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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625 words
swingeing
C2
/ˈswɪndʒɪŋ/
chiefly British: extremely severe, harsh, or damaging
odoriferous
C2
/ˌoʊdəˈɹɪfəɹəs/
having a natural fragrance
ephemerality
C2
The quality of lasting for only a very short time.
illimitable
C2
/ɪˈlɪmɪtəbəl/
incapable of being limited or bounded; measureless
tendentious
C2
/tɛnˈdɛnʃəs/
having or marked by a strong tendency especially a controversial one
putrescent
C2
/pjuˈtrɛsənt/
undergoing putrefaction; becoming rotten or putrid
mettlesome
C2
/ˈmɛtəlsəm/
Marked by mettle or bravery; courageous.
impenitent
C2
/ɪmˈpɛnət(ə)nt/
Not penitent; specifically (Christianity), not repenting of one's sins; unrepentant.
austerely
C2
/ɔˈstiɹli/
In a stern or severe manner.
remonstrance
C2
/ɹɪˈmɒnstɹəns/
A strong protest or objection, often made formally and in writing.
unsleeping
C2
/ʌnˈsliːpɪŋ/
not sleeping or unable to sleep
tigerish
C2
/ˈtaɪɡərɪʃ/
resembling a tiger in fierceness and lack of mercy
glaucous
C2
/ˈɡlɑ.kəs/
pale bluish-green or bluish-gray in color
polyandry
C2
/ˌpɑːˌliːˈændri/
having more than one husband at a time
stringently
C2
/ˈstrɪndʒəntli/
In a strict and rigorous way; with little flexibility.
pellucid
C2
/pəˈluːsɪd/
perfectly clear or transparent, especially of water or light
roseate
C2
/ˈroʊziət/
pink, rosy, or tinged with rose color
candidness
C2
The quality of being candid.
ironbound
C2
/ˈaɪɚnˌbaʊnd/
bound, reinforced, or covered with iron
precociously
C2
In a way that shows unusually early development or maturity.
drabness
C2
The quality of being dull, colourless, and dreary.
ineradicable
C2
/ˌɪnɪˈrædɪkəbəl/
impossible or extremely difficult to eliminate, destroy, or remove
cogently
C2
/ˈkəʊ.dʒn̩t.li/
In a clear and convincing way.
extensible
C2
/ɪkˈstɛnsəbəl/
capable of being extended, enlarged, or applied more broadly
ponderously
C2
In a slow, heavy, clumsy way.
incommodious
C2
/ˌɪnkəˈmoʊdiəs/
uncomfortably or inconveniently small
topographically
C2
With regard to the physical features and shape of the land.
multiform
C2
/ˈmʌltiˌfɔɹm/
existing, appearing, or occurring in many different forms
demystification
C2
The act of making a confusing or mysterious subject clear and easy to understand.
commensurately
C2
/kəˈmɛnsɝətli/
In a way that matches or is in proportion to something.
gimcrack
C2
/ˈd͡ʒɪmkɹæk/
a showy ornament or object of little practical use or value
ascertainable
C2
/ˌæsɚˈteɪnəbl̩/
capable of being ascertained or found out
venomously
C2
/ˈvɛnəməsli/
With intense spite or hostility.
tricolored
C2
/ˌtraɪˈkʌl.ɚd/
having or marked with three different colors
slatternly
C2
Appropriate to or characteristic of a slattern.
euphorically
C2
In a way that shows intense happiness and excitement.
unstamped
C2
Not stamped.
confabulate
C2
/kənˈfæbjʊleɪt/
To unconsciously invent false memories to fill gaps in what you remember.
earthborn
C2
/ˈɝθˌbɔɹn/
born on or produced by the earth; mortal or terrestrial
undemonstrative
C2
/ˌʌn dəˈmɒn stɹə tɪv/
Not showing your feelings openly; reserved.
plethoric
C2
/ˈplɛθərɪk/
excessively full, abundant, or richly supplied
superfluously
C2
In an unnecessary way; more than is needed.
spuriously
C2
In a false or misleading way that only seems genuine.
improvable
C2
/ɪmˈpruː.və.bəl/
capable of being made better in quality, condition, or performance
evitable
C2
/ˈɛvɪtəbəl/
capable of being avoided or prevented; not inevitable
inductively
C2
/ɪnˈdʌktɪvli/
In an inductive manner; by using induction.
taciturnity
C2
The habit of saying very little.
energic
C2
/ɪˈnɝdʒɪk/
active or operative; capable of producing an effect
unexceptionable
C2
/ˌʌnɪkˈsɛpʃənəbəl/
entirely acceptable and not open to criticism or objection
starlike
C2
/ˈstɑɹˌlaɪk/
resembling a star in shape, brightness, remoteness, or appearance
corrigible
C2
/ˈkɔːr.ɪ.dʒə.bəl/
capable of being corrected, improved, or set right
assiduity
C2
/ˌæsəˈduːəti/
constant, careful effort and attention; diligence
kinematics
C2
/ˌkɪnəˈmætɪks/
the branch of mechanics concerned with motion without reference to force or mass
cinereous
C2
/sɪˈnɪriəs/
ash-gray or gray tinged with brown, especially in descriptions of an animal's plumage, fur, or other coloring
striate
C2
/ˈstraɪ.ət/
marked with narrow parallel lines, grooves, or ridges
abysm
C2
/əˈbɪzəm/
a bottomless gulf or pit
pursy
C2
/ˈpɝsi/
fat and short.
insipidity
C2
/ˌɪn.sɪˈpɪd.ɪ.t̬i/
the quality of being dull, lifeless, or lacking character and interest
punitively
C2
In a way meant to punish.
imbricate
C2
/ˈɪmbrɪkət/
overlapping regularly like roof tiles or fish scales
tumid
C2
/ˈtuːmɪd/
literary or technical: swollen, bulging, or enlarged
unpropitious
C2
/ˌʌnprəˈpɪʃəs/
not favorable or likely to lead to success; ill-timed
nontechnical
C2
/ˌnɑːnˈtɛk.nɪ.kəl/
not involving specialized scientific, professional, or mechanical knowledge or language
intercommunication
C2
/ˌɪntəkəmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/
Mutual communication.
fulvous
C2
/ˈfʊlvəs/
dull brownish yellow or tawny, especially in descriptions of animal plumage or fur
priggishness
C2
/ˈprɪɡ.ɪʃ.nəs/
exaggerated and arrogant properness
inappreciable
C2
/ˌɪnəˈpriːʃəbəl/
too small or slight to be perceived, measured, or have a significant effect
spatulate
C2
/ˈspætʃələt/
shaped like a spatula, with a broad rounded end that narrows toward the base
unactive
C2
/ʌnˈæktɪv/
not active; lacking activity, agency, or power to produce an effect
mucilaginous
C2
/ˌmjuːsəˈlædʒənəs/
sticky, slimy, or gelatinous in texture
irrefragable
C2
/ɪˈrɛfrəɡəbəl/
impossible to refute, dispute, or break down by argument
stultify
C2
/ˈstʌltɪfaɪ/
To make someone or something dull and lifeless, especially by limiting freedom or imagination.
abhorrently
C2
/æbˈhɔɹ.ənt.li/
In a way that causes strong disgust or hatred.
conjoint
C2
/kənˈdʒɔɪnt/
involving two or more people or things acting, existing, or being considered together
supplicatory
C2
/ˈsʌplɪkəˌtɔri/
expressing an earnest or humble plea
ungrudging
C2
/ʌnˈɡrʌdʒ.ɪŋ/
given, done, or felt willingly and wholeheartedly, without reluctance or resentment
contrariety
C2
/kɒntɹəˈɹʌɪəti/
Opposition or contrariness; cross-purposes, marked contrast.
ruminative
C2
/ˈruməˌneɪdɪv/
Thoughtful and given to deep reflection.
uncalculating
C2
/ˌʌnˈkæl.kjə.leɪ.tɪŋ/
not motivated by strategic self-interest or careful calculation; spontaneous and unscheming
deprecatory
C2
/ˈdɛpɹɪkəˌtɔɹi/
expressing disapproval or criticism, or seeking to avert criticism by an apologetic manner
deficiently
C2
/dɪˈfɪʃəntli/
In a way that lacks something needed or falls short of a standard.
coextensive
C2
/ˌkoʊ.ɛkˈstɛn.sɪv/
Having the same spatial limits or boundaries; sharing the same area.
sphinxlike
C2
/ˈsfɪŋksˌlaɪk/
mysterious, enigmatic, or difficult to interpret, especially through an unreadable expression or manner
unmingled
C2
/ʌnˈmɪŋɡəld/
not mixed or combined with anything else; pure or unalloyed
unobtrusiveness
C2
The quality of being quiet and not drawing attention to oneself
unostentatious
C2
/ˌʌnˌɑː.stənˈteɪ.ʃəs/
not ostentatious
ineffaceable
C2
/ˌɪn.ɪˈfeɪ.sə.bəl/
impossible to erase, remove, or forget
underhung
C2
/ˌʌn.dɚˈhʌŋ/
having a lower jaw or lip that projects beyond the upper one
unsoftened
C2
/ʌnˈsɔfənd/
not made physically softer, smoother, or less hard
paralyzingly
C2
To a degree that leaves you unable to move or act.
metrically
C2
/ˈmɛtrɪkəli/
with regard to meter
quenchable
C2
/ˈkwɛntʃəbəl/
capable of being extinguished or put out
derivable
C2
/dɪˈɹaɪvəbəɫ/
capable of being derived
flocculent
C2
/ˈflɑːkjələnt/
resembling wool in being loose, soft, and fluffy
prepotent
C2
/ˌpriːˈpoʊtənt/
having exceptional power, authority, or influence; dominant over others
confrontationally
C2
In an aggressive, argument-seeking way.