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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111 words
homage
C2
/ˈ(h)ɑmɪd͡ʒ/
An artistic work imitating another in a flattering style.
perverse
C2
/pɚˈvɝs/
Deliberately behaving in a way that is unreasonable or contrary to what is expected.
fiasco
C2
/fiˈæs.koʊ/
A sudden or unexpected failure.
exemplary
C2
/ɪɡˈzɛmplɚi/
extremely good and worthy of being copied or admired
reproach
C2
/ɹɪˈpɹoʊt͡ʃ/
To criticize or blame someone for something they have done.
chivalry
C2
/ˈʃɪvəlɹi/
honourable, generous, and courteous conduct, especially toward someone perceived as vulnerable
knave
C2
/neɪv/
dated: a dishonest, deceitful, or unscrupulous man
unscrupulous
C2
/ˌʌnˈskɹuːpjʊləs/
Without scruples; immoral.
mercilessly
C2
/ˈmɜːsɪləslɪ/
without pity or mercy
debauchery
C2
/dɪˈbɔ.t͡ʃə.ɹi/
An excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures; scandalous and immoral activities; involving sex, alcohol, or drugs without inhibition.
misbehave
C2
/ˌmɪs.bɪˈheɪv/
to behave badly, improperly, or contrary to rules or expectations
bigot
C2
/ˈbɪɡət/
a person who is obstinately prejudiced against people with different identities, beliefs, or opinions
idiocy
C2
/ˈɪdiəsi/
extremely foolish behavior, an absurd act, or a serious lack of good judgment
odious
C2
/ˈoʊ.di.əs/
unequivocally detestable
impunity
C2
/ɪmˈpjuːnɪti/
Freedom from punishment or retribution; security from any reprisal or injurious consequences of an action, behaviour etc.
faithless
C2
/ˈfeɪθləs/
disloyal, unreliable, or unworthy of trust
unsavory
C2
/ʌnˈseɪ.vɚ.i/
morally offensive, disreputable, or suggestive of improper conduct
euthanasia
C2
/ˌjuː.θəˈneɪ.ʒə/
the intentional ending of a person or animal's life in a painless way to relieve incurable suffering
unprovoked
C2
/ˌʌnprəˈvoʊkt/
occurring without provocation, justification, or an apparent motivating act
underhanded
C2
/ˈʌndɝˈhændɪd/
marked by deception
savagery
C2
/ˈsævɪdʒəri/
extreme cruelty or violent brutality
villainous
C2
/ˈvɪlənəs/
extremely wicked
seducer
C2
/sɪˈduːsɝ/
a person who deliberately attracts or persuades someone into a sexual relationship, often insincerely or manipulatively
villainy
C2
/ˈvɪləni/
wicked, criminal, or treacherous behavior or character
avarice
C2
/ˈævəɹɪs/
reprehensible acquisitiveness
coerce
C2
/koʊˈɝs/
to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means
barbarism
C2
/ˈbɑɹbəˈɹɪzm̩/
A barbaric act.
unconscionable
C2
/ənˈkɔn.ʃən.ə.bəl/
Not conscionable; unscrupulous and lacking principles or conscience.
dereliction
C2
/ˌdɛrəˈlɪkʃən/
Willful neglect of one's duty.
miscreant
C2
/ˈmɪskriːənt/
Lacking in conscience or moral principles; unscrupulous.
bestiality
C2
/ˌbɛs.tiˈæl.ə.ti/
sexual activity between a human and an animal
chide
C2
/t͡ʃaɪd/
To admonish in blame; to reproach angrily.
culpability
C2
/ˌkʌlpəˈbɪləti/
responsibility for a fault or wrongdoing; the state of deserving blame
vindication
C2
/vɪndɪˈkeɪʃən/
Proof that someone was right or free from blame.
frivolity
C2
/fɹɪˈvɑlɪti/
lack of seriousness or sensible purpose in behavior, thought, or speech
barbarity
C2
/bɑːrˈber.ə.ti/
extreme cruelty or brutal, inhuman behavior
unpardonable
C2
/ʌnˈpɑrdənəbəl/
so wrong, offensive, or harmful that it cannot be forgiven or excused
indefensible
C2
/ˌɪndɪˈfɛnsəbəl/
impossible to justify with a reasonable argument
effrontery
C2
/ɪˈfɹʌntəɹi/
Insolent and shameless audacity.
vindicate
C2
/ˈvɪn.dɪˌkeɪt/
To prove that someone is right or free from blame.
meritorious
C2
/ˌmɛrəˈtɔriəs/
deserving praise, honor, or reward because of excellence or good conduct
chronometer
C2
/krə(ʊ)ˈnɒmɪtər/
A device for measuring time, particularly a precision mechanism for measuring time of day.
inviolable
C2
/ɪnˈvaɪələbl̩/
incapable of being transgressed or dishonored
laud
C2
/lɔd/
To praise someone or something highly, often publicly.
officious
C2
/əˈfɪʃəs/
Obliging, attentive, eager to please.
didactic
C2
/daɪˈdæk.tɪk/
Instructive or intended to teach or demonstrate, especially with regard to morality.
irreproachable
C2
/ˌɪrɪˈproʊtʃəbəl/
so blameless or exemplary that no valid criticism can be made
rascally
C2
/ˈræs.kəl.i/
dishonest, unprincipled, or characteristic of a rascal
unrighteous
C2
/ʌnˈɹaɪtʃəs/
not morally right or just; wicked or sinful
unsportsmanlike
C2
/ʌnˈspɔːrts.mən.laɪk/
not showing fairness or respect toward an opponent, especially in sport or competition
requite
C2
/rɪˈkwaɪt/
formal: to return or reciprocate a feeling, kindness, or service
devilry
C2
/ˈdɛv.əl.ri/
wicked, cruel, or seemingly diabolical conduct or action
unwholesome
C2
/ˌənˈhoʊlsəm/
detrimental to physical or moral well-being
inequity
C2
/ɪnˈɛkwɪti/
An unjust act; a disservice.
iniquitous
C2
/ɪˈnɪk.wə.t̬əs/
grossly unfair, unjust, or morally wrong; wicked (formal)
insincerity
C2
/ˌɪnsɪnˈsɛrəti/
the quality of not expressing one's true feelings or intentions; lack of honesty or genuineness
surfeit
C2
/ˈsɝː.fɪt/
An excessive amount of something.
expedience
C2
/ɪkˈspiːdiəns/
fitness or practical suitability for achieving a particular end
knavish
C2
/ˈneɪ.vɪʃ/
dishonest, deceitful, or unscrupulous
skulduggery
C2
/ˌskʌlˈdʌɡəɹi/
A devious device or trick.
contemptuously
C2
/kənˈtɛmp.t͡ʃu.əs.li/
In a way that shows complete lack of respect or scorn.
extenuate
C2
/ɪkˈstɛnjəˌweɪt/
formal: to lessen or try to lessen the seriousness of a fault or offense by offering a partial excuse or mitigating circumstance
indignantly
C2
/ˌɪnˈdɪgnəntˌliː/
In a way that shows anger at something seen as unfair or wrong.
reverential
C2
/ˌrɛvəˈrɛnʃəl/
showing or characterized by deep respect, admiration, or awe
servility
C2
/sɝˈvɪləti/
excessive eagerness to obey or please someone, shown through degrading submissiveness
paternalism
C2
/pəˈtɝnəlɪzəm/
the practice of limiting people's choices while claiming to act for their own good
undefiled
C2
/ˌʌndɪˈfaɪld/
free from moral or spiritual stain, corruption, or violation; pure
upbraid
C2
/ˌʌpˈbɹeɪd/
To criticize severely.
deviltry
C2
/ˈdɛv.əl.tri/
wicked, malicious, or recklessly mischievous behavior
faithlessness
C2
/ˈfeɪθləsnəs/
disloyalty or treacherous failure to keep a promise, commitment, or trust
utilitarianism
C2
/ˌjuːtɪlɪˈteriənɪzəm/
the ethical theory that the best action is the one that produces the greatest overall well-being or happiness
indelicacy
C2
/ɪnˈdɛlɪkəsi/
lack of tact, propriety, or sensitivity in speech or behavior
bounden
C2
/ˈbaʊndən/
archaic except in bounden duty: morally obligatory or binding
vaunt
C2
/vɔnt/
extravagant self-praise
denigration
C2
/ˌdɛnəˈɡɹeɪʃən/
unfair criticism that belittles someone or damages their reputation
roguery
C2
/ˈroʊɡəri/
dishonest, unscrupulous, or criminal behavior characteristic of a rogue
discreditable
C2
/dɪsˈkrɛdɪtəbəl/
deserving disapproval or tending to damage someone's reputation
rascality
C2
/ɹəˈskæləti/
dishonest, unscrupulous, or mischievous behavior characteristic of a rascal
vicissitude
C2
/ˌvɪˈsɪsɪtuːd/
mutability in life or nature, especially successive alternation from one condition to another
uncelebrated
C2
/ʌnˈsɛl.əˌbreɪ.t̬ɪd/
not widely praised, honored, or famous
libertinism
C2
/ˈlɪbərtɪˌnɪzəm/
a way of life marked by self-indulgence, sexual freedom, and rejection of conventional moral restraints
calumniate
C2
/kəˈlʌmni.eɪt/
To make hurtful untrue comments about.
opprobrious
C2
/əˈproʊbriəs/
expressing scornful reproach or abusive criticism
high-mindedness
C2
/ˌhaɪˈmaɪn.dɪd.nəs/
the quality of having noble moral principles, elevated ideals, or generous motives
unmoral
C2
/ʌnˈmɔɹəl/
outside the sphere of moral judgment; neither moral nor immoral
lambaste
C2
/ˌlæmˈbæst/
To scold, reprimand or criticize harshly.
inexpedient
C2
/ˌɪnɪkˈspiːdiənt/
unsuitable or unwise because it is unlikely to achieve the intended result
domineer
C2
/ˌdɑːməˈnɪr/
to control or rule over people in an arrogant, overbearing way
gaucherie
C2
/ˌɡoʊʃəˈɹiː/
a socially awkward or tactless act
sententious
C2
/sɛnˈtɛn.ʃəs/
abounding in or given to pompous or aphoristic moralizing
inconsideration
C2
/ˌɪnkənsɪdəˈreɪʃən/
lack of proper thought or consideration; thoughtlessness
casuistry
C2
/ˈkæʒuːəstɹi/
case-based moral reasoning that applies general principles to particular practical dilemmas
intuitionist
C2
/ˌɪntuˈɪʃənɪst/
philosophy or ethics: an adherent of intuitionism, especially the view that some truths or moral principles are known directly rather than inferred
blackguardly
C2
/ˈblæɡɑɹdli/
dishonorable, unscrupulous, or characteristic of a scoundrel
fawner
C2
/ˈfɔnɚ/
a person who uses excessive flattery or servile behavior to gain favor
hortatory
C2
/ˈhɔɹtətɔɹi/
Giving exhortation or advice; encouraging.