This week on The Missing Workbook
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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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All 27,899 wordsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
1043 words
scepter
C2
/ˈsɛp.tɚ/
a ceremonial staff carried by a monarch as an emblem of royal authority
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stationery
C1
/ˈsteɪ.ʃəˌner.i/
writing and office materials such as paper, envelopes, pens, pencils, and notebooks
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lackey
C2
/ˈlæ.ki/
A footman, a liveried male servant.
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taker
C2
/ˈteɪkɚ/
one who accepts an offer
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duress
C2
/duˈɹɛs/
compulsory force or threat
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ebony
C1
/ˈɛbəni/
a dense, hard, usually very dark wood obtained from several tropical trees
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leviathan
C2
/ləˈvaɪəθ(ə)n/
a vast and powerful sea creature described in the Hebrew Bible
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gander
C2
/ˈɡæn.dɚ/
A male goose.
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pushover
C2
/ˈpʊʃəʊvə(ɹ)/
any undertaking that is easy to do
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tweed
C2
/twiːd/
a rough, closely woven woolen cloth, usually in mixed colors and often used for jackets and suits
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starfish
C2
/ˈstɑɹˌfɪʃ/
a star-shaped marine echinoderm, typically with five or more arms radiating from a central disc
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crikey
C2+
/ˈkɹaɪ.ki/
informal, chiefly British and Australian: used to express surprise, amazement, alarm, or emphasis
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inkling
C2
/ˈɪŋklɪŋ/
a slight suggestion or vague understanding
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chevalier
C2
/ˌʃevəˈlɪr/
a knight or chivalrous, courtly gentleman, especially in a historical or literary context
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passover
C2
/ˈpæsˌoʊvɚ/
the Jewish spring festival commemorating the Israelites' liberation from slavery in Egypt
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mahogany
C2
/məˈhɑɡəni/
The valuable wood of any of various tropical American evergreen trees, of the genus Swietenia, mostly used to make furniture.
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clutter
C1
/ˈklʌtɚ/
A messy, disordered collection of things
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headway
C1
/ˈhɛdweɪ/
progress toward a goal, especially after effort or difficulty
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tartar
C2
/ˈtɑːrtɚ/
a hard deposit of mineralized dental plaque that forms on teeth; dental calculus
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visor
C1
/ˈvaɪ.zɚ/
a movable part of a helmet that covers and protects the face
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debauchery
C2
/dɪˈbɔ.t͡ʃə.ɹi/
An excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures; scandalous and immoral activities; involving sex, alcohol, or drugs without inhibition.
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narcissist
C2
/ˈnɑːrsɪsɪst/
One who shows extreme love and admiration for themself.
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minion
C2+
/ˈmɪnjən/
A loyal servant of another, usually a more powerful being.
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arbor
C1
/ˈɑɹbɚ/
a framework that supports climbing plants
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incubator
C2
/ˈɪn.kjuːˌbeɪ.ɾɚ/
A support programme for the development of entrepreneurial companies.
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gunnery
C2
/ˈɡʌnəri/
the practical skill, operation, and tactical use of guns, especially artillery or naval guns
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zillion
C2
/ˈzɪljən/
a very large indefinite number, usually hyperbole
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schoolmaster
C2
/ˈskuːlˌmæstɝ/
Anything that teaches.
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discrepancy
C1
/dɪˈskɹepənsi/
An inconsistency between facts or sentiments.
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mulberry
C1
/ˈmʌlˌbɛri/
a sweet edible berry, usually dark purple or red, that resembles a blackberry
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heifer
C1
/ˈhɛfə(ɹ)/
A young female cow that has not yet had a calf.
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briar
C2
/ˈbɹaɪɚ/
a thorny shrub or vine
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huckleberry
C1
/ˈhʌkl̩ˌbɛɹi/
a small edible blue, black, or red berry produced by several North American shrubs
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ember
C1
/ˈɛmbɚ/
a small piece of wood or coal that remains hot and glows after a fire has stopped flaming
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upheaval
C1
/ʌpˈhi.vəl/
A big and often sudden change that causes trouble or confusion.
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betrothal
C2
/bɪˈtroʊ.ðəl/
a formal agreement or mutual promise to marry; an engagement
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infancy
C1
/ˈɪnfənsi/
the earliest period of childhood
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hickory
C2
/ˈhɪkəɹiː/
any of several North American hardwood trees of the genus Carya, many of which bear edible nuts
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norms
C1
/ˈnɔrmz/
Accepted standards or ways of behaving that are usual in a society or group.
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marquee
C2
/mɑɹˈkiː/
a large tent used for an outdoor event
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payable
C2+
/ˈpeɪəbl̩/
a liability account showing how much is owed for goods and services purchased on credit
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carpentry
C1
/ˈkɑːrpəntri/
The skill or work of making and repairing things out of wood
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self-interest
C2+
/ˌsɛlˈfɪntəˌrɛst/
One's personal interest or advantage, especially when pursued without regard for others.
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shiner
C2
/ˈʃaɪnɚ/
any of numerous small, silvery North American freshwater fishes, especially minnows used as bait
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wares
C1
/wɛɹz/
Goods or products that are offered for sale.
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synergy
C2
/ˈsɪnəɹd͡ʒi/
The cooperation of two or more nerves, muscles, organs, etc.
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poplar
C2
/ˈpɑːplɚ/
any of various fast-growing deciduous trees of the genus Populus, often with leaves that tremble in the wind
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bracken
C2
/ˈbrækən/
a tall, coarse fern that often grows in dense stands on open or wooded land
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parameter
C2
/pəˈɹæm.ə.tɚ/
A factor or limit that defines or sets the boundaries of something.
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nunnery
C1
/ˈnʌn(ə)ɹi/
a convent for nuns, or the buildings occupied by such a religious community
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patter
C1
/ˈpæt.ɚ/
a quick succession of light rapid sounds
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gallantry
C2
/ˈɡæləntri/
courage.
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sirree
C2
/sɚˈiː/
informal, chiefly US: an emphatic form of sir used after yes or no
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gluttony
C1
/ˈɡlʌtəni/
habitual or excessive eating and drinking
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greenery
C2
/ˈɡriː.nɚ.i/
green leaves, plants, or vegetation considered collectively
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juggler
C2
/ˈdʒʌɡlɚ/
a performer who repeatedly throws and catches several objects or performs similar dexterity tricks
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savagery
C2
/ˈsævɪdʒəri/
extreme cruelty or violent brutality
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posturing
C2
/ˈpɑːstʃɝɪŋ/
Behaviour or talk meant to impress others rather than to be sincere.
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postmaster
C1
/ˈpoʊstˌmæstɚ/
The head of a post office.
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prithee
C2+
/ˈprɪði/
archaic: please; used to introduce or strengthen a request or question
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vermilion
C2+
/vɚˈmɪl.jən/
A vivid red synthetic pigment made of mercury sulfide, cinnabar.
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geyser
C2
/ˈɡaɪzɚ/
a hot spring that periodically throws jets of water and steam into the air
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monotony
C1
/məˈnɑtəni/
The dull sameness that comes from doing the same thing over and over with no variety.
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crawfish
C2
/ˈkɹɔˌfɪʃ/
chiefly US: a small freshwater crustacean resembling a lobster; a crayfish
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mandible
C2
/ˈmæn.dɪb.(ə)l/
the jaw in vertebrates that is hinged to open the mouth
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villainy
C2
/ˈvɪləni/
wicked, criminal, or treacherous behavior or character
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bricklayer
C2
/ˈbrɪˌkleɪɝ/
a craftsman skilled in building with bricks
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outcry
C1
/ˈaʊtˌkraɪ/
a strong and often public expression of anger, protest, or disapproval
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alabaster
C2
/ˈæl.əˌbæs.tɚ/
a fine-grained, usually pale and translucent form of gypsum or calcite used for carving
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cuttlefish
C2
/ˈkʌt̬.əl.fɪʃ/
a marine cephalopod with eight arms, two longer tentacles, and a broad internal shell called a cuttlebone
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farthing
C1
/ˈfɑːrðɪŋ/
a former British bronze coin worth a quarter of a penny
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suds
C1
/sʌdz/
The bubbles and foam made by soap mixed with water.
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tradesman
C2
a merchant who owns or manages a shop
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highwayman
C2
/ˈhaɪ.weɪ.mən/
historical: an armed robber, typically on horseback, who stopped and robbed travelers on public roads
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caiman
C2
/ˈkeɪ.mən/
any crocodilian of the subfamily Caimaninae, native to Central and South America and closely related to alligators
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opiate
C2
/ˈoʊpiət/
a sedative or narcotic drug containing opium or one of its natural derivatives
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floodgates
C2
/ˈflʌdˌgeɪts/
Gates that control the flow of water; often used figuratively for whatever is holding back a sudden rush of something.
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legate
C2
/ˈlɛɡɪt/
an official envoy or deputy, especially a representative sent by the pope or a sovereign
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handmaiden
C2
/ˈhændˌmeɪdən/
historical: a female personal attendant or servant
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misogynist
C2
/mɪˈsɑd͡ʒ.ən.ɪst/
One who professes misogyny; a hater of women.
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ovary
C2
/ˈoʊvəɹi/
(vertebrates) one of usually two organs that produce ova and secrete estrogen and progesterone
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watchmaker
C2
/ˈwɑːtʃˌmeɪkɚ/
a craftsperson or company that makes, maintains, or repairs watches
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acumen
C2
/əˈkjumən/
A bony, often sharp, protuberance, especially that of the ischium.
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affiliate
C2
/əˈfɪliːˌeɪt/
a subsidiary or subordinate organization that is affiliated with another organization
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duchy
C2
/ˈdʌtʃi/
a territory ruled by a duke or duchess, or historically held as their domain
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gossamer
C2
/ˈɡɑ.sə.mɚ/
A fine film made up of cobwebs, seen floating in the air or caught on bushes, etc.
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semi-final
B2
One of the two matches before the final, deciding which players or teams reach the final.
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acrobatics
C2
/ˌækrəˈbætɪks/
Difficult and impressive physical movements such as jumps, flips, and balances.
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geneticist
C2
/dʒəˈnɛtɪsɪst/
a scientist who specializes in genes, heredity, and genetic variation
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wallflower
C2
/ˈwɔlˌflaʊ.ɚ/
Any of several short-lived herbs or shrubs of the Erysimum genus with bright yellow to red flowers.
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hamstring
C1
/ˈhæmstrɪŋ/
any of the muscles and tendons at the back of the thigh that bend the knee
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repartee
C1
/ˌrɛpɚˈteɪ/
a quick, witty reply
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foray
C2
/ˈfɔɹ.eɪ/
an initial attempt (especially outside your usual areas of competence)
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minster
C2
/ˈmɪnstɚ/
A large or important church, especially a cathedral.
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vestal
C2
/ˈvɛstəl/
a Vestal Virgin, one of the priestesses who tended the sacred fire of Vesta in ancient Rome
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buccaneer
C2
/ˌbʌkəˈnɪɚ/
A pirate, especially one who attacked Spanish ships in the Caribbean in the 1600s.
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