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
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C2
/ˈædˈlɪb/
To say or do something without any preparation; to improvise.
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wester
C2
/ˈwɛs.tər/
to move or turn toward the west
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shelve
C2
/ˈʃɛlv/
place on a shelf
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redd
C2
/rɛd/
Scottish and northern English dialect, usually redd up: to put in order; tidy or clear
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transfuse
C2
/tɹænsˈfjuːz/
to transfer blood or another fluid into a person's or animal's bloodstream
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unction
C2
/ˈʌŋkʃən/
the ceremonial act of anointing someone with oil, especially as a religious rite
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traipse
C2
/tɹeɪps/
informal: to walk from place to place, especially wearily, reluctantly, or over a needlessly long distance
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retch
C2
/rɛtʃ/
to make involuntary movements and sounds as if vomiting, often without bringing anything up
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skew
C2
/skju/
To distort or bias something so it gives a false or one-sided result.
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gild
C2
/ɡɪld/
To cover with a thin layer of gold; to cover with gold leaf.
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foist
C2
/fɔɪst/
to force an unwanted, inferior, or deceptive thing on someone
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mesmerize
C2
/ˈmɛzməɹaɪz/
To exercise mesmerism on; to affect another person, such as to heal or soothe, through the use of animal magnetism.
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dethrone
C2
/diˈθroʊn/
to remove a monarch from the throne or from sovereign power
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posit
C2
/ˈpɑzɪt/
To suggest or assume that something is true as a basis for argument.
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tipple
C2
/ˈtɪpəl/
drink moderately but regularly
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distill
C2
/dɪˈstɪl/
To purify or separate a liquid by heating it into vapor and cooling it back into liquid.
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hobnob
C2
/ˈhɑbˌnɑb/
to associate or socialize familiarly, especially with important or high-status people
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allude
C2
/əˈlud/
To refer to something indirectly instead of mentioning it openly.
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tranquilize
C2
/ˈtɹeɪ̯ŋkwɪlaɪ̯z/
To make a person or animal calm, often by giving them a sedative drug.
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detract
C2
/dɪˈtrækt/
To make something seem less good or valuable.
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edification
C2
/ˌɛdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
The act of improving someone morally, intellectually, or spiritually.
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collude
C2
/kəˈluːd/
to act in concert with; to conspire.
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halve
C2
/hɑːv/
divide by two
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filch
C2
/fɪltʃ/
to steal something, especially a small or relatively low-value item, in a furtive way
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besiege
C2
/bəˈsiːd͡ʒ/
To surround a place with armed forces to force it to surrender
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reverberate
C2
/ɹəˈvɜɹbəˌɹeɪt/
To be repeated as an echo; to ring or resound off surfaces.
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arraign
C2
/əˈɹeɪn/
to accuse of a wrong or an inadequacy
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deflower
C2
/diˈflaʊ.ɚ/
dated: to have sexual intercourse with a person regarded as a virgin, framed as taking that person's virginity
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childbearing
C2
/ˈtʃaɪldˌbɛɹɪŋ/
the process or period of carrying and giving birth to children
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countermand
C2
/ˈkaʊntɚˌmænd/
To revoke (a former command); to cancel or rescind by giving an order contrary to one previously given.
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hearken
C2
/ˈhɑɹkən/
to listen attentively or give serious heed, especially in literary or archaic use
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pilfer
C2
/ˈpɪl.fɚ/
To steal in small quantities, or articles of small value; to practise petty theft.
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witchery
C2
/ˈwɪtʃəri/
witchcraft or the supposed practice of magic
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redouble
C2
/riːˈdʌbəl/
to make twice as great or intense
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engender
C2
/ɛnˈd͡ʒɛn.dɚ/
To cause something, especially a feeling or situation, to come into being.
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irk
C2
/ɝːk/
to annoy, irritate, or weary someone
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slake
C2
/sleɪk/
To satisfy (thirst, or other desires).
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deplete
C2
/dɪˈplit/
To reduce the amount of; to remove (a substance from something)
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bulwark
C2
/ˈbʊl.wɚk/
to defend with a bulwark
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tamp
C2
/tæmp/
press down tightly
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instigation
C2
/ˌɪnstɪˈɡeɪʃən/
The act of instigating, or the state of being instigated; incitement; especially to evil or wickedness.
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wend
C2
/wɪ̟nd/
direct one's course or way
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piddle
C2
/ˈpɪdəl/
informal: to spend time ineffectually on trivial matters; to work in a small or desultory way
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laud
C2
/lɔd/
To praise someone or something highly, often publicly.
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brandish
C2
/ˈbɹændɪʃ/
To wave or swing something, especially a weapon, in a threatening or excited way.
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chaw
C2
/t͡ʃɔ/
to chew without swallowing
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encroach
C2
/ɪnˈkroʊtʃ/
advance beyond the usual limit
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impugn
C2
/ɪmˈpjuːn/
To verbally assault, especially to argue against an opinion, motive, or action; to question the truth or validity of; cast doubt on.
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dissemble
C2
/dɪˈsɛmbəl/
To hide your true feelings or intentions by pretending.
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curdle
C2
/ˈkɝːdəl/
to separate a liquid, especially milk, into solid curds and liquid, or to cause it to do so
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lamentation
C2
/ˌlæm.ənˈteɪ.ʃən/
The act of expressing deep grief, often loudly; a sorrowful cry.
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pussyfoot
C2
/ˈpʊsiːˈfʊt/
to act timidly or cautiously.
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excrete
C2
/ɪkˈskriːt/
to discharge waste matter or another substance from a body, organ, cell, or biological system
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unnerve
C2
/ʌnˈnɜː(ɹ)v/
To make someone feel nervous, anxious, or less confident.
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dissemination
C2
/dɪˌsɛmɪˈneɪʃən/
The act of spreading information or ideas widely.
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clamber
C2
/ˈklæmbɚ/
to climb with difficulty, using hands and feet
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revile
C2
/ɹəˈvaɪl/
To criticize someone harshly using abusive or insulting language.
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sallow
C2
/ˈsæloʊ/
cause to become a sickly pale color
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swaddle
C2
/ˈswɑːdəl/
to wrap a baby closely in cloth so that its arms and legs are held securely
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sublimate
C2
/ˈsʌb.ləˌmeɪt/
psychology: to redirect an unacceptable impulse or desire into a socially acceptable or constructive activity
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midwifery
C2
/ˈmɪdˌwaɪfəɹi/
The practice and skill of helping women through pregnancy and childbirth.
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configure
C2
/kənˈfɪɡ(j)ɚ/
to set up for a particular purpose
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satiate
C2
/ˈseɪʃɪeɪt/
To fill to satisfaction; to satisfy.
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vouchsafe
C2
/ˌvʌʊtʃˈseɪf/
to grant in a condescending manner
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slosh
C2
/slɑʃ/
spill or splash copiously or clumsily
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boohoo
C2
/ˈbuːˌhuː/
to cry loudly with audible sobs
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pressurize
C2
/ˈpɹɛʃəɹaɪz/
To increase the air or gas pressure inside something, or keep it at a fixed level.
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vilify
C2
/ˈvɪl.ɪ.faɪ/
to spread negative information about
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contravention
C2
/ˌkɑntrəˈvɛnʃən/
an action that violates or conflicts with a law, rule, order, agreement, or obligation
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superimpose
C2
/ˌsuːpərɪmˈpoʊz/
to place one thing over another, especially so that both remain visible or distinguishable
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portraiture
C2
/ˈpɔː(ɹ)tɹɪtjʊə(ɹ)/
The art or practice of making portraits in painting or photography.
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requite
C2
/rɪˈkwaɪt/
formal: to return or reciprocate a feeling, kindness, or service
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fulminate
C2
/ˈfʌlmɪneɪt/
come on suddenly and intensely
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causation
C2
/kɔˈzeɪ.ʃən/
The act or agency by which an effect is produced.
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devilry
C2
/ˈdɛv.əl.ri/
wicked, cruel, or seemingly diabolical conduct or action
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nuzzle
C2
/ˈnʌz(ə)l/
dig out with the snout
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caulk
C2
/kɔk/
to fill and seal a seam, crack, or joint so that air or water cannot pass through
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strop
C2
/stɹɑp/
sharpen on a strop
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ordain
C2
/ɔɹˈdeɪn/
To officially make someone a priest, minister, or other religious leader
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bilk
C2
/bɪlk/
to escape, either physically or mentally
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accrue
C2
/əˈkɹu/
To build up or accumulate gradually over time.
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necromancy
C2
/ˈnɛkrəˌmænsi/
the supposed practice of communicating with the dead, especially to obtain hidden knowledge or predict the future
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backslide
C2
/ˈbækˌslaɪd/
to return to a worse condition, habit, or standard after improving
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expiate
C2
/ˈɛkspiːˌeɪt/
make amends for
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uncross
C2
/ˌʌnˈkrɔs/
to move crossed arms, legs, or other things apart into an uncrossed position
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blatter
C2
/ˈblæt.əɹ/
dialectal: to talk rapidly, noisily, or foolishly
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ruminate
C2
/ˈɹumɪneɪt/
To think about something deeply and at length.
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neophyte
C2
/ˈniː.əˌfaɪt/
A beginner; someone who is new to an activity, subject, or belief.
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subsist
C2
/səbˈsɪst/
To stay alive with only the bare minimum of food or resources.
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loll
C2
/lɑl/
hang loosely or laxly
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amalgamation
C2
/əˌmælɡəˈmeɪʃən/
The process of amalgamating; a mixture, merger or consolidation.
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snivel
C2
/ˈsnɪv.əl/
to cry or complain in a weak, tearful way while sniffing
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inequity
C2
/ɪnˈɛkwɪti/
An unjust act; a disservice.
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materialization
C2
The process of something becoming real or taking a physical form.
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coagulate
C2
/koʊˈæɡ.jə.leɪt/
to change from a liquid to a thickened or solid state
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circumnavigate
C2
/ˌsɝ.kəmˈnæv.ɪ.ɡeɪt/
To travel all the way around something, especially the world by sea.
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