stifled
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C1 verb /ˈstaɪfəld/

stifled

Meaning
to suppress, hold back, or prevent something from happening
Example
He stifled a laugh during the serious meeting.
C1 adjective /rɪˈtɜː.nə.bəl/

Returnable

Meaning
able to be returned or given back
Example
The bottle is returnable for a deposit refund.
C1 adjective /ˈwɒn.tən/

Wanton

Meaning
deliberate and unprovoked; sexually immodest or promiscuous
Example
The vandals caused wanton destruction to the public property.
C1 adjective /praɪˈmiːvəl/

primeval

Meaning
Relating to the earliest ages in history; ancient and primitive.
Example
The explorers ventured into the primeval forest untouched by humans.
C1 verb ˌkəʊ.əˈles

coalesce

Meaning
Come together and form one mass or whole; unite to form one organization or group.
Example
The different theories coalesced into one unified idea.
C1 verb /kənˈkɒkt/

concoct

Meaning
to make something, especially food or a story, by mixing or inventing
Example
He concocted a story to explain his absence.
C1 verb /ɪnˈterəˌɡeɪt/

interrogate

Meaning
to ask someone questions in a thorough and formal way; to question intensively
Example
The police interrogated the suspect for hours.
C1 verb /ˈkʌvət/

covet

Meaning
to desire something belonging to someone else
Example
He coveted his neighbor's new car.
C1 noun /ˈtres.pæs.ər/

Trespasser

Meaning
a person who enters someone's property without permission
Example
The security guard caught the trespasser climbing over the fence.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈmɒdɪfaɪd/

unmodified

Meaning
not changed from its original form or state
Example
The data was used in its unmodified form for analysis.
C1 verb /ˈaɪdəlaɪz/

idolize

Meaning
To admire or worship someone excessively.
Example
Fans often idolize celebrities for their talent and lifestyle.
C1 verb /trænˈspaɪər/

transpire

Meaning
to occur, happen, or become known
Example
It transpired that he had lied about his age.
C1 verb /kənˈfleɪt/

conflate

Meaning
To combine two or more things, often confusingly, into one.
Example
The article tends to conflate facts with opinions.
C1 noun /ˈɑn.set/

Onset

Meaning
the beginning or early stages of something; the start of a medical condition
Example
The onset of winter brought heavy snowfall.
C1 adjective rɪˈlɛntləs

relentless

Meaning
Oppressively constant; incessant; showing no abatement of severity, intensity, strength, or pace.
Example
The freedom fighters' relentless struggle led to victory.
C1 noun /ˈmʌs.tərd siːdz/

Mustard seeds

Meaning
small round seeds from the mustard plant, used as a spice and for making mustard condiment
Example
Mustard seeds are often tempered in hot oil to release their nutty flavor before adding to dishes.
C1 verb /ˈɪnkjʊˌbeɪt/

incubate

Meaning
to keep eggs, cells, or organisms at the right conditions for development
Example
The hen will incubate the eggs until they hatch.
C1 noun /ˌɪndɪɡˈneɪʃən/

indignation

Meaning
Strong displeasure or anger caused by something unjust, offensive, or insulting.
Example
Public indignation grew after the unfair verdict.
C1 verb /ˈhɪpnətaɪz/

hypnotize

Meaning
to put someone into a state of hypnosis; to influence someone's mind deeply
Example
The magician tried to hypnotize the audience.
C1 adjective /ɪkˈskruːʃieɪtɪŋ/

excruciating

Meaning
causing extreme physical or mental pain
Example
She was in excruciating pain after the accident.
C1 adjective /ˌaʊtˈspoʊkən/

Outspoken

Meaning
frank; speaking directly
Example
She is known for being outspoken about social issues.
C1 noun /ɒnˈsɒmbəl/

ensemble

Meaning
a group of things or people viewed as a whole, especially performers in music or theater
Example
The theater ensemble gave a spectacular performance.
C1 noun /rɛnˈdɪʃən/

rendition

Meaning
a performance or interpretation of a piece of art, music, or text
Example
The singer gave a moving rendition of the classic song.
C1 adjective /ˈfɪɡərətɪv/

figurative

Meaning
not literal; using figures of speech or symbolic representation
Example
She used figurative language to describe her feelings.
C1 noun ˌɒp.tɪ.maɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

optimization

Meaning
Improving processes to increase performance and efficiency.
Example
SEO optimization helps websites rank higher on search engines.
C1 noun /kwoʊ/

quo

Meaning
The existing state of affairs or situation, often used in the phrase 'status quo'.
Example
He wanted to maintain the status quo at work.
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 /blɛər/

blare

Meaning
to make a loud, harsh sound
Example
The car horns blared all night.
C1 noun /ˈæbdəmən/

abdomen

Meaning
The part of the body below the chest and above the hips that contains the stomach and other organs.
Example
He complained of pain in his abdomen.
C1 noun /ˈɒf.sprɪŋ/

offspring

Meaning
a person's child or children; an animal's young
Example
The bird carefully fed its offspring.
C1 adjective ˌkwɪn.tɪˈsen.ʃəl

quintessential

Meaning
representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.
Example
The artist's work is the quintessential example of modernism.
C1 noun /ˈfjuː.tʃə.rɪst/

futurist

Meaning
A person who studies or predicts the future, especially trends in science, technology, or society.
Example
The futurist predicted major changes in transportation within the next decade.
C1 noun/adjective /ɪˈliːtɪst/

elitist

Meaning
A person who believes that a society should be led by an elite; showing preference for a privileged class.
Example
His elitist attitude made him unpopular among his peers.
C1 adjective /ˈsæv.i/

savvy

Meaning
Having practical knowledge and the ability to make good judgments.
Example
She is a tech-savvy entrepreneur.
C1 adjective /ˌəʊ.vərˈɑː.tʃɪŋ/

overarching

Meaning
Comprehensive or all-embracing; forming an arch over something.
Example
The overarching theme of the book is human resilience.
C1 verb /əbˈstrʌkt/

obstruct

Meaning
to block or hinder progress; to prevent or impede movement
Example
The fallen tree obstructed the road for several hours.
C1 noun/verb /liːʃ/

leash

Meaning
a strap or cord used to control or guide an animal; to restrain or control
Example
The dog was on a leash during the walk.
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 /ˈɑːrməri/

armory

Meaning
A place where weapons are stored; a supply of resources or skills.
Example
The soldiers kept their weapons in the armory.
C1 noun /ˈkɒnstənsi/

constancy

Meaning
the quality of being faithful and dependable
Example
Her constancy in friendship is admirable.
C1 verb rɪˈplɛn.ɪʃ

replenish

Meaning
Fill something up again.
Example
Drinking water helps replenish lost fluids in the body.
C1 noun /poʊˈlær.ɪ.ti/

polarity

Meaning
the state of having two opposite or contradictory tendencies, opinions, or aspects
Example
The polarity between the two political parties is growing stronger.
C1 verb /ˈwɒloʊ/

wallow

Meaning
to roll about or indulge oneself in something excessively
Example
The buffalo likes to wallow in the mud on hot days.
C1 noun /ɡræft/

Graft

Meaning
a shoot or twig inserted into a slit on the trunk of a living tree to form a new growth; corruption in politics or business
Example
The gardener used a graft to combine different varieties of apple trees.
C1 adjective /ˈtɛsti/

testy

Meaning
Easily irritated or annoyed.
Example
He became testy when asked the same question repeatedly.
C1 noun /ˈsɪləbəl/

syllable

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.
C1 noun /ˈɛmbləm/

emblem

Meaning
A symbolic object, design, or figure representing an idea, group, or identity.
Example
The dove is an emblem of peace.
C1 noun /ˈskwɒtər/

squatter

Meaning
a person who unlawfully occupies an uninhabited building or unused land
Example
The police removed the squatters from the abandoned house.
C1 adverb/noun /ˌhɪərˈæftər/

hereafter

Meaning
from now on; in the future; also refers to life after death.
Example
Hereafter, all reports must be submitted electronically.
C1 noun /bəˈnæn.zə/

Bonanza

Meaning
a situation or event that creates a sudden increase in wealth, good fortune, or profits
Example
The oil discovery was a bonanza for the small country.
C1 verb pleɪɡd

plagued

Meaning
Troubled or afflicted persistently by problems or difficulties.
Example
People are plagued by anxiety and depression.
C1 noun /ˈfɔɪeɪr/

foyer

Meaning
An entrance hall or lobby in a building.
Example
The guests waited in the hotel foyer before checking in.
C1 noun /læʃ/

Lash

Meaning
an eyelash; a sharp blow with a whip or rope; to strike forcefully
Example
She carefully applied mascara to make her lashes look longer and darker.
C1 adjective /sɛkˈtɛəriən/

sectarian

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.
C1 verb /ˈnjuːtrəlaɪz/

neutralize

Meaning
to make something ineffective or harmless
Example
The medicine helped neutralize the poison in his system.
C1 noun /ˈspɛkjʊˌleɪtər/

speculator

Meaning
A person who forms theories without evidence, or invests in assets hoping for profit.
Example
The real estate speculator bought land hoping its value would rise.
C1 verb /ˈtɛðər/

tether

Meaning
To tie an animal with a rope or chain so it cannot move far.
Example
The farmer tethered the goat to a post.
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 noun /ˌtɛstɪˈməʊnɪəlz/

testimonials

Meaning
Written or spoken statements of praise or recommendation from clients or customers.
Example
Positive testimonials can enhance a company's reputation.
C1 adjective /ˈsɜːrvaɪl/ or /ˈsɜːrvəl/

servile

Meaning
having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others
Example
His servile attitude annoyed his colleagues.
C1 noun /ədˈhiːʒən/

adhesion

Meaning
the process or state of sticking to something
Example
Strong adhesion is needed for the tiles to stay in place.
C1 verb /slɪŋ/

sling

Meaning
to throw or hang something roughly or carelessly
Example
He slung his bag over his shoulder before leaving.
C1 verb /kwɑːʃ/

quash

Meaning
To reject or void something legally or to put an end to something forcefully.
Example
The court quashed the decision due to lack of evidence.
C1 verb /wɪðˈhoʊld/

withhold

Meaning
to refuse to give or keep back something
Example
The company decided to withhold his bonus.
C1 verb /ɪnˈʃraɪn/

enshrine

Meaning
to preserve or cherish something as sacred or important
Example
The constitution enshrines the right to freedom of speech.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnəˈtɛntɪv/

inattentive

Meaning
not paying attention; lacking focus or concentration
Example
The inattentive student missed several important instructions.
C1 noun /ˈmɪd.əl.mæn/

Middleman

Meaning
A person who acts as an intermediary between two parties in a business transaction
Example
They decided to cut out the middleman and sell directly to customers.
C1 adverb /ˈhed ɑn/

Head-on

Meaning
directly facing; in direct confrontation or collision
Example
The two cars collided head-on at the intersection.
C1 noun /ˌpɜːrmjuˈteɪʃən/

permutation

Meaning
An arrangement or reordering of elements, often in mathematics or logic.
Example
The puzzle can be solved by trying all possible permutations of the tiles.
C1 verb /ˈlɛdʒɪsˌleɪt/

legislate

Meaning
to make or enact laws
Example
The government plans to legislate new safety standards.
C1 noun /baʊt/

Bout

Meaning
a short period of intense activity of a specified kind; a wrestling or boxing match
Example
After a bout of illness, she finally recovered and returned to work.
C1 adjective /dɪˈsɜːrnɪŋ/

discerning

Meaning
having good judgment or insight; able to distinguish well
Example
He is a discerning reader who notices subtle details.
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 ˈmaɪ.krəʊˌnjuː.tri.ənts

micronutrients

Meaning
Essential nutrients required by organisms in small quantities throughout life to orchestrate a range of physiological functions.
Example
Micronutrients are essential for cellular function.
C1 noun /ˈbʊzəm/

bosom

Meaning
the human chest, especially a woman’s breast; also used metaphorically to refer to closeness or intimacy
Example
She kept the secret close to her bosom.
C1 verb /səˈplænt/

supplant

Meaning
To take the place of something or someone, often by force or strategy.
Example
Digital platforms have supplanted traditional newspapers.
C1 noun /ˈpluː.mɪdʒ/

plumage

Meaning
the feathers covering a bird's body
Example
The peacock's plumage was vibrant and eye-catching.
C1 adjective /ˌbaɪˈlæt.ər.əl/

bilateral

Meaning
An agreement or relationship between two parties that is mutual, two-sided, or reciprocal.
Example
The two countries signed a bilateral trade agreement.
C1 noun /vʌlˈɡær.ɪ.ti/

Vulgarity

Meaning
the quality of being rude, offensive, or indecent; lack of sophistication or good taste
Example
The comedian's jokes were criticized for their vulgarity.
C1 noun /mɪˈlɪʃə/

militia

Meaning
a group of ordinary people who are trained to act as soldiers in emergencies
Example
The village formed a militia to defend against attacks.
C1 noun /ˈnoʊ.və/

Nova

Meaning
a star that suddenly increases greatly in brightness
Example
Astronomers discovered a new nova in the constellation.
C1 noun/adjective ˈflɛdʒ.lɪŋ

fledgling

Meaning
New, inexperienced, newly established.
Example
The fledgling startup needs investment.
C1 verb /ˈkriːmeɪt/

cremate

Meaning
to burn a dead body to ashes as a funeral rite
Example
According to his wishes, they cremated his body after the funeral.
C1 adjective ˌɪn.trəˈspek.tɪv

introspective

Meaning
Characterized by or given to introspection; examining one's own thoughts and feelings.
Example
Writers tend to be highly introspective individuals.
C1 adjective /ˈdaɪ.si/

dicey

Meaning
Risky or unpredictable; potentially dangerous.
Example
Investing in that company looks pretty dicey right now.
C1 noun /ˌtes.tɪˈmoʊ.ni.əl/

Testimonial

Meaning
a formal statement testifying to someone's character and qualifications
Example
The professor wrote a glowing testimonial for her former student.
C1 adjective /rɪˈsɔːrs ɪˈfɪʃ.ənt/

resource-efficient

Meaning
Using resources in a way that minimizes waste and maximizes productivity.
Example
Resource-efficient farming conserves water and energy.
C1 adverb /ˈiːstwədz/

Eastwards

Meaning
towards the east; in an eastern direction
Example
The river flows eastwards into the ocean.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈplɔːzəbl/

implausible

Meaning
Not seeming reasonable or probable; unlikely to be true.
Example
The story she told was so implausible that no one believed her.
C1 verb /nəˈsɛsɪteɪt/

necessitate

Meaning
To make something necessary or unavoidable.
Example
The heavy rains necessitated the cancellation of the event.
C1 noun /ˌdɜːrməˈtɑːlədʒi/

dermatology

Meaning
The branch of medicine concerned with the skin and its diseases.
Example
He studied dermatology at medical school.
C1 noun /pləˈsiːboʊ/

placebo

Meaning
a substance with no therapeutic effect, used as a control in testing new drugs
Example
The patient was given a placebo to compare the effect of the real drug.
C1 noun /məˈrɑːl/

Morale

Meaning
the confidence, enthusiasm, and discipline of a person or group
Example
The team's morale improved after the victory.
C1 noun /ˈpæntəmaɪm/

pantomime

Meaning
A type of theatrical performance using gestures and movements without spoken words; in Britain, a musical comedy play for families performed at Christmas.
Example
The children enjoyed the Christmas pantomime at the local theater.
C1 verb /rɪˈtreɪs/

retrace

Meaning
to go back over a path or route; to recall and repeat steps taken earlier
Example
She retraced her steps to find her lost keys.
C1 adjective /ˈniːd.ləs/

Needless

Meaning
unnecessary; not required; without purpose
Example
The argument was needless and could have been avoided.
C1 adjective /ˈɔːrəl/

aural

Meaning
Relating to the ear or the sense of hearing.
Example
The lecture was an aural experience as well as an intellectual one.
C1 adjective /ˌʌndərˈsaɪzd/

undersized

Meaning
Smaller than the usual or expected size.
Example
The undersized puppy struggled to keep up with its siblings.
C1 adjective /ˈbæʃ.fəl/

Bashful

Meaning
shy; timid; modest; easily embarrassed
Example
The bashful child hid behind her mother when meeting strangers.
C1 noun /kənˈtʃɛrtoʊ/

concerto

Meaning
a musical composition for one or more solo instruments accompanied by an orchestra
Example
She played a Mozart concerto with the orchestra.
C1 adjective /ˌhæpˈhæz.ɚd/

haphazard

Meaning
Lacking any obvious principle of organization; random.
Example
His haphazard approach led to project failure.
C1 adjective /ˈflæʃi/

flashy

Meaning
ostentatious or showy in a way that attracts attention
Example
He drove a flashy sports car through the city streets.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈfɛtərd/

unfettered

Meaning
not restricted or confined; free
Example
The artist enjoyed unfettered freedom of expression.
C1 adjective ɪɡˈzɛmpləri

exemplary

Meaning
Serving as a desirable model; representing the best of its kind.
Example
She was praised for her exemplary work ethic and dedication.
C1 adjective /nɪˈɡlɛktfʊl/

neglectful

Meaning
Failing to give proper care or attention.
Example
The neglectful parent left the child alone for hours.
C1 adjective /ˈʃɑːdi/

shoddy

Meaning
badly made or done; of poor quality
Example
The contractor did a shoddy job on the repairs.
C1 noun /veɪl/

vale

Meaning
A valley, often used in a poetic or literary sense.
Example
The village lay hidden in a quiet green vale.
C1 verb /rɪˈbʌf/

rebuff

Meaning
to reject or refuse in a sharp or abrupt way
Example
She rebuffed his invitation to dinner.
C1 noun /læps/

Lapse

Meaning
a temporary failure of concentration, memory, or judgment; the termination of a right or privilege
Example
There was a brief lapse in security that allowed the intruder to enter the building.
C1 noun /blɜːrb/

blurb

Meaning
a short promotional description of a book, product, or service
Example
The back cover had a blurb praising the novel.
C1 noun /ˌhaɪ.roʊˈɡlɪf.ɪks/

hieroglyphics

Meaning
a system of writing using pictures or symbols, used especially by ancient Egyptians
Example
The tomb walls were covered with Egyptian hieroglyphics.
C1 noun /ˈfrek.əl/

Freckle

Meaning
a small brownish spot on the skin, often becoming more pronounced through exposure to the sun
Example
Her face was covered with cute freckles that appeared every summer.
C1 noun /aɪˈdiː.ə.lɪ.zəm/

Idealism

Meaning
the pursuit of high principles and noble goals; unrealistic pursuit of perfection
Example
His youthful idealism motivated him to join various social justice movements.
C1 noun /ˌdʒæm.bəˈriː/

Jamboree

Meaning
a large celebration or party; a gathering with entertainment; a festive event
Example
The scout jamboree brought together thousands of young people from around the world.
C1 verb /ˈkʌl.mɪ.neɪt/

culminate

Meaning
To reach the final or climactic stage of a process or activity.
Example
Years of hard work culminated in his success.
C1 adjective /ˈpʊʃi/

pushy

Meaning
excessively assertive or aggressive, often annoyingly so
Example
The salesperson was too pushy, which drove customers away.
C1 adjective /ˈspjʊəriəs/

spurious

Meaning
Not genuine, authentic, or true; false or fake.
Example
The report was based on spurious claims.
C1 noun /lɪŋˈɡwɪstɪks/

linguistics

Meaning
The scientific study of language and its structure.
Example
She decided to major in linguistics at university.
C1 noun /ˈjeloʊ oʊliˈændər/

Yellow oleander

Meaning
a tropical flowering shrub with bright yellow flowers; also known as lucky nut
Example
The yellow oleander blooms throughout the year in warm climates.
C1 adjective /ˈmjuːtɪd/

muted

Meaning
softened in sound, color, or effect; subdued
Example
The room was painted in muted shades of blue and grey.
C1 noun /ˈprɒmɪnəns/

prominence

Meaning
The state of being important, famous, or easily noticed.
Example
Her work gained prominence after the award.