2 Thematic Vocab Upper Sec Final by Sufi Ashirah & Vincent

Thematic Vocbulary List for WRITING
Technology / Social Media

Word
Class
adjective
adjective
Word
susceptible (-)
intrinsic
Simple
Synonym
at risk
basic
adjective
prolifieration (+)
creation
adjective
attributed
credited
adjective
disincentive (-)
deterrent
adjective
authentic (+)
genuine
adjective
detrimental (-)
harmful
adjective
blatant (-)
obvious
adjective
10 adjective
potential (+)
possible
furtive
secretive
11 adjective
judicious
sensible
12 adjective
considerable (+)
substantial
13 adjective
inconsequential
unimportant
14 adjective
capricious
15 adjective
dire (-)
unpredictable
urgent
16 adjective
17 adverb
rampant
widespread
inevitably
certainly
18 noun
bewilderment
confusion
19 noun
repercussion (-)
consequence
20 noun
predicament
(-)
difficulty
21
noun
statistics
figures
22
noun
solitude (-)
loneliness
23
noun
demeanour
manner
24
noun
duress (-)
pressure

Word
Class
Simple
Synonym
Word
25
noun
masquerade
pretence
26
noun
access (+)
right to use
27
verb
infringe (-)
violate
28
noun
boon (+)
benefit
29
verb
fetter (-)
bind
30
verb
harass (-)
bully
31
verb
contend (+)
deal with
32
verb
hoodwink (-)
deceive/
to trick or mislead
33
verb
culminate
34
verb
jeopardise (-)
35
verb
coerce (-)
force
36
verb
oppress
harass
result in /
end in
endanger/ threaten

37
verb
distort
38
adjective
resilient (+)
quick to recover
39
verb
stimulate (+)
rouse
40
verb
feature (+)
41
noun
antiquity
42
adjective
43
noun
enthralled (+)
intricacies
misrepresent
showcase
ancient times
fascinated
complexities
44
verb
exploit (-)
45
noun
dexterity (+)
46
noun
ruse (-)
47
noun
gamut (+)
48
adverb
49
adjective
paradoxically (+)
spellbound (+)
abuse
skilfulness
trick
range
surprisingly
enthralled
50
adjective
obscure
unknown
What do the signs mean?

(+)
POSITIVE CONNOTATION
(-)
NEGATIVE CONNOTATION
nothing
NEUTRAL OR
WORD COULD BE USED WITH POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE CONNOTATIONS
Social Media
Educat
Definition / USE in a sentence
Word
Class
likely to be influenced or affected by something:

The scientists estimated that 20,000 more
adjective
people were becoming susceptible to measles
every month.
being part of the nature or character of

someone or something: The job is of little
intrinsic interest.
adjective
Word
lacklustre (-)
surpassing (+)
With the proliferation of applications and

tools on the internet, computer users are
sometimes spoilt for choice with the
affordances of technology.
adjective
exempt
to say that a situation or event is caused by

something: The fall in the number of deaths
from heart disease is generally attributed to
improvements in diet.
adjective
momentous (+)
something that tries to stop people from doing

something: The biggest disincentive to spend adjective
is the fear of debt.
imperative (+)
done or made in the traditional or original way:

authentic Chinese food
adjective
vital (+)
causing harm or damage: Smoking is

detrimental to health.
adjective
paramount (+)
something bad that is blatant is very clear and

easy to see, but the person responsible for it
does not seem embarrassed or ashamed: a
blatant abuse of power
adjective
insular (-)
a potential customer, problem, effect etc is not a

customer, problem etc yet, but may become one
in the future: The agents were eager to impress adjective
potential buyers; a potential threat to national
security
innate
behaving as if you want to keep something

secret: There was something furtive about his adjective
appearance
established (+)
Education
done in a sensible and careful way: a judicious
choice
adjective
phenomenal
(-)
fairly large, especially large enough to have an

effect or be important: She has considerable
influence with the President
adjective
daunting (-)
not important; insignificant: He made a few

inconsequential remarks before moving on to adjective
the next guests.
excruciating (-)
likely to change your mind suddenly or behave in

an unexpected way: as capricious and
adjective
manipulative as her mother had been
impassive (-)
extremely serious, bad or terrible: He was in dire

trouble and he knew it. Dire consequences:
adjective
Increasing fuel prices will have dire
consequences for the poor
indefatigable (+)
something bad that is rampant, such as crime or

disease, is widespread and difficult to control:
adjective
The country faces famine and rampant
disease / rampant inflation
as was certain to happen and could not be
prevented: It could only be handled in that
manner. Inevitably, we had overlooked a few
points.
adjective
a feeling of being very confused
noun
the results of an action or event, especially a bad

one, that continue to have an effect for some
time, in complicated and unexpected ways: The adjective
break-up of communism has had world-wide
repercussions.
rampant
appropriate
stature
lucid (+)
a difficult or unpleasant situation in which you do

not know what to do, or you have to make a
noun
difficult choice: There is no painless way out of
America's current economic predicament.
threshold
a collection of numbers which represent facts or measurements:

Statistics on illness are used in planning health care.
verb
engender
the state of being alone especially when this is what you enjoy:
She wished for the solitude of her house on the lake.
noun
equity (+)
the way someone behaves or looks that gives you a general idea
of their character: There was certainly a large element of irony noun
in his demeanour.
formal illegal or unfair threats : under duress (=using unfair
threats): The confession was obtained under duress.
noun
juncture
critic
Social Media
Educat
Word
Class
Word
a way of behaving or speaking that hides your true thoughts or

feelings: She didn't really love him, but she kept up the
masquerade for years.
noun
duress
the way by which you can enter a building or reach a place:

Access is by means of a small door on the right.: Access to the
restrooms is through the foyer.
noun
diversity
infringe: to do something that is against a law or someone's legal

rights: Increasing care must be taken not to infringe copyright noun
rules/ laws.
zenith (+)
something that is very useful and makes your life a lot easier: The
verb
new bus service will be a real boon to people in the village.
forge
to restrict someone's freedom and prevent them from doing what

verb
they want: fettered by family responsibilities
invalidate
to treat someone unfairly by threatening them or being

continuously unpleasant to them: Black teenagers are being
constantly harassed by the police.
verb
mull
contend with sth (phrasal verb)have to contend with sth/have sth

to contend with to have to deal with something difficult or
unpleasant: He had to contend with a lot of shouting and
jeering from the audience.
verb
perpetuate
to trick someone in a clever way so that you can get an advantage

for yourself: Be wary of scams that try to hoodwink you into
giving over sensitive information such as your bank card
verb
details and passwords, only to use your private information
against your interests.
culminate
culminate in sth phrasal verb [transitive]: if a process culminates in

something, it finally reaches the highest point of development or
verb
the most important result: a series of minor clashes culminating
in a full scale war
prohibit
to risk losing or spoiling something important or valuable: She

asked to remain anonymous in order not to jeopardise her
online status
verb
emulate
to force someone to do something they do not want to do by

threatening them : coerce sb into doing sth: The rebels coerced
the villagers into hiding them from the army.
verb
enhance (+)
to make someone feel unhappy by restricting their freedom in

verb
some way: The solitude of her little apartment oppressed her.
improvise (+)
Social Media
Educat
to explain a fact, statement, idea etc in a way that changes its real
verb
meaning: The journalist was accused of distorting the facts.
complement (+)
someone who is resilient quickly becomes healthy or happy again

after an illness, difficulty, change etc: I wouldn't worry - kids are verb
very resilient.
renounce
to encourage someone by making them excited about and

interested in something : stimulate sb to do sth: Technology,
used appropriately, can stimulate students to succeed.
verb
eradicate (+)
to show a particular person or thing in a film, magazine, show etc:

verb
an exhibition featuring paintings by contemporary artists
manifest (+)
ancient times: a tradition that stretches back into antiquity
inculcate (+)
verb
so interested that you pay a lot of attention to what you are seeing
or hearing: Richard listened, enthralled by the Captain's
verb
stories.
one of the small parts or details that together form a pattern,
system, method etc : the intricacies of: I still haven't mastered
the intricacies of the filing system.
verb
ruminate
revolutionise (+)
to treat someone unfairly in order to get money or an advantage

for yourself: People who work at home are more easily
exploited by employers.
adjective
the ability to be very quick and skilful with your hands: He used
his knife with speed and dexterity.
verb
boost (+)
a clever trick used to deceive someone: It dawned on me that

this was only a ruse, done to gain time
noun
gamut (+)
the complete range of possibilities: College life opened up a

whole gamut of new experiences.
verb
obliged (-)
in a way that is surprising because it is the opposite of what you

would expect: Paradoxically, the prohibition of liquor caused
an increase in alcoholism.
verb
manipulate
extremely interested in something you are listening to : hold sb

spellbound: The storyteller held his audience spellbound.
verb
overwhelmed (-)
imminent (-)
not at all well known and usually not very important: an obscure
personality / The exact origin of the paisley design is
obscure.
adjective
vibrant (+)

(+)
(-)
nothing
NEUTRAL OR
Education
Simple
Synonym
dull
not very exciting, impressive etc; dull:

a lacklustre performance
exceeding
literary much better than that of other people or

things:
a picture of surpassing beauty
excused
having special permission not to do something

you would normally have to do:
The interest is exempt from income tax.
a momentous event, occasion, decision etc is

very important or serious, especially because it
important (very) will have a great influence on the future: a
momentous decision was made in the interest
of the majority
important
(extremely)
extremely important and needing to be done or

dealt with immediately : it is imperative (that): It is
absolutely imperative that these safety
measures are implemented immediately.
important
(extremely)
extremely important and necessary for something

to succeed or exist: Regular exercise is vital for
your health. / play a vital role: Richardson
played a vital role in the team's success.
important
(more than
anything else)
more important than anything else: The interests

of the consumer should be paramount.
inward-looking
not interested in anything except your own group,

country, way of life etc: In today's small world,
we must guard against an insular outlook.
natural
an innate quality has been part of your character

since you were born: Donna had an innate
ability to sense when someone was unhappy.
proven
already in use or existing for a long period of

time: established anti-cancer drugs / well
established: well-established teaching
methods
remarkable
very unusual and impressive: phenomenal

strength / phenomenal economic growth
scary
frightening in a way that makes you feel less

confident: It's a daunting task, but we're
optimistic
unbearable
extremely painful, so that you are unable to move

or do something: When I bend my arm the pain
is excruciating.
unemotional
not showing any emotion or feeling: Oscar's face

remained impassive throughout the trial.
untiring
determined and never becoming tired: an

indefatigable campaigner for human rights
widespread
something bad that is rampant, such as crime or

disease, is widespread and difficult to control:
The country faces famine and rampant
disease / rampant inflation
suitable
correct or suitable for a particular time, situation,

or purpose: Your clothes are hardly
appropriate for a job interview.
reputation
the degree to which someone is admired or

regarded as important: Louis Armstrong was a
musician of world stature.
clear
expressed in a way that is clear and easy to

understand: a lucid and accurate account of
the day's events
level
the level at which something starts to happen or

have an effect: pain threshold (=the amount of
pain you can suffer before you react to it) / have a
high pain threshold (=be able to suffer a lot of
pain before you react)
produce
formal to be the cause of a situation or feeling: Racial inequality

engenders conflict.
fairness
formal a situation in which no one has an unfair advantage;

fairness: a society run on the principles of equity and justice
moment
at this juncture spoken formal at this point in an activity or period

of time: At this juncture, we would like to suggest we take a
short break.
opponent
someone who expresses strong disapproval or dislike of a person,

idea, organization etc.: He became an outspoken critic of the
country's educational policies.
Education
Simple
Synonym
pressure
formal illegal or unfair threats : under duress (=using unfair

threats): The confession was obtained under duress.
variety
a range of different people or things; variety: the cultural

diversity of the United States / a diversity of opinion
peak
the most successful point in the development of something :

reach its zenith/be at its zenith: Opera reached its zenith at
the turn of the century.
build / establish
something well
forge a relationship/alliance/links etc to develop a strong

relationship, with other groups or other countries: Gorbachev was
able to forge new links between Russia and the West.
refute
to show that something such as a belief or explanation is wrong:

The theory was invalidated by later findings.
consider
mull sth over phrasal verb [transitive : to think about a problem,

plan etc and consider it for a long time: Victor mulled over the
idea and finally decided that it made sense.
continue
to make something continue to exist for a long time: an education

system that perpetuates the divisions in our society
result in/ end
culminate in sth phrasal verb [transitive]: if a process culminates in

something, it finally reaches the highest point of development or
the most important result: a series of minor clashes culminating
in a full scale war
forbid
to officially stop an activity by making it illegal or against the rules:

Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the factory. | prohibit sb from
doing sth: Nuclear powers are prohibited from selling this
technology.
imitate
to try to be like someone else, because you admire them: The

local khans tried to emulate the art, culture, and pageantry of
the Persian courts.
improve
to improve something: The flavor of most foods can be

enhanced by good cooking.
invent
to make something by using whatever you can find because you

do not have the equipment or materials that you need: We
improvised a crude shelter using branches.
Education
match
to show up the good qualities in someone or something, or make

them seem more attractive: The white silk of her blouse
complements her olive skin perfectly
reject
to publicly say that you no longer believe in or support something:

Writers and artists were called upon to renounce all
bourgeois values.
remove
to completely get rid of something such as a disease or a social

problem: Smallpox has now been eradicated from the world.
show
to show a feeling, attitude etc: They have so far manifested a

total indifference to our concerns.
teach
to fix ideas, principles etc in someone's mind : inculcate sth in/into:

She tries very hard to inculcate traditional values into her
students.
think over
formal to think for a long time about something: He sat

ruminating deeply about/on the answer he'd been given.
transform
to completely change the way people think or do things, especially

because of a new idea or invention: New metal alloys have
revolutionized the ways cars are manufactured.
looming
an event that is imminent will happen very soon: The company is

now in imminent danger of collapse.
encourage
boost sb's confidence/morale/ego to make someone feel more

confident and less worried: He regularly phones to boost her
morale.
range
the complete range of possibilities: College life opened up a

whole gamut of new experiences.
obligated / compelled/ to make it necessary for someone to do something : be obliged to

a must to do
do sth: | feel obliged to do sth (=feel that you have a duty to do
something
something): Don't feel obliged to play if you don't want to.
influence
to make someone think and behave exactly as you want them to,
by skilfully deceiving them or influencing them: I don't like the
way she manipulates people.
overcome
if someone is overwhelmed by an emotion, they feel it so strongly

that they cannot think clearly: He was suddenly overwhelmed by
a strong feeling of his insignificance. | Grief overwhelmed me.
lively
VE CONNOTATIONS
exciting and full of activity and energy: Hong Kong is a vibrant,

fascinating city.

Elderly
S/N
Word Class
adjective
adjective
Word
susceptible (-)
contingent
Simple
Synonym
at risk
depending
adjective
desolate (-)
deserted
adjective
disincentive (-)
deterrent
adjective
exempt
excused
adjective
illustrious (+)
famous
adjective
supple
flexible
adjective
cogent (+)
clear &
persuasive
adjective
alien
foreign
10
adjective
gratuitous
(-)
unreasonable
Elderly
11
adjective
authentic
genuine
12
adjective
surly
(-)
impolite
13
adjective
preponderant
important (most)
14
adjective
momentous
important (very)
15
adjective
imperative
important
(extremely)
16
adjective
vital
important
(extremely)
17
adjective
paramount
important(more than
anything else)
18
adjective
sedentary
(-)
inactive
19
adverb
inept
(-)
incompetent
20
adjective
prone
likely to
21
adjective
moderate
reasonable
22
adjective
inexplicable
mysterious
23
adverb
legendary
mythical
24
adjective
innate
natural
Elderly
Word Class
Word
Simple
Synonym
25
adjective
blatant
(-)
obvious
26
adjective
conspicuous
obvious
27
adjective
abominable
(-)
offensive
28
adjective
derogatory
(-)
offensive
29
adjective
preposterous
(-)
outrageous
30
adjective
indigent
(-)
poor
S/N
31
adjective
logical
reasonable
32
adjective
inflexible
(-)
rigid
33
adverb
rustic
rural
34
adjective
daunting
(-)
scary
35
adjective
furtive
secretive
36
adjective
judicious
sensible
Elderly
37
noun
obdurate
(-)
stubborn
38
adverb
considerable
substantial
39
adjective
excruciating
(-)
unbearable
40
adverb
impassive
(-)
unemotional
41
adjective
redundant
unneeded
42
adjective
dire
(-)
urgent
43
noun
wrath
(-)
anger
44
noun
valour
(+)
bravery
45
noun
stature
reputation
46
noun
lucid
(+)
clear
47
noun
bewilderment
confusion
48
noun
repercussion
consequence
49
noun
predicament
(-)
difficulty
50
noun
threshold
level

(+)
(-)
nothing
NEUTRAL/ Word could be used with either positive or negative contexts.
WRITING
Elderly
Family
Word Class
likely to be influenced or affected by something:

The scientists estimated that 20,000 more
adjective
people were becoming susceptible to measles
every month.
dependent on something that is uncertain or that

will happen in the future: Further investment
would be contingent upon the company's
profit performance.
adjective
Word
Simple
Synonym
stark
complete
contemporary
current
a place that is desolate is empty and looks sad

because there are no people there and not much
activity: desolate moorland
verb
engender
produce
something that tries to stop people from doing

something: The biggest disincentive to spend
is the fear of debt.
adjective
boost (+)
encourage
straddle
include more
than 1 thing at a
time
having special permission not to do something

you would normally have to do: The interest is
exempt from income tax.
adjective
famous and admired because of what you have

achieved in the past: I would like to introduce
our illustrious guest, Professor Brookes.
adjective
abrupt (-)
acute/ sharp/
brusque
someone who is supple bends and moves easily

and gracefully: She exercises every day to keep
herself supple.
verb
fractious
(-)
irritable
something such as an argument that is cogent is

reasonable, so that people are persuaded that it
is correct : a cogent examination of facts.
verb
obscure
unknown
belonging to another country or race; foreign: an

alien culture
verb
gratuitous violence/insults/cruelty etc violence etc

that is done for no reason and causes
unnecessary harm or offence
adjective
beset
(-)
luxurious
harass
lavish
Family
done or made in the traditional or original way:
Whenever she travels to US, she would visit
the Chinatown to enjoy authentic Chinese
food
verb
distinguish
differentiate
bad-tempered, unfriendly, and often rude:

Passengers complain of frequent delays and
surly staff.
adjective
vibrant
(+)
lively
main or most important
adjective
wary
(-)
cautious
a momentous event, occasion, decision etc is very important or

serious, especially because it will have a great influence on the
future: a momentous decision
adjective
subtle
clever
verb
obliged
obligated
extremely important and needing to be done or dealt with

immediately : it is imperative (that): It is absolutely imperative
that these safety measures are implemented immediately.
extremely important and necessary for something to succeed or

exist: Regular exercise is vital for your health. | play a vital role:
Richardson played a vital role in the team's success.
adverb
paradoxically
surprisingly
verb
manipulate
influence
a sedentary job is done while sitting down, and without moving

around very much
adjective
traumatic
(-)
shocking
having no skill: an inept driver
adjective
vivid
distinct
more important than anything else: The interests of the

consumer should be paramount.
likely to do something or suffer from something, especially

something bad or harmful: Some plants are prone to a
particular disease.
verb
exploit
(-)
abuse
having opinions, or beliefs especially about politics, that are not

extreme and that most people consider reasonable or sensible:
Her views represent the moderate wing of the party. | a
moderate politician
too unusual or strange to be explained or understood: the
inexplicable disappearance of a young woman
famous and admired: the legendary Babe Ruth, one of the

greatest baseball players of all time
an innate quality has been part of your character since you were
born: Donna had an innate ability to sense when someone
was unhappy.
adjective
enthralled
(+)
fascinated
noun
intricacies
complexities
adjective
laborious
(-)
arduous
verb
muse
ponder
Elderly
Family
Word Class
Word
Simple
Synonym
something bad that is blatant is very clear and easy to see, but the
person responsible for it does not seem embarrassed or
ashamed: a blatant abuse of power
verb
inculcate
teach
someone or something that is conspicuous is very easy to notice: I

felt very conspicuous in my suit - everyone else was in jeans.
verb
ruminate
(+)
think over
extremely unpleasant or of very bad quality: abominably_adverb :

Mavis behaved abominably towards his parents.
verb
intimidate
(-)
threaten
insulting and disapproving : derogatory remark/comment/term etc:

Many 'special' or physically-handicapped people regard
`queer' as a very derogatory term.
verb
revolutionise
transform
completely unreasonable; absurd: The case on the abuse

sounds absolutely preposterous!
noun
not having much money or many possessions; poor
noun
antiquity
stigma
(-)
ancient times
shame
seeming reasonable and sensible: It's a logical site for a new

supermarket, with the housing development nearby. | a logical
conclusion
verb
articulate
express
inflexible rules, arrangements etc are impossible to change
verb
stipulate
specify
simple, old-fashioned, and not spoiled by modern developments,

in a way that is typical of the countryside: The village had a
certain rustic charm.
adjective
resilient
(+)
quick to recover
frightening in a way that makes you feel less confident: It's a

daunting task, but we're optimistic
adjective
invigorated
(+)
refreshed
behaving as if you want to keep something secret: There was

something furtive about his appearance
verb
reiterate
repeat
done in a sensible and careful way:

a judicious choice
verb
constitutes
is
Elderly
Family
unreasonably determined not to change your beliefs or feelings;

stubborn: She remained obdurate despite their pleas.
verb
alleviate
lessen
fairly large, especially large enough to have an effect or be

important: She has considerable influence with the President
verb
fetter
bind
extremely painful, so that you are unable to move or do

something: When I bend my arm the pain is excruciating.
verb
forge
build
not showing any emotion or feeling: Oscar's face remained

impassive throughout the trial.
verb
harass
(-)
bully
if you are redundant your employer no longer has a job for you :
make sb redundant: Seventy factory workers were made
redundant in the resulting cuts.
verb
mull
consider
extremely serious, bad or terrible: He was in dire trouble and he

knew it. Dire consequences: Increasing fuel prices will have
dire consequences for the poor
verb
sever
cut
formal extreme anger: fearing the wrath of God
ver
malign
(-)
defame
literary great courage, especially in war
noun
prosperity
wealth
the degree to which someone is admired or regarded as

important: Louis Armstrong was a musician of world stature.
verb
remonstrate
(-)
argue
expressed in a way that is clear and easy to understand: a lucid

and accurate account of the day's events
noun
predicament
(-)
difficulty
a feeling of being very confused
noun
threshold
level
the results of an action or event, especially a bad one, that

continue to have an effect for some time, in complicated and
unexpected ways: The break-up of communism has had worldwide repercussions.
noun
euphoria
(+)
elation
a difficult or unpleasant situation in which you do not know what to

do, or you have to make a difficult choice: There is no painless
way out of America's current economic predicament.
noun
solitude
(-)
loneliness
the level at which something starts to happen or have an effect: |

pain threshold (=the amount of pain you can suffer before you
react to it) | have a high threshold for pain(=be able to suffer a
lot of pain before you react)
ither positive or negative contexts.
noun
endurance
(+)
persistence

(+)
(-)
nothing
NEUTRAL/ Word could be used with either positive or negative co
Family
unpleasantly clear and impossible to avoid; harsh

: stark reality: The film shows the stark realities
of life in the slums
belonging to the present time; modern :

contemporary music/art/dance etc: The
contemporary beliefs and practices of many
families in our society today have indicated a
clear shift in what truly matters to people.
formal to be the cause of a situation or feeling:

Racial inequality engenders conflict.
boost sb's confidence/morale/ego to make

someone feel more confident and less worried:
He regularly phones to boost her morale.
to include different areas of activity: Her job

straddled marketing and public relations.
seeming rude and unfriendly, especially because

you do not waste time in friendly conversation;
brusque: Sorry, I didn't mean to be so abrupt.
if a baby or child is fractious, they are angry or

upset: Babies tend to be fractious when they
are teething.
not at all well known and usually not very

important: an obscure poet | The exact origin of
the paisley design is obscure.
to make someone experience serious problems

or dangers: The business has been beset with
financial problems.
very expensive, beautiful, and comfortable: The

bathroom was luxurious, with gold taps and a
thick carpet.
to be able to recognize and understand the

difference between two similar things or people:
Dogs can distinguish a greater range of
sounds than humans.
exciting and full of activity and energy: Hong
Kong is a vibrant, fascinating city.
someone who is wary is careful because they think something

might be dangerous or harmful : be wary of (doing) sth: I'm a bit
wary of driving in this fog.
someone who is subtle uses indirect methods to hide what they

really want or intend to do: Hugo didn't even try to be subtle
about it - he stared right at her.
to make it necessary for someone to do something : be obliged to

do sth: | feel obliged to do sth (=feel that you have a duty to do
something): Don't feel obliged to play if you don't want to.
in a way that is surprising because it is the opposite of what you

would expect: Paradoxically, the prohibition of liquor caused
an increase in alcoholism.
to make someone think and behave exactly as you want them to,
by skilfully deceiving them or influencing them: I don't like the
way she manipulates people.
a traumatic experience is so shocking an upsetting that it affects

you for a long time: The death of his son was the most
traumatic event in Stan's life.
vivid memories, dreams, descriptions etc are so clear that they

seem real: a vivid account of their journey across the desert

so interested that you pay a lot of attention to what you are seeing
or hearing: Richard listened, enthralled by the Captain's
stories.
laborious task/process/method etc a job or piece of work that is
difficult and needs a lot of effort: the laborious task of collating
all the evidence
to think carefully about something for a long time: He lit a
cigarette and sat musing over the problems of the world.
Family
students.
formal to think for a long time about something: He sat
ruminating about/on the answer he'd been given.
to frighten someone by behaving in a threatening way, especially

in order to make them do what you want: Buildings were
bombed in an attempt to intimidate the opposition.
revolutionized car manufacture.
ancient times: a tradition that stretches back into antiquity
a strong feeling in society that a type of behaviour is shameful:
There is a strong stigma attached to suicide. | the stigma of
alcoholism/abortion.
to express what you are thinking or feeling very clearly: muddled

emotions that I found difficult to articulate.
to say that something must be done, when you are making an

agreement or offer: stipulate that sth be done: Tony stipulated
that all expenses be refunded.

after an illness, difficulty, change etc: I wouldn't worry - kids are
very resilient.
feeling healthier, stronger, and having more energy than you did
before: He felt invigorated after his day in the country.
formal to repeat a statement or opinion in order to make your

meaning as clear as possible : reiterate that: Let me reiterate
that we have absolutely no plans to increase taxation.
to be considered to be something: Boarding a train without a
ticket constitutes a breach of the regulations.
Family
to make something less painful or difficult: a medicine to alleviate
cold symptoms | measures to alleviate poverty
to restrict someone's freedom and prevent them from doing what

they want: fettered by family responsibilities
forge a relationship/alliance/links etc to develop a strong
relationship, with other groups or other countries: Gorbachev was
able to forge new links between Russia and the West.
to treat someone unfairly by threatening them or being
continuously unpleasant to them: Black teenagers are being
constantly harassed by the police.
mull sth over phrasal verb [transitive : to think about a problem,
plan etc and consider it for a long time: Victor mulled over the
idea and finally decided that it made sense.
to cut through something, separating it into two parts, or to
become severed in this way: Martin's hand was severed in the
accident.
to say or write unpleasant things about someone that are untrue:

She had seen herself repeatedly maligned in the newspapers.
a condition of having money and everything that is needed for a

good life: an era of unparalleled peace and prosperity
formal to tell someone that you strongly disapprove of something
they have said or done: They only stopped teasing after Evans
remonstrated with/against them.
the level at which something starts to happen or have an effect: |
pain threshold (=the amount of pain you can suffer before you
react to it) | have a high pain threshold (=be able to suffer a lot
of pain before you react)
a short but extremely strong feeling of happiness and excitement:
the current state of euphoria after Ireland's amazing victory
over England last Saturday
the ability to suffer difficulties or pain with strength and patience:

The marathon really tested his endurance.
h either positive or negative contexts.

Community
Word Class
Word
Simple
Synonym
noun
strife (-)
trouble
noun
equity (+)
fairness
S/N
adjective
alleged (-)
assumed
adjective
intrinsic
basic
adjective
prolific (+)
creative
adjective
contemporary
current
adjective
imperative (+)
important
(extremely)
adjective
vital (+)
important
(extremely)
adjective
tranquil (+)
calm
10
adjective
tantamount
equal
Community
11
verb
jeopardise (-)
endanger
12
adjective
considerable
substantial
13
noun
skirmish (-)
clash
14
noun
stigma (-)
shame
15
noun
prosperity (+)
wealth
16
verb
infringe (-)
violate
17
verb
coerce (-)
force
18
verb
oppress (-)
harass
19
verb
constitutes
is
20
verb
deviate
move away
21
adjective
resilient (+)
quick to recover
22
verb
condescend (-)
talk down
23
verb
inculcate (+)
teach
24
verb
revolutionise
transform
Community
Word Class
Word
Simple
Synonym
25
noun
intricacies
complexities
26
adjective
myriad
countless
27
adjective
contradictory
inconsistent
28
noun
goodwill (+)
benevolence
29
verb
advocate
sanction
30
noun
altruism (+)
selflessness
S/N
31
noun
philanthropy (+)
humanitarianism
32
noun
regulation
law
33
adjective
universal
all-inclusive
34
noun
alliance
union
35
noun
benefactor (+)
sponsor
36
verb
empower (+)
emancipate
Community
37
noun
socialisation
learning behaviours
38
adjective
stark
complete
39
adjective
attributed
credited
40
adjective
insular
inward-looking
41
adjective
derogatory (-)
offensive
42
adjective
established
proven
43
adjective
prosaic (-)
simple
44
adjective
despotic (-)
tyrannical
45
noun
synthesis
combination
46
noun
solitude
loneliness
47
noun
demeanour
manner
48
noun
antecedent
originator
49
noun
renegade (-)
rebel
50
noun
resurgence (-)
reappearance

(+)
(-)
nothing
NEUTRAL/ Word could be used with either positive or negative contexts.
WRITING
Community
Environment
Word Class
Word
Simple
Synonym
formal trouble between two people or groups;

conflict: a time of political strife
adjective
biodegradable
recyclable
formal a situation in which no one has an unfair

advantage; fairness: a society run on the
principles of equity and justice
noun
sanctions
punishment
an alleged fact, quality etc is supposed to be true

although there is no proof that it actually is:
reports of alleged police brutality
adjective
contaminated (-)
polluted
being part of the nature or character of someone

or something: The job is of little intrinsic
interest.
noun
emissions
releases
Of an artist, author, or composer producing many

works:he was a prolific composer of operas
adjective
dazzling (+)
amazing
belonging to the present time; modern :

contemporary music/art/dance etc: an exhibition
of contemporary Japanese prints
adjective
aesthetic
artistic
extremely important and needing to be done or

dealt with immediately : it is imperative (that): It is
adjective
absolutely imperative that these safety
measures are implemented immediately.
tranquil (+)
calm
extremely important and necessary for something

to succeed or exist: Regular exercise is vital for
adjective
your health. | play a vital role: Richardson
played a vital role in the team's success.
perilous (-)
very dangerous
pleasantly calm, quiet, and peaceful: a tranquil

village scene
adjective
be tantamount to sth if an action, suggestion, plan

etc is tantamount to something, it is almost the
adjective
same thing as it: But that's tantamount to
saying poor people are criminals!
desolate (-)
deserted
sterile
germ-free
Environment
to risk losing or spoiling something important or
valuable: his life of crime jeapardised his
chances of a career
adjective
detrimental (-)
harmful
fairly large, especially large enough to have an

effect or be important: She has considerable
influence with the President
adjective
colossal
huge
a fight between small groups of soldiers, ships etc, especially one

that happens away from the main part of a battle: the cultural
differences between the Protestants and Catholics resulted in
skirmishes in Northern Ireland
adjective
toxic (-)
poisonous
a strong feeling in society that a type of behaviour is shameful:

There is a strong stigma attached to suicide. | the stigma of
alcoholism/abortion.
adjective
dilapidated (-)
rundown
a condition of having money and everything that is needed for a

good life: an era of unparalleled peace and prosperity
adjective
rustic
rural
infringe: to do something that is against a law or someone's legal

rights: Increasing care must be taken not to infringe copyright.
noun
plague (-)
disease
to force someone to do something they do not want to do by

threatening them : coerce sb into doing sth: The rebels coerced
the villagers into hiding them from the army.
noun
debris
trash
to make someone feel unhappy by restricting their freedom in

some way: The solitude of her little apartment oppressed her.
adjective
hazardous (-)
harmful
to be considered to be something: Boarding a train without a

ticket constitutes a breach of the regulations.
verb
demolish (-)
disprove
to change what you are doing so that you are not following an
expected plan, idea, or type of behaviour: The plane had to
deviate from its normal flight path.
noun
phenomenon
occurrence

after an illness, difficulty, change etc: I wouldn't worry - kids are
very resilient.
noun
catastrophe (-)
disaster
to behave as if you think you are better or more important than

other people: She'd be a better teacher if she didn't speak in
such a condescending tone to her students.
verb
desecrate (-)
insult

students.
adjective
vibrant (+)
lively

revolutionized car manufacture.
adjective
imminent (-)
looming
Community
Environment
Word Class
Word
Simple
Synonym

verb
scourge (-)
curse
literary too many to count: Myriad bright stars shone in the sky
above.
noun
uproar (-)
pandemonium
two statements, beliefs etc that are contradictory, are different and
therefore cannot both be true: The witnesses gave two
completely contradictory accounts.
noun
repercussion
consequence
Friendly, helpful, or cooperative feelings

or attitude:the scheme is dependent on goodwill between the
two sides
adverb
inevitably
certainly
Publicly recommend or support:voters

supported candidates who advocated an Assembly
adjective
opulent
wealthy
selfless concern for the well-being of others:some

may choose to work with vulnerable elderly people out of
altruism
adjective
inexhaustible
unlimited
The desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially

by the generous donation ofmoney to
good causes:he acquired a considerable fortune and
was noted for his philanthropy
noun
boon (+)
benefit
A rule or directive made and maintained by

an authority:planning regulations
verb
jeopardise (-)
endanger
Relating to or done by all people or things in the world or in

a particular group; applicable to all
cases:universal adult suffragethe incidents caused
universal concern
adjective
susceptible (-)
at risk
A union or association formed for mutual benefit, especially

between countries or organizations:a defensive alliance
between Australia and New Zealand divisions within the
alliance
adjective
chaotic (-)
disorderly
A person who gives money or other help to a person

or cause:a low-interest loan from a benefactor allowed them
to build a floor for the exhibition hall
adjective
tantamount
equal
Make (someone) stronger and more confident, especially

in controlling their life and claiming their rights:movements to
empower the poor
adjective
spectacular (+)
very impressive
Community
Environment
Make (someone) behave in a way that is acceptable to

their society:newcomers are socialized into orthodox ways
adjective
negligible
insignificant
unpleasantly clear and impossible to avoid; harsh : stark reality:

The film shows the stark realities of life in the slums
adjective
blatant
obvious
to say that a situation or event is caused by something: The fall

in the number of deaths from heart disease is generally
attributed to improvements in diet.
adjective
sporadic
random
not interested in anything except your own group, country, way of

life etc: In today's small world, we must guard against an
insular outlook.
noun
sacrilege (-)
blasphemy
insulting and disapproving : derogatory remark/comment/term etc:

Many gay men still regard `queer' as a very derogatory term.
noun
predicament (-)
difficulty
already in use or existing for a long period of time: established

anti-cancer drugs | well established: well-established
teaching methods
adjective
cosmic
extraterrestrial
boring, ordinary, or lacking in imagination: a prosaic writing style
noun
diversity
variety
using power (as a ruler) in a cruel and unfair way: The general
was a despotic leader who did not care about the well-being
of his subjects.
verb
perpetuate
continue
something such as a substance or an idea, made by combining

different things: Their beliefs are a synthesis of Eastern and
Western religions.
verb
prohibit
forbid
verb
compensate
pay
the way someone behaves or looks that gives you a general idea
of their character: There was certainly a large element of irony
in his demeanour.
verb
exploit (-)
abuse
formal an event, organization, or thing that is similar to the one

you have mentioned but existed earlier: historical antecedents
adjective
paramount (+)
important
(more than anything
else)
someone who joins an opposing side in a war, in politics etc:

renegade soldiers/troops etc: At the meeting were several
renegade Communists.
adjective
rampant (-)
widespread
the appearance again and growth of a belief or activity, especially

one that is harmful or undesirable: a resurgence of racial
violence]: a resurgence in the popularity of 60s music
ther positive or negative contexts.
noun
testament
evidence

(+)
(-)
nothing
NEUTRAL OR
nvironment
materials, chemicals etc that are biodegradable

are changed naturally by the action of bacteria
into substances that are not harmful to the
environment: When we are out camping, we
should not leave anything behind, particularly
receptables that are not biodegradable.
official orders or laws stopping trade,

communication etc with another country, as a way
of forcing its leaders to make political changes.
Impose(start using) or lift(stop) sanctions.
water, food etc that is contaminated has

dangerous or harmful things in it, such as
chemicals or poison: Several outbreaks of
infection have been traced to contaminated
food.
an amount of gas or other substance that a

machine or factory produces and sends into the
air: Britain has agreed to cut emissions of
nitrogen oxide from power stations. |
emissions of CFCs
very impressive and attractive: a dazzling

display of football skills
connected with beauty and the study of beauty:

From an aesthetic point of view, it's a nice
design.
pleasantly calm, quiet, and peaceful: a tranquil

village scene
very dangerous: a perilous journey across the

mountains
a place that is desolate is empty and looks sad

because there are no people there and not much
activity: desolate areas/ parcels of land which
can be further developed and better utilised
completely clean and not containing any bacteria:

Operations must be carried out in a sterile
environment.
causing harm or damage: Smoking is

detrimental to health.
extremely large: a colossal statue | Their secret

to success was manufacturing cheap goods
on a colossal scale.
containing poison, or caused by poisonous substances: toxic

fumes | a toxic waste dump
a dilapidated building, vehicle etc is old and in very bad condition
simple, old-fashioned, and not spoiled by modern developments,

in a way that is typical of the countryside: The village had a
certain rustic charm.
an attack of a disease that causes death and spreads quickly to a

large number of people: Europe suffered many plagues in the
Middle Ages.
all the pieces that are left after something has been destroyed in
an accident, explosion etc: The beach was littered with debris.
hazardous chemicals/waste/substances etc technical chemicals

etc that are dangerous and likely to harm people's health
to prove that an idea or opinion is completely wrong: He

demolished my argument in minutes.
something that happens or exists, especially something that is

studied because it is not understood: the phenomenon of
international terrorism | violent natural phenomena such as
hurricanes
a terrible event in which there is a lot of destruction or many

people are injured or die: the catastrophe of a worldwide
conflict | The oil spill threatens an unparalleled ecological
catastrophe.
to spoil or damage something holy: Due to deforestation, the
temple was demolished and the holy land desecrated.
exciting and full of activity and energy: Hong Kong is a vibrant,

fascinating city.
an event that is imminent will happen very soon: The company is

now in imminent danger of collapse.
nvironment
to cause a lot of harm or suffering to a place or group of people: a
country scourged by disease and war
a lot of noise or angry protest about something : be in an uproar:
The house was in an uproar, with babies crying and people
shouting.
the results of an action or event, especially a bad one, that
continue to have an effect for some time, in complicated and
unexpected ways: The break-up of communism has had worldwide repercussions.
as was certain to happen and could not be prevented: Inevitably,
we had overlooked a few points.
very rich: opulent officials in large limousines

existing in such large amounts that it can never be finished or
used up: a man of inexhaustible energy | an inexhaustible
supply of firewood
something that is very useful and makes your life a lot easier: The
new bus service will be a real boon to people in the village.
to risk losing or spoiling something important or valuable; his life

of crime jeopardised his chances of a career
susceptible to sth : likely to suffer from a particular illness or be

affected by a particular problem: Certain people are more
susceptible to stress than others.
a chaotic situation is one in which everything is happening in a

confused way: Traffic conditions tonight are chaotic.
be tantamount to sth if an action, suggestion, plan etc is

tantamount to something, it is almost the same thing as it: But
that's tantamount to saying poor people are criminals!
very impressive and exciting: a spectacular fireworks display
nvironment
too slight or unimportant to have any effect: The damage done to
his property was negligible.
something bad that is blatant is very clear and easy to see, but the
person responsible for it does not seem embarrassed or
ashamed: a blatant abuse of power
happening often but not regularly; intermittent: sporadic fighting
in the west of the city
the act of treating something holy in a way that does not show
respect: the way they trampled all over was a sacrilege.
connected with space or the universe: There was an instant
cosmic connection between us.
a range of different people or things; variety: the cultural

diversity of the United States | a diversity of opinion
to make something continue to exist for a long time: an education

system that perpetuates the divisions in our society
to officially stop an activity by making it illegal or against the rules:

Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the factory.
to pay someone money because they have suffered injury, loss or
damage :The firm agreed to compensate its workers for their
loss of earnings.
more important than anything else: The interests of the

consumer should be paramount.
something bad that is rampant, such as crime or disease, is

widespread and difficult to control: The country faces famine
and rampant disease. | rampant inflation
a testament to sth something that shows or proves something else

very clearly: The aircraft's safety record is an impressive
testament to its designers' skill.
E CONNOTATIONS

2 Thematic Vocab Upper Sec Final by Sufi Ashirah & Vincent

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2 Thematic Vocab Upper Sec Final by Sufi Ashirah & Vincent

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Thematic Vocbulary List for WRITING

Technology / Social Media

Technology / Social Media

Technology / Social Media

Technology / Social Media

What do the signs mean?

likely to be influenced or affected by something:

being part of the nature or character of

With the proliferation of applications and

to say that a situation or event is caused by

something that tries to stop people from doing

done or made in the traditional or original way:

causing harm or damage: Smoking is

something bad that is blatant is very clear and

a potential customer, problem, effect etc is not a

behaving as if you want to keep something

fairly large, especially large enough to have an

not important; insignificant: He made a few

likely to change your mind suddenly or behave in

extremely serious, bad or terrible: He was in dire

something bad that is rampant, such as crime or

a feeling of being very confused

the results of an action or event, especially a bad

a difficult or unpleasant situation in which you do

a collection of numbers which represent facts or measurements:

Definition / USE in a sentence

a way of behaving or speaking that hides your true thoughts or

the way by which you can enter a building or reach a place:

infringe: to do something that is against a law or someone's legal

to restrict someone's freedom and prevent them from doing what

to treat someone unfairly by threatening them or being

contend with sth (phrasal verb)have to contend with sth/have sth

to trick someone in a clever way so that you can get an advantage

culminate in sth phrasal verb [transitive]: if a process culminates in

to risk losing or spoiling something important or valuable: She

to force someone to do something they do not want to do by

to make someone feel unhappy by restricting their freedom in

someone who is resilient quickly becomes healthy or happy again

to encourage someone by making them excited about and

to show a particular person or thing in a film, magazine, show etc:

ancient times: a tradition that stretches back into antiquity

to treat someone unfairly in order to get money or an advantage

a clever trick used to deceive someone: It dawned on me that

the complete range of possibilities: College life opened up a

in a way that is surprising because it is the opposite of what you

extremely interested in something you are listening to : hold sb

What do the signs mean?

Definition / USE in a sentence

not very exciting, impressive etc; dull:

literary much better than that of other people or

having special permission not to do something

a momentous event, occasion, decision etc is

extremely important and needing to be done or

extremely important and necessary for something

more important than anything else: The interests

not interested in anything except your own group,

an innate quality has been part of your character

already in use or existing for a long period of

very unusual and impressive: phenomenal

frightening in a way that makes you feel less

extremely painful, so that you are unable to move

not showing any emotion or feeling: Oscar's face

determined and never becoming tired: an