Cambridge English: CPE (C2 Proficiency) - Unconventional States

Learn advanced CPE vocabulary for unconventional states, including unusual conditions, irregular situations, abnormal behavior, eccentricity, and departures from what is considered typical.

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aberrant

[Adjective]

different from the usual and accepted way

Ex: His behavior was aberrant compared to the rest of the group.

aberration

[noun]

something that is different from what is expected and normal

Ex: The warm winter was seen as an aberration in the region's climate.

anomalous

[Adjective]

not consistent with what is considered to be expected

Ex: Satellite images revealed an anomalous heat signature in a remote region that rescue teams were dispatched to investigate.

atypical

[Adjective]

differing from what is usual, expected, or standard

Ex: The atypical design of the building caught everyone's attention.

avant-garde

[Adjective]

innovative, experimental, or unconventional in style or approach, especially in the arts

Ex: The avant-garde filmmaker pushed the boundaries of narrative structure, crafting abstract, non-linear stories that challenged viewers' perceptions of cinema.

errant

[Adjective]

deviating from proper behavior, rules, or the expected path

Ex: The errant knight ventured beyond the kingdom's borders without his sovereign's blessing.

heterodox

[Adjective]

diverging from established norms

Ex: Religious reformers often face condemnation for their heterodox views that challenge traditional dogma.

iconoclastic

[Adjective]

marked by rejection of traditional doctrines, norms, or power structures

Ex: The critic's iconoclastic review tore down decades of revered cinema in a single essay.

quaint

[Adjective]

curiously distinct, unique, or unusual

Ex: She has a quaint way of speaking that’s both charming and eccentric.

circuitous

[Adjective]

(of a route) longer and more indirect than the most direct course

Ex: The river followed a circuitous path, winding through the valley before reaching the sea.

labile

[Adjective]

unstable in condition

Ex: His labile mood swung from elation to despair within hours.

zany

[Adjective]

absurdly foolish

Ex: His zany ideas often left everyone in stitches.

to blow hot and cold

[phrase]

to change one's opinions about something often and quickly, sometimes being enthusiastic and other times indifferent or negative

Ex: He blows hot and cold about joining the team; one day he's excited, the next he's hesitant.

Cambridge English: CPE (C2 Proficiency)
Physical Descriptions	Landforms	Objects & Materials	Ceremonies & Revelry
Creation & Causation	Argument & Disparagement	Agriculture & Food	Unconventional States
Family & Marriage	Dwelling & Inhabiting	Scent & Flavor	Conceptual Extremes
Similarity & Difference

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