Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Vocab IELTS Band 8 Writing
Vocab IELTS Band 8 Writing
callous
chide
circumspect
clandestine
coerce
coherent
complacency
confidant
connive
(v.) to plot, scheme (She connived to get me to give up my
plans to start up a new business.)
cumulative
debase
decry
deferential
demure
deride
despot
elated
eloquent
embezzle
empathy
enmity
erudite
extol
(v.) to praise, revere (Kamila extolled the virtues of a
vegetarian diet to her meat-loving boyfriend.)
fabricate
feral
flabbergasted
forsake
fractious
furtive
gluttony
(n.) overindulgence in food or drink (Helen’s fried
chicken tastes so divine, I don’t know how anyone can
call gluttony a sin.)
gratuitous
haughty
hypocrisy
impeccable
impertinent
implacable
impudent
(adj.) casually rude, insolent, impertinent
(The impudent young woman looked her teacher up
and down and told him he was hot.)
incisive
indolent
inept
infamy
inhibit
innate
insatiable
intrepid
inveterate
jubilant
knell
lithe
lurid
maverick
maxim
meticulous
modicum
morose
myriad
nadir
nominal
(adj.) trifling, insignificant (Because he was moving the
following week and needed to get rid of his furniture
more than he needed money, Kim sold everything for
a nominal price.)
novice
nuance
oblivious
obsequious
obtuse
panacea
penchant
perusal
plethora
predilection
quaint
rash
refurbish
(v.) to restore, clean up (After being refurbished the
old Triumph motorcycle commanded the handsome
price of $6000.)
repudiate
rife
salient
serendipity
staid
superfluous
sycophant
truculent
umbrage
venerable
vex
vociferous
wanton
zenith
1. affectation
a deliberate pretense or exaggerated display
2. complacent
contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions
Paul believes the medical advances made in treating HIV over the past decade have led to
people becoming more complacent and taking more risks.
= self-satisfied
3. concomitant
an event or situation that happens at the same time
= co-occurrence
> subsequent
4. culpable
deserving blame or censure as being wrong or injurious
But the state is even more culpable, making bad decisions about the design of the
program, particularly the contractual requirements related to field testing.New York
Times (Jun 26, 2012)
5. depravity
moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles
6. espouse
choose and follow a theory, idea, policy, etc.
- adopt, embrace
7. galling
causing irritation or annoyance
The high pay phone costs in Germany are particularly galling for many troops because
they can call home from combat areas for much less.New York Times (Mar 2, 2012)
= annoying, irritating
8. hallmark
a distinctive characteristic or attribute
And within those types, they found hallmark genetic changes that are driving many
cancers.
9. ignominious
deserving or bringing disgrace or shame
After an ignominious two years, the program was scrapped.BusinessWeek (Nov 4, 2011)
10. nefarious
extremely wicked
According to my “hospitality insider,” nefarious guest activities are only becoming more
foul and disturbing.Slate (Jul 3, 2012)
= villainous
11. nonchalant
marked by blithe unconcern
= unconcerned, casual
12. mitigate
make less severe or harsh
Here are a few ways to mitigate problems and frustrations.Nature (Jul 5, 2012)
= lighten, palliate,
13. perpetuate
cause to continue or prevail
Many accused the show of mocking Islam and perpetuating racial stereotypes.
14. propensity
a natural inclination
Most unfortunate, and misleading, are the links these reporters imply between military
service, mental health and an increased propensity for extreme violence.New York
Times (Jul 3, 2012)
15. reconcile
come to terms
Fighting and reconciling is a major part of any healthy relationship.Slate (Apr 24, 2012)
= harmonise
16. scapegoat
someone who is punished for the errors of others
“Our folks are so angry and frustrated about being used as a scapegoatthat they’re
going to continue to engage in this battle.”New York Times (Jun 9, 2012)
17. squander
spend thoughtlessly; throw away
= spend extravagantly
18. supersede
take the place or move into the position of
Company officials say they hoped to see a national sales tax law in place that
will supersede state laws.
= replace
19. ludicrous
inviting ridicule
20. latent
potentially existing but not presently evident or realized
= potential, possible
> inactive (not presently active)