104 words starting with C

• calamity noun

  a terrible event that causes great damage or suffering

  Dropping the wedding cake would have been a calamity, but the baker caught it just in time.

  Like disaster, catastrophe, tragedy

• candid adjective

  honest and direct, even when the truth is uncomfortable

  My friend gave me a candid opinion of my essay.

  Like frank, honest, open

• candor noun

  the quality of being open and honest in what you say

  I appreciated her candor when she told me my speech was too long.

  Like frankness, honesty, openness

• capitulate verb

  to stop resisting and give in to an opponent or demand

  After an hour of begging, our parents capitulated and let us stay up late.

  Like surrender, yield, give in

• capricious adjective

  changing mood or behavior suddenly and without reason

  Mountain weather is capricious, so trekkers carry rain gear even on sunny days.

  Like unpredictable, fickle, changeable

• captivate verb

  to attract and hold someone’s attention completely

  The storyteller captivated the children with his tale of a flying elephant.

  Like enchant, fascinate, charm

• caricature noun

  a drawing or description that exaggerates features for a funny effect

  The artist drew a caricature of the teacher with an enormous nose.

  Like cartoon, parody, exaggeration

• catalyst noun

  a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being changed; something that causes change

  Enzymes act as catalysts that speed up digestion in our bodies.

  Like stimulus, trigger, spark

• catastrophe noun

  a sudden event that causes very great damage or suffering

  Losing the plane tickets would have been a catastrophe, so Dad checked his bag three times.

  Like disaster, calamity, cataclysm

• caustic adjective

  able to burn through things by chemical action; bitterly sarcastic

  Caustic soda can burn your skin, so always wear gloves when using it.

  Like corrosive, biting, scathing

• caution noun

  care taken to avoid danger or mistakes

  Drivers should use caution on icy mountain roads.

  Like care, carefulness, prudence

• cautious adjective

  careful to avoid danger or risk

  The cautious hiker checked the weather forecast before setting out.

  Like careful, wary, prudent

• cede verb

  to give up land, power, or a right, often unwillingly

  After the war, the country had to cede part of its land to its neighbor.

  Like surrender, yield, relinquish

• censure verb

  to criticize strongly and formally

  The committee censured the official for misusing public money.

  Like condemn, criticize, reprimand

• cerebral adjective

  involving careful thought and intellect rather than feelings

  Chess is a cerebral game that needs careful planning.

  Like intellectual, thoughtful, analytical

• chagrin noun

  a feeling of embarrassment and annoyance at failing

  To his chagrin, he slipped and fell while walking onto the stage.

  Like embarrassment, annoyance, mortification

• chaotic adjective

  in a state of complete confusion and disorder

  The bus park was chaotic on the day before the festival.

  Like disordered, confused, disorganized

• charisma noun

  a strong personal charm that attracts and inspires others

  The new class captain had the charisma to make everyone listen.

  Like charm, magnetism, appeal

• chasm noun

  a deep crack or opening in the ground; a big difference between groups

  A rope bridge stretched across the chasm above the roaring river.

  Like gorge, abyss, gulf

• chastise verb

  to criticize or scold someone severely

  The teacher chastised the students for leaving the lab in a mess.

  Like scold, rebuke, reprimand

• cherish verb

  to love, protect, and care for something deeply

  I cherish the photos from our family trip to Lumbini.

  Like treasure, value, prize

• circumspect adjective

  careful to think about all risks before acting

  Be circumspect about sharing personal information online.

  Like cautious, prudent, wary

• circumvent verb

  to find a clever way around a problem or rule

  The engineers built a tunnel to circumvent the steep mountain pass.

  Like bypass, avoid, evade

• clamor noun

  a loud, confused noise, especially of people shouting

  The clamor of the crowd grew louder as the match came to an end.

  Like uproar, din, outcry

• clandestine adjective

  done secretly, often because it is not allowed

  The students held a clandestine meeting to plan a surprise party for their teacher.

  Like secret, covert, hidden

• clarity noun

  the quality of being clear and easy to understand or see

  The teacher explained the experiment with great clarity.

  Like clearness, lucidity, precision

• cliche noun

  a phrase or idea used so often that it is no longer original

  “Every cloud has a silver lining” is a cliche that many writers avoid.

  Like platitude, commonplace, stock phrase

• coax verb

  to gently and patiently persuade someone to do something

  We coaxed the frightened kitten out from under the bed with some milk.

  Like persuade, cajole, entice

• coerce verb

  to force someone to do something by using threats

  Nobody should be coerced into signing a contract.

  Like force, compel, pressure

• cognizant adjective

  having knowledge or awareness of something

  The hikers were cognizant of the risks of altitude sickness.

  Like aware, conscious, mindful

• cohesive adjective

  forming a united whole; sticking together well

  The team was cohesive, and every player supported the others.

  Like united, unified, connected

• collaborate verb

  to work together with others to produce or achieve something

  Students from two schools collaborated on a project about clean rivers.

  Like cooperate, team up, work together

• colloquial adjective

  used in informal, everyday conversation rather than formal writing

  “Gonna” is a colloquial form of “going to.”

  Like informal, conversational, casual

• collusion noun

  secret cooperation between people to cheat or deceive others

  The two shopkeepers were in collusion to keep their prices high.

  Like conspiracy, complicity, scheming

• commemorate verb

  to honor and remember an important person or event

  A statue was built to commemorate the first Nepali woman to climb Everest.

  Like honor, celebrate, mark

• commend verb

  to praise someone formally, especially in public

  The principal commended the students for cleaning the school grounds.

  Like praise, applaud, compliment

• commensurate adjective

  matching in size, amount, or degree

  The prize money was commensurate with the difficulty of the competition.

  Like proportionate, equivalent, corresponding

• compassion noun

  sympathy for others’ suffering, with a wish to help

  The nurse treated every patient with compassion.

  Like sympathy, empathy, kindness

• compatible adjective

  able to exist or work together without problems

  This charger is not compatible with my old phone.

  Like consistent, harmonious, well-matched

• compel verb

  to force someone to do something by pressure or necessity

  Heavy snow compelled the climbers to turn back before the summit.

  Like force, oblige, require

• compelling adjective

  so interesting or convincing that it holds your attention

  The scientist presented compelling evidence that the glacier is melting.

  Like convincing, persuasive, gripping

• complacency noun

  a feeling of being so satisfied that you stop trying to improve

  After winning three games, complacency caused the team to lose the fourth.

  Like smugness, self-satisfaction, laxity

• complacent adjective

  too satisfied with yourself, so you stop being careful or trying hard

  Don’t become complacent just because you passed the first test easily.

  Like smug, self-satisfied

• compliant adjective

  willing to obey rules or do what others want

  The compliant new students followed every instruction without a single complaint.

  Like obedient, cooperative, submissive

• composure noun

  the state of being calm and in control of your feelings

  She kept her composure even when the microphone stopped working during her speech.

  Like calmness, poise, self-control

• compulsory adjective

  required by law or a rule; not optional

  English and Nepali are compulsory subjects in most schools in Nepal.

  Like mandatory, required, obligatory

• concede verb

  to admit that something is true, often unwillingly; to admit defeat

  After seeing the results, he conceded that his friend’s plan was better.

  Like admit, acknowledge, grant

• conceit noun

  too much pride in yourself and your abilities

  His conceit made him think he could pass without studying.

  Like vanity, arrogance, egotism

• conciliatory adjective

  intended to end anger or disagreement

  She made a conciliatory gesture by offering to share her snacks.

  Like peacemaking, appeasing, placatory

• concise adjective

  giving a lot of information clearly in few words

  Write a concise answer of no more than three sentences.

  Like brief, succinct, pithy

• concur verb

  to agree with someone’s opinion or decision

  All the judges concurred that her project deserved first prize.

  Like agree, assent, accord

• condemn verb

  to express strong disapproval of something; to officially declare unfit for use

  Everyone condemned the dumping of rubbish into the Bagmati River.

  Like denounce, criticize, censure

• condescend verb

  to behave as if you are more important or intelligent than others

  The older students sometimes condescend to the younger ones by explaining simple things slowly.

  Like patronize, talk down

• condone verb

  to accept or allow behavior that is wrong

  The school does not condone cheating of any kind.

  Like excuse, overlook, tolerate

• conducive adjective

  making a certain result or situation likely or easy

  A quiet room is conducive to good study.

  Like favorable, helpful, beneficial

• confer verb

  to discuss something with others before deciding; to give an honor or right

  The judges conferred for an hour before announcing the winner.

  Like consult, discuss, grant

• confide verb

  to tell someone a secret or private matter, trusting them

  She confided in her best friend about her fear of heights.

  Like reveal, disclose, open up

• conflate verb

  to mix two different ideas or things together as if they were one

  People often conflate weather and climate, but they are different.

  Like combine, merge, confuse

• confluence noun

  the place where two rivers meet; a coming together of things

  Devghat lies at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Trishuli rivers.

  Like junction, meeting, convergence

• conform verb

  to behave according to the usual rules or what others expect

  All students must conform to the school’s dress code.

  Like comply, follow, obey

• congenial adjective

  pleasant and suited to your tastes, making you feel comfortable

  The small café had a congenial atmosphere where friends liked to meet.

  Like pleasant, agreeable, friendly

• conjecture noun

  an opinion or guess formed without complete evidence

  Without more data, the cause of the fire is only conjecture.

  Like guess, speculation, supposition

• conscientious adjective

  careful to do your work well and do what is right

  A conscientious student checks her answers before handing in the test.

  Like diligent, careful, thorough

• consequential adjective

  important because of its effects; following as a result

  The decision to build the dam was consequential for the whole valley.

  Like significant, important, momentous

• console verb

  to comfort someone who is sad or disappointed

  The coach consoled the players after they lost the final.

  Like comfort, soothe, reassure

• consolidate verb

  to make something stronger or more secure; to combine into one

  Reviewing your notes each week helps consolidate what you have learned.

  Like strengthen, reinforce, combine

• conspicuous adjective

  very easy to see or notice

  Her bright yellow raincoat made her conspicuous in the crowd.

  Like noticeable, obvious, prominent

• conspire verb

  to plan secretly with others, usually to do something wrong

  The children conspired to hide their father’s birthday gift until evening.

  Like plot, scheme, collude

• constituent noun

  one of the parts that something is made of; a voter in an area

  Hydrogen and oxygen are the constituents of water.

  Like component, element, part

• construe verb

  to understand or interpret words or actions in a particular way

  His silence was construed as agreement.

  Like interpret, understand, read

• consummate adjective

  showing great skill and perfection

  The dancer gave a consummate performance at the festival.

  Like perfect, accomplished, masterly

• contemplate verb

  to think about something deeply for a long time; to consider doing

  She sat by the lake and contemplated her future plans.

  Like consider, ponder, reflect on

• contempt noun

  a feeling that someone or something is worthless and deserves no respect

  He showed contempt for the rules by ignoring them completely.

  Like scorn, disdain, disrespect

• contemptuous adjective

  showing that you think someone or something is worthless

  She gave a contemptuous laugh at the silly suggestion.

  Like scornful, disdainful, sneering

• contend verb

  to compete for something; to argue that something is true

  Six teams will contend for the district football trophy.

  Like compete, argue, claim

• contentious adjective

  likely to cause argument or disagreement

  Building a road through the forest is a contentious issue in the village.

  Like controversial, disputed, divisive

• contingent adjective

  depending on something else that may or may not happen

  Our picnic is contingent on good weather.

  Like dependent, conditional, subject to

• contrive verb

  to manage to do something by clever planning or tricks

  She contrived to finish her homework before her favorite show began.

  Like manage, devise, engineer

• conundrum noun

  a confusing and difficult problem or question

  How to fit all the luggage on the bus roof was a real conundrum.

  Like puzzle, problem, dilemma

• convene verb

  to come together or call people together for a formal meeting

  The student council will convene on Monday to plan the science fair.

  Like assemble, gather, meet

• conversely adverb

  in an opposite way; looking at it from the opposite side

  Heating ice turns it into water; conversely, cooling water turns it into ice.

  Like on the other hand, inversely, oppositely

• convey verb

  to express or communicate an idea or feeling; to carry from one place to another

  The painting conveys the peace of a quiet mountain village.

  Like communicate, express, transport

• conviction noun

  a strong, firm belief; an official court decision that someone is guilty

  She spoke with conviction about the need to protect forests.

  Like belief, certainty, confidence

• convoluted adjective

  very complicated and difficult to follow

  The instructions were so convoluted that nobody could build the model.

  Like complicated, complex, tangled

• copious adjective

  very large in amount or number, more than is usual

  She took copious notes during the history lecture.

  Like abundant, plentiful, ample

• cordial adjective

  warm and polite in a formal way

  The visitors received a cordial welcome from the principal.

  Like warm, friendly, gracious

• corroborate verb

  to support a statement or idea with new evidence

  A second witness corroborated the boy’s story about the lost dog.

  Like confirm, verify, support

• cosmopolitan adjective

  including people and ideas from many different countries

  Thamel has a cosmopolitan feel, with visitors from all over the world.

  Like international, worldly, multicultural

• counteract verb

  to reduce or stop the effect of something by doing the opposite

  Drinking plenty of water can counteract the effects of the hot sun.

  Like offset, neutralize, counter

• counterfeit adjective

  made as a copy of something valuable in order to deceive

  The shopkeeper noticed that the banknote was counterfeit.

  Like fake, forged, false

• covert adjective

  secret or hidden, not openly shown

  The bird watchers made a covert approach so the birds wouldn’t fly away.

  Like secret, hidden, clandestine

• covet verb

  to strongly want something that belongs to someone else

  He coveted his friend’s new bicycle.

  Like desire, crave, envy

• credible adjective

  able to be believed or trusted

  The news story was credible because it quoted several experts.

  Like believable, plausible, trustworthy

• creed noun

  a set of beliefs or principles, especially religious ones

  People of every creed are welcome to visit the temple.

  Like belief, faith, doctrine

• criterion noun

  a standard used for judging or deciding something

  Originality is the main criterion for judging the science projects.

  Like standard, measure, benchmark

• culminate verb

  to reach the final, highest point after a long build-up

  The school’s science week will culminate in a big exhibition on Friday.

  Like climax, peak, conclude

• culpable adjective

  deserving blame for something wrong or harmful

  The report found the factory culpable for polluting the river.

  Like blameworthy, guilty, responsible

• cultivate verb

  to prepare land and grow crops on it; to develop a skill or quality with steady effort

  Farmers in the Terai cultivate rice and wheat on the same fields each year.

  Like grow, farm, nurture

• cumbersome adjective

  large, heavy, or awkward, and so hard to carry or use

  The old computer was so cumbersome that two people had to lift it.

  Like unwieldy, bulky, clumsy

• cunning adjective

  clever at getting what you want, often by tricking others

  In the folk tale, the cunning fox tricks the crow into dropping its food.

  Like crafty, sly, wily

• curb verb

  to hold back or keep something under control

  The city made new rules to curb the noise of car horns.

  Like restrain, limit, check

• curtail verb

  to cut something short or reduce it, such as time, spending, or rights

  Heavy rain curtailed the football match after only twenty minutes.

  Like shorten, reduce, cut back

• cynic noun

  a person who believes others act only from selfish motives

  The cynic said the volunteers only helped so they could post photos online.

  Like skeptic

• cynical adjective

  believing that people act only for selfish reasons and are rarely sincere

  He was cynical about the company’s promise to plant a million trees.

  Like distrustful, skeptical, suspicious