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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188 words
slattern
C2
/ˈslætɚn/
One who is uncareful or unconcerned about appearance or surroundings, usually said of a dirty and untidy woman.
indolent
C2
/ˈɪndələnt/
Habitually lazy and avoiding any kind of work or effort.
rapscallion
C2
/ræpˈskæljən/
a dishonest, disreputable, or mischievous person; a rascal or scoundrel
hunchbacked
C2
/ˈhʌntʃˌbækt/
having a back that is markedly rounded or curved outward
hanger-on
C2
/ˈhæŋɚˌɑn/
a person who stays close to someone powerful, wealthy, or famous in the hope of gaining status or advantage
unabashed
C2
/ˌʌnəˈbæʃt/
not embarrassed, ashamed, or self-conscious; confidently composed
matronly
C2
/ˈmeɪtrənli/
having the dignified, caring, or authoritative qualities traditionally associated with a mature woman
rakish
C2
/ˈɹeɪkɪʃ/
dashingly stylish or jaunty in a slightly unconventional or disreputable way
louche
C2
/luːʃ/
disreputable or morally questionable, often in a stylish or appealing way
coxcomb
C2
/ˈkɒks.koʊm/
dated: a vain, conceited man excessively concerned with his appearance
deferential
C2
/ˌdɛfəˈrɛnʃəl/
showing respectful submission to another person's authority, wishes, or judgment
hangdog
C2
/ˈhæŋˌdɔɡ/
Low; sneaking; ashamed.
high-toned
C2
/ˌhaɪˈtoʊnd/
dated, especially US: belonging to or characteristic of high social rank; aristocratic or refined
disabuse
C2
/dɪsəˈbjuːs/
To free (someone) of a misconception or misapprehension; to unveil a falsehood held by (someone).
qualitative
C2
/ˈkwɑ.ləˌteɪ.tɪv/
Based on the qualities or nature of something rather than on numbers or amounts.
solvable
C2
/ˈsɑlvəbəl/
capable of being solved
sluggard
C2
/ˈslʌɡ.ɚd/
a habitually lazy or idle person, especially one slow to begin necessary work
layperson
C2
/ˈleɪ.pɜɹ.sən/
One who is not intimately familiar with a given subject or activity.
wiseacre
C2
/ˈwaɪzˌeɪkɚ/
old-fashioned or informal: a person who pretends to be knowledgeable or makes conceitedly clever remarks
poltroon
C2
/pɑlˈtɹun/
a thoroughly contemptible or abject coward
importunate
C2
/ɪmˈpɔrtʃənət/
persistently demanding or pleading, often to an annoying degree
affability
C2
/ˌæfəˈbɪləti/
the quality of being friendly, approachable, and easy to talk to
protectress
C2
/prəˈtɛktrɪs/
a woman who protects, guards, or acts as a patron; now uncommon
unambitious
C2
/ˌʌnæmˈbɪʃəs/
having little desire for achievement, advancement, or honor
simulacrum
C2
/ˌsɪmjəˈleɪkɹəm/
A physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing.
stolid
C2
/ˈstɑː.lɪd/
calm and showing little emotion, excitement, or sensitivity
impetuosity
C2
/ɪmˌpɛtʃuˈɑːsəti/
the quality of acting suddenly and forcefully without considering the consequences
laggard
C2
/ˈlæɡɚd/
a person or thing that is slow or falls behind others
magnanimously
C2
/mæɡˈnænɪməsli/
In a generous and forgiving way, especially toward a rival.
polymath
C2
/ˈpɑliˌmæθ/
A person with extraordinarily broad and comprehensive knowledge.
obstructionist
C2
/əbˈstrʌkʃənəst/
Someone who systematically obstructs the actions of others.
docility
C2
/dɑːˈsɪləti/
the trait of being agreeably submissive and manageable
shrewish
C2
/ˈʃruː.ɪʃ/
bad-tempered, quarrelsome, and habitually complaining; now old-fashioned and offensive when applied to a woman
debauchee
C2
/ˌdɛbəˈtʃiː/
a person who habitually pursues excessive sensual pleasure and behaves without moral restraint
roué
C2
/ruˈeɪ/
old-fashioned: a fashionable man devoted to pleasure and known for immoral, drunken, or sexually promiscuous behavior
mulish
C2
/ˈmjuː.lɪʃ/
stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action
unadventurous
C2
/ˌʌn.ədˈvɛn.tʃɚ.əs/
unwilling to take risks or try unfamiliar things
imprimatur
C2
/ˌɪm.pɹɪˈmɑ.tɚ/
An official license to publish or print something, especially when censorship applies.
thickset
C2
/ˈθɪkˌsɛt/
having a short, broad, solid, or heavy body build
strapper
C2
/ˈstræpɚ/
dated or informal: an unusually large, strong, robust person
indulgently
C2
In a way that is kind, gentle, and willing to allow what others want.
prognosticate
C2
/pɹɒɡˈnɒstɪkeɪt/
To predict or forecast, especially through the application of skill.
manlike
C2
/ˈmænlaɪk/
resembling a human being or an adult man in form or appearance
hauteur
C2
/oʊˈtɝ/
proud, distant behavior that shows a sense of superiority toward other people
geniality
C2
/ˌdʒiːniˈæləti/
the quality of being warmly cheerful, friendly, and easy to approach
uppish
C2
/ˈʌpɪʃ/
arrogant, conceited, or inclined to act socially superior
kittenish
C2
/ˈkɪtənɪʃ/
playful, lively, or mischievous in a way that resembles a young cat
undiscriminating
C2
/ˌʌndɪˈskrɪməˌneɪtɪŋ/
not making careful distinctions or judgments
unaggressive
C2
/ˌʌnəˈɡrɛsɪv/
not inclined to attack, threaten, or behave violently
harum-scarum
C2
/ˌhɛrəmˈskɛrəm/
reckless, disorderly, and lacking careful thought
suavity
C2
/ˈswɑvəti/
smooth, polite, and urbane agreeableness of manner
dissembler
C2
/dɪˈsɛmblɚ/
a person who conceals true feelings or intentions by pretending to have different ones
truckle
C2
/ˈtrʌk.əl/
to submit tamely or behave obsequiously toward someone, usually in the construction truckle to
unsuspicious
C2
/ˌʌn.səˈspɪʃ.əs/
not suspecting danger, deception, or another person's motives; trusting or unaware
faddy
C2
/ˈfæd.i/
having very particular, changeable, or hard-to-satisfy tastes and preferences
manikin
C2
/ˈmæn.ɪ.kɪn/
a small model or articulated figure representing the human body, especially for medical or artistic study
compromiser
C2
/ˈkɑːmprəmaɪzər/
a person willing or able to settle a disagreement through mutual concessions
pertinacious
C2
/ˌpɝtəˈneɪʃəs/
holding resolutely to an opinion, purpose, or course of action
urbanity
C2
/ɝˈbænəti/
polished, refined, and courteous behavior or manner
dunderheaded
C2
/ˌdʌndɚˈhɛdɪd/
old-fashioned: very stupid or foolish
lubricious
C2
/luˈbɹɪʃəs/
characterized by lust
improvidence
C2
/ɪmˈpɹɑːvədəns/
failure to plan carefully for the future, especially in the use of money or resources
irascibility
C2
/ɪˌræs.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/
a tendency to become angry or irritated quickly
unpracticed
C2
/ʌnˈpræktɪst/
lacking training, experience, or skill gained through practice
wizen
C2
/ˈwɪz.ən/
shrunken, withered, and wrinkled, especially through age, illness, or dryness
sumptuary
C2
/ˈsʌm(p)t͡ʃuˌɛɹi/
regulating or controlling expenditure or personal behavior
imperturbability
C2
/ɪmˌpɝtərbəˈbɪləti/
a state of calm, unruffled self-assurance; aplomb, composure.
contumacious
C2
/ˌkɑːn.tʊˈmeɪ.ʃəs/
stubbornly or defiantly disobedient to authority
titman
C2
/ˈtɪtmən/
dialectal or historical: the smallest or weakest animal in a litter; a runt
impressible
C2
/ɪmˈprɛsəbəl/
easily influenced or affected, especially in one's opinions or character
regardful
C2
/rɪˈɡɑrd.fəl/
carefully attentive or mindful of someone or something
patronizingly
C2
In a way that treats someone as less intelligent or important.
misanthropist
C2
/mɪˈsænθrəpɪst/
a person who dislikes, distrusts, or holds a deeply negative view of humankind
hardihood
C2
/ˈhɑɹdiˌhʊd/
resolute courage and endurance in the face of danger or hardship
troglodytic
C2
/ˌtrɑɡləˈdɪtɪk/
relating to people or animals that live in caves
ingenuously
C2
/ɪnˈdʒɛnjuːəsli/
In an open, honest, and straightforward way.
freehanded
C2
/ˌfriːˈhændɪd/
generous and ready to give freely
underbred
C2
/ˌʌndɚˈbɹɛd/
lacking refinement, good manners, or the upbringing expected in polite society
unamenable
C2
/ˌʌn.əˈmiː.nə.bəl/
unwilling to accept a suggestion, request, or influence
indolently
C2
In a lazy, idle way, avoiding effort.
pettish
C2
/ˈpɛtɪʃ/
easily irritated, impatient, or bad-tempered, especially over something trivial
bewhiskered
C2
/bɪˈwɪskərd/
having hair on the cheeks and chin
pudic
C2
/ˈpjudɪk/
modest or easily embarrassed about sexual matters or bodily exposure
closefisted
C2
/ˌkloʊsˈfɪstɪd/
unwilling to spend, give, or part with money; stingy
emulous
C2
/ˈɛmjələs/
eager to equal or surpass another; competitively ambitious
embonpoint
C2
/ɑ̃.bɔ̃ˈpwɛ̃/
a rounded or plump bodily figure, especially one regarded as pleasantly full
cloddish
C2
/ˈklɑdɪʃ/
awkward, dull, or lacking sensitivity and refinement
distingué
C2
/dɪsˈtæŋ.ɡeɪ/
fashionably distinguished, elegant, or marked by an air of refinement
philanthropically
C2
In a generous, charitable way; for the good of others.
unadept
C2
/ˌʌnəˈdɛpt/
a person who lacks skill or proficiency; rare
preux
C2
/prø/
literary or archaic: chivalrous, valiant, or gallant
conformer
C2
/kənˈfɔrmɚ/
a person who follows prevailing rules, customs, or opinions rather than acting independently