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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.
8073 words
acrimonious
C2
/ˌæk.ɹɪˈmoʊ.ni.əs/
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
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compos
C2
/ˈkɑːm.pəs/
of sound mind and in full control of one's mental faculties, chiefly in the phrase compos mentis
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sepia
B2
/ˈsiːpiə/
a dark reddish-brown color associated with old photographs and drawings
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funereal
C2+
/fjuːˈnɪəɹɪ.əl/
suited to or suggestive of a grave or burial
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helter-skelter
C2
/ˌheltərˈskeltər/
in confused, disorderly haste
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consumptive
C2
/kənˈsʌmptɪv/
affected by or characteristic of pulmonary tuberculosis
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timidly
C2
/ˈtɪmɪdli/
in a shy, nervous, or hesitant way
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thirtieth
A1
/ˈθɝti.əθ/
coming next after the twenty-ninth in position
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improvisational
C2
/ɪmˌpɹɑvəˈzeɪʃənəl/
Made up on the spot, without preparation.
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derisive
C2
/dɪˈraɪsɪv/
Showing scorn or contempt; mocking.
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anthropomorphic
C2
/ˌænθrəpəˈmɔrfɪk/
attributing human form, emotions, motives, or behavior to a god, animal, object, or natural process
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fractious
C2
/ˈfɹæk.ʃəs/
Easily annoyed and inclined to complain or quarrel.
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empirically
C2
/ɛmˈpɪrɪkəli/
in an empirical manner
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excusable
C2
/ɪksˈkjuːzəbəl/
Possible to excuse; worthy of being excused.
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haphazardly
C2
/hæpˈhæzɚdli/
In a careless, random way, without any clear plan.
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granular
C2
/ˈɡɹæn.jə.lə(ɹ)/
composed of or covered with particles resembling meal in texture or consistency
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bristly
C2
/ˈbɹɪsli/
having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.
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unassisted
C1
/ˌənəˈsɪstɪd/
Done without any help from others.
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cynically
C1
/ˈsɪnɪkəli/
In a way that shows you expect the worst of people or doubt their honesty.
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farcical
C2
/ˈfɑː(ɹ)sɪkəl/
So ridiculous or absurd that it seems like a joke.
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aural
C2
/ˈɔɹəl/
relating to or characterized by an aura
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wryly
C1
/ˈɹaɪli/
In a way that shows dry, slightly mocking humour.
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aforesaid
C1
/əˈfɔɹsɛd/
previously mentioned or named
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unintelligent
C2
/ˌʌn.ɪnˈtɛl.ə.dʒənt/
showing a limited ability to learn, understand, or reason
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quixotic
C2
/kwɪkˈsɑtɪk/
not sensible about practical matters; overly idealistic or impractical
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therefor
C1
/ðɛɹˈfɔɹ/
formal, especially legal: for that thing, action, or reason; in return for it
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vainglorious
C2
/ˌveɪnˈɡlɔː.ɹi.əs/
imperious self-importance
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callously
C2
/ˈkæləsli/
In a cruel, uncaring way, with no regard for others' feelings.
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ungentlemanly
C1
/ʌnˈdʒɛntəlmənli/
discourteous, dishonorable, or otherwise contrary to the conduct traditionally expected of a gentleman
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unwholesome
C2
/ˌənˈhoʊlsəm/
detrimental to physical or moral well-being
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cocksure
C2
marked by excessive confidence
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intransigent
C2
/ɪnˈtɹæn.sə.d͡ʒənt/
Unwilling to compromise or moderate a position; unreasonable.
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hermetic
C2
/hə(ɹ)ˈmɛtɪk/
Completely sealed so that no air or gas can pass through; airtight.
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subjunctive
B2
/səbˈd͡ʒʌŋktɪv/
Relating to a verb form used to show wishes, doubts, or things that are not facts.
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thereupon
C2
/ˌðɛɹəˈpɑn/
Upon that; thereon.
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numeric
C2
/n(j)uˈmɛɹɪk/
measured or expressed in numbers
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impish
C1
/ˈɪmpɪʃ/
Playfully naughty in an amusing, mischievous way.
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ingenuous
C2
/ɪnˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.əs/
Innocent and trusting in a simple, honest way; not suspicious of others.
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florid
C2
/ˈfloɹɪd/
In a blatant, vivid, or highly disorganized state.
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bloodcurdling
C1
/ˈblʌdˌkɝːdəlɪŋ/
causing extreme fear or horror
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fragmentary
C2
/ˈfrægmənˌtɛri/
consisting of small disconnected parts
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cerebrospinal
C2
/ˌsɛrəbroʊˈspaɪnəl/
of or relating to the brain and spinal cord
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geometrically
C2
/ˌdʒiːəˈmɛtrɪkli/
in a geometric fashion
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fair-minded
B2
/ˌfɛrˈmaɪndɪd/
willing to judge people or issues impartially and without prejudice
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provisionally
B2
/prəˈvɪʒənəli/
temporarily and subject to later change or confirmation
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insoluble
C1
/ɪnˈsɑljəbəl/
without hope of solution
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all-encompassing
C2
Including everything; very broad in scope.
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russet
C2
/ˈrʌsɪt/
reddish-brown or brown with an orange tint
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cerulean
C2
/səˈruːliən/
deep or vivid sky-blue, sometimes with a slight greenish tone
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mastoid
C2
/ˈmæ.stɔɪd/
relating to the mastoid process or the region of the skull directly behind the ear
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prurient
C2
/ˈpɹʊɹ.i.ənt/
Having or showing too much interest in sexual matters.
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taxable
B2
/ˈtæksəbəl/
legally subject to tax
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popularly
C1
/ˈpɑːpjəlɝli/
among the people
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phial
C1
/ˈfaɪəl/
a small, narrow bottle, especially one used for medicines, chemicals, or other liquids
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supercilious
C2
/ˌsu.pɚˈsɪ.li.əs/
expressive of contempt
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curvaceous
C2
/kɚˈveɪ.ʃɪs/
(of a woman's body) having a large bosom and pleasing curves
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lordly
C1
/ˈlɔː(ɹ)dli/
grand, noble, or suitable for a lord
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beery
C2
/ˈbɪɹi/
smelling of beer
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vicarious
C2
/vaɪˈkɛɹi.əs/
suffered or done by one person as a substitute for another
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navigable
C2
/ˈnævɪɡəbəl/
able to be sailed on or through safely
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ecologically
B2
/iːkəˈlɑːdʒɪkli/
In a way that relates to the environment and living things.
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intelligible
C2
/ɪnˈtɛləd͡ʒəbəl/
well articulated or enunciated, and loud enough to be heard distinctly
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explanatory
C1
/ɪkˈsplæn.ə.t(ɔː.)ɹi/
Helping to explain something or make it clearer.
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algebraic
C1
/ˌæl.d͡ʒɪˈbɹæɪ.ɪk/
relating to algebra or expressed by means of algebra
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absentminded
C2
/ˌæbsəntˈmaɪndɪd/
so preoccupied with one's thoughts that one fails to notice the surroundings or remember ordinary things
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expressionless
C1
/ɪkˈsprɛʃənləs/
showing no emotion, feeling, or reaction in the face, voice, or manner
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canty
C2+
/ˈkænti/
lively; cheerful; merry; brisk
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aforethought
C2
/əˈfɔɹ.θɔt/
planned or considered in advance; premeditated, especially in the legal phrase 'malice aforethought'
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phonetically
C2
/fəˈnɛtɪkli/
by phonetics
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feebly
C2
/ˈfiːbli/
in a halting and feeble manner
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rapturous
C2
/ˈɹæp.t͡ʃəɹ.əs/
Showing or feeling great joy or enthusiasm.
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alchemical
C2
/ælˈkɛmɪkəl/
relating to alchemy, an early tradition concerned with transforming matter
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moribund
C2
/ˈmɔrəbənd/
Close to dying; about to come to an end.
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semantic
C2
/sɪˈmæntɪk/
of or relating to meaning or the study of meaning
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untangled
C1
No longer knotted or twisted; smooth and free.
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thickly
B2
/ˈθɪkli/
In a thick layer or amount.
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unfrozen
B1
/ʌnˈfɹoʊzən/
not frozen; remaining liquid or free of ice
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poky
C1
/ˈpoʊki/
informal, especially British: too small, cramped, or lacking space
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trilateral
C2
/ˌtrɪˈlæ.təɹ.əl/
involving three parties
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malformed
C2
/ˌmælˈfɔːrmd/
formed abnormally or with an incorrect shape or structure
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polygamous
C2
/pəˈlɪɡəməs/
Of, relating to, or practicing polygamy.
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unpronounceable
C2
/ˌʌnprəˈnaʊnsəbəl/
very difficult to pronounce correctly
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therewith
C2
/ðɛəˈwɪθ/
with that or this or it
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gnostic
C2
/ˈnɑstɪk/
of or relating to Gnosticism
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undersized
B2
/ˈʌndɝˌsaɪzd/
smaller than the usual or expected size
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unaltered
C2
/əˈnɔltɝd/
remaining in an original state
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maxillary
C2
/ˈmæk.səˌlɛɹ.i/
of or relating to the upper jaw
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engrossing
C1
/ɛnˈɡɹoʊsɪŋ/
So interesting that it holds all your attention.
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barefaced
C2
/ˈber.feɪst/
openly shameless, audacious, or unconcealed
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tuneless
C2
/ˈtuːn.ləs/
lacking a recognizable or pleasing melody; not tuneful
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freeborn
C2
/ˈfɹiːˌbɔɹn/
born free rather than into slavery or bondage
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multifaceted
C2
/ˌməltiːˈfæsətɪd/
Having multiple facets or (geometric) faces.
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underdone
C1
/ˌʌn.dərˈdʌn/
not cooked or browned enough
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associative
C2
/əˈsoʊ.si.ə.tɪv/
in mathematics, having the property that regrouping operands does not change the result
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experimentally
C1
/ɪkˌspɛrəˈmɛntəli/
in an experimental fashion
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whitish
C2
/ˈwaɪtɪʃ/
Somewhat white, pale or almost white.
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