spearhead
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C1 verb /ˈspɪərˌhɛd/

spearhead

diriger
Meaning
to lead or initiate an action, project, or movement
Example
She spearheaded the campaign for environmental awareness.
Elle a dirigé la campagne pour la sensibilisation à l'environnement.
C1 adjective /ˌsækrəˈlɪdʒəs/

sacrilegious

sacrilège
Meaning
Showing disrespect or irreverence toward something sacred.
Example
The painting was criticized as being sacrilegious.
Le tableau a été critiqué comme étant sacrilège.
C1 verb/noun /snɑːrl/

snarl

grognement, embouteillage
Meaning
to growl aggressively with bared teeth; a tangle or mess
Example
The dog snarled at the stranger near the gate.
Le chien a grogné au passant près de la porte.
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 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 /ˈsʌltri/

sultry

chaud et humide, attrayant
Meaning
Uncomfortably hot and humid; also describes someone attractive in a passionate or sensual way.
Example
The sultry weather made it hard to focus on work.
Le temps chaud et humide rendait difficile de se concentrer sur le travail.
C1 noun /ˈskrɪmɪdʒ/

scrimmage

match d'entraînement
Meaning
A practice game or informal match, often in sports, especially football.
Example
The team had a scrimmage before the official season started.
L'équipe a joué un match d'entraînement avant que la saison officielle commence.
C1 adjective /ˈsɪlkən/

Silken

en soie; doux; lisse;
Meaning
made of silk; smooth and soft like silk
Example
She wore a beautiful silken dress to the party.
Elle portait une belle robe en soie à la fête.
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 noun /slæɡ/

slag

scories
Meaning
Stony waste matter separated from metals during the smelting process.
Example
The factory dumped the slag near the river.
L'usine a déversé les scories près de la rivière.
C1 noun /ˈsɛntɪnəl/

sentinel

sentinelle
Meaning
A soldier or guard whose job is to stand and keep watch.
Example
A sentinel stood at the entrance of the camp.
Un sentinelle se tenait à l'entrée du camp.
C1 noun speɪst ˌrep.ɪˈtɪʃ.ən

spaced repetition

répétition espacée
Meaning
A learning technique that involves reviewing information at increasing intervals to improve long-term retention.
Example
Spaced repetition helps in long-term memory retention.
La répétition espacée aide à maintenir la mémoire à long terme.
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 /səˈprɛʃən/

suppression

suppression
Meaning
the act of forcibly stopping something or holding back feelings or actions
Example
The suppression of free speech led to protests.
La suppression de la liberté d'expression a conduit à des manifestations.
C1 adjective /səbˈmɪs.ɪv/

Submissive

soumis; obéissant; humble
Meaning
ready to obey others; yielding to authority; humble and compliant
Example
She became submissive after years of harsh treatment.
Elle est devenue soumise après des années de traitement sévère.
C1 noun /streɪt/

strait

détroit
Meaning
A narrow passage of water connecting two seas or two large areas of water.
Example
The Strait of Gibraltar connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Le détroit de Gibraltar relie l'océan Atlantique et la mer Méditerranée.
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 adjective ˌsɪn.əˈdʒɪs.tɪk

synergistic

synergique
Meaning
Relating to the interaction of elements that when combined produce a greater effect than the sum of their individual effects.
Example
A synergistic effect occurs when nutrients work together.
Un effet synergique se produit lorsque les nutriments agissent ensemble.
C1 verb, noun /spraʊt/

sprout

germer
Meaning
to begin to grow; to produce new leaves or shoots
Example
The seeds began to sprout after a few days of rain.
Les graines ont commencé à germer après quelques jours de pluie.
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 /ˈsʌkɪŋ/

sucking

sucer
Meaning
Drawing in a liquid, air, or other substance through the mouth or a tube by creating a vacuum; also used figuratively for something unpleasant or ineffective
Example
The baby is sucking on a pacifier.
Le bébé suce une tétine.
C1 adjective /ˈskeɪðɪŋ/

scathing

critique acerbe
Meaning
severely critical; harshly scornful
Example
The critic wrote a scathing review of the movie.
Le critique a écrit une critique acerbe du film.
C1 adjective /ˈsek.j ə.l ər/

Secular

laïque
Meaning
not connected with religious or spiritual matters; worldly
Example
The country maintains a secular government that separates religion from politics.
Le pays maintient un gouvernement laïque qui sépare la religion de la politique.
C1 verb /səˈfɪstɪkeɪt/

sophisticate

sophistiquer
Meaning
to make something more complex or refined; to educate or develop in taste and manners
Example
Traveling abroad helped sophisticate his worldview.
Voyager à l'étranger a aidé à sophistiquer sa vision du monde.
C1 adjective ˈsɪŋ.krə.nəs

synchronous

synchrone
Meaning
Existing or occurring at the same time.
Example
Synchronous learning involves live online classes.
L'apprentissage synchrone implique des cours en ligne en direct.
C1 noun/adjective /ˈstɜː.lɪŋ/

sterling

monnaie britannique / excellent
Meaning
British money, especially pounds; of excellent quality.
Example
She was praised for her sterling work on the project.
Elle a été félicitée pour son excellent travail sur le projet.
C1 noun /skɪt/

skit

sketch
Meaning
a short, humorous performance or piece of writing
Example
The students performed a funny skit at the event.
Les étudiants ont joué un sketch drôle lors de l'événement.
C1 adjective/verb /ˈsiːzənd/

seasoned

expérimenté / assaisonné
Meaning
Experienced in a particular activity; also, flavored with spices.
Example
She is a seasoned teacher with over 20 years of experience.
Elle est une enseignante expérimentée avec plus de 20 ans d'expérience.
C1 noun /ʃoʊl/

shoal

école de poissons
Meaning
a large group of fish swimming together; a shallow place in water
Example
We saw a shoal of fish near the coast.
Nous avons vu une école de poissons près de la côte.
C1 adjective /ˈsɜːrvaɪl/ or /ˈsɜːrvəl/

servile

servile
Meaning
having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others
Example
His servile attitude annoyed his colleagues.
Son attitude servile agaçait ses collègues.
C1 adjective /ˈsɜːrpənˌtiːn/

serpentine

serpentin
Meaning
Having the shape, movement, or qualities of a serpent; winding or twisting.
Example
The road took a serpentine path through the mountains.
La route suivait un chemin serpentin à travers les montagnes.
C1 verb /sɪˈdjuːs/

seduce

séduire
Meaning
to attract someone into doing something, especially something they might not normally do
Example
The advertisement was designed to seduce customers into buying luxury products.
La publicité a été conçue pour séduire les clients à acheter des produits de luxe.
C1 verb /spɜːr/

spur

inciter / encourager
Meaning
To encourage or motivate someone to take action.
Example
The teacher's praise spurred him to study harder.
Les éloges du professeur l'ont incité à étudier plus dur.
C1 adjective /səbˈsɪd.i.ər.i/

Subsidiary

filiale; secondaire; relatif à une entreprise filiale
Meaning
less important than the main thing; secondary; of or relating to a subsidiary company
Example
The subsidiary company handles all overseas operations.
L'entreprise filiale gère toutes les opérations à l'étranger.
C1 noun /ˈstrɑːtəm/

stratum

strate
Meaning
a layer or level of material, or a social class in society
Example
The upper stratum of society enjoyed privileges not available to others.
La couche supérieure de la société profitait de privilèges non disponibles pour les autres.
C1 verb /ˈsmʌðər/

smother

étouffer / asphyxier
Meaning
to kill someone by covering their nose and mouth to prevent breathing; to cover something completely; to overwhelm with excessive attention or affection
Example
She smothered the fire with a blanket.
Elle a étouffé le feu avec une couverture.
C1 noun /stɛlθ/

stealth

discrétion, furtivité
Meaning
The act of moving, doing, or achieving something quietly and secretly.
Example
The cat moved with stealth towards its prey.
Le chat s'est déplacé furtivement vers sa proie.
C1 noun ˌsʌb.sɪ.dɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

subsidization

subvention
Meaning
Financial assistance provided by government to make certain goods or services more affordable.
Example
Subsidization of agriculture helps farmers maintain crop production.
La subvention à l'agriculture aide les agriculteurs à maintenir la production des récoltes.
C1 adjective /ˈsɜːrvɪsəbl/

serviceable

utilisable
Meaning
fit for use; usable; in working order
Example
The old bicycle is still serviceable despite its age.
Le vieux vélo est encore utilisable malgré son âge.
C1 noun /ˌsʌpəˈzɪʃən/

supposition

supposition
Meaning
An assumption or belief that something is true without certain proof.
Example
His plan was based on the supposition that the market would recover quickly.
Son plan était basé sur la supposition que le marché se rétablirait rapidement.
C1 verb /səˈlɪdəˌfaɪ/

solidify

solidifier
Meaning
To make something firm, strong, or more certain.
Example
The company solidified its position in the market.
L'entreprise a solidifié sa position sur le marché.
C1 noun /ˌsɛlf əˌfɜːˈmeɪʃən/

self-affirmation

auto-affirmation
Meaning
The practice of affirming one's own worthiness and value as an individual.
Example
Daily self-affirmation can boost your confidence.
L'auto-affirmation quotidienne peut augmenter votre confiance.
C1 verb /ˈskævɪndʒ/

scavenge

fouiller dans les ordures
Meaning
to search through waste or discarded material to find useful items
Example
The children scavenged for food in the garbage dump.
Les enfants ont fouillé dans les ordures pour trouver de la nourriture.
C1 noun /slɪt/

Slit

fente
Meaning
a long narrow opening or cut
Example
There was a small slit in the fabric.
Il y avait une petite fente dans le tissu.
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 verb /ˈsaɪdˌstɛp/

sidestep

éviter
Meaning
To avoid something by stepping aside; to evade a problem or question indirectly.
Example
The politician tried to sidestep the difficult question.
Le politicien a essayé d'éviter la question difficile.
C1 adjective /ˈsʌbstəntɪv/

substantive

important
Meaning
Having a firm basis in reality; important, meaningful, or considerable.
Example
The company made substantive changes to its policy.
L'entreprise a apporté des changements importants à sa politique.
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 /sərˈveɪər/

surveyor

géomètre
Meaning
A person who measures and maps land, buildings, or other features.
Example
The surveyor measured the land for construction.
Le géomètre a mesuré le terrain pour la construction.
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 /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 /ˈsɛmbləns/

Semblance

apparence; semblance
Meaning
the outward appearance or apparent form of something, especially when the reality is different
Example
There was only a semblance of order in the chaotic office.
Il n'y avait qu'une semblance d'ordre dans le bureau chaotique
C1 verb /strʌt/

strut

marcher avec fierté
Meaning
to walk with a stiff, proud, and confident gait, often to show off
Example
He strutted across the stage after winning the award.
Il a marché fièrement sur scène après avoir gagné le prix.
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 ˈsɛd(ə)ntəri

sedentary

sédentaire
Meaning
Characterized by much sitting and little physical activity.
Example
A sedentary lifestyle can lead to numerous health problems.
Un mode de vie sédentaire peut entraîner de nombreux problèmes de santé.
C1 adjective ˈskruː.pjʊ.ləs

scrupulous

scrupuleux
Meaning
Diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details; having moral integrity; acting in strict regard for what is considered right or proper.
Example
He is known for being scrupulous in his work.
Il est connu pour être scrupuleux dans son travail.
C1 noun /səˈbraɪəti/

sobriety

sobriété
Meaning
the state of being sober; self-restraint and seriousness
Example
He has maintained his sobriety for five years.
Il a maintenu sa sobriété pendant cinq ans.
C1 noun ˈsʌb.tɛkst

subtext

sous-texte
Meaning
Hidden meaning or message behind spoken or written words
Example
The subtext of his speech suggested disagreement.
Le sous-texte de son discours suggérait un désaccord.
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 verb /swɜːrv/

swerve

changer brusquement de direction
Meaning
to change direction suddenly, especially to avoid hitting something
Example
The car swerved to avoid the dog.
La voiture a changé brusquement de direction pour éviter le chien.
C1 adjective /ˌsʌbˈkɒn.ʃəs/

subconscious

subconscient
Meaning
Of or concerning the part of the mind which one is not fully aware of but which influences actions and feelings.
Example
Fears often come from the subconscious mind.
Les peurs proviennent souvent de l'esprit subconscient.
C1 noun ˈsɒl.vən.si

solvency

la possession d'actifs supérieurs aux passifs; capacité à rembourser les dettes
Meaning
The possession of assets in excess of liabilities; ability to pay debts.
Example
The company's solvency improved after restructuring.
La solvabilité de l'entreprise s'est améliorée après la restructuration.
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 /ˈstɪɡmə/

stigma

stigmatisme
Meaning
a mark of shame or disgrace associated with a particular circumstance or quality
Example
There is still a stigma around mental health issues in many societies.
Il existe encore un stigmate autour des problèmes de santé mentale dans de nombreuses sociétés.
C1 noun /ˌsɛlfsəˈfɪʃənsi/

Self-sufficiency

autosuffisance
Meaning
the ability to supply one's own needs without external assistance; independence
Example
The farm achieved complete self-sufficiency in food production.
La ferme a atteint l'autosuffisance totale en production alimentaire.
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 adjective /ˌsækrɪˈfɪʃəl/

sacrificial

sacrificiel
Meaning
Relating to or involving sacrifice.
Example
The lamb was used as a sacrificial offering in the ritual.
L'agneau a été utilisé comme offrande sacrificielle dans le rituel.
C1 adjective /ˈstɛr.aɪl/

sterile

stérile
Meaning
Free from bacteria or other living microorganisms; incapable of producing offspring.
Example
The surgeon worked in a sterile environment to avoid infection.
Le chirurgien a travaillé dans un environnement stérile pour éviter l'infection.
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 /ˈsəʊdiəm/

sodium

sodium
Meaning
a soft, silver-white chemical element that is highly reactive and found in salt.
Example
Sodium is an essential element for maintaining fluid balance in the body.
Le sodium est un élément essentiel pour maintenir l'équilibre des fluides dans le corps.
C1 verb /skʌf/

scuff

griffer
Meaning
to mark or scratch the surface of something by rubbing
Example
He scuffed his shoes on the pavement.
Il a griffé ses chaussures sur le trottoir.
C1 adjective /ˈsiː.di/

Seedy

plein de graines; sale et dégradant; en mauvais état
Meaning
squalid and disreputable; shabby and run-down; full of seeds
Example
They avoided walking through the seedy part of town at night.
Ils évitaient de marcher dans la partie sale et dégradante de la ville la nuit.
C1 noun /ˈsæl.mən fɪʃ / ˈroʊ.huː/

Salmon fish / Rohu

poisson Rohu
Meaning
a freshwater fish popular in South Asian cuisine; also refers to salmon which is a different species
Example
Rohu fish is commonly prepared with spices in Bengali households.
Le poisson Rohu est couramment préparé avec des épices dans les foyers bengalis.
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 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 verb ˈsɪn.θə.saɪ.zɪŋ

synthesizing

synthétiser, combiner, présenter de manière cohérente
Meaning
Combine (a number of things) into a coherent whole.
Example
He excels in synthesizing ideas from different sources.
Il excelle à synthétiser des idées provenant de différentes sources.
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 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 verb /səbˈsɪst/

subsist

subsister
Meaning
To maintain or support oneself, especially at a minimal level.
Example
Many villagers still subsist on fishing and farming.
Beaucoup de villageois subsistent encore grâce à la pêche et à l'agriculture.
C1 adjective /ˈsæk.rəˌsæŋkt/

sacrosanct

sacré
Meaning
Regarded as too important or valuable to be interfered with; sacred.
Example
Freedom of speech is considered sacrosanct in democratic societies.
La liberté d'expression est considérée comme sacrée dans les sociétés démocratiques.
C1 adjective /səˈtɪrɪkəl/

satirical

satirique
Meaning
containing or using satire to criticize or mock
Example
The satirical cartoon mocked the government's new policy.
Le dessin satirique se moquait de la nouvelle politique du gouvernement.
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 adjective /ˈsted.fæst/

Steadfast

ferme; déterminé; inébranlable
Meaning
firm in belief, determination, or adherence; unwavering
Example
She remained steadfast in her commitment to helping the poor.
Elle est restée ferme dans son engagement à aider les pauvres.
C1 noun /səˈlɪn.ə.t̬i/

salinity

salinité, concentration de sel
Meaning
The salt content of soil or water, typically measured as a concentration.
Example
The salinity of the ocean varies depending on depth and location.
La salinité de l'océan varie en fonction de la profondeur et de la localisation.
C1 noun/verb /ˈskɜːrmɪʃ/

skirmish

escarmouche
Meaning
a small or brief fight between groups of soldiers; to engage in such a fight
Example
The soldiers got into a skirmish near the border.
Les soldats se sont engagés dans une escarmouche près de la frontière.
C1 verb /skɒf/

scoff

se moquer
Meaning
to speak about something in a mocking or dismissive way
Example
He scoffed at the idea of moving abroad.
Il s'est moqué de l'idée de déménager à l'étranger.
C1 verb /ˈstɪɡmətaɪz/

stigmatize

stigmatiser
Meaning
to describe or regard someone as worthy of disgrace or disapproval
Example
People with certain illnesses are often unfairly stigmatized.
Les personnes atteintes de certaines maladies sont souvent stigmatisées de manière injuste.
C1 adjective /ʃruːd/

Shrewd

astucieux; perspicace; malin
Meaning
having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute
Example
The shrewd businessman made a profitable deal in the competitive market.
L'homme d'affaires astucieux a conclu un accord rentable sur le marché compétitif.
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 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 noun ˈsæŋktɪti

sanctity

sainteté
Meaning
The state or quality of being holy, sacred, or saintly; ultimate importance.
Example
The sanctity of life should never be compromised.
La sainteté de la vie ne doit jamais être compromise.
C1 adjective /ˈsɒmbər/

somber

sombre
Meaning
Dark or dull in color or tone; gloomy or serious.
Example
The funeral had a somber atmosphere.
Les funérailles avaient une atmosphère sombre.
C1 noun, adjective, verb /ʃæm/

sham

supercherie
Meaning
something that is not what it appears to be; a false or fake thing; to pretend
Example
The deal turned out to be a sham.
L'accord s'est avéré être une supercherie.
C1 adjective /ˈsʌn.dri/

sundry

divers
Meaning
Various or miscellaneous.
Example
The shop sells fruits, clothes, and sundry items.
Le magasin vend des fruits, des vêtements et divers articles.
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 adjective /ˈswɛltərɪŋ/

sweltering

accablant
Meaning
uncomfortably hot
Example
The sweltering heat made it hard to work.
La chaleur accablante rendait le travail difficile.
C1 noun ˌsteɪbəlaɪˈzeɪʃən

stabilization

stabilisation
Meaning
The process of making or becoming stable.
Example
The stabilization of the structure was essential after the earthquake.
La stabilisation de la structure était essentielle après le tremblement de terre.
C1 verb /ˈsnɪkər/

snicker

rire discrètement
Meaning
to laugh quietly in a disrespectful or mocking way
Example
The students snickered when the teacher made a mistake.
Les étudiants ont ri discrètement lorsque le professeur a fait une erreur.
C1 noun /ˈspɛktər/

specter

spectre
Meaning
A ghost or spirit; something that causes fear or dread.
Example
The specter of war still haunts the region.
Le spectre de la guerre hante toujours la région.
C1 noun /sɪˈkluːʒən/

seclusion

isolement
Meaning
The state of being private, away from other people.
Example
She spent the weekend in complete seclusion in her cabin.
Elle a passé le week-end en complète isolement dans sa cabine.
C1 adjective /ˌsɛlf ɪˈfeɪsɪŋ/

self-effacing

modeste
Meaning
not drawing attention to oneself; modest
Example
Despite his success, he remained self-effacing and humble.
Malgré son succès, il est resté modeste et humble.
C1 noun səˈfɪʃənsi

sufficiency

suffisance
Meaning
The condition of being adequate or enough; adequacy.
Example
The sufficiency of food supply is critical for survival.
La suffisance de l'approvisionnement alimentaire est essentielle pour la survie.
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 adjective /spəˈrædɪk/

sporadic

sporadique
Meaning
Occurring irregularly or in scattered instances rather than continuously.
Example
The region experienced sporadic rain showers throughout the week.
La région a connu des averses sporadiques tout au long de la semaine.
C1 noun /ˈsɒnɪt/

sonnet

sonnet
Meaning
A poem of 14 lines using formal rhyme schemes, often about love.
Example
Shakespeare wrote many famous sonnets about love and beauty.
Shakespeare a écrit de nombreux sonnets célèbres sur l'amour et la beauté.
C1 noun /ˈsɛvərəns/

severance

indemnité de licenciement
Meaning
the act of ending something, especially a relationship or employment; compensation paid upon termination
Example
The company offered him severance pay after his job ended.
L'entreprise lui a offert une indemnité de licenciement après la fin de son emploi.
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 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 verb /ˈʃɪmər/

shimmer

scintiller
Meaning
To shine with a soft, wavering light.
Example
The lake shimmered under the moonlight.
Le lac scintillait sous la lumière de la lune.
C1 noun /speɪt/

spate

série
Meaning
a large number of things occurring in quick succession
Example
There has been a spate of robberies in the city.
Il y a eu une série de cambriolages dans la ville.
C1 noun /ˈstɛə.rɪ.əʊˌtaɪ.pɪŋ/

stereotyping

stéréotype
Meaning
A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.
Example
Stereotyping people based on their race is harmful.
Stéréotyper les gens en fonction de leur race est nuisible.
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 /ˈstætʃuːt/

statute

loi
Meaning
A written law passed by a legislative body.
Example
The new statute protects workers' rights.
La nouvelle loi protège les droits des travailleurs.
C1 noun /ˈʃær.ən fruːt/

Sharon fruit

fruit shéron
Meaning
a sweet orange persimmon fruit that can be eaten when firm
Example
The Sharon fruit is sweet and can be eaten like an apple.
le fruit shéron est sucré et peut être mangé comme une pomme.
C1 noun /ˈspaɪər/

spire

flèche
Meaning
a tall, pointed structure on top of a building, especially a church
Example
The church spire could be seen from miles away.
La flèche de l'église était visible de loin.
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 adjective /ˈspɑːrtn/

spartan

spartiate
Meaning
showing simplicity and lack of luxury; austere
Example
He lived in a spartan room with just a bed and a chair.
Il vivait dans une chambre spartiate avec seulement un lit et une chaise.
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 /ˌstætɪˈstɪʃən/

statistician

statisticien
Meaning
A person who specializes in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting numerical data.
Example
The statistician presented the survey results with great clarity.
Le statisticien a présenté les résultats du sondage avec grande clarté.
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 adjective /ˈsɔːsi/

saucy

effronté
Meaning
Boldly rude, cheeky, or playfully disrespectful.
Example
The child gave a saucy reply to his teacher.
L'enfant a donné une réponse effrontée à son professeur.