Environmental Vocabulary

adjective covered or flooded with water, especially seawater or rain

adverb inundated or overwhelmed with a large quantity of something

• The village was awash with rumors about the upcoming election.
• The beach was awash with people enjoying the sunshine.
• The party was awash with cool people and good vibes.
• Her mind was awash with memories of their time together.

adjective causing harm or ruin; destructive

• The baneful effects of pollution on the environment are becoming increasingly evident.
• Eating too much junk food can have baneful consequences on your health.
• That baneful relationship is toxic, you should get out of it.
• The baneful whispers of doubt in his mind were holding him back from pursuing his dreams.

noun a heavy load that is difficult to carry

verb to load or weigh down with a heavy burden

adjective burdensome, causing hardship or difficulty

• The financial burden of the project fell on the shoulders of the company.
• I can't take on any more work right now, it's too much of a burden.
• I hate when my boss piles on the extra work, it's such a burden.
• Carrying around resentment is like a heavy burden on your heart.

verb to become smaller or fewer in number or amount

• The company's profits continue to dwindle as expenses rise.
• I've noticed that the number of attendees at the event is starting to dwindle.
• Our chances of winning are dwindling by the minute.
• Her patience began to dwindle as the meeting dragged on.

noun the planet on which we live; the ground or soil of the earth

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• The rotation of the earth causes day and night.
• I can't wait to travel around the earth and see different cultures.
• I feel like I'm on top of the world when I'm out in nature, just me and the earth.
• Her kindness was like a warm blanket covering the earth.

adjective relating to being born on or originating from the earth

• The scientist studied the genetic makeup of the earthborn creatures.
• I heard that the new superhero in the comic book is an earthborn alien.
• The earthborn dude at the party was so chill.
• Her poetry often explores the connection between humans and the earthborn elements.

adjective adjective describes a noun or pronoun by giving more information about their qualities, characteristics, or features. In this case, 'harsh' describes something that is severe, rough, or unpleasant.

• The judge gave a harsh sentence to the criminal.
• My mom can be pretty harsh when I don't clean my room.
• The teacher's grading was so harsh, I barely passed the test.
• The harsh reality of the situation hit me hard.

noun a noun representing the act of putting something or someone in danger or at risk

• The imperilment of endangered species is a serious concern for conservationists.
• He was warned about the imperilment of his job if he continued to arrive late.
• Dude, you're really risking imperilment by not wearing a helmet while skateboarding.
• Her reckless behavior led to the imperilment of her reputation in the community.

adjective not marked by careful distinction; haphazard; random

• The government condemned the indiscriminate violence against civilians.
• The company's hiring process seemed indiscriminate, with no clear criteria for selection.
• Some people just throw their trash around indiscriminately, it's so annoying.
• His indiscriminate spending habits left him in financial ruin.

adjective adjective: harmful to health or well-being

• The insalubrious living conditions in the overcrowded tenement buildings were a serious health concern.
• I wouldn't eat at that insalubrious restaurant if I were you.
• That place is so insalubrious, it's gross.
• The insalubrious atmosphere of the meeting made it hard to focus on the task at hand.

verb past participle of the verb 'to lade', meaning to load or burden

adjective loaded or burdened with something

• The ship was laden with cargo bound for distant ports.
• Her arms were laden with shopping bags after a day of retail therapy.
• The car was so laden with surfboards, it looked like a mobile beach party.
• His heart was laden with sorrow after the loss of his beloved pet.

noun a situation in which no progress can be made, typically because of disagreement or deadlock

• The logjam in the legislative process has delayed the passing of important bills.
• There's a logjam in the kitchen sink because someone forgot to clean out the drain.
• The traffic was a total logjam this morning, I was stuck for over an hour!
• The team's lack of communication created a logjam in the project timeline.

adjective describing something that is covered or filled with mud or mire

• The path through the forest was miry after the heavy rain.
• I got my shoes all miry while walking through the muddy field.
• I slipped and fell into the miry puddle, what a mess!
• Her mind felt miry with confusion as she tried to make sense of the situation.

adjective an adjective is a word that describes or gives more information about a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'overabundant' describes a noun as having an excessive amount.

• The overabundant supply of raw materials led to a decrease in market prices.
• There is an overabundant amount of food at the party, so feel free to take some home.
• There's an overabundant selection of movies on Netflix right now, I don't know what to watch.
• Her overabundant energy was contagious, lifting the spirits of everyone around her.

noun a condition of being filled beyond capacity

verb to fill or become filled beyond capacity

• The container was overfilled, causing spillage.
• You overfilled the cup with soda and now it's all over the table.
• I always overfill my plate at the buffet.
• Her heart was overfilled with joy when she received the good news.

noun a smallness of quantity or number; scarcity; dearth

• There is a paucity of research on this particular topic.
• There's not much info out there about that.
• There's like, barely anything on that.
• In a sea of information, there is a paucity of knowledge on this subject.

noun a dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation

• The organization aims to address the plight of refugees in war-torn regions.
• We need to do something about the plight of the homeless in our city.
• Man, I can't believe the plight some people have to deal with.
• The artist's painting beautifully captured the emotional plight of the protagonist.

noun the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects

• The government is implementing stricter regulations to reduce pollution levels in the city.
• We really need to do something about the pollution in our neighborhood.
• Dude, the pollution in this area is off the charts!
• The pollution of negative thoughts was evident in her demeanor.

adjective adjective describes a noun or pronoun, in this case 'rotten' describes something that is decayed or spoiled

• The fruit in the basket had started to turn rotten due to improper storage.
• I can't believe you ate that rotten sandwich from yesterday!
• That movie was so bad, it was straight up rotten.
• The corruption in the government was like a rotten apple spoiling the whole barrel.

noun the state of being scarce or in short supply; shortage

• The scarcity of clean water in the region has led to a public health crisis.
• There's a scarcity of good parking spots near the mall.
• I can't believe the scarcity of snacks in the break room.
• His scarcity of emotions makes it hard for others to connect with him.

noun Stagnant can also be used as a noun to refer to a situation or condition of lack of movement or progress.

adjective Stagnant describes something that is not flowing or moving, often referring to water that is still and not fresh.

• The economic growth of the country has been stagnant for the past few years.
• The water in the pond has become stagnant, it needs to be cleaned.
• I can't stand working in this stagnant job anymore, it's so boring.
• His ideas were stagnant, lacking any creativity or innovation.

verb present participle of the verb 'stifle', meaning to suffocate or suppress

adjective causing difficulty in breathing; suffocating

• The stifling heat of the room made it difficult to focus on the presentation.
• I can't stand this stifling weather, I need some fresh air.
• This party is so stifling, let's go somewhere else.
• The stifling atmosphere in the office made it hard to express new ideas.

verb to die or cause to die from lack of air or inability to breathe

adjective causing difficulty in breathing; oppressive or overwhelming

• The lack of proper ventilation in the room made it feel suffocating.
• I can't stand being in this suffocating heat anymore.
• This party is so suffocating, let's find somewhere else to hang out.
• The pressure of his responsibilities felt suffocating, like a weight on his chest.

noun a feeling of stress or worry caused by concern for the environment, particularly due to climate change and other environmental issues

• Eco-anxiety is a psychological condition characterized by overwhelming worry and stress about the state of the environment.
• I can't stop thinking about climate change, it's giving me serious eco-anxiety.
• Dude, I'm totally freaking out about the planet, I've got major eco-anxiety.
• Her eco-anxiety felt like a heavy weight on her shoulders, constantly nagging at her thoughts.

verb to restore or return something to its rightful owner or original state

• The court ordered the defendant to restitute the stolen funds to the victim.
• He had to give back the money he took, as the court told him to restitute.
• She had to pay back the cash she borrowed, as she was asked to restitute.
• In order to make amends, he decided to restitute his past mistakes by helping those in need.

noun a feeling of guilt or embarrassment caused by the environmental impact of flying on an airplane

• The concept of flight shame has gained traction as more people become aware of the environmental impact of air travel.
• I can't shake off this feeling of flight shame every time I book a plane ticket.
• I've been hit with a serious case of flight shame lately, so I'm considering taking the train instead.
• Her flight shame weighed heavily on her conscience, prompting her to explore alternative modes of transportation.

noun a profound or notable transformation

• The company underwent a sea-change in its business strategy, resulting in significant growth.
• After the new manager took over, there was a sea-change in the office atmosphere.
• Dude, have you seen the sea-change in Sarah's fashion sense? It's like she's a whole new person!
• The invention of the internet brought about a sea-change in how we communicate with each other.

adjective relating to or resulting from the influence of human beings on nature

• The increase in greenhouse gases is primarily due to anthropogenic activities.
• Humans are mostly responsible for the rise in greenhouse gases.
• We're messing up the planet with all our human activities.
• Our footprint on the environment is mainly anthropogenic.

noun a soft murmuring or rustling sound

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• The susurrus of the wind through the trees created a calming atmosphere in the garden.
• I love falling asleep to the gentle susurrus of the ocean waves outside my window.
• The susurrus of gossip around the office is starting to get annoying.
• The susurrus of memories whispered in her mind, bringing back a flood of emotions.