C2 Unit 54: Describing things 6
17 C2 words: ponderously, patchily, luridly, drabness, indiscrete, opulently… Learn them in 4 steps, then review them every day.
Word list
| Word | Meaning | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ponderously adv | ponderouslyin a slow and heavy way | The old elephant walked ponderously across the dusty field.The old elephant walked ponderously across the dusty field. | |
| patchily adv | patchilyin an uneven way, with some parts missing | The sun shone patchily through the clouds all afternoon.The sun shone patchily through the clouds all afternoon. | |
| luridly adv | luridlyin a bright, shocking and unnatural way | The sunset glowed luridly over the stormy sea.The sunset glowed luridly over the stormy sea. | |
| drabness n | drabnessdull, colourless quality | The drabness of the grey streets made Anna long for colour.The drabness of the grey streets made Anna long for colour. | |
| indiscrete adj | indiscretenot careful in what you say | Omar’s indiscrete remark in the meeting made everyone feel uncomfortable.Omar’s indiscrete remark in the meeting made everyone feel uncomfortable. | |
| opulently adv | opulentlyin a rich, luxurious way | The palace was opulently decorated with gold and silk.The palace was opulently decorated with gold and silk. | |
| unfeasibly adv | unfeasiblyto a degree that makes it impossible | The test was unfeasibly difficult for children of that age.The test was unfeasibly difficult for children of that age. | |
| superfluously adv | superfluouslyin a way that is more than needed | Anna superfluously explained the rule twice, though everyone understood.Anna superfluously explained the rule twice, though everyone understood. | |
| calamitously adv | calamitouslyin a way that causes great trouble | The plan went calamitously wrong, and the party ended early.The plan went calamitously wrong, and the party ended early. | |
| amorphously adv | amorphouslyin a way that has no clear shape | The cloud spread amorphously across the sky, without any clear shape.The cloud spread amorphously across the sky, without any clear shape. | |
| anticlimactically adv | anticlimacticallyin a disappointing way after great excitement | The long match ended anticlimactically in a quiet draw.The long match ended anticlimactically in a quiet draw. | |
| arcanely adv | arcanelyin a mysterious way known to few | The old woman spoke arcanely about stars, and no one understood her.The old woman spoke arcanely about stars, and no one understood her. | |
| deficiently adv | deficientlyin a way that is not good enough | The plant grew deficiently because the soil had too few minerals.The plant grew deficiently because the soil had too few minerals. | |
| stultifyingly adv | stultifyinglyin a way that makes you dull | The lecture was stultifyingly boring, and half the class fell asleep.The lecture was stultifyingly boring, and half the class fell asleep. | |
| undiminishing adj | undiminishingnot becoming smaller or weaker | Her undiminishing enthusiasm kept the whole team working until midnight.Her undiminishing enthusiasm kept the whole team working until midnight. | |
| unexceptionally adv | unexceptionallyin an ordinary way, with nothing special | The singer performed unexceptionally, so the audience forgot the show quickly.The singer performed unexceptionally, so the audience forgot the show quickly. | |
| unobtrusiveness n | unobtrusivenessthe quality of not attracting attention | The unobtrusiveness of the waiter made the dinner calm and pleasant.The unobtrusiveness of the waiter made the dinner calm and pleasant. |