IELTS Vocabulary — Set 158

Set 158 of IELTS Vocabulary covers 5 words: confront, sustain, justify, coincide, demolish. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. confront · verb/kənˈfrʌnt/

   to face or deal with a difficult situation or person

   She decided to confront her fears by taking on new challenges despite her anxiety.

   Synonyms: face, tackle, encounter

   Origin: from Latin 'confrontari', meaning 'to stand against'

2. sustain · verb/sə'steɪn/

   to support or maintain over a period of time

   The organization aims to sustain economic growth in the region by supporting local businesses.

   Synonyms: maintain, support, uphold

   Origin: Middle English, from Old French 'sustenir', from Latin 'sustinere' (to hold up, support), from 'sub-' (from below) + 'tenere' (to hold)

3. justify · verb/ˈdʒʌstəˌfaɪ/

   to show or prove to be right or reasonable

   The lawyer was able to justify her client's actions by presenting compelling evidence.

   Synonyms: validate, substantiate, rationalize

   Origin: Middle English, from Old French 'justifier', from Latin 'justificare', meaning 'to make just, show to be righteous'

4. coincide · verb/ˌkoʊ.ɪnˈsaɪd/

   to occur at the same time or place

   The festival will coincide with the national holiday, providing an exciting long weekend for everyone.

   Synonyms: concur, coexist, overlap

   Origin: from Latin 'coincidere', from 'co-' (together) + 'incidere' (to fall upon)

5. demolish · verb/dɪˈmɑː.lɪʃ/

   to destroy or tear down completely

   The city council decided to demolish the old building to make way for a new park.

   Synonyms: destroy, dismantle, raze

   Origin: Mid 17th century from Latin 'demoliri' meaning 'to pull down, demolish'