Noun
composure
IPA /kəmˈpəʊʒə/
A calm state in which you control your emotions and behaviour, especially when a situation is stressful or upsetting.
See example sentence: composure
She took a deep breath to regain her composure.
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Adjective
judicious
IPA /dʒuːˈdɪʃəs/
Showing careful thought and good judgment when choosing an action or deciding how to use something wisely.
See example sentence: judicious
Judicious spending helped us enjoy the holiday without exceeding our budget.
Noun
perseverance
IPA /ˌpɜːsɪˈvɪərəns/
The determination to keep working towards a goal over time, even when the task is difficult or progress is slow.
See example sentence: perseverance
Learning to swim as an adult took patience and perseverance.
Adjective
ambivalent
IPA /æmˈbɪvələnt/
Having mixed or opposing feelings about someone or something, so that part of you feels positive and part feels negative.
See example sentence: ambivalent
I feel ambivalent about moving: excited by the change but sad to leave.
Adjective
affable
IPA /ˈæfəbəl/
Friendly, pleasant and easy to talk to, making other people feel welcome and comfortable in your company.
See example sentence: affable
Our affable neighbour always stops for a friendly chat.
Adjective
lucid
IPA /ˈluːsɪd/
Clearly expressed and easy to understand, especially when a piece of writing or speech explains something complicated.
See example sentence: lucid
Her lucid instructions made the new board game easy to learn.
Noun
ingenuity
IPA /ˌɪndʒɪˈnjuːɪtɪ/
The ability to think of clever, original ways to solve problems or make something work with the resources available.
See example sentence: ingenuity
With a little ingenuity, we turned an old box into a toy kitchen.
Adjective
prudent
IPA /ˈpruːdənt/
Sensible and careful when making decisions, especially because you are thinking about possible risks or what may happen later.
See example sentence: prudent
It is prudent to check the weather before a long walk.
Verb
reconcile
IPA /ˈrɛkənˌsaɪl/
To find a way for two different or apparently opposing needs, ideas or facts to fit together successfully.
See example sentence: reconcile
We must reconcile our wish to travel with our limited budget.
Adjective
cogent
IPA /ˈkəʊdʒənt/
Clear, logical and convincing, giving people strong reasons to accept an idea or take a particular point seriously.
See example sentence: cogent
She offered a cogent reason for choosing the quieter restaurant.
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