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
fluster
C1
/ˈflʌstɚ/
to make someone agitated, nervous, or confused
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induct
C1
/ɪnˈdʌkt/
to formally bring someone into an organization, position, or group, often in a ceremony
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swathe
C2
/swɑð/
To bind with a swathe, band, bandage, or rollers
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daub
C1
/dɔb/
to spread a thick or sticky substance over a surface, often carelessly
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trounce
C2
/traʊns/
to defeat someone thoroughly or by a very large margin
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plagiarize
C1
/ˈpleɪ.dʒə.raɪz/
to use another person's words, ideas, or creative work and present them as one's own, especially without proper acknowledgment
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encase
C1
/ɪnˈkeɪs/
to cover, surround, or enclose something completely, especially in a protective material
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asceticism
C2
/əˈsɛt.əˌsɪz.əm/
the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from physical comforts or pleasures
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pooh-pooh
C2+
/ˌpuːˈpuː/
to dismiss an idea, concern, or suggestion as foolish or unimportant, often contemptuously
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coiffure
C2+
/kwɑˈfjʊɚ/
To style or arrange hair.
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latency
C1
/ˈleɪtənsi/
delay between a request, signal, or action and the response to it
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swelter
C1
/ˈswɛltɚ/
to suffer or feel extremely uncomfortable because of intense heat
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bifurcation
C2
/ˌbaɪfɚˈkeɪʃən/
The act of bifurcating; branching or dividing in two.
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excretion
C1
/ɪkˈskriːʃən/
the biological process by which an organism removes metabolic waste or discharges a substance
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decant
C1
/dəˈkænt/
to pour a liquid from one container into another
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expropriate
C2
/ɛksˈpɹəʊpɹi.eɪt/
deprive of possessions
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repercussion
C2
/ˌɹi.pɚˈkʌʃ.ən/
a remote or indirect consequence of some action
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geld
C2
/ɡɛld/
cut off the testicles (of male animals such as horses)
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dovetail
C2
/ˈdʌvˌteɪl/
To combine or fit (things) together well.
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jilt
C2
/dʒɪlt/
to suddenly reject or abandon a romantic partner, especially shortly before an expected marriage
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simplification
B2
/ˌsɪm.plə.fəˈkeɪ.ʃən/
The act of making something easier to do or understand.
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overwrite
B2
/oʊ.vɚˈɹaɪt/
to replace existing data by writing new data over it
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careen
C2
/kəˈɹiːn/
to move rapidly and unsteadily from side to side, as though likely to overturn
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personify
B2
/pə(ɹ)ˈsɒnɪfaɪ/
To be a perfect example of a particular quality.
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oscillate
C2
/ˈɑsɪleɪt/
To swing back and forth, especially if with a regular rhythm.
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deaden
C2
/ˈdɛdən/
To make a feeling or sensation, especially pain, less strong.
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recapitulate
C2
/ˌriːkəˈpɪtʃəˌleɪt/
summarize briefly
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hypothesize
C2
/haɪˈpɑ.θəˌsaɪz/
To suggest an explanation for something without yet having proof.
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falconry
C2
/ˈfɑːlkənri/
the practice or sport of training falcons and other birds of prey to hunt wild quarry
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recombine
C2
/ˌriːkəmˈbaɪn/
to put separated or analyzed parts together again, sometimes in a new arrangement
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exultation
C2
/ˌɛɡzʌlˈteɪʃən/
The act of exulting; great joy at success or victory, or at any advantage gained; rapturous delight
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overpay
B2
/ˌoʊ.vɚˈpeɪ/
to pay more than the required, reasonable, or fair amount for something or to someone
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sputter
C2
/ˈspʌt.ɚ/
to make a series of soft explosive, spitting, or popping sounds
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encapsulate
C1
/ɪnˈkæps(j)ʊˌleɪt/
to express the main meaning of something briefly and clearly
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daunt
C1
/dɔnt/
To make someone feel nervous or less confident, so they are afraid to do something.
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incise
C2
/ɪnˈsaɪz/
To cut into a surface with a sharp tool, especially to carve or engrave a design.
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tromp
C2
/tɹɒmp/
to walk, tread, or stamp heavily, often crushing what is underfoot
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facilitation
C1
/fəˌsɪlɪˈteɪʃən/
The act of making something easier or helping it happen.
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vegetate
C2
/ˈvɛdʒəˌteɪt/
to live in a passive, monotonous, or mentally inactive way
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galvanize
C2
/ˈɡælvənaɪ̯z/
to stimulate muscles by administering a shock
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aerate
C2
/ˈer.eɪt/
to supply or expose something to air or oxygen
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upend
C1
/ʌpˈɛnd/
to turn or set something on its end or upside down
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interlace
C1
/ˌɪntərˈleɪs/
to cross, weave, or twist things together so that they form a connected pattern
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disabuse
C2
/dɪsəˈbjuːs/
To free (someone) of a misconception or misapprehension; to unveil a falsehood held by (someone).
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totter
C2
/ˈtɑtɚ/
To walk or stand unsteadily, as if about to fall.
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rearrangement
C1
/ˌriː.əˈreɪndʒ.mənt/
the act or result of arranging people or things again in a different order or pattern
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calve
C2
/kæv/
of a cow or certain other large mammals: to give birth to a calf
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recommence
C1
/ˌriː.kəˈmens/
formal: to begin again or cause an activity to begin again
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safecracking
C2+
/ˈseɪfˌkræk.ɪŋ/
the practice of defeating a safe's or vault's security mechanisms in order to open it, especially illegally
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prejudge
B2
/priːˈdʒʌdʒ/
To form an opinion about someone or something before knowing all the facts.
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dehumanize
B2
/dɪˈhjuːmənaɪz/
To treat people as if they are not human, removing their dignity and human qualities.
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belabor
C2
/bɪˈleɪbɝ/
to attack verbally with harsh criticism
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palmistry
C1
/ˈpɑməstri/
the claimed practice of interpreting the lines and features of a person's palm to describe character or predict the future
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elaboration
C1
/ɪˌlæbɝˈeɪʃən/
The act of adding more detail or explanation to something.
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betroth
C2
/bəˈtɹoʊð/
to formally promise someone in marriage or become formally engaged to marry
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spay
C2
/ˈspeɪ/
remove the ovaries of
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desiccation
C2
/ˌdɛsəˈkeɪʃən/
the process of removing moisture from something or causing it to become completely dry
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interdict
C2
/ˈɪntɚdɪkt/
To forbid (an action or thing) by formal or legal sanction.
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elongate
C1
/əˈlɔŋˌɡeɪt/
To make something longer, or to become longer, by stretching or extending.
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mummify
C1
/ˈmʌm.ɪ.faɪ/
to preserve a dead body by drying, embalming, and wrapping it as a mummy
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reconquer
C1
/riːˈkɔŋkɝ/
to conquer and regain territory or control that was previously lost
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convulse
C2
/kənˈvʌls/
to shake or contract violently in sudden, involuntary movements
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moralize
B2
/ˈmɔːr.ə.laɪz/
to make comments or judgments about right and wrong, often in a self-righteous or tedious way
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prate
C2
/preɪt/
to talk at length in a foolish, trivial, or tiresome way
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undervalue
C1
/ˌʌndɚˈvæljuː/
to regard a person, quality, or contribution as less important or worthy than it really is
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forewarn
C1
/fɔrˈwɔrn/
to warn someone about a danger, problem, or event before it occurs
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immolate
C1
/ˈɪm.ə.leɪt/
offer as a sacrifice by killing or by giving up to destruction
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magnetize
C1
/ˈmæɡnəˌtaɪz/
to give a material the properties of a magnet, or to become magnetic
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overtax
C1
/ˌoʊvɚˈtæks/
to make excessive demands on a person's strength, attention, or resources
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retell
B1
/ɹiˈtɛl/
To tell a story or event again, often in your own words.
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abatement
C2
/əˈbeɪtmənt/
the act of abating
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unshackle
C2
/ʌnˈʃækəl/
to free a person, activity, or system from restrictions, restraints, or control
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dispossess
C1
/ˌdɪs.pəˈzes/
to deprive a person or community of land, a home, or other property, especially by force or legal action
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intuit
C1
/ɪnˈtuɪt/
To understand or sense something immediately, without conscious reasoning.
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stipple
C2
/ˈstɪpəl/
to draw, paint, engrave, or shade using many small dots or short marks
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protrude
C2
/pɹəˈtɹud/
To stick out beyond a surface or edge.
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reinvigorate
C2
/ˌriːɪnˈvɪɡəreɪt/
to give someone renewed health, energy, or vitality
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attribution
C1
/ˌætrəˈbjuːʃən/
the act of regarding something as caused, created, or possessed by a particular person or thing
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undersell
C1
/ˌʌndɚˈsɛl/
to sell at a lower price than a competitor
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gibber
C2
/ˈdʒɪb.ɚ/
to speak rapidly and incoherently, especially from fear, excitement, or confusion
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scandalize
B2
/ˈskændəlaɪz/
to shock or offend someone by violating accepted moral or social standards
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enunciation
C2
/ɪˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/
The act of enunciating, announcing, proclaiming, or making known; open attestation; declaration.
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immolation
C1
/ˈɪməˌleɪʃən/
the act of killing, sacrificing, or destroying by fire
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thresh
C2
/θrɛʃ/
to separate grain or seeds from harvested plants by beating or by machine
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tyro
C2
/ˈtaɪɹoʊ/
someone new to a field or activity
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upturn
B2
/ˈʌp.tɝn/
An upward turn or trend, especially in business activity or profit.
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elide
C2
/ɪˈlaɪd/
to omit a sound, syllable, word, or other element
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pervade
C2
/pɚˈveɪd/
To be in every part of; to spread through; to permeate.
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indemnify
C2
/ɪnˈdɛm.nɪ.faɪ/
To secure against loss or damage; to insure.
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layperson
C2
/ˈleɪ.pɜɹ.sən/
One who is not intimately familiar with a given subject or activity.
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bo-peep
C2+
/ˌboʊˈpiːp/
an old name for peekaboo, or an act of appearing suddenly and hiding again
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quackery
C2
/ˈkwækəri/
fraudulent or scientifically unsound medical practice, treatment, or advice
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mainspring
C2
/ˈmeɪnˌsprɪŋ/
the chief motive, source, or driving force behind an action or development
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neutralization
C1
/ˌnuːtɹəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
The act of stopping something from having an effect by balancing it out.
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mollify
C2
/ˈmɒlɪfaɪ/
To ease a burden, particularly to ease a worry; make less painful; to comfort.
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importune
C2
/ɪmpɔɹˈtuːn/
beg persistently and urgently
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