My English Words List - January - 2025

rye

rye

noun

Rye

Different kinds of rye bread

rye bread

daunting

daunting

adjective

a daunting task

Few things are more daunting than having to speak in front of a large crowd.

hobble

hobble

verb

She picked up her cane and hobbled across the room.

She is sometimes hobbled by self-doubt.

impaired

impaired

adjective

driving while impaired is against the law

soda

soda

noun

I ordered fries and a soda.

mayonnaise

mayonnaise

noun

A jar of mayonnaise

insomnia

insomnia

noun

has suffered from insomnia virtually his entire life

if you can’t sleep at all or have problems falling asleep,you might suffer from insomnia.

wiggle

wiggle

verb

can you wiggle ten fingers?

marathon

marathon

noun

Marathon is a footrace run on an open course usually of 26 miles 385 yards (42.2 kilometers).

margarine

margarine

noun

argarine in a tub

Margarine is most often used as a substitute for butter.

pastrami

pastrami

noun

Slices of pastrami

He ordered a pastrami sandwich.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia

geographical name

Ethiopia

obsolete

obsolete

adjective

I was told my old printer is obsolete and I can’t get replacement parts.

Gas lamps became obsolete when electric lighting was invented.

Typewriters have been rendered obsolete by computers.

resign

resign

verb

He resigned from his job as principal of the school.

trendy

trendy

adjective

he’s a trendy dresser

snowball

snowball

verb

Problems snowball when early trouble signs are ignored.

consumers dealing with snowballing debt

noun

This snow is perfect for making snowballs.

lucrative

lucrative

adjective

The business has proved to be highly lucrative.

fuzz

fuzz

noun

The fuzz on a kiwi fruit

lifeblood

lifeblood

noun

freedom of inquiry is the lifeblood of a university

The town’s lifeblood has always been its fishing industry.

hunger

hunger

noun

One sandwich wasn’t enough to satisfy his hunger.

ballpark

ballpark

adjective

a ballpark price

a ballpark figure

ballpark number

stubborn

stubborn

adjective

stubborn as a mule

brag

brag

verb

He bragged that his daughter was the best student in her class.

maritime

maritime

adjective

a maritime province

prairie

prairie

noun

Millions of buffalo once roamed the prairies.

Canadian Prairies

feast

feast

noun

give the annual Thanksgiving feast

Every guest brought a different dish to the party, and we had quite a feast.

staple

staple

adjective

staple crops such as wheat and rice

staple crops like wheat, rice, or sugarcane

such staple items as flour and sugar

Bread is a staple food.

breadwinner

breadwinner

noun

the main/primary/sole breadwinner in the family

A “breadwinner” is the family memebr who earns the most money.

breath

breath

noun

gum that freshens your breath

bad breath

spoil

spoil

verb

spoil a child

Don’t spoil your appetite by snacking too much.

Don’t let one mistake spoil your day.

the fruit spoiled

The milk was beginning to spoil.

gem

gem

noun

Group of precious and semiprecious stones—both uncut and faceted—including  diamond, uncut synthetic sapphire, ruby, uncut emerald, and amethyst crystal cluster.

germ

germ

noun

the germ that causes tuberculosis

hip-hop

hip-hop

noun

hip-hop dance

hip hop dance

hiphop dance

dub

dub

verb

Critics have dubbed him the new king of rock ‘n’ roll.

a dubbed attempt

tabby

tabby

noun

Illustration of tabby

flyswatter

flyswatter

noun

A typical flyswatter

Fly-killing device

swat

swat

verb

She swatted the fly with a flyswatter.

He swatted the tennis ball out of bounds.

windbag

windbag

noun

Ames is a boastful windbag whose wife begins to detest him.

alleviate

alleviate

verb

a drug that alleviates the symptoms

using relaxation techniques to alleviate stress

infatuated

infatuated

adjective

I became infatuated with science

mouthpiece

mouthpiece

noun

He’s been acting as a mouthpiece for the government on questions of foreign policy.