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 levelsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
1998 words
pugnacious
C2
/pəgˈnæʃɪs/
ready and able to resort to force or violence
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
unacknowledged
C2
/ˌʌn.əkˈnɑː.lɪdʒd/
not admitted, recognized, or accepted as true or existing
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
anodyne
C2
/ˈæn.ə.daɪn/
capable of relieving pain
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
peaty
C2
/ˈpiːtiː/
Of whisky, having a complex smoky flavour imparted by compounds released by peat fires used to dry the malted barley.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
fleecy
C2
/ˈfliːsi/
resembling fleece in being soft, light, white, or fluffy
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
equilateral
C2
/ˌiːkwəˈlæt̬ɚəl/
having all sides of equal length
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
parasitical
C2
/ˌpɛɹəˈsɪtɪkəl/
relating to, caused by, or living as a parasite; parasitic
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
apelike
C2
/ˈeɪˌplaɪk/
Similar to an ape in appearance or behaviour.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
viz
C2
/vɪz/
namely; that is to say, used to introduce a clarification or list
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
elephantine
C2
/ɛl.əˈfæn.tin/
Extremely large and heavy.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
deuced
C2
/ˈduː.sɪd/
old-fashioned informal: very or extremely, used for emphasis
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
knavish
C2
/ˈneɪ.vɪʃ/
dishonest, deceitful, or unscrupulous
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
euphemistically
C2
/ˌjuːfəˈmɪstɪkli/
In a way that uses mild words to replace harsh or offensive ones.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
treeless
C2
/ˈtriː.ləs/
having no trees
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
anthropoid
C2
/ˈænθɹəpɔɪd/
Having characteristics of a human, usually in terms of shape or appearance.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
labyrinthine
C2
/ˌlæb.əˈɹɪn.θɪn/
resembling a labyrinth in form or complexity
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
hauntingly
C2
/ˈhɔntɪŋli/
In a way that is beautiful or moving and stays in your mind
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
promethean
C2
/prəˈmiːθiən/
daringly creative, inventive, or defiant of accepted limits
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
unpromising
C2
/ənˈprɔmɪsɪŋ/
Showing little sign of future success or good results.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
ontological
C2
/ˌɑːn.təˈlɑː.dʒɪ.kəl/
relating to ontology or to the nature, categories, and conditions of being and existence
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cacophonous
C2
/kəˈkɑfənəs/
having an unpleasant sound
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
straightway
C2
/ˈstreɪtweɪ/
immediately or without delay, now chiefly literary or archaic
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
fretful
C2
/ˈfrɛt.fəl/
worried, restless, or unable to relax
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
vociferous
C2
/voʊˈsɪfəɹəs/
conspicuously and offensively loud
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
yester
C2
/ˈjɛs.tɚ/
Of or pertaining to yesterday.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
unobtrusively
C2
/ˌʌn.əbˈtɹuː.sɪv.li/
In a quiet way that does not attract attention or get in the way
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
vitriolic
C2
/ˌvɪt.riˈɑ.lɪk/
of a substance, an especially strong acid
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
spasmodic
C2
/spæzˈmɑ.dɪk/
happening suddenly and irregularly in short bursts
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
pecuniary
C2
/pəˈkjuniˌɛɹi/
relating to or involving money
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
obtainable
C2
/əbˈteɪnəbəl/
capable of being obtained
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
milquetoast
C2
/ˈmɪlkˌtoʊst/
meek or timid
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
heuristic
C2
/hjuˈɹɪstɪk/
That employs a practical method not guaranteed to be optimal or perfect; either not following or derived from any theory, or based on an advisedly oversimplified one.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
unaccountably
C2
/ˌənəˈkaʊntəbli/
in an unaccountable manner
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
typographical
C2
/ˌtaɪ.pəˈɡræf.ɪ.kəl/
relating to typography, typesetting, or the appearance and arrangement of printed text
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
axillary
C2
/ˈæksəˌlɛri/
relating to or situated in the axilla or armpit
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
pusillanimous
C2
/ˌpjuːsɪlˈænɪməs/
Showing ignoble cowardice, or contemptible timidity.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
aquiline
C2
/ˈæk.wɪˌlaɪn/
Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of eagles; resembling that of an eagle.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
parallelogram
C2
/ˌpæ.ɹəˈlɛl.əˌɡɹæm/
either of two rectangular areas (respectively the large parallelogram and the small parallelogram) abutting the goal line in front of the goal. (Since 1986 officially named the large rectangle and small rectangle, though the older names are still occasionally used.)
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
malarial
C2
/məˈlɛɹiəl/
relating to, caused by, or affected with malaria
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
pontifical
C2
/pɑːnˈtɪfɪkəl/
pompously self-important or pretentiously dogmatic
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
unreasoning
C2
/ənˈriːznɪŋ/
Lacking or without reason.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
tremulous
C2
/ˈtɹɛmjuləs/
quivering of the voice as from weakness or fear
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
unappetizing
C2
/ʌnˈæpəˌtaɪzɪŋ/
not appealing to the appetite because of an unpleasant appearance, smell, or taste
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
unexceptional
C2
/ˌʌnɪkˈsɛpʃənəl/
Ordinary and not special in any way.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
truculent
C2
/ˈtɹʌk.jə.lənt/
defiantly aggressive
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
tacitly
C2
/ˈtæsɪtli/
In a way that is understood without being said directly.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
omnivorous
C2
/ɑːmˈnɪvərəs/
feeding on both plant and animal matter
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
conic
C2
/ˈkɑ.nɪk/
of, relating to, or shaped like a cone
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
colloquially
C2
/kəˈloʊ.kwi.əli/
In informal, everyday language.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
inst
C2
/ˈɪnstənt/
dated, in correspondence: of the present month, used after a stated date
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
antithetical
C2
/ˌæntɪˈθɛtɪkəl/
Directly opposed; in complete contrast.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
womanish
C2
/ˈwʊmənɪʃ/
dated and derogatory, especially of a man: having traits stereotypically associated with women and judged weak or unsuitable
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
diffident
C2
/ˈdɪfɪdənt/
lacking self-confidence
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
lilliputian
C2
/ˌlɪləˈpjuʃən/
extremely small, miniature, or petty in scale or importance
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
autonomously
C2
/ˌɔˈtɑːnoʊməsli/
In a way that is independent or self-governing.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
higgledy-piggledy
C2
/ˌhɪɡəldiˈpɪɡəldi/
mixed together or arranged in a confused, disorderly way, with no clear plan or pattern
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
hoar
C2
/hɔr/
literary: greyish white with age; old and grey-haired or frost-whitened
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
hardscrabble
C2
/ˈhɑɹdˌskɹæbəl/
barely satisfying a lower standard
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
greyish
C2
/ˈɡɹeɪ.ɪʃ/
Alternative spelling of grayish.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
metamorphic
C2
/ˌmɛtəˈmɔɹfɪk/
relating to rock altered by intense heat, pressure, or chemically active fluids without fully melting
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
sixtieth
C2
/ˈsɪksti.əθ/
the ordinal number of sixty in counting order
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
jocund
C2
/ˈd͡ʒɑkənd/
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
pullet
C2
/ˈpʊlɪt/
a young female chicken, especially one less than a year old or not yet laying eggs
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
scriptural
C2
/ˈskrɪptʃɚəl/
relating to, contained in, or derived from the sacred writings of a religion, especially the Bible
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
heraldic
C2
/hɛˈrældɪk/
relating to heraldry, heralds, coats of arms, or their symbols and rules
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
rhetorically
C2
/rəˈtɔrɪkli/
In a way that asks a question without expecting an answer.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
intestate
C2
/ɪnˈtɛsteɪt/
having died without leaving a legally valid will
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
haughtily
C2
/ˈhɔtɪli/
In a proud, arrogant way that looks down on others.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
indissoluble
C2
/ˌɪndɪˈsɑːljəbəl/
impossible to break, separate, annul, or bring to an end
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
polyphonic
C2
/ˌpɑːlɪˈfɑːnɪk/
in music, consisting of two or more independent melodic lines sounding together
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
connubial
C2
/kəˈnubiəl/
relating to marriage or the relationship between spouses
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
antediluvian
C2
/ˌæn.ti.dəˈlu.vi.ən/
Extremely old-fashioned, as if from a much earlier age.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
de rigueur
C2
/də rɪˈɡɝː/
required by custom, etiquette, convention, or current fashion
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cataleptic
C2
/ˌkætəˈlɛptɪk/
of or having characteristics of or affected with catalepsy
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
contemptuously
C2
/kənˈtɛmp.t͡ʃu.əs.li/
In a way that shows complete lack of respect or scorn.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
unpremeditated
C2
/ˌʌnpriˈmɛdəˌteɪtɪd/
not planned or thought out in advance; spontaneous but not necessarily accidental
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
unimagined
C2
/ˌənɪˈmædʒənd/
not previously conceived, pictured, or expected
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
warty
C2
/ˈwɔrti/
covered with warts or wart-like growths
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
wheaten
C2
/ˈwiːtən/
made from, containing, or relating to wheat
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
waterless
C2
/ˈwɔtɚləs/
containing no water or lacking an adequate supply of water
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
wherewith
C2
/wɛrˈwɪð/
with which; using the thing just mentioned
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
friable
C2
/ˈfraɪəbəl/
easily crumbled, broken into small fragments, or reduced to powder
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
odorous
C2
/ˈoʊdərəs/
having or giving off a noticeable or distinctive smell
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
peripatetic
C2
/ˌpɛrəpəˈtɛtɪk/
traveling especially on foot
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
pyrrhic
C2
/ˈpɪɹɪk/
of or relating to or resembling Pyrrhus or his exploits, especially his sustaining staggering losses in order to defeat the Romans
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
plutonic
C2
/pluˈtɑnɪk/
of igneous rock formed when magma cools and solidifies deep below the earth's surface
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
larcenous
C2
/ˈlɑɹsənəs/
inclined to steal, or involving theft
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
unexcused
C2
Without an acceptable reason or permission; not officially allowed.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
rancorous
C2
/ˈræŋkərəs/
showing deep, persistent resentment, bitterness, or malice
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
insuperable
C2
/ɪnˈsup(ə)ɹəb(ə)l/
incapable of being surmounted or excelled
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
idiomatic
C2
/ˌɪd.iː.əˈmæt.ɪk/
Using language in a natural way that sounds like a native speaker.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
spatially
C2
In a way that relates to space or to how things are arranged in space.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
alluvial
C2
/ˌæˈluːviːəl/
Pertaining to the soil deposited by a stream.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
undifferentiated
C2
/ˌʌndɪfəˈrɛnʃieɪtɪd/
not divided, distinguished, or developed into different parts or types
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
purulent
C2
/ˈpjʊəɹ(j)ʊlənt/
containing, consisting of, or characterized by pus, usually as a result of infection
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
homogenous
C2
/həˈmɑd͡ʒɪnəs/
Having the same genetic structure; exhibiting homogeny.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off