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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2203 words
inimical
C2+
/ɪˈnɪmɪkəl/
tending to obstruct or harm; hostile
lank
C2+
/læŋk/
long, thin, and limp, especially of hair
maximal
C2+
/ˈmæksəməl/
as great or large as possible
methodically
C2+
/məˈθɑdɪkli/
in an orderly, systematic manner
moist
C2+
/mɔɪst/
slightly wet; damp
mundane
C2+
/mʌnˈdeɪn/
lacking interest or excitement; ordinary
obscene
C2+
/əbˈsin/
offensive or disgusting by accepted standards of decency
peccadillo
C2+
/ˌpɛkəˈdɪloʊ/
a small, relatively unimportant offense or sin
peculiarly
C2+
/pɪˈkjuljɚli/
in a strange or distinctively characteristic way
repulsive
C2+
/rɪˈpʌlsɪv/
arousing intense disgust
rightful
C2+
/ˈraɪtfəl/
having a legitimate or just claim; legally entitled
routinely
C2+
/ruˈtinli/
as a regular or habitual practice
sameness
C2+
/ˈseɪmnəs/
the quality of being identical or monotonously unvarying
abstemious
C2+
/æbˈstimiəs/
sparing or moderate in eating and drinking
absurdity
C2+
/əbˈsɝdəti/
the quality of being ridiculous or wildly unreasonable
abysmal
C2+
/əˈbɪzməl/
extremely bad; appalling
addlepated
C2+
/ˈædəlˌpeɪtɪd/
confused, muddled, or foolish
adjunct
C2+
/ˈædʒʌŋkt/
a thing added to something else as a supplementary part
amaranthine
C2+
/ˌæməˈrænθɪn/
undying or unfading; of a deep purplish-red color
amenable
C2+
/əˈminəbəl/
willing to agree or be persuaded; responsive
awfully
C2+
/ˈɔfli/
very; to a great degree
banal
C2+
/bəˈnæl/
so lacking in originality as to be boring
barney
C2+
/ˈbɑrni/
a noisy quarrel or argument
beefheaded
C2+
/ˈbifˌhɛdɪd/
stupid or dull-witted
bewildering
C2+
/bɪˈwɪldɚɪŋ/
causing confusion or perplexity
blockheaded
C2+
/ˈblɑkˌhɛdɪd/
stupid or stubbornly obtuse
blustery
C2+
/ˈblʌstəri/
characterized by strong gusty winds
boastful
C2+
/ˈboʊstfəl/
given to excessive pride in talking about oneself
bombastic
C2+
/bɑmˈbæstɪk/
high-sounding but with little meaning; inflated in style
boneheaded
C2+
/ˈboʊnˌhɛdɪd/
foolish or stupid
bountiful
C2+
/ˈbaʊntɪfəl/
abundant or generously given
brightness
C2+
/ˈbraɪtnəs/
the quality or degree of being bright or luminous
capitalistic
C2+
/ˌkæpɪtəˈlɪstɪk/
relating to or favoring capitalism
centenary
C2+
/sɛnˈtɛnəri/
a hundredth anniversary
chit
C2+
/tʃɪt/
a short note or voucher recording a small debt or order
circuitous
C2+
/sɚˈkjuɪtəs/
taking a long and indirect route
circumspect
C2+
/ˈsɚkəmˌspɛkt/
cautious and wary of consequences before acting
confounded
C2+
/kənˈfaʊndɪd/
bewildered, or used as a mild oath of annoyance
congruous
C2+
/ˈkɑŋɡruəs/
in harmony or agreement; suitable and fitting
damned
C2+
/dæmd/
condemned to hell, or used as an intensifier of annoyance
definitive
C2+
/dɪˈfɪnɪtɪv/
most authoritative and conclusive; final
despicable
C2+
/dɪˈspɪkəbəl/
deserving hatred and contempt; vile
distasteful
C2+
/dɪsˈteɪstfəl/
causing dislike or disgust; offensive
doghouse
C2+
/ˈdɔɡˌhaʊs/
a small shelter for a dog; figuratively, a state of disfavor
epitome
C2+
/ɪˈpɪtəmi/
a perfect example or embodiment of a quality or type
esoteric
C2+
/ˌɛsəˈtɛrɪk/
understood by or intended for only a small specialized group
evermore
C2+
/ˌɛvɚˈmɔr/
always; forever (literary)
fathomless
C2+
/ˈfæðəmləs/
too deep to be measured; impossible to comprehend
fickle
C2+
/ˈfɪkəl/
changing frequently in loyalty or affection; inconstant
forte
C2+
/ˈfɔrteɪ/
a thing at which one excels; a strong point
fortuitous
C2+
/fɔrˈtuɪtəs/
happening by chance, especially in a fortunate way
frail
C2+
/freɪl/
weak and delicate; easily damaged or broken
frivolous
C2+
/ˈfrɪvələs/
not serious or sensible; carelessly silly or trivial
grove
C2+
/ɡroʊv/
a small group of trees, often planted or cultivated together
habitual
C2+
/həˈbɪtʃuəl/
done regularly or repeatedly; customary by habit
horrific
C2+
/hɔˈrɪfɪk/
causing horror; shockingly dreadful
hoy
C2+
/hɔɪ/
a call used to attract attention; also a small coastal sailing vessel
incessant
C2+
/ɪnˈsɛsənt/
continuing without pause or interruption
incomparable
C2+
/ɪnˈkɑmpərəbəl/
so excellent or unique as to have no equal
inconsequential
C2+
/ɪnˌkɑnsəˈkwɛnʃəl/
of little or no importance; trivial
inconsistent
C2+
/ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənt/
not staying the same; containing contradictory elements
inconstant
C2+
/ɪnˈkɑnstənt/
frequently changing; fickle or unreliable
increment
C2+
/ˈɪnkrəmənt/
a small increase or addition in a series of steps
inenubilable
C2+
/ˌɪnɪˈnjubɪləbəl/
that cannot be cleared of cloud or made plain; impossible to clarify
inferior
C2+
/ɪnˈfɪriɚ/
lower in rank, quality, or value
irksome
C2+
/ˈɝksəm/
causing annoyance or irritation; tiresome
irrespective
C2+
/ˌɪrɪˈspɛktɪv/
not taking something into account; regardless
legit
C2+
/ləˈdʒɪt/
legitimate, genuine, or allowed (informal)
manageable
C2+
/ˈmænɪdʒəbəl/
able to be handled, controlled, or accomplished without difficulty
mischievous
C2+
/ˈmɪstʃɪvəs/
playfully causing minor trouble; full of harmless pranks
miser
C2+
/ˈmaɪzɚ/
a person who hoards wealth and spends as little as possible
momently
C2+
/ˈmoʊməntli/
from moment to moment; momentarily (archaic/literary)
nameable
C2+
/ˈneɪməbəl/
able to be named or specified
nebulous
C2+
/ˈnɛbjələs/
vague, hazy, or ill-defined; cloudlike
nonstop
C2+
/ˌnɑnˈstɑp/
without any stops or pauses; continuous
optimal
C2+
/ˈɑptəməl/
best or most favorable; ideal under the circumstances
pensive
C2+
/ˈpɛnsɪv/
engaged in deep, often wistful or melancholy thought
perpetual
C2+
/pɚˈpɛtʃuəl/
never ending or changing; occurring repeatedly
plainly
C2+
/ˈpleɪnli/
clearly and unmistakably; in a simple, frank manner
probity
C2+
/ˈproʊbəti/
strong moral integrity and honesty
proportionate
C2+
/prəˈpɔrʃənət/
corresponding in size or degree to something else
regnant
C2+
/ˈrɛɡnənt/
reigning, ruling, or currently prevailing
respectful
C2+
/rɪˈspɛktfəl/
showing deference or regard for others
restrained
C2+
/rɪˈstreɪnd/
controlled, reserved, or kept within limits
reverable
C2+
/ˈrɛvərəbəl/
deserving of reverence; worthy of being revered
righteous
C2+
/ˈraɪtʃəs/
morally upright; justifiable
scrap
C2+
/skræp/
a small discarded fragment; to discard or abandon
spawn
C2+
/spɔːn/
to produce or generate, especially in large numbers
tardily
C2+
/ˈtɑːrdɪli/
in a slow or delayed manner; belatedly
tolerable
C2+
/ˈtɑːlərəbəl/
able to be endured; fairly good
unadorned
C2+
/ˌʌnəˈdɔːrnd/
plain; not decorated or embellished
unequaled
C2+
/ʌnˈiːkwəld/
having no equal; unsurpassed
uniformly
C2+
/ˈjuːnɪfɔːrmli/
in a consistent or unvarying manner
unsteady
C2+
/ʌnˈstɛdi/
liable to falter or shake; not firm or stable
untouched
C2+
/ʌnˈtʌtʃt/
not handled, altered, or affected
uttermost
C2+
/ˈʌtɚmoʊst/
greatest or most extreme; furthest