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noun

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doomsday - The end of the world, or a time when something very bad will happen, such as great destruction.

When T.S. Elliot wrote 'That's the way the world ends, not with a bang, but a whimper', he was talking about an un-dramatic doomsday.

adjective

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lethal - Capable of causing death; deadly or fatal.

The venom of that snake is so lethal that one bite can be fatal.

verb

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loom - To appear as a dangerous event that might happen in the near future

Joe looked at the economic data, and could sense a recession looming in the near future.

noun

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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.

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.

noun

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ruffian - A bully, someone who is violent toward others

Stalin maintained control by using an army of ruffians who would treat violently anyone who did not cooperate.

noun

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precipice - A very sleep side of a cliff or a mountain.

At the top of the mountain, they gasped when they looked over the precipice in front of them.

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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brinkmanship - The art or practice of pursuing a dangerous policy to the limits of safety before stopping, typically in politics

At the height of the Cold War, both sides engaged in a risky brinkmanship that nearly cost millions of lives.

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.

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.

adjective

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rampant - Spreading unchecked or uncontrollably, especially in a way that causes harm or disruption, and that is excessive or widespread.

The spread of the virus was rampant, with cases increasing exponentially across the country.