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Here are clear definitions and example sentences for a selected list of words, spanning themes of war, nature, personality, and intrigue.

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📘 Vocabulary Definitions & Example Sentences

Word	Definition	Example Sentence
Cordoned	Enclosed or blocked off with a barrier, often by authorities.	"Police cordoned off the area after the explosion."
Spivs	Dishonest or flashy people who make money through shady dealings.	"The market was crawling with spivs selling fake watches."
Zealous	Showing great enthusiasm or passion.	"She was zealous in her campaign for environmental reform."
Overbearing	Domineering or excessively controlling.	"His overbearing attitude made teamwork impossible."
Traipsed	Walked or wandered wearily or reluctantly.	"We traipsed through the muddy fields for hours."
Harrowing	Extremely distressing or painful.	"The documentary showed harrowing scenes of war."
Smouldering	Burning slowly with smoke but no flame; also used for suppressed emotion.	"He gave her a smouldering look that said everything."
Compatriots	Fellow citizens or people from the same country.	"She celebrated the victory with her compatriots."
Decadent	Luxuriously self-indulgent, often to excess.	"The banquet was decadent, with gold-dusted desserts."
Bouillabaisse	A traditional French fish stew.	"We dined on bouillabaisse by the harbor in Marseille."
Gazelle	A graceful, swift antelope.	"She moved across the stage like a gazelle."
Indispensable	Absolutely necessary or essential.	"Her leadership was indispensable to the mission’s success."
Spindle	A rod used to spin thread; also refers to anything shaped like a rod.	"The antique spinning wheel had a carved wooden spindle."
Formidable	Inspiring fear or respect through power or skill.	"He was a formidable opponent in debate."
Espionage	The practice of spying, especially by governments.	"The novel was full of espionage and double agents."
Infantry	Soldiers who fight on foot.	"The infantry advanced through the forest under heavy fire."
Uncanny	Strange or mysterious in an unsettling way.	"Her resemblance to the painting was uncanny."
Repatriated	Returned to one’s own country.	"The refugees were repatriated after the conflict ended."
Pulsating	Throbbing or vibrating rhythmically.	"The club was filled with pulsating music and flashing lights."
Vista	A pleasing view, especially one seen through an opening.	"The mountain vista took our breath away."
Sedate	Calm, quiet, and unhurried.	"The sedate village was a welcome escape from city life."
Barracks	Buildings used to house soldiers.	"The troops returned to their barracks after the drill."
Treachery	Betrayal of trust or loyalty.	"His treachery cost the resistance their strongest ally."
Predilection	A preference or liking for something.	"She had a predilection for gothic novels."
Macabre	Disturbing and horrifying, often related to death.	"The film’s macabre imagery haunted me for days."
Duplicity	Deceitfulness or double-dealing.	"His duplicity was finally exposed in court."
Saboteurs	People who deliberately destroy or obstruct, especially for political reasons.	"The saboteurs disabled the radio tower before dawn."
Thugs	Violent criminals or bullies.	"The thugs threatened the shopkeeper for protection money."
Scuttled	Ran hurriedly with short steps; also means to deliberately sink a ship.	"The mice scuttled across the floor when the lights came on."
Bloodhound	A dog breed known for tracking scents; also used metaphorically for persistent pursuers.	"The detective was a bloodhound when it came to clues."
Armistice	An agreement to stop fighting; a truce.	"The armistice brought relief after years of war."

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These words are from Skip's ESL BITS - English Language Learning - ESL Listening Stories, Songs, Audiobooks, chapter 4 of Code Name: Lise - The True Story of the Woman Who Became WWII's Most Highly Decorated Spy. The story can be found in http://Skip's ESL BITS - English Language Learning - ESL Listening Stories, Songs, Audiobooks