This week on The Missing Workbook

1 new learner 12 reviews

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.

Choose your level

View all levels

C2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.

3135 words

Describing Qualities

3135 words

/ˈbɑni/ chiefly Scottish, pretty, attractive, or fine-looking Meaning Off Sound Off

/bəˈræsɪk/ of or containing boric acid; British rhyming slang for penniless Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈboʊvaɪn/ relating to cattle; sluggish or dull in manner Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbreɪni/ intelligent or clever Meaning Off Sound Off

/bræʃ/ self-assertive in a rude, noisy, or overbearing way Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbɔɪənt/ able to float; cheerful and optimistic Meaning Off Sound Off

/kəˈnɑnɪkəl/ conforming to an accepted rule, standard, or authoritative body of texts Meaning Off Sound Off

cataclysmic C2+

/ˌkætəˈklɪzmɪk/ relating to a sudden violent upheaval or disaster Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˌkætəˈɡɔrɪk/ unqualified and absolute; explicit Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈtʃæfi/ full of or resembling chaff; worthless or light Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈtʃeɪndʒfəl/ full of or subject to change; variable Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈtʃæpi/ marked by cracks or chaps in the skin; British informal for a fellow Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈtʃeɪstli/ in a pure, modest, or restrained manner Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈtʃɪri/ bright and pleasant; cheerful Meaning Off Sound Off

/ʃik/ elegantly and stylishly fashionable Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈtʃifli/ mainly; for the most part Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈtʃaɪldˌlaɪk/ having the innocent or trusting qualities of a child Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈklɛmənt/ mild and merciful; pleasant in weather Meaning Off Sound Off

/kəˈmidɪk/ relating to comedy or its techniques Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈkɑmɪkəl/ amusing or funny, often unintentionally Meaning Off Sound Off

considerate C2+

/kənˈsɪdərət/ careful not to inconvenience or harm others; thoughtful Meaning Off Sound Off

constitutive C2+

/ˈkɑnstəˌtutɪv/ forming an essential or fundamental part of something Meaning Off Sound Off

contemplative C2+

/kənˈtɛmplətɪv/ given to or marked by deep, reflective thought Meaning Off Sound Off

contentious C2+

/kənˈtɛnʃəs/ causing or likely to cause disagreement; argumentative Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈkɔrdʒəl/ warm and friendly; a sweet fruit-flavored drink Meaning Off Sound Off

/kɔrˈpɔriəl/ relating to a material body; physical rather than spiritual Meaning Off Sound Off

/kræs/ showing gross lack of sensitivity or intelligence Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈkrɪmzən/ a deep, rich red color Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈkrɪndʒɪŋ/ behaving in an excessively servile or fearful way Meaning Off Sound Off

crystalline C2+

/ˈkrɪstəlɪn/ having the structure or clarity of crystal; transparent Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈkʌmbɚsəm/ large or heavy and therefore difficult to handle; unwieldy Meaning Off Sound Off

customarily C2+

/ˌkʌstəˈmɛrəli/ according to usual practice; ordinarily Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈdæmnəbəl/ deserving condemnation; detestable Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈdæpɚ/ neat and trim in dress and appearance Meaning Off Sound Off

/dɪˈfaɪənt/ boldly resistant to authority or opposition Meaning Off Sound Off

/dɪˈlɪŋkwənt/ failing in duty or guilty of an offense; overdue in payment Meaning Off Sound Off

depauperate C2+

/dɪˈpɔpərɪt/ impoverished or imperfectly developed, especially of a flora or organism Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˌdaɪəˈbɑlɪk/ characteristic of the devil; fiendishly wicked or cruel Meaning Off Sound Off

/dɪˈzizd/ affected by or suffering from disease; unhealthy Meaning Off Sound Off

/dɪsˈmɪsɪv/ showing that something is unworthy of consideration Meaning Off Sound Off

/dɪˈsɪmələr/ not alike; different in nature or kind Meaning Off Sound Off

distinguishable C2+

/dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃəbəl/ able to be perceived as different or distinct Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈdɔɡɪd/ persistent and tenacious in pursuing something Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈdoʊlsəm/ causing or expressing sorrow; dismal (archaic, literary) Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈdoʊpi/ dull or stupefied, as if drugged; foolish Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈdaʊtləs/ certainly or very probably; without doubt Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈdʌvlaɪk/ resembling a dove; gentle, innocent, or peaceable Meaning Off Sound Off

/drɪr/ dreary, gloomy, or cheerless (chiefly poetic) Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɜrθli/ relating to the material world rather than the spiritual; worldly Meaning Off Sound Off

/ɛnˈtʃæntɪŋ/ delightfully charming or captivating Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈivənˈhændɪd/ fair and impartial in treatment or judgment Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɛvərˌɡrin/ retaining green leaves year-round; perennially fresh or relevant Meaning Off Sound Off

everlastingly C2+

/ˌɛvərˈlæstɪŋli/ in a way that lasts forever; eternally or incessantly Meaning Off Sound Off

/ɪɡˈzɪstənt/ having actual being; existing at present Meaning Off Sound Off

/fəˈleɪʃəs/ based on a mistaken belief or unsound reasoning Meaning Off Sound Off

/fəˈtiɡɪŋ/ causing tiredness or exhaustion Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈfɔltləs/ without flaw or error; perfect Meaning Off Sound Off

/fɪrd/ regarded with fear; dreaded Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈfɜrtəl/ capable of producing abundant growth or offspring; productive Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈflæʃi/ ostentatiously showy or stylish, often superficially Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈfleɪvərfəl/ full of rich and pleasing flavor Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈfleɪvərsəm/ having a full, appetizing flavor Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈflɪmzi/ weak, insubstantial, or easily damaged; unconvincing Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈfɔrsfəl/ powerful, vigorous, and assertive Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈfrɛʃli/ recently or newly; in a fresh manner Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈfrutləs/ failing to achieve the desired result; unproductive Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈfʌzi/ covered with fine hairs; blurred or indistinct Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɡleɪʃəl/ relating to ice or glaciers; extremely cold or slow Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɡɑdˌlaɪk/ resembling or having the qualities of a god; divine or supremely excellent Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɡreɪsləs/ lacking charm, elegance, or a sense of propriety Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɡræfɪkəl/ relating to visual art or to vivid, detailed depiction Meaning Off Sound Off

/ɡroʊˈtɛsk/ comically or repulsively distorted or unnatural Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɡɪltləs/ free from guilt or blame; innocent Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈhæɡərd/ looking exhausted and unwell, as from fatigue or suffering Meaning Off Sound Off

halfhearted C2+

/ˌhæfˈhɑrtɪd/ showing little enthusiasm or effort Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈhændəli/ easily and conveniently; with little difficulty Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈheɪzi/ obscured by haze; vague or unclear Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈhidfəl/ paying careful attention; mindful Meaning Off Sound Off

heterogeneous C2+

/ˌhɛtərəˈdʒiniəs/ composed of diverse or dissimilar elements Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈhʌmɪŋ/ producing a low continuous sound; busy and active Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈhɜrtfəl/ causing emotional pain or distress Meaning Off Sound Off

illegitimate C2+

/ˌɪləˈdʒɪtəmət/ not authorized by law or accepted standards; not legitimate Meaning Off Sound Off

/ɪˈlɪsɪt/ forbidden by law, rules, or custom Meaning Off Sound Off

/ɪˈmædʒənəbəl/ capable of being conceived or imagined Meaning Off Sound Off

/ɪˈmækjələt/ perfectly clean, neat, or free from flaw Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˌɪməˈtɪriəl/ unimportant or irrelevant; also, having no physical substance Meaning Off Sound Off

/ɪmˈpoʊzɪŋ/ grand and impressive in size or appearance Meaning Off Sound Off

/ɪmˈprɑmptu/ done without preparation; spontaneous Meaning Off Sound Off

/ɪmˈpjʊr/ mixed with foreign matter; not clean or morally pure Meaning Off Sound Off

/ɪnˈæpt/ not suitable or appropriate; inept Meaning Off Sound Off

/ɪnˈklɛmənt/ unpleasantly cold, wet, or stormy, of weather Meaning Off Sound Off

incompatible C2+

/ˌɪnkəmˈpætəbəl/ unable to exist or work together harmoniously Meaning Off Sound Off

incompetent C2+

/ɪnˈkɑmpətənt/ lacking the skill or ability to do something successfully Meaning Off Sound Off

inconsiderable C2+

/ˌɪnkənˈsɪdərəbəl/ too small or unimportant to be worth considering Meaning Off Sound Off

/ɪnˈdisəntli/ in a manner offending against propriety or decency Meaning Off Sound Off

indubitably C2+

/ɪnˈdubɪtəbli/ in a manner that cannot be doubted; unquestionably Meaning Off Sound Off

Load more words