ethical, fierce, indispensable, conclusive, invaluable: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from IELTS Vocabulary set 89. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. ethical · adjective/ˈɛθɪkəl/

   relating to moral principles or the branch of knowledge dealing with these

   The company implemented a new code of conduct to ensure ethical practices in its operations.

   Synonyms: moral, principled, righteous

   Origin: from the Greek 'ethikos', derived from 'ethos' meaning 'character'

2. fierce · adjective/fɪrs/

   having or displaying an intense or ferocious aggression

   The fierce competition among the teams drove everyone to perform at their absolute best.

   Synonyms: ferocious, intense, savage

   Origin: Middle English 'fierce', from Old French 'fier', meaning 'wild, untamed', from Latin 'ferus' meaning 'wild, savage'.

3. indispensable · adjective/ˌɪndɪsˈpɛnəbl/

   absolutely necessary or essential

   In today's fast-paced world, having good communication skills is indispensable for career success.

   Synonyms: essential, crucial, necessary

   Origin: from Latin 'indispensabilis', from 'in-' (not) + 'dispensare' (to distribute)

4. conclusive · adjective/kənˈkluːsɪv/

   serving to prove a case or settle a matter definitively

   The DNA evidence provided conclusive proof of the suspect's involvement in the crime.

   Synonyms: decisive, definitive, irrefutable

   Origin: The word 'conclusive' originates from the Latin 'conclusivus,' which derives from 'concludere,' meaning 'to close, shut up,' from 'con-' (together) and 'claudere' (to shut).

5. invaluable · adjective/ɪnˈvæl.ju.ə.bəl/

   extremely valuable or useful

   Her experience in the industry proved to be invaluable to the success of the project.

   Synonyms: indispensable, irreplaceable, priceless

   Origin: from the Latin 'invaluable', from 'in-' meaning 'not' + 'valere' meaning 'to have value'