Describing Qualities

awfulness C2+

/ˈɔfəlnəs/ the quality of being extremely bad, or formerly, awe-inspiring M S

axiomatically C2+

/ˌæksiəˈmætɪkli/ in a self-evident manner requiring no proof M S

babish C2+

/ˈbeɪbɪʃ/ like a baby; childish or babyish M S

baboon C2+

/bæˈbun/ a large African or Arabian ground-dwelling monkey with a dog-like muzzle M S

babyish C2+

/ˈbeɪbiɪʃ/ characteristic of a baby; childishly immature M S

bacchanal C2+

/ˈbækənəl/ a wild drunken revelry, or a worshipper of Bacchus M S

baconweed C2+

/ˈbeɪkənˌwid/ a common name for goosefoot, a weedy edible plant M S

baffling C2+

/ˈbæflɪŋ/ impossible to understand; perplexing M S

bairnish C2+

/ˈbɛrnɪʃ/ childish or childlike, in Scots and Northern English usage M S

ballroom C2+

/ˈbɔlˌrum/ a large room used for formal dancing M S

bannerfish C2+

/ˈbænɚˌfɪʃ/ a tropical reef fish with a long trailing dorsal filament M S

bantling C2+

/ˈbæntlɪŋ/ a young child or infant, often used disparagingly M S

barbarious C2+

/bɑrˈbɛriəs/ barbarous; savage or uncivilized (archaic variant) M S

barbed C2+

/bɑrbd/ having sharp projecting points; also pointedly critical M S

barony C2+

/ˈbærəni/ the rank, domain, or estate of a baron M S

basswood C2+

/ˈbæsˌwʊd/ the American linden tree or its soft, pale timber M S

bathtub C2+

/ˈbæθˌtʌb/ a large container for bathing the whole body M S

battalion C2+

/bəˈtæljən/ a large body of troops, typically several companies M S

bead C2+

/bid/ a small pierced ball strung as ornament; also a drop of liquid M S

beauteous C2+

/ˈbjutiəs/ beautiful (literary or poetic) M S

beautification C2+

/ˌbjutəfəˈkeɪʃən/ the act of making something more beautiful M S

belatedly C2+

/bɪˈleɪtɪdli/ later than should have been the case; tardily M S

belfry C2+

/ˈbɛlfri/ a bell tower or the part of a tower housing bells M S

belle C2+

/bɛl/ a beautiful woman, especially the most admired at an event M S

ben C2+

/bɛn/ a high mountain or peak, especially in Scotland M S

bendsome C2+

/ˈbɛndsəm/ flexible or pliant; easily bent (dialectal) M S

besotted C2+

/bɪˈsɑtɪd/ infatuated or intoxicated to the point of foolishness M S

betone C2+

/bɪˈtoʊn/ to give tone or sound to; to intone (rare) M S

billow C2+

/ˈbɪloʊ/ a large rolling wave; to swell or surge outward M S

bitesheep C2+

/ˈbaɪtʃip/ dialectal name for a plant or condition causing sheep to bite or fret, or a rough pasture M S

blee C2+

/bli/ archaic word for complexion, color, or hue M S

bloc C2+

/blɑk/ a group of countries or parties united by a common interest or purpose M S

blockheadedness C2+

/ˈblɑkˌhɛdɪdnəs/ the quality of being stupid or obtusely dull-witted M S

blowy C2+

/ˈbloʊi/ characterized by strong wind; windy or gusty M S

bludgeon C2+

/ˈblʌdʒən/ a short heavy club; to strike repeatedly or to coerce forcefully M S

blusher C2+

/ˈblʌʃər/ a cosmetic for adding color to the cheeks; also one who blushes M S

blushful C2+

/ˈblʌʃfəl/ full of or marked by blushing; modest or rosy M S

bluster C2+

/ˈblʌstər/ to speak loudly and aggressively with little effect; noisy empty boasting M S

bob C2+

/bɑb/ to move quickly up and down; a short haircut or a small weight M S

bodeful C2+

/ˈboʊdfəl/ foreboding or ominous; portending evil M S

boding C2+

/ˈboʊdɪŋ/ a foreboding or presentiment; ominously prophetic M S

bogue C2+

/boʊɡ/ a small sea bream of the genus Boops; dialectally to slink or sneak off M S

borderline C2+

/ˈbɔrdərlaɪn/ barely acceptable or only just within a category; a boundary M S

boringly C2+

/ˈbɔrɪŋli/ in a tediously dull manner M S

bowbent C2+

/ˈboʊbɛnt/ bent like a bow; curved or stooped M S

bracing C2+

/ˈbreɪsɪŋ/ fresh and invigorating; also a structural support M S

brainsick C2+

/ˈbreɪnsɪk/ mentally disordered; mad or deranged M S

brashness C2+

/ˈbræʃnəs/ the quality of being bold, hasty, or impudent M S

brassy C2+

/ˈbræsi/ resembling brass in color or sound; loudly bold or tasteless M S

breachy C2+

/ˈbritʃi/ of livestock, apt to break through fences; unruly M S

breakout C2+

/ˈbreɪkaʊt/ a sudden escape, outbreak, or surge into prominence M S

briefness C2+

/ˈbrifnəs/ the quality of being short in duration or expression; brevity M S

brittle C2+

/ˈbrɪtəl/ hard but easily broken; also a hard sugary candy M S

brittleness C2+

/ˈbrɪtəlnəs/ the quality of being hard yet liable to break or shatter M S

broadsheet C2+

/ˈbrɔdʃit/ a large-format newspaper, traditionally one regarded as serious M S

broody C2+

/ˈbrudi/ moodily silent or melancholy; (of a hen) inclined to incubate eggs M S

brutally C2+

/ˈbrutəli/ in a savagely violent or harshly direct manner M S

bubblingly C2+

/ˈbʌblɪŋli/ in a lively, effervescent, or enthusiastically cheerful manner M S

buffoonish C2+

/bəˈfunɪʃ/ ridiculously foolish or clownish in behavior M S

bumptious C2+

/ˈbʌmpʃəs/ offensively self-assertive or conceited M S

bumpy C2+

/ˈbʌmpi/ having an uneven surface; marked by jolts or difficulties M S

buttery C2+

/ˈbʌtɚi/ tasting of or resembling butter; a storeroom for provisions or liquor M S

cajolery C2+

/kəˈdʒoʊləri/ persuasion by flattery, coaxing, or gentle deception M S

callant C2+

/ˈkælənt/ a youth or lad (Scots and northern English dialect) M S

caloric C2+

/kəˈlɔrɪk/ relating to heat or calories; an obsolete supposed fluid of heat M S

campestral C2+

/kæmˈpɛstrəl/ of or relating to open fields or the countryside M S

canard C2+

/kəˈnɑrd/ a false or baseless rumor or fabricated story M S

cancerous C2+

/ˈkænsərəs/ relating to or affected by cancer; malignantly spreading M S

candelabrum C2+

/ˌkændəˈlɑbrəm/ a large branched candlestick or lamp holder M S

capably C2+

/ˈkeɪpəbli/ in a competent and effective manner M S

captious C2+

/ˈkæpʃəs/ inclined to find trivial faults; carping M S

captivity C2+

/kæpˈtɪvəti/ the condition of being imprisoned or confined M S

carl C2+

/kɑrl/ a peasant or common man; a churlish fellow (archaic) M S

carpent C2+

/ˈkɑrpənt/ to work as or like a carpenter; to construct in wood (rare) M S

carriable C2+

/ˈkæriəbəl/ able to be carried or transported M S

casket C2+

/ˈkæskɪt/ a coffin; a small ornamental box for valuables M S

caterpillar C2+

/ˈkætɚˌpɪlɚ/ the larva of a butterfly or moth M S

cavern C2+

/ˈkævɚn/ a large, often underground, chamber or cave M S

centuried C2+

/ˈsɛntʃərid/ aged or enduring through centuries; centuries old M S

cerise C2+

/səˈris/ a bright, deep cherry-red color M S

cervix C2+

/ˈsɝvɪks/ the narrow neck-like passage at the lower end of the uterus M S

chalk C2+

/tʃɔk/ a soft white limestone used for writing or marking M S

chancy C2+

/ˈtʃænsi/ uncertain in outcome; risky M S

chasm C2+

/ˈkæzəm/ a deep fissure or gulf in the earth, or a wide divergence M S

cheapen C2+

/ˈtʃipən/ to lower the price, quality, or dignity of something M S

chink C2+

/tʃɪŋk/ a narrow crack or opening; a sharp ringing sound M S

chivalrous C2+

/ˈʃɪvəlrəs/ courteous and gallant, especially toward women M S

chubby C2+

/ˈtʃʌbi/ plump and rounded in a pleasant way M S

civilized C2+

/ˈsɪvəˌlaɪzd/ socially advanced, refined, and well-mannered M S

claret C2+

/ˈklɛrət/ a dry red Bordeaux wine, or its deep purplish-red color M S

clearheaded C2+

/ˌklɪrˈhɛdəd/ thinking sensibly and without confusion M S

clobber C2+

/ˈklɑbɚ/ to hit hard or defeat decisively; British slang for clothing and gear M S

cloistral C2+

/ˈklɔɪstrəl/ relating to a cloister; secluded and monastic M S

coercive C2+

/koʊˈɝsɪv/ relating to or using force or threats to compel obedience M S

cohesive C2+

/koʊˈhisɪv/ forming a united whole; sticking together M S

cohesiveness C2+

/koʊˈhisɪvnəs/ the quality of holding or sticking together as a unified whole M S