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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.

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

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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

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crack - To break or cause to break without complete separation of parts, often with a sharp sound.

She cracked the mug when she accidentally dropped it.

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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meltdown - A sudden and complete failure, especially in a system or process

The safety system was designed to prevent a nuclear meltdown in case of an emergency.

noun

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outbreak - A sudden start or increase of something harmful, especially a disease or conflict.

The outbreak of the flu led to school closures across the region.

noun

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malady - A disease or ailment

Smallpox was a very dangerous malady that has mostly been cured with vaccinations.

noun

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heresy - An opinion or belief that contradicts established norms or accepted standards.

Galileo was once accused of heresy for claiming the Earth orbits the sun.

noun

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beast - Something or somebody very difficult or unpleasant to deal with.

He acted like a beast when he lost his temper, and shouted at the top of his lungs and threw dishes.

adjective

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disastrous - Leading to a complete failure or disaster, causing great damage or suffering

The hurricane had a disastrous effect on the small town.

adjective

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precarious - Not safe and likely to fall or fail

Jill's spending habits were without bound, and as a result her financial situation was precarious.