IELTS Vocabulary — Set 32

Set 32 of IELTS Vocabulary covers 5 words: neglectful, plausible, manipulative, contrary, indirect. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. neglectful · adjective/nɪˈɡlɛktfəl/

   failing to take proper care or give proper attention to someone or something

   The neglectful parent often left their child unsupervised, failing to provide the attention they needed.

   Synonyms: careless, inattentive, remiss

   Origin: from the Latin 'neglectus', the past participle of 'neglegere' meaning 'to disregard'

2. plausible · adjective/ˈplɔː.zə.bəl/

   seeming reasonable or probable

   The detective presented a plausible explanation for the disappearance of the valuable painting.

   Synonyms: credible, believable, reasonable

   Origin: Late Middle English, from Old French 'plausible', from Latin 'plausibilis', from 'plaudere' meaning 'to applaud'.

3. manipulative · adjective/məˈnɪpjuleɪtɪv/

   tending to control or influence others unfairly or dishonestly

   Her manipulative tactics made it difficult for others to voice their opinions in the meeting.

   Synonyms: controlling, scheming, deceitful

   Origin: The word 'manipulative' comes from the Latin 'manipulatus', which is the past participle of 'manipulare', meaning 'to handle' or 'to manage', from 'manus' meaning 'hand'.

4. contrary · adjective/ˈkɒntrɛri/

   opposite in nature, direction, or meaning

   Her contrary opinion on the matter surprised everyone in the meeting.

   Synonyms: opposite, opposing, reverse

   Origin: From Latin 'contrarius', meaning 'against, opposite'.

5. indirect · adjective/ˌɪn.dɪˈrɛkt/

   not directly related or stated

   The report provided an indirect indication of the company's financial stability, leaving many questions unanswered.

   Synonyms: implicit, tangential, collateral

   Origin: from Latin 'indirectus', meaning 'not leading the way', from 'in-' (not) + 'directus' (direct)