Wither – to become dry, weak, or shrivelled, especially because of age or lack of water

Example Sentence: The flowers began to wither under the hot afternoon sun.

Fondant – a sweet, soft icing used to decorate cakes and pastries

Example Sentence: The baker covered the birthday cake with smooth pink fondant.

Liquidate – to sell something, especially a business’s assets, in order to pay debts or raise money

Example Sentence: The company had to liquidate some of its assets to pay its debts.

Creak – to make a long, harsh sound when something moves or bears weight

Example Sentence: The old wooden door began to creak as I opened it.

Unfurl – to open or spread out something that was rolled or folded

Example Sentence: The sailor watched the flag unfurl in the strong breeze.

Belligerent – hostile, aggressive, or eager to fight

Example Sentence: The belligerent customer shouted angrily at the shopkeeper.

Gourmet – of high quality and often prepared with great skill; relating to fine food

Example Sentence: We enjoyed a gourmet meal at the new restaurant.

Mishmash – a confused mixture or collection of different things

Example Sentence: Her desk was a mishmash of books, papers, pens, and toys.

Query – a question, especially one asking for information or clarification

Example Sentence: The student sent an email to the teacher with a query about the assignment.

Peal – a loud, clear, ringing sound, especially of laughter, bells, or thunder

Example Sentence: A peal of laughter echoed through the room.