captivate
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C1 verb /ˈkæptɪveɪt/

captivate

captiver, attirer
Meaning
to attract and hold the interest of; to charm or fascinate
Example
Her beautiful voice captivated the audience.
Sa voix magnifique a captivé l'audience.
C1 verb, noun /ˈflʌstər/

fluster

embrouiller
Meaning
to make someone agitated or confused
Example
The unexpected question flustered him.
La question inattendue l'a embrouillé.
C1 adverb /pɜːr ˈseɪ/

per se

en soi
Meaning
By or in itself; intrinsically.
Example
The idea is not bad per se, but it needs improvement.
L'idée n'est pas mauvaise en soi, mais elle a besoin d'amélioration.
C1 verb /prɪˈkluːd/

preclude

empêcher
Meaning
To prevent something from happening; to make impossible.
Example
Heavy rain precluded the possibility of a picnic.
La forte pluie a empêché la possibilité d'un pique-nique.
C1 adjective /ˈɡrɪz.li/

grisly

macabre
Meaning
causing horror or disgust
Example
The police discovered a grisly scene at the crime site.
La police a découvert une scène macabre sur le lieu du crime.
C1 noun /ˈkʌˈs.tə.di/

Custody

garde; détention; tutelle
Meaning
the protective care or guardianship of someone or something; imprisonment or detention
Example
After the divorce, they shared custody of their children equally.
Après le divorce, ils ont partagé la garde de leurs enfants également.
C1 adjective /ˈstrætɪfaɪd/

stratified

stratifié / stratifiée
Meaning
arranged or classified in layers or strata
Example
Society in the past was highly stratified based on class and wealth.
La société du passé était fortement stratifiée en fonction de la classe et de la richesse.
C1 verb/noun /stuːp/

stoop

bonheur
Meaning
To bend one's body forward and downward; also a small porch or staircase at the entrance of a house
Example
He had to stoop to pick up the coin.
Elle n'a pas pu cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C1 adjective /ɪkˈspænsɪv/

expansive

expansif
Meaning
covering a wide area or having a wide range of ideas or emotions
Example
They enjoyed the expansive view from the hilltop.
Ils ont apprécié la vue expansive depuis le sommet de la colline.
C1 noun ˌɪm.pʌlˈsɪv.ɪ.ti

impulsivity

impulsivité
Meaning
The tendency to act quickly and without thought or care; lack of self-control.
Example
His impulsivity led him to make reckless choices.
Son impulsivité l'a conduit à prendre des décisions imprudentes.
C1 noun /əˈkwɪtl/

acquittal

Meaning
a judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which they have been charged
Example
The acquittal of the accused shocked the public.
C1 verb /bʌdʒ/

budge

bouger légèrement / changer d'avis ou de position
Meaning
To move slightly; to change one’s opinion or position.
Example
Despite the pressure, he refused to budge from his decision.
Malgré la pression, il a refusé de bouger de sa décision.
C1 adjective /stɔːntʃ/

staunch

ferme, fidèle
Meaning
Loyal, committed, and firm in support.
Example
She is a staunch supporter of environmental protection.
Elle est une défenseure ferme de la protection de l'environnement.
C1 noun /ˈhɒməˌfoʊn/

homophone

homophone
Meaning
A word that is pronounced the same as another word but differs in meaning, and often spelling.
Example
The words 'pair' and 'pear' are homophones.
Les mots 'pair' et 'pear' sont des homophones.
C1 noun ˌɪn.tuˈɪʃ.ən

intuition

intuition
Meaning
The ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning.
Example
Her intuition told her something was wrong.
Son intuition lui a dit que quelque chose n’allait pas.
C1 noun /ˈɡrɪd.əl/

Griddle

plaque
Meaning
a flat heating surface for cooking food, typically made of metal
Example
She cooked pancakes on the hot griddle.
Elle a cuit des crêpes sur la plaque chaude.
C1 noun /ˈfjʊərɔːr/

furor

tumulte
Meaning
An outbreak of public anger or excitement.
Example
The politician's remarks created a furor in the media.
Les remarques du politicien ont créé un furor dans les médias.
C1 noun ˈklaɪmət ˌrɛɡjʊˈleɪʃən

climate regulation

régulation du climat
Meaning
The moderation of climate conditions through natural or artificial processes.
Example
Forests help in climate regulation by stabilizing local temperatures.
Les forêts aident à la régulation du climat en stabilisant les températures locales.
C1 noun /ˈrɒstrəm/

rostrum

estrade
Meaning
A raised platform for speakers, performers, or leaders.
Example
The politician delivered a speech from the rostrum.
Le politicien a fait un discours depuis l'estrade.
C1 noun /rɪˈbʌtəl/

rebuttal

réfutation
Meaning
a statement or argument made to oppose or disprove another
Example
Her rebuttal was clear and convincing.
Sa réfutation était claire et convaincante.
C1 adjective /dɪˈplɔːrəbl/

deplorable

déplorable
Meaning
deserving strong condemnation; shockingly bad in quality
Example
The refugees were living in deplorable conditions.
Les réfugiés vivaient dans des conditions déplorables.
C1 noun /ˈdɛməɡɒɡ/

demagogue

leader démagogue
Meaning
A political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.
Example
The crowd was swayed by the fiery speeches of the demagogue.
La foule a été influencée par les discours enflammés du leader démagogue.
C1 adjective /ˈmeɪkˌʃɪft/

makeshift

improvisé
Meaning
used as a temporary substitute; improvised
Example
They used boxes as a makeshift table.
Ils ont utilisé des boîtes comme une table improvisée.
C1 noun /dɪˈstɔːrʃən/

distortion

distorsion, déformation
Meaning
the action of twisting, changing, or misrepresenting the shape, sound, or truth of something
Example
There was a distortion in the radio signal.
Il y avait une distorsion dans le signal radio.
C1 verb /ɛtʃ/

etch

graver
Meaning
to cut or carve a design onto a surface
Example
The artist etched her initials into the glass.
L'artiste a gravé ses initiales dans le verre.
C1 noun /lɪˈbiːdoʊ/

libido

désir sexuel
Meaning
Sexual desire or drive.
Example
Stress can sometimes lower a person's libido.
Le stress peut parfois diminuer le désir sexuel d'une personne.
C1 adjective /ˈrep.jə.tə.bəl/

Reputable

réputé
Meaning
having a good reputation; respected and trusted
Example
She works for a reputable law firm in the city.
Elle travaille pour un cabinet d'avocats réputé dans la ville.
C1 noun ˈdɪl.ɪ.dʒəns

diligence

diligence
Meaning
Careful and persistent work or effort.
Example
Success requires patience and diligence.
Le succès nécessite de la patience et de la diligence.
C1 noun /rɪˌdʒuːvəˈneɪʃən/

rejuvenation

régénération
Meaning
The process of restoring something to a former better state, especially referring to renewing soil fertility or revitalizing agricultural land through various restoration practices.
Example
Rejuvenation of soil is necessary for sustainable agriculture.
La régénération du sol est nécessaire pour une agriculture durable.
C1 noun /ˈʌndərdɒɡ/

underdog

outsider
Meaning
a competitor thought to have little chance of winning; a weaker party in a contest
Example
The underdog team surprised everyone by winning the championship.
L'équipe outsider a surpris tout le monde en gagnant le championnat.
C1 adjective /ˌfɪl.ænˈθrɒp.ɪk/

philanthropic

philanthropique
Meaning
showing concern for the welfare of others; generous and charitable
Example
She is known for her philanthropic activities in the city.
Elle est connue pour ses activités philanthropiques dans la ville.
C1 adjective /ˈfeɪl.seɪf/

fail-safe

antifaille
Meaning
designed to prevent failure or accidents; guaranteed to work correctly
Example
The engineers installed a fail-safe mechanism in the nuclear plant.
Les ingénieurs ont installé un mécanisme antifaille dans la centrale nucléaire.
C1 verb, noun /ˌdɪsɪˈluːʒən/

disillusion

désillusion
Meaning
to cause someone to realize that something is not as good as they believed
Example
The scandal disillusioned many voters.
Le scandale a désillusionné de nombreux électeurs.
C1 adjective /ˌpæθəˈlɑːdʒɪkəl/

pathological

pathologique, maladif
Meaning
Relating to disease; extreme or obsessive in a way that is abnormal.
Example
He has a pathological fear of failure.
Il a une peur pathologique de l'échec.
C1 adjective /ˈbaɪtɪŋ/

Biting

morsure; froid mordant; critique acerbe
Meaning
extremely cold; sharply critical or harsh
Example
The biting cold made everyone shiver.
Le froid mordant a fait trembler tout le monde.
C1 adjective /ˈfɪɡərətɪv/

figurative

figuré
Meaning
not literal; using figures of speech or symbolic representation
Example
She used figurative language to describe her feelings.
Elle a utilisé un langage figuré pour décrire ses sentiments.
C1 adjective /ɪˈlʌstriəs/

illustrious

illustre
Meaning
Well known, respected, and admired for past achievements.
Example
She had an illustrious career in medicine.
Elle avait une carrière illustre en médecine.
C1 verb /ɪkˈstɪŋ.ɡwɪʃ/

extinguish

éteindre
Meaning
to put out a fire, light, or to end something
Example
The firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze within an hour.
Les pompiers ont réussi à éteindre l'incendie en une heure.
C1 adjective /ˈpriːmə/

prima

principal, excellent
Meaning
first or most important; excellent
Example
She was treated as the prima ballerina of the troupe.
Elle a été traitée comme la prima ballerina de la troupe.
C1 adverb /əˈnjuː/

anew

à nouveau
Meaning
In a new or different way; once more.
Example
After the failure, she decided to start her life anew.
Après l'échec, elle a décidé de recommencer sa vie à nouveau.
C1 adjective /rɪˈpres.ɪv/

Repressive

répressif
Meaning
restraining freedom or preventing self-expression; oppressive
Example
The repressive government banned all forms of protest.
Le gouvernement répressif a interdit toutes les formes de protestation.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈpæsəbəl/

impassable

impraticable
Meaning
Impossible to travel along or over.
Example
The road became impassable after the heavy snowfall.
La route est devenue impraticable après la forte neige.
C1 noun stɔːrm ɪnˌtensɪfɪˈkeɪʃən

storm intensification

intensification de la tempête
Meaning
The process by which storms become stronger and more severe in intensity.
Example
Storm intensification is linked to climate change.
L'intensification de la tempête est liée au changement climatique.
C1 adjective /pərˈpɔːrtɪd/

purported

présumé
Meaning
alleged or claimed to be true, often without proof
Example
The purported evidence was later proven false.
La preuve présumée a ensuite été prouvée fausse.
C1 verb ɪɡˈzæsərbeɪt

exacerbate

aggraver
Meaning
To make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse.
Example
Climate change exacerbates flooding issues.
Le changement climatique aggrave les problèmes d'inondation.
C1 adjective /kənˈtɛmptəbl/

contemptible

méprisable, détestable
Meaning
deserving of contempt; despicable
Example
His deceitful actions were truly contemptible.
Ses actions trompeuses étaient véritablement méprisables.
C1 adjective /ˈpaɪ.əs/

Pious

pieux
Meaning
devoutly religious; showing reverence for God
Example
The pious monk spent hours in prayer every day.
Le moine pieux passait des heures en prière chaque jour.
C1 adjective /ˈliː.θəl/

Lethal

fatal; mortel;
Meaning
deadly; fatal; capable of causing death
Example
The snake's venom is lethal to humans if not treated immediately.
Le venin du serpent est fatal pour les humains s'il n'est pas traité immédiatement.
C1 adjective /ˈsɛreɪtɪd/

serrated

dentelé
Meaning
Having a notched or saw-toothed edge.
Example
The bread knife had a serrated blade.
Le couteau à pain avait une lame dentelée.
C1 noun /ˈblæs.fə.mi/

blasphemy

blasphème
Meaning
the act of speaking disrespectfully about God or sacred things
Example
In some countries, blasphemy is a punishable offense.
Dans certains pays, le blasphème est un délit passible de punition.
C1 noun /əˈdʒɪl.ɪ.ti/

agility

agilité
Meaning
Ability to work quickly and easily, both physically and mentally.
Example
Mental agility is essential for problem-solving.
L'agilité mentale est essentielle pour résoudre les problèmes.
C1 noun /ˈdeɪ.li.ə/

Dahlia

dahlia
Meaning
a garden plant with brightly colored flowers that bloom in summer and autumn
Example
She planted colorful dahlias in her garden last summer.
Elle a planté des dahlias colorés dans son jardin l'été dernier.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsaɪtli/

unsightly

désagréable
Meaning
Unpleasant to look at; ugly.
Example
The garbage pile created an unsightly view in the park.
Le tas d'ordures a créé une vue désagréable dans le parc.
C1 noun /kəʊˈhiːʒən/

cohesion

cohésion
Meaning
The action or fact of forming a united whole.
Example
The team showed excellent cohesion throughout the project.
L'équipe a montré une excellente cohésion tout au long du projet.
C1 adjective /ˈtækt.ləs/

tactless

insensible
Meaning
showing a lack of sensitivity in dealing with others
Example
His tactless remark embarrassed everyone at the meeting.
Sa remarque insensible a embarrassé tout le monde lors de la réunion.
C1 noun /ˈsɪməli/

simile

comparaison
Meaning
A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another using 'like' or 'as'.
Example
She used a simile to describe her eyes as bright as stars.
Elle a utilisé une comparaison pour décrire ses yeux aussi brillants que des étoiles.
C1 noun /ˌoʊvərprəˈdʌkʃən/

overproduction

surproduction
Meaning
The act of producing more of something than is needed or can be consumed.
Example
The economic crisis was caused by the overproduction of goods.
La crise économique a été causée par la surproduction de biens.
C1 noun /kənˈsiːt/

conceit

vanité
Meaning
excessive pride in oneself; vanity
Example
His conceit made him unpopular among his colleagues.
Sa vanité l'a rendu impopulaire parmi ses collègues.
C1 noun/verb /ˈkwɒr.i/

quarry

carrière / proie
Meaning
A place where stone or minerals are extracted; also means prey when hunted.
Example
The workers quarried limestone from the hill.
Les ouvriers ont extrait du calcaire de la colline.
C1 verb /dɪˈspɛns/

dispense

distribuer
Meaning
To distribute or provide something, especially in portions.
Example
The machine dispenses clean drinking water.
La machine distribue de l'eau potable propre.
C1 noun /rɪˈfɜːrər/

referrer

référent
Meaning
a person who directs someone to another person or service
Example
The referrer earned a bonus for recommending a new client.
Le référent a gagné un bonus pour avoir recommandé un nouveau client.
C1 noun /lɪˈɡæl.ə.ti/

Legality

légalité
Meaning
the quality or state of being legal; accordance with the law
Example
The lawyer questioned the legality of the contract.
L'avocat a remis en question la légalité du contrat.
C1 noun /sɪv/

sieve

passoire
Meaning
a utensil with a mesh or perforated bottom, used for straining or sifting
Example
She used a sieve to strain the pasta.
Elle a utilisé une passoire pour filtrer les pâtes.
C1 adjective /sɪmˈplɪstɪk/

simplistic

trop simplifié
Meaning
treating complex issues as if they were much simpler than they really are
Example
His explanation was too simplistic and ignored key details.
Son explication était trop simplifiée et ignorait des détails clés.
C1 noun /ˌdɪsbɪˈliːvər/

disbeliever

incrédule
Meaning
a person who does not believe in something, especially a religion or idea
Example
He was called a disbeliever for rejecting the traditional faith.
Il a été appelé incrédule pour avoir rejeté la foi traditionnelle.
C1 noun /ˌriː.dɪs.trɪˈbjuː.ʃən/

redistribution

redistribution
Meaning
The sharing of wealth or resources more equally among society.
Example
The government introduced a redistribution policy to reduce inequality.
Le gouvernement a introduit une politique de redistribution pour réduire les inégalités.
C1 verb, noun /sæp/

sap

sève / épuiser
Meaning
As a noun: the vital fluid in plants; As a verb: to gradually weaken or drain strength.
Example
The long journey began to sap his energy.
Le long voyage a commencé à épuiser son énergie.
C1 adjective /ˈɜːrθ.li/

Earthly

terrestre; mondain; matériel
Meaning
relating to the earth or human life; worldly; material rather than spiritual
Example
He focused on earthly pleasures rather than spiritual growth.
Il s'est concentré sur les plaisirs terrestres plutôt que sur la croissance spirituelle.
C1 noun /ˈflæn.əl/

Flannel

flanelle
Meaning
a soft woven fabric, typically made of wool or cotton and slightly milled and raised
Example
He wore a warm flannel shirt in winter.
Il portait une chemise en flanelle chaude en hiver.
C1 verb /bɪˈreɪt/

berate

gronder
Meaning
to scold or criticize angrily
Example
The teacher berated the student for being late.
Le professeur gronda l'élève pour être en retard.
C1 noun /ˈneb.jʊ.lə/

nebula

nébuleuse
Meaning
A cloud of gas and dust in outer space, sometimes visible in the night sky.
Example
The Orion Nebula is one of the brightest in the sky.
La nébuleuse d'Orion est l'une des plus brillantes dans le ciel.
C1 noun ˈrɛp.ə.twɑːr

repertoire

répertoire
Meaning
A stock of plays, dances, or pieces that a company or a performer knows or is prepared to perform.
Example
The actor's repertoire includes both comedy and drama.
Le répertoire de l'acteur comprend à la fois la comédie et le drame.
C1 adjective /ˈpɛnɪtənt/

penitent

pénitent
Meaning
Feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong.
Example
She was penitent after shouting at her friend.
Elle était pénitente après avoir crié sur son amie.
C1 noun /ɪmˈpjʊərəti/

impurity

impureté
Meaning
the state of being unclean or contaminated; a substance that makes something impure
Example
The scientist removed every impurity from the water sample.
Le scientifique a éliminé chaque impureté de l’échantillon d’eau.
C1 noun /ɪkˈspoʊnənt/

exponent

exposant
Meaning
a person who supports, promotes, or explains an idea; in math, a symbol denoting power
Example
She is a leading exponent of modern dance.
Elle est une des principales exposantes de la danse moderne.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈhɛrənt/

inherent

inhérent
Meaning
Existing in something as a natural, permanent, or essential quality.
Example
There are inherent risks in extreme sports.
Il existe des risques inhérents dans les sports extrêmes.
C1 noun /ˈpɒpjʊlɪst/

populist

leader populiste
Meaning
A politician or person who seeks to appeal to ordinary people who feel their concerns are ignored by elites.
Example
The populist leader promised to put the needs of common citizens first.
Le leader populiste a promis de mettre les besoins des citoyens ordinaires en priorité.
C1 verb /ˌriːəˈfɜːrm/

reaffirm

réaffirmer
Meaning
To state again strongly; to confirm or strengthen a statement or belief.
Example
The president reaffirmed his commitment to education reform.
Le président a réaffirmé son engagement envers la réforme de l’éducation.
C1 noun /ˈpɑːrlər/

parlor

salon, boutique
Meaning
A sitting room in a private house, or a shop providing specified services.
Example
They welcomed the guests into the front parlor.
Ils ont accueilli les invités dans le salon.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈfɜːm/

infirm

fragile
Meaning
Weak, especially due to old age or illness.
Example
The infirm old man needed assistance to walk.
L'homme âgé et fragile avait besoin d'aide pour marcher.
C1 noun /helm/

Helm

barre
Meaning
a tiller or wheel for steering a ship or boat; a position of leadership or control
Example
The experienced captain took the helm and expertly navigated the ship through the storm.
Le capitaine expérimenté a pris la barre et a navigué le navire à travers la tempête avec expertise.
C1 adjective /ˈswɛltərɪŋ/

sweltering

accablant
Meaning
uncomfortably hot
Example
The sweltering heat made it hard to work.
La chaleur accablante rendait le travail difficile.
C1 verb /ˈɒp.tɪ.maɪz/

optimize

optimiser
Meaning
To make the best or most effective use of a situation, opportunity, or resource.
Example
The company is working to optimize its supply chain.
L'entreprise travaille à optimiser sa chaîne d'approvisionnement.
C1 noun /ˈpæl.ə.tə.bəl miːt/

Palatable meat

viande savoureuse
Meaning
Meat that is pleasant to taste; appetizing meat dish
Example
The chef prepared palatable meat dishes for the dinner party.
Le chef a préparé des plats de viande savoureux pour la fête du dîner.
C1 noun /ˈfɔːrˌbɛərz/

forebears

ancêtres
Meaning
Ancestors or people in previous generations from whom one is descended.
Example
We must honor the traditions of our forebears.
Nous devons honorer les traditions de nos ancêtres.
C1 verb /fɔːˈbɛər/

forbear

s'abstenir
Meaning
To refrain from doing something; to show patience or self-control.
Example
She forbore from commenting on his mistake.
Elle s'est abstenue de commenter son erreur.
C1 noun /ˈɑːlɪˌɡɑːrki/

oligarchy

oligarchie
Meaning
A small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution.
Example
The nation was ruled by a wealthy oligarchy that controlled all resources.
La nation était dirigée par une oligarchie riche qui contrôlait toutes les ressources.
C1 noun /kəˈlaɪdəˌskoʊp/

kaleidoscope

kaléidoscope
Meaning
A toy or instrument with mirrors and colored pieces that create changing patterns when rotated; also used metaphorically for a constantly changing sequence of patterns or elements.
Example
The city lights turned into a kaleidoscope of colors as the festival began.
Les lumières de la ville se sont transformées en un kaléidoscope de couleurs lorsque le festival a commencé.
C1 adverb kəmˈpæktli

compactly

compactement
Meaning
In a closely packed or dense manner.
Example
Protons and neutrons are compactly arranged.
Les protons et les neutrons sont disposés de manière compacte.
C1 noun /naɪˈiːvteɪ/

naivete

naïveté
Meaning
The quality of being naive; lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment.
Example
His naivete made him an easy target for manipulation.
Sa naïveté faisait de lui une proie facile pour la manipulation.
C1 adjective /ˈrɔːkəs/

raucous

bruyant, tapageur
Meaning
loud, harsh, and unpleasant sound or behavior
Example
The crowd became raucous after the team scored.
La foule est devenue bruyante après que l'équipe a marqué.
C1 noun /ˈtæntrəm/

tantrum

colère
Meaning
An uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration, typically in a young child.
Example
The child threw a tantrum when he didn’t get the toy.
L'enfant a eu une colère quand il n'a pas eu le jouet.
C1 noun /ˈlʌstər/

luster

lustre
Meaning
a gentle sheen or soft glow, especially from a polished surface
Example
The diamond had a brilliant luster.
Le diamant avait un éclat brillant.
C1 adjective /ˈkɔː.zəl/

causal

causal
Meaning
relating to or acting as a cause
Example
There is a causal link between smoking and cancer.
Il existe un lien causal entre le tabagisme et le cancer.
C1 adjective /dɪˈlæpɪˌdeɪtɪd/

dilapidated

délabré
Meaning
Fallen into disrepair or ruin due to neglect or age.
Example
The family lived in a dilapidated house at the edge of town.
La famille vivait dans une maison délabrée au bord de la ville.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈsɒlvənt/

insolvent

insolvable
Meaning
unable to pay debts owed
Example
The insolvent firm could not meet its financial obligations.
L'entreprise insolvable n'a pas pu remplir ses obligations financières.
C1 noun /ˈdɛljuːdʒ/

deluge

inondation
Meaning
A severe flood; an overwhelming quantity of something.
Example
The town was hit by a deluge of rain in just a few hours.
La ville a été frappée par un déluge de pluie en quelques heures seulement.
C1 noun /ˈhæv.ək/

Havoc

destruction généralisée; grande confusion ou désordre; chaos
Meaning
widespread destruction; great confusion or disorder; chaos
Example
The hurricane wreaked havoc on the coastal towns, destroying homes and businesses.
L'ouragan a semé la destruction sur les villes côtières, détruisant maisons et commerces.
C1 verb /bɪˈsiːdʒ/

besiege

assiéger
Meaning
to surround a place with armed forces to capture it; to overwhelm with requests or attention
Example
The city was besieged by enemy troops.
La ville a été assiégée par des troupes ennemies.
C1 adjective /ˈtɔːrtʃuəs/

tortuous

tortueux, complexe
Meaning
Full of twists and turns; excessively complex or complicated.
Example
The tortuous mountain road made driving very difficult.
La route tortueuse de montagne rendait la conduite très difficile.
C1 verb /sərˈmaʊnt/

surmount

surmonter
Meaning
to overcome a difficulty or obstacle
Example
He surmounted all the challenges to achieve his dream.
Il a surmonté tous les défis pour atteindre son rêve.
C1 noun /kræɡ/

crag

une falaise escarpée ou un rocher abrupt
Meaning
a steep or rugged cliff or rock face
Example
The hikers climbed the jagged crag to reach the summit.
Les randonneurs ont grimpé la falaise escarpée pour atteindre le sommet.
C1 noun /bəˈrɑːʒ/

barrage

barrage ou attaque rapide
Meaning
a concentrated outpouring of questions, criticisms, or blows; a rapid, continuous attack
Example
The politician faced a barrage of tough questions from reporters.
Le politicien a fait face à un barrage de questions difficiles de la part des journalistes.
C1 noun /rɪˈdʒɔɪsɪŋ/

rejoicing

joie
Meaning
The action of showing great joy or happiness
Example
There was much rejoicing after the victory.
Il y a eu beaucoup de joie après la victoire.
C1 adjective /həˈbɪtʃuəl/

habitual

habituel
Meaning
Done or doing constantly or as a habit; customary.
Example
He was a habitual latecomer to class.
Il était un retardataire habituel en classe.
C1 adjective /əˈsɛndənt/

ascendant

ascendant, dominant
Meaning
Rising in power or influence; dominant.
Example
She is an ascendant leader in the political party.
Elle est une leader ascendante dans le parti politique.
C1 noun /ˌrev.əˈluː.ʃən.ər.i ˈbreɪk.θruː/

revolutionary breakthrough

découverte révolutionnaire
Meaning
A sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development that changes everything.
Example
Robotic surgery is a revolutionary breakthrough in healthcare.
La chirurgie robotique est une découverte révolutionnaire dans le domaine de la santé.
C1 noun ˌɪndɪˈspensəbl̩ ˈkɒmpɪtənsi

indispensable competency

compétence indispensable
Meaning
Essential skill or ability that cannot be done without; a crucial capability that is absolutely necessary.
Example
Digital literacy is an indispensable competency in the 21st century.
L'alphabétisation numérique est une compétence indispensable au XXIe siècle.
C1 verb /ˈbɒɡəl/

boggle

sidérer
Meaning
to overwhelm or confuse; to be astonished or puzzled by something
Example
The complexity of the puzzle boggled his mind.
La complexité du puzzle a sidéré son esprit.
C1 noun /ɡrəˈfiː.ti/

Graffiti

écriture ou dessins illégaux faits sur un mur ou une autre surface dans un lieu public
Meaning
writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place
Example
The subway walls were covered with colorful graffiti created by local street artists.
Les murs du métro étaient couverts de graffiti colorés créés par des artistes locaux.
C1 verb /əbˈstrʌkt/

obstruct

obstruer
Meaning
to block or hinder progress; to prevent or impede movement
Example
The fallen tree obstructed the road for several hours.
L'arbre tombé obstruait la route pendant plusieurs heures.
C1 adjective /ɪˈledʒ.ə.bəl/

illegible

illisible
Meaning
Not clear enough to be read; unreadable.
Example
The doctor’s handwriting was almost illegible.
L'écriture du médecin était presque illisible.
C1 adjective /ˈpɔɪ.njənt/

poignant

émouvant, poignant
Meaning
evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret; deeply touching
Example
The movie's ending was so poignant that many in the audience were moved to tears.
La fin du film était tellement émouvante que beaucoup dans le public ont été émus aux larmes.
C1 noun səˈlɪnɪti ɪnˈtruːʒən

salinity intrusion

intrusion de salinité
Meaning
The movement of salt water into freshwater areas, typically affecting coastal regions.
Example
Salinity intrusion affects coastal regions.
L'intrusion de salinité affecte les régions côtières.
C1 noun /ˈdʒʌɡ.lər/

Juggler

jongleur
Meaning
a person who skillfully throws and catches objects as entertainment
Example
The juggler entertained the crowd with his amazing ball tricks.
Le jongleur a diverti la foule avec ses incroyables tours de balles.
C1 noun /ˈlɪrɪk/

lyric

paroles de chanson
Meaning
the words of a song or a short poem that expresses personal feelings
Example
She memorized every lyric of her favorite song.
Elle a mémorisé chaque parole de sa chanson préférée.
C1 adverb /əˈfrɛʃ/

afresh

à neuf
Meaning
From the beginning, in a new way.
Example
After the failure, they started the project afresh.
Après l'échec, ils ont recommencé le projet à neuf.
C1 adjective /ˈwɪst.fəl/

Wistful

mélancolique; nostalgique
Meaning
having a feeling of longing or yearning; melancholy
Example
She gave a wistful smile when remembering her childhood days.
Elle a donné un sourire mélancolique en se souvenant de ses jours d'enfance.
C1 noun /ˈhaɪdəweɪ/

hideaway

refuge
Meaning
A place used as a retreat or a place to hide.
Example
The cabin in the woods was their secret hideaway.
Le chalet dans les bois était leur cachette secrète.
C1 noun /ˈfjuː.dʒə.tɪv/

Fugitive

fugitif
Meaning
a person who has escaped from a place or is in hiding, especially to avoid arrest
Example
The police launched a manhunt to capture the fugitive who escaped from prison.
La police a lancé une chasse à l'homme pour capturer le fugitif qui s'était échappé de la prison.
C1 noun /ˌæntiˈklaɪmæks/

anticlimax

anticlímax
Meaning
A disappointing end after a big build-up of excitement or expectation.
Example
The movie's ending was an anticlimax after such a thrilling story.
La fin du film était un anticlímax après une histoire aussi passionnante.