TOEFL Vocabulary List - C


  1. CABAL  Dictionary lookup   

    : A small group of persons engaged in plotting - a cabal of prominent persons united to overthrow the government.

    Synonyms: junto, faction

  2. CACOPHONOUS  Dictionary lookup   

    : Unharmonious sounding - a cacophonous blare of trumpets, noisy and discordant.

    Synonyms: dissonant, discordant, blatant, strident, raucous Antonyms: mellifluous, euphonious, dulcet

  3. CADAVEROUS  Dictionary lookup   

    : Corpselike; hence, haggard, pale -His face appeared cadaverous from long imprisonment.

    Synonyms: ghastly, gaunt, pallid (noun: pallor), wan, ashen

  4. CALLOUS  Dictionary lookup   

    : Unfeeling or insensitive - made callous by long suffering.

    Synonyms: insensible, obdurate

  5. CANDID  Dictionary lookup   

    (noun: CANDOR): Frank, outspoken; impartial a candid reply that could hardly be more forthright.

    Synonyms: artless, ingenuous, unbiased

    Antonyms: guileful, evasive

  6. CANTANKEROUS  Dictionary lookup   

    : Ill-natured; quarrelsome – showed a cantankerous and sullen disposition.

    Synonyms:petulant, peevish, contentious, pugnacious, testy, choleric, fretful

    Antonyms:amiable, affable, equable

  7. CAPRICIOUS  Dictionary lookup   

    : Inclined, through some whim or fancy change the mind, purpose, or actions suddenly - a capricious person, undependable in mood or temper.

    Synonyms:fickle, fitful, changeable, erratic, inconstant, crotchety, whimsical, mercurial

    Antonyms:steadfast, constant, even-tempered

  8. CAPTIOUS  Dictionary lookup   

    : Quick to find fault about trifles- a captious critic pouncing on slight laws.

    Synonyms:hypercritical, carping, carviling, censorious

  9. CARICATURE  Dictionary lookup   

    : A picture or other description of a person which exaggerates ludicrously one or more of his distinctive features - not a realistic portrait but a malicious caricature.

    98. CASTIGATE: To punish or criticize severely - castigated for using improper language.

    Synonyms:reprove, upbraid, reprehend, censure, reprimand, chasten

    Antonyms:commend, eulogize, laud

  10. CELESTIAL  Dictionary lookup   

    : Pertaining to the sky; heavenly-a celestial pageant of bright stars.

    Synonyms:ethereal; (noun) firmament

  11. CHAUVINIST  Dictionary lookup   

    . An extreme patriot-a chauvinist with most pride in his country.

    Synonym:jingoist

  12. CHICANERY  Dictionary lookup   

    : Trickery, deception,- practised chicanery all his shady dealings.

    Synonyms:duplicity, craft, stratagem, wile, subterfuge

  13. CHRONIC  Dictionary lookup   

    : Continuing a long time; habitual-a. chronic complaint, persisting for years.

    Synonyms:persistent, unremitting, inveterate, incessant, constant

    Antonyms:intermittent, sporadic, infrequent

  14. CIRCUMSPECT  Dictionary lookup   

    : Cautious - looked about him circumspectly.

    Synonyms:prudent, vigilant, discreet, wary

    Antonyms:rash, indiscreet, reckless, precipitate, foothardy, temerarious, headstrong

  15. CIRCUMVENT  Dictionary lookup   

    : To gain an advantage by the use of trick to evade by the use of deception; to go around - circumvented the law by evasive practices.

    Synonyms:thwart, balk, outwit, delude

  16. CIVIL  Dictionary lookup   

    :

    1. Of or having to do with citizens or the state - We I civil duties as well as civil liberties.
    2. Polite, courteous - answered in a civil fashion.

      Synonyms: respectful, gracious

    106. CLAMOROUS: Loud and noisy - a clamorous outburst the crowd outside.

    Synonyms: vociferous, obstreperous, blatant, raucous, strident

    Antonyms: muted, quiet

  17. CLANDESTINE  Dictionary lookup   

    : Secret; stealthy - a clandestine meeting known only to a few.

    Synonyms: furtive, covert, surreptitious

    Antonyms: overt, manifest, above-board

  18. CLEMENT  Dictionary lookup   

    : Merciful; gentle - a clement judge who tempered justice with leniency.

    Synonyms: compassionate, forbearing

    Antonyms: relentless, ruthless

  19. COALITION  Dictionary lookup   

    (verb: COALESCE): Alliance; merging of various units into one unit - three parties forming a coalition to rule the country.

    Synonyms: amalgamation, consolidation, fusion

  20. COERCION  Dictionary lookup   

    : Compelling a person by physical force or other means to do something against his will - rendered his services without the slightest coercion.

    Synonyms: constraint, restraint, impelling

  21. COGENT  Dictionary lookup   

    : Having the force to compel, usually by appealing to reason - persuaded by cogent arguments.

    Synonym: persuasive

  22. COLLUSION  Dictionary lookup   

    : Working together secretly for an evil purpose - acted in collusion to overthrow the government.

    Synonyms: collaboration, conspiracy, conniving, machination

  23. COMMODIOUS  Dictionary lookup   

    : Roomy - a commodious apartment.

    Synonyms: spacious, capacious, ample

  24. COMPATIBLE  Dictionary lookup   

    : Harmonious; able, to get along together parted company because they were not compatible.

    Synonyms: congruous, consistent

    Antonyms: incongruous, discordant, incompatible

  25. COMPENDIUM  Dictionary lookup   

    (adj.: COMPENDIOUS): A brief summary of the main ideas of a larger work - a compendium of chemistry in a slim volume.

    Synonyms: synopsis, digest, precis, abstract, epitome

  26. COMPENSATION  Dictionary lookup   

    : Payment for services - just compensation for his labor.

    Synonyms: stipend, remuneration, recompense, emolument

  27. COMPLACENT  Dictionary lookup   

    : Self-satisfied - looked on his own performance with a complacent smile.

    Synonym: smug

  28. COMPUNCTION  Dictionary lookup   

    : Regret for wrongdoing - displayed slight compunction for his misdeed.

    Synonyms: contrition, penitence, atonement, remorse, qualm

  29. CONCEDE  Dictionary lookup   

    : To yield; to admit as true; to grant - conceded victory to a superior force.

    Synonyms: acquiesce, capitulate

  30. CONDIGN  Dictionary lookup   

    : Well-deserved (applied chiefly to punishment) - received condign punishment for his crime.

    121. CONDOLE (noun: CONDOLENCE): To express sympathy with another in sorrow, pain, or misfortune - condoled with each other in their grief.

    Synonyms: commiserate, show compassion, solace

  31. CONFEDERATE  Dictionary lookup   

    (noun): A person allied with others for a special purpose (frequently a bad one) - joined his confederate in secret enterprise.

    Synonyms: collaborator, accomplice

    (adj.): United or allied in a conspiracy - two confederate groups hurrying to their rendezvous.

  32. CONGENIAL  Dictionary lookup   

    :

    (1) Possessing similar interests and tastes; able to get on well with others - congenial people with similar backgrounds.

    Synonym: compatible

  33. CONJECTURE  Dictionary lookup   

    : To guess - Without facts, we can only conjecture about his guilt.

    Synonyms: surmise, presume

  34. CONSECRATE  Dictionary lookup   

    :

      (1) To set apart as sacred - consecrate the battlefield with a monument to the dead heroes. Synonyms: hallow, sanctify Antonym: desecrate

      (2) To devote or dedicate to some aim - consecrated his life to teaching.

    1. CONSENSUS  Dictionary lookup   

      . General agreement - The consensus of the committee was that no action should be taken.

        Synonym: accord

      128. CONSTERNATION: Amazement; lack of courage caused by fearful prospect - The threat struck deep consternation into John.

        Synonyms: dismay, bewilderment

      129. CONSTRUE (noun: CONSTRUCTION): To interpret, explain the sense of, or analyze - construed the statement to his own advantage.

      130. CONSUMMATE (adj.): Perfect or highly accomplished - achieved with consummate skill.

        Antonyms: botched. bungled, inept

        (verb): To complete, bring to perfection - consummated the deal without delay.

      131. CONTEMPTUOUS: Expressive of contempt (an emotion involving anger and disgust) - cast a contemptuous look at his subordinate.

        Synonyms: supercilious, scornful, disdainful, contumelious

      132. CONVIVIAL: Festive; gay - a convivial party.

        Synonyms: jovial, jocund, mirthful

        Antonyms: lugubrious, dolorous, mirthless

      133. COPIOUS: Plentiful - shed copious tears at the bad news.

        Synonyms. profuse, bountiful, abundant

        Antonyms: meager, scant

      134. CORPULENT: Fat - corpulent due to excessive eating.

        Synonyms: obese, portly

        Antonyms: gaunt, lank, emaciated, peaked

      135. COSMOPOLITAN (noun): One who is at home in all countries - A cosmopolitan can feel at ease anywhere in the world.

        (adj.): Free from local prejudices - a world-wide traveler, cosmopolitan in tastes and attitudes.

        Synonyms: Catholic

        Antonyms: parochial, provincial

      136. COTERIE: A group of people joined by common interests a coterie of select friend.

        Synonym: clique

      137. COUNTENANCE (noun): A face - His countenance expressed his complete disgust.

        Synonym: visage

      1. CRASS  Dictionary lookup   

        : Coarse and stupid - displayed crass ignorance.

          Synonym: gross

        139. CRAVEN (noun): Coward - the deed of a craven, motivated by fear.

          Synonym. Poltroon

        1. CURT  Dictionary lookup   

          : Rudely abrupt -offended by the curt response.

            Synonyms: blunt, brusque, bluff

            Antonyms: affable, civil

          152. CYNICAL: Sneeringly distrustful of the good motives or conduct of others - belittled the hero with a cynical remark.

            Synonyms: sarcastic, surly

          153. DEARTH: Scarcity - a dearth of news, brought about by censorship.

            Antonyms: plethora, abundance

          154. DEFERENCE: Submitting to the wishes or judgment of another - yielded out of deference to the old man.

            Synonyms: respect, complaisance, veneration

            Antonym: recalcitrance

          155. DEITY: A god -The sun was a deity to ancient peoples.

            Synonym: divinity

          156. DELECTABLE: Very pleasing - a delectable meal, tastefully prepared.

          157. DELETE: To erase or cancel, take out or remove - deletedan offensive phrase.

            Synonyms: expunge, censor, efface, eradicate

          158. DELINEATE: To sketch or portray - striking features, delineated by a master artist.

          159. DELINQUENT (noun): An offender - found to be a delinquent by the court.

            (adj.): Failing to fulfill an obligation - too many people who are delinquent in meeting their civic duties.

            Synonym: derelict