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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188 words
treacherous
C2
/ˈtɹɛt͡ʃəɹəs/
Dangerous and unpredictable, especially because hidden hazards are hard to see.
loony
C2
/ˈluːni/
informal and potentially offensive: a person regarded as foolish, eccentric, or mentally unstable
booby
C2
/ˈbuːbi/
a foolish or inept person; dated and insulting
knack
C2
/næk/
A natural or learned skill for doing something well and easily.
snob
C2
/snɑb/
a person who looks down on people considered socially inferior or tries to display supposedly superior taste or status
meticulous
C2
/mɪˈtɪkjɪlɪs/
Giving very careful and precise attention to every detail.
emissary
C2
/ˈɛmɪˌsɛɹi/
An agent sent on a mission to represent the interests of someone else.
deadbeat
C2
/ˈdɛdˌbiːt/
informal, disparaging: a lazy or irresponsible person who avoids work or depends on others for support
epiphany
C2
/ɪˈpɪfəni/
An illuminating realization or discovery, often resulting in a personal feeling of elation, awe, or wonder.
stroller
C2
/ˈstɹoʊlɚ/
a person taking a leisurely walk
blockhead
C2
/ˈblɑkˌhɛd/
a stupid or slow-witted person; an insulting term
minx
C2
/mɪŋks/
A flirtatious, impudent, or pert young woman.
charlatan
C2
/ˈʃɑːrlətən/
a person who falsely claims to have special knowledge or skill, usually in order to deceive others
incognito
C2
/ˌɪn.kɑːɡˈniː.t̬oʊ/
with one's identity concealed, especially to avoid attention or recognition
ninny
C2
/ˈnɪni/
A silly or foolish person.
tenacious
C2
/təˈneɪʃəs/
Determined and refusing to give up.
patronizing
C2
/ˈpeɪtrəˌnaɪzɪŋ/
Treating someone as if they were less intelligent or important than you.
squeamish
C2
/ˈskwiːmɪʃ/
easily made nauseated, disgusted, or distressed by something unpleasant
simpleton
C2
/ˈsɪmpəltən/
a person lacking intelligence or common sense
ruffian
C2
/ˈɹʌfi.ən/
A scoundrel, rascal, or unprincipled, deceitful, brutal and unreliable person.
maniacal
C2
/məˈnaɪ.ə.kəl/
wildly irrational, frenzied, or violently excited
covet
C2
/ˈkʌvɪt/
to wish, long, or crave for something, especially the property of another person
innuendo
C2
/ˌɪnjuˈɛndəʊ/
An indirect remark that hints at something, often something rude or unkind.
grouchy
C2
/ˈɡraʊ.tʃi/
easily annoyed, irritable, and inclined to complain
haughty
C2
/ˈhɔti/
Acting superior to others; arrogant and full of contempt.
crabby
C2
/ˈkræbi/
irritable, bad-tempered, and inclined to complain
unhinged
C2
/ənˈhɪndʒd/
mentally unstable or severely disturbed
opportunist
C2
/ˌɑː.pɚˈtuː.nɪst/
a person who exploits circumstances for personal advantage, often without regard for principles or consequences
magnanimous
C2
/mægˈnænəməs/
Generous and forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone weaker.
crone
C2
/kroʊn/
disparaging or literary: an old woman, especially one portrayed as ugly or frightening
prim
C2
/prɪm/
excessively proper, formal, or easily shocked by behavior
posturing
C2
/ˈpɑːstʃɝɪŋ/
Behaviour or talk meant to impress others rather than to be sincere.
ogle
C2
/ˈoʊɡl̩/
To stare at (someone or something), especially impertinently, amorously, or covetously.
effigy
C2
/ˈɛfəd͡ʒi/
a representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture)
lascivious
C2
/ləˈsɪviəs/
feeling or openly expressing strong sexual desire, often in an offensive or indecent way
burly
C2
/bɝli/
large, strongly built, and muscular
fawning
C2
/fɔnɪŋ/
attempting to win favor by flattery
windbag
C2
/ˈwɪnd.bæɡ/
a person who talks at excessive length, often pompously, while saying little of value
witless
C2
/ˈwɪtləs/
lacking intelligence, understanding, or sound judgment; foolish
synthesize
C2
/ˈsɪnθəsaɪz/
combine so as to form a more complex, product
dozy
C2
/ˈdoʊzi/
sleepy, sluggish, or not fully alert
boorish
C2
/ˈbʊr.ɪʃ/
rough, rude, and insensitive in behavior or manners
wheeze
C2
/ʍiːz/
To breathe with difficulty, making a whistling or rasping sound.
womenfolk
C2
/ˈwɪm.ɪnˌfoʊk/
Women collectively
philanthropic
C2
/ˌfɪl.ənˈθɹɑ.pɪk/
Generous in giving money and help to good causes.
implacable
C2
/ɪmˈplækəbəl/
incapable of being placated
braggart
C2
/ˈbræɡɚt/
a person who boasts loudly or habitually
megalomaniac
C2
/ˌmɛɡəloʊˈmeɪniæk/
a person obsessed with power or convinced of their own exceptional greatness and importance
measurable
C2
/ˈmeʒəɹəbəl/
of distinguished importance
meddlesome
C2
/ˈmɛdəlsəm/
inclined to interfere intrusively in other people's affairs
dippy
C2
/ˈdɪp.i/
informal: foolish, eccentric, or lacking common sense
discernible
C2
/dɪˈsɝnɪbl̩/
perceptible by the senses or intellect
deft
C2
/ˈdɛft/
Quick and neat in action; skillful.
prig
C2
/prɪɡ/
a smug, self-righteous person who is excessively proper or disapproving
ignoble
C2
/ɪɡˈnoʊbəl/
completely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose
codger
C2
/ˈkɑd͡ʒəɹ/
An amusingly eccentric or grumpy and usually elderly man.
skinflint
C2
/ˈskɪnˌflɪnt/
a person who is excessively unwilling to spend or give money
artifice
C2
/ˈɑː(ɹ)tɪfɪs/
Clever but dishonest behaviour used to trick or deceive someone.
belie
C2
/bɪˈlaɪ/
to represent falsely
cussed
C2
/ˈkʌsɪd/
chiefly US, informal or dialectal: annoying, ill-tempered, or stubbornly difficult
coquette
C2
/koʊˈkɛt/
dated: a woman who deliberately flirts without intending a serious relationship
nubile
C2
/ˈnuː.baɪl/
dated, chiefly of a young woman: considered old enough or eligible to marry
perversity
C2
/pə(ɹ)ˈvɜː(ɹ)sɪti/
A deliberate tendency to behave in an unreasonable or contrary way.
coquettish
C2
/koʊˈket.ɪʃ/
playfully flirtatious in a way intended to attract attention without showing serious romantic intent
muggins
C2
/ˈmʌɡɪnz/
chiefly British, informal and insulting: a foolish or easily deceived person
pragmatist
C2
/ˈpræɡmətɪst/
a person who deals with problems practically and judges actions mainly by workable results
shiftless
C2
/ˈʃɪftləs/
lacking ambition or initiative and habitually unwilling to work steadily
wretchedness
C2
/ˈɹɛt͡ʃɪdnəs/
the quality of being poor and inferior and sorry
shelve
C2
/ˈʃɛlv/
place on a shelf
galoot
C2
/ɡəˈluːt/
slang, mildly insulting or humorous: a fellow, especially one who is awkward, foolish, or uncouth
tenderfoot
C2
/ˈtɛndɚˌfʊt/
an inexperienced newcomer, especially one unaccustomed to frontier, outdoor, or mining life
disciplinarian
C2
/ˌdɪsəplɪˈnɛriən/
a person who enforces strict rules and expects obedience, often through punishment
winsome
C2
/ˈwɪn.səm/
sweetly or innocently charming in appearance, manner, or expression
croaker
C2
/ˈkɹoʊkɚ/
dated: a habitual complainer or a person who gloomily predicts trouble
amorphous
C2
/əˈmɔ(ɹ)fəs/
Having no clear shape or form.
naivete
C2
/nɑːˌiːvəˈteɪ/
lack of experience, judgment, or sophistication
valorous
C2
/ˈvælərəs/
having or showing great courage, especially in the face of danger
sentimentalist
C2
/ˌsɛn.təˈmɛn.təl.ɪst/
a person who is excessively influenced by tender, nostalgic, or idealized feelings
flathead
C2
/ˈflætˌhɛd/
dated US slang, insulting: a stupid or foolish person
ungracious
C2
/ʌnˈɡɹeɪʃəs/
not polite, kind, or pleasant toward others
benighted
C2
/bɪˈnaɪtɪd/
ignorant, unenlightened, or lacking cultural knowledge, often used disparagingly
malcontent
C2
/ˌmæl.kənˈtɛnt/
a person who is dissatisfied with existing conditions, especially one who actively opposes an established authority or system
roguish
C2
/ˈroʊɡɪʃ/
mischievous in a playful, attractive, or teasing way
scraggy
C2
/ˈskræɡi/
lean, bony, or scrawny, often with a rough or underfed appearance
magnanimity
C2
/ˌmæɡnəˈnɪmɪti/
The quality of being generous and forgiving, especially toward a rival.
timidity
C2
/tɪˈmɪdɪti/
The quality of being shy and lacking confidence or courage.
irascible
C2
/ɪˈɹæsəbəl/
easily provoked to anger; habitually hot-tempered
timidly
C2
/ˈtɪmɪdli/
in a shy, nervous, or hesitant way
unintelligent
C2
/ˌʌn.ɪnˈtɛl.ə.dʒənt/
showing a limited ability to learn, understand, or reason
callously
C2
/ˈkæləsli/
In a cruel, uncaring way, with no regard for others' feelings.
ingenuous
C2
/ɪnˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.əs/
Innocent and trusting in a simple, honest way; not suspicious of others.
vicarious
C2
/vaɪˈkɛɹi.əs/
suffered or done by one person as a substitute for another
absentminded
C2
/ˌæbsəntˈmaɪndɪd/
so preoccupied with one's thoughts that one fails to notice the surroundings or remember ordinary things
mountebank
C2
/ˈmaʊn.tə.bæŋk/
a charlatan who deceives people with flamboyant claims or performances
wielder
C2
/ˈwiːldər/
A person who wields something, especially power
pomposity
C2
/pɑːmˈpɑː.sə.t̬i/
an affectedly grand, solemn, or self-important manner