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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129 words
hysterical
C2
/hɪˈstɛɹɪkəl/
Showing wild, uncontrollable emotion, such as panic, fear, or excitement.
erotic
C2
/ɪˈrɑtɪk/
relating to sexual desire, love, or sexual excitement
disgust
C2
/dɪsˈɡʊst/
a strong feeling of dislike or revulsion
pep
C2
/pɛp/
lively energy, enthusiasm, and high spirits
whoop
C2
/wuːp/
shout, as if with joy or enthusiasm
melancholy
C2
/ˈmɛl.ənˌkɑ.li/
A deep, thoughtful sadness.
heinous
C2
/ˈheɪnəs/
Totally reprehensible.
quail
C2
/kweɪl/
small gallinaceous game birds
sulk
C2
/sʌlk/
a mood or display of sullen aloofness or withdrawal
rapture
C2
/ˈɹæpt͡ʃɚ/
A feeling of great joy, delight, or excitement.
disgruntled
C2
/dɪsˈɡɹʌnt(ə)ld/
In a dissatisfied, frustrated, or upset mood; in a bad temper or ill humour.
platonic
C2
/pləˈtɒnɪk/
free from physical desire
lament
C2
/ləˈmɛnt/
To express great sadness or regret about something.
wallow
C2
/ˈwɑːloʊ/
To let yourself enjoy or sink into a feeling, often a sad or self-pitying one.
exalted
C2
/ɪɡˈzɔːltɪd/
Held in very high regard; of high rank or status.
euphoria
C2
/juˈfo.ɹi.ə/
A feeling of intense happiness and excitement.
flinch
C2
/flɪnt͡ʃ/
to draw back, as with fear or pain
grievance
C2
/ˈɡɹiː.vəns/
A complaint about being treated unfairly, especially one serious enough to act on.
impatience
C2
/ɪmˈpeɪʃəns/
annoyance or restlessness caused by delay
narcissist
C2
/ˈnɑːrsɪsɪst/
One who shows extreme love and admiration for themself.
mope
C2
/moʊp/
to remain dejected, listless, or self-pitying instead of acting
angst
C2
/ˈæŋ(k)st/
A deep feeling of anxiety, worry, or emotional turmoil.
swoon
C2
/swuːn/
to lose consciousness briefly, especially because of weakness or intense emotion
forlorn
C2
/fɚˈlɔɹn/
Sad and lonely, especially because of being left alone or abandoned.
panicky
C2
/ˈpænɪki/
thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation
elated
C2
/ɪˈleɪtɪd/
Extremely happy and excited
gruff
C2
/ɡɹɐf/
deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion
abject
C2
/ˈæbˌd͡ʒɛkt/
Extremely bad and hopeless; complete and utter.
heady
C2
/ˈhɛdi/
strongly intoxicating or affecting the senses, as a drink or scent does
unnerving
C2
/ˈʌnˈnɜːvɪŋ/
Making someone feel nervous, uneasy, or afraid.
condolence
C2
/kənˈdoʊləns/
an expression of sympathy with another's grief
mirth
C2
/mɜɹθ/
The emotion usually following humor and accompanied by laughter.
bereft
C2
/bəˈɹɛft/
Completely lacking something; deprived of it.
austere
C2
/ɔˈstiɹ/
Severe or stern in manner or appearance.
feign
C2
/feɪn/
To pretend to have a feeling or condition in order to deceive someone.
abhor
C2
/æbˈhɔɹ/
To hate something deeply; to find it utterly disgusting.
rekindle
C2
/ˌriːˈkɪndəl/
to make a feeling, relationship, interest, or activity become active again
euphoric
C2
/juˈfɔɹɪk/
Feeling or showing intense happiness and excitement.
indignant
C2
/ɪnˈdɪɡ.nənt/
Feeling or showing anger because something seems unfair or wrong.
flighty
C2
/ˈflaɪti/
Acting on silly, sudden ideas rather than careful thought; not reliable.
eroticism
C2
/ɪˈrɑtəˌsɪzəm/
sexual desire, excitement, or the quality of being sexually arousing
despondent
C2
/dɪˈspɑːndənt/
without or almost without hope
remorseful
C2
/ɹɪˈmɔː(ɹ)sfʊl/
Feeling deep regret and guilt for something you have done wrong.
elation
C2
/ɪˈleɪʃən/
A feeling of great happiness and excitement
misogynist
C2
/mɪˈsɑd͡ʒ.ən.ɪst/
One who professes misogyny; a hater of women.
dampen
C2
/ˈdæmpən/
To make a feeling or activity weaker or less lively.
wistful
C2
/ˈwɪstfəl/
Sad and thoughtful, especially when remembering something or longing for it.
trepidation
C2
/ˌtrɛpɪˈdeɪʃən/
Anxiety over the uncertain future or possible ill-occurrence.
revulsion
C2
/ɹɪˈvʌlʃən/
A strong feeling of disgust or loathing.
dumbfounded
C2
/ˌdʌmˈfaʊndɪd/
so astonished or bewildered that one is temporarily unable to speak or react
impassioned
C2
/ɪmˈpæʃənd/
filled with or expressing intense emotion and strong conviction
tizzy
C2
/ˈtɪz.i/
a state of nervous excitement, agitation, or confused distraction
incandescent
C2
/ˌɪn.kænˈdɛs.ənt/
emitting light as a result of being heated
puritanical
C2
/pjɚ.ɪˈtæn.ɪ.kl̩/
Very strict about morals and behaviour, and disapproving of pleasure.
effusion
C2
/ɪˈfjuːʒən/
an abundant or unrestrained expression of emotion or words
exasperating
C2
/ɪɡˈzæspəˌɹeɪtɪŋ/
extremely annoying, especially because a problem or behavior continues
jubilation
C2
/ˌd͡ʒuːbəlˈeiːʃən/
the utterance of sounds expressing great joy
ardor
C2
/ˈɑːɹdɚ/
Strong enthusiasm or passion for something.
irritability
C2
/ˌɪɹɪtəˈbɪlɪti/
a tendency to become annoyed, impatient, or angry easily
tribulation
C2
/ˌtrɪbjəˈleɪʃən/
great trouble, suffering, or distress
consternation
C2
/ˌkɑn.stɚˈneɪ.ʃən/
A feeling of shock, alarm, and dismay that leaves you unsure what to do.
brouhaha
C2
/ˈbruˌhɑˌhɑ/
A noisy and excited reaction to something, often greater than it deserves.
heartsick
C2
/ˈhɑːrt.sɪk/
overcome with grief, disappointment, or hopeless longing
constriction
C2
/kənˈstɹɪk.ʃən/
a tight feeling in some part of the body
misanthrope
C2
/ˈmɪs.ənˌθɹoʊp/
One who has a negative view of the entire human race.
engender
C2
/ɛnˈd͡ʒɛn.dɚ/
To cause something, especially a feeling or situation, to come into being.
irk
C2
/ɝːk/
to annoy, irritate, or weary someone
brandish
C2
/ˈbɹændɪʃ/
To wave or swing something, especially a weapon, in a threatening or excited way.
lamentation
C2
/ˌlæm.ənˈteɪ.ʃən/
The act of expressing deep grief, often loudly; a sorrowful cry.
unnerve
C2
/ʌnˈnɜː(ɹ)v/
To make someone feel nervous, anxious, or less confident.
boohoo
C2
/ˈbuːˌhuː/
to cry loudly with audible sobs
lyrically
C2
/ˈlɪrɪkli/
In a way that expresses deep emotion beautifully.
rapturous
C2
/ˈɹæp.t͡ʃəɹ.əs/
Showing or feeling great joy or enthusiasm.
xenophobia
C2
/ˌziː.nəˈfoʊ.bi.ə/
a fear of foreigners or strangers
pitfall
C2
/ˈpɪtfɔl/
A potential, unsuspected, hidden problem, hazard, or danger that is easily encountered but not immediately obvious.
forlornly
C2
In a sad and lonely way.
lorn
C2
/lɔrn/
literary or archaic: abandoned, bereft, lonely, or forlorn
dudgeon
C2
/ˈdʌd͡ʒən/
a feeling of intense indignation, now only found in the phrase 'in high dudgeon'
lachrymose
C2
/ˈlæk.ɹɪ.moʊs/
Tearful, sorrowful, sad, pertaining to tears, weeping, causing tears or crying.
acrimony
C2
/ˈækrɪˌmoʊni/
bitter anger or ill feeling expressed in speech, behavior, or a dispute
deaden
C2
/ˈdɛdən/
To make a feeling or sensation, especially pain, less strong.
wistfully
C2
/ˈwɪstfəli/
In a sad, thoughtful way, often while longing for something.
angsty
C2
/ˈæŋ(k)sti/
Full of anxiety, worry, or moody emotional turmoil.
fretful
C2
/ˈfrɛt.fəl/
worried, restless, or unable to relax
tremulous
C2
/ˈtɹɛmjuləs/
quivering of the voice as from weakness or fear
jocund
C2
/ˈd͡ʒɑkənd/
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
exult
C2
/ɪɡˈzʌlt/
to express great joy
sentimentalism
C2
/ˌsɛntəˈmɛntəlɪzəm/
an excessive or uncritical reliance on tender emotion, especially at the expense of reason or realism
quietude
C2
/ˈkwaɪ.ɪ.t(j)uːd/
a state of calm, stillness, and freedom from disturbance
rancorous
C2
/ˈræŋkərəs/
showing deep, persistent resentment, bitterness, or malice
discomfiture
C2
/dɪsˈkʌmfɪtʃɚ/
embarrassment, frustration, or uneasy disappointment
lassitude
C2
/ˈlæsɪˌtud/
A feeling of tiredness and lack of energy or interest.
disaffection
C2
/ˌdɪsəˈfɛkʃən/
a loss of affection or loyalty toward a person, group, or way of life; alienation
mirthless
C2
/ˈmɝθləs/
showing no genuine happiness or amusement; joyless
wroth
C2
/rɔːθ/
archaic or literary: intensely angry
rapturously
C2
In a way that shows great joy or enthusiasm.