simile
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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 adjective /ˈsæv.i/

savvy

astucieux, sage
Meaning
Having practical knowledge and the ability to make good judgments.
Example
She is a tech-savvy entrepreneur.
Elle est une entrepreneure experte en technologie.
C1 noun /ˌsəʊ.ʃi.əʊˈek.ə.nɒm.ɪk ˈprɒɡ.res/

socioeconomic progress

progrès socioéconomique
Meaning
Advancement in both social and economic conditions of a society or community.
Example
Socioeconomic progress uplifts marginalized communities.
Le progrès socioéconomique élève les communautés marginalisées.
C1 noun /səˈnɑːtə/

sonata

composition musicale (sonate)
Meaning
A musical composition for one or more instruments, typically in several movements.
Example
She performed a beautiful Beethoven sonata on the piano.
Elle a joué une magnifique sonate de Beethoven au piano.
C1 noun ˌsɛlf.rɪˈstreɪnt

self-restraint

autocontrôle
Meaning
The practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something, typically an impulse or desire.
Example
Practicing self-restraint helps in avoiding impulsive decisions.
Pratiquer l'autocontrôle aide à éviter les décisions impulsives.
C1 noun /ˈstəʊ.ɪ.sɪ.zəm/

stoicism

stoïcisme
Meaning
The endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and without complaint.
Example
His stoicism during hardship was admirable.
Son stoïcisme pendant les épreuves était admirable.
C1 noun /stæɡˈneɪ.ʃən/

stagnation

stagnation
Meaning
A state of inactivity or lack of growth, especially in an economy.
Example
High unemployment led to economic stagnation.
Le chômage élevé a conduit à une stagnation économique.
C1 adjective /ˈstɪltɪd/

stilted

artificiel, forcé
Meaning
Speech or writing that is stiff, unnatural, or overly formal.
Example
His speech sounded stilted and rehearsed.
Son discours semblait forcé et préparé.
C1 noun /ˈstɪm.jʊ.laɪ/

stimuli

stimulant
Meaning
Things that create reactions or provide motivation.
Example
Bright light and loud sounds are common stimuli for alertness.
La lumière brillante et les bruits forts sont des stimuli courants pour la vigilance.
C1 noun /ˈsɔːrsəri/

sorcery

sorcellerie
Meaning
the use of magical powers, especially through spells and enchantments
Example
The villagers believed the illness was caused by sorcery.
Les villageois croyaient que la maladie était causée par la sorcellerie.
C1 adjective /ˈskwiːmɪʃ/

squeamish

facilement rendu malade, évanoui ou dégoûté
Meaning
easily made to feel sick, faint, or disgusted
Example
She felt squeamish at the sight of blood.
Elle se sentit mal à l'aise en voyant du sang.
C1 verb /ˈstrætɪfaɪ/

stratify

stratifier
Meaning
to arrange or divide into layers, classes, or categories
Example
The researchers plan to stratify the data based on age groups.
Les chercheurs prévoient de stratifier les données en fonction des groupes d'âge.
C1 adjective /səˈtɪrɪk/

satiric

satirique
Meaning
Relating to or using satire.
Example
The novel takes a satiric view of urban life.
Le roman adopte un point de vue satirique sur la vie urbaine.
C1 adjective /ˈstrɛnjuəs/

strenuous

ardu
Meaning
Requiring or using great effort and energy.
Example
Climbing the mountain was a strenuous task.
Grimper la montagne était une tâche ardue.
C1 verb /sɪˈkluːd/

seclude

isoler
Meaning
To keep someone away from other people; to isolate.
Example
The monk chose to seclude himself in the mountains.
Le moine a choisi de s'isoler dans les montagnes.
C1 verb /ˈsælvɪdʒ/

salvage

sauver
Meaning
To save something from loss, damage, or destruction.
Example
They managed to salvage some goods from the fire.
Ils ont réussi à sauver des biens du feu.
C1 adjective /ˌsæŋktɪˈmoʊniəs/

sanctimonious

moraliste et hypocrite
Meaning
Making a show of being morally superior to others; hypocritically pious.
Example
He gave a sanctimonious speech about honesty while he himself was corrupt.
Il a fait un discours moraliste sur l'honnêteté alors qu'il était lui-même corrompu.
C1 noun /ˈsɪndɪkət/

syndicate

syndicat
Meaning
A group of individuals or organizations combined to promote a common interest or carry out a business venture.
Example
A syndicate of investors bought the struggling company.
Un syndicat d'investisseurs a acheté l'entreprise en difficulté.
C1 noun /ˈskæf.əld/

Scaffold

échafaud
Meaning
a temporary structure used by workers to stand on when building or repairing something high; a platform for execution
Example
The workers erected a scaffold to paint the building's exterior.
Les ouvriers ont érigé un échafaud pour peindre l'extérieur du bâtiment.
C1 verb /skwiːl/

squeal

crier
Meaning
to make a high-pitched cry; to inform on someone
Example
The children squealed with delight when they saw the surprise.
Les enfants ont crié de joie lorsqu'ils ont vu la surprise.
C1 noun /ˈsɪk.əl/

Sickle

faucille
Meaning
a tool with a curved metal blade and short handle used for cutting grain crops
Example
The farmer harvested wheat using a traditional sickle.
Le fermier a récolté du blé en utilisant une faucille traditionnelle.
C1 adjective /suːˈpɜːrlətɪv/

superlative

superlatif
Meaning
Of the highest quality or degree; expressing the extreme form of an adjective or adverb.
Example
Her performance was superlative, earning her a standing ovation.
Sa performance était superlative, lui valant une ovation debout.
C1 adjective /ˈsɛn.sər.i/

sensory

sensoriel
Meaning
Related to the five human senses (sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell).
Example
Sensory feedback enhances the VR experience.
Les rétroactions sensorielles améliorent l'expérience de la réalité virtuelle.
C1 verb /səbˈdjuː/

subdue

soumettre
Meaning
To bring under control, especially by force; to overcome or quiet.
Example
The army was able to subdue the rebellion quickly.
L'armée a pu soumettre la rébellion rapidement.
C1 adjective /sɑːrˈdɒnɪk/

sardonic

bonheur
Meaning
Grimly mocking or cynical.
Example
She gave him a sardonic smile after hearing his excuse.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C1 adjective /ˈstætʃətɔːri/

statutory

législatif
Meaning
Required, permitted, or enacted by law.
Example
The company must comply with all statutory regulations.
L'entreprise doit se conformer à toutes les régulations législatives.
C1 adjective /ˈseɪ.vər.i/

savory

savoureux (salé ou épicé)
Meaning
Having a pleasant salty or spicy taste; morally acceptable.
Example
The restaurant serves a variety of savory dishes.
Le restaurant sert une variété de plats savoureux.
C1 noun /ˈstɔːrhaʊs/

storehouse

entrepôt
Meaning
A place where goods, supplies, or valuables are stored; a repository
Example
The warehouse acted as a storehouse for all the imported goods.
L'entrepôt servait de storehouse pour tous les produits importés.
C1 verb /ˈstæɡ.neɪt/

stagnate

stagner
Meaning
to stop developing, progressing, or moving
Example
Without innovation, the business will stagnate.
sans innovation, l'entreprise stagnnera.
C1 adjective /ˈskræpi/

scrappy

combattant / en désordre
Meaning
Determined and willing to fight or argue; also messy or disorganized.
Example
Despite being small, he was a scrappy fighter.
Malgré sa petite taille, il était un combattant déterminé.
C1 verb /sleɪ/

slay

tuer
Meaning
to kill violently; informally, to impress greatly
Example
The hero vowed to slay the dragon.
Le héros a juré de tuer le dragon.
C1 adjective /ˈsɜːrli/

surly

grognon
Meaning
bad-tempered and unfriendly
Example
The waiter gave us a surly look when we asked for more water.
Le serveur nous a lancé un regard grognon lorsque nous avons demandé plus d'eau.
C1 noun /səˈbætɪkəl/

sabbatical

période de congé pour études ou voyages
Meaning
A period of paid leave granted to a teacher or worker for study or travel, traditionally every seventh year.
Example
She took a sabbatical to research her new book.
Elle a pris un congé sabbatique pour rechercher son nouveau livre.
C1 verb /ˈskruː.tɪ.naɪz/

scrutinize

examiner ou inspecter de près et en profondeur
Meaning
Examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.
Example
The scientist scrutinized the data before publishing his findings.
Le scientifique a scruté les données avant de publier ses conclusions.
C1 noun /ˈskwɒtər/

squatter

squatteur
Meaning
a person who unlawfully occupies an uninhabited building or unused land
Example
The police removed the squatters from the abandoned house.
La police a expulsé les squatteurs de la maison abandonnée.
C1 adjective /ˈsæljʊˌtɛri/

salutary

salutaire
Meaning
Producing good effects; beneficial, especially after something unpleasant.
Example
The accident was a salutary reminder to drive carefully.
L'accident a été un rappel salutaire de conduire prudemment.
C1 noun /ˈstænzə/

stanza

strophe
Meaning
a group of lines forming a unit in a poem or song
Example
The poem begins with a stanza describing nature.
Le poème commence par une strophe décrivant la nature.
C1 adjective səˈblaɪm

sublime

sublime, magnifique, majestueux
Meaning
Of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe.
Example
The sublime beauty of the mountain landscape took my breath away.
La beauté sublime du paysage montagneux m'a coupé le souffle.
C1 adjective /ˈʃɪp.ʃeɪp/

Shipshape

propre et bien organisé; en bon ordre
Meaning
neat and tidy; in good order; well-organized
Example
Everything was shipshape before the inspection.
Tout était impeccable avant l'inspection.
C1 adjective /ˈstæɡ.nənt/

Stagnant

stagnant; immobile; sans développement
Meaning
not moving or flowing; showing no activity or development
Example
The stagnant water in the pond was covered with algae.
L'eau stagnante dans l'étang était recouverte d'algues.
C1 adjective /ˈsnɒbɪʃ/

snobbish

prétentieux
Meaning
having or showing the attitude of people who think they are better than others
Example
She seemed snobbish because she avoided talking to the waiters.
Elle semblait prétentieuse parce qu'elle a évité de parler aux serveurs.
C1 noun /sɪˈdʌk.ʃən/

Seduction

séduction; tentation
Meaning
the action of seducing someone; temptation to do something wrong
Example
He fell victim to the seduction of easy money.
Il est tombé victime de la séduction de l'argent facile.
C1 verb /smɛlt/

smelt

fondre
Meaning
to extract metal from its ore by heating and melting
Example
The workers smelt iron from its ore in the factory.
Les travailleurs fondent du fer de son minerai dans l'usine.
C1 adjective /ˌsɛlf əbˈzɔːrbd/

self-absorbed

égocentrique
Meaning
Excessively preoccupied with oneself and one’s own thoughts, feelings, or interests.
Example
He was too self-absorbed to notice his friend's distress.
Il était trop égocentrique pour remarquer la détresse de son ami.
C1 verb /ˈsaɪdˌtræk/

sidetrack

détourner
Meaning
To distract from the main subject or activity.
Example
She was sidetracked by an unexpected phone call.
Elle a été détournée par un appel téléphonique inattendu.
C1 verb /ˈstriːmlaɪnɪŋ/

streamlining

rationalisation
Meaning
The process of making an organization or system more efficient by simplifying or eliminating unnecessary steps
Example
Streamlining processes can significantly reduce operational costs.
La rationalisation des processus peut réduire considérablement les coûts opérationnels.
C1 verb /sərˈpæs/

surpass

dépasser
Meaning
to exceed or go beyond
Example
Her performance surpassed all expectations.
Sa performance a dépassé toutes les attentes.
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 adjective /ˌsekənd ˈreɪt/

second-rate

de seconde zone
Meaning
Of mediocre or inferior quality.
Example
The movie was entertaining but clearly second-rate compared to the original.
Le film était divertissant mais clairement de seconde zone comparé à l'original.
C1 noun /ˈspɛkjʊˌleɪtər/

speculator

spéculateur
Meaning
A person who forms theories without evidence, or invests in assets hoping for profit.
Example
The real estate speculator bought land hoping its value would rise.
Le spéculateur immobilier a acheté des terres en espérant que leur valeur augmenterait.
C1 verb /splaɪs/

splice

joindre
Meaning
to join two pieces of rope, film, or other material by weaving or attaching them together
Example
The technician spliced the two wires to restore the connection.
Le technicien a joint les deux fils pour restaurer la connexion.
C1 noun স্ক্রোলিং অ্যাডিকশন

scrolling addiction

dépendance au défilement
Meaning
A compulsive need to continuously scroll through content on digital devices, particularly smartphones and social media platforms.
Example
Scrolling addiction is a growing concern among smartphone users.
La dépendance au défilement est une préoccupation croissante parmi les utilisateurs de smartphones.
C1 noun /ˈsɪstərhʊd/

sisterhood

sororité
Meaning
The relationship between sisters, or a community of women united by shared experiences or goals.
Example
The feminist movement created a strong sense of sisterhood among women.
Le mouvement féministe a créé un fort sentiment de sororité parmi les femmes.
C1 verb /skʌlpt/

sculpt

bonheur
Meaning
to create or shape something by carving or molding
Example
The artist sculpted a beautiful statue from marble.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher sa joie lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C1 noun, adjective /ˈsɒlvənt/

solvent

solvant, capable de rembourser ses dettes
Meaning
a liquid that dissolves other substances; also means able to pay debts
Example
Acetone is a common solvent used in laboratories.
L'acétone est un solvant couramment utilisé dans les laboratoires.
C1 verb /səˈlɪsɪt/

solicit

solliciter
Meaning
to ask for or try to obtain something from someone
Example
The charity is soliciting donations for flood victims.
La charité sollicite des dons pour les victimes des inondations.
C1 noun /ˈsɑːri/

Saree

sari
Meaning
a garment consisting of a length of cotton or silk elaborately draped around the body, traditionally worn by women from South Asia
Example
She looked elegant in her red silk saree at the festival.
Elle avait l'air élégante dans son sari en soie rouge lors du festival.
C1 adjective /sɪmˈfɒnɪk/

symphonic

symphonique
Meaning
relating to or having the character of a symphony or symphony orchestra
Example
The concert featured a symphonic masterpiece.
Le concert a présenté un chef-d'œuvre symphonique.
C1 adjective /səkˈsɪŋkt/

succinct

concis
Meaning
Briefly and clearly expressed; characterized by clear, precise expression in few words.
Example
His speech was succinct and impactful.
Son discours était concis et percutant.
C1 noun /ˈslændər/

Slander

calomnie
Meaning
the action of making false spoken statements damaging to someone's reputation
Example
The politician sued the newspaper for slander.
Le politicien a poursuivi le journal pour calomnie.
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 noun /ˈʃeɪvɪŋ/

shaving

rasage
Meaning
the act of removing hair with a razor; a thin strip or piece shaved from something
Example
He bought a new cream for shaving.
Il a acheté une nouvelle crème pour le rasage.
C1 adjective /ˈʃeɪp.ləs/

Shapeless

sans forme
Meaning
having no definite or well-defined shape or form
Example
The fog created a shapeless mass in the distance.
Le brouillard a créé une masse sans forme au loin.
C1 noun /ʃɑːrd/

shard

éclat
Meaning
a broken piece of glass, metal, or pottery
Example
He cut his finger on a shard of glass.
Il s'est coupé le doigt avec un éclat de verre.
C1 noun /ˈsækrɪlɪdʒ/

sacrilege

sacrilège
Meaning
Violation or misuse of what is regarded as sacred.
Example
Stealing from the temple was considered an act of sacrilege.
Voler dans le temple était considéré comme un acte de sacrilège.
C1 adjective ˈsɒvrɪn

sovereign

souverain, suprême
Meaning
Possessing supreme or ultimate power; independent.
Example
The sovereign government has control over its currency.
Le gouvernement souverain a le contrôle de sa monnaie.
C1 noun ˌsæn.ɪ.taɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

sanitization

désinfection
Meaning
The process of cleaning and disinfecting to eliminate germs and bacteria.
Example
Regular sanitization keeps appliances germ-free.
La désinfection régulière garde les appareils sans germes.
C1 noun /səbˈmɪtəl/

submittal

soumission
Meaning
the act of submitting something, especially a document for consideration or approval
Example
The contractor sent the submittal to the client for approval.
L'entrepreneur a envoyé la soumission au client pour approbation.
C1 noun /ˈsɛdətɪv/

sedative

sédatif
Meaning
A substance that calms the nerves or induces sleep.
Example
The doctor prescribed a sedative to help the patient sleep.
Le médecin a prescrit un sédatif pour aider le patient à dormir.
C1 noun /ˈsʌn.stroʊk/

Sunstroke

coup de chaleur
Meaning
a serious condition caused by overheating from prolonged exposure to high temperatures
Example
The worker suffered from sunstroke after working outside all day.
Le travailleur a souffert d'un coup de chaleur après avoir travaillé dehors toute la journée.
C1 verb /slɪŋ/

sling

lancer, suspendre
Meaning
to throw or hang something roughly or carelessly
Example
He slung his bag over his shoulder before leaving.
Il a jeté son sac par-dessus son épaule avant de partir.
C1 noun/verb /spuːf/

spoof

imitation humoristique
Meaning
A humorous imitation of something, or to trick or parody someone or something.
Example
The comedian spoofed the politician’s speech to entertain the audience.
Le comédien a parodié le discours du politicien pour divertir le public.
C1 verb /ˈsɪnɚdʒaɪzd/

synergized

synchronisé, énergisé, coordonné
Meaning
Combine in such a way that the total effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects.
Example
The teams were synergized to maximize productivity.
Les équipes ont été synchronisées pour maximiser la productivité.
C1 adjective /ʃrɪl/

shrill

son aigu
Meaning
High-pitched and piercing in sound.
Example
The shrill whistle startled everyone in the room.
Le sifflement aigu a surpris tout le monde dans la pièce.
C1 verb, adjective, noun /spruːs/

spruce

ranger / un type d'arbre
Meaning
to make neat or tidy in appearance; also refers to an evergreen tree
Example
He spruced up his room before the guests arrived.
Il a arrangé sa chambre avant l'arrivée des invités.
C1 verb /ˈswɪndl/

swindle

escroquer
Meaning
to cheat someone out of money or possessions by deceit
Example
The con artist tried to swindle the old man out of his savings.
L'artiste de la tromperie a tenté d'escroquer le vieil homme de ses économies.
C1 noun /ˌsɛnsɪtaɪˈzeɪʃən/

sensitization

sensibilisation
Meaning
The process of becoming sensitive to a substance, situation, or influence.
Example
The doctor warned about the sensitization caused by repeated exposure to chemicals.
Le médecin a averti de la sensibilisation causée par une exposition répétée aux produits chimiques.
C1 adjective /sliːk/

sleek

élégant et brillant
Meaning
smooth, shiny, and stylish
Example
She drove a sleek black sports car.
Elle a conduit une voiture de sport brillante et élégante.
C1 verb /sərˈmaɪz/

surmise

supposer
Meaning
to suppose something is true without having evidence
Example
She surmised that he was not coming to the meeting.
Elle a supposé qu'il ne viendrait pas à la réunion.
C1 noun /ˈsɛpərətɪst/

separatist

séparatiste
Meaning
A person who supports the separation of a group from a larger body, often for political or cultural independence.
Example
The separatist group demanded independence from the central government.
Le groupe séparatiste a exigé l'indépendance du gouvernement central.
C1 noun /ˌsɑːrdʒənt ˈmeɪdʒər/

sergeant-major

sergent-major
Meaning
A senior non-commissioned officer in the army responsible for discipline and administration within a unit.
Example
The sergeant-major inspected the troops before the parade.
Le sergent-major a inspecté les troupes avant le défilé.
C1 verb /ˈsmoʊldər/

smolder

fumer lentement
Meaning
to burn slowly with smoke but no flame; to show suppressed anger or emotion
Example
The fire smoldered for hours before it went out.
Le feu a fumé lentement pendant des heures avant de s'éteindre.
C1 adjective /ˈstoʊɪk/

stoic

stoïque, implacable
Meaning
Showing little or no emotion, even in difficult situations.
Example
She remained stoic during the crisis, never showing fear or panic.
Elle est restée stoïque pendant la crise, sans montrer de peur ni de panique.
C1 adjective /ˈspeɪʃəl/

spatial

spatial
Meaning
relating to space or the position, area, and size of things
Example
The scientist studied the spatial arrangement of stars.
Le scientifique a étudié l'agencement spatial des étoiles.
C1 adjective ˌsɪmbɪˈɒtɪk

symbiotic

symbiotique
Meaning
Involving interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association.
Example
The relationship between the bee and the flower is symbiotic.
La relation entre l'abeille et la fleur est symbiotique.
C1 adjective /ˈsɒnɪk/

sonic

sonique
Meaning
Relating to or involving sound waves or speed of sound.
Example
The jet created a loud boom when it broke the sonic barrier.
L'avion a créé un fort bruit lorsqu'il a franchi le mur du son.
C1 noun /ˈsuːtər/

suitor

prétendant
Meaning
a man who pursues a relationship with a woman, often with the intent to marry
Example
She had many suitors vying for her attention.
Elle avait de nombreux prétendants qui se disputaient son attention.
C1 adjective /sɪər/

Sear

séché; brûlé; fané
Meaning
withered; dried up; burned or scorched
Example
The sear leaves fell from the trees in autumn.
Les feuilles séchées sont tombées des arbres en automne.
C1 verb sɪˈkwɛstər

sequester

isoler, cacher
Meaning
To isolate or hide away.
Example
The carbon captured by trees can be sequestered for years.
Le carbone capturé par les arbres peut être isolé pendant des années.
C1 adjective ˈsek.tər spəˈsɪf.ɪk

sector-specific

sectoriel
Meaning
Relating to or designed for a particular sector or industry.
Example
Sector-specific policies attract targeted investments.
Les politiques sectorielles attirent les investissements ciblés.
C1 noun /sɪr/

seer

voyant
Meaning
A person who is supposed to be able to see what will happen in the future; a prophet.
Example
The seer predicted a great change in the kingdom.
Le voyant a prédit un grand changement dans le royaume.
C1 noun/verb /stæmˈpiːd/

stampede

panique générale
Meaning
A sudden, uncontrolled rush of people or animals; to cause a mass movement.
Example
The loud noise caused a stampede of the crowd.
Le bruit fort a causé une stampede de la foule.
C1 adjective /skænt/

Scant

insuffisant
Meaning
barely sufficient; inadequate; small in amount
Example
There was scant evidence to support his claim.
Il y avait peu de preuves pour soutenir sa réclamation.
C1 adjective /ˈstɔːlwərt/

stalwart

fidèle, robuste
Meaning
Loyal, reliable, and hardworking; strongly built or sturdy.
Example
She has always been a stalwart supporter of the community.
Elle a toujours été une fidèle partisane de la communauté.
C1 noun ˈsɛlf pəˈzɪʃən

self-possession

maîtrise de soi
Meaning
The quality of being calm and confident and in control of one's emotions; composure.
Example
His self-possession during the crisis was remarkable.
Son self-possession pendant la crise était remarquable.
C1 verb /siːp/

seep

s'infiltrer lentement
Meaning
to flow or leak slowly through small openings or pores
Example
Water began to seep through the cracks in the wall.
L'eau a commencé à s'infiltrer à travers les fissures dans le mur.
C1 noun /stɪˈlɛtoʊ/

stiletto

chaussure à talon aigu / poignard
Meaning
A small, thin, high-heeled shoe or a dagger with a slender blade.
Example
She wore elegant stiletto heels to the party.
Elle portait des talons stiletto élégants à la fête.
C1 noun ˌsɪs.təˈmæt.ɪk ˈstræt.ə.dʒi

systematic strategy

stratégie systématique
Meaning
A methodical and organized plan or approach to achieve specific objectives.
Example
A systematic strategy was employed to achieve objectives.
Une stratégie systématique a été employée pour atteindre les objectifs.
C1 noun /ˈʃɜːrbət/

sherbet

sorbet
Meaning
a sweet flavored drink or a frozen dessert made from sweetened fruit juice
Example
On hot days, she enjoys a glass of lemon sherbet.
Lors des journées chaudes, elle apprécie un verre de sorbet au citron.
C1 noun /ˈskep.tɪ.sɪ.zəm/

skepticism

scepticisme, doute
Meaning
A skeptical attitude; doubt as to the truth of something.
Example
His skepticism about new technology often makes him resistant to change.
Son scepticisme à propos de la nouvelle technologie le rend souvent résistant au changement.
C1 verb/noun /skaʊl/

scowl

froncer les sourcils
Meaning
To frown in an angry or bad-tempered way.
Example
She scowled when she heard the unfair remark.
Elle fronça les sourcils quand elle entendit la remarque injuste.
C1 noun /ˈspɔɪlˌspɔːrt/

spoilsport

rabat-joie
Meaning
A person who ruins other people's enjoyment or fun.
Example
Don't be a spoilsport and let us enjoy the party.
Ne sois pas un rabat-joie et laisse-nous profiter de la fête.
C1 adjective /səˈsɛp.tə.bəl/

susceptible

susceptible ou vulnérable à être influencé ou endommagé par quelque chose de particulier
Meaning
Likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.
Example
Children are more susceptible to infections.
Les enfants sont plus susceptibles aux infections.
C1 noun səˌsɛp.təˈbɪl.ə.ti

susceptibility

sensibilité
Meaning
The quality of being likely to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing; vulnerability.
Example
High susceptibility to infections requires extra care.
Une susceptibilité élevée aux infections nécessite des soins supplémentaires.
C1 noun /ˌsɛrənˈdɪpɪti/

serendipity

sérendipité
Meaning
The occurrence of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
Example
Finding that old photo album was pure serendipity.
Trouver cet ancien album photo a été de la pure sérendipité.
C1 adjective /snaɪd/

snide

moqueur
Meaning
mocking or insulting in an indirect way
Example
He couldn’t resist making a snide comment about her dress.
Il ne pouvait s'empêcher de faire un commentaire moqueur sur sa robe.
C1 noun /ˈskɛptɪk/

skeptic

sceptique
Meaning
A person who doubts or questions accepted beliefs or claims.
Example
The scientist was a skeptic of theories without solid evidence.
Le scientifique était sceptique des théories sans preuve solide.
C1 verb /ˈsɛvər/

sever

couper, rompre des relations
Meaning
to cut off or separate, especially by cutting; to end a connection or relationship
Example
He had to sever ties with the company after the dispute.
Il a dû rompre ses liens avec l'entreprise après le différend.
C1 noun /ˈstætʃər/

stature

stature, prestige
Meaning
A person's natural height or their reputation and importance.
Example
Her intellectual stature made her a respected figure in academia.
Sa stature intellectuelle a fait d'elle une figure respectée dans le monde académique.
C1 adjective /ˈsiː.naɪl/

senile

faiblesse liée à la vieillesse
Meaning
Showing the weaknesses of old age, especially mental decline.
Example
The old man became senile and forgot familiar faces.
Le vieil homme est devenu sénile et a oublié des visages familiers.
C1 verb /ˈʃʌdər/

shudder

frissonner
Meaning
to tremble or shake suddenly, often due to fear, cold, or strong emotion
Example
She shuddered at the thought of walking alone in the dark forest.
Elle frissonna à l'idée de marcher seule dans la forêt sombre.
C1 adjective /stjuːˈpɛndəs/

stupendous

stupéfiant
Meaning
extremely impressive; amazing in size, degree, or excellence
Example
The magician’s performance was simply stupendous.
La performance du magicien était tout simplement stupéfiante.
C1 adjective /ˈsaɪz.mɪk/

seismic

sismique
Meaning
Relating to earthquakes or vibrations of the earth and its crust.
Example
The region is known for its seismic activity.
La région est connue pour son activité sismique.
C1 adjective /ˈspjʊəriəs/

spurious

faux / frauduleux
Meaning
Not genuine, authentic, or true; false or fake.
Example
The report was based on spurious claims.
Le rapport était basé sur des affirmations fausses.
C1 noun /stɪnt/

stint

période temporaire
Meaning
a period of time spent doing a particular job or activity
Example
She did a short stint as a teacher before moving abroad.
Elle a fait un court passage en tant qu'enseignante avant de partir à l'étranger.
C1 verb /snɪər/

sneer

sourire de façon moqueuse
Meaning
to smile or speak in a mocking or contemptuous way
Example
She sneered at his attempt to sing.
Elle se moquait de sa tentative de chanter.
C1 noun /ˈsteɪtəs kwoʊ/

status quo

statu quo
Meaning
The existing state of affairs, especially regarding social or political issues.
Example
The government decided to maintain the status quo until further review.
Le gouvernement a décidé de maintenir le statu quo jusqu'à un examen ultérieur.
C1 noun ˈsɛlfləsnɪs

selflessness

altruisme
Meaning
The quality of being concerned more with the needs of others than with one's own.
Example
Selflessness is a key value for community building.
L'altruisme est une valeur clé pour la construction de la communauté.
C1 adjective /ˈstɛlər/

stellar

exceptionnel
Meaning
Relating to stars; outstanding or excellent.
Example
She gave a stellar performance in the play.
Elle a donné une performance exceptionnelle dans la pièce.
C1 noun /sleɪ/

sleigh

traîneau
Meaning
A vehicle pulled by horses or reindeer over snow or ice.
Example
Children were excited to ride in the sleigh through the snowy village.
Les enfants étaient excités de monter dans le traîneau à travers le village enneigé.
C1 verb /ˈskwɒbəl/

squabble

se disputer bruyamment pour quelque chose de trivial
Meaning
To argue noisily over something small or unimportant.
Example
The children squabbled over the last piece of cake.
Les enfants se disputaient pour le dernier morceau de gâteau.