C1 · Advanced

Precise & Formal Verbs — C1 English Vocabulary

This C1 vocabulary list gathers 60 advanced English words about precise & formal verbs — sharp, formal verbs for fluent writing. Every word comes with its British-English pronunciation and a natural example sentence, so you learn each one in real context. When you are ready, open the flashcards to practise and remember them for good.

  1. ameliorate/əˈmiː.li.ə.reɪt/

    “Reforms may ameliorate the problem.”

  2. assuage/əˈsweɪdʒ/

    “Nothing could assuage her grief.”

  3. placate/pləˈkeɪt/

    “He tried to placate the crowd.”

  4. mollify/ˈmɒl.ɪ.faɪ/

    “She tried to mollify the angry client.”

  5. stifle/ˈstaɪ.fəl/

    “He tried to stifle a yawn.”

  6. quash/kwɒʃ/

    “The court will quash the verdict.”

  7. thwart/θwɔːt/

    “They thwart his every plan.”

  8. impede/ɪmˈpiːd/

    “Debt can impede growth.”

  9. hinder/ˈhɪn.də/

    “Snow may hinder travel.”

  10. hamper/ˈhæm.pə/

    “Fog will hamper the search.”

  11. obstruct/əbˈstrʌkt/

    “Do not obstruct the exit.”

  12. curtail/kɜːˈteɪl/

    “They had to curtail spending.”

  13. curb/kɜːb/

    “Laws curb air pollution.”

  14. constrain/kənˈstreɪn/

    “Budgets constrain his choices.”

  15. relinquish/rɪˈlɪŋ.kwɪʃ/

    “He had to relinquish control.”

  16. forsake/fəˈseɪk/

    “She would never forsake a friend.”

  17. renounce/rɪˈnaʊns/

    “He chose to renounce the throne.”

  18. disavow/ˌdɪs.əˈvaʊ/

    “They disavow any link.”

  19. abolish/əˈbɒl.ɪʃ/

    “They will abolish the tax.”

  20. foment/fəˈment/

    “They tried to foment unrest.”

  21. spur/spɜː/

    “Praise can spur effort.”

  22. impel/ɪmˈpel/

    “Duty seemed to impel him.”

  23. compel/kəmˈpel/

    “Hunger can compel action.”

  24. prod/prɒd/

    “We had to prod him into action.”

  25. entice/ɪnˈtaɪs/

    “Low prices entice buyers.”

  26. lure/lʊə/

    “Bright lights lure tourists.”

  27. beguile/bɪˈɡaɪl/

    “Her smile can beguile anyone.”

  28. captivate/ˈkæp.tɪ.veɪt/

    “The story will captivate children.”

  29. enthral/ɪnˈθrɔːl/

    “The dancers enthral the crowd.”

  30. mesmerise/ˈmez.mə.raɪz/

    “The flames mesmerise him.”

  31. dispel/dɪˈspel/

    “Facts can dispel a myth.”

  32. dissipate/ˈdɪs.ɪ.peɪt/

    “The fog began to dissipate.”

  33. disperse/dɪˈspɜːs/

    “Police made the crowd disperse.”

  34. dispense/dɪˈspens/

    “Machines dispense the tickets.”

  35. allot/əˈlɒt/

    “They allot each child a desk.”

  36. apportion/əˈpɔː.ʃən/

    “We must apportion the blame.”

  37. consign/kənˈsaɪn/

    “They consign old files to storage.”

  38. relay/ˈriː.leɪ/

    “Please relay my thanks.”

  39. impart/ɪmˈpɑːt/

    “Teachers impart knowledge.”

  40. instil/ɪnˈstɪl/

    “Coaches instil discipline.”

  41. inculcate/ˈɪn.kʌl.keɪt/

    “Schools inculcate good habits.”

  42. beget/bɪˈɡet/

    “Violence tends to beget violence.”

  43. spawn/spɔːn/

    “Hit films often spawn sequels.”

  44. catalyse/ˈkæt.ə.laɪz/

    “The crisis may catalyse reform.”

  45. hasten/ˈheɪ.sən/

    “Stress can hasten illness.”

  46. prolong/prəˈlɒŋ/

    “Drugs can prolong life.”

  47. truncate/trʌŋˈkeɪt/

    “They had to truncate the talk.”

  48. abridge/əˈbrɪdʒ/

    “Editors abridge the novel.”

  49. condense/kənˈdens/

    “Please condense the report.”

  50. distil/dɪˈstɪl/

    “She can distil a complex idea.”

  51. encapsulate/ɪnˈkæp.sjə.leɪt/

    “A slogan can encapsulate an idea.”

  52. personify/pəˈsɒn.ɪ.faɪ/

    “She seems to personify calm.”

  53. typify/ˈtɪp.ɪ.faɪ/

    “These cars typify the era.”

  54. characterise/ˈkær.ək.tər.aɪz/

    “Bold colours characterise her work.”

  55. circumscribe/ˈsɜː.kəm.skraɪb/

    “Rules circumscribe his power.”

  56. subsume/səbˈsjuːm/

    “Such terms subsume many ideas.”

  57. supplant/səˈplɑːnt/

    “Phones supplant cameras.”

  58. eclipse/ɪˈklɪps/

    “Newcomers may eclipse the old stars.”

  59. overshadow/ˌəʊ.vəˈʃæd.əʊ/

    “Scandal can overshadow success.”

  60. surpass/səˈpɑːs/

    “She hopes to surpass her rival.”