severance
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C1 noun /ˈsɛvərəns/

severance

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.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈhɑːrtənd/

Disheartened

Meaning
discouraged; feeling dejected; losing hope or confidence
Example
She felt disheartened after failing the exam twice.
C1 adjective /pəˈnʌltɪmət/

penultimate

Meaning
second to the last in a sequence or series
Example
She finished the penultimate chapter before going to sleep.
C1 noun /trækt/

tract

Meaning
an area of land; a system of organs in the body; a written pamphlet
Example
The forest tract was preserved as a wildlife sanctuary.
C1 adjective /ˈneɡ.lɪ.dʒənt/

Negligent

Meaning
failing to take proper care; careless; showing lack of attention
Example
The negligent driver caused a serious accident.
C1 verb /koʊˈhæbɪt/

cohabit

Meaning
To live together, often as partners without being married.
Example
They decided to cohabit before getting married.
C1 noun/verb /tɔːrˈpiːdoʊ/

torpedo

Meaning
A self-propelled underwater missile; to attack or destroy something suddenly and forcefully.
Example
The submarine launched a torpedo at the enemy ship.
C1 noun /ˈsaɪd.laɪn dɪˈskʌʃənz/

sideline discussions

Meaning
Informal or secondary conversations that occur outside the main agenda of a formal meeting.
Example
Sideline discussions often lead to agreements.
C1 adjective /pəˈleɪ.ʃəl/

palatial

Meaning
resembling a palace in being spacious and splendid
Example
They stayed in a palatial hotel during their vacation.
C1 noun kənˈɡlɒm.ər.ət

conglomerate

Meaning
A large corporation formed by the merging of separate and diverse firms.
Example
The company grew into a multinational conglomerate.
C1 noun /ˌeɪ.li.əˈneɪ.ʃən/

alienation

Meaning
The state of being isolated or estranged from a group or activity.
Example
The new policies created a sense of alienation among employees.
C1 noun /ˌvɜːrtʃuˈoʊsoʊ/

virtuoso

Meaning
A person highly skilled in music, art, or another artistic pursuit.
Example
The pianist is a true virtuoso, captivating audiences worldwide.
C1 adjective /ˈsɔːsi/

saucy

Meaning
Boldly rude, cheeky, or playfully disrespectful.
Example
The child gave a saucy reply to his teacher.
C1 noun /ˈhɒl.ə.kɔːst/

holocaust

Meaning
A large-scale destruction, especially by fire; historically, the genocide of Jews during World War II.
Example
Millions of people perished during the Holocaust.
C1 verb /sɪˈkriːt/

secrete

Meaning
to produce and release a substance from a cell, gland, or organ
Example
The pancreas secretes insulin to regulate blood sugar levels.
C1 noun/verb /ˈsuː.tʃər/

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.
C1 noun /ˈhaɪndsaɪt/

hindsight

Meaning
Understanding of a situation only after it has happened.
Example
With the benefit of hindsight, we realized the decision was a mistake.
C1 adjective /ˈnjuː.ɑːnst/

nuanced

Meaning
Characterized by subtle shades of meaning or expression; having fine gradations of meaning, tone, or feeling.
Example
His analysis of the novel was highly nuanced.
C1 verb /kəmˈprɛs/

compress

Meaning
to press or squeeze something so that it becomes smaller
Example
The file was compressed to save storage space.
C1 verb /ˈɡlɪsən/

glisten

Meaning
To shine with a sparkling light, often when wet or polished.
Example
The grass glistened with morning dew.
C1 adjective /ˌæprɪˈhɛnsɪv/

apprehensive

Meaning
feeling anxious or fearful that something bad will happen
Example
He was apprehensive about starting a new job in a foreign country.
C1 noun /dɪˈluːʒən/

delusion

Meaning
A false belief or impression maintained despite being contradicted by reality.
Example
He lived under the delusion that he was invincible.
C1 noun /taɪˈpɒɡrəfi/

typography

Meaning
the art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible and visually appealing
Example
Good typography improves the readability of a website.
C1 noun /flʌks/

flux

Meaning
continuous change or movement; the rate of flow of something
Example
The company was in a state of constant flux during the reorganization.
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.
C1 noun /ˈkroʊ.bɑːr/

Crowbar

Meaning
a heavy iron bar with a curved end used as a lever for prying things apart
Example
He used a crowbar to remove the old nails.
C1 adjective /əbˈsɛsɪv/

obsessive

Meaning
Relating to or characterized by an obsession; thinking about something too much.
Example
He has an obsessive interest in cleanliness.
C1 noun /ˈrɛl.ɪk/

relic

Meaning
an object surviving from an earlier time, often of historical or religious interest
Example
The museum displayed relics from the ancient civilization.
C1 noun /ˈwɛlˌduːər/

well-doer

Meaning
A person who does good deeds; a benefactor.
Example
The community praised the well-doer for his charity.
C1 noun /ˈæk.jʊ.mən/

acumen

Meaning
The ability to make good judgments and quick decisions; keenness and depth of perception.
Example
His business acumen helped the company grow rapidly.
C1 adjective /ˈheɪ.nəs/

Heinous

Meaning
extremely wicked or evil; abominable; morally reprehensible
Example
The heinous crime shocked the entire community.
C1 adjective /ˈtɒp.məʊst/

Topmost

Meaning
highest in position or rank
Example
The flag was placed on the topmost branch of the tree.
C1 noun /ˌzɛnəˈfoʊbiə/

xenophobia

Meaning
fear or hatred of foreigners, people from different cultures, or strangers
Example
Xenophobia can lead to discrimination and social division.
C1 noun /pərˈkʌʃən/

percussion

Meaning
Musical instruments that are played by striking, shaking, or scraping, such as drums or cymbals.
Example
The percussion section added rhythm and energy to the orchestra.
C1 noun /ˌɪn.dɪˈsɪʒ.ən/

Indecision

Meaning
the inability to make decisions quickly; uncertainty about what to do
Example
Her indecision about which job offer to accept caused her to miss both opportunities.
C1 noun dɪˈdʒɛnəˌreɪtɪv dɪˈzizɪz

degenerative diseases

Meaning
Medical conditions that involve the deterioration or progressive decline of tissues, organs, or functions
Example
Degenerative diseases are common in an aging population.
C1 adjective /ˈlæk.tɪk/

lactic

Meaning
Relating to milk or lactic acid.
Example
Intense exercise can lead to a buildup of lactic acid in the muscles.
C1 noun /ˈdʒɒt.ər/

Jotter

Meaning
a small notebook for writing quick notes or reminders
Example
The student carried a jotter to write down important points during lectures.
C1 noun /ˈproʊtəˌʒeɪ/

protege

Meaning
a person who is guided and supported by an older and more experienced person
Example
The young artist was the protege of a famous painter.
C1 verb rɪˈplɛn.ɪʃ

replenish

Meaning
Fill something up again.
Example
Drinking water helps replenish lost fluids in the body.
C1 adjective ˈmer.ɪt beɪst

merit-based

Meaning
Based on or determined by individual merit, ability, or achievement rather than other factors.
Example
Merit-based recruitment strengthens the workforce.
C1 adjective /ˈmɑːr.dʒɪ.nəl/

Marginal

Meaning
relating to or situated at the edge; minimal; slight
Example
The marginal improvement in sales was barely noticeable.
C1 adjective /ˈkræfti/

crafty

Meaning
skilled at achieving goals through cunning or deceit; sly
Example
The crafty fox evaded the hunters again.
C1 adjective /ˈkɒn.keɪv/

concave

Meaning
curved inward like the inside of a bowl
Example
The mirror had a concave surface that magnified her reflection.
C1 noun /ˈpoʊtənsi/

potency

Meaning
The power or ability of something to affect or influence; strength or effectiveness.
Example
The potency of the new medicine amazed the doctors.
C1 noun /ˈvæntɪdʒ/

vantage

Meaning
a position or situation that gives an advantage or a good view
Example
From this vantage, we could see the entire valley.
C1 verb /ʃɜːrk/

shirk

Meaning
to avoid or neglect a duty or responsibility
Example
He always tries to shirk his responsibilities at work.
C1 noun əˈpreɪ.zəl

appraisal

Meaning
An assessment or evaluation of performance or quality.
Example
The annual appraisal determines salary increments.
C1 noun /ɪnˈkrəʊtʃmənt/

encroachment

Meaning
the act of gradually intruding or taking over someone’s rights, land, or space
Example
The villagers protested against the encroachment on their farmland.
C1 verb /ˈtræŋ.kwɪ.laɪz/

tranquilize

Meaning
to make someone or something calm or less anxious, often by using drugs
Example
The veterinarian had to tranquilize the tiger before moving it.
C1 verb /ɪˈloʊp/

elope

Meaning
to run away secretly in order to get married, especially without parental consent
Example
The young couple decided to elope to another city.
C1 noun /ˌstætɪˈstɪʃən/

statistician

Meaning
A person who specializes in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting numerical data.
Example
The statistician presented the survey results with great clarity.
C1 verb /ˈrɪdɪkjuːl/

ridicule

Meaning
To make fun of someone or something in a cruel or dismissive way.
Example
He was ridiculed for his strange ideas.
C1 adjective /dɪˈvaʊt/

devout

Meaning
Deeply religious or sincere.
Example
He is a devout believer who prays every day.
C1 adjective /ˈmɔːtəl/

Mortal

Meaning
subject to death; having a limited lifespan; human
Example
All human beings are mortal and will eventually die.
C1 noun /koʊˈɜː.ʃən/

coercion

Meaning
The practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats.
Example
Cybercriminals use coercion to extract information.
C1 noun /aɪl/

isle

Meaning
A small island or peninsula, often poetic or literary.
Example
They spent their honeymoon on a beautiful tropical isle.
C1 noun /ˌdev.əˈtiː/

Devotee

Meaning
a person who is very interested in and enthusiastic about someone or something
Example
As a devotee of classical music, she attended every concert in the city.
C1 verb /ɪmˈpɛrɪl/

imperil

Meaning
To put in danger or at risk.
Example
Reckless driving can imperil the lives of others.
C1 verb /ˈmæsəkər/

massacre

Meaning
to kill a large number of people brutally; to defeat decisively
Example
The army massacred the innocent civilians.
C1 adjective prəˈtræk.tɪd

protracted

Meaning
Lasting for a long time or longer than expected or usual.
Example
The negotiations were protracted over months.
C1 adjective /ˈfaɪ.naɪt/

Finite

Meaning
limited; having bounds or limits; not infinite
Example
Earth has finite natural resources.
C1 noun /ˈʃoʊ.vəˌnɪz.əm/

chauvinism

Meaning
Excessive or prejudiced support for one's own cause, group, or gender, often with contempt for others.
Example
The company's culture was criticized for promoting male chauvinism.
C1 adverb ɪkˌsperɪˈmentəli

experimentally

Meaning
In a way that is based on or derived from experiment and observation rather than theory.
Example
Bose demonstrated findings experimentally.
C1 noun dɪˈpliː.ʃən

depletion

Meaning
The gradual reduction or exhaustion of a resource or substance.
Example
Overuse of groundwater leads to depletion of water resources.
C1 adjective /əˈlʊr.ɪŋ/

Alluring

Meaning
attractive and tempting; fascinating
Example
The alluring fragrance of roses filled the garden.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈtoʊld/

Untold

Meaning
very great in amount or degree; countless; immeasurable
Example
The earthquake caused untold damage to the city.
C1 verb, noun /ˈmʌstər/

muster

Meaning
to gather people, especially soldiers; to summon courage or strength
Example
He mustered enough courage to face the challenge.
C1 noun ˌɪnfrəˈstrʌktʃərəl dɪˈveləpmənt

infrastructural development

Meaning
The process of building and improving the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.
Example
Infrastructural development is necessary for efficient recycling.
C1 noun /ɪnˈdem.nə.ti/

Indemnity

Meaning
security or protection against a loss or other financial burden; compensation for damage or loss
Example
The insurance company provided full indemnity for the damages caused by the flood.
C1 adverb /ˈheɪs.tɪ.li/

Hastily

Meaning
in a hurried or rushed manner; quickly and carelessly
Example
She hastily packed her bags before leaving for the airport.
C1 noun ˌriːˈstrʌk.tʃər.ɪŋ

restructuring

Meaning
The action of organizing something differently.
Example
The company underwent restructuring to improve efficiency.
C1 adjective /ˈmɪnəskjuːl/

minuscule

Meaning
extremely small in size or importance
Example
She made only a minuscule contribution to the project.
C1 noun ˌæf.ɔːr.ɪˈsteɪ.ʃən

afforestation

Meaning
The action of planting trees on an area of land in order to form a forest.
Example
Afforestation helps restore biodiversity.
C1 noun /tækˈsɒnəmi/

taxonomy

Meaning
The science or practice of classifying things, especially organisms.
Example
Modern taxonomy helps scientists organize and study biodiversity.
C1 verb /ˈɡrændstænd/

grandstand

Meaning
To seek attention or applause by behaving or speaking in a showy way.
Example
The actor was accused of grandstanding during the charity event.
C1 adjective /ˌɛk.spəˈnɛn.ʃəl/

exponential

Meaning
Rapid growth or expansion at an increasing rate
Example
Technology is advancing at an exponential rate.
C1 adjective /ˌoʊvərˈbloʊn/

overblown

Meaning
excessively exaggerated or inflated
Example
The controversy was overblown by the media.
C1 noun /ˈlɔː.meɪ.kər/

Lawmaker

Meaning
a person who writes and passes laws, especially a member of a legislative body
Example
The lawmakers voted on the new education bill.
C1 noun /ˈdʒiː.nəs/

genus

Meaning
a category in biological classification ranking above species and below family
Example
The tiger belongs to the genus Panthera.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈpæʃənd/

impassioned

Meaning
Filled with or showing great emotion.
Example
She gave an impassioned speech about human rights.
C1 verb /əˈprɛs/

oppress

Meaning
to keep someone down by harsh and unfair use of authority; to suppress
Example
The dictator oppressed the people for decades.
C1 noun /ɪkˈspoʊnənt/

exponent

Meaning
a person who supports, promotes, or explains an idea; in math, a symbol denoting power
Example
She is a leading exponent of modern dance.
C1 noun /ˈwɪzərdri/

wizardry

Meaning
The art or practice of magic; great skill or expertise in something.
Example
The programmer's wizardry amazed everyone in the room.
C1 noun /ˈskwɒlər/

squalor

Meaning
the state of being extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially due to poverty or neglect
Example
They lived in squalor without basic facilities.
C1 adjective/verb /ˈsiːzənd/

seasoned

Meaning
Experienced in a particular activity; also, flavored with spices.
Example
She is a seasoned teacher with over 20 years of experience.
C1 noun /ˈdrʌdʒəri/

drudgery

Meaning
Hard, menial, or dull work.
Example
She wanted to escape the drudgery of her daily routine.
C1 noun /ˈkɒrənər/

coroner

Meaning
an official who investigates sudden, violent, or suspicious deaths
Example
The coroner determined the cause of death was natural.
C1 adjective /ɪˈnæmərd/

enamored

Meaning
filled with love or admiration
Example
He became enamored with classical music after attending the concert.
C1 noun /læns/

Lance

Meaning
a long weapon with a sharp metal point, used by soldiers on horseback
Example
The knight charged forward with his lance ready.
C1 verb /ˈkwentʃɪŋ/

quenching

Meaning
The act of satisfying thirst or extinguishing something like fire.
Example
Drinking cold water was quenching her thirst.
C1 adjective /ˈɪnsələnt/

insolent

Meaning
showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect
Example
The insolent student refused to follow the teacher's instructions.
C1 adjective /ˈmɔːrbɪd/

morbid

Meaning
Having an abnormal interest in disturbing or unpleasant subjects such as death or disease.
Example
She had a morbid fascination with crime stories.
C1 adverb /əˈraɪ/

awry

Meaning
away from the expected or proper direction; wrong or amiss
Example
The plan went awry when the weather suddenly changed.
C1 verb /ˌriːˈkæl.ɪ.breɪt/

recalibrate

Meaning
To calibrate again or differently; to adjust or correct something based on new information or changed circumstances.
Example
The company had to recalibrate its strategies to adapt to the market.
C1 verb /ˈlæmɪˌneɪt/

laminate

Meaning
to cover or enclose something with a protective layer, usually plastic
Example
She laminated her important documents to protect them from damage.
C1 adverb /maɪˈnjuːtli/

Minutely

Meaning
in very small detail; extremely carefully
Example
The detective examined the evidence minutely.
C1 verb /ˈɪnstɪˌɡeɪt/

instigate

Meaning
To bring about or initiate an action, often something negative.
Example
He was accused of instigating the riot.
C1 noun dɛkˈstɛr.ɪ.ti

dexterity

Meaning
Skill in performing tasks, especially with the hands; mental skill or adroitness.
Example
His dexterity in playing the piano amazed the audience.
C1 noun /ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃɪˈeɪʃən/

differentiation

Meaning
The action or process of differentiating or distinguishing between things.
Example
Differentiation from competitors can create a unique market position.
C1 noun /nuːs/

Noose

Meaning
a loop with a running knot used for hanging; a trap or snare
Example
The cowboy made a noose to catch the wild horse.
C1 noun ˌsɪs.təˈmæt.ɪk ˈstræt.ə.dʒi

systematic strategy

Meaning
A methodical and organized plan or approach to achieve specific objectives.
Example
A systematic strategy was employed to achieve objectives.
C1 noun /dɪˈstɔːrʃən/

distortion

Meaning
the action of twisting, changing, or misrepresenting the shape, sound, or truth of something
Example
There was a distortion in the radio signal.
C1 verb /ˈsenʃər/

censure

Meaning
to criticize severely; to express strong disapproval
Example
The committee censured the politician for his misconduct.
C1 adjective /ˈsɜːrpənˌtiːn/

serpentine

Meaning
Having the shape, movement, or qualities of a serpent; winding or twisting.
Example
The road took a serpentine path through the mountains.
C1 noun /hɔːrd/

horde

Meaning
A large group or crowd, especially one that is disorderly or difficult to control.
Example
A horde of fans gathered outside the stadium.
C1 adjective /rɪˈɡrɛtfəl/

regretful

Meaning
feeling or showing sadness or disappointment about something that has happened or been done
Example
She gave him a regretful smile as she turned away.
C1 noun /krʌtʃ/

crutch

Meaning
a support used by someone injured to walk; also something relied upon for support or help
Example
He had to use crutches after breaking his leg.
C1 noun /hjuːˈmɪl.ɪ.ti/

humility

Meaning
The quality of having a modest or low view of one's importance.
Example
She accepted the award with grace and humility.
C1 verb, noun /læɡ/

lag

Meaning
To fall behind in movement, progress, or development; a delay or period of falling behind.
Example
The old computer tends to lag when running new software.
C1 verb /səbˈmɜːrdʒ/

submerge

Meaning
to put under water or cover with liquid
Example
The floodwaters threatened to submerge the village.
C1 adjective /ˈwɪst.fəl/

Wistful

Meaning
having a feeling of longing or yearning; melancholy
Example
She gave a wistful smile when remembering her childhood days.
C1 adjective /ˈpɑːm.pəs/

Pompous

Meaning
showing off; pretentious; overly grand
Example
His pompous attitude annoyed everyone at the meeting.
C1 adjective /ˈsʌpl/

supple

Meaning
Easily bending or moving without breaking; flexible and adaptable.
Example
The gymnast’s body was remarkably supple.
C1 adjective /ɛnˌsaɪkləˈpiːdɪk/

encyclopedic

Meaning
Having comprehensive knowledge of many subjects; relating to or characteristic of an encyclopedia.
Example
Her encyclopedic knowledge of history amazed everyone at the conference.
C1 noun /ˌdɪsbɪˈliːvər/

disbeliever

Meaning
a person who does not believe in something, especially a religion or idea
Example
He was called a disbeliever for rejecting the traditional faith.
C1 adjective /ˈheɪ.zi/

Hazy

Meaning
covered with haze; unclear or vague; lacking clarity
Example
The mountain tops were hazy in the morning mist.
C1 noun /ˌɑːr.kəˈpɛl.əˌɡoʊ/

archipelago

Meaning
A group of islands clustered together in a body of water.
Example
Indonesia is an archipelago with thousands of islands.
C1 adjective /ˈfjuː.dəl/

feudal

Meaning
relating to the system of feudalism, a medieval social system based on land ownership and obligations
Example
The castle is a remnant of the feudal era.
C1 noun /ɪnˈfɜːrnoʊ/

inferno

Meaning
a large, intense fire that is dangerously out of control
Example
The building turned into an inferno within minutes.
C1 noun /rɪˈzʌmp.ʃən/

Resumption

Meaning
the action of beginning something again after a pause or interruption
Example
The resumption of classes will be announced next week.