C2 Unit 48: Describing things 4
18 C2 words: outmoded, haphazardly, incipient, imperceptible, unfeasible, ponderous… Learn them in 4 steps, then review them every day.
Word list
| Word | Meaning | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| outmoded/ˌaʊtˈmoʊdɪd/ adj | outmodedno longer useful or fashionable | The company still uses outmoded machines from the last century.The company still uses outmoded machines from the last century. | |
| haphazardly/ˈhæfəzɚdli/ adv | haphazardlyin a careless way without a plan | Ali haphazardly threw his clothes into the suitcase.Ali haphazardly threw his clothes into the suitcase. | |
| incipient/ˌɪnˈsɪpiənt/ adj | incipientjust beginning to appear | Anna felt the incipient signs of a cold in her throat.Anna felt the incipient signs of a cold in her throat. | |
| imperceptible/ˌɪmpɚˈsɛptɪbəl/ adj | imperceptibletoo small to be seen or noticed | There was an imperceptible change in the colour of the sky.There was an imperceptible change in the colour of the sky. | |
| unfeasible/ənˈfizəbəl/ adj | unfeasiblenot possible to do | The plan was unfeasible because it needed far too much money.The plan was unfeasible because it needed far too much money. | |
| ponderous/ˈpɑndɚəs/ adj | ponderousslow and heavy, and dull | The ponderous speech made the audience yawn and look at their watches.The ponderous speech made the audience yawn and look at their watches. | |
| virginal/ˈvɝdʒənəl/ adj | virginalpure and untouched, never used before | The writer described a virginal field of untouched white snow.The writer described a virginal field of untouched white snow. | |
| calamitous/kəˈlæmətəs/ adj | calamitouscausing great damage or disaster | The storm brought calamitous floods that destroyed many homes in the valley.The storm brought calamitous floods that destroyed many homes in the valley. | |
| cloistered/ˈklɔɪstɚd/ adj | cloisteredquiet and away from the outside world | Mia enjoyed the cloistered life of the quiet old monastery.Mia enjoyed the cloistered life of the quiet old monastery. | |
| catastrophically adv | catastrophicallyin a way that causes terrible results | The experiment failed catastrophically and the whole team had to start again.The experiment failed catastrophically and the whole team had to start again. | |
| glitzy/ˈɡlɪtsi/ adj | glitzybright, showy and expensive-looking | They went to a glitzy party in a huge, bright hotel.They went to a glitzy party in a huge, bright hotel. | |
| surreptitious/ˌsɝəpˈtɪʃəs/ adj | surreptitiousdone secretly so others do not notice | Tom took a surreptitious look at his phone during the meeting.Tom took a surreptitious look at his phone during the meeting. | |
| imperceptibly/ˌɪmpɚˈsɛptɪbli/ adv | imperceptiblyso slowly that you do not notice | The days grew imperceptibly shorter as autumn arrived.The days grew imperceptibly shorter as autumn arrived. | |
| capacious/kəˈpeɪʃəs/ adj | capacioushaving lots of room inside | Sam put everything into a capacious bag that held all his tools.Sam put everything into a capacious bag that held all his tools. | |
| unsuspected/ˌʌnsəˈspɛktɪd/ adj | unsuspectednot known or expected beforehand | The report showed an unsuspected problem in the new building.The report showed an unsuspected problem in the new building. | |
| resoundingly/rɪˈzaʊndɪŋli/ adv | resoundinglyin a very clear and complete way | The home team won resoundingly, with a score of five to zero.The home team won resoundingly, with a score of five to zero. | |
| unpromising/ənˈprɔmɪsɪŋ/ adj | unpromisingshowing little sign of a good result | The weather looked unpromising, so we stayed inside all morning.The weather looked unpromising, so we stayed inside all morning. | |
| treacherously adv | treacherouslyin a dangerous, hidden way | The icy road wound treacherously down the side of the mountain.The icy road wound treacherously down the side of the mountain. |