There are TWO versions. THIS is the one with the
FIRST LETTER and NUMBER of letters shown.
REFERENCE
LISTS
INTERMEDIATE
s??????ous
- using or given to coarse language - vulgar and nasty - containing obscenities, abuse, or slander - expressing unfair or false criticism that is likely to damage someone's reputation
"These accusations are s??????ous lies and I refute them absolutely."
"slanderous" would also work (better without the 'lies'), but slander is a specific offence of saying
lies about someone that might damage their reputation. If you slander someone you risk being sued!
scurrilous / [ˈskʌr.ə.ləs]
- using or given to coarse language - vulgar and nasty - containing obscenities, abuse, or slander - expressing unfair or false criticism that is likely to damage someone's reputation
"These accusations are scurrilous lies and I refute them absolutely."
"slanderous" would also work (better without the 'lies'), but slander is a specific offence of saying
lies about
someone
that might damage their reputation. If you slander someone you risk being sued!
c????????ous
touchy - grouchy - frequently complaining and arguing - usually older men!
"Some people tend to get grouchy andc????????ousas they age, especially men!"
cantankerous / [ˌkænˈtæŋ.kər.əs]
touchy - grouchy - frequently complaining and arguing - usually older men!
"Some people tend to get grouchy andcantankerousas they age, especially men!"
f?????ous
attempting to be funny or to appear clever about a serious subject
- "The claim that the EU is in any way democratic is surely f?????ous!"
- "In the army you learn very fast never to make a f?????ous remark to an officer."
facetious / [fəˈsiː.ʃəs]
attempting to be funny or to appear clever about a serious subject
- "The claim that the EU is in any way democratic is surely facetious!"
- "In the army you learn very fast never to make a facetious remark to an officer."
h?????ous
very and even hysterically funny
- "That joke he told at the wedding was a bit risqué, but most people found it h?????ous."
- "The meal was noisy and h?????ous. Tom was on top form with his usual jokes and pranks."
- "h????ity is not really something I associate with funerals!"
hilarious / [hɪˈleə.ri.əs]
very and even hysterically funny
- "That joke he told at the wedding was a bit risqué, but most people found it hilarious."
- "The meal was noisy and hilarious. Tom was on top form with his usual jokes and pranks."
- "Hilarity is not really something I associate with funerals!"
noun: hilarity
a????ous
long - physically demanding - difficult
- "The climb to the summit was long and a????ous - but completely worthwhile."
- "The NASA training programme for space flight is extremely demanding and a????ous."
latin:"Per ??????????ad astra." "Through struggle to the stars." ("Hard work can achieve miracles.")
arduous / [ˈɑː.dʒu.əs]
long - physically demanding - difficult
- "The climb to the summit was long and arduous - but completely worthwhile."
- "The NASA training programme for space flight is extremely demanding and arduous."
latin:"Per ardua ad astra."
"Through struggle to the stars." ("Hard work can achieve miracles.")
p?????ous
great in ability, amount, size or strength
- “Agatha Christie wrote a truly p?????ous number of novels.”
- “He had a p?????ous appetite for both women and drink.”
- “Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is perhaps the best example of a child musical p???igy.”
noun: a p???igy (a gifted child)
prodigous / [prəˈdɪdʒ.əs]
great in ability, amount, size or strength
- “Agatha Christie wrote a truly prodigious number of novels.”
- “He had a prodigious appetite for both women and drink.”
- “Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is perhaps the best example of a child musical prodigy.”
noun: a prodigy / (a gifted child)
s??????ous
astonishing - terrific - prodigious - very impressive
especially by being large in amount or size
- "Whichever way you look at it the moon landings were a s??????ous achievement."
- "The views from the summit were breathtakingly s??????ous."
stupendous / [stjuːˈpen.dəs]
astonishing - terrific - prodigious - very impressive
especially by being large in amount or size
- "Whichever way you look at it the moon landings were a stupendous achievement."
- "The views from the summit were breathtakingly stupendous."
u??????ous
extremely common - seeming to be everywhere
- "From the sky to the water, blue is one of the most u??????ous colors in nature."
- "By the late ’60s, the pill was all but u??????ous."
- "Mobiles are now u??????ous. On the underground in Japan 80% of the passengers
are staring at their mobile!"
ubiquitous / [/juːˈbɪk.wɪ.təs]
extremely common - seeming to be everywhere
- "From the sky to the water, blue is one of the most ubiquitous colors in nature."
- "By the late ’60s, the pill was all but ubiquitous."
- "Mobiles are now ubiquitous. On the underground in Japan 80% of the passengers
are staring at their mobile!"
p??????ous
of children = showing mental development
or achievement much earlier than usual
- “She was a p??????ous child and was admittted to Oxford at the age of 15."
- “A p??????ous child behaves as if they are much older than they are.”
~
- “P??????ous puberty is a medical condition causing children to mature sexually at a very early age.”
precocious / [prɪˈkəʊ.ʃəs]
of children = showing mental development
or
achievement much earlier than usual
- “She was a precocious child and was admittted to Oxford at the age of 15."
- “A precocious child behaves as if they are much older than they are.”
- “Precocious puberty is a medical condition causing children to mature sexually at a very early age.”
p???????ous
likely to result in success, or showing signs of success
- "With the economy in recession, it was not a p??????ous time to start a company."
- "Circumstances could hardly have been less p??????ous for a strike."
propitious / [prəˈpɪʃ.əs]
likely to result in success, or showing signs of success
- "With the economy in recession, it was not a propitious time to start a company."
- "Circumstances could hardly have been less propitious for a strike."
p?????????ous
weak and cowardly - frightened of taking risks
hesitant - putting something off through hesitation
- "He's too p?????????ous to stand up to his opponents."
- "The manager's repeated p?????????ous decision-making led to a decline in company morale."
- "P?????????ity is not exactly something I associate with Elon Musk!"
noun: p????????????
pusillanimous / [ˌpjuː.sɪˈlæn.ɪ.məs]
weak and cowardly - frightened of taking risks
hesitant - putting something off through hesitation
- "He's too pusillanimous to stand up to his opponents."
- "The manager's repeated pusillanimous decision-making led to a decline in company morale."
- "Pusillanimity is not exactly something I associate with Elon Musk!"
noun: pusillanimity
g????ous
having very serious effects or causing great pain (or grief!)
- "The early death of James Dean was a g????ous loss to Hollywood."
- "He was charged with GBH (g????ous bodily harm), the maximum punishment for which is 5 years."
- "He was g????ously wounded in the accident."
grievous / [ˈɡriː.vəs]
having very serious effects or causing great pain (or grief!)
- "The early death of James Dean was a grievous loss to Hollywood."
- "He was charged with GBH (grievous bodily harm), the maximum punishment for which is 5 years."
- "He was grievously wounded in the accident."
n?????ous
describes morally suspect or even potentially criminal activities - dodgy
- "The company had been caught red-handed indulging in a variety
of n?????ous practices, and the share price plummeted as a result."
- "The most n?????ous cults sometimes are the ones hidden in plain sight.
nefarious / [nəˈfeə.ri.əs]
describes morally suspect or even potentially criminal activities - dodgy
- "The company had been caught red-handed indulging in a variety
of nefarious practices, and the share price plummeted as a result."
- "The most nefarious cults sometimes are the ones hidden in plain sight.
f????ous
superficial - uninformed - crass - inane - not correct - not carefully considered
- "The f????ous questions that the audience members asked after the lecture suggested to the
oceanographer that they had understood little."
- "His f????ous comment about the weather showed that he had no understanding of meteorology."
fatuous / [fætʃ.u.əs]
superficial - uninformed - crass - inane - not correct - not carefully considered
- "The fatuous questions that the audience members asked after the
lecture suggested to the
oceanographer that they had understood little."
- "His fatuous comment about the weather
showed
that he had no understanding of meteorology."
p???ous
very bad - dangerous - uncertain - difficult
- "Relations between the two countries have been in a p???ous state for some time."
- "I'd like to buy a new car, but my finances are in such a p???ous state that I can't afford to."
parlous / [ˈpɑː.ləs]
very bad - dangerous - uncertain - difficult
- "Relations between the two countries have been in a parlous state for some time."
- "I'd like to buy a new car, but my finances are in such a parlous state that I can't afford to."
f?????ous
easily upset or annoyed - and often complaining - cantankerous
- "The inexperienced teacher found the f?????ous students difficult to control."
- "The f?????ous child would not listen to a word his mother said."
fractious / [ˈfræk.ʃəs]
easily upset or annoyed - and often complaining - cantankerous
- "The inexperienced teacher found the fractious students difficult to control."
- "The fractious child would not listen to a word his mother said."
f?????ous
behaving in a silly way - not taking something seriously
wasting time on something of little or no importance
- "I feel like doing something completely f?????ous today."
- "F?????ous lawsuits are driving up the price of healthcare."
- "I don't have time to waste on such f???????ies."
- "People with more money than sense often waste their time and money on f???????ies."
frivolous / [ˈfrɪv.əl.əs]
behaving in a silly way - not taking something seriously
wasting time on something of little or no importance
- "I feel like doing something completely frivolous today."
- " Frivolous lawsuits are driving up the price of healthcare."
- "I don't have time to waste on such frivolities."
- "People with more money than sense often waste their time and money on frivolities."
noun: frivolity / [frɪˈvɒl.ə.ti]
m??????ous
very careful and precise in a task and
paying
great attention to the fine details
- "The complicated operation required many hours of m??????ous preparation."
- "Martha is a m??????ous housekeeper - woe betide you if you leave something out of place!"
meticulous / [məˈtɪk.jə.ləs]
very careful and precise in a task and
paying great attention to the fine details
- "The complicated operation required many hours of meticulous preparation."
- "Martha is a meticulous housekeeper - woe betide you if you leave something out of place!"
v?????ous
eager to consume a lot of something, especially food
- "He has a v?????ous appetite." (= he eats a lot)
- "He's a v?????ous reader of historical novels." (= he reads a lot of them eagerly and quickly)
voracious /[vəˈreɪ.ʃəs]
eager to consume a lot of something, especially food
- "He has a voracious appetite." (= he eats a lot)
- "He's a voracious reader of historical novels." (= he reads a lot of them eagerly and quickly)
b????ous
1) feeling sick though an excess of b??? in the stomach
- a feeling of wanting to vomit 2) nasty - unpleasant - sick-making
- "I felt a little b???ous after last night's seafood dinner."
- "Our b???ous neighbour is well known in the neighbourhood for his general grumpiness."
- "The dog was afraid of its invariably b???ous owner."
bilious / [ˈbɪl.i.əs]
1) feeling sick though an excess of bile in the stomach
- a feeling of wanting to vomit 2) nasty - unpleasant - sick-making
- "I felt a little bilious after last night's seafood dinner."
- "Our bilious neighbour is well known in the neighbourhood for his general grumpiness."
- "The dog was afraid of its invariably bilious owner."
noun: bile / [baɪl]
f??????ous
- somewhat overly fussy - paying a lot of attention to small details
- wanting everything to be correct and perfect
- "I admit to being f??????ous about the way the dinner-table is set: it has to be done just right."
- "Will the Council give us an assurance that the charges will not be unnecessarily high and will
not include bureaucratic and f??????ous extras?
fastidious /[fæsˈtɪd.i.əs]
- somewhat overly fussy - paying a lot of attention to small details
- wanting everything to be correct and perfect
- "I admit to being fastidious about the way the dinner-table is set: it has to be done just right."
- "Will the Council give us an assurance that the charges will not be unnecessarily high and will
not include bureaucratic and fastidious extras?
t?????ous
- holding tightly onto something
- holding and/or keeping an opinion in a determined way
- "There has been t?????ous local opposition to the new airport." (fierce/determined)
- "I admire his t?????ity: most people would have given up by now. (staying power)
tenacious / [təˈneɪ.ʃəs]
- holding tightly onto something
- holding and/or keeping an opinion in a determined way
- "There has been tenacious local opposition to the new airport." (fierce - determined )
- "I admire his tenacity: most people would have given up by now. (staying power)
noun: tenacity / [təˈnæs.i.ti]
p??????ous
1) wanting to start an argument or fight
2) expressing an argument or opinion very forcefully
- "Our neighbour was angry and p??????ous, but I tried to calm him down."
- "Do try to be calm and reasoning, not your usual p??????ous and combative self!"
pugnacious / [pʌɡˈneɪ.ʃəs]
1) wanting to start an argument or fight
2) expressing an argument or opinion very forcefully
- "Our neighbour was angry and pugnacious, but I tried to calm him down."
- "Do try to be calm and reasoning, not your usual pugnacious and combative self!"
noun: pugnacity / [pʌɡˈnæs.ə.ti]
p????ous
arrogant - full of self-importance - taking oneself too seriously
- "He's a p????ous old prig who's totally incapable of taking a joke."
- "Certain famous actors can sometimes sound a little p????ous when they talk about acting."
- "His p????sity can be hard to take sometimes."
pompous / [pɒm.pəs]
arrogant - full of self-importance - taking oneself too seriously
- "He's a pompous old prig who's totally incapable of taking a joke."
- "Certain famous actors can sometimes sound a little pompous when they talk about acting."
- "His pomposity can be hard to take sometimes."
noun: pomposity / [pɒmˈpɒs.ə.ti]
a?????ous
bold - brave - courageous - daring- adventurous
- "Operation Market Garden was certainly a?????ous, but sadly proved to be a bridge too far."
- "Your idea is certainly a?????ous, but is it also foolhardy? Time will tell."
- "Criticising the Chairman certainly took some a????ity!"
noun: audacity / [ɑːˈdæs.ə.t̬i]
audacious / [ɔːˈdeɪ.ʃəs]
bold - brave - courageous - daring- adventurous
- "Operation Market Garden was certainly audacious, but sadly proved to be a bridge too far."
- "Your idea is certainly audacious, but is it also foolhardy? Time will tell."
- "Criticising the Chairman certainly took some audacity!"
noun: audacity / [ɑːˈdæs.ə.t̬i]
c?????ous
spacious - with plenty of space inside
- "She put her notebook and pen back into her c?????ous handbag."
- "The new model car is even more comfortable and c?????ous."
able to include a lot of different things:
- "Her creative, c?????ous brain was always brimming with ideas."
- "Our organization is diverse, c?????ous and open to all."
capacious / [kəˈpeɪ.ʃəs]
spacious - with plenty of space inside
- "She put her notebook and pen back into her capacious handbag."
- "The new model car is even more comfortable and capacious."
able to include a lot of different things:
- "Her creative, capacious brain was always brimming with ideas."
- "Our organization is diverse, capacious and open to all."
a?????ous
showing hard work, care and attention to detail
- "The government has been a?????ous in the fight against inflation."
- "A consistently a?????ous student deserves to succeed."
assiduous / [əˈsɪdʒ.u.əs]
showing hard work, care and attention to detail
- "The government has been assiduous in the fight against inflation."
- "A consistently assiduous student deserves to succeed."
s?????ous
arduous - needing or using a lot of
physical or mental effort and/or energy
- "He rarely does anything more s?????ous than changing the channels on the television."
- "After his heart attack his doctor advised him not to do anys?????ous exercise."
- "The government mades?????ous efforts during the war to hide the scale of civilian casualties.
strenuous / [stren.ju.əs]
arduous - needing or using a lot of
physical
or mental effort and/or energy
- "He rarely does anything more strenuous than changing the channels on the television."
- "After his heart attack his doctor advised him not to do any strenuous exercise."
- "The government made strenuous efforts during the war to hide the scale of civilian casualties.
r????ous
extremely thorough and careful
scrupulously following the correct procedures
- "Our products are r????ously tested before being put on the market."
- "The application procedure is r????ous but fair."
rigorous / [ˈrɪɡ.ər.əs]
extremely thorough and careful
scrupulously following the correct procedures
- "Our products are rigorously tested before being put on the market."
- "The application procedure is rigorous but fair."
noun:rigour / [ˈrɪɡə] medical: rigor mortis = the stiffness of a corpse
r?????ous
having or showing a strong wish to take things for
yourself, usually using unfair methods or force
- "Having a r?????ous, bloodsuckinglandlord can be very stressful."
- "Herr?????ousappetite for fame made her a lot of enemies."
rapacious / [rəˈpeɪ.ʃəs]
having or showing a strong wish to take things for
yourself, usually using unfair methods or force
- "Having a rapacious, bloodsucking landlord can be very stressful."
- "Herrapaciousappetite for fame made her a lot of enemies."
