(1) All evening her husband contradicted everything she said.
(2) You've just contradicted yourself (= said the opposite of what you said before) .
(3) The two stories contradict each other.

(1) exercises to develop the flexibility of dancers' bodies
(2) [不可数名词]Computers offer a much greater degree of flexibility in the way work is organized.
(3) flexible plastic tubing

(1) substantial sums of money
(2) a substantial change
(3) substantial numbers of people support the reforms.

(1) This poster is offensive and degrades women.
(2) ...the ability of these enzymes to degrade cellulose.
(3) This substance degrades rapidly in the soil.

(1) It is compulsory for all motorcyclists to wear helmets.
(2) English is a compulsory subject at this level.
(3) compulsory education/schooling

(1) He strayed into the path of an oncoming car.
(2) Her eyes kept straying over to the clock on the wall.
(3) My mind kept straying back to our last talk together.

(1) Don't distress yourself (= don't worry) .
(2) It was clear that the letter had deeply distressed her.
(3) It is a rule of the sea to help another boat in distress .

(1) to be politically naive
(2) I can't believe you were so naive as to trust him!
(3) a naive question

(1) an abrupt change/halt/departure
(2) an abrupt manner
(3) She was very abrupt with me in our meeting.

(1) I perceived a change in his behaviour.
(2) She perceived that all was not well.
(3) The patient was perceived to have difficulty in breathing.

(1) His efforts to improve the situation are to be applauded.
(2) I applaud her for having the courage to refuse.
(3) She was applauded as she came on stage.

(1) to be vulnerable to attack
(2) She looked very vulnerable standing there on her own.
(3) In cases of food poisoning, young children are especially vulnerable.

(1) an attempt to reconcile the need for industrial development with concern for the environment
(2) It was hard to reconcile his career ambitions with the needs of his children.
(3) The pair were reconciled after Jackson made a public apology.

(1) She preached to the congregation about forgiveness.
(2) The minister preached a sermon on the parable of the lost sheep.
(3) to preach the word of God

(1) The submarine had had time to submerge before the warship could approach.
(2) The fields had been submerged by floodwater.
(3) Doubts that had been submerged in her mind suddenly resurfaced.

(1) vitamin/dietary supplements (= vitamins and other foods eaten in addition to what you usually eat)
(2) Industrial sponsorship is a supplement to government funding.
(3) the Sunday colour supplements

(1) We do not subscribe to this theory.
(2) I subscribe to your view on abortion.
(3) Member of the Election Committee should subscribe to only ONE nomination form election.

(1) She dedicates herself to her work.
(2) He dedicated his life to helping the poor.
(3) This book is dedicated to my parents.

(1) I deeply resented her criticism.
(2) He bitterly resents being treated like a child.
(3) She resented him making all the decisions.

(1) Climbing so high made me feel dizzy .
(2) I suffer from dizzy spells (= short periods when I am dizzy ) .
(3) the dizzy descent from the summit

(1) The meeting is scheduled to commence at noon.
(2) The day commenced with a welcome from the principal.
(3) I will be on leave during the week commencing 15 February.

(1) Please refrain from smoking.
(2) I made a terrific effort to refrain from tears.
(3) How shall I refrain from tears when we part?

(1) Books provide children with ideas and a stimulus for play.
(2) The new tax laws should act as a stimulus to exports.
(3) sensory/verbal/visual stimuli

(1) Our future prosperity depends on economic growth.
(2) The country is enjoying a period of peace and prosperity .
(3) ...a new era of peace and prosperity.

(1) The smell of leather permeated the room.
(2) rainwater permeating through the ground
(3) a belief that permeates all levels of society

(1) liberal attitudes/views/opinions
(2) Some politicians want more liberal trade relations with Europe.
(3) liberal democracy

(1) a notorious criminal
(2) The country is notorious for its appalling prison conditions.
(3) The bar has become notorious as a meeting-place for drug dealers.

(1) We all speculated about the reasons for her resignation.
(2) It is useless to speculate why he did it.
(3) We can speculate that the stone circles were used in some sort of pagan ceremony.

(1) Loud rock music assaulted our ears.
(2) sexual assaults
(3) An assault on the capital was launched in the early hours of the morning.

(1) Reading this book, we can identify with the main character's struggle.
(2) She would only play a role if she could identify with the character.
(3) Children can be seen to copy the behaviour of others whom they admire or identify with.

(1) Which planets can sustain life?
(2) The love and support of his family sustained him during his time in prison.
(3) a period of sustained economic growth

(1) The march degenerated into a riot.
(2) Her health degenerated quickly.
(3) a degenerate popular culture

(1) Only those over 70 are eligible for the special payment.
(2) When are you eligible to vote in your country?
(3) Almost half the population are eligible to vote in today's election...

(1) to underestimate the cost of the project
(2) We underestimated the time it would take to get there.
(3) Never underestimate your opponent.

(1) the transient nature of speech
(2) a city with a large transient population (= of students, temporary workers, etc.)
(3) [不可数名词]the transience of human life

(1) the person with overall responsibility for the project
(2) There will be winners in each of three age groups, and one overall winner .
(3) an overall improvement in standards of living (= affecting everyone)

(1) political/economic/social stability
(2) the stability of the dollar on the world's money markets
(3) Being back with their family should provide emotional stability for the children.

(1) Troops patrolled the border day and night.
(2) Guards can be seen patrolling everywhere.
(3) Gangs of youths patrol the streets at night.

(1) This acute infection of the brain is almost invariably fatal.
(2) This is not invariably the case.
(3) invariably the reply came back, ‘Not now! ’

(1) a pertinent question/fact
(2) Please keep your comments pertinent to the topic under discussion.
(3) She had asked some pertinent questions...