
Remonstrate: to protest or complain about something/somebody
- They remonstrated with the official about the decision./I went to the boss to remonstrate against the new rules.
Remunerative: paying a lot of money
- Writing proved to be more remunerative than teaching./a highly remunerative (= well paid) job
Rend: to tear something apart with force or violence
- The women rend their clothes in grief.
- (figurative) a country rent in two by civil war/The community has been rent asunder by the scandal./Loud screams rent the
air.
Renege: to break a promise, an agreement, etc. = go back on
- to renege on a deal/debt/contract/If you renege on the deal now, I'll fight you in the courts.
Reparation: the act of giving something to somebody or doing something for them in order to show that you are sorry that you
have caused them to suffer
- Offenders should be forced to make reparation to the community./The company had to make reparation to those who
suffered ill health as a result of chemical pollution.
Reprieve: a delay before something bad happens
- This house offers no reprieve from the heat./The railway line, due for closure, has been granted a six-month reprieve./The
family has won a temporary reprieve from eviction.
Reprehend: to express your strong official disapproval of someone or something:
- The agency was reprehended for taking on average two years to deal with complaints./There were those who reprehended
the practice of wearing one's hair long.
 Reprehensible: morally wrong and deserving criticism = deplorable
- His conduct was thoroughly reprehensible.
Reprisal: a violent or aggressive act towards sb because of something bad that they have done towards you = retaliation
- They did not want to give evidence for fear of reprisals./They shot ten hostages in reprisal for the assassination of their
leader.
Repudiate: to refuse to accept something = reject
- He repudiated the allegation/charge/claim that he had tried to deceive them./I utterly repudiate those remarks.
Repugnant
Reputable
Rescind: to officially state that a law, contract, decision, etc. no longer has any legal force = revoke
- The agreement was rescinded on 20 March 1993.
Respite: a short break or escape from something difficult or unpleasant
- The drug brought a brief respite from the pain./She continued to work without respite.
Restitution: (law) payment, usually money, for some harm or wrong that somebody has suffered
- to make restitution for the damage caused/The chemical company promised to make full restitution to the victims for the
injury to their health.
Resume  Resumption: We are hoping for an early resumption of peace talks./They demanded the immediate resumption of
the aid programme.
Retain  Retentive: (of the memory) able to store facts and remember things easily
- She has an amazingly retentive memory.
Reticent  Reticence: That night she had overcome her natural reticence and talked about their married life.
Retiring: =shy, reticent
- a quiet, retiring man/Those of a shy and retiring nature are not suited to this kind of activity.
Retract: to say that something you have said earlier is not true or correct or that you did not mean it
- He made a false confession which he later retracted./to retract a claim/an allegation/a confession
Retributive: that punishes severely somebody who has done something seriously wrong
- retributive action/justice/There is speculation that his killing might have been retributive.
Retribution: severe punishment for something seriously wrong that somebody has done
- People are seeking retribution for the latest terrorist outrages./They fled because they feared retribution for the
genocide./Many saw her death as divine retribution (= punishment by God) for her crimes.
Retrograde: (of an action) making a situation worse or returning to how something was in the past
- The closure of the factory is a retrograde step./The proposal is miserably retrograde.
Revert to
Revile
Revolt  Revulsion: a strong feeling of horror = disgust, repugnance
- Most people viewed the bombings with revulsion./I started to feel a revulsion at/against their decadent lifestyle.
Rhapsodize: to talk or write with great enthusiasm about something
- He's always rhapsodizing about/over the joys of having children./And every ex-president rhapsodizes nostalgically about
its loss.
Rhetoric: speech or writing that is intended to influence people, but that is not completely honest or sincere
- the rhetoric of political slogans/His speech was dismissed as mere rhetoric by the opposition.
 Rhetorical: (of a question) asked only to make a statement or to produce an effect rather than to get an answer
- ‘Don't you care what I do?’ he asked, but it was a rhetorical question.
Rife
Rift: + The rift within the party deepened./Efforts to heal the rift between the two countries have failed.
+ Through a rift in the clouds we could see a beautiful blue sky.
Rig: to arrange or influence something in a dishonest way in order to get the result that you want
- He said the election had been rigged./to rig a vote/A commission was appointed to ensure the lottery was not rigged.
Rigour:
+ the fact of being careful and paying great attention to detail
- -academic/intellectual/scientific, etc. rigour/I can only hope that they are applying rigour to these ideas and
discoveries./Their analysis lacks rigour.
+ the fact of being strict or severe = severity
- This crime must be treated with the full rigour of the law./They were punished with unusual rigour.
Rile: to annoy somebody or make them angry = anger
- Nothing ever seemed to rile him./She regretted at once that she had let herself become riled.
Robust: + She was almost 90, but still very robust./He seems to be in robust (good) health.
+ = sturdy: a robust piece of equipment
+ robust economic growth
+ = vigourous: The company is taking a more robust approach to management.
Roil: to cause something to stop working in the usual or expected way
- Fears about Japan roiled world financial markets last week./The immigration debate has roiled the country for more than a
year.
Rousing: + full of energy and enthusiasm: a rousing cheer/The team was given a rousing reception by the fans.
+ intended to make others feel enthusiastic: We sang a last rousing chorus of the national anthem./She delivered a
rousing speech full of anger and passion.
Rustic: typical of the country or of country people; simple: an old cottage full of rustic charm
Saccharine: (of people or things) too emotional in a way that seems exaggerated = sentimental
- I don't trust her, with her saccharine smiles./saccharine love songs
Sacrilegious: treating a holy thing or place without respect
- Leading clerics condemned the book as a sacrilegious attack on their faith./ (figurative) It seemed almost sacrilegious to
criticize his tennis playing.
(In)salubrious
Salutary: having a good effect on somebody/something, though often seeming unpleasant
- a salutary lesson/experience/warning/The accident was a salutary reminder/warning of the dangers of climbing.
Salvage: to manage to rescue something from a difficult situation; to stop a bad situation from being a complete failure
- What can I do to salvage my reputation? (= get a good reputation again)/He wondered what he could do to salvage the
situation./United lost 5–2, salvaging a little pride with two late goals.
Sanction:
+ an official order that limits trade, contact, etc. with a particular country, in order to make it do something, such as obeying
international law
- Trade sanctions were imposed against any country that refused to sign the agreement./The economic sanctions have been
lifted.
+ a course of action that can be used, if necessary, to make people obey a law or behave in a particular way = penalty
- The ultimate sanction will be the closure of the restaurant./We now have an effective sanction against the killing of whales.
Sanctimonious: giving the impression that you feel you are better and more moral than other people = self-righteous
- I wish she’d stop being so sanctimonious./I’m fed up with his sanctimonious attitude.
Sanctuary:
+ safety and protection, especially for people who are in danger of being attacked or captured
- to seek/find/take sanctuary in a place/The government offered sanctuary to 4 000 refugees.
+ a safe place, especially one where people who are in danger of being attacked or captured can stay and be protected
- The church became a sanctuary for the refugees./It had been built as a sanctuary from World War II bombs.
Sanguine: = optimistic
- They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects.He tends to take a sanguine view of the problems
involved.
Sap: to make something/somebody weaker; to destroy something gradually
- The fever slowly sapped her strength./Years of failure have sapped him of his confidence.
Sardonic: showing that you think that you are better than other people and do not take them seriously = mocking
- a sardonic smile/He looked at her with sardonic amusement.
Satirical: criticizing people or ideas in a humorous way, especially in order to make a political point:
- satirical cartoons/magazines/ She was known for her satirical humour.
Saturate:
+ = soak
- The grass had been saturated by overnight rain./He had cut his leg badly, and his trousers were saturated with/in blood.
+ to fill something/somebody completely with something so that it is impossible or useless to add any more
- Newspapers were saturated with reports about the royal wedding./Contemporary U.S. culture is completely saturated with
technology.
Scandal: an action, attitude, etc. that you think is very wrong and not at all acceptable = disgrace
It is a scandal that such a large city has no orchestra./The real scandal is that nothing has been done to make sure it doesn't
happen again.
Scanty: too little in amount for what is needed
- Details of his life are scanty./His theory is based on rather scanty evidence.
Scapegoat
Scheme  Schematic: + showing the main features or relationships but not the details: a schematic diagram/outline
+ having a fixed plan or pattern: The play has a very schematic plot.
Schism: strong disagreement within an organization, especially a religious one, that makes its members divide into separate
groups
- The disagreement eventually led to a schism within the Church./the growing schism between the leadership and the
ordinary party members
Scintilla: a very small amount of something
- There is not a scintilla of truth in what she says./They had not found a scintilla of evidence against him.
Scourge: a person or thing that causes trouble, difficulty or mental pain
- the scourge of disease/poverty/Inflation was the scourge of the 1970s./ The minister saw the motor car as a scourge on
society.
Scoff: to talk about somebody/something in a way that makes it clear that you think they are stupid or silly = mock
- Don't scoff—she's absolutely right./He scoffed at our amateurish attempts./‘Don't be ridiculous,’ she scoffed.
Scruple: a feeling that prevents you from doing something that you think may be morally wrong
- I overcame my moral scruples./He had no scruples about spying on her.
Scuttle: to deliberately cause something to fail = foil
- Shareholders successfully scuttled the deal./Angry workers scuttled all hope of quick agreement on a new contract.
Seamy: unpleasant or morally wrong
- The film vividly portrays the seamy side of life in London in the early 1970s.
Seasoned: (of a person) having a lot of experience of a particular activity
- a seasoned campaigner/performer/traveller, etc.
Seclude: to keep yourself/somebody away from contact with other people
- The monks secluded themselves from the rest of society./She spent the morning secluded in her office.
 Seclusion (n): the seclusion and peace of the island/He spends much of his time in seclusion in the mountains.
Secrete: to hide something, especially something small
- The drugs were secreted in the lining of his case./He was arrested at the airport with a kilo of heroin secreted in his
clothing.
Sedate:
+ slow, calm and relaxed = unhurried
- We followed the youngsters at a more sedate pace./ The speed limit is a sedate 55 mph.
+ quiet, especially in a way that lacks excitement
- a sedate country town/a sedate family occasion
Sedulous: showing great care and effort in your work = diligent
- sedulous attention to detail/ It was agreed that the few students sedulous enough to read the book deserved top marks for
diligence.
Seemly: appropriate for a particular social situation >< unseemly
- It was not considered seemly to talk in such a way in front of the children.>< There followed an unseemly rush for the
exits.
Seethe:
+ to be extremely angry about something but to try not to show other people how angry you are = fume
- He marched off, seething with frustration./Inwardly he was seething at this challenge to his authority.
+ (of a place) to be full of a lot of people or animals, especially when they are all moving around
- The resort is seething with tourists all year round./A seething mass of children crowded around the tables.
Semblance: a situation in which something seems to exist although this may not, in fact, be the case
- The ceasefire brought about a semblance of order./Life at last returned to some semblance of normality.
Serendipitous: happening by chance in an interesting or pleasant way
- serendipitous discoveries/ Reading should be an adventure, a personal experience full of serendipitous surprises.
Serenity: the quality of being calm and peaceful
- The hotel offers a haven of peace and serenity away from the bustle of the city.
Servile: wanting too much to please somebody and obey them
- Parents have no right to demand servile obedience from their children./ As a waiter you want to be pleasant to people
without appearing totally servile.
Sever: to completely end a relationship or all communication with somebody = break off
- The two countries have severed all diplomatic links./She has severed all contact with her family.
Shackle: to prevent somebody from behaving or speaking as they want (lit:=xiềng xích)
- She is opposed to shackling the press with privacy laws./The country is shackled by its own debts.
Sham: + (n) behaviour, feelings, words, etc. that are intended to make sb/sth seem to be better than they really are: Their
promises turned out to be full of sham and hypocrisy./ They claimed that the election had been fair, but really it was a sham.
+ (v) = pretend: He isn't really upset - he's just shamming.
+ (adj) = faulse: That jewellery looks sham to me./She's trapped in a sham (= not good or satisfying) marriage.
Shirk
Shun
Shudder: to shake because you are cold or frightened, or because of a strong feeling
- Just thinking about the accident makes me shudder./I shuddered at the thought of all the trouble I'd caused./I shudder to
think how much this is all going to cost (= I don't want to think about it because it is too unpleasant).
Simmer:
+ to be filled with a strong feeling, especially anger, which you have difficulty controlling = seethe
- She was still simmering with resentment./Anger simmered inside him.
+ (of an argument, a disagreement, etc.) to develop for a period of time without any real anger or violence being shown
- This argument has been simmering for months./The simmering dispute finally erupted.
Simper: to smile in a silly and annoying way
- a silly simpering girl/He just simpered at me.
Simulate: = feign
- I tried to simulate surprise at the news./ In cheap furniture, plastic is often used to simulate wood.
Singular:
+ very great or obvious; noticeable = outstanding
- landscape of singular beauty/He shows a singular lack of concern for other people’s feelings.
+ unusual; strange = eccentric
- a singular style of dress
Sinister
Skimp on sth
Skulk: to hide or move around secretly, especially when you are planning something bad
- There was someone skulking behind the bushes./I don’t want reporters skulking around here.
Slacken:
+ to gradually become, or to make something become, slower, less active, etc. = relax
- We've been really busy, but things are starting to slacken off now./She slackened her pace a little (= walked a little more
slowly).
Slander = libel: a vicious slander on the company’s good name/He's suing them for slander.
Slant: a way of thinking about something, especially one that shows support for a particular opinion or point of view
- She put a new slant on the play./Her book looks at his writings from a feminist slant.
Slapdash
Slight: = insult
- Nick took her comment as a slight on his abilities as a manager.
Slipshod: = careless
- The work was done in a slipshod manner./She complained that the carpenter's work had been slipshod.
Slur: + (v) to harm somebody’s reputation by making unfair or false statements about them: She accused the journalist of
slurring the company's name./The report slurs both the teachers and students.
+ (n) an offensive term: a/an racial/homophobic/antisemitic slur/The group continued to yell slurs.
+ (n) = insult: She had dared to cast a slur on his character.
Solace = comfort: He sought solace in the whisky bottle./She turned to Rob for solace.
Solicit: to ask somebody for something, such as support, money or information; to try to get something or persuade somebody
to do something
- They were planning to solicit funds from a number of organizations./They send representatives abroad to solicit business./
Historians and critics are solicited for their opinions./ to solicit for money/ Volunteers are being solicited to assist with the
project.
Solicitous: being very concerned for somebody and wanting to make sure that they are comfortable, well or happy = attentive
- She was very solicitous for our welfare./a solicitous host
Solvent
Sombre/somber: + dark in colour = drab: dressed in sombre shades of grey and black
+ sad and serious = melancholy: Paul was in a sombre mood./The year ended on a sombre note.
Sordid:
+ not moral or honest
- It was a shock to discover the truth about his sordid past./I didn't want to hear the sordid details of their relationship.
+ very dirty and unpleasant = squalid
- people living in sordid conditions/These were the urban poor, living in the sordid back streets and alleys of prosperous
cities.
Spartan: (of conditions) simple or severe; without anything that makes life easier or more pleasant
- the spartan life of the training camp/The hotel room was somewhat spartan./They lead a spartan life, with very few
comforts and no luxuries.
Spasmodic: happening suddenly for short periods of time; not regular or continuous
- a spasmodic interest in politics/There was spasmodic fighting in the area yesterday./The training given was spasmodic and
followed no organized pattern.
Spate: a large number of things, which are usually unpleasant, that happen suddenly within a short period of time
- The bombing was the latest in a spate of terrorist attacks./a recent spate of killings/thefts
Spawn: to cause something new, or many new things, to grow or start suddenly
- The new economic freedom has spawned hundreds of new small businesses./Her death spawned countless films and
books.
Spiteful: behaving in an unkind way in order to hurt or upset somebody = malicious
- He made some very spiteful remarks to me./She was spiteful and unkind to them.
Specious: seeming right or true but actually wrong or false = misleading
- a specious argument/claim/specious allegations/promises
Spurious: false, although seeming to be real or true
- He had managed to create the entirely spurious impression that the company was thriving./Some of the arguments in
favour of shutting the factory are questionable and others downright spurious.
Spurn: to reject or refuse somebody/something, especially in a proud way
- Eve spurned Mark's invitation./The president spurned the tight security surrounding him and adopted a more intimate style
of campaigning.
Squalor: dirty and unpleasant conditions
- the poverty and squalor of the slums/He had lost his job and was living in squalor.
Squander
Stagnant: a stagnant economy/a stagnant population/The housing market has been largely stagnant over the past few months.
Staid: not fun or interesting; boring and old-fashioned
- The museum is trying to get rid of its staid image./ He was a staid man who mostly wrote about local government matters.
Stalemate: a disagreement or a situation in a competition in which neither side is able to win or make any progress = impasse
- The talks ended in (a) stalemate./ The strike has once again reached stalemate./proposals aimed at breaking (= ending) the
political stalemate
Steadfast
Stealth
Steep:
+ a steep decline in the birth rate/a steep rise in unemployment/Setting up a new business is risky and involves a steep learning
curve.
+ £4 for a cup of coffee seems a little steep to me./He wants to move in here with us? That’s a bit steep!
Stifle: to prevent something from happening; to prevent a feeling from being expressed = suppress
- She managed to stifle a yawn./They hope the new rules will not stifle creativity./The government failed to stifle the
unrest./She pressed her hand against her mouth to stifle her sobs./Stifling her impatience, she waited another half an hour.
Stigma: the social stigma of alcoholism/There is no longer any stigma attached to being divorced.
Stint: He did a stint abroad early in his career./He hated his two-year stint in the Navy./I’ve done my stint in the kitchen for
today.
Stipulate | Sterile
Stodgy: serious and boring; not exciting
- The article was rather stodgy—too many facts./The party needs to modernize its stodgy, doctrinaire image.
Stoic(al): able to suffer pain or trouble without complaining or showing what you are feeling
- her stoic endurance/his stoical acceptance of death
Stoke sth (up):
+ to make people feel something more strongly
- The publicity was intended to stoke up interest in her music./His departure stoked fears that the company is planning job
cuts.
+ to make something increase or develop more quickly
- They were accused of stoking the crisis./The measures would stoke up inflation./Increased borrowing was stoking up a
consumer boom.
Stolid: not showing much emotion or interest; remaining always the same and not reacting or changing
- Mark sat stolid and silent./She looked up at her stolid employer and wished he would unbend just a little.
Stricture:
+ a severe criticism, especially of somebody’s behaviour
- She merely ignored any strictures on the way she dressed./ The strictures of the United Nations have failed to have any
effect on the warring factions.
+ a rule or situation that limits your behaviour = restriction
- strictures against civil servants expressing political opinions/ the Taliban's strictures on women's rights and education
Strident: aggressive and determined
- He is a strident advocate of nuclear power./strident criticism
Studied: deliberate and carefully planned
- She introduced herself with studied casualness./ After a pause, he gave a studied answer./She listened to his remarks with
studied indifference.
Stultify: to make somebody feel very bored and unable to think of new ideas
- She felt the repetitive exercises stultified her musical technique so she stopped doing them./ Cults stultify their members'
critical thinking abilities.
Stupefy: to surprise or shock somebody; to make somebody unable to think clearly
- She was stupefied with cold./He was stupefied to learn that he was fired.
Stymie: = foil: He found himself stymied by an old opponent./Financial difficulties have stymied the company’s growth.
Subdued
Subjugate: to treat yourself, your wishes, or your beliefs as being less important than other people or their wishes or beliefs
- Her personal ambitions had been subjugated to (= considered less important than) the needs of her family./Reporters must
subjugate personal political convictions to their professional commitment to balance.
Sublime:
+ extremely good, beautiful, or enjoyable
- sublime beauty/a sublime combination of flavours/The book has sublime descriptive passages.
+ extreme, very great
- He possesses sublime self-confidence./ He battled on, in the sublime conviction that he was in the right.
Subordinate: less important than something else = secondary
- All other issues are subordinate to this one./The individual's needs are subordinate to those of the group.
Suborn: to pay or persuade somebody to do something illegal, especially to tell lies in court
- to suborn a witness/ The massive drug profits are used to finance operations and suborn officials.
Subservient:
+ too willing to obey other people
- The press was accused of being subservient to the government./Women were expected to take subservient roles.
+ less important than something else
- The needs of individuals were subservient to those of the group as a whole./Every consideration was subservient to the
overriding need to cut costs.
Subside | Subsidiary | Subsidy | Substantial | Substantiate
Subsistence: the state of having just enough money or food to stay alive
- to live below (the) subsistence level/They had no visible means of subsistence./subsistence agriculture/farming (= growing
enough only to live on, not to sell)/subsistence crops/He worked a 16-hour day for a subsistence wage (= enough money to
buy only basic items).
Substantive: dealing with real, important or serious matters
- substantive issues/The report concluded that no substantive changes were necessary./ Substantive research on the subject
needs to be carried out./The documents are the first substantive information obtained by the investigators.
Subterfuge: a secret, usually dishonest, way of behaving
- Journalists often use subterfuge to obtain material for stories./a political subterfuge
Succour/succor: help that you give to somebody who is suffering or having problems
- to give/bring succour to the sick and wounded/ Her organization gave succour and strength to those who had been
emotionally damaged.
Sully: + to damage or reduce the value of something: By cheating they have sullied the good name of their country.
+ to make something dirty: She wondered if she dared risk sullying the gleaming sink.
Sultry = muggy: a sultry summer afternoon/The weather was still very heavy and sultry.
Summation: a summary of what has been done or said
- What he said was a fair summation of the discussion.
Sumptuous: very expensive and looking very impressive
- a sumptuous meal/We dined in sumptuous surroundings./The interior is decorated in sumptuous reds and golds.
Supercilious: behaving towards other people as if you think you are better than they are = superior
- The dress shop assistant was very supercilious./She gave a supercilious smile.
Superflous: (formal) unnecessary or more than you need or want
- She gave him a look that made words superfluous./The report was marred by a mass of superfluous detail.
Suppose  Supposition: + The police are working on the supposition that he was murdered./All the evidence appears to
support this supposition.
+ The report is based entirely on supposition./What happened next is a matter of supposition.
Surmise: = conjecture
- From the looks on their faces, I surmised that they had had an argument./I can only surmise his reasons for acting as he
did.
Surmount: = overcome
- She was well aware of the difficulties/obstacles that had to be surmounted./The organizers of the concerts have first to
surmount the hurdle of gaining sponsorship.
Surrepititious: furtive
- She sneaked a surreptitious glance at her watch./They were seen leaving the premises in a surreptitious manner.
Sustenance:
+ the food and drink that people, animals and plants need to live and stay healthy
- There's not much sustenance in a bowl of soup./ (figurative) Arguing would only give further sustenance to his allegations.
+ the process of making something continue to exist
- Elections are essential for the sustenance of parliamentary democracy.
Symmertry: + the perfect symmetry of the garden design/The trees break the symmetry of the painting.
+ (quality being similar/equal) the increasing symmetry between men’s and women’s jobs/the symmetry between
different forces
Tacit: that is suggested indirectly or understood, rather than said in words
- tacit approval/support/knowledge/By tacit agreement, the subject was never mentioned again.
Tantamount: having the same bad effect as something else
- If he resigned it would be tantamount to admitting that he was guilty./ Her silence was tantamount to an admission of
guilt.
Tawdry: + intended to be bright and attractive but cheap and of low quality: tawdry jewellery/Their ugly front garden and
tacky, tawdry lights fail to reflect our village image.
1+
Temper: to make something less severe by adding something that has the opposite effect
- Justice must be tempered with mercy./ The hot sunny days were tempered by a light breeze./His delight was tempered by
regret.
Temperate: a country with a temperate climate
Temerity: = audacity: He had the temerity to call me a liar!
Tempestuous: They finally stopped seeing each other, ending their tempestuous relationship./ tempestuous seas
Tendentious: expressing a strong opinion that people are likely to disagree with = controversial
- tendentious political memoirs/This contention has been shown to be tendentious.
Tender (v)
Tenuous: so weak or uncertain that it hardly exists
- a tenuous hold on life/His links with the organization turned out to be, at best, tenuous.
Tepid:
+ slightly warm = lukewarm: tepid tea/She stood under the tepid shower.
+ not enthusiastic = lukewarm: The play was greeted with tepid applause./The deal drew a tepid response from shareholders.
Terse: using few words and often not seeming polite or friendly
- a terse style/"Are you feeling any better?" "No!" was the terse reply.
Testy: easily annoyed; showing this = irritable
- a testy old man/testy comments
Theme  Thematic: the thematic structure of a text
Theoretical | Therapeutic
Torpor: = lethargy
- In the heat they sank into a state of torpor.
Torrid: + (of a climate or country) very hot: a torrid summer
+ very difficult: They face a torrid time in tonight's game.
+ performing or doing something extremely well: After a few months of torrid sales, business began to settle down.
Tortuous:
+ not simple and direct; long, complicated and difficult to understand = convoluted
- tortuous language/the long, tortuous process of negotiating peace
+ (of a road, path, etc.) full of bends = winding: We went by a rather tortuous route.
Totter: to be weak and seem likely to fall
- the tottering walls of the castle/ (figurative) a tottering dictatorship
Touchstone: an established standard or principle by which something is judged
- Until relatively recently, the Japanese car industry was the touchstone of international success./ the touchstone for quality
Touch  Touchy: + = sensitive: He's a little touchy about his weight.
+ = delicate/sensitive: I can’t understand why her resignation is still such a touchy subject.
Tout: + She's being touted as the next leader of the party./Their much-touted expansion plans have come to nothing.
+ the problem of unlicensed taxi drivers touting for business at airports/He's busy touting his client's latest book around
London publishers.
Tractable: easy to deal with or control = manageable
- This approach helps to make the issues more tractable.
Transcend  Transcendent: going beyond the usual limits; extremely great
- a writer of transcendent genius/He describes seeing Pelé play football as one of the transcendent moments of his life.
Transcribe: to record thoughts, speech or data in a written form, or in a different written form from the original
- The interview was recorded and then transcribed./ How many official documents have been transcribed into Braille for
blind people?
Transgression: an act that goes beyond the limits of what is morally or legally acceptable
- His latest transgression was unforgivable./their transgression of social and cultural boundaries
Trangress: to go beyond the limit of what is morally or legally acceptable
- He transgressed the military code of honor and paid a heavy penalty./to transgress against God/your neighbour/natural law
Transient: continuing for only a short time = fleeting, temporary
- the transient nature of speech/A glass of whisky has only a transient warming effect./The city has a large transient
population (= many people who are living in it only temporarily).
Transitory: = transient (1)
- the transitory nature of his happiness/These feelings of resentment tend to be transitory.
Transmute: = transform
- It was once thought that lead could be transmuted into gold./My initial feelings of anger have now transmuted into a sense
of sorrow and frustration.
Travail: an unpleasant experience or situation that involves a lot of hard work, difficulties and/or pain
- the travails of life in post-war Britain/the recent travails of the airline industry
Tremulous: shaking slightly because you are nervous; causing you to shake slightly = trembling
- a tremulous voice/He was in a state of tremulous excitement.
Trenchant: (of criticism, remarks, etc.) expressed strongly and effectively, in a clear way = incisive
- His most trenchant criticism is reserved for the party leader, whom he describes as "the most incompetent and ineffectual
the party has known"./Dorothy Parker's writing is characterized by a trenchant wit and sophistication.
Intrepid  Trepidation: great worry or fear about something unpleasant that may happen
- He knocked on the door with some trepidation./ We view future developments with some trepidation.
Trifling: (FML) trivial: trifling details/It was such a trifling sum of money to argue about!
Trite: expressed too often to be interesting or seem sincere = banal
- His lyrics about love and peace are too trite for me./I know it will sound trite, but I've loved being part of this club.
Truculent: tending to argue or become angry; slightly aggressive
- ‘What do you want?’ he asked, sounding slightly truculent./ a truculent teenager
Tumult:
+ a confused situation in which there is usually a lot of noise and excitement, often involving large numbers of people
- the tumult of war/A tumult of shouting and screaming came from within the house.
+ a state in which your thoughts or feelings are confused
- He was shaken by the tumult of his feelings./a troubled mind in tumult
Turbulence
Turmoil: emotional/mental/political turmoil/His statement threw the court into turmoil./Her mind was in (a) turmoil./She felt
much calmer after the turmoil of recent weeks.
Tutelage:
+ the teaching and instruction that one person gives to another = tuition
- Under his tutelage, she started reading widely again.
+ the state of being protected or controlled by another person, organization or country
- parental tutelage/A new regime was installed under French tutelage.
Tycoon: a person who is successful in business or industry and has become rich and powerful
- a business/property/media tycoon/Tapie, business tycoon and football club owner, was appointed Minister for Cities.
Tyranny | Ubiquitous | Ulterior
Unaccountable:
+ impossible to understand or explain = inexplicable
- There has been an unaccountable increase in cases of the disease./For some unaccountable reason, the letter never arrived.
+ not having to explain or give reasons for your actions to anyone
- Too many government departments are unaccountable to the general public.
Unanimous  Unanimity: complete agreement about something among a group of people
- There is unanimity in the party on all issues./We won’t all agree, but we need to achieve a degree of unanimity.
Assume  Unassuming: = modest
- He did some wonderful work in a quiet and unassuming way./He has won public affection for his unassuming style.
Unconscionable:
+ (of an action, etc.) so bad, immoral, etc. that it should make you feel ashamed
- It would be unconscionable for her to keep the money./To make people feel shame or guilt for being ill is unconscionable.
+ (often humorous) too great, large, long, etc. = excessive
- You take an unconscionable amount of time getting dressed!
Bend  Unbend: to relax and become less strict or formal in your behaviour or attitude
- He could be fun if he’d unbend a little./ I'd hoped that after a glass or two of wine she might unbend a little.
Uncouth: rude or socially unacceptable = coarse
- uncouth laughter/an uncouth young man
Underscore: to emphasize or show that something is important or true
- His speech underscored the need for a clear policy./The report underscored that the project enjoyed considerable support in
both countries./It should be underscored that these are only preliminary findings.
Undulating
Unequivocal: = unambiguous
- an unequivocal rejection/The answer was an unequivocal ‘no’.
Unerring: always right or accurate ( Unerringly: his unerringly accurate intuition)
- She had an unerring instinct for a good business deal./He could predict with unerring accuracy what the score would be.
Fathom  Unfathomable: too strange or difficult to be understood
- an unfathomable mystery/We are confronted with the unfathomable nature of human motivation.
Fetter  Unfettered: not limited in any way
- an unfettered free market/unfettered by regulations
Gain  Ungainly: moving in a way that is not smooth or attractive = awkward
- I felt very ungainly in the diving suit./ Ducks are ungainly on land.
Impeach  Unimpeachable: that you cannot doubt or question
- evidence from an unimpeachable source/A spokesman said the Bishop was a man of unimpeachable integrity and
character.
Inhibit  Uninhibited: behaving or expressing yourself freely without worrying about what other people think = unrestrained
- uninhibited dancing/The students we spoke to were surprisingly uninhibited in talking about such sentitive matters./She
gave a loud, uninhibited laugh.
Unkempt: = dishevelled
- greasy, unkempt hair/The children were unwashed and unkempt./a wild and unkempt garden
Unmitigated: The evening was an unmitigated disaster./You’re talking complete and unmitigated rubbish.
Unobtrusive: not attracting unnecessary attention
- The service at the hotel is efficient and unobtrusive./ Make-up this season is unobtrusive and natural-looking.
Unpalatable:
+ (of facts, ideas, etc.) unpleasant and not easy to accept = distasteful
- Only then did I learn the unpalatable truth./unpalatable facts of war
+ not pleasant to taste: unpalatable food/The insects store this chemical in their bodies in order to make themselves unpalatable
to predators.
Unprepossessing | Unruly | Unscathed
See  Unsightly: = ugly: an unsightly scar/unsightly factories
Unsolicited: not asked for and sometimes not wanted
unsolicited advice/The record company receives dozens of unsolicited demo tapes each week.
Unstinting | Untenable | Unwarranted
Wield  Unwieldy: (of an object) difficult to move or control because of its size, shape or weight
- The first mechanical clocks were large and rather unwieldy./The tool's long handle made it unwieldy.
Upbraid: = reproach: In newspaper articles she consistently upbraided those in authority who overstepped their limits.
Upshot: = outcome: The upshot of it all was that he left college and got a job./ The upshot of the discussions was that no one
will be laid off.
Usurp: to take somebody’s position and/or power without having the right to do this
- Democratically elected representatives should not be usurped by pressure groups./He attempted to usurp the principal's
authority./She is scheming to take my place and usurp my power.
Vacuous
Vagrant: (n) a person having no home/job, especially one who begs (= asks for money) from people/ (adj) having no home/job
- a vagrant beggar/The accused was a vagrant who travelled around, sleeping in parks and bus shelters.
Valour | Vapid | Vehement
Vantage (point):
+ a position from which you watch something
- The cafe was a good vantage (point) for watching the world go by.
+ a point in time or a situation from which you consider something, especially the past
- From the vantage point of the present, the war seems to have achieved nothing./ I asked him how, from his vantage point,
the media have changed over the years.
Velocity: the speed of something in a particular direction
- the velocity of light/to gain/lose velocity/a high-velocity rifle
Venal: prepared to do things that are not honest or moral in return for money = corrupt
- venal journalists/a venal regime/They are accused of being involved in venal practices.
Vendetta: a long argument or campaign in which one person or group does or says things to harm another
- He has accused the media of pursuing a vendetta against him./She conducted a personal vendetta against me.
Veneer: an outer appearance of a particular quality that hides the true nature of somebody/something
- Her veneer of politeness began to crack./He concealed his darker side behind a veneer of respectability./He managed to
acquire a thin veneer of knowledge to mask his real ignorance.
Venerable: people or things deserve respect because they are old, important, wise, etc.
- The president was a venerable old man with white hair and a gracious manner./The academy is considered a venerable
institution./The country has a venerable tradition of hospitality.
Venerate
Venial: (of a sin or mistake) not very serious and therefore able to be forgiven
- a venial sin/error/ Similarly, simple venial mistakes or lapses in professionalism may be distinguished from those
egregiously unprofessional behaviors that warrant serious remediation or dismissal.
Veracity: the quality of being true; the habit of telling the truth = truth, truthfulness
- They questioned the veracity of her story./ Doubts were cast on the her veracity.
Verbatim
Verbose: using or containing more words than are needed = long-winded
- a verbose speaker/style/Much academic language is obscure and verbose./The editors received streams of verbose articles
from young hopeful journalists.
Vestige: + = trace: the last vestiges of the old colonial regime
+ usually used in negative sentences, to say that not even a small amount of something exists
- There's not a vestige of truth in the rumour./ His report offered not a vestige of comfort.
Vicarious: felt or experienced by watching or reading about somebody else doing something, rather than by doing it yourself
- He got a vicarious thrill out of watching his son score the winning goal./ She took vicarious pleasure in her friend's
achievements.
Vicissitude | Vie | Vigilance | Vilify
Vindicate: + =justify: The decision to include Morris in the team was completely vindicated when he scored two goals./The
investigation vindicated her complaint about the newspaper.
+ to prove that somebody is not guilty when they have been accused of doing something wrong or illegal
- New evidence emerged, vindicating him completely./They said they welcomed the trial as a chance to vindicate
themselves.
Vindictive: showing a strong and unreasonable desire to harm or upset somebody because you think that they have harmed you
- In the movie "Cape Fear", a lawyer's family is threatened by a vindictive former prisoner./a vindictive comment
Virulent
Visecral: resulting from strong feelings rather than careful thought
- visceral fear/hatred/excitement/She had a visceral dislike of all things foreign.
Visionary: having the ability to imagine how something will develop in the future
- She has long been recognized as a visionary leader in the green technology sector.
Vitriolic: (of language or comments) full of anger and hate = bitter
- The newspaper launched a vitriolic attack on the president./ He does not deserve the vitriolic criticism he has received.
Vituperative: criticizing in a cruel and angry way = abusive, scathing
- Miss Snowden yesterday launched a vituperative attack on her ex-boss and former lover.
Vivacious: (especially of a woman) having a lively, attractive personality
- He had three pretty, vivacious daughters./She appeared to be her old, vivacious self again.
Vociferous: vociferous protests/a vociferous critic of the president’s stance
Vogue
Volition: the power to choose something freely or to make your own decisions = free will
- They left entirely of their own volition./The singer wished it to be known that he had left the band (out) of his own
volition.
Voluble: talking a lot, and with enthusiasm, about a subject
- Evelyn was very voluble on the subject of women's rights.
Vortex: a very powerful feeling or situation that you cannot avoid or escape from
- They were caught up in a whirling vortex of emotion./I was sucked into a vortex of despair.
Waffle:
+ to talk or write using a lot of words but without saying anything interesting or important
- The principal waffled on about exam results but no one was listening./If you want to sound professional—don’t waffle.
+ to be unable to decide what to do about something or what you think about something
- The senator was accused of waffling on major issues./I waffled a lot before finally deciding to take the job.
Waive: to choose not to demand something in a particular case, even though you have a legal or official right to do so = forgo
- He waived his right to appeal against the verdict./We have decided to waive the tuition fees in your case.
Wallow: to enjoy something that causes you pleasure
- She wallowed in the luxury of the hotel./to wallow in despair/self-pity (= to think about your unhappy feelings all the time
and seem to be enjoying them)
Wanton: causing harm or damage deliberately and for no acceptable reason
the wanton killing of innocent creatures/a wanton disregard for safety/wanton extravagance
Watershed
Welter: a large and confusing amount of something
a welter of information/We are reducing the company's welter of development projects and will streamline sales and
marketing.
Wheedle: = coax: The kids can always wheedle money out of their father./ She wheedled me into lending her my new coat.
Whimsical: unusual and not serious in a way that is either funny or annoying
to have a whimsical sense of humour/Much of his writing has a whimsical quality.
Willful: +(of a bad or harmful action) done deliberately, although the person doing it knows that it is wrong
willful damage/I think he showed a willful disregard for safety.
+ = headstrong: a willful child
Wily: clever at getting what you want, and willing to trick people = cunning
The boss is a wily old fox./He was outwitted by his wily opponent.
Wither: to become less or weaker, especially before disappearing completely
All our hopes just withered away./ Public interest in the scandal will not wither away any time soon.
Withhold | Withstand
Worldly : + >< spiritual
+ having a lot of experience of life and therefore not easily shocked: At 15, he was more worldly than his older
cousins who lived in the country.
Wrench: to make somebody feel great pain or unhappiness, especially so that they make a sound or cry
His words wrenched a sob from her./a wrenching experience/Her words wrenched at my heart.
Wry: + showing that you think something is funny but also disappointing or annoying
‘At least we got one vote,’ she said with a wry smile./He pulled a wry face when I asked him how it had gone.
+ funny in a way that shows irony
It's a wry comedy about family life./a wry comment/The film takes a wry look at the British class system.
Yen: a strong desire = longing: I've always had a yen to travel around the world.
Yoke: rough treatment or something that limits your freedom and makes your life very difficult to bear
the yoke of imperialism/Young people often chafe under the yoke of parental control.