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.
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All 27,237 words
664 words
egotist
C1
/ˈiː.ɡə.tɪst/
a person with an exaggerated sense of their own importance who speaks or thinks excessively about themself
unpretentious
C1
/ˌʌn.prɪˈten.ʃəs/
not trying to appear more important, cultured, or impressive than one really is; modest and sincere
flathead
C2
/ˈflætˌhɛd/
dated US slang, insulting: a stupid or foolish person
ungracious
C2
/ʌnˈɡɹeɪʃəs/
not polite, kind, or pleasant toward others
benighted
C2
/bɪˈnaɪtɪd/
ignorant, unenlightened, or lacking cultural knowledge, often used disparagingly
malcontent
C2
/ˌmæl.kənˈtɛnt/
a person who is dissatisfied with existing conditions, especially one who actively opposes an established authority or system
roguish
C2
/ˈroʊɡɪʃ/
mischievous in a playful, attractive, or teasing way
scraggy
C2
/ˈskræɡi/
lean, bony, or scrawny, often with a rough or underfed appearance
magnanimity
C2
/ˌmæɡnəˈnɪmɪti/
The quality of being generous and forgiving, especially toward a rival.
timidity
C2
/tɪˈmɪdɪti/
The quality of being shy and lacking confidence or courage.
irascible
C2
/ɪˈɹæsəbəl/
easily provoked to anger; habitually hot-tempered
suppressor
B2
/səˈprɛsɝ/
a person or thing that suppresses, restrains, or prevents something
timidly
C2
/ˈtɪmɪdli/
in a shy, nervous, or hesitant way
unintelligent
C2
/ˌʌn.ɪnˈtɛl.ə.dʒənt/
showing a limited ability to learn, understand, or reason
callously
C2
/ˈkæləsli/
In a cruel, uncaring way, with no regard for others' feelings.
ingenuous
C2
/ɪnˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.əs/
Innocent and trusting in a simple, honest way; not suspicious of others.
lordly
C1
/ˈlɔː(ɹ)dli/
grand, noble, or suitable for a lord
vicarious
C2
/vaɪˈkɛɹi.əs/
suffered or done by one person as a substitute for another
absentminded
C2
/ˌæbsəntˈmaɪndɪd/
so preoccupied with one's thoughts that one fails to notice the surroundings or remember ordinary things
mountebank
C2
/ˈmaʊn.tə.bæŋk/
a charlatan who deceives people with flamboyant claims or performances
wielder
C2
/ˈwiːldər/
A person who wields something, especially power
pomposity
C2
/pɑːmˈpɑː.sə.t̬i/
an affectedly grand, solemn, or self-important manner
slattern
C2
/ˈslætɚn/
One who is uncareful or unconcerned about appearance or surroundings, usually said of a dirty and untidy woman.
indolent
C2
/ˈɪndələnt/
Habitually lazy and avoiding any kind of work or effort.
rapscallion
C2
/ræpˈskæljən/
a dishonest, disreputable, or mischievous person; a rascal or scoundrel
hunchbacked
C2
/ˈhʌntʃˌbækt/
having a back that is markedly rounded or curved outward
hanger-on
C2
/ˈhæŋɚˌɑn/
a person who stays close to someone powerful, wealthy, or famous in the hope of gaining status or advantage
unabashed
C2
/ˌʌnəˈbæʃt/
not embarrassed, ashamed, or self-conscious; confidently composed
matronly
C2
/ˈmeɪtrənli/
having the dignified, caring, or authoritative qualities traditionally associated with a mature woman
rakish
C2
/ˈɹeɪkɪʃ/
dashingly stylish or jaunty in a slightly unconventional or disreputable way
boaster
B2
/ˈboʊstər/
a person who talks with excessive pride about their achievements or possessions
louche
C2
/luːʃ/
disreputable or morally questionable, often in a stylish or appealing way
coxcomb
C2
/ˈkɒks.koʊm/
dated: a vain, conceited man excessively concerned with his appearance
deferential
C2
/ˌdɛfəˈrɛnʃəl/
showing respectful submission to another person's authority, wishes, or judgment
hangdog
C2
/ˈhæŋˌdɔɡ/
Low; sneaking; ashamed.
high-toned
C2
/ˌhaɪˈtoʊnd/
dated, especially US: belonging to or characteristic of high social rank; aristocratic or refined
disabuse
C2
/dɪsəˈbjuːs/
To free (someone) of a misconception or misapprehension; to unveil a falsehood held by (someone).
qualitative
C2
/ˈkwɑ.ləˌteɪ.tɪv/
Based on the qualities or nature of something rather than on numbers or amounts.
chucklehead
C2+
/ˈtʃʌkl̩ˌhɛd/
informal, disparaging: a stupid, foolish, or clumsy person
solvable
C2
/ˈsɑlvəbəl/
capable of being solved
sluggard
C2
/ˈslʌɡ.ɚd/
a habitually lazy or idle person, especially one slow to begin necessary work
maidenly
C1
/ˈmeɪdənli/
befitting or characteristic of a maiden
layperson
C2
/ˈleɪ.pɜɹ.sən/
One who is not intimately familiar with a given subject or activity.
broad-shouldered
B2
/ˌbrɔdˈʃoʊldɚd/
having wide or powerfully built shoulders
wiseacre
C2
/ˈwaɪzˌeɪkɚ/
old-fashioned or informal: a person who pretends to be knowledgeable or makes conceitedly clever remarks
silly-billy
B2
/ˌsɪliˈbɪli/
informal, especially British: a silly or foolish person, used as a mild or affectionate teasing expression
poltroon
C2
/pɑlˈtɹun/
a thoroughly contemptible or abject coward
burnish
C2+
/ˈbɝnɪʃ/
to polish and make shiny
dyspeptic
C2+
/ˌdɪˈspɛptɪk/
A dyspeptic person.
importunate
C2
/ɪmˈpɔrtʃənət/
persistently demanding or pleading, often to an annoying degree
affability
C2
/ˌæfəˈbɪləti/
the quality of being friendly, approachable, and easy to talk to
protectress
C2
/prəˈtɛktrɪs/
a woman who protects, guards, or acts as a patron; now uncommon
unambitious
C2
/ˌʌnæmˈbɪʃəs/
having little desire for achievement, advancement, or honor
simulacrum
C2
/ˌsɪmjəˈleɪkɹəm/
A physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing.
stolid
C2
/ˈstɑː.lɪd/
calm and showing little emotion, excitement, or sensitivity
impetuosity
C2
/ɪmˌpɛtʃuˈɑːsəti/
the quality of acting suddenly and forcefully without considering the consequences
laggard
C2
/ˈlæɡɚd/
a person or thing that is slow or falls behind others
devilment
B2
/ˈdɛvəlmənt/
mischievous, reckless, or troublesome behavior
magnanimously
C2
/mæɡˈnænɪməsli/
In a generous and forgiving way, especially toward a rival.
impolitely
B2
In a rude way that shows bad manners or no respect for others.
polymath
C2
/ˈpɑliˌmæθ/
A person with extraordinarily broad and comprehensive knowledge.
obstructionist
C2
/əbˈstrʌkʃənəst/
Someone who systematically obstructs the actions of others.
docility
C2
/dɑːˈsɪləti/
the trait of being agreeably submissive and manageable
shrewish
C2
/ˈʃruː.ɪʃ/
bad-tempered, quarrelsome, and habitually complaining; now old-fashioned and offensive when applied to a woman
good-humored
B2
/ˌɡʊdˈhjuːmɚd/
cheerful, friendly, and not easily annoyed
debauchee
C2
/ˌdɛbəˈtʃiː/
a person who habitually pursues excessive sensual pleasure and behaves without moral restraint
temperamentally
C1
/ˌtɛmprəˈmɛntəli/
By one's natural character or disposition.
gamely
C1
/ˈgeɪmli/
In a brave and spirited way, despite difficulty.
ill-natured
C2+
/ˌɪlˈneɪtʃɚd/
habitually unkind, irritable, or difficult in temperament
roué
C2
/ruˈeɪ/
old-fashioned: a fashionable man devoted to pleasure and known for immoral, drunken, or sexually promiscuous behavior
mulish
C2
/ˈmjuː.lɪʃ/
stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action
unadventurous
C2
/ˌʌn.ədˈvɛn.tʃɚ.əs/
unwilling to take risks or try unfamiliar things
clannish
C1
/ˈklænɪʃ/
socially exclusive and strongly attached to one's own close group
imprimatur
C2
/ˌɪm.pɹɪˈmɑ.tɚ/
An official license to publish or print something, especially when censorship applies.
thickset
C2
/ˈθɪkˌsɛt/
having a short, broad, solid, or heavy body build
strapper
C2
/ˈstræpɚ/
dated or informal: an unusually large, strong, robust person
indulgently
C2
In a way that is kind, gentle, and willing to allow what others want.
worktable
B2
A table built for doing a particular kind of work.
prognosticate
C2
/pɹɒɡˈnɒstɪkeɪt/
To predict or forecast, especially through the application of skill.
manlike
C2
/ˈmænlaɪk/
resembling a human being or an adult man in form or appearance
hauteur
C2
/oʊˈtɝ/
proud, distant behavior that shows a sense of superiority toward other people
geniality
C2
/ˌdʒiːniˈæləti/
the quality of being warmly cheerful, friendly, and easy to approach
benignly
C1
/bəˈnaɪnli/
In a kind, gentle way.
uppish
C2
/ˈʌpɪʃ/
arrogant, conceited, or inclined to act socially superior
kittenish
C2
/ˈkɪtənɪʃ/
playful, lively, or mischievous in a way that resembles a young cat
detraction
C2+
/dɪˈtɹækʃən/
the act of discrediting or detracting from someone's reputation, especially by slander
undiscriminating
C2
/ˌʌndɪˈskrɪməˌneɪtɪŋ/
not making careful distinctions or judgments
unaggressive
C2
/ˌʌnəˈɡrɛsɪv/
not inclined to attack, threaten, or behave violently
harum-scarum
C2
/ˌhɛrəmˈskɛrəm/
reckless, disorderly, and lacking careful thought
suavity
C2
/ˈswɑvəti/
smooth, polite, and urbane agreeableness of manner
dissembler
C2
/dɪˈsɛmblɚ/
a person who conceals true feelings or intentions by pretending to have different ones
truckle
C2
/ˈtrʌk.əl/
to submit tamely or behave obsequiously toward someone, usually in the construction truckle to
unsuspicious
C2
/ˌʌn.səˈspɪʃ.əs/
not suspecting danger, deception, or another person's motives; trusting or unaware
hobbledehoy
C2+
/ˈhɑː.bəl.diˌhɔɪ/
an awkward, gawky, or ill-mannered adolescent boy
faddy
C2
/ˈfæd.i/
having very particular, changeable, or hard-to-satisfy tastes and preferences
manikin
C2
/ˈmæn.ɪ.kɪn/
a small model or articulated figure representing the human body, especially for medical or artistic study