B2-C1 Vocabulary Builder

Having more than one possible meaning, making it unclear or confusing

The instructions were ambiguous, so many students did the exercise differently.

Having mixed or opposing feelings about someone or something at the same time

She felt ambivalent about moving abroad because she was both excited and nervous.

Very clever at understanding situations and making good decisions quickly

The astute businesswoman noticed the opportunity before anyone else did.

Very interesting or persuasive in a way that is hard to ignore

The documentary was so compelling that we watched it without a break.

A difference between two things that should be the same

There was a discrepancy between his written score and his oral test result.

A noticeable and often unfair difference between two or more things

There is a large disparity in income between the richest and poorest families.

To gradually become smaller, fewer, or weaker

Their savings began to dwindle after months without work.

Difficult to find, catch, or achieve

After years of practice, fluency in English still felt elusive to him.

Very powerful, impressive, or difficult to deal with

The team faced a formidable opponent in the championship game.

Certain to happen and impossible to avoid

When dark clouds appeared, rain seemed inevitable.

Paying very careful attention to every small detail

She was meticulous about checking her work before handing it in.

To make something harmful or serious less severe or painful

The city planted trees to mitigate the effects of air pollution.

Seeming reasonable or likely to be true

The student gave a plausible excuse for arriving late to class.

Dealing with problems in a practical and sensible way rather than following strict rules

A pragmatic manager finds solutions that work rather than worrying about perfect methods.

Very common or widespread in a particular area or at a particular time

Colds are especially prevalent during the winter months.

The ability to recover quickly from difficult situations

Her resilience after losing her job impressed everyone who knew her.

To examine something very carefully and thoroughly

The teacher scrutinized each student's essay for grammar mistakes.

Not obvious or easy to notice; very small or slight

There is a subtle difference in meaning between these two words.

Very weak, thin, or uncertain; not firmly based

The connection between the two events was tenuous and hard to prove.

Seeming to appear everywhere at the same time

Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern society.