C2 Unit 22: Describing things 1
18 C2 words: wholly, pedestrian, bogus, constrained, notoriously, opaque… Learn them in 4 steps, then review them every day.
Word list
| Word | Meaning | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| wholly/ˈhoʊli/ adv | whollycompletely | The two reports are wholly different in their conclusions.The two reports are wholly different in their conclusions. | |
| pedestrian/pəˈdɛstriən/ adj | pedestriandull and not original | The movie was good, but the ending felt rather pedestrian.The movie was good, but the ending felt rather pedestrian. | |
| bogus/ˈboʊɡəs/ adj | bogusfalse, not real | The police warned about bogus emails asking for passwords.The police warned about bogus emails asking for passwords. | |
| constrained/kənˈstreɪnd/ adj | constrainedlimited or held back | Lucy felt constrained by the small budget for the party.Lucy felt constrained by the small budget for the party. | |
| notoriously/noʊˈtɔriəsli/ adv | notoriouslyin a way well known for being bad | The mountain road is notoriously difficult in winter.The mountain road is notoriously difficult in winter. | |
| opaque/oʊˈpeɪk/ adj | opaquenot clear; impossible to see through | The window was made of opaque glass, so nobody could see in.The window was made of opaque glass, so nobody could see in. | |
| all-encompassing/ɔl ɛnˈkʌmpəsɪŋ/ adj | all-encompassingincluding everything | It was an all-encompassing report that covered every detail.It was an all-encompassing report that covered every detail. | |
| ostensibly/ɑˈstɛnsəbli/ adv | ostensiblyapparently, but not truly | He was ostensibly at work, but he was really at the beach.He was ostensibly at work, but he was really at the beach. | |
| impeccable/ˌɪmˈpɛkəbəl/ adj | impeccableperfect, without any fault | Anna’s manners at dinner were impeccable.Anna’s manners at dinner were impeccable. | |
| meticulous/məˈtɪkjələs/ adj | meticulousvery careful about small details | The meticulous clerk checked every number twice.The meticulous clerk checked every number twice. | |
| arduous/ˈɑrdʒuəs/ adj | arduousdifficult and tiring | The climb up the steep mountain was long and arduous.The climb up the steep mountain was long and arduous. | |
| rife/raɪf/ adj | rifevery common and widespread | Rumors were rife in the office before the announcement.Rumors were rife in the office before the announcement. | |
| instantaneous/ˌɪnstənˈtæniəs/ adj | instantaneoushappening immediately | The effect of the medicine was almost instantaneous.The effect of the medicine was almost instantaneous. | |
| diligently/ˈdɪlədʒəntli/ adv | diligentlyin a careful, hard-working way | Sam worked diligently every evening to finish his report.Sam worked diligently every evening to finish his report. | |
| abundantly/əˈbʌndəntli/ adv | abundantlyin large amounts; very much | It was abundantly clear that the plan would not work.It was abundantly clear that the plan would not work. | |
| meticulously/məˈtɪkjələsli/ adv | meticulouslyin a very careful way | The editor meticulously checked every line of the article.The editor meticulously checked every line of the article. | |
| utilitarian/juˌtɪləˈtɛriən/ adj | utilitariandesigned to be useful, not attractive | The chairs were utilitarian, simple and strong but not beautiful.The chairs were utilitarian, simple and strong but not beautiful. | |
| jarring/ˈdʒɑrɪŋ/ adj | jarringunpleasant and shocking | The loud horn was a jarring sound in the quiet street.The loud horn was a jarring sound in the quiet street. |