noun

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Other / Up+Down

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avalanche - A mass of snow, ice, and/or rocks that fall rapidly down a mountainside.

The sudden and unexpected avalanche meant that the hikers would have to find an alternate path to the top of the mountain.

noun

See verb

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Other / Up+Down

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dip - A brief lowering or decline, often in reference to a surface or position

After a long hike, they took a refreshing dip in the lake

noun

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Bad / Dislike

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acrimony - Showing feelings of anger and bitterness.

The former husband and wife were grateful that after their divorce they still were friends, and that there was no acrimony between them.

noun

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Bad / Boring

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cliché - A phrase or opinion that is overused and shows a lack of original thought.

Even though 'don't judge a book by its cover' is just a cliché, sometimes it's good to look more deeply to see what is true and not true.

noun

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Good / Successful

audio

cinch - An extremely easy task

By working together, any complex task can become a cinch.

noun

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Bad / War

audio

hostage - A person who is captured and held prisoner and is threatened with injury if a demand is not met

The revolutionaries said that the hostages would be released only after $20 million was deposited in their anonymous Bitcoin account.

verb

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Good / Smart

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refine - To make something better or more precise by removing flaws, errors, or unwanted elements.

He spent years working to refine his painting skills, mastering the techniques of light and shadow.

verb

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Bad / Small

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downsize - To reduce the size, amount, or extent of something.

Bill saved money by moving into a smaller apartment, and tried to downsize his lifestyle and live more simply.

adjective

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Bad / Strange

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absurd - (of an idea or suggestion) wildly unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate

When Edwin Hubble in 1929 suggested that some of the little dots of light in the sky were other galaxies, many people though the idea was absurd, but he was proven to be correct.

verb

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Good / Successful

audio

prosper - To succeed in material terms; be financially successful

Scrooge McDuck had prospered so much in life that he had an entire room of his house that held all of his money.

adjective

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Good / Beautiful

audio

flamboyant - (of a person or their behavior) tending to attract attention because of their exuberance, confidence, and stylishness

David Bowie was known for his eye-catching flamboyant costumes as much as his brilliant music.

noun

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Good / Big

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eternity - Time that never ends and has no limits

One of my favorite poems, by Henry Vaughan (1621-1695), begins 'I saw eternity the other night, like a great ring of pure and endless light'.