Stagnant (adj): stag-nuhnt
If something such as a business or society is stagnant, there is little activity or change = motionless, stale, dull
Staid (adj): steyd
If you say that someone or something is staid, you mean that they are serious, dull, and rather old-fashioned = sober, sedate
Stellar (adj): stel-er
Stellar is used to describe anything connected with stars
Stalwart (adj): stawl-wert
A stalwart is a loyal worker or supporter of an organization, especially a political party = strong, brawny, steadfast
Statutory (adj): stach-oo-tawr-ee (1115)
Statutory means relating to rules or laws which have been formally written down
Stentorian (adj): sten-tawr-ee-uhn, -tohr-
A stentorian voice is very loud and strong = loud and powerful
Stereotyped (adj): ster-ee-uh-tahypt
A stereotype is a fixed general image or set of characteristics that a lot of people believe represent a particular type of person or thing
Sterile (adj): ster-il
Something that is sterile is completely clean and free from germs = hygienic
Stertorous (adj): stur-ter-uhs
having a snoring sound
Stoic (adj): stoh-ik (1120)
A person who is stoical can endure pain and harship without showing his feelings or complaining = uncomplaining
Stolid (adj): stol-id
If you describe someone as stolid, you mean that they do not show much emotion or are not very exciting or interesting = impassive, phlegmatic
Striated (adj): strahy-ey-tid
marked with parallel bands
Strident (adj): strahyd-nt
If you use strident to describe someone or the way they express themselves, you mean that they make their feelings or opinions known in a very strong way that perhaps makes people uncomfortable = strict
Stringent (adj): strin-juhnt
Stringent laws, rules, or conditions are very severe or are strictly controlled = binding, rigid
Suave (adj): swahv (1125)
Someone who is suave is charming, polite, and elegant, but may be insincere = polite
Suave (adj): swahv
Someone who is suave is charming, polite, and elegant, but may be insincere = smooth, bland
Subjective (adj): suhb-jek-tiv
Something that is subjective is based on personal opinions and feelings rather than on facts = unreal
Sublime (adj): suh-blahym
If you describe something as sublime, you mean that it has a wonderful quality that affects you deeply = exalted, noble, uplifting
Subliminal (adj): suhb-lim-uh-nl
Subliminal influences or messages affect your mind without you being aware of it = below the threshold
Sub rosa (adj): suhb roh-zuh (1130)
in strict confidence; privately
Subsequent (adj): suhb-si-kwuhnt
You use subsequent to describe something that happened or existed after the time or event that has just been referred to = previous, mfollowing, later
Subservient (adj): suhb-sur-vee-uhnt
If you are subservient, you do whatever someone wants you to do = behaving like a slave, servile
Subsidiary (adj): suhb-sid-ee-er-ee
A subsidiary or a subsidiary company is a company which is part of a larger and more important company = subordinate, secondary
Substantive (adj): suhb-stuhn-tiv
Substantive negotiations or issues deal with the most important and central aspects of a subject = chief
Substantive (adj): suhb-stuhn-tiv (1135)
Substantive negotiations or issues deal with the most important and central aspects of a subject = essential, pertaining to the substance
Subversive (adj): suhb-vur-si
Something that is subversive is intended to weaken or destroy a political system or government
Succinct (adj): suhk-singkt
Something that is succinct expresses facts or ideas clearly and in few words = concise, brief, pithy
Succulent (adj): suhk-yuh-luhnt
Succulent food, especially meat or vegetables, is juicy and good to eat = juicy
Sudorific (adj): soo-duh-rif-ik
pertaining to perspiration
Sullen (adj): suhl-uhn (1140)
Someone who is sullen is bad-tempered and does not speak much = bad-tempered
Sultry (adj): suhl-tree
Sultry weather is hot and damp = sweltering
Sundry (adj): suhn-dree
If someone refers to sundry people or things, they are referring to several people or things that are all different from each other = various, several
Sumptuary (adj): suhmp-choo-er-ee
limiting or regulating expenditures
Sumptuous (adj): suhl-ee
Something that is sumptuous is grand and obviously very expensive = luxurious, extravagant
Superannuated (adj): soo-per-an-yoo-ey-tid (1145)
If you describe something as superannuated, you mean that it is old and no longer used for its original purpose
superannuated computer equipment
Supercilious (adj): soo-per-sil-ee-uhs
If you say that someone is supercilious, you disapprove of them because they behave in a way that shows they think they are better than other people = arrogant, haughty
Superficial (adj): soo-per-fish-uhl
Superficial is used to describe the appearance of something or the impression that it gives, especially if its real nature is very different = trivial, shallow
Supernal (adj): soo-pur-nl
heavenly; celestial
Supine (adj): soo-pahyn
If you are supine, you are lying flat on your back
Supple (adj): suhp-uhl
A supple object or material bends or changes shape easily without cracking or breaking = flexible, pliant
Suppliant (adj): suhp-lee-uhn (1150)
A supplicant is a person who prays to God or respectfully asks an important person to help them or to give them something that they want very much = entreating, beseeching
If something such as a business or society is stagnant, there is little activity or change = motionless, stale, dull
The stagnant water was a breeding ground for disease
Staid (adj): steyd
If you say that someone or something is staid, you mean that they are serious, dull, and rather old-fashioned = sober, sedate
Her conduct during the funeral ceremony was staid and solemn
Stellar (adj): stel-er
Stellar is used to describe anything connected with stars
A stellar wind streams outward from the star
Stalwart (adj): stawl-wert
A stalwart is a loyal worker or supporter of an organization, especially a political party = strong, brawny, steadfast
The diamond was guarded by stalwart policeman
Statutory means relating to rules or laws which have been formally written down
We had a statutory duty to report to Parliament
Stentorian (adj): sten-tawr-ee-uhn, -tohr-
A stentorian voice is very loud and strong = loud and powerful
He criticized him in a stentorian voice
Stereotyped (adj): ster-ee-uh-tahypt
A stereotype is a fixed general image or set of characteristics that a lot of people believe represent a particular type of person or thing
Looked at more closely, the stereotype dissolves
Sterile (adj): ster-il
Something that is sterile is completely clean and free from germs = hygienic
You must insist for sterile needles and equipment before blood donation
having a snoring sound
Stoic (adj): stoh-ik (1120)
A person who is stoical can endure pain and harship without showing his feelings or complaining = uncomplaining
They were stoic, brave and determined to see me through
Stolid (adj): stol-id
If you describe someone as stolid, you mean that they do not show much emotion or are not very exciting or interesting = impassive, phlegmatic
She sat in stolid silence
Striated (adj): strahy-ey-tid
marked with parallel bands
The glacier left many striated rocks
Strident (adj): strahyd-nt
If you use strident to describe someone or the way they express themselves, you mean that they make their feelings or opinions known in a very strong way that perhaps makes people uncomfortable = strict
Demands for his resignation have become more and more strident
Stringent (adj): strin-juhnt
Stringent laws, rules, or conditions are very severe or are strictly controlled = binding, rigid
Its drug-testing procedures are the most stringent in the world
Suave (adj): swahv (1125)
Someone who is suave is charming, polite, and elegant, but may be insincere = polite
He is a suave, cool and cultured man
Suave (adj): swahv
Someone who is suave is charming, polite, and elegant, but may be insincere = smooth, bland
He is a suave, cool and cultured man
Something that is subjective is based on personal opinions and feelings rather than on facts = unreal
The ratings are based on subjective judgement of one person
Sublime (adj): suh-blahym
If you describe something as sublime, you mean that it has a wonderful quality that affects you deeply = exalted, noble, uplifting
I just love the sublime beauty of nature
Subliminal (adj): suhb-lim-uh-nl
Subliminal influences or messages affect your mind without you being aware of it = below the threshold
Colour has a profound, though often subliminal influence on our senses and moods
Sub rosa (adj): suhb roh-zuh (1130)
in strict confidence; privately
Subsequent (adj): suhb-si-kwuhnt
You use subsequent to describe something that happened or existed after the time or event that has just been referred to = previous, mfollowing, later
Just read on, the subsequent pages are really interesting
If you are subservient, you do whatever someone wants you to do = behaving like a slave, servile
The press was accused of being subservient to the government
Subsidiary (adj): suhb-sid-ee-er-ee
A subsidiary or a subsidiary company is a company which is part of a larger and more important company = subordinate, secondary
All other issues are subsidiary to this one
Substantive negotiations or issues deal with the most important and central aspects of a subject = chief
Although the delegates were aware of the importance of the problem, they could not agree on the substantive issues
Substantive (adj): suhb-stuhn-tiv (1135)
Substantive negotiations or issues deal with the most important and central aspects of a subject = essential, pertaining to the substance
The lack of substantive discussion on serious issues is delaying the projects
Subversive (adj): suhb-vur-si
Something that is subversive is intended to weaken or destroy a political system or government
The government has banned the circulatin of the works of the subversive author
Succinct (adj): suhk-singkt
Something that is succinct expresses facts or ideas clearly and in few words = concise, brief, pithy
If you have something to say make sure that it is accurate, succinct and to the point
Succulent (adj): suhk-yuh-luhnt
Succulent food, especially meat or vegetables, is juicy and good to eat = juicy
Mangoes are succulent fruits
Sudorific (adj): soo-duh-rif-ik
pertaining to perspiration
Sullen (adj): suhl-uhn (1140)
Someone who is sullen is bad-tempered and does not speak much = bad-tempered
In the restaurant, I was served by a sullen waiter
Sultry (adj): suhl-tree
Sultry weather is hot and damp = sweltering
The climax came one sultry August evening
Sundry (adj): suhn-dree
If someone refers to sundry people or things, they are referring to several people or things that are all different from each other = various, several
My suspicions were aroused when I read sundry items in the newspapers about your behavior
Sumptuary (adj): suhmp-choo-er-ee
limiting or regulating expenditures
Sumptuous (adj): suhl-ee
Something that is sumptuous is grand and obviously very expensive = luxurious, extravagant
She produces elegant wedding gowns in a variety of sumptuous fabricks
Superannuated (adj): soo-per-an-yoo-ey-tid (1145)
If you describe something as superannuated, you mean that it is old and no longer used for its original purpose
superannuated computer equipment
Supercilious (adj): soo-per-sil-ee-uhs
If you say that someone is supercilious, you disapprove of them because they behave in a way that shows they think they are better than other people = arrogant, haughty
The shop is loosing ists customers because of the supercilious attitude of the shop owner
Superficial (adj): soo-per-fish-uhl
Superficial is used to describe the appearance of something or the impression that it gives, especially if its real nature is very different = trivial, shallow
Just a superficial inspection revealed serious flaws
Supernal (adj): soo-pur-nl
heavenly; celestial
Supine (adj): soo-pahyn
If you are supine, you are lying flat on your back
The knocked-out pugilist lay supine on the dias
Supple (adj): suhp-uhl
A supple object or material bends or changes shape easily without cracking or breaking = flexible, pliant
Years of yoga has made his body supple
Suppliant (adj): suhp-lee-uhn (1150)
A supplicant is a person who prays to God or respectfully asks an important person to help them or to give them something that they want very much = entreating, beseeching
He could not resist the dog’s suppliant whimpering, and he gave it some food
