This week on The Missing Workbook
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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.
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View all levelsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
943 words
brood
C2
/bɹuːd/
To think anxiously or unhappily about something for a long time.
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nudge
C2
/nʌd͡ʒ/
to push against gently
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corroborate
C2
/kəˈɹɑbəɹeɪ̯t/
to support with evidence, authority, or make more certain or confirm
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finesse
C2
/fɪˈnɛs/
To play (a card) as a finesse.
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avail
C2
/əˈveɪl/
to use to one's advantage
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tout
C2
/taʊt/
advertize in strongly positive terms
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perch
C2
/pɝt͡ʃ/
To sit or rest on a high or narrow place, especially of a bird.
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smother
C2
/ˈsməðər/
deprive of the oxygen necessary for combustion
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patronize
C2
/ˈpeɪtɹənaɪz/
To talk to someone as if they were less intelligent or important than you.
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condone
C2
/kənˈdoʊn/
To accept or forgive behaviour that most people think is wrong.
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baa
C2
/bæ/
to make the characteristic bleating sound of a sheep or goat
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winch
C2
/wɪnt͡ʃ/
pull or lift up with or as if with a winch
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eradicate
C2
/ɪˈɹæd.ɪ.keɪt/
to destroy or remove something completely, especially a disease, problem, or harmful practice
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tinkle
C2
/ˈtɪŋkəl/
to make a series of light, clear ringing sounds
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spruce
C2
/spɹuːs/
dress and groom with particular care, as for a special occasion
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prolong
C2
/pɹoʊˈlɔŋ/
To make something last longer; to extend its duration.
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incriminate
C2
/ɪnˈkrɪm.ə.neɪt/
to provide evidence or information suggesting that someone is guilty of a crime or wrongdoing
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chloroform
C2
/ˈklɒɹə(ʊ)ˌfɔː(ɹ)m/
to anesthetize with chloroform
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seine
C2
/sɛn/
fish with a seine
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integration
C2
/ˌɪn.təˈɡɹeɪ.ʃən/
The process of becoming a full, accepted part of a community, especially for people from a different background.
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putty
C2
/ˈpʌti/
apply putty in order to fix or fill
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savor
C2
/ˈseɪvɝ/
to enjoy a taste, smell, experience, or moment slowly and appreciatively
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parry
C2
/ˈpæri/
to ward off or deflect a weapon, blow, or other attack
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hamper
C2
/ˈhæm.pɚ/
To make something difficult to do; to slow or block progress.
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succumb
C2
/səˈkʌm/
To give in to something you cannot resist, such as pressure, temptation, or desire.
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dangle
C2
/ˈdæŋ.ɡəl/
to hang loosely and be able to swing
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swindle
C2
/ˈswɪnd(ə)l/
deprive of by deceit
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quench
C2
/kwɛnt͡ʃ/
cool by plunging into cold water or other liquid
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stub
C2
/stʌb/
strike one's toe accidentally against an object
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abstinence
C2
/ˈæb.stɪ.nəns/
The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.
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hinder
C2
/ˈhɪndɚ/
To make it harder for something to happen or for someone to do something.
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sprain
C2
/spɹeɪn/
to injure a joint by suddenly twisting or stretching its ligaments without dislocating it
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maroon
C2
/məˈruːn/
to leave someone stranded and isolated in a remote place, especially an island
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lament
C2
/ləˈmɛnt/
To express great sadness or regret about something.
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frock
C2
/fɹɑk/
To clothe (somebody) in a frock.
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dribble
C2
/ˈdɹɪ.bɫ̩/
To let a liquid fall slowly in small drops.
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babble
C2
/ˈbæb.(ə)l/
To talk quickly in a confused or foolish way that is hard to follow.
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diminish
C2
/dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/
To become smaller, weaker, or less; or to make something smaller or less.
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girdle
C2
/ˈɡɝdl̩/
cut a girdle around so as to kill by interrupting the circulation of water and nutrients
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wallow
C2
/ˈwɑːloʊ/
To let yourself enjoy or sink into a feeling, often a sad or self-pitying one.
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gambit
C2
/ˈɡæmbɪt/
A clever plan or action used to gain an advantage, often involving some risk.
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hypnotize
C2
/ˈhɪpnətaɪ̯z/
To induce a state of hypnosis in.
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censor
C2
/ˈsɛnsɚ/
to subject to political, religious, or moral censorship
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flinch
C2
/flɪnt͡ʃ/
to draw back, as with fear or pain
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flaunt
C2
/flɔnt/
to display something ostentatiously so that it attracts notice or admiration
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crouch
C2
/kɹaʊt͡ʃ/
to sit on one's heels
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grievance
C2
/ˈɡɹiː.vəns/
A complaint about being treated unfairly, especially one serious enough to act on.
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adhere
C2
/ædˈhɪɹ/
To stick firmly to a surface.
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jiggle
C2
/ˈdʒɪɡ.əl/
to move or cause something to move with quick, small movements from side to side or up and down
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bray
C2
/bɹeɪ/
to laugh loudly and harshly
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indiscretion
C2
/ˌɪndɪsˈkɹɛʃən/
An unwise or careless act or remark, especially one that causes embarrassment.
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scaffold
C2
/ˈskæf.əld/
provide with a scaffold for support
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dictation
C2
/dɪkˈteɪʃən/
the act of speaking words for another person or a device to write or record
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wrongdoing
C2
/ˈɹɒŋˌduːɪŋ/
activity that transgresses moral or civil law
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squirm
C2
/skwɝm/
To twist your body uncomfortably, especially out of shame or embarrassment.
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pomp
C2
/ˈpɑːmp/
To make a pompous display.
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behead
C2
/bɪˈhɛd/
to cut off a person's or animal's head, especially as a form of execution
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topple
C2
/ˈtɑpl̩/
To become unsteady and fall over, or to push something over.
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mutilation
C2
/ˌmjuːtəˈleɪʃən/
The act of mutilating or the state of being mutilated.
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conspire
C2
/kənˈspaɪə(ɹ)/
to engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together
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squint
C2
/skwɪnt/
To look at something with your eyes partly closed, often because of bright light or to see better.
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scuffle
C2
/ˈskʌfəl/
fight or struggle in a confused way at close quarters
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covet
C2
/ˈkʌvɪt/
to wish, long, or crave for something, especially the property of another person
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misbehave
C2
/ˌmɪs.bɪˈheɪv/
to behave badly, improperly, or contrary to rules or expectations
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monogamy
C2
/məˈnɑː.ɡə.mi/
the practice or state of being married to only one person at a time
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mediation
C2
/ˌmidiˈeɪʃən/
The process of helping two sides settle a dispute through a neutral third party.
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jangle
C2
/ˈdʒæŋɡəl/
to make or cause a harsh, discordant metallic ringing sound
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grouse
C2
/ɡræɔs/
To complain or grumble.
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mope
C2
/moʊp/
to remain dejected, listless, or self-pitying instead of acting
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enslave
C2
/ɪnˈsleɪv/
To make subservient; to strip one of freedom; enthrall.
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evaporate
C2
/ɪˈvæp.ə.ɹæɪt/
lose or cause to lose liquid by vaporization leaving a more concentrated residue
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coax
C2
/koʊks/
To gently persuade someone to do something, often with kind or flattering words.
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outnumber
C2
/ˌaʊtˈnʌmbɚ/
to be greater in number than another person, group, or thing
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morph
C2
/mɔː(ɹ)f/
change shape as via computer animation
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insurrection
C2
/ˌɪnsɝˈɛkʃən/
The action of part or all of a national population violently rising up against the government or other authority; (countable) an instance of this; a revolt, an uprising; specifically, one that is at an initial stage or limited in nature.
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quiver
C2
/ˈkwɪvɚ/
To shake with small, rapid, trembling movements.
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dabble
C2
/ˈdæb.əl/
to take part in an activity casually or without serious commitment
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frolic
C2
/ˈfɹɑlɪk/
To play and move about in a happy, lively, carefree way.
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recourse
C2
/ˈɹiːkɔɹs/
The use of someone or something for help in a difficult situation.
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trickle
C2
/ˈtɹɪkəl/
run or flow slowly, as in drops or in an unsteady stream
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idiocy
C2
/ˈɪdiəsi/
extremely foolish behavior, an absurd act, or a serious lack of good judgment
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transcend
C2
/trænˈsend/
to go beyond the ordinary limits, range, or physical constraints of something
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leach
C2
/liːtʃ/
to remove soluble substances from a material by passing liquid through it
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diffuse
C2
/dɪˈfjuz/
To spread something out over a wide area, or to spread out in this way.
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coercion
C2
/koʊˈɝʒən/
Actual or threatened force for the purpose of compelling action by another person; the act of coercing.
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swoon
C2
/swuːn/
to lose consciousness briefly, especially because of weakness or intense emotion
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vail
C2
/veɪl/
to lower or take off something, especially a hat, as a sign of respect or submission
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replenish
C2
/ɹɪˈplɛn.ɪʃ/
To refill; to renew; to supply again or to add a fresh quantity to.
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blubber
C2
/ˈblʌbəɹ/
To cry loudly and messily, often while struggling to speak.
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skedaddle
C2
/skɪˈdædəl/
informal: to leave or run away quickly, especially in alarm
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shimmer
C2
/ˈʃɪm.ɚ/
To shine with a soft, trembling, or flickering light.
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emulate
C2
/ˈɛm.jə.leɪt/
To copy or imitate someone, especially because you admire them.
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resuscitate
C2
/ɹɪˈsʌsɪˌteɪt/
To bring an unconscious or apparently dead person back to life
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exorcise
C2
/ˈɛk.sɔɹˌsaɪz/
To drive out (an evil spirit) from a person, place or thing, especially by an incantation or prayer.
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flay
C2
/fleɪ/
to strip the skin from a person, animal, or carcass
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tarnish
C2
/ˈtɑɹnɪʃ/
To oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.
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