Vocabulary and Synonyms

Coy means shy, modest, or reluctant in a flirtatious or teasing manner. It describes behavior that is demure but with an underlying suggestiveness. Unlike simple shyness, being coy often involves playful or strategic reluctance, especially in romantic contexts.

Crabbed means sour, peevish, or ill-tempered in disposition. It describes someone who is irritable, difficult, or cross. The word comes from the crab's perceived sideways, awkward movement and its association with pinching or grumpy behavior. It can also refer to handwriting that is cramped and difficult to read.

Craft refers to skill, especially skill involving manual dexterity or artistic technique. It can mean a specific trade or profession (like woodworking or pottery), or the skill itself (like 'he has great craft'). In modern usage, it contrasts with art - craft emphasizes technique and execution over pure creativity.

Crass means very unrefined, coarse, or lacking in taste, sensitivity, or intelligence. It describes behavior or language that is grossly insensitive, crude, or indelicate. A crass remark is bluntly offensive without subtlety, and crass behavior shows no awareness of social graces.

A credential is documented evidence of a person's qualifications, authority, or identity - such as a degree, license, or certification that proves you have the right to do something. 'Having many talents' describes a versatile person, not a credential. 'Pretend' means to fake something, which is the opposite of providing legitimate proof.

Credo is Latin for 'I believe' and refers to a creed - a formal statement of beliefs or principles. 'Having a backbone' describes vertebrate animals. 'Complete disorder' is chaos or bedlam. 'Having many talents' describes a versatile person.

Credulity is the tendency to believe things too readily, especially on weak or insufficient evidence - essentially gullibility. 'Summit' is the top or peak of something. 'Imaginary paradise' could be utopia or arcadia. 'Having a backbone' refers to vertebral structures.

To creep means to move slowly and quietly with the body close to and parallel to the ground, like a stealthy approach. 'Enthusiasm' refers to eagerness or zeal. A 'very thin piece of wood' is a shaving or veneer. 'Severe dizziness' could be vertigo.

Cremate means to burn a dead body to ashes, typically as part of funeral rites. 'Trace' means to track or follow something. A 'bundle of grain stalks' is a sheaf. 'Enthusiasm' refers to eager devotion or zeal.

A creed is a formal statement of religious belief or a system of ethical principles - like the Apostles' Creed or a personal credo. 'Severe dizziness' is vertigo. A 'pottery fragment' is a shard. 'Summit' refers to the highest point.

Cynical means believing people are motivated purely by self-interest, showing distrust of human sincerity or motives. 'Spoil the effect' is to undermine or mar. 'Sound-making apparatus' is a sounder or instrument. 'Full of life' is animated or vivacious.

Cynosure means something that attracts attention by its brilliancy - originally the North Star (Polaris), now anything that serves as a guiding or attention-grabbing center. 'Of glass' is vitreous. 'Sceptic' is someone who doubts. 'Spoil the effect' is to undermine.

Crest refers to the top part or peak of something, such as a hill or wave. It does not mean to annoy, to place something in a case, or the power to reject a bill (that would be a veto).

Crestfallen describes someone who is visibly sad, dejected, or disappointed, often after experiencing a failure or setback. It has nothing to do with maintaining life (viable), a small roofed structure (shed), or annoying someone.

Crinkle means a wrinkle or small fold in a surface, especially skin or fabric. It does not mean a parish priest (curate), changing position, or being energetic.