stymie
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C1 verb /ˈstaɪmi/

stymie

entraver
Meaning
to prevent or hinder the progress of something
Example
The new regulations could stymie small businesses.
Les nouvelles régulations pourraient freiner les petites entreprises.
C1 adjective /səbˈsɜːviənt/

subservient

soumis / soumise
Meaning
prepared to obey others unquestioningly; less important than something else
Example
She was too subservient to challenge his decision.
Elle etait trop soumise pour contester sa decision.
C1 noun /ˈsaɪ.ən/

scion

descendant
Meaning
a descendant of a wealthy, aristocratic, or influential family
Example
He is the scion of a wealthy industrialist family.
Il est le descendant d'une famille d'industriels riches.
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 /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 /sɪˈkluːdɪd/

secluded

isolé
Meaning
Placed apart from other people or things; private and quiet.
Example
They spent their vacation in a secluded beach house.
Ils ont passé leurs vacances dans une maison de plage isolée.
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 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 adjective /ˈsɛm.ɪ.nəl/

seminal

bonheur
Meaning
Strongly influencing later developments; highly original and influential.
Example
His seminal book changed the course of modern philosophy.
Elle n'a pas pu cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
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 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 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 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 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 /ˈsʌlən/

sullen

maussade
Meaning
bad-tempered and gloomy; silently resentful
Example
She gave him a sullen look and walked away.
Elle lui lança un regard maussade et s'éloigna.
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 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 noun /strəˈtiː.dʒɪk ˈɪn.saɪts/

strategic insights

perspectives stratégiques
Meaning
Deep understanding and wisdom gained through careful analysis for planning purposes.
Example
Strategic insights guide policymaking.
Les perspectives stratégiques guident la prise de décision politique.
C1 noun /sɪˈkriː.ʃən/

Secretion

sécrétion
Meaning
a process by which substances are produced and discharged from a cell or gland
Example
Insulin secretion is crucial for blood sugar regulation.
La sécrétion d'insuline est cruciale pour la régulation de la glycémie.
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 noun /ˈsaɪnəs/

sinus

sinus
Meaning
A cavity within a bone or tissue, especially those in the bones of the face connected with the nasal cavities.
Example
He suffered from a sinus infection that caused headaches.
Il souffrait d'une infection des sinus qui lui causait des maux de tête.
C1 noun /ˈstɒpɪdʒ/

stoppage

arrêt; interruption
Meaning
The act of stopping or ceasing; a halt in operation or activity
Example
The sudden stoppage of the train caused delays for all passengers.
L'arrêt soudain du train a provoqué des retards pour tous les passagers.
C1 verb /səbˈvɜːrt/

subvert

renverser
Meaning
to undermine or overthrow an established system, authority, or institution
Example
The rebels tried to subvert the government.
Les rebelles ont essayé de renverser le gouvernement.
C1 noun /sɪlt/

silt

limon
Meaning
Fine sand, clay, or other material carried by running water and deposited as a sediment.
Example
The river deposited layers of silt along its banks.
Le fleuve a déposé des couches de limon le long de ses rives.
C1 noun /ˈsæŋk.ʃən/

Sanction

sanction
Meaning
official permission or approval; a penalty for disobeying a rule
Example
The government imposed economic sanctions on the country.
Le gouvernement a imposé des sanctions économiques au pays.
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 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 /straɪf/

strife

conflit, lutte
Meaning
angry or violent conflict; struggle or discord
Example
The region has been torn apart by political strife.
La région a été déchirée par des conflits politiques.
C1 noun /slæb/

slab

dalle
Meaning
a large, thick, flat piece of stone, concrete, or other hard material
Example
The workers laid a concrete slab for the foundation.
Les ouvriers ont posé une dalle de béton pour la fondation.
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 /sɪndʒ/

singe

brûler légèrement
Meaning
To burn something superficially or lightly, especially at the edges.
Example
The fire singed his eyebrows.
Le feu a brûlé ses sourcils.
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 adjective /sər'pæs.ɪŋ/

Surpassing

exceptionnel; supérieur; extraordinaire
Meaning
exceeding; going beyond; outstanding
Example
Her surpassing beauty made everyone stop and stare.
Sa beauté exceptionnelle a fait que tout le monde s'arrête et la regarde.
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 /ˈspɪndli/

spindly

mince et fragile
Meaning
Long, thin, and weak-looking
Example
The spindly tree bent under the weight of the snow.
L'arbre mince s'est penché sous le poids de la neige.
C1 verb /ˈstaɪfəld/

stifled

étouffer
Meaning
to suppress, hold back, or prevent something from happening
Example
He stifled a laugh during the serious meeting.
Il a étouffé un rire pendant la réunion sérieuse.
C1 adjective /ˈskrʌfi/

Scruffy

démodé ou en désordre dans son apparence; sale et usé
Meaning
untidy or unkempt in appearance; shabby and worn
Example
The scruffy old dog wandered through the streets looking for food.
Le chien sale se promenait dans les rues à la recherche de nourriture.
C1 adverb spɒnˈteɪnɪəsli

spontaneously

spontanément
Meaning
In a spontaneous way; naturally and without planning or external cause.
Example
Children learn spontaneously through peer interactions.
Les enfants apprennent spontanément à travers les interactions entre pairs.
C1 adjective /ˈstraɪ.dənt/

strident

strident, bruyant
Meaning
loud and harsh; presenting a point of view in a forceful way
Example
His strident voice made the debate uncomfortable.
Sa voix stridente rendait le débat inconfortable.
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 /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 adjective /skəˈlæstɪk/

scholastic

scolaire
Meaning
Relating to schools, education, or academic learning.
Example
The school organizes scholastic competitions every year.
L'école organise des concours scolaires chaque année.
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 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 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 noun /spɛk/

speck

tache
Meaning
A very small spot, mark, or particle.
Example
There was a tiny speck of dust on the glass table.
Il y avait une petite tache de poussière sur la table en verre.
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 /səˈlaɪ.və/

Saliva

salive
Meaning
the watery liquid secreted into the mouth by glands
Example
The dentist asked her to rinse the saliva from her mouth.
Le dentiste lui a demandé de rincer la salive de sa bouche.
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 /ˈskeɪ.biːz/

Scabies

gale
Meaning
a contagious skin disease caused by mites that causes intense itching
Example
The doctor diagnosed him with scabies after examining the rash.
Le médecin lui a diagnostiqué la gale après avoir examiné l'éruption.
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 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 /səˈsteɪnəbl ˈæɡrɪkʌltʃər/

sustainable agriculture

agriculture durable
Meaning
Farming practices that meet current food needs while preserving environmental resources and maintaining the ability to produce food for future generations through ecologically sound methods.
Example
Sustainable agriculture practices protect the environment while ensuring food security.
Les pratiques d'agriculture durable protègent l'environnement tout en assurant la sécurité alimentaire.
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 /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 /ˈʃækəl/

shackle

chaîner
Meaning
to chain or restrain; to restrict someone’s actions or freedom
Example
Outdated regulations shackle small businesses and slow innovation.
Les anciennes régulations enchaînent les petites entreprises et ralentissent l'innovation.
C1 noun ˈsɪn.tæks

syntax

syntaxe
Meaning
The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.
Example
Programming languages follow strict syntax rules.
Les langages de programmation suivent des règles de syntaxe strictes.
C1 noun /ˈsteɪl.meɪt/

stalemate

impasse
Meaning
A situation in which no progress can be made or no party can win.
Example
Negotiations ended in a stalemate.
Les négociations se sont terminées par un impasse.
C1 verb /siːð/

seethe

bouillir de colère
Meaning
To be filled with intense but unexpressed anger or agitation.
Example
She was seething with anger after the unfair decision.
Elle bouillait de colère après la décision injuste.
C1 adjective /ˈsɛnʃuəl/

sensual

sensuel
Meaning
Relating to or involving gratification of the senses and physical pleasure.
Example
The painting had a sensual quality that captivated viewers.
La peinture avait une qualité sensuelle qui captivait les spectateurs.
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 /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 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 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 noun /ˌspɒn.təˈneɪ.ɪ.ti/

spontaneity

spontanéité
Meaning
The quality of being spontaneous; natural and unplanned behavior.
Example
His spontaneity makes him a great conversationalist.
Sa spontanéité fait de lui un excellent conversationnel.
C1 verb /ˌsuːpərɪmˈpoʊz/

superimpose

superposer
Meaning
to place one thing on top of another so that both can be seen
Example
The editor superimposed text over the image.
L'éditeur a superposé le texte sur l'image.
C1 adjective /ˈskwɒlɪd/

squalid

extrêmement sale
Meaning
extremely dirty and unpleasant, often due to poverty or neglect
Example
He lived in a squalid room with broken furniture.
Il vivait dans une pièce sale avec des meubles cassés.
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 /ˈspɪnstər/

spinster

femme célibataire
Meaning
An unmarried woman, often one who is older and considered unlikely to marry
Example
The novel featured a kind-hearted spinster who cared for the village children.
Le roman présentait une femme célibataire au grand cœur qui s'occupait des enfants du village.
C1 noun ˌskeɪ.ləˈbɪl.ə.ti

scalability

extensibilité
Meaning
The capacity to be changed in size or scale; the ability of a system to handle a growing amount of work.
Example
The new software offers high scalability for large enterprises.
Le nouveau logiciel offre une grande extensibilité pour les grandes entreprises.
C1 verb /ʃʌnt/

shunt

détourner
Meaning
to move or turn aside; to push or divert from one track to another
Example
The train was shunted onto a different track.
Le train a été dévié sur une autre voie.
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 /ˈspɛərɪŋ/

sparing

économe / modéré
Meaning
Using or giving only a little of something; economical.
Example
She is sparing in her use of words.
Elle est économe dans l'utilisation des mots.
C1 adjective /swɑːv/

suave

charmant et raffiné
Meaning
charming, confident, and elegant, often in a smooth or polished way
Example
He was a suave gentleman who impressed everyone at the party.
Il était un homme raffiné qui a impressionné tout le monde à la fête.
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 noun /sɪlk klɔːθ/

Silk cloth

tissu en soie
Meaning
fabric made from natural fibers produced by silkworms
Example
The bride wore a beautiful dress made of silk cloth.
La mariée portait une belle robe faite de tissu en soie.
C1 noun /ˈsɔːjər/

Sawyer

scieur
Meaning
a person who saws wood, especially as an occupation
Example
The skilled sawyer cut the logs into planks.
Le scieur habile a coupé les bûches en planches.
C1 adjective /ˈsleɪ.vɪʃ/

slavish

esclave
Meaning
showing no originality; completely imitative or overly submissive
Example
His slavish devotion to tradition prevented any innovation.
Sa dévotion esclave à la tradition a empêché toute innovation.
C1 verb /ˈslækən/

slacken

desserrer
Meaning
to make or become less tight, less active, or slower
Example
The driver slackened his speed as he approached the village.
Le conducteur a ralenti sa vitesse en approchant du village.
C1 verb /skɔːrtʃ/

scorch

brûler
Meaning
to burn the surface of something slightly
Example
The fire scorched the walls of the building.
Le feu a brûlé les murs du bâtiment.
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 /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 verb /səbˈmɜːrdʒ/

submerge

submerger
Meaning
to put under water or cover with liquid
Example
The floodwaters threatened to submerge the village.
Les eaux de l'inondation menaçaient de submerger le village.
C1 noun ˈsʌs.tɪ.nəns

Sustenance

subsistance ou alimentation
Meaning
Food or support necessary for sustaining life
Example
Water is essential for human sustenance.
L'eau est essentielle à la subsistance humaine.
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 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 /ʃrɛd/

shred

déchiqueter
Meaning
to tear or cut something into small pieces
Example
She shredded the old documents before throwing them away.
Elle a déchiqueté les vieux documents avant de les jeter.
C1 noun /ʃeɪl/

shale

schiste
Meaning
a fine-grained sedimentary rock that can be split into thin layers
Example
The region is rich in shale and natural gas deposits.
La région est riche en schiste et en dépôts de gaz naturel.
C1 adjective /ˈsæŋɡwɪn/

sanguine

optimiste
Meaning
Optimistic or positive, especially in a difficult situation.
Example
Despite the challenges, she remained sanguine about the future.
Malgré les défis, elle est restée optimiste quant à l'avenir.
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 /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 adverb /suːˈpɜːb.li/

Superbly

de manière excellente
Meaning
in an excellent or outstanding manner
Example
She performed superbly in the dance competition.
Elle a excellé dans la compétition de danse.
C1 noun /ˈsɑːɡə/

saga

longue histoire
Meaning
A long story of heroic achievement, or a long, complex series of events.
Example
The company's rise and fall became a corporate saga.
L'ascension et la chute de l'entreprise est devenue une saga d'entreprise.
C1 verb /sɪft/

sift

tamis / examiner soigneusement
Meaning
to separate or sort through carefully, often using a sieve or by examining closely
Example
She sifted the flour before adding it to the cake mixture.
Elle tamisait la farine avant de l'ajouter au mélange de gâteau.
C1 noun /ˈsɪləbəl/

syllable

syllabe
Meaning
A unit of pronunciation having one vowel sound, with or without surrounding consonants, forming the whole or part of a word.
Example
The word 'computer' has three syllables.
Le mot 'ordinateur' a trois syllabes.
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 /ˈskævɪndʒər/

scavenger

charognard / collecteur de déchets
Meaning
an animal or person that feeds on dead or discarded material
Example
Vultures are natural scavengers that clean up the environment.
Les vautours sont des scavengers naturels qui nettoient l'environnement.
C1 adjective səˈsaɪ.ə.təl

societal

social
Meaning
Relating to society or social relationships.
Example
Societal benefits of space tourism are under debate.
Les avantages sociaux du tourisme spatial sont en débat.
C1 adjective /ˈsiːzənəbəl/

Seasonable

saisonnière
Meaning
occurring at the right time; appropriate for the season; timely
Example
The seasonable rain helped the farmers with their crops.
La pluie saisonnière a aidé les agriculteurs avec leurs récoltes.
C1 noun /ˌsɛnsəˈbɪləti/

Sensibility

sensibilité
Meaning
the ability to appreciate and respond to complex emotional or aesthetic influences; sensitivity
Example
Her artistic sensibility made her appreciate fine details in paintings.
Sa sensibilité artistique lui a permis d'apprécier les détails fins des peintures.
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 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 /ˌsɛlf ɪnˈdʌldʒəns/

self-indulgence

auto-indulgence
Meaning
The act of allowing oneself to enjoy pleasures or desires excessively.
Example
His weekend of self-indulgence included eating sweets and watching movies nonstop.
Son week-end d'auto-indulgence comprenait manger des bonbons et regarder des films sans arrêt.
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 adjective /sɛkˈtɛəriən/

sectarian

sectaire
Meaning
relating to or characterized by the differences between sects, often leading to conflict
Example
The region has been troubled by sectarian violence for decades.
La région a été troublée par la violence sectaire pendant des décennies.
C1 adjective /ˈsɛptɪk/

septic

infecté
Meaning
Infected with harmful bacteria; relating to or causing infection.
Example
The doctor treated the patient's septic wound immediately.
Le médecin a immédiatement traité la plaie septique du patient.
C1 verb /ˈskʌt.əl/

scuttle

bonheur
Meaning
To run hurriedly with short, quick steps; or to deliberately sink a ship.
Example
The children scuttled back to their seats when the teacher entered.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur quand elle a reçu le prix.
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/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 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 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 noun /ˈsɜːrmən/

sermon

sermon
Meaning
A religious discourse delivered by a preacher, often offering moral instruction or spiritual guidance.
Example
The pastor gave a moving sermon about compassion and forgiveness.
Le pasteur a donné un sermon émouvant sur la compassion et le pardon.
C1 noun /ˈskeɪp.ɡəʊt/

Scapegoat

bouc émissaire
Meaning
a person who is blamed for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others
Example
He became the scapegoat for the team's poor performance.
Il est devenu le bouc émissaire des mauvaises performances de l'équipe.
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 /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 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 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/verb /smʌdʒ/

smudge

tache, marque sale
Meaning
a dirty mark or smear; to make something dirty or unclear by rubbing or touching
Example
She accidentally smudged her lipstick on the napkin.
Elle a accidentellement étalé son rouge à lèvres sur la serviette.
C1 noun /ˈʃæmbəlz/

shambles

désordre total
Meaning
a state of complete disorder or ruin
Example
After the storm, the whole town was in shambles.
Après la tempête, toute la ville était en désordre total.
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 /ˌsuːɪˈsaɪdəl/

Suicidal

suicidaire
Meaning
relating to or having thoughts of killing oneself; extremely dangerous or harmful
Example
The reckless driving was suicidal behavior.
La conduite imprudente était un comportement suicidaire.