C1 Unit 54: Describing things 5
20 C1 words: gruelling, explosively, ludicrously, fiendish, negligently, blithely… Learn them in 4 steps, then review them every day.
Word list
| Word | Meaning | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| gruelling adj | gruellingextremely tiring and demanding | The runners completed a gruelling race across the desert in the heat.The runners completed a gruelling race across the desert in the heat. | |
| explosively/ˌɛkˈsploʊsɪvli/ adv | explosivelyvery quickly and with great force | The news spread explosively through the town within minutes.The news spread explosively through the town within minutes. | |
| ludicrously/ˈludəkrəsli/ adv | ludicrouslyin an absurd, extreme way | The shop charges ludicrously high prices for ordinary bottled water.The shop charges ludicrously high prices for ordinary bottled water. | |
| fiendish/ˈfindɪʃ/ adj | fiendishextremely clever, difficult or cruel | Tom set a fiendish puzzle that nobody in the class could solve.Tom set a fiendish puzzle that nobody in the class could solve. | |
| negligently/ˈnɛɡlɪdʒəntli/ adv | negligentlyin a careless way, without due care | The workers negligently left the gate open, and the sheep escaped.The workers negligently left the gate open, and the sheep escaped. | |
| blithely/ˈblaɪθli/ adv | blithelyin a carefree way, without thinking of consequences | Lucy blithely ignored the warning signs and walked on the ice.Lucy blithely ignored the warning signs and walked on the ice. | |
| fiddly adj | fiddlydifficult to do because it is small | Putting the tiny screws into the watch was a fiddly job.Putting the tiny screws into the watch was a fiddly job. | |
| startlingly/ˈstɑrtlɪŋˌli/ adv | startlinglyin a way that is surprising and shocking | The twins look startlingly alike, even their parents confuse them.The twins look startlingly alike, even their parents confuse them. | |
| ceaselessly/ˈsizləsli/ adv | ceaselesslywithout stopping | The phone rang ceaselessly all morning, and nobody could work.The phone rang ceaselessly all morning, and nobody could work. | |
| robustly/ˌroʊˈbʌstli/ adv | robustlyin a strong and solid way | The old bridge was robustly built and has stood for 200 years.The old bridge was robustly built and has stood for 200 years. | |
| unenviable/əˈnɛnˌviəbəl/ adj | unenviablenot wanted because it is difficult or unpleasant | Ken had the unenviable task of telling everyone the party was cancelled.Ken had the unenviable task of telling everyone the party was cancelled. | |
| dominantly adv | dominantlymostly; as the main feature | The dominantly blue room felt calm and cool in summer.The dominantly blue room felt calm and cool in summer. | |
| naturalness n | naturalnessthe quality of seeming relaxed and not artificial | The naturalness of her acting made the story feel real.The naturalness of her acting made the story feel real. | |
| impish/ˈɪmpɪʃ/ adj | impishplayfully naughty | The children gave an impish grin before running off with the ball.The children gave an impish grin before running off with the ball. | |
| recognizably/ˈrɛkəɡˌnaɪzəbli/ adv | recognizablyin a way that can be easily identified | The singer was recognizably the same man from the old photo.The singer was recognizably the same man from the old photo. | |
| fiendishly adv | fiendishlyin an extremely clever, difficult or cruel way | The inventor fiendishly planned a trap that no one could escape.The inventor fiendishly planned a trap that no one could escape. | |
| untangled adj | untangledno longer twisted or knotted | Anna sat down with the untangled wool and started to knit.Anna sat down with the untangled wool and started to knit. | |
| tediously/ˈtidiəsli/ adv | tediouslyin a long, boring way | The speaker went on tediously about taxes until everyone was asleep.The speaker went on tediously about taxes until everyone was asleep. | |
| obscurely adv | obscurelyin an unclear or hard-to-see way | The path was obscurely marked, so we missed the turn.The path was obscurely marked, so we missed the turn. | |
| chaotically adv | chaoticallyin a messy and disorganised way | The papers lay chaotically across the desk, and Ken couldn’t find his notes.The papers lay chaotically across the desk, and Ken couldn’t find his notes. |