CEFR Level
A cavity within a bone or tissue, especially those in the bones of the face connected with the nasal cavities.
"He suffered from a sinus infection that caused headaches."
The relationship between sisters, or a community of women united by shared experiences or goals.
"The feminist movement created a strong sense of sisterhood among women."
a traditional Indian stringed musical instrument with a long neck and resonating body
"The sitar creates beautiful ragas in Indian classical music."
A person who doubts or questions accepted beliefs or claims.
"The scientist was a skeptic of theories without solid evidence."
An attitude of doubt or disbelief toward claims or accepted ideas.
"Her skepticism about the project grew after the failed trial."
not thorough or detailed; suspicious or unsafe
"The details of the project were still sketchy."
to use less of something than is necessary in order to save money or effort
"Don’t skimp on quality when buying a new laptop."
a small or brief fight between groups of soldiers; to engage in such a fight
"The soldiers got into a skirmish near the border."
a short, humorous performance or piece of writing
"The students performed a funny skit at the event."
easily frightened or nervous; unpredictable
"The horse was too skittish to ride."
a small brown bird known for singing while flying high in the sky
"The skylark sang beautifully as it soared above the meadow."
a large, thick, flat piece of stone, concrete, or other hard material
"The workers laid a concrete slab for the foundation."
to make or become less tight, less active, or slower
"The driver slackened his speed as he approached the village."
Stony waste matter separated from metals during the smelting process.
"The factory dumped the slag near the river."
The action of making false spoken statements damaging to a person's reputation.
"He sued the newspaper for slander."
a fine-grained rock used for roofing or writing; to schedule or designate for a task
"The meeting is slated for next Monday."
showing no originality; completely imitative or overly submissive
"His slavish devotion to tradition prevented any innovation."
to kill violently; informally, to impress greatly
"The hero vowed to slay the dragon."
morally low, dirty, or cheap in quality
"He avoided the sleazy nightclub downtown."
smooth, shiny, and stylish
"She drove a sleek black sports car."
A vehicle pulled by horses or reindeer over snow or ice.
"Children were excited to ride in the sleigh through the snowy village."
To turn or slide violently in a particular direction.
"The car slewed across the icy road."
to throw or hang something roughly or carelessly
"He slung his bag over his shoulder before leaving."
to move quietly and secretly, often to avoid being noticed
"The cat slunk into the room without making a sound."
a long narrow opening or cut
"There was a small slit in the fabric."
to move smoothly over a surface with a twisting, sliding motion, like a snake
"The snake slithered through the grass."
A lack of effort or laziness; also a slow-moving mammal in Central and South America.
"His constant sloth kept him from achieving his goals."
To stand, sit, or move in a lazy or awkward way.
"He slouched in the chair, looking tired."
A state of sleep; to sleep lightly or rest.
"The child slumbered peacefully through the night."
An insulting remark or suggestion; or to speak indistinctly.
"He made a slur against her character."
A small amount or superficial knowledge of something.
"He has a smattering of Spanish."
to spread or apply a substance messily; to damage someone's reputation with false or unfair words
"The child smeared paint across the wall."
to extract metal from its ore by heating and melting
"The workers smelt iron from its ore in the factory."
to smile in a self-satisfied, smug, or silly way
"He smirked when he won the argument."
to burn slowly with smoke but no flame; to show suppressed anger or emotion
"The fire smoldered for hours before it went out."
to kill someone by covering their nose and mouth to prevent breathing; to cover something completely; to overwhelm with excessive attention or affection
"She smothered the fire with a blanket."
a dirty mark or smear; to make something dirty or unclear by rubbing or touching
"She accidentally smudged her lipstick on the napkin."
having or showing an excessive pride in oneself or one's achievements
"He wore a smug smile after winning the debate."
a trap for catching animals; to catch or trap
"The hunter set a snare to catch rabbits."
to growl aggressively with bared teeth; a tangle or mess
"The dog snarled at the stranger near the gate."
to smile or speak in a mocking or contemptuous way
"She sneered at his attempt to sing."
to laugh quietly in a disrespectful or mocking way
"The students snickered when the teacher made a mistake."
mocking or insulting in an indirect way
"He couldn’t resist making a snide comment about her dress."
to cut something quickly with scissors or a sharp tool
"She snipped the loose thread from her dress."
having or showing the attitude of people who think they are better than others
"She seemed snobbish because she avoided talking to the waiters."
to insult or ignore someone by treating them rudely
"He felt hurt when his invitation was snubbed."
the state of being sober; self-restraint and seriousness
"He has maintained his sobriety for five years."
The quality or state of being sociable; friendliness.
"Her sociability made her popular in the office."
Relating to society or social relationships.
"Societal benefits of space tourism are under debate."
Advancement in both social and economic conditions of a society or community.
"Socioeconomic progress uplifts marginalized communities."
