English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2) — 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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71 words
saint
C1
/seɪnt/
A dead person officially recognised by a church as especially holy.
lad
C1
/læd/
A boy or young man.
wicked
C1
/ˈwək.əd/
Morally bad; cruel or evil.
harsh
C1
/hɑɹʃ/
Cruel, unkind, or severe.
dedicated
C1
/ˈdɛdəkeɪtəd/
Working hard at something because you care about it; loyal and committed.
brutal
C1
/ˈbɹu.təl/
Extremely violent, vicious, or cruel.
vicious
C1
/ˈvɪʃəs/
Violent and dangerous; likely to attack or hurt someone.
classy
C1
/ˈklæsi/
Elegant, stylish, and impressive in a tasteful way.
jackass
C1
/ˈdʒækˌæs/
informal and insulting: a foolish, stupid, or badly behaved person
slack
C1
/slæk/
The loose part of a rope or line that is not pulled tight.
crude
C1
/kɹuːd/
Made or done in a simple, rough way; not skilfully finished.
cynical
C1
/ˈsɪnɪkəl/
Believing that people act only out of selfishness and expecting the worst of them.
grumpy
C1
/ˈɡrʌm.pi/
easily annoyed, bad-tempered, and inclined to complain
maneuver
C1
/məˈnuvɚ/
A skillful or carefully planned movement.
cold-blooded
C1
/ˌkoʊldˈblʌd.ɪd/
deliberately cruel and showing no pity, emotion, or remorse
engaging
C1
/ɪnˈɡeɪd͡ʒɪŋ/
Holding your attention and interest; very interesting.
reassure
C1
/ˌɹi.əˈʃʊɹ/
To say or do something that makes someone feel less worried or more confident.
manipulation
C1
/məˌnɪp.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/
The act of controlling or influencing someone in a clever and often unfair way.
ploy
C1
/plɔɪ/
A clever trick or plan used to gain an advantage.
gaga
C1
/ˈɡɑː.ɡɑː/
informal and sometimes disparaging: mentally confused or physically feeble, especially through old age
apt
C1
/ˈæpt/
Suitable or appropriate for the situation.
ingenuity
C1
/ˌɪnd͡ʒəˈn(j)uːəti/
The ability to solve problems in clever, original, and inventive ways.
benign
C1
/bɪˈnɑen/
Not harmful or dangerous, especially describing a tumour that is not cancerous.
temperament
C1
/ˈtɛm.pɚ.ə.mənt/
A person's natural character, which shapes how they usually think, feel, and behave.
tangible
C1
/ˈtæn.d͡ʒə.bəl/
capable of being treated as fact
swagger
C1
/ˈswæɡɚ/
a conspicuously confident, arrogant, or self-important manner of walking or behaving
weakling
C1
/ˈwiː.klɪŋ/
a physically weak or frail person
unforgiving
C1
/ˌʌn.fɚˈɡɪv.ɪŋ/
unwilling to forgive an offense or show mercy
atrocity
C1
/əˈtɹɑsɪti/
An extremely cruel and violent act, especially in war.
shifty
C1
/ˈʃɪfti/
appearing dishonest, evasive, or untrustworthy
suave
C1
/swɑːv/
smoothly charming, confident, and courteous, sometimes in a way that seems insincere
overbearing
C1
/ˌoʊvɚˈberɪŋ/
trying to control other people in an arrogant, forceful, and unpleasant way; domineering
tireless
C1
/ˈtaɪrləs/
showing great energy and persistence without appearing to become tired
comer
C1
/ˈkʌmɚ/
a person who is showing promise and is likely to become successful
poise
C1
/pɔɪz/
A calm, confident, and graceful manner.
upstart
C1
/ˈʌpˌstɑrt/
a person who has risen suddenly to wealth, power, or importance and is regarded as arrogant or presumptuous
dunce
C1
/dʌns/
a person regarded as slow to learn or lacking intelligence, often used as an insult
viciously
C1
/ˈvɪʃəsli/
In a violent and cruel way.
gentlemanly
C1
/ˈdʒɛntəlmənli/
courteous, honorable, and considerate in a way traditionally expected of a gentleman
fiendish
C1
/ˈfiːndɪʃ/
Extremely cruel or evil.
dolt
C1
/doʊlt/
a stupid or slow-witted person
portrayal
C1
/ˌpɔɹˈtɹeɪ.əl/
The way someone or something is described or represented.
pigheaded
C1
/ˌpɪɡˈhɛdɪd/
stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action, especially in a foolish way
quirk
C1
/kwɝk/
An unusual habit or feature of someone's personality.
assertion
C1
/əˈsɜɹʃən/
A confident statement that something is true.
small-minded
C1
/ˌsmɔlˈmaɪndɪd/
petty, narrow in outlook, or unwilling to consider larger concerns
lanky
C1
/ˈlæŋ.ki/
tall and thin, usually with long limbs and a somewhat awkward appearance
acutely
C1
/əˈkjuːtli/
To a very great degree; intensely.
raunchy
C1
/ˈɹɔːnt͡ʃi/
Openly sexual in a rude or shocking way.
pert
C1
/pɝt/
boldly disrespectful or impudent in a lively way; saucy
unsympathetic
C1
/ˌʌnsɪmpəˈθetɪk/
not showing understanding, concern, or compassion for someone's difficulties
spry
C1
/spraɪ/
active, nimble, and energetic, especially despite advanced age
crudely
C1
/ˈkɹudli/
In a rough, simple, or poorly made way.
candidly
C1
/ˈkændɪdli/
In an honest, open way; frankly.
egoist
C1
/ˈiːɡoʊɪst/
a person who is chiefly concerned with their own interests and gives little regard to others
wickedly
C1
/ˈwɪkɪdli/
In an evil or cruel way.
self-reliant
C1
/ˌsɛlf rɪˈlaɪənt/
depending on one's own abilities, judgment, or resources rather than on other people
quip
C1
/kwɪp/
A clever, witty remark.
natured
C1
/ˈneɪtʃɝd/
having a specified temperament or disposition, used chiefly in compounds such as good-natured and ill-natured
quick-witted
C1
/ˌkwɪkˈwɪtɪd/
able to think, understand, and reply rapidly and intelligently
egotist
C1
/ˈiː.ɡə.tɪst/
a person with an exaggerated sense of their own importance who speaks or thinks excessively about themself
unpretentious
C1
/ˌʌn.prɪˈten.ʃəs/
not trying to appear more important, cultured, or impressive than one really is; modest and sincere
lordly
C1
/ˈlɔː(ɹ)dli/
grand, noble, or suitable for a lord
maidenly
C1
/ˈmeɪdənli/
befitting or characteristic of a maiden
temperamentally
C1
/ˌtɛmprəˈmɛntəli/
By one's natural character or disposition.
gamely
C1
/ˈgeɪmli/
In a brave and spirited way, despite difficulty.
clannish
C1
/ˈklænɪʃ/
socially exclusive and strongly attached to one's own close group
benignly
C1
/bəˈnaɪnli/
In a kind, gentle way.
quean
C1
/kwiːn/
archaic or dialect, disparaging: a woman or girl
unamiable
C1
/ʌnˈeɪ.mi.ə.bəl/
not friendly, pleasant, likable, or agreeable in manner or appearance
raunchily
C1
In an openly sexual or rude way.