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.
4452 words
objectify
B2
/əbˈdʒɛktɪˌfaɪ/
to treat a person as an object rather than as a complete human being
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uncork
C1
/ʌnˈkɔrk/
to remove the cork or stopper from a bottle or other container
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prise
C2
/pɹaɪz/
To force something open or apart using a lever or tool.
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fluctuate
C2
/ˈflʌkt͡ʃu.eɪt/
To rise and fall or change irregularly.
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immortalize
C1
/ɪˈmɔː(ɹ).təˌlaɪz/
To make someone or something famous and remembered forever.
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modulate
C2
/ˈmɑ.d͡ʒəˌleɪt/
change the key of, in music
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ad-lib
C2
/ˈædˈlɪb/
To say or do something without any preparation; to improvise.
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wester
C2
/ˈwɛs.tər/
to move or turn toward the west
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quickness
C1
/ˈkwɪknəs/
rapidity of movement or activity; agility or dexterity
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gaslight
C1
/ˈɡæslaɪt/
to manipulate someone into doubting their own memory, perceptions, or judgment
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exalt
B2
/ɪɡˈzɔlt/
To praise someone or something very highly.
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shelve
C2
/ˈʃɛlv/
place on a shelf
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redd
C2
/rɛd/
Scottish and northern English dialect, usually redd up: to put in order; tidy or clear
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transfuse
C2
/tɹænsˈfjuːz/
to transfer blood or another fluid into a person's or animal's bloodstream
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penalize
B2
/ˈpɛnəˌlaɪz/
To punish someone for breaking a rule or law.
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unction
C2
/ˈʌŋkʃən/
the ceremonial act of anointing someone with oil, especially as a religious rite
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traipse
C2
/tɹeɪps/
informal: to walk from place to place, especially wearily, reluctantly, or over a needlessly long distance
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retch
C2
/rɛtʃ/
to make involuntary movements and sounds as if vomiting, often without bringing anything up
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corrode
C1
/kəˈɹoʊd/
to destroy or be gradually destroyed by a chemical reaction, especially oxidation or acid
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agonize
B2
/ˈæɡ.ɪ.naɪz/
To worry or think very anxiously about a difficult decision.
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naturalization
B2
/ˌnætʃ(ə)rələˈzeɪʃən/
the legal process by which a non-citizen acquires citizenship of a country
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skew
C2
/skju/
To distort or bias something so it gives a false or one-sided result.
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gild
C2
/ɡɪld/
To cover with a thin layer of gold; to cover with gold leaf.
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foist
C2
/fɔɪst/
to force an unwanted, inferior, or deceptive thing on someone
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personalize
C1
/ˈpɝ.sə.nəˌlaɪz/
To adapt something to suit the needs or tastes of a particular person.
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hanker
C1
/ˈhæŋkər/
to have a strong or persistent desire for something, usually followed by for or after
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inlay
C1
/ɪnˈleɪ/
to decorate a surface by setting pieces of another material into it
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overstay
B2
/ˌoʊvɝˈsteɪ/
stay too long
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redistribute
B2
/ˌriːdɪˈstrɪbjuːt/
to distribute resources, wealth, responsibilities, or other things in a different way
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mesmerize
C2
/ˈmɛzməɹaɪz/
To exercise mesmerism on; to affect another person, such as to heal or soothe, through the use of animal magnetism.
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dethrone
C2
/diˈθroʊn/
to remove a monarch from the throne or from sovereign power
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posit
C2
/ˈpɑzɪt/
To suggest or assume that something is true as a basis for argument.
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trudge
C1
/trʌdʒ/
to walk slowly and heavily because one is tired or conditions are difficult
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tipple
C2
/ˈtɪpəl/
drink moderately but regularly
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drawl
C1
/dɹɔl/
to speak slowly, prolonging vowel sounds
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distill
C2
/dɪˈstɪl/
To purify or separate a liquid by heating it into vapor and cooling it back into liquid.
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hobnob
C2
/ˈhɑbˌnɑb/
to associate or socialize familiarly, especially with important or high-status people
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infringe
B2
/ɪnˈfɹɪnd͡ʒ/
To break or violate a law, agreement, or someone's rights.
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saturate
C2+
/ˈsatjʊɹeɪt/
To cause to become completely permeated with, or soaked (especially with a liquid).
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allude
C2
/əˈlud/
To refer to something indirectly instead of mentioning it openly.
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tranquilize
C2
/ˈtɹeɪ̯ŋkwɪlaɪ̯z/
To make a person or animal calm, often by giving them a sedative drug.
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portage
B1
/ˈpɔːrtɪdʒ/
the activity of carrying a boat and its supplies overland between navigable waterways or around an obstacle
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venerate
C1
/ˈvɛnəɹeɪt/
To deeply respect and honour someone or something.
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detract
C2
/dɪˈtrækt/
To make something seem less good or valuable.
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edification
C2
/ˌɛdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
The act of improving someone morally, intellectually, or spiritually.
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collude
C2
/kəˈluːd/
to act in concert with; to conspire.
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egoism
C1
/ˈiːɡoʊˌɪzəm/
the practice of giving one's own interests and welfare priority over those of others
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halve
C2
/hɑːv/
divide by two
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transact
C1
/ˌtɹænˈzækt/
conduct business
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reprint
B2
/ˈɹiːpɹɪnt/
To print something again, especially a book that was published before.
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filch
C2
/fɪltʃ/
to steal something, especially a small or relatively low-value item, in a furtive way
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besiege
C2
/bəˈsiːd͡ʒ/
To surround a place with armed forces to force it to surrender
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reverberate
C2
/ɹəˈvɜɹbəˌɹeɪt/
To be repeated as an echo; to ring or resound off surfaces.
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arraign
C2
/əˈɹeɪn/
to accuse of a wrong or an inadequacy
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deflower
C2
/diˈflaʊ.ɚ/
dated: to have sexual intercourse with a person regarded as a virgin, framed as taking that person's virginity
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infest
C1
/ɪnˈfest/
of pests or parasites, to occupy a place or host in harmful or troublesome numbers
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misrepresentation
C1
/ˌmɪsˌrɛprɪzɛnˈteɪʃən/
the act or an instance of giving a false, inaccurate, or misleading account of someone or something
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incubate
C1
/ˈɪŋkjʊbeɪt/
to keep eggs warm under conditions that allow embryos to develop and hatch
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childbearing
C2
/ˈtʃaɪldˌbɛɹɪŋ/
the process or period of carrying and giving birth to children
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countermand
C2
/ˈkaʊntɚˌmænd/
To revoke (a former command); to cancel or rescind by giving an order contrary to one previously given.
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hearken
C2
/ˈhɑɹkən/
to listen attentively or give serious heed, especially in literary or archaic use
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pilfer
C2
/ˈpɪl.fɚ/
To steal in small quantities, or articles of small value; to practise petty theft.
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embarkation
C1
/ˌɛmbɑrˈkeɪʃən/
the act or process of going aboard a ship or aircraft
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witchery
C2
/ˈwɪtʃəri/
witchcraft or the supposed practice of magic
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redouble
C2
/riːˈdʌbəl/
to make twice as great or intense
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engender
C2
/ɛnˈd͡ʒɛn.dɚ/
To cause something, especially a feeling or situation, to come into being.
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irk
C2
/ɝːk/
to annoy, irritate, or weary someone
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slake
C2
/sleɪk/
To satisfy (thirst, or other desires).
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deplete
C2
/dɪˈplit/
To reduce the amount of; to remove (a substance from something)
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bulwark
C2
/ˈbʊl.wɚk/
to defend with a bulwark
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miscarry
C1
/ˌmɪsˈker.i/
to lose an embryo or fetus spontaneously before it can survive independently
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optimize
C1
/ˈɑptɪmaɪz/
to make something as effective, efficient, or useful as possible
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tamp
C2
/tæmp/
press down tightly
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instigation
C2
/ˌɪnstɪˈɡeɪʃən/
The act of instigating, or the state of being instigated; incitement; especially to evil or wickedness.
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wend
C2
/wɪ̟nd/
direct one's course or way
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overburden
B2
/ˌoʊvɚˈbɝdən/
to give someone or something more work, weight, debt, or responsibility than can reasonably be carried
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piddle
C2
/ˈpɪdəl/
informal: to spend time ineffectually on trivial matters; to work in a small or desultory way
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ratification
C1
/ˌrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
the act of formally approving and making an agreement, treaty, or decision valid
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laud
C2
/lɔd/
To praise someone or something highly, often publicly.
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equalize
B2
/ˈiː.kwə.laɪz/
to make two or more amounts, conditions, opportunities, or effects equal
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overhang
B2
/ˌoʊ.vɚˈhæŋ/
to project, extend, or hang over something at a lower level
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brandish
C2
/ˈbɹændɪʃ/
To wave or swing something, especially a weapon, in a threatening or excited way.
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moneymaking
C1
/ˈmʌniˌmeɪkɪŋ/
the activity of earning money or making a profit
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restate
B1
/ˌriːˈsteɪt/
to state something again, often in clearer or different words
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chaw
C2
/t͡ʃɔ/
to chew without swallowing
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domestication
C1
/dəˌmɛstəˈkeɪʃən/
The act of taming wild animals or adapting plants for human use.
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encroach
C2
/ɪnˈkroʊtʃ/
advance beyond the usual limit
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impugn
C2
/ɪmˈpjuːn/
To verbally assault, especially to argue against an opinion, motive, or action; to question the truth or validity of; cast doubt on.
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dissemble
C2
/dɪˈsɛmbəl/
To hide your true feelings or intentions by pretending.
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hospitalize
B2
/ˈhɒspɪtəˌlaɪz/
To take someone into a hospital for treatment.
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curdle
C2
/ˈkɝːdəl/
to separate a liquid, especially milk, into solid curds and liquid, or to cause it to do so
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socialization
C1
/ˌsoʊʃəlɪˈzeɪʃən/
The process of learning the behaviour and customs of one's society, especially as a child.
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lamentation
C2
/ˌlæm.ənˈteɪ.ʃən/
The act of expressing deep grief, often loudly; a sorrowful cry.
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horrify
B1
/ˈhɔɹəfaɪ/
To shock someone deeply, making them feel fear or disgust.
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pussyfoot
C2
/ˈpʊsiːˈfʊt/
to act timidly or cautiously.
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excrete
C2
/ɪkˈskriːt/
to discharge waste matter or another substance from a body, organ, cell, or biological system
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