wry
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C1 adjective /raɪ/

wry

Meaning
twisted or distorted in expression; showing dry, mocking humor
Example
He gave a wry smile after hearing the sarcastic remark.
C1 verb /ɪmˈpɪndʒ/

impinge

Meaning
to have an effect or impact on something; to encroach or infringe
Example
The noise from the construction site impinges on our daily activities.
C1 noun /ˈdʒɛpərdi/

jeopardy

Meaning
Danger of loss, harm, or failure.
Example
His careless driving put everyone in jeopardy.
C1 adjective /dɪˈrɒɡətɔːri/

derogatory

Meaning
Showing a critical or disrespectful attitude.
Example
The article contained derogatory comments about the politician.
C1 verb /dɪˈbɑːr/

debar

Meaning
To officially prevent someone from doing something.
Example
He was debarred from entering the competition due to cheating.
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 /ˈstaɪmi/

stymie

Meaning
to prevent or hinder the progress of something
Example
The new regulations could stymie small businesses.
C1 noun /ʃæˈtoʊ/

chateau

Meaning
a large French country house or castle
Example
They stayed in a beautiful chateau in France.
C1 verb /feɪn/

feign

Meaning
to pretend or fake; to give a false appearance of
Example
She feigned illness to avoid going to work.
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 noun, verb /ˈfɜːrloʊ/

furlough

Meaning
temporary leave of absence from work, especially that granted to an employee or soldier
Example
Many workers were placed on furlough during the crisis.
C1 verb /ˈkwɪvər/

quiver

Meaning
To tremble or shake with slight but rapid motion.
Example
Her lips began to quiver as she tried not to cry.
C1 adjective /ˈwɪr.i.səm/

Wearisome

Meaning
causing tiredness; tedious; boring and exhausting
Example
The wearisome journey took twelve hours to complete.
C1 adjective /pərˈvɜːrs/

perverse

Meaning
showing a deliberate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable, contrary, or unacceptable
Example
He took a perverse pleasure in upsetting his colleagues.
C1 noun/adjective /dɪˈtɜː.rənt/

deterrent

Meaning
A thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something.
Example
A strict law serves as a deterrent to crime.
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 noun /ˌrɛstɪˈtjuːʃən/

restitution

Meaning
The act of restoring something to its rightful owner or compensating for loss
Example
The court ordered restitution to the victims of the fraud.
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 /ˌʌndərˈsteɪt/

understate

Meaning
To describe something as being less important or serious than it really is.
Example
He tends to understate his achievements.
C1 noun /ˈmæksɪm/

maxim

Meaning
a short, well-known statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct
Example
Honesty is a timeless maxim valued in every culture.
C1 verb /ˈɪmprəvaɪz/

improvise

Meaning
To create or perform something spontaneously without preparation.
Example
The actor had to improvise his lines when he forgot the script.
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 /ˈhæmpər/

hamper

Meaning
to hinder or impede the movement or progress of
Example
The heavy rain hampered our travel plans.
C1 adjective /əˈɡrɛəriən/

agrarian

Meaning
Related to farming, agriculture, or rural land.
Example
The country’s economy is still largely agrarian.
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 verb /ˌʌndərˈlaɪ/

underlie

Meaning
to be the hidden cause or basis of something
Example
Strong cultural traditions underlie the community's practices.
C1 noun /ˈtrævɪsti/

travesty

Meaning
A false, absurd, or distorted representation of something.
Example
The trial was a travesty of justice.
C1 noun /ˈtæm.ər.ɪnd/

Tamarind

Meaning
a brown tropical fruit with a tangy, sour taste used in cooking and beverages
Example
Tamarind is commonly used in Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines for its sour flavor.
C1 noun /ˈæptɪˌtjuːd/

aptitude

Meaning
a natural ability or talent to do something well
Example
She has a strong aptitude for learning new languages.
C1 noun /ˈɛspiənɑːʒ/

espionage

Meaning
The practice of spying or using spies to gather secret information, usually for political or military purposes.
Example
The agent was arrested on charges of espionage against the state.
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 verb /əˈtjuːn/

attune

Meaning
to make someone or something aware of or responsive to something; to adjust or harmonize
Example
She quickly attuned herself to the needs of her new team.
C1 adjective /kənˈsɜːrtɪd/

concerted

Meaning
done with great effort, planned and performed together by multiple people
Example
The workers made a concerted effort to improve conditions.
C1 noun /ˌpɒməˈdɔːrəʊ/

pomodoro

Meaning
A time management technique that uses a timer to break down work into intervals.
Example
The Pomodoro technique improves productivity.
C1 noun /ˈmæl.ɪt/

Mallet

Meaning
a hammer with a large head, typically made of wood
Example
The carpenter used a rubber mallet to avoid damaging the wood.
C1 adjective /ˌæl.truˈɪs.tɪk/

altruistic

Meaning
Showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others.
Example
Her altruistic nature led her to volunteer for charities.
C1 noun /prəˈvaɪzoʊ/

proviso

Meaning
a condition or stipulation attached to an agreement
Example
He accepted the job offer with the proviso that he could work remotely twice a week.
C1 adjective /ˈswoʊlən/

swollen

Meaning
Enlarged or puffed up, usually due to injury, inflammation, or fluid accumulation
Example
Her ankle was swollen after she twisted it during the hike.
C1 noun /stɛntʃ/

stench

Meaning
A very strong and unpleasant smell.
Example
The stench of garbage filled the alley.
C1 noun /ˌɪnflɛksɪˈbɪlɪti/

inflexibility

Meaning
the quality of being rigid or unwilling to change; lack of adaptability
Example
The inflexibility of the rules caused unnecessary delays.
C1 adjective ɪˈræt.ɪk

erratic

Meaning
Unpredictable and inconsistent; not even or regular in pattern or movement.
Example
His erratic behavior confused his colleagues.
C1 noun /səbˈmɪtəl/

submittal

Meaning
the act of submitting something, especially a document for consideration or approval
Example
The contractor sent the submittal to the client for approval.
C1 noun ˌdɛɡrəˈdeɪʃən

degradation

Meaning
The condition or process of degrading or being degraded.
Example
Soil degradation due to overuse is a growing issue.
C1 noun /meɪl treɪn/

Mail train

Meaning
a train that carries mail and postal packages
Example
The mail train departs every evening to deliver letters across the country.
C1 noun ˈiːkəʊˌsɪstəm ˈsɜːvɪsɪz

ecosystem services

Meaning
The benefits people obtain from ecosystems.
Example
Forests provide valuable ecosystem services, such as purifying air and water.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈdetɪd/

Indebted

Meaning
owing money or gratitude to someone; obligated; grateful
Example
I am deeply indebted to my teacher for all her guidance.
C1 noun /rɪˈvɒl.vər/

Revolver

Meaning
a pistol with revolving chambers enabling several shots to be fired without reloading
Example
The detective drew his revolver from its holster.
C1 noun /səbˈvɜːrʒən/

subversion

Meaning
the act of trying to destroy or undermine an established system or authority
Example
The government accused the rebels of planning subversion.
C1 adjective /ˌhoʊlˈhɑːrtɪd/

wholehearted

Meaning
showing complete sincerity and commitment; fully enthusiastic
Example
She gave her wholehearted support to the project.
C1 adjective /səbˈsɪd.i.ər.i/

Subsidiary

Meaning
less important than the main thing; secondary; of or relating to a subsidiary company
Example
The subsidiary company handles all overseas operations.
C1 noun /ˌɪnklɪˈneɪʃən/

inclination

Meaning
A natural tendency or urge to act or feel in a particular way.
Example
She has an inclination towards helping others.
C1 noun /ˈlɔːriət/

laureate

Meaning
A person honored with an award for outstanding achievement in a field, especially the arts or sciences.
Example
The Nobel laureate gave an inspiring lecture on peace.
C1 verb /ˈɡloʊbəlaɪz/

globalize

Meaning
to make something worldwide in scope or application; to integrate into a global system
Example
Many companies globalize their operations to reach international markets.
C1 noun /ˈsɪstərhʊd/

sisterhood

Meaning
The relationship between sisters, or a community of women united by shared experiences or goals.
Example
The feminist movement created a strong sense of sisterhood among women.
C1 adjective /ˈstæɡ.nənt/

Stagnant

Meaning
not moving or flowing; showing no activity or development
Example
The stagnant water in the pond was covered with algae.
C1 adjective /ɪˈlʌstriəs/

illustrious

Meaning
Well known, respected, and admired for past achievements.
Example
She had an illustrious career in medicine.
C1 noun /əˌsæsɪˈneɪʃən/

assassination

Meaning
The act of killing someone important, often for political or ideological reasons.
Example
The assassination of the president shocked the nation.
C1 adjective /ˈɡreɪsləs/

graceless

Meaning
Lacking elegance, charm, or social refinement.
Example
His graceless behavior embarrassed everyone at the party.
C1 noun məˈriːn ˈsɜː.veɪ

marine survey

Meaning
A systematic examination of the sea, seabed, and underwater features for the purpose of making maps or gathering other information.
Example
The marine survey identified the ideal cable routes.
C1 noun /ɡʌl/

Gull

Meaning
a seabird with webbed feet, long wings, and usually white and gray feathers
Example
The gull swooped down to grab the fish from the water.
C1 verb /trænˈspaɪər/

transpire

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

collate

Meaning
to collect, arrange, and combine in order
Example
The secretary collated the reports before the meeting.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnækˈsɛsəbl/

inaccessible

Meaning
unable to be reached, entered, or understood
Example
The remote village is almost inaccessible during the rainy season.
C1 verb /ɪˈkɒnəmaɪz/

economize

Meaning
To reduce spending or use resources carefully.
Example
Families are trying to economize by cutting unnecessary expenses.
C1 adjective /kənˈtɛmptʃuəs/

contemptuous

Meaning
showing or expressing contempt; scornful
Example
She gave him a contemptuous glance.
C1 noun kənˈsjuː.mə.rɪ.zəm

consumerism

Meaning
The tendency to increase consumption of goods and the importance given to consuming products.
Example
Modern consumerism leads to increased demand for luxury goods.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnsərˈmaʊntəbl/

insurmountable

Meaning
Too great to be overcome.
Example
The explorers faced insurmountable odds in the desert.
C1 noun /əˈseɪlənt/

assailant

Meaning
a person who attacks another
Example
The police arrested the assailant at the scene.
C1 adjective /ˈsleɪ.vɪʃ/

slavish

Meaning
showing no originality; completely imitative or overly submissive
Example
His slavish devotion to tradition prevented any innovation.
C1 adjective /ˈɡleɪʃəl/

glacial

Meaning
relating to ice or glaciers; extremely cold or unfriendly
Example
The mountains were covered in glacial ice.
C1 noun /faɪˈnælɪti/

finality

Meaning
the quality of being final or irreversible; a sense of conclusiveness
Example
The judge's decision gave the case a sense of finality.
C1 verb /rɪˈtɑːrd/

retard

Meaning
to delay or slow down the progress of something
Example
Lack of funds may retard the development of the project.
C1 noun /klaʊt/

clout

Meaning
influence or power, especially in politics or business
Example
The businessman has a lot of political clout.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈmænɪdʒəbəl/

Unmanageable

Meaning
difficult or impossible to control or handle
Example
The large class became unmanageable without proper supervision.
C1 adjective/adverb /ˌɒfˈhænd/

offhand

Meaning
Without previous thought or preparation; casual and sometimes dismissive.
Example
She gave an offhand reply to his serious question.
C1 noun /ˈθʌroʊˌfɛr/

thoroughfare

Meaning
a main road or public highway that goes through a place
Example
The new mall is located along the main thoroughfare.
C1 noun rɪˈdʌndənsi

redundancy

Meaning
The state of being not or no longer needed or useful; superfluousness.
Example
The redundancy in the company's workforce led to many layoffs.
C1 verb /ɪmˈploʊd/

implode

Meaning
To collapse or burst inward violently.
Example
The old building imploded during the demolition.
C1 noun, verb /ˌprɒməˈneɪd/

promenade

Meaning
A leisurely walk or stroll, especially in a public place for pleasure or display.
Example
They went for a promenade along the seaside.
C1 adjective /ˈspɛərɪŋ/

sparing

Meaning
Using or giving only a little of something; economical.
Example
She is sparing in her use of words.
C1 noun /ˈklɛmənsi/

clemency

Meaning
mercy, leniency, or forgiveness shown towards someone
Example
The judge showed clemency and reduced his sentence.
C1 adjective /ˌoʊvərˈbɛrɪŋ/

overbearing

Meaning
unpleasantly or arrogantly domineering
Example
His overbearing attitude made everyone uncomfortable.
C1 noun ˌpraɪɔːrɪtaɪˈzeɪʃən

prioritization

Meaning
The action or process of deciding the relative importance or urgency of things.
Example
Effective prioritization ensures resources are used efficiently.
C1 adjective /ˈvæljənt/

Valiant

Meaning
showing courage or determination; brave and heroic
Example
The valiant soldier fought bravely to protect his country.
C1 noun /ˈdɒɡmə/

dogma

Meaning
A principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true.
Example
The religious leader strictly adhered to traditional dogma.
C1 noun /fɪˈdɛl.ɪ.ti/

fidelity

Meaning
Faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support.
Example
A dog's fidelity to its owner is unmatched.
C1 noun /ˈfɛləni/

felony

Meaning
a serious crime, usually punishable by imprisonment for more than one year
Example
He was convicted of a felony and sentenced to ten years in prison.
C1 verb /praʊl/

prowl

Meaning
To move around quietly and secretly, especially while hunting or searching.
Example
The cat prowled around the garden at night.
C1 noun lɪˈkwɪd.ə.ti

liquidity

Meaning
The availability of liquid assets to a market or company; the ability to convert assets into cash quickly.
Example
Maintaining liquidity is crucial for financial stability.
C1 noun /pɔl/

Pall

Meaning
a cloth spread over a coffin; a dark covering that creates a gloomy atmosphere
Example
A pall of smoke hung over the burning building.
C1 adjective, noun /rɪˈsiːvəbl/

receivable

Meaning
Money that is owed to a company and is expected to be paid.
Example
The company's receivables increased significantly this quarter.
C1 noun /ˈrʌbəl/

rubble

Meaning
Broken stone, bricks, or debris from a collapsed building or structure.
Example
The rescue team searched through the rubble after the earthquake.
C1 noun/adjective /ˈmɪstɪk/

mystic

Meaning
relating to mysteries, spirituality, or hidden truths; a person who seeks spiritual insight
Example
The mystic devoted his life to meditation and spiritual discovery.
C1 adverb kəmˈpæktli

compactly

Meaning
In a closely packed or dense manner.
Example
Protons and neutrons are compactly arranged.
C1 verb /kəˈluːd/

collude

Meaning
To secretly cooperate or conspire with others, often for a deceitful purpose.
Example
The two companies colluded to fix prices in the market.
C1 noun /ˈrɒndɪvuː/

rendezvous

Meaning
a meeting or appointment at an agreed time and place
Example
They arranged a secret rendezvous at the café.
C1 adjective /ˌpæn.əˈmer.ɪ.kən/

Pan-American

Meaning
relating to all the countries of North, Central, and South America
Example
The Pan-American Games bring together athletes from across the continent.
C1 verb ˈdiː.vi.eɪt

deviate

Meaning
To depart from an established course or normal pattern.
Example
He tends to deviate from the original plan.
C1 adjective /ɔːˌθɒr.ɪˈteə.ri.ən/

authoritarian

Meaning
Demanding absolute obedience to authority; excessively controlling or strict in governance.
Example
Authoritarian parenting often limits a child's independence.
C1 verb /bɔːk/

balk

Meaning
to hesitate or refuse to proceed or comply
Example
She balked at signing the contract without reading it fully.
C1 adjective /ˌaɪdiəˈlɪstɪk/

Idealistic

Meaning
pursuing high principles or ideals; unrealistically optimistic
Example
She has an idealistic view of changing the world.
C1 noun /ˈsɪməli/

simile

Meaning
A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another using 'like' or 'as'.
Example
She used a simile to describe her eyes as bright as stars.
C1 noun /ˈkrɛvɪs/

crevice

Meaning
a narrow crack or opening, especially in a rock or wall
Example
The lizard hid in a crevice between the stones.
C1 adjective /ˌnjʊə.rəˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl/

neurological

Meaning
Relating to the anatomy, functions, and organic disorders of nerves and the nervous system.
Example
Meditation has positive neurological effects on mental health.
C1 adjective /ɪkˈstætɪk/

ecstatic

Meaning
Feeling or expressing overwhelming happiness or excitement.
Example
The fans were ecstatic after their team won the championship.
C1 adjective ɪˈluː.sər.i

illusory

Meaning
Based on illusion; not real although seeming to be.
Example
His sense of security was entirely illusory.
C1 noun ˌhaɪ.droʊˈpɒn.ɪks

hydroponics

Meaning
Growing plants using nutrient-rich water instead of soil.
Example
Hydroponics allows crops to grow without soil.
C1 adjective /ˈdʒuː.bɪ.lənt/

jubilant

Meaning
feeling or expressing great happiness and joy
Example
The team was jubilant after winning the championship.
C1 noun /ˈmɔːr.ɡɪʤ/

Mortgage

Meaning
a legal agreement by which a bank lends money to buy property
Example
They took out a mortgage to buy their first house.
C1 adjective /ˈskeɪðɪŋ/

scathing

Meaning
severely critical; harshly scornful
Example
The critic wrote a scathing review of the movie.
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 /ˈlɪmboʊ/

limbo

Meaning
A state of uncertainty or neglect; an intermediate or transitional state.
Example
The project was left in limbo after the funding was withdrawn.
C1 adjective /ˈpəʊtəbl/

potable

Meaning
safe to drink; drinkable
Example
The villagers did not have access to potable water.
C1 noun moʊst ˈvʌlnərəbəl ˈneɪʃən

most vulnerable nation

Meaning
A country that is highly exposed to risks and lacks adequate protection or resilience.
Example
Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable nations to climate change.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/

disengage

Meaning
To release or detach oneself from something; to withdraw.
Example
He tried to disengage from the heated argument.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈhɪbɪtɪd/

inhibited

Meaning
Unable to act in a relaxed and natural way, especially due to self-consciousness or restraint.
Example
He was too inhibited to express his true feelings.
C1 verb /rɪˈzaʊnd/

resound

Meaning
To fill a place with sound; to be celebrated or talked about widely.
Example
The hall resounded with applause.
C1 noun /ˈfɔːrˌbɛərz/

forebears

Meaning
Ancestors or people in previous generations from whom one is descended.
Example
We must honor the traditions of our forebears.
C1 noun /ˌænəlˈdʒiːzɪk/

analgesic

Meaning
A drug or substance that relieves pain.
Example
She took an analgesic to ease her headache.
C1 noun /ˌloʊ.kəˈmoʊ.tɪv/

locomotive

Meaning
A powered rail vehicle used for pulling trains.
Example
The old steam locomotive was restored for the museum.
C1 noun, adjective /ˈpɑːrtɪzən/

partisan

Meaning
A strong supporter of a party, cause, or person; showing biased allegiance.
Example
The debate quickly turned partisan, with each side defending their own agenda.