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.
Choose your level
All 27,237 words
4363 words
undecorated
B1
/ˌʌnˈdɛkəˌɹeɪtɪd/
having no ornament, embellishment, or decorative detail
stingless
C2+
/ˈstɪŋləs/
having no sting or no functional stinging organ
apologetically
C2
/əˌpɑːləˈdʒɛtɪˌkliː/
in an apologetic manner
unthinkably
B2
To a degree that is too great or shocking to imagine
suffuse
C2
/səˈfjuːz/
To spread slowly through or over something, especially a colour, light, or feeling.
bearish
C1
/ˈbɛrɪʃ/
resembling a bear in being rough, surly, or clumsy
polysyllabic
C2
/ˌpɔ.lɪ.sɪˈlæ.bɪk/
Having more than one syllable, or many syllables.
hornless
C2
/ˈhɔːn.ləs/
having no horns
rackety
B2
/ˈrækɪti/
noisy, clamorous, or full of racket
invitingly
B2
In a way that attracts or tempts you.
unimproved
C2
/ˌənɪmˈpruːvd/
not made more desirable or valuable or profitable
unshaped
C2
/ʌnˈʃeɪpt/
incompletely or imperfectly shaped
negligently
C1
/ˈnɛglɪdʒəntli/
In a careless or inattentive way.
frowsy
C2
/ˈfraʊzi/
dirty, neglected, and untidy in appearance
pouter
C2
/ˈpaʊtɝ/
one of a breed of pigeon that enlarge their crop until their breast is puffed out
mutability
B2
/ˌmjutəˈbɪlɪti/
The quality of being able to change or be changed.
palmy
C2
/ˈpɑː.mi/
prosperous, flourishing, successful, or triumphant, especially in the phrase palmy days
exotically
C1
In a way that seems strange, unusual, or excitingly foreign.
melodiously
C2
In a way that sounds pleasant and tuneful.
malleability
C2
/ˌmæliːəˈbɪləti/
The quality of being easily shaped, bent, or changed.
infallibly
C2
/ɪnˈfæl.ɪ.bli/
In a way that never fails or makes a mistake.
irrelevancy
C2
/ˌɪˈrɛləvənsi/
Something that has no bearing on the matter being discussed.
shadeless
C2
/ˈʃeɪdləs/
having no protection from direct sunlight
murrey
C2
/ˈmɝːi/
heraldry: a dark mulberry or purplish-red color
corpuscular
C2
/kɔɹˈpʌskjəlɚ/
of or relating to corpuscles
primitively
C1
In a simple, basic, or undeveloped way.
obscurely
C1
/əbˈskjʊɹli/
In a way that is hard to understand or notice.
shortish
B2
/ˈʃɔːr.tɪʃ/
somewhat short in length, height, or duration
allurement
C2
/əˈlʊr.mənt/
the quality or power of being strongly attractive or fascinating
unhandsome
C2
/ˌʌnˈhæn.səm/
Not handsome.
initiatory
C2
/ɪˈnɪʃiəˌtɔri/
serving as a beginning or introduction; initial
unstudied
C1
/ʌnˈstʌd.id/
not examined, researched, or learned through study
indestructibility
C2
/ˌɪndəˌstrəktɪˈbɪlɪti/
The condition of being indestructible.
irremediable
C2
/ˌɪrɪˈmidiəbəl/
impossible to cure, correct, repair, or improve
recognizably
C1
/ˈrɛkəgˌnaɪzəbli/
In a way that is easy to recognize or identify.
workmanlike
C2
/ˈwɜː(ɹ)kmənlaɪk/
Resembling or characteristic of a workman.
antipathetic
C2
/ˌæntɪpəˈθɛtɪk/
feeling, showing, or causing strong dislike or repugnance
cultish
C2
Resembling a cult, especially in showing extreme or unquestioning devotion.
stringency
C2
/ˈstrɪndʒənsi/
the quality of being strict, exacting, or rigorously enforced
angularity
C2
The quality of having sharp angles or corners.
contextually
C1
In a way that depends on or refers to the surrounding context.
mundanity
C2
/mʌnˈdænɪti/
The quality of being ordinary, dull, or unremarkable.
vermiform
C2+
/ˈvɜː(ɹ)mɪfɔː(ɹ)m/
resembling a worm
threadlike
C2
/ˈθɹɛdˌlaɪk/
resembling a thread in being long, narrow, or extremely thin
uncertified
C1
/ˌʌnˈsɝtəfaɪd/
not officially certified, approved, or supported by the required documentation
eccentrically
C1
In a strange or unusual way.
longsword
C2+
/ˈlɔŋsɔɹd/
Any type of sword that is comparatively long; depending on context, applied to swords of the Bronze Age, Migration period, Viking Age and Renaissance era.
swingeing
C2
/ˈswɪndʒɪŋ/
chiefly British: extremely severe, harsh, or damaging
odoriferous
C2
/ˌoʊdəˈɹɪfəɹəs/
having a natural fragrance
ephemerality
C2
The quality of lasting for only a very short time.
illimitable
C2
/ɪˈlɪmɪtəbəl/
incapable of being limited or bounded; measureless
tendentious
C2
/tɛnˈdɛnʃəs/
having or marked by a strong tendency especially a controversial one
putrescent
C2
/pjuˈtrɛsənt/
undergoing putrefaction; becoming rotten or putrid
mettlesome
C2
/ˈmɛtəlsəm/
Marked by mettle or bravery; courageous.
impenitent
C2
/ɪmˈpɛnət(ə)nt/
Not penitent; specifically (Christianity), not repenting of one's sins; unrepentant.
austerely
C2
/ɔˈstiɹli/
In a stern or severe manner.
remonstrance
C2
/ɹɪˈmɒnstɹəns/
A strong protest or objection, often made formally and in writing.
unsleeping
C2
/ʌnˈsliːpɪŋ/
not sleeping or unable to sleep
askant
C2+
/əˈskænt/
(used especially of glances) directed to one side with or as if with doubt or suspicion or envy
tigerish
C2
/ˈtaɪɡərɪʃ/
resembling a tiger in fierceness and lack of mercy
fluey
C2+
/ˈfluːi/
covered with, containing, or resembling loose fluff, lint, or down; obsolete
confirmable
C1
/kənˈfɝːməbəl/
capable of being tested, verified or falsified, by experiment or observation
untracked
B2
/ʌnˈtrækt/
Without tracks.
glaucous
C2
/ˈɡlɑ.kəs/
pale bluish-green or bluish-gray in color
above-named
C2+
/əˈbʌvˌneɪmd/
Mentioned or named before; aforesaid.
polyandry
C2
/ˌpɑːˌliːˈændri/
having more than one husband at a time
stringently
C2
/ˈstrɪndʒəntli/
In a strict and rigorous way; with little flexibility.
pellucid
C2
/pəˈluːsɪd/
perfectly clear or transparent, especially of water or light
roseate
C2
/ˈroʊziət/
pink, rosy, or tinged with rose color
candidness
C2
The quality of being candid.
ironbound
C2
/ˈaɪɚnˌbaʊnd/
bound, reinforced, or covered with iron
precociously
C2
In a way that shows unusually early development or maturity.
drabness
C2
The quality of being dull, colourless, and dreary.
reparable
C1
/ˈɹɛp(ə)ɹəbəl/
capable of being repaired or rectified
ineradicable
C2
/ˌɪnɪˈrædɪkəbəl/
impossible or extremely difficult to eliminate, destroy, or remove
cogently
C2
/ˈkəʊ.dʒn̩t.li/
In a clear and convincing way.
extensible
C2
/ɪkˈstɛnsəbəl/
capable of being extended, enlarged, or applied more broadly
complexly
C1
in a complex manner
ponderously
C2
In a slow, heavy, clumsy way.
incommodious
C2
/ˌɪnkəˈmoʊdiəs/
uncomfortably or inconveniently small
perceptively
C1
In a way that shows quick and accurate understanding.
topographically
C2
With regard to the physical features and shape of the land.
unlighted
B2
/ʌnˈlaɪtɪd/
not provided with light; dark or unilluminated
multiform
C2
/ˈmʌltiˌfɔɹm/
existing, appearing, or occurring in many different forms
demystification
C2
The act of making a confusing or mysterious subject clear and easy to understand.
commensurately
C2
/kəˈmɛnsɝətli/
In a way that matches or is in proportion to something.
gimcrack
C2
/ˈd͡ʒɪmkɹæk/
a showy ornament or object of little practical use or value
recommendable
B2
Good enough to be recommended; worth suggesting to others.
ascertainable
C2
/ˌæsɚˈteɪnəbl̩/
capable of being ascertained or found out
venomously
C2
/ˈvɛnəməsli/
With intense spite or hostility.
impishly
C1
In a playfully naughty, mischievous way.
tricolored
C2
/ˌtraɪˈkʌl.ɚd/
having or marked with three different colors
unusualness
B2
The quality of being strange, rare, or different from what is normal.
stressfully
C1
In a way that causes worry, tension, or pressure.
slatternly
C2
Appropriate to or characteristic of a slattern.
euphorically
C2
In a way that shows intense happiness and excitement.