C120 words · Advanced

Describing Things vocabulary — C1

Vocabulary for describing people and places with precision — meticulous, affable, opulent and dilapidated — contrasting a tenacious, resilient character with an obstinate one, and a bustling town with a quaint one.

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Words in this set

meticulous
/məˈtɪkjələs/
Another word for careful — checking every small detail before moving on.
Example: The auditor was meticulous, checking every receipt twice.
assertive
/əˈsɜrtɪv/
Another word for confident — saying clearly what you want without being rude.
Example: You need to be more assertive in meetings if you want your ideas heard.
tenacious
/təˈneɪʃəs/
Another word for determined — refusing to give up even when things get difficult.
Example: Despite countless setbacks, she remained tenacious in pursuing her goal.
unassuming
/ˌʌnəˈsumɪŋ/
The opposite of arrogant — modest and not wanting attention for your achievements.
Example: For someone so successful, he's remarkably unassuming about his achievements.
insular
/ˈɪnsələr/
The opposite of outgoing — keeping to your own small group and avoiding new people.
Example: Living on the remote island for years made him quite insular.
affable
/ˈæfəbəl/
Another word for friendly — warm and easy to get along with.
Example: The hotel manager was affable and eager to help every guest.
obstinate
/ˈɑbstənət/
Another word for stubborn — refusing to change your mind or plans.
Example: He stayed obstinate, ignoring everyone's advice about the risky investment.
resilient
/rɪˈzɪljənt/
Another word for strong — able to recover quickly after difficult experiences.
Example: Children can be remarkably resilient after losing someone close to them.
reticent
/ˈrɛtɪsənt/
The opposite of talkative — quiet about your own thoughts and feelings.
Example: He grew reticent whenever the conversation turned to his childhood.
insolent
/ˈɪnsələnt/
The opposite of polite — deliberately rude and disrespectful to someone in authority.
Example: The teacher sent him out for being insolent in class.
dilapidated
/dəˈlæpəˌdeɪtɪd/
Another word for old — a building falling apart from years of neglect.
Example: They bought the dilapidated farmhouse for almost nothing.
immaculate
/ˌɪˈmækjulɪt/
The opposite of dirty — spotlessly clean and perfectly tidy.
Example: Her kitchen was always immaculate, not a dish out of place.
picturesque
/ˈpɪktʃərəsk/
Another word for beautiful — a view or village that looks almost like a painting.
Example: We stopped to photograph the picturesque harbour at sunset.
bustling
/ˈbʌsəlɪŋ/
Another word for crowded — full of people, noise and movement, like a busy market.
Example: The night market was bustling with vendors and the smell of street food.
austere
/ɔˈstɪr/
The formal word for plain and without decoration, used about a room or building.
Example: The monastery's austere interior held nothing but a bed and a chair.
opulent
/ˈɑpjələnt/
The formal word for luxurious and expensive-looking, used about grand buildings and interiors.
Example: The hotel lobby was opulent, all marble floors and gold trim.
idyllic
/aɪˈdɪlɪk/
Another word for peaceful — a place so beautiful it feels almost too perfect to be real.
Example: They spent the summer in an idyllic village beside the lake.
pristine
/ˈprɪstin/
The opposite of filthy — perfectly clean, as if brand new.
Example: The cleaners left the kitchen pristine before the guests arrived.
nondescript
/ˈnɑndɪˈskrɪpt/
The opposite of striking — so ordinary it's hard to remember or describe.
Example: The suspect was last seen wearing nondescript grey clothing.
quaint
/kweɪnt/
The opposite of modern — old-fashioned in a way that feels charming rather than outdated.
Example: We stayed in a quaint cottage with a thatched roof.