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
cataclysm
C2+
/ˈkætəˌklɪzəm/
a violent, large-scale upheaval or disaster
censurable
C2+
/ˈsɛnʃərəbəl/
deserving strong disapproval or official blame
charismatic
C2+
/ˌkɛrɪzˈmætɪk/
exercising a compelling charm that inspires devotion in others
chasteness
C2+
/ˈtʃeɪstnəs/
the quality of being pure, modest, or restrained in style or conduct
chichi
C2+
/ˈʃiːʃiː/
pretentiously elegant or fashionable; affectedly stylish
chickabiddy
C2+
/ˈtʃɪkəˌbɪdi/
a term of endearment for a child or chicken
circumstantial
C2+
/ˌsɚkəmˈstænʃəl/
pointing indirectly to a fact rather than proving it directly
clandestine
C2+
/klænˈdɛstən/
kept secret, especially because illicit or unauthorized
cloaca
C2+
/kloʊˈeɪkə/
a common cavity for excretory and reproductive ducts in many vertebrates
coherency
C2+
/koʊˈhɪrənsi/
the quality of being logical and consistent; coherence
complicatedness
C2+
/ˈkɑmpləˌkeɪtɪdnəs/
the quality of being intricate and difficult to understand
concisely
C2+
/kənˈsaɪsli/
in a brief and clearly expressed manner
concordant
C2+
/kənˈkɔrdənt/
in agreement; consistent or harmonious
condescending
C2+
/ˌkɑndəˈsɛndɪŋ/
showing a patronizing attitude of superiority
confederation
C2+
/kənˌfɛdəˈreɪʃən/
an alliance of states or groups united for a common purpose
conjectural
C2+
/kənˈdʒɛktʃərəl/
based on incomplete information; involving guesswork
consultative
C2+
/kənˈsʌltətɪv/
intended for or having the role of giving advice
continuousness
C2+
/kənˈtɪnjuəsnəs/
the quality of being unbroken or uninterrupted
contrarious
C2+
/kənˈtrɛriəs/
opposed, perverse, or inclined to oppose (archaic)
contumelious
C2+
/ˌkɑntuˈmiːliəs/
scornful and insulting; insolently abusive
conundrum
C2+
/kəˈnʌndrəm/
a confusing and difficult problem or riddle
conventionally
C2+
/kənˈvɛnʃənəli/
in a way that follows accepted customs or standards
conversant
C2+
/kənˈvɜrsənt/
familiar with or knowledgeable about something
correlative
C2+
/kəˈrɛlətɪv/
mutually related; each implying or complementing the other
corruptness
C2+
/kəˈrʌptnəs/
the quality of being dishonest, depraved, or morally rotten
cot
C2+
/kɑt/
a small, simple bed, or (British) a child's crib
craftsmanship
C2+
/ˈkræftsmənʃɪp/
the skill and quality with which something is made by hand
creationary
C2+
/kriˈeɪʃəˌnɛri/
pertaining to or marked by creation
crinkly
C2+
/ˈkrɪŋkli/
full of small wrinkles, folds, or creases
crooked
C2+
/ˈkrʊkɪd/
bent or twisted out of shape; dishonest
crummy
C2+
/ˈkrʌmi/
of poor quality; shabby or unpleasant
cubic
C2+
/ˈkjubɪk/
having the shape of a cube; relating to volume measured in three dimensions
curtail
C2+
/kɚˈteɪl/
to reduce or cut short; to impose a restriction on
cushiony
C2+
/ˈkʊʃəni/
soft and resilient like a cushion
deceitfulness
C2+
/dɪˈsitfəlnəs/
the quality of being deceitful; dishonesty
definable
C2+
/dɪˈfaɪnəbəl/
able to be defined or precisely described
degeneracy
C2+
/dɪˈdʒɛnɚəsi/
the state of having declined morally, physically, or in quality
delusion
C2+
/dɪˈluʒən/
a false belief held despite evidence to the contrary
demurral
C2+
/dɪˈmɝəl/
an expression of objection, hesitation, or reluctance
deprecative
C2+
/ˈdɛprɪkətɪv/
expressing disapproval or seeking to avert something by entreaty
deservingly
C2+
/dɪˈzɝvɪŋli/
in a manner that is merited or deserved
detectable
C2+
/dɪˈtɛktəbəl/
able to be detected or perceived
determinant
C2+
/dɪˈtɝmɪnənt/
a factor that decisively influences an outcome
devilish
C2+
/ˈdɛvəlɪʃ/
like a devil; mischievous or extremely difficult
diaphanous
C2+
/daɪˈæfənəs/
light, delicate, and translucent; almost transparent
dilapidated
C2+
/dɪˈlæpɪˌdeɪtɪd/
fallen into ruin or disrepair through neglect
disadventurous
C2+
/ˌdɪsədˈvɛntʃərəs/
archaic term for unfortunate, unlucky, or marked by misadventure
disbelief
C2+
/ˌdɪsbɪˈlif/
inability or refusal to accept that something is true or real
discontinuous
C2+
/ˌdɪskənˈtɪnjuəs/
having breaks or interruptions; not continuous
discretely
C2+
/dɪˈskritli/
in a separate or individually distinct manner
disorderliness
C2+
/dɪsˈɔrdərlinəs/
the quality of being untidy, chaotic, or unruly
dispersion
C2+
/dɪˈspɜrʒən/
the act of scattering or the state of being spread over a wide area
distinctiveness
C2+
/dɪˈstɪŋktɪvnəs/
the quality of being clearly different or readily distinguishable
diverseness
C2+
/dɪˈvɜrsnəs/
the quality of being varied or composed of differing elements
doubtfully
C2+
/ˈdaʊtfəli/
in a manner showing uncertainty or hesitation
downrightly
C2+
/ˈdaʊnˌraɪtli/
in a thorough, plain, or outright manner
draggy
C2+
/ˈdræɡi/
informal for slow, dull, or tediously sluggish
drastically
C2+
/ˈdræstɪkli/
in a way that has a strong or extreme effect
duteously
C2+
/ˈdutiəsli/
in a dutiful or obedient manner
effervescent
C2+
/ˌɛfərˈvɛsənt/
giving off bubbles; vivacious and high-spirited
effortful
C2+
/ˈɛfərtfəl/
requiring or showing great effort or exertion
egotistic
C2+
/ˌiɡəˈtɪstɪk/
excessively self-centered or conceited
egregious
C2+
/ɪˈɡridʒəs/
outstandingly bad; conspicuously and shockingly offensive
emulative
C2+
/ˈɛmjəˌleɪtɪv/
inclined to imitate or strive to equal another
endlessness
C2+
/ˈɛndlɪsnəs/
the quality of having no end or limit
enfeeble
C2+
/ɛnˈfibəl/
to make weak or feeble
entryway
C2+
/ˈɛntriweɪ/
a passage or opening that serves as an entrance
ephemeralness
C2+
/əˈfɛmərəlnəs/
the quality of lasting for a very short time
ephemeron
C2+
/əˈfɛmərɑn/
a short-lived thing, such as a mayfly or transient publication
erratic
C2+
/əˈrætɪk/
irregular or unpredictable in movement, behavior, or quality
eventuality
C2+
/ɪˌvɛntʃuˈælɪti/
a possible event or outcome, especially an unwelcome one
everduring
C2+
/ˌɛvərˈdjʊrɪŋ/
lasting forever; everlasting
evilness
C2+
/ˈivəlnəs/
the quality of being evil; wickedness
expansive
C2+
/ɪkˈspænsɪv/
covering a wide area; open and communicative in manner
expeditiously
C2+
/ˌɛkspəˈdɪʃəsli/
in a quick and efficient manner
explorative
C2+
/ɪkˈsplɔrətɪv/
relating to or serving to explore; exploratory
extendedly
C2+
/ɪkˈstɛndɪdli/
in an extended or prolonged manner
extense
C2+
/ɪkˈstɛns/
extended or wide in scope; extensive
extraordinariness
C2+
/ɪkˈstrɔrdɪnɛrinəs/
the quality of being highly unusual or remarkable
feeble
C2+
/ˈfibəl/
lacking physical strength or effectiveness; weak
feigned
C2+
/feɪnd/
simulated or pretended; not genuine
fertileness
C2+
/ˈfɜrtəlnəs/
the quality of being fertile or productive
fierceness
C2+
/ˈfɪrsnəs/
the quality of being violent, intense, or savage
filarious
C2+
/fɪˈlɛəriəs/
thread-like; relating to or resembling filaria worms
fizgig
C2+
/ˈfɪzɡɪɡ/
a frivolous, flighty woman; a small firework or spinning toy
flaccid
C2+
/ˈflæsɪd/
soft and limp; lacking firmness or vigor
flaxen
C2+
/ˈflæksən/
of the pale yellow color of flax, especially of hair
fleeceable
C2+
/ˈflisəbəl/
easily cheated or swindled
flexibleness
C2+
/ˈflɛksəbəlnəs/
the quality of being flexible or adaptable
fluidic
C2+
/fluˈɪdɪk/
relating to or operating by the flow of fluids
fluidity
C2+
/fluˈɪdɪti/
the quality of flowing smoothly or changing readily
fob
C2+
/fɑb/
a small ornament or device attached to a key ring or watch chain
foolery
C2+
/ˈfuləri/
foolish or absurd behavior; silly conduct
formless
C2+
/ˈfɔrmləs/
having no definite or distinct shape or structure
fortuitously
C2+
/fɔrˈtuɪtəsli/
by chance; in a happily accidental manner
frailty
C2+
/ˈfreɪlti/
the condition of being weak or delicate; a moral weakness