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inferno - A large fire that is dangerously out of control

The raging inferno that was consuming the forest would be a big challenge for the firefighters.

adjective

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malignant - Dangerous and harmful, tending to produce death or deterioration – often describing something destructive or uncontrollably harmful.

The doctors were concerned the tumor might be malignant and might spread quickly, so they removed it.

adjective

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thorny - Causing distress, difficulty, or trouble.

The negotiating teams were up all night trying to resolve some final thorny issues that had to be resolved.

noun

See verb

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crack - A line on the surface of something where it has split without breaking apart.

She noticed a crack in the wall after the small earthquake.

noun

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abyss - A deep or seemingly bottomless hole or chasm.

He stood at the cliff's edge, staring into the black abyss, and he felt a mixture of awe, fear, and amazement.

noun

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dilemma - A situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially equally undesirable ones

Life is filed with dilemmas, often leading to no good outcome.

verb

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lurk - (of a person or animal) To be hidden so as to wait in ambush for someone or something

Artie lurked under his sister's bed so he could jump out and scare her when she least expected it.

verb

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fester - For negative feelings to get worse because they are not being dealt with

After their fight, Joan and David had a long talk to patch things up, because they didn't want to let any bad feelings fester.

noun

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tinderbox - A volatile or tense environment, emotionally or politically charged, likely to erupt in violence or conflict.

During the blackout, the police were concerned about looting, and the downtown felt like a tinderbox ready to explode.

verb

See noun

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doom - Condemn to certain destruction or death

Devon's father told him that unless he improved his grades, he was doomed to a lifetime of poorly paid jobs.

adjective

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caustic - Sarcastic or severely critical, often in a hurtful or biting manner; or able to burn or corrode organic tissue, typically referring to chemicals or substances.

The caustic chemical spilled onto the floor and quickly started to eat away at the floor surface.

verb

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taint - To contaminate or pollute something.

In many third-world countries, tainted water is the only available drinking source despite its unhealthy effects.