IELTS Vocabulary — Set 98

Set 98 of IELTS Vocabulary covers 5 words: hostile, improbable, coherent, finite, explicit. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. hostile · adjective/ˈhɑːstaɪl/

   unfriendly, antagonistic, or opposed

   The negotiations were difficult due to the hostile environment created by the opposing party's constant aggression.

   Synonyms: unfriendly, antagonistic, adverse

   Origin: from Latin 'hostilis', meaning 'of an enemy', derived from 'hostis' meaning 'enemy'

2. improbable · adjective/ɪmˈprɑː.bə.bəl/

   unlikely to happen or be true

   It seems improbable that they would win the championship without any prior experience in such high-level competitions.

   Synonyms: unlikely, doubtful, implausible

   Origin: From Latin 'improbabilis', where 'im-' means 'not' and 'probabilis' means 'provable' or 'likely'.

3. coherent · adjective/koʊˈhɪrənt/

   logically connected and consistent

   The teacher presented a coherent argument that clearly connected the main points of the lecture.

   Synonyms: logical, consistent, clear

   Origin: from Latin 'cohaerent-' (stem of 'cohaerere'), meaning 'to stick together'

4. finite · adjective/ˈfaɪnaɪt/

   having bounds or limits

   The resources of the planet are finite, and we must learn to use them wisely.

   Synonyms: limited, restricted, fixed

   Origin: from Latin 'finitus', past participle of 'finire' which means 'to limit, to end'.

5. explicit · adjective/ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/

   clearly and directly expressed leaving no room for confusion or doubt

   The teacher gave explicit instructions on how to complete the assignment, ensuring every student understood what was expected.

   Synonyms: clear, definite, unambiguous

   Origin: from Latin 'explicitus', meaning 'to unfold' or 'to disclose'