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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
mammary
C2
/ˈmæməɹi/
Of or relating to the mamma or breast (of a woman or a female animal).
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oriole
C2
/ˈɔriˌoʊl/
any of various brightly colored songbirds, including New World orioles of the genus Icterus and Old World orioles of the family Oriolidae
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scantily
C2
/ˈskæntɪli/
Sparingly; not plentifully; not fully; in a scanty manner.
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ponderous
C2
/ˈpɑn.dɚ.əs/
Slow and heavy, moving in a clumsy way because of great weight.
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alternately
C2
/ˈɔl.tɚ.nət.li/
in an alternating sequence or position
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amorphous
C2
/əˈmɔ(ɹ)fəs/
Having no clear shape or form.
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steadfastly
C2
/ˈstɛdfæstli/
In a steadfast manner; firmly; with conviction
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uppermost
C2
/ˈʌpɚˌmoʊst/
in or into the highest position
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hallucinatory
C2
/həˈluːsənəˌtɔri/
relating to, consisting of, or producing hallucinations
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colloquial
C2
/kəˈloʊ.kwi.əl/
Used in ordinary, informal conversation rather than formal speech or writing.
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valorous
C2
/ˈvælərəs/
having or showing great courage, especially in the face of danger
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unwary
C2
/ənˈwɛri/
not alert to danger or deception
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unabated
C2
/ˌʌn.əˈbeɪ.t̬ɪd/
continuing without becoming weaker, less intense, or less extensive
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colicky
C2
/ˈkɑːlɪki/
suffering from colic or repeated abdominal pain
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vehement
C2
/ˈviː.hə.mənt/
marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions
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placental
C2
/pləˈsɛntəl/
relating to, supplied through, or possessing a placenta
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embattled
C2
/ɛmˈbætəld/
involved in, surrounded by, or persistently troubled by conflict or controversy
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perforce
C2
/pɚˈfɔɹs/
By constraint of circumstances; of necessity; as a matter of course.
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whereto
C2
/werˈtuː/
to what place or destination; where to
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unmolested
C2
/ˌənməˈlɛstɪd/
Not bothered, disturbed, or attacked.
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sodden
C2
/ˈsɑ.dən/
Soaked or drenched with liquid; soggy, saturated.
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gnu
C2
/nuː/
a large African antelope with a heavy head, curved horns, sloping back, and long tufted tail; a wildebeest
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phonetic
C2
/fəˈnɛt.ɪk/
of or relating to the scientific study of speech sounds
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pentecostal
C2
/ˌpen.tɪˈkɒs.təl/
of or relating to or occurring at Pentecost
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ungracious
C2
/ʌnˈɡɹeɪʃəs/
not polite, kind, or pleasant toward others
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insular
C2
/ˈɪnsəlɚ/
Not interested in new ideas or in people outside your own group; narrow-minded.
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allegorical
C2
/ˌæl.ɪˈɡɔɹ.ɪ.kəl/
Using a story or symbols to express a deeper, hidden meaning.
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anarchic
C2
/əˈnɑɹ.kɪk/
Without any law, order, or control; chaotic.
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cinematographic
C2
/ˌsɪnəmætəˈɡræfɪk/
relating to cinematography, motion-picture technique, or the representation of movement as successive images
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paleolithic
C2
/ˌpeɪ.li.oʊˈlɪθ.ɪk/
relating to the Old Stone Age, the earliest and longest period of human prehistory
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bilious
C2
/ˈbɪl.jəs/
Resembling bile, especially in color.
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benighted
C2
/bɪˈnaɪtɪd/
ignorant, unenlightened, or lacking cultural knowledge, often used disparagingly
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prescient
C2
/ˈpɹɛʃ(i)ənt/
perceiving the significance of events before they occur
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beaky
C2
/ˈbiki/
having a beak
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sophomoric
C2
/sɑf(ə)ˈmɑɹɪk/
Conceited and overconfident of knowledge but poorly informed and immature.
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chromosomal
C2
/ˌkɹoʊməˈsoʊməl/
relating to, carried on, or caused by chromosomes
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elaborately
C2
/ɪˈlæbrətli/
with elaboration
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officious
C2
/əˈfɪʃəs/
Obliging, attentive, eager to please.
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pedagogical
C2
/ˌpɛdəˈgɑːdʒɪkəl/
of or relating to pedagogy
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prussic
C2
/ˈprʌs.ɪk/
dated in chemistry: relating to hydrogen cyanide or hydrocyanic acid, especially in the term prussic acid
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archival
C2
/ˌɑɹˈkaɪv(ə)l/
Relating to an archive or to old records and documents kept for the future.
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gravitationally
C2
/ˌgrævəˈteɪʃnəli/
In a way relating to or caused by gravity.
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unsuspected
C2
/ˌənsəˈspɛktɪd/
Not suspected; not thought to be involved or present.
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elliptic
C2
/ɪˈlɪp.tɪk/
characterized by extreme economy of expression or omission of superfluous elements
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seedless
C2
/ˈsiːdləs/
having no seeds, or no hard, noticeable, or mature seeds
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apocryphal
C2
/əˈpɑːkɹɪfəl/
Of doubtful authenticity, or lacking authority; not regarded as canonical.
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unmanly
C2
/ʌnˈmænli/
dated, often disapproving: not showing qualities traditionally expected of a man, especially courage or self-control
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hyperbolic
C2
/ˌhaɪ.pɚˈbɔl.ɪk/
enlarged beyond truth or reasonableness
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tetchy
C2
/ˈtɛt͡ʃi/
Easily annoyed or irritated; bad-tempered.
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deservedly
C2
/dɪˈzɝːvədli/
as deserved
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astringent
C2
/əˈstɹɪn.d͡ʒənt/
Causing a dry, puckering feeling in the mouth, as some unripe fruits do.
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roguish
C2
/ˈroʊɡɪʃ/
mischievous in a playful, attractive, or teasing way
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vitreous
C2
/ˈvɪtriəs/
made of, resembling, or having the qualities of glass
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didactic
C2
/daɪˈdæk.tɪk/
Instructive or intended to teach or demonstrate, especially with regard to morality.
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circadian
C2
/sɚˈkeɪ.di.ən/
of or relating to biological processes occurring at 24-hour intervals
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irreproachable
C2
/ˌɪrɪˈproʊtʃəbəl/
so blameless or exemplary that no valid criticism can be made
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iambic
C2
/aɪˈæm.bɪk/
composed of or characterized by iambs, metrical feet in which an unstressed syllable is followed by a stressed one
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scraggy
C2
/ˈskræɡi/
lean, bony, or scrawny, often with a rough or underfed appearance
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imperceptibly
C2
/ˌɪmpɝˈsɛptɪbli/
In a way too small or gradual to be noticed.
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idiosyncratic
C2
/ˌɪd.i.oʊ.sɪŋˈkɹæt.ɪk/
Particular to one individual; distinctive or peculiar to a person.
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audibly
C2
/ˈɑːdəbli/
in an audible manner
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inestimable
C2
/ɪˈnɛs.tɪ.mə.bəl/
Not able to be estimated; not able to be calculated, computed or comprehended, as because of great scale, degree or magnitude.
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topographical
C2
Relating to the physical features and shape of an area of land.
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rascally
C2
/ˈræs.kəl.i/
dishonest, unprincipled, or characteristic of a rascal
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topmost
C2
/tɑpˈmoʊst/
At or nearest to the top; uppermost; being the very highest.
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niggling
C2
/ˈnɪɡ.əl.ɪŋ/
minor yet persistent and irritating, repeatedly demanding attention
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leeward
C2
/ˈliːwərd/
situated on or toward the side sheltered from the wind
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indefinable
C2
/ˌɪndɪˈfaɪnəbəl/
defying expression or description
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fiftieth
C2
/ˈfɪf.ti.əθ/
the ordinal number of fifty in counting order
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extant
C2
/ˈɛk.stənt/
Still existing; not lost or destroyed.
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furtively
C2
/ˈfɝːtɪvli/
in a furtive manner
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igneous
C2
/ˈɪɡniəs/
geology: formed when molten magma or lava cools and solidifies
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cogent
C2
/ˈkoʊd͡ʒn̩t/
Clear, logical, and convincing.
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unrighteous
C2
/ʌnˈɹaɪtʃəs/
not morally right or just; wicked or sinful
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oryx
C2
/ˈɔːrɪks/
a large African or Arabian antelope of the genus Oryx, with a pale coat, dark facial markings, and long nearly straight horns
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votive
C2
/ˈvoʊ.tɪv/
offered, dedicated, or performed in fulfillment of a vow or as an expression of devotion
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thereon
C2
/ðɛˈɹɑn/
on that
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unsportsmanlike
C2
/ʌnˈspɔːrts.mən.laɪk/
not showing fairness or respect toward an opponent, especially in sport or competition
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malar
C2
/ˈmeɪlə/
Pertaining to the cheek.
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disdainful
C2
/dɪsˈdeɪnfəl/
Showing contempt or scorn for someone or something you think is not worthy.
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airless
C2
/ˈɛɹ.ləs/
having little or no fresh air or air circulation; stuffy
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lyrically
C2
/ˈlɪrɪkli/
In a way that expresses deep emotion beautifully.
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misbegotten
C2
/ˌmɪsbɪˈɡɑtən/
badly conceived, designed, or produced
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irascible
C2
/ɪˈɹæsəbəl/
easily provoked to anger; habitually hot-tempered
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bounteous
C2
/ˈbaʊn.ti.əs/
generous and willing to give freely
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dulcet
C2
/ˈdʌlsɛt/
pleasing to the ear
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buckskin
C2
/ˈbʌkˌskɪn/
soft, strong leather traditionally made from deerskin and now also from sheepskin
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indiscernible
C2
/ˌɪndɪˈsɝnəbəl/
impossible or extremely difficult to perceive clearly
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synchronous
C2
/ˈsɪŋkɹənəs/
occurring or existing at the same time or having the same period or phase
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acrimonious
C2
/ˌæk.ɹɪˈmoʊ.ni.əs/
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
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compos
C2
/ˈkɑːm.pəs/
of sound mind and in full control of one's mental faculties, chiefly in the phrase compos mentis
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helter-skelter
C2
/ˌheltərˈskeltər/
in confused, disorderly haste
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consumptive
C2
/kənˈsʌmptɪv/
affected by or characteristic of pulmonary tuberculosis
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timidly
C2
/ˈtɪmɪdli/
in a shy, nervous, or hesitant way
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improvisational
C2
/ɪmˌpɹɑvəˈzeɪʃənəl/
Made up on the spot, without preparation.
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derisive
C2
/dɪˈraɪsɪv/
Showing scorn or contempt; mocking.
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