Environmental Issues Vocabulary

noun a small or insignificant amount

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

• The amount of money raised was just a drop in the bucket compared to what is needed for the project.
• Donating a few dollars here and there is just a drop in the bucket for the charity.
• Throwing a couple of bucks into the donation jar is like a drop in the bucket for this cause.
• His apology was just a drop in the bucket after all the hurtful things he said.

noun a worsening or aggravation of a situation or condition

• The patient's condition worsened due to the exacerbation of his symptoms.
• His cough got worse because of the exacerbation.
• The party was already a disaster, but his arrival was the exacerbation we didn't need.
• The heated argument led to an exacerbation of tensions between the two groups.

noun the study of the physical features of the earth and its atmosphere, and of human activity as it affects and is affected by these, including the distribution of populations and resources, land use, and industries

• The study of geography involves analyzing the physical features of the Earth's surface.
• I find geography class really interesting because we get to learn about different countries and cultures.
• I aced my geography test by memorizing all the capitals of the world.
• In the geography of my mind, memories of that place hold a special significance.

verb the process of changing from a solid to a liquid state due to heat

• The polar ice caps are melting at an alarming rate due to global warming.
• I left my ice cream outside and it started melting in the sun.
• Dude, your popsicle is totally melting all over your hand!
• Her heart felt like it was melting when she saw the puppy's sad eyes.

noun the highest point on a mountain

• From the mountaintop, we could see the entire valley below.
• We hiked to the mountaintop for the best view in town.
• Let's chill at the mountaintop and enjoy the sunset.
• Reaching the mountaintop of success requires hard work and dedication.

verb As a verb, muddy means to make something dirty or covered in mud, or to make something unclear or confused.

adjective Muddy is an adjective that describes something covered or filled with mud, or something that is unclear or confused.

• The path became muddy after the heavy rain last night.
• I stepped in a muddy puddle on my way to work.
• My shoes are all muddy from walking through the field.
• The situation became muddy once more as conflicting reports emerged.

noun a word that functions as the name of a specific person, place, thing, or idea

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• The media blew the situation out of proportion with sensationalized headlines.
• Don't worry, it's just a small issue that got blown out of proportion.
• The gossip about them fighting got totally blown out of proportion.
• Her anger was so intense, it felt like it was growing out of proportion with each passing minute.

verb Plaguing is a verb that describes the action of causing trouble, distress, or worry to someone or something.

• The ongoing issue of corruption is plaguing the government.
• The constant rain has been plaguing our outdoor plans.
• The annoying flu has been plaguing me all week.
• Self-doubt has been plaguing her mind lately.

noun a synthetic material made from a wide range of organic polymers that can be molded into shape while soft and then set into a rigid or slightly elastic form

adjective relating to or resembling plastic, especially in being easily shaped or molded

• The plastic used in this product is known for its durability and flexibility.
• I bought a new plastic water bottle to take with me to the gym.
• She's always carrying around a plastic bag with her stuff in it.
• His smile was as fake as a plastic flower.

noun a large number or amount of something, especially in a brief period of time

• The recent spate of cyber attacks has raised concerns about data security.
• There has been a spate of car break-ins in the neighborhood lately.
• There's been a spate of drama on social media this week.
• A spate of emotions washed over her as she read the letter.

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun, in this case, 'unhealthy' describes something that is not conducive to good health

• Consuming a diet high in saturated fats and sugars can lead to unhealthy weight gain.
• Eating too much junk food is really unhealthy for you.
• Dude, eating all that greasy fast food is super unhealthy.
• Ignoring your mental health is like feeding your mind with unhealthy thoughts.

noun the quality or state of being massive; large size or bulk

• The massiveness of the mountain range was truly awe-inspiring.
• Did you see the massiveness of that burger? It was huge!
• The massiveness of that party last night was off the charts.
• The massiveness of her heart was evident in the way she cared for others.

verb to make something worse or more severe, to aggravate

• The lack of communication between departments is acerbating the efficiency of the project.
• His constant complaining is only acerbating the situation.
• Stop being so negative, you're just acerbating things.
• The constant rain is acerbating my mood, I need some sunshine.

noun a type of rain or other precipitation that is unnaturally acidic due to the presence of pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere

• The environmental impact of acid rain on aquatic ecosystems is well-documented.
• I heard that acid rain can really mess up the lakes and rivers.
• Dude, acid rain is like nature's way of giving Earth a bad hair day.
• The constant criticism from her boss felt like acid rain on her self-esteem.