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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.
1998 words
centrifugal
C2
/sɛnˈtɹɪf.(j)ə.ɡl̩/
tending to move away from a center
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nightmarish
C2
/ˈnaɪtˌmɛrɪʃ/
extremely alarming, as if in a terrifying dream
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affable
C2
/ˈæfəbəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
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dressy
C2
/ˈdɹɛsi/
stylish or formal enough for a special occasion
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puritanical
C2
/pjɚ.ɪˈtæn.ɪ.kl̩/
Very strict about morals and behaviour, and disapproving of pleasure.
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swarthy
C2
/ˈswɔɹði/
Dark-skinned; black.
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alkaline
C2
/ˈæl.kə.laɪn/
relating to or containing an alkali
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interlocking
C2
/ˈɪntɝˌlɑːkɪŋ/
Fitted or joined closely together so that the parts connect.
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bullfrog
C2
/ˈbʊlˌfrɑɡ/
a large frog, especially the North American species Lithobates catesbeianus, whose deep call resembles a bull's bellow
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unknowable
C2
/ʌnˈnoʊəbəl/
impossible to know, discover, or determine
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contemptuous
C2
/kənˈtɛmp.t͡ʃu.əs/
Showing that you think someone or something is worthless and deserves no respect.
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congestive
C2
/kənˈdʒɛstɪv/
medical: involving or caused by an abnormal accumulation of blood or other fluid
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periwinkle
C2
/ˈpɛrəˌwɪŋkəl/
a small edible marine snail of the genus Littorina, especially the common periwinkle
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centralized
C2
/ˈsɛntrəˌlaɪzd/
Controlled or organised from one central place or authority.
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pithy
C2
/ˈpɪθi/
concise and full of meaning
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inexorably
C2
/ɪnˈɛk.sə.ɹə.bli/
In a way that cannot be stopped or prevented.
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marvelously
C2
/ˈmɑːrvələsli/
(used as an intensifier) extremely well
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tactically
C2
/ˈtæktɪkəli/
In a way that is carefully planned to gain an advantage.
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exasperating
C2
/ɪɡˈzæspəˌɹeɪtɪŋ/
extremely annoying, especially because a problem or behavior continues
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cloistered
C2
/ˈklɔɪstɝd/
Kept away from the wider world and its difficulties; sheltered
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windward
C2
/ˈwɪndwɚd/
facing or situated toward the direction from which the wind is blowing
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unequivocal
C2
/ˌʌnɪˈkwɪvəkəl/
Completely clear and leaving no doubt.
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impeccably
C2
/ˌɪmˈpɛkəbli/
In a perfect, faultless way.
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sacrosanct
C2
/ˈsæk.ɹoʊˌsæŋkt/
Beyond alteration, criticism, or interference, especially due to religious sanction; inviolable.
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inexorable
C2
/ɪnˈɛksɚəb(ə)l/
Impossible to stop or prevent; certain to happen.
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deft
C2
/ˈdɛft/
Quick and neat in action; skillful.
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bonbon
C2
/ˈbɑnˌbɑn/
a small sweet, especially a chocolate-coated confection with a soft or flavoured centre
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aplenty
C2
/əˈplɛnti/
existing in a generous or more than sufficient quantity, normally placed after the noun
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incontrovertible
C2
/ˌɪŋˌkɑːntroʊˈvɝːtɪbəl/
impossible to deny or disprove
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inextricably
C2
/ˌɪˈnɛkstrɪˌkəbli/
in an inextricable manner
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homeopathic
C2
/ˌhoʊmiːoʊˈpæθɪk/
relating to homeopathy or to remedies prepared according to its principles
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pictorial
C2
/pɪkˈtɔɹi.əl/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
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outmoded
C2
/ˌaʊtˈmoʊdəd/
No longer useful or accepted because newer things have replaced it; out of date.
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newfangled
C2
/ˌnuˈfæŋ.ɡəld/
of a new kind or fashion, gratuitously new
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epoxy
C2
/ɪˈpɑk.si/
A very strong, hard-setting glue or resin made from two parts mixed together.
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ignoble
C2
/ɪɡˈnoʊbəl/
completely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose
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patchy
C2
/ˈpæt͡ʃi/
Good in some parts but not in others; uneven in quality
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unmoved
C2
/ənˈmuːvd/
Not affected emotionally, or not showing emotion.
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flagging
C2
/ˈflæɡɪŋ/
Becoming weaker, slower, or less lively.
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electrostatic
C2
/ɪˌlek.troʊˈstæt.ɪk/
relating to stationary electric charges, the fields and forces they produce, or devices that use those forces
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unimaginative
C2
/ənɪˈmæˌdʒɪnətɪv/
Not imaginative.
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moorish
C2
/ˈmʊrɪʃ/
lowercase, literary: resembling or characteristic of moorland; boggy or marshy
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summarily
C2
/səˈmɛɹɪli/
Suddenly and without ceremony or proper discussion.
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telescopic
C2
/ˌtɛləˈskɔpɪk/
Made of parts that slide into one another so the whole can be made longer or shorter.
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inoperative
C2
/ɪnˈɑp(ə)ɹətɪv/
not working or functioning
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soupy
C2
/ˈsuːpi/
having a thick, wet, or fluid consistency like soup
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inordinate
C2
/ɪnˈɔɹd(ə)nət/
Excessive; unreasonable or inappropriate in magnitude.
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unpardonable
C2
/ʌnˈpɑrdənəbəl/
so wrong, offensive, or harmful that it cannot be forgiven or excused
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indefensible
C2
/ˌɪndɪˈfɛnsəbəl/
impossible to justify with a reasonable argument
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quadratic
C2
/kwɒdˈɹætɪk/
of or relating to the second power
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halcyon
C2
/ˈhælʃən/
Pertaining to the halcyon or kingfisher.
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myopic
C2
/maɪˈoʊ.pɪk/
affected by myopia; unable to see distant objects clearly without corrective lenses
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unassailable
C2
/ˌʌnəˈseɪləbl̩/
Undeniable, incontestable or incontrovertible.
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musky
C2
/ˈmʌski/
Resembling or characteristic of musk, especially in scent.
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disingenuous
C2
/ˌdɪs.ɪnˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.əs/
Not ingenuous; not frank or open.
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androgynous
C2
/ænˈdɹɑd͡ʒ.ən.əs/
Pertaining to a feature or characteristic that is not definitively of either sex.
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irreconcilable
C2
/ˌɪˈrɛkənˌsaɪləbəl/
impossible to reconcile
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dynastic
C2
/daɪˈnæstɪk/
relating to a dynasty or to rule by successive members of one family
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frenetic
C2
/ˈfɹɛ.nɪt.ɪk/
Frenzied and frantic, harried; having extreme enthusiasm or energy.
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sprightly
C2
/ˈspraɪtli/
full of spirit and vitality
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tensile
C2
/ˈtɛn.sɪl/
of or relating to tension
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thereto
C2
/ˌðɛɚˈtuː/
to that or to it, chiefly in formal, legal, or literary language
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inimitable
C2
/ɪnˈɪmɪtəbl̩/
Beyond imitation, surpassing all others; matchless.
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untainted
C2
/ʌnˈteɪntɪd/
not contaminated, adulterated, or spoiled; pure
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cantankerous
C2
/kænˈtæŋkəɹəs/
having a difficult and contrary disposition
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counterintuitive
C2
/ˌkaʊntəɹɪnˈtuɪtɪv/
Contrary to intuition or common sense.
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sedimentary
C2
/ˌsɛd.əˈmɛn.tə.ɹi/
resembling or containing or formed by the accumulation of sediment
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cloudless
C2
/ˈklaʊdləs/
free from clouds
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lory
C2
/ˈlɔːri/
any of several small, brightly colored Australasian parrots with brush-tipped tongues adapted for feeding on nectar and soft fruit
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incredulous
C2
/ˌɪnˈkɹɛ.d͡ʒə.ləs/
Skeptical, disbelieving, or unable to believe.
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propitious
C2
/pɹəˈpɪʃəs/
Favorable; advantageous.
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rococo
C2
/rəˈkoʊˌkoʊ/
having excessive asymmetrical ornamentation
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sulphuric
C2
Relating to or containing sulphur, as in sulphuric acid.
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slovenly
C2
/ˈslʌvənli/
Having an untidy appearance; unkempt.
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mossy
C2
/ˈmɔsi/
Covered in or overgrown with moss.
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marsupial
C2
/mɑɹˈsu.pi.əl/
of or relating to the marsupials
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fetid
C2
/ˈfɛtɪd/
Foul-smelling, stinking.
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cussed
C2
/ˈkʌsɪd/
chiefly US, informal or dialectal: annoying, ill-tempered, or stubbornly difficult
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paradoxically
C2
/ˌpɛɹəˈdɑksɪkli/
In a way that seems self-contradictory yet may be true.
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imperceptible
C2
/ˌɪmpɝˈsɛptɪbəl/
So small, slight, or gradual that it cannot be noticed.
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nubile
C2
/ˈnuː.baɪl/
dated, chiefly of a young woman: considered old enough or eligible to marry
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megalithic
C2
/ˌmɛɡəˈlɪθɪk/
relating to megaliths, the prehistoric people who erected them, or the period in which such large-stone monuments were built
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tacit
C2
/ˈtæsɪt/
Understood or agreed without being said directly.
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unwieldy
C2
/ənˈwiːldi/
difficult to work or manipulate
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knobby
C2
/ˈnɑbi/
covered with or having rounded lumps, knobs, or projections
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pectoral
C2
/ˈpektɔːrəl/
of or relating to the chest, breast, or corresponding front region of an animal's body
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mercurial
C2
/mɝˈkjʊ.ɹi.əl/
relating to or containing or caused by mercury
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kestrel
C2
/ˈkɛstrəl/
a small falcon that often hovers while hunting, especially the common kestrel or American kestrel
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undeserved
C2
/ˌəndɪˈzɝːvd/
not deserved or earned
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linnet
C2
/ˈlɪnɪt/
a small Old World finch whose male develops crimson markings on the forehead and breast
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geometrical
C2
/ˌd͡ʒi.oʊˈmɛt.ɹɪk.əl/
Of, or relating to geometry; geometric.
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fatuous
C2
/ˈfæ.tʃu.əs/
Obnoxiously stupid; vacantly silly; content in one's foolishness.
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verdant
C2
/ˈvɜɹ.dənt/
characterized by the abundance of green foliage
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lavishly
C2
/ˈlævɪʃli/
in a rich and lavish manner
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intrinsically
C2
/ˌɪnˈtrɪnsɪkəli/
In a way that belongs to the basic nature of something; essentially.
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puerile
C2
/ˈpjʊɹɪl/
of or characteristic of a child
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