subterranean
All a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
All CEFR A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
Content locale
EN Anglais BN Bengali HI Hindi ES Espagnol FR Français DE Allemand RU Russe ZH Chinois JA Japonais
All Vocabulary Cards All Vocabularies
C1 adjective /ˌsʌb.təˈreɪ.ni.ən/

subterranean

souterrain
Meaning
Existing, occurring, or done under the earth's surface.
Example
Subterranean water sources help sustain agriculture.
Les sources d'eau souterraines aident à soutenir l'agriculture.
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 adjective /spɑːrs/

sparse

rare
Meaning
thinly scattered or distributed; not dense or abundant
Example
Vegetation was sparse in the desert.
La végétation était rare dans le désert.
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 verb /səbˈstænʃieɪt/

substantiate

substantier
Meaning
To provide evidence to support or prove the truth of something.
Example
The lawyer worked to substantiate the claims with solid evidence.
L'avocat a travaillé pour substancier les affirmations avec des preuves solides.
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 verb /ˈstoʊnwɔːl/

stonewall

entraver
Meaning
To delay or block progress by refusing to cooperate or answer
Example
The witness tried to stonewall during the investigation.
Le témoin a essayé de faire du stonewall lors de l'enquête.
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 /ˈstɪndʒi/

stingy

avare
Meaning
unwilling to spend or give; miserly
Example
He is too stingy to buy a gift for his friend.
Il est trop avare pour acheter un cadeau pour son ami.
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 noun /səˈlɪləkwi/

soliloquy

soliloque
Meaning
a speech in which a character talks to themselves, often used in drama to reveal inner thoughts
Example
Hamlet's soliloquy is one of the most famous passages in Shakespearean drama.
Le soliloque d'Hamlet est l'un des passages les plus célèbres du drame shakespearien.
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 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 adjective /ˈskeɪ.li/

Scaly

écailleux
Meaning
covered with scales; having a rough surface like scales
Example
The fish has scaly skin.
Le poisson a une peau écailleuse.
C1 adjective /suːˈpɜːr.flu.əs/

superfluous

superflu
Meaning
Unnecessary, especially through being more than enough.
Example
His speech contained too many superfluous details.
Son discours contenait trop de détails superflus.
C1 noun səˈsteɪ.nə.bəl tekˈnɒl.ə.dʒi

sustainable technology

technologie durable
Meaning
Technology designed to meet present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs.
Example
Sustainable technology ensures a cleaner future.
La technologie durable assure un avenir plus propre.
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 səˈsteɪnəbəl ˈpræktɪsɪz

sustainable practices

pratiques durables
Meaning
Methods and activities that can be maintained over time without depleting natural resources or harming the environment.
Example
Sustainable practices are vital for environmental preservation.
Les pratiques durables sont essentielles pour la préservation de l'environnement.
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 /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 /snʌb/

snub

mépriser
Meaning
to insult or ignore someone by treating them rudely
Example
He felt hurt when his invitation was snubbed.
Il s'est senti blessé lorsque son invitation a été méprisée.
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, verb /səˈpiːnə/

subpoena

citation judiciaire
Meaning
a legal document ordering someone to attend court; to summon someone with such a document
Example
The witness received a subpoena to appear in court next week.
Le témoin a reçu une citation judiciaire pour comparaître au tribunal la semaine prochaine.
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 adjective/noun /ˈsʌkjələnt/

succulent

juteux
Meaning
Juicy or full of juice; also refers to a plant with thick, fleshy leaves adapted to storing water.
Example
The steak was so succulent that everyone enjoyed it.
Le steak était tellement juteux que tout le monde l'a apprécié.
C1 noun /ˈstreɪnər/

Strainer

passoire
Meaning
a device having holes punched in it or made of crossed wires for separating solid matter from a liquid
Example
Use a strainer to drain the pasta water.
Utilisez une passoire pour égoutter l'eau des pâtes.
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 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 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 /ˈstɪklər/

stickler

personne exigeante sur les règles
Meaning
a person who insists on a certain quality or standard of behavior
Example
He is a stickler for punctuality and never tolerates delays.
Il est très strict sur la ponctualité et ne tolère pas les retards.
C1 adjective /ˈseɪ.li.ənt/

salient

important, marquant ou évident
Meaning
Most important, prominent, or noticeable
Example
The report highlighted the salient points of the discussion.
Le rapport a mis en évidence les points saillants de la discussion.
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 /ˈskwɒlər/

squalor

misère
Meaning
the state of being extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially due to poverty or neglect
Example
They lived in squalor without basic facilities.
Ils vivaient dans la misère sans installations de base.
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 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 adjective /ˈskrʌmpʃəs/

scrumptious

délicieux
Meaning
extremely tasty or delicious
Example
She baked a scrumptious chocolate cake for the party.
Elle a préparé un délicieux gâteau au chocolat pour la fête.
C1 noun /spæt/

spat

dispute mineure
Meaning
a short, petty quarrel or argument
Example
They had a brief spat about who should do the dishes.
Ils ont eu une petite dispute sur qui devait faire la vaisselle.
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 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 /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 /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 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 /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 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 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.
C1 adjective /ˈskɛtʃi/

sketchy

incomplet
Meaning
not thorough or detailed; suspicious or unsafe
Example
The details of the project were still sketchy.
Les détails du projet étaient encore incomplets.
C1 adjective /seɪdʒ/

Sage

sage; prudent; ayant bon jugement
Meaning
wise; showing wisdom from experience; prudent; having good judgment
Example
The sage advice from the elder helped solve the problem.
Le sage conseil de l'aîné a aidé à résoudre le problème.
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 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 noun /ˈseɪɑːns/

seance

séance
Meaning
A meeting where people attempt to communicate with the spirits of the dead.
Example
They held a seance to contact their late grandmother.
Ils ont organisé une séance pour contacter leur grand-mère décédée.
C1 noun /ˈskælpəl/

scalpel

scalpel
Meaning
A small and extremely sharp bladed instrument used for surgery and dissection.
Example
The surgeon carefully used a scalpel to make the first incision.
Le chirurgien a soigneusement utilisé un scalpel pour faire la première incision.
C1 noun /ʃruː/

shrew

femme irritable / petit animal ressemblant à une souris
Meaning
a small mouse-like animal; also a woman with a bad temper
Example
The play describes a strong-willed woman as a shrew.
La pièce décrit une femme déterminée comme une femme irritable.
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 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 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 /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 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 /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 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 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 verb /səˈplænt/

supplant

supplanter
Meaning
To take the place of something or someone, often by force or strategy.
Example
Digital platforms have supplanted traditional newspapers.
Les plateformes numériques ont supplanté les journaux traditionnels.
C1 noun /ˈsaɪd.laɪn dɪˈskʌʃənz/

sideline discussions

discussions secondaires
Meaning
Informal or secondary conversations that occur outside the main agenda of a formal meeting.
Example
Sideline discussions often lead to agreements.
Les discussions secondaires mènent souvent à des accords.
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 adjective /ˈsʌl.ki/

Sulky

bougon et maussade; lunatique
Meaning
bad-tempered and sullen; moody
Example
The child became sulky when he couldn't get his favorite toy.
L'enfant est devenu bougon quand il n'a pas pu obtenir son jouet préféré.
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 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 /ˈsɜːrəɡət/

surrogate

substitut
Meaning
A substitute, especially a person deputizing for another in a specific role or office.
Example
The surrogate mother gave birth to the child after carrying it for nine months.
La mère porteuse a donné naissance à l'enfant après l'avoir porté pendant neuf mois.
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 /ˈsɪn.tɪ.leɪ.tɪŋ/

scintillating

scintillant
Meaning
brilliantly clever, exciting, or sparkling
Example
Her scintillating conversation kept everyone entertained.
Sa conversation scintillante a diverti tout le monde.
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 /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 /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 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 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 noun /ˈsɪlk.wɜːrm/

Silk-worm

ver à soie
Meaning
the caterpillar of a moth that produces silk fibers used to make silk fabric
Example
Silkworms feed on mulberry leaves to produce silk.
Les vers à soie se nourrissent de feuilles de mûrier pour produire de la soie.
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 adjective /ˌsuː.pəˈsɒn.ɪk/

Supersonic

plus rapide que la vitesse du son; lié aux vitesses supérieures à celle du son
Meaning
faster than the speed of sound; relating to speeds greater than the speed of sound
Example
The supersonic jet broke the sound barrier.
Le jet supersonique a franchi le mur du son.
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 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 /ˈsɛnʃuəs/

sensuous

sensuel
Meaning
Relating to or affecting the senses rather than the intellect; pleasing to the senses.
Example
The garden was filled with sensuous colors and fragrances.
Le jardin était rempli de couleurs et de fragrances sensuelles.
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 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 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 adjective /ˈspɛktrəl/

spectral

spectral
Meaning
Relating to a ghost or specter; ghostly. Also relating to a spectrum.
Example
The old mansion had a spectral atmosphere at night.
Le vieux manoir avait une atmosphère spectrale la nuit.
C1 noun /ˌsʌb.stɪˈtjuː.ʃən/

substitution

substitution
Meaning
the action of replacing someone or something with another
Example
The substitution of the old system with the new one was difficult.
La substitution de l'ancien système par le nouveau a été difficile.
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 /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 /stɛntʃ/

stench

puanteur
Meaning
A very strong and unpleasant smell.
Example
The stench of garbage filled the alley.
La puanteur des ordures remplit la ruelle.
C1 noun/verb /ˈsuː.tʃər/

suture

suture
Meaning
A stitch or row of stitches holding together the edges of a wound or surgical incision.
Example
The doctor used a suture to close the wound.
Le docteur a utilisé une suture pour fermer la plaie.
C1 adjective /ˈstɒdʒi/

stodgy

lourd, vieilli
Meaning
Dull, uninspired, or old-fashioned; also heavy and hard to digest when referring to food.
Example
The lecture was so stodgy that many students struggled to stay awake.
La conférence était si lourde que de nombreux étudiants ont eu du mal à rester éveillés.
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, verb /ˈskʌf.əl/

scuffle

bagarre
Meaning
a short, confused fight or struggle; to engage in such a fight
Example
Two players scuffled on the field after the foul.
Deux joueurs se sont battus sur le terrain après la faute.
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 noun /ˈstjuːpər/

stupor

stupéfaction
Meaning
a state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility
Example
He remained in a stupor after hearing the shocking news.
Il est resté dans un état de stupéfaction après avoir entendu la nouvelle choquante.
C1 noun /sʌˈmeɪʃən/

summation

somme, résumé
Meaning
The process of adding things together; a summary of points.
Example
The lawyer gave a powerful summation of the case.
L'avocat a donné un puissant résumé de l'affaire.
C1 noun /ˈsiːskeɪp/

seascape

paysage marin
Meaning
A view or painting of the sea.
Example
The artist painted a beautiful seascape at sunset.
L'artiste a peint un beau paysage marin au coucher du soleil.
C1 noun /sɛkt/

sect

secte
Meaning
a subgroup of a larger religious or political group, often with differing beliefs
Example
The group split into different sects due to doctrinal differences.
Le groupe s'est divisé en différentes sectes en raison des différences doctrinales.
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 /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 adjective ˌsəʊsɪəʊpəˈlɪtɪkəl

sociopolitical

sociopolitique
Meaning
Combining social and political factors.
Example
Sociopolitical factors often influence public policy decisions.
Les facteurs sociopolitiques influencent souvent les décisions de politique publique.
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 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/verb /ˈslʌmbər/

slumber

sommeil
Meaning
A state of sleep; to sleep lightly or rest.
Example
The child slumbered peacefully through the night.
L'enfant a dormi paisiblement toute la nuit.
C1 noun /skwɔːl/

squall

rafale
Meaning
a sudden violent gust of wind, often accompanied by rain, snow, or sleet
Example
A sudden squall caught the sailors off guard.
Une rafale soudaine a surpris les marins.
C1 verb /ˌsuːpərˈsiːd/

supersede

remplacer
Meaning
To replace or take the place of something because it is more modern or effective.
Example
This new law will supersede the old regulations.
Cette nouvelle loi va remplacer les anciennes réglementations.
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 noun /ˈseɪ.tən/

Satan

Satan
Meaning
the chief evil spirit; the Devil in Christian and Islamic belief
Example
According to religious texts, Satan tempts people to sin.
Selon les textes religieux, Satan tente les gens de pécher.
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 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 adjective /ˈsɔːrdɪd/

sordid

sordide
Meaning
involving immoral or dishonorable actions; dirty or unpleasant
Example
The newspaper exposed the politician's sordid past.
Le journal a exposé le passé sordide du politicien.
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 /ˈsæf.rən/

Saffron

safran
Meaning
a deep yellow-orange color; an expensive spice derived from crocus flowers
Example
The saffron fabric looked beautiful in the sunlight.
Le tissu de safran avait l'air magnifique au soleil.
C1 noun /sɪˈnɪləti/

senility

sénilité
Meaning
The state of being old and showing the weaknesses of age, especially mental decline.
Example
His forgetfulness was attributed to senility.
Sa perte de mémoire a été attribuée à la sénilité.
C1 adjective /ˈsʌpl/

supple

souple
Meaning
Easily bending or moving without breaking; flexible and adaptable.
Example
The gymnast’s body was remarkably supple.
Le corps de la gymnaste était remarquablement souple.
C1 verb /sɪˈsiːd/

secede

se séparer
Meaning
To formally withdraw from a political or organizational union.
Example
Several states threatened to secede from the union.
Plusieurs états ont menacé de se séparer de l'union.
C1 noun /ˌsɒl.jʊˈbɪləti/

solubility

solubilité
Meaning
The ability of a substance to dissolve in a solvent.
Example
The solubility of salt in water is high.
La solubilité du sel dans l'eau est élevée.
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 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 /səbˈvɜːrsɪv/

subversive

subversif
Meaning
seeking or intended to undermine or overthrow an established system or authority
Example
The group was banned for its subversive activities.
Le groupe a été interdit pour ses activités subversives.
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.