This week on The Missing Workbook
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Word
English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2, plus C2+ for rare words beyond the CEFR scale) — A1 is the friendliest place to start — and browse its words grouped by topic: travel, food, the body, emotions, and more. Each word shows its meaning, example sentences, and US/UK pronunciation.
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View all levelsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
503 words
imperialism
C1
/ɪmˈpɪr.i.ə.lɪ.zəm/
the policy or practice of extending a state's power over other territories through conquest, colonization, or political and economic control
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amputate
C1
/ˈæmpjʊteɪt/
to remove all or part of a limb or other body part by surgery
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cite
C1
/saɪt/
To name a book, article, or author as the source of information.
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amend
C1
/əˈmɛnd/
To make formal changes to a document, law, or agreement.
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differentiate
C1
/ˌdɪf.əˈɹɛn.ʃi.eɪt/
To recognize or show how two or more things are different.
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squander
C1
/ˈskwɑn.dɚ/
To waste money, time, or opportunities carelessly.
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molest
C1
/məˈlest/
sensitive: to touch or assault someone sexually without consent, especially a child
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smirk
C1
/smɝk/
to smile in a smug, condescending, scornful, or self-satisfied way
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impersonate
C1
/ɪmˈpɜːsəneɪt/
To pretend to be another person, especially to deceive others.
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scour
C1
/ˈskaʊɚ/
to search a place, text, or collection thoroughly and energetically
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emancipation
C1
/ɪˌmæn.səˈpeɪ.ʃən/
The act of setting free from the power of another, as from slavery, subjection, dependence, or controlling influence.
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unveil
C1
/ʌnˈveɪl/
To show or present something publicly for the first time.
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autonomy
C1
/ɔˈtɑ.nə.mi/
The freedom to make your own decisions and act independently.
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depict
C1
/dɪˈpɪkt/
To show something in a picture, painting, or photograph.
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maximize
C1
/ˈmæksəmaɪz/
To make something as large or as great as possible.
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incite
C1
/ɪnˈsaɪt/
to urge or provoke people to act, especially violently or unlawfully
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loom
C1
/lum/
To appear large, close, and often threatening or worrying.
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whimper
C1
/ˈwɪmpə/
to cry or make a weak, soft, intermittent sound from fear, pain, or distress
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bequeath
C1
/bɪˈkwiːθ/
To leave money or property to someone in your will after you die.
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reminisce
C1
/ˌrɛməˈnɪs/
To talk or think about pleasant events from the past.
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grumble
C1
/ˈɡɹʌmbl̩/
To complain about something in a quiet, unhappy way.
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cremate
C1
/ˈkriː.meɪt/
to burn a dead body to ashes, usually as a funeral practice
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scoff
C1
/skɔːf/
To speak about someone or something in a mocking, scornful way.
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castrate
C1
/ˈkæs.tɹeɪt/
to remove or disable the testicles of a person or animal; a clinical and potentially sensitive term
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churn
C1
/t͡ʃɝn/
To move or stir something, especially liquid, with great force and motion.
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persecute
C1
/ˈpɝsəkjut/
To treat someone cruelly or unfairly over a long period, especially because of their race, religion, or beliefs.
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christen
C1
/ˈkrɪs.ən/
to baptize someone in a Christian ceremony and formally give them a name
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degrade
C1
/dɪˈɡɹeɪd/
To treat someone without respect, making them feel worthless or ashamed.
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profess
C1
/prəˈfɛs/
To claim or declare something openly, sometimes without it being true.
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disband
C1
/dɪsˈbænd/
to break up an organized group or cause it to stop operating
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opt
C1
/ɑpt/
To choose to do something rather than something else.
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haggle
C1
/ˈhægəl/
To argue with someone in order to reach a deal, especially over a price.
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decision-making
C1
/dɪˈsɪʒənˌmeɪkɪŋ/
The process of making choices, especially important ones.
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swerve
C1
/swɝːv/
to change direction suddenly, especially to avoid hitting something
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sterilize
C1
/ˈstɛɹ.ɪ.laɪz/
to destroy or remove microorganisms from an object, substance, or place
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pucker
C1
/ˈpʌkɚ/
to draw, or become drawn, into small tight wrinkles or folds
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clench
C1
/klɛnt͡ʃ/
To close or press something tightly together, especially your hands or teeth.
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deteriorate
C1
/dɪˈtɪɹ.iə.ɹeɪt/
To become worse over time.
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consolidate
C1
/kənˈsɑ.lə.deɪt/
To combine several things into a single, more effective whole.
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exonerate
C1
/ɪɡˈzɑnəˌreɪt/
to officially clear someone from blame, an accusation, or criminal responsibility
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elude
C1
/ɪˈljuːd/
To escape from or avoid someone or something, often by being clever or quick.
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evoke
C1
/ɪˈvoʊk/
To bring a feeling, memory, or image into someone's mind.
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brainwash
C1
/ˈbɹeɪnwɒʃ/
To force someone to accept new beliefs by using strong pressure over a long time.
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plummet
C1
/ˈplʌmət/
To fall very quickly and suddenly
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formulate
C1
/ˈfɔː(ɹ)mjʊleɪt/
To create or develop a plan, idea, or theory through careful thought.
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gnaw
C1
/nɔ/
To bite or chew at something repeatedly, especially something hard.
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accumulation
C1
/əˌkjuːm.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/
The process of gradually gathering or building up over time.
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implementation
C1
/ˌɪmpləmɛnˈteɪʃən/
The act of putting a plan, decision, or idea into practice.
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enact
C1
/ɪˈnækt/
To make a proposal into an official law.
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alienate
C1
/ˈeɪ.li.ə.neɪt/
To make someone stop being friendly or supportive towards you.
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avoidance
C1
/əˈvɔɪdəns/
The act of avoiding or shunning; keeping clear of.
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substitution
C1
/ˌsʌb.stɪˈtu.ʃən/
The act of putting one thing or person in place of another.
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delve
C1
/dɛlv/
to examine or investigate a subject carefully and in detail
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distort
C1
/dɪˈstoɹt/
To give a false or misleading account of something.
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convergence
C1
/kənˈvɝd͡ʒəns/
The act of moving toward union or uniformity.
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maul
C1
/mɔl/
to attack and injure someone or something severely by beating, scratching, or tearing
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recant
C1
/ɹəˈkænt/
To withdraw or repudiate a statement or opinion formerly expressed, especially formally and publicly.
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designate
C1
/ˈdez.ɪɡ.nət/
To officially choose someone or something for a particular purpose or role.
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maim
C1
/meɪm/
to injure a person or animal so severely that a body part is permanently damaged or lost
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abound
C1
/əˈbaʊnd/
To exist in very large numbers or quantities.
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wrangle
C1
/ˈɹæŋɡəl/
To argue or quarrel noisily and at length.
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broach
C1
/broʊtʃ/
to introduce a difficult or sensitive subject for discussion
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perpetuate
C1
/pɚˈpɛt͡ʃəˌweɪt/
to make something, especially something bad, continue for a long time
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mutate
C1
/ˈmjuː.teɪt/
to undergo a change in genetic material or another heritable biological change
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impede
C1
/ɪmˈpiːd/
To slow down or get in the way of something, making it harder.
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preside
C1
/pɹɪˈzaɪd/
To be in charge of a meeting, ceremony, or organization.
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insertion
C1
/ɪnˈsɝʃən/
The act of putting one thing into another.
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resonate
C1
/ˈɹez.əˌnæɪt/
To be meaningful or important to someone; to connect with their feelings or beliefs.
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rediscover
C1
/riːdɪˈskʌvɝ/
To find or experience again something you had lost or forgotten.
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hypnotism
C1
/ˈhɪpnətɪzəm/
the practice or process of inducing hypnosis, especially through focused attention and suggestion
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mosey
C1
/ˈmoʊzi/
informal, especially US: to walk or move in a relaxed, unhurried way
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retention
C1
/ɹɪˈtɛnʃən/
The act of keeping something rather than losing or giving it up.
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rumple
C1
/ˈɹʌmpəl/
to make hair, fabric, or another surface untidy with wrinkles, folds, or creases
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gush
C1
/ˈɡʌʃ/
To flow out suddenly in a large, fast stream.
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fritter
C1
/ˈfrɪtər/
to waste time, money, energy, or an opportunity gradually on unimportant things, usually with away
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wean
C1
/wiːn/
to accustom a baby or young animal gradually to food other than milk and end dependence on nursing
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authenticate
C1
/ɔˈθɛn.tɪ.keɪt/
to establish the authenticity of something
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empower
C1
/ɪmˈpaʊə(ɹ)/
To give someone the confidence, strength, or ability to control their own life and decisions.
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inception
C1
/ɪnˈsɛpʃən/
the beginning or establishment of an organization, activity, or process
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abolition
C1
/ˌæb.əˈlɪʃ.ən/
the act of abolishing a system or practice or institution (especially abolishing slavery)
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thievery
C1
/ˈθiː.vɚ.i/
the crime or practice of stealing things
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irrigate
C1
/ˈɪr.ə.ɡeɪt/
to supply land or crops with water through channels, pipes, or sprinklers
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inclusion
C1
/ɪnˈkluːʒən/
The act of including someone or something in a group, list, or whole.
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intensify
C1
/ɪnˈtɛnsɪfaɪ/
To become stronger or greater.
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premeditation
C1
/ˌpriːˌmɛdəˈteɪʃən/
thought, planning, or deliberation before an action is carried out
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waddle
C1
/ˈwɑː.dəl/
to walk with short steps while the body sways from side to side
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untangle
C1
/ʌnˈtæŋ.ɡəl/
To remove the knots or twists from something.
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patchwork
C1
/ˈpætʃˌwɝk/
the craft or method of sewing differently shaped pieces of fabric together into a larger design
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disservice
C1
/dɪsˈsɝːvɪs/
an action that harms someone or something instead of helping, often despite good intentions
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foreclose
C1
/fɔːrˈkloʊz/
to take possession of mortgaged property after the borrower fails to make required payments
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overrule
C1
/ˌoʊ.vɚˈɹul/
to use superior authority to reject or set aside a decision, ruling, or objection
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concealment
C1
/kənˈsiːlmənt/
The practice of keeping secrets.
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congregate
C1
/ˈkɑːŋgrəˌgeɪt/
to come together in a group, usually for a particular purpose
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rename
C1
/ˌriːˈneɪm/
to give a person, place, organization, or thing a new name
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relent
C1
/ɹɪˈlɛnt/
to become less severe, harsh, or determined and finally yield
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inhibit
C1
/ɪnˈhɪbɪt/
To slow down or hold back a process or action.
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