obstacles
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B1 noun /ˈɒbstəkəlz/

obstacles

Meaning
Things that block one's way or prevent or hinder progress.
Example
Obstacles in life can often lead to valuable lessons.
B2 noun /ˈter.ər/

Terror

Meaning
extreme fear; the use of violence and intimidation for political aims
Example
The loud explosion filled everyone with terror.
B2 adjective /ˈɡlɔːr.i.əs/

Glorious

Meaning
magnificent; famous; having great beauty or splendor
Example
The sunset was absolutely glorious.
C2 adjective /ˈslɪpʃɒd/

slipshod

Meaning
done in a careless, sloppy, or untidy way
Example
The project failed due to slipshod planning.
A1 adverb /haʊ/

how

Meaning
in what way or manner; by what means
Example
How do you solve this problem?
B2 noun /səˈnɛərioʊ/

scenario

Meaning
a possible situation or sequence of events
Example
The company prepared for the worst-case scenario.
B1 noun /ˈkæbɪn/

cabin

Meaning
a small shelter or house, often made of wood in a remote area
Example
They spent the weekend in a cozy cabin in the mountains.
C1 verb /ˈmæd.ən/

madden

Meaning
To make someone very angry or extremely annoyed.
Example
The constant noise maddened him.
C2 adjective /ˈɑːbdjʊrət/

obdurate

Meaning
Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.
Example
He remained obdurate despite everyone's pleas.
C2 noun /dɪˌsɪdəˈreɪtəm/

desideratum

Meaning
something that is desired or considered necessary
Example
For many students, financial aid is a desideratum.
C2 adjective /ˈfætʃuəs/

fatuous

Meaning
silly or foolish, especially in a self-satisfied way
Example
His fatuous comments during the meeting annoyed everyone.
C1 noun /ˈsuːdənɪm/

pseudonym

Meaning
a fictitious name used by an author instead of their real name
Example
Mark Twain was the pseudonym of Samuel Clemens.
C1 verb /flɪntʃ/

flinch

Meaning
to suddenly move back or away due to fear or pain
Example
He didn’t flinch when the doctor gave him the injection.
C1 verb /ˌdɪskənˈsɜːrt/

disconcert

Meaning
To unsettle, confuse, or disturb the composure of someone.
Example
The sudden change of plans disconcerted the team.
C2 adjective /ˌɛfləˈrɛsənt/

efflorescent

Meaning
in the process of blooming or flourishing
Example
The efflorescent trees made the park look beautiful.
B2 noun /rɪˈfɔːr.mər/

Reformer

Meaning
a person who works to bring about positive changes in society or institutions
Example
The social reformer dedicated her life to improving education for all children.
B2 noun /ˈstɑːrt.ʌp/

startup

Meaning
A newly established business, especially a small technology or business company that is just beginning operations.
Example
The startup secured funding from investors.
A1 noun /tʃaɪld/

child

Meaning
a young human being below the age of puberty or below the legal age of majority
Example
The child played happily in the park.
C2 noun /ɪˈpɪsəl/

epistle

Meaning
A letter, especially a formal or didactic one; often used for letters in the New Testament.
Example
He wrote a long epistle to his friend about his travels.
C2 verb /ʌpˈhiːv/

upheave

Meaning
to lift or raise something forcefully; to cause to rise suddenly
Example
The workers had to upheave the heavy stone to clear the path.
B2 verb /ˈnoʊtɪfaɪ/

notify

Meaning
to inform someone officially about something
Example
The manager will notify the staff about the schedule change.
B2 adjective /væst/

Vast

Meaning
extremely large in size, amount, or extent; immense
Example
The vast ocean stretched endlessly to the horizon.
C2 adverb /əˈskæns/

askance

Meaning
With suspicion, mistrust, or disapproval.
Example
She looked askance at his unusual proposal.
B2 verb /ˈælaɪ/

ally

Meaning
To unite or form a connection or partnership with another person, group, or nation.
Example
The two countries decided to ally against their common enemy.
C2 noun /ˈfʊl.krəm/

fulcrum

Meaning
The point or support on which a lever pivots; a central or essential point of activity or support.
Example
The teacher became the fulcrum of change in the school.
A1 noun /ˈaʊər/

hour

Meaning
A period of time equal to 60 minutes.
Example
The meeting lasted for two hours.
B1 noun /ɪnˈdʒɔɪmənt/

enjoyment

Meaning
the state or process of taking pleasure or satisfaction in something
Example
She felt great enjoyment while reading her favorite book.
B2 adjective /ˈfɛmənɪn/

feminine

Meaning
having qualities traditionally associated with women; feminine in nature
Example
She has a very feminine style of dressing.
C1 noun /θiˈɒlədʒi/

theology

Meaning
The study of the nature of God and religious beliefs.
Example
She is pursuing a degree in theology at the university.
C2 noun /ˌkæθəˈlɪsɪti/

catholicity

Meaning
Universality; broad-mindedness; acceptance of a wide variety of things.
Example
Her catholicity of interests makes her a fascinating person.
A2 adverb /ɪˈspeʃəli/

Especially

Meaning
particularly; in particular; above all
Example
I love all fruits, especially mangoes.
C2 adjective /ˈbɔːdi/

bawdy

Meaning
humorously indecent or obscene, often in a sexual way
Example
The comedian’s bawdy jokes made the audience laugh and blush.
C1 noun /ˈflæn.əl/

Flannel

Meaning
a soft woven fabric, typically made of wool or cotton and slightly milled and raised
Example
He wore a warm flannel shirt in winter.
C2 noun ˈoʊʃən ˌstrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən

ocean stratification

Meaning
The formation of layers in ocean water due to differences in density.
Example
Ocean stratification affects marine biodiversity.
A2 noun /ʃɛlf/

shelf

Meaning
a flat surface used for storing or displaying things, typically fixed to a wall or inside a cabinet
Example
I placed the books on the shelf next to the window.
C1 noun /ˈdʒɔːn.dɪs/

jaundice

Meaning
A medical condition in which the skin and eyes become yellow due to liver problems.
Example
The doctor diagnosed the baby with jaundice.
B2 noun /pænt/

Pant

Meaning
a piece of clothing worn on the lower body covering each leg separately
Example
She bought a new pair of pants for the party.
C1 verb /rɪˈɡrɛs/

regress

Meaning
To return to a former or less developed state.
Example
Without proper guidance, the child's progress began to regress.
B2 adjective /ˌnɒnˈprɒfɪt/

nonprofit

Meaning
an organization that does not aim to make a profit, often serving a social or charitable purpose.
Example
She works for a nonprofit organization that helps children.
C1 noun /ˈɪŋklɪŋ/

inkling

Meaning
A slight idea, hint, or suspicion about something.
Example
She had an inkling that he was planning a surprise.
A2 verb /rɪˈpleɪs/

replace

Meaning
to take the place of something or someone; to put something new in place of something old
Example
He decided to replace the broken lamp with a new one.
B2 noun /kaʊtʃ/

Couch

Meaning
a long upholstered seat for more than one person, typically with a back and arms
Example
The family gathered on the couch to watch a movie.
A2 noun /ˈjuːzər/

user

Meaning
a person who uses or operates something
Example
He is a frequent user of this app.
A2 verb /krɒs/

cross

Meaning
to go from one side to another, or to pass through
Example
We crossed the river using a wooden bridge.
B2 adjective /ˈfɔːlti/

faulty

Meaning
Having defects or imperfections; not working properly
Example
The device stopped working because it was faulty.
A2 noun /ˈfɪɡ.jər/

Figure

Meaning
a number, especially one which forms part of official statistics; the shape of a human body
Example
The sales figure for this quarter exceeded all expectations.
A2 adjective /ˈwɛstərn/

western

Meaning
relating to or characteristic of the West, especially Europe and the Americas
Example
She loves western music and culture.
C2 noun /kənˌɡlɒməˈreɪʃən/

conglomeration

Meaning
A collection or mixture of different things grouped together.
Example
The market is a conglomeration of small shops and food stalls.
C1 verb /ˈɪnstɪˌɡeɪt/

instigate

Meaning
To bring about or initiate an action, often something negative.
Example
He was accused of instigating the riot.
C1 adverb /ˈfɜː.vənt.li/

Fervently

Meaning
with passionate intensity; ardently; with great emotion or enthusiasm
Example
She fervently hoped that her dreams would come true.
C1 verb /ˈkrɪsən/

christen

Meaning
to give a name to someone at baptism or to name something officially
Example
They christened the ship after the queen.
C2 verb /fleɪl/

flail

Meaning
to wave or swing something about wildly; to thrash about
Example
He flailed his arms to keep afloat in the water.
C1 adjective /kənˈstreɪnd/

constrained

Meaning
appearing forced, unnatural, or restricted
Example
He gave a constrained smile during the awkward meeting.
A2 phrasal verb /bæk ʌp/

back up

Meaning
to support or help someone; to make a copy of data for safety; to move backward
Example
Please back up your files before updating the system.
A2 noun /pleɪt/

Plate

Meaning
a flat, typically round dish used for serving or eating food
Example
Please put the rice on your plate.
C1 adjective /ɪɡˈzuːbərənt/

exuberant

Meaning
full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness
Example
The children were exuberant after winning the game.
B1 noun /ˈædʒɪktɪv/

adjective

Meaning
a word that describes or modifies a noun by giving more information about its quality, quantity, or state
Example
The adjective in the sentence adds more detail to the noun.
A1 verb /hoʊp/

hope

Meaning
to expect and desire that something will happen
Example
I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow.
B1 noun /ˈlɔː.jər/

Lawyer

Meaning
a person who practices or studies law; an attorney or a counselor
Example
She hired a lawyer to handle her case.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈmɪtɪɡeɪtɪd/

unmitigated

Meaning
absolute; not lessened or moderated
Example
The meeting was an unmitigated disaster.
C1 adjective /ɪɡˈzæktɪŋ/

exacting

Meaning
demanding a lot of effort, attention, or precision
Example
She is known for her exacting standards in design.
C1 noun /ˌɪnˈdɪsəplɪn/

indiscipline

Meaning
lack of discipline or self-control; failure to obey rules or maintain order
Example
Indiscipline among the students disrupted the learning environment.
B2 noun ˈprɒs.pekt

prospect

Meaning
The possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring.
Example
The project's success holds great prospect for the economy.
C2 adjective /ˈlæŋɡwɪd/

Languid

Meaning
lacking energy or vitality; slow and relaxed; weak or faint
Example
After the long journey, she felt languid and needed to rest.
C1 verb /rɪˈsɪprəˌkeɪt/

reciprocate

Meaning
To respond to an action or gesture by making a corresponding one.
Example
She smiled at him, and he reciprocated with a warm hug.
C1 adjective /stiːpt/

steeped

Meaning
Completely surrounded by or filled with a particular quality, influence, or experience.
Example
The town is steeped in history and tradition.
B2 noun /ˈaʊtlet/

outlet

Meaning
a means by which something is released, expressed, or distributed
Example
Art is a great outlet for emotions.
B2 adjective /ʌnəˈfreɪd/

unafraid

Meaning
Not feeling fear; brave or courageous
Example
She walked into the dark room, unafraid of what might be inside.
B1 adverb /ˈæftərwərd/

afterward

Meaning
at a later time; subsequently
Example
We went to dinner and watched a movie afterward.
C1 noun /prəˈspɛktəs/

prospectus

Meaning
a printed document that advertises or describes a school, business, or investment offering
Example
The university sent out a prospectus to attract new students.
C1 verb /ˈsʌkɪŋ/

sucking

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.
B2 noun /dʒuː/

jew

Meaning
a person whose religion is Judaism or who is of Jewish descent
Example
He is a Jew by heritage and follows Jewish customs.
A1 noun /ʃɜːrt/

Shirt

Meaning
a piece of clothing worn on the upper body with sleeves and buttons
Example
He wore a white shirt to the office.
C2 noun ˈfaɪ.təʊˌnjuː.tri.ənts

phytonutrients

Meaning
Bioactive compounds found in plants that have health benefits beyond basic nutrition.
Example
Green tea contains powerful phytonutrients.
C2 adjective /bɪˈwɪtʃɪŋ/

bewitching

Meaning
charming, enchanting, or captivating in a magical or irresistible way
Example
She wore a bewitching smile that captivated everyone in the room.
C1 adjective /freɪl/

frail

Meaning
Physically weak and delicate.
Example
The old man was too frail to walk without help.
C1 noun /ˌpɜːsəˈnælɪzeɪʃən/

personalization

Meaning
The action of making something personal or individual; customization.
Example
Personalization in marketing improves customer engagement.
A1 noun /θɪŋ/

thing

Meaning
an object, idea, or matter that is being referred to or dealt with
Example
This is the thing I was looking for.
B2 noun /dɪsˈɡʌst/

Disgust

Meaning
a feeling of revulsion or strong disapproval aroused by something unpleasant
Example
She expressed her disgust at the politician's corrupt behavior openly.
C1 noun /ˈsɪn.ɪˌsɪz.əm/

cynicism

Meaning
An inclination to believe that people are motivated purely by self-interest; skepticism.
Example
His cynicism made it hard for him to trust anyone.
B2 noun /ˈdʒɝː.nə.lɪŋ/

journaling

Meaning
The practice of writing down your thoughts, feelings, and experiences regularly.
Example
Journaling helps in organizing thoughts and reducing stress.
C2 noun /priˈɛmpʃən/

preemption

Meaning
The act of taking action before someone else; the right to purchase or act before others.
Example
The company exercised preemption to acquire the land before competitors.
C2 noun /ɪˈrʌp.ʃən/

Irruption

Meaning
a sudden violent entry; an invasion or raid; a sudden outburst or eruption
Example
The army's irruption into enemy territory caught the opposing forces completely off guard.
A2 noun /ˈdaɪəri/

diary

Meaning
a book in which one keeps a daily record of events and experiences
Example
She wrote about her day in her diary before going to bed.
B2 adjective /ˈveɪ.kənt/

Vacant

Meaning
empty; not occupied; available
Example
There is a vacant apartment on the second floor.
C1 verb /piːk/

pique

Meaning
to stimulate interest or curiosity; to arouse resentment or anger
Example
Her remarks piqued his curiosity about the secret project.
C2 noun /ˈkɒntrətɑː̃/

contretemps

Meaning
an unexpected and unfortunate event or disagreement; a minor dispute
Example
There was a small contretemps between the two colleagues during the meeting.
B2 noun /ˈdʒʌŋk.ʃən/

Junction

Meaning
a place where two or more roads or railway lines meet; a point where things join or connect
Example
Turn left at the junction to reach the shopping center.
B2 verb /ˈsɪmpəθaɪz/

sympathize

Meaning
to feel sorry for someone; to understand and share someone's feelings
Example
I sympathize with your loss.
A1 preposition /ˈʌndər/

under

Meaning
in or to a lower position than something
Example
The cat is under the table.
C2 verb /ˈtʃɔːrtl/

chortle

Meaning
to laugh in a breathy, gleeful way
Example
The audience chortled at the comedian's witty remarks.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnəˈfɛnsɪv/

inoffensive

Meaning
Not likely to offend or provoke; harmless.
Example
His inoffensive remarks kept the conversation friendly.
C1 noun /ˈwɪŋˌspæn/

wingspan

Meaning
the distance from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other wing
Example
The eagle has an impressive wingspan of over two meters.
B1 noun /ˈref.ər.əns/

Reference

Meaning
the action of mentioning or alluding to something; a source of information
Example
Please provide references to support your research claims.
B2 noun /ˌdʒʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

justification

Meaning
a reason, explanation, or excuse that shows something is right or reasonable
Example
There is no justification for such rude behavior.
C1 adjective /ˌaʊt əv ðə ˈweɪ/

out-of-the-way

Meaning
remote or unusual; not in a convenient or usual location
Example
They stayed in an out-of-the-way village.
A1 noun /ˈdrɪŋkɪŋ/

drinking

Meaning
the act of consuming liquids, especially alcohol
Example
Drinking too much water at once can make you feel bloated.
B2 adjective /kənˈtɛntɪd/

contented

Meaning
Feeling or expressing happiness and satisfaction.
Example
She was contented with her simple life.
B2 noun /ˈɡlɑːs.weər/

Glass-ware

Meaning
objects made of glass, especially drinking glasses and decorative objects
Example
The wedding registry included fine glassware.
A2 noun /ˈtoʊstər/

Toaster

Meaning
an electric appliance used for toasting bread slices
Example
I put two slices of bread in the toaster for breakfast.
C1 noun, verb /strænd/

strand

Meaning
Noun: A single thin length of thread, wire, or similar. Verb: To leave someone or something without a way of moving or leaving.
Example
The storm stranded many tourists on the island.
C1 verb /bruːd/

brood

Meaning
to think deeply about something that makes one unhappy; also, a group of young birds hatched at the same time
Example
He sat alone, brooding over his failures.
B1 noun /ˈwɜːrkpleɪs/

workplace

Meaning
a place where people work, such as an office, factory, or shop
Example
Maintaining good communication is vital in the workplace.
B2 adjective ˌkɒn.stɪˈtjuː.ʃən.əl

constitutional

Meaning
Relating to an established set of principles governing a state; in accordance with a political constitution.
Example
Constitutional reforms ensure fairness in the system.
C1 noun /kəˈlaɪdəˌskoʊp/

kaleidoscope

Meaning
A toy or instrument with mirrors and colored pieces that create changing patterns when rotated; also used metaphorically for a constantly changing sequence of patterns or elements.
Example
The city lights turned into a kaleidoscope of colors as the festival began.
C1 noun /kəˈlæm.ɪ.ti/

Calamity

Meaning
an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster
Example
The earthquake was a terrible calamity that affected thousands of families.
C2 adjective /ˈpɑːrtəbl/

partible

Meaning
capable of being divided or separated
Example
The estate was partible among the heirs.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈvɪnsəbl/

invincible

Meaning
too powerful to be defeated or overcome
Example
The team seemed invincible after winning ten matches in a row.
C2 noun mʌnˈdeɪ.nɪ.ti

mundanity

Meaning
The quality of being ordinary, routine, or lacking excitement.
Example
The mundanity of office life can be exhausting.
A2 adjective /ˈjuːs.ləs/

Useless

Meaning
having no beneficial purpose; not useful
Example
This broken computer is completely useless.
B2 adjective /ˈmjuːtʃuəl/

Mutual

Meaning
shared by two or more parties; reciprocal
Example
They have a mutual respect for each other.
C2 verb /əˈbeɪs/

abase

Meaning
to belittle or degrade someone
Example
He refused to abase himself before the king.
B1 noun /tʃɪn/

Chin

Meaning
the protruding part of the face below the mouth, formed by the apex of the lower jaw
Example
He stroked his beard thoughtfully, resting his hand on his chin.
B2 verb /klæʃ/

clash

Meaning
to come into conflict or collision with something or someone.
Example
The two cars clashed in the intersection.
C2 adjective ˌpɜː.spɪˈkeɪ.ʃəs

perspicacious

Meaning
Having keen insight and understanding; showing acute mental discernment.
Example
The detective's perspicacious nature helped solve the mystery.
A2 verb /dʒɔɪn/

join

Meaning
to connect or combine; to become a member of something
Example
Would you like to join our team for the project?
C2 noun /ˌfoʊ.nəˈlɑː.dʒi/

phonology

Meaning
the study of the sound system of a language
Example
She is studying phonology to understand how sounds function in English.
B1 noun /ˈkɜː.ri/

Curry

Meaning
a dish of meat, vegetables, etc., cooked in an Indian-style sauce with hot spices
Example
I love spicy chicken curry with rice.
B2 noun /ˈɡleɪʃər/

glacier

Meaning
a large mass of ice that moves slowly over land
Example
The glacier is slowly melting due to climate change.
B1 adjective /ˈfæsɪneɪtɪŋ/

Fascinating

Meaning
extremely interesting; captivating; enchanting
Example
The documentary about ocean life was fascinating.
C2 noun /ˌdiːnəʊˈteɪʃən/

denotation

Meaning
The literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests.
Example
The denotation of the word 'rose' is a type of flower.