C2 Unit 42: Describing things 3
18 C2 words: seedy, summarily, malleable, preeminent, haphazard, mottled… Learn them in 4 steps, then review them every day.
Word list
| Word | Meaning | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| seedy/ˈsidi/ adj | seedydirty and in poor condition | They stayed in a seedy hotel near the old station.They stayed in a seedy hotel near the old station. | |
| summarily/səˈmɛrɪli/ adv | summarilyquickly and without careful thought | The manager summarily dismissed the idea without discussion.The manager summarily dismissed the idea without discussion. | |
| malleable/ˈmæliəbəl/ adj | malleableeasily shaped or influenced | Gold is malleable and can be shaped easily.Gold is malleable and can be shaped easily. | |
| preeminent/priˈɛmənənt/ adj | preeminentbetter than all others; leading | She is a preeminent scholar in the study of languages.She is a preeminent scholar in the study of languages. | |
| haphazard/hæpˈhæzɚd/ adj | haphazardwithout order or planning | The papers lay in a haphazard pile on the desk.The papers lay in a haphazard pile on the desk. | |
| mottled/ˈmɑtəld/ adj | mottledmarked with patches of different colors | The mottled skin of the apple had green and red spots.The mottled skin of the apple had green and red spots. | |
| lurid/ˈlʊrəd/ adj | luridshocking in a way meant to excite | The magazine told a lurid tale of crime and mystery.The magazine told a lurid tale of crime and mystery. | |
| unsurpassed/ˌʌnsɚˈpæst/ adj | unsurpassedbetter than any other | The singer’s skill was unsurpassed in the whole country.The singer’s skill was unsurpassed in the whole country. | |
| incongruous/ˌɪŋˈkɔŋruəs/ adj | incongruousout of place; not fitting | A modern sofa looked incongruous in the old castle.A modern sofa looked incongruous in the old castle. | |
| opulence/ˈɑpjələns/ n | opulencegreat wealth and luxury | The palace is known for its opulence and golden halls.The palace is known for its opulence and golden halls. | |
| rickety/ˈrɪkəti/ adj | ricketyweak and likely to break | The rickety bridge swayed as we crossed it.The rickety bridge swayed as we crossed it. | |
| unadulterated/ˌʌnəˈdʌltɚˌeɪtɪd/ adj | unadulteratedpure, with nothing added | The cat looked at us with unadulterated joy.The cat looked at us with unadulterated joy. | |
| farcical/ˈfɑrsəkəl/ adj | farcicalsilly and absurd like a comedy farce | The play was a farcical comedy with mistaken identities.The play was a farcical comedy with mistaken identities. | |
| unobtrusive/ˌʌnəbˈtrusɪv/ adj | unobtrusivenot noticeable; not drawing attention | The waiter was polite but unobtrusive and let us talk.The waiter was polite but unobtrusive and let us talk. | |
| impeccably/ˌɪmˈpɛkəbli/ adv | impeccablyin a perfect way with no mistakes | The pianist played impeccably throughout the concert.The pianist played impeccably throughout the concert. | |
| nonchalantly/ˈnɑnʃəˈlɑntli/ adv | nonchalantlyin a calm way, without seeming to care | Leo nonchalantly shrugged and kept eating his lunch.Leo nonchalantly shrugged and kept eating his lunch. | |
| inexorable/ˌɪˈnɛksɚəbəl/ adj | inexorableimpossible to stop or change | The inexorable rise of the sea slowly covered the old road.The inexorable rise of the sea slowly covered the old road. | |
| hermetic adj | hermeticcompletely sealed so air cannot enter | The laboratory was a hermetic space with no air from outside.The laboratory was a hermetic space with no air from outside. |