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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
venial
C2
/ˈviːni.əl/
easily excused or forgiven
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lachrymose
C2
/ˈlæk.ɹɪ.moʊs/
Tearful, sorrowful, sad, pertaining to tears, weeping, causing tears or crying.
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unimpeded
C1
/ˌʌnɪmˈpiːdɪd/
not obstructed, delayed, or prevented
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uninspiring
C1
/ʌn.ɪnˈspaɪɹ.ɪŋ/
Dull and not interesting or exciting
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salubrious
C2
/səˈlu.bɹi.əs/
favorable to health of mind or body
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treacherously
C2
In a way that betrays trust; disloyally and deceitfully.
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ribald
C2
/ˈɹɪb.əld/
coarsely vulgar or irreverently humorous, especially about sex
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metatarsal
C2
/ˌmɛtəˈtɑːɹsəl/
relating to the metatarsus, the part of the foot between the ankle and toes
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insufficiently
C2
/ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃəntli/
to an insufficient degree
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symmetrically
C2
/səˈmɛtrɪkli/
in a symmetrical manner
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impressionistic
C2
/ˌɪmˌprɛʃəˈnɪstɪk/
Based on personal impressions and feelings rather than careful facts or research.
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photoelectric
C2
/ˌfoʊtoʊɪˈlɛktrɪk/
of or pertaining to photoelectricity
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wretchedly
C2
/ˈɹɛt͡ʃədli/
in a wretched manner
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thousandfold
C2
/ˈθaʊ.zənd.foʊld/
one thousand times as large, numerous, or intense
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assiduously
C2
/əˈsɪdwəsli/
with care and persistence
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irretrievable
C1
/ˌɪr.əˈtriː.və.bəl/
impossible to recover, restore, or put right
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transitive
B2
/ˈtɹænzɪtɪv/
(of a verb) Needing a direct object to complete its meaning.
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lugubrious
C2
/ləˈɡ(j)u.bɹi.əs/
Gloomy, mournful or dismal, especially to an exaggerated degree.
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respectably
B2
/riːˈspɛktəbli/
In a way that earns respect or approval.
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nimbly
C2
/ˈnɪmbli/
in a nimble manner
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artesian
C2
/ɑrˈtiːʒən/
of groundwater that is confined under pressure and can rise in a well above the level at which it is first reached
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salutary
C2
/ˈsæljətɛɹi/
Effecting or designed to effect an improvement; remedial.
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inversely
C2
/ˌɪnˈvɝːsli/
in an inverse or contrary manner
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obliquely
C2
/əˈbliːkli/
In an oblique manner; sideways.
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vernal
C2
/ˈvɝnəl/
relating to, occurring in, or characteristic of spring
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heartrending
C1
/ˈhɑːrtˌrɛn.dɪŋ/
causing intense grief, distress, or sympathy
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spoony
C2+
/ˈspuːni/
dated: foolishly or excessively sentimental in love
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vicuna
C2
/vaɪˈkjuːnə/
a small wild South American camelid of the high Andes, related to the llama and valued for its exceptionally fine fleece
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deferential
C2
/ˌdɛfəˈrɛnʃəl/
showing respectful submission to another person's authority, wishes, or judgment
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moneyed
C2
/ˈmʌniːd/
having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
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wizened
C1
/ˈwɪzənd/
Dried up and covered in wrinkles, usually because of old age.
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cutaneous
C2
/kjuˈteɪniəs/
of, relating to, existing on, or affecting the skin
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leaderless
C2
/ˈliːdɚləs/
having no person or group in command or providing direction
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quadruped
C2
/ˈkwɑdɹəˌpɛd/
having four feet
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tenaciously
C2
/təˈneɪʃəsli/
In a determined way, refusing to give up.
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incontestable
C1
/ˌɪnkənˈtɛstəbəl/
so clearly true or valid that it cannot reasonably be disputed
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basso
C2
/ˈbæsoʊ/
low and deep in pitch, especially of a male voice
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derisively
C2
/dɝˈɪsɪvli/
In a mocking, scornful way.
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hangdog
C2
/ˈhæŋˌdɔɡ/
Low; sneaking; ashamed.
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electrochemical
C2
/ˌəˌlɛktroʊˈkɛmɪkəl/
of or involving electrochemistry
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pyrotechnic
C2
/ˌpaɪroʊˈtɛknɪk/
relating to fireworks or the techniques used to make and display them
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relativistic
C2
/ˌrɛlətɪˈvɪstɪk/
relating or subject to the special or the general theory of relativity
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prudential
C2
/pɹuˈdɛn.ʃəl/
arising from or characterized by prudence especially in business matters
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jiggered
C2+
/ˈdʒɪɡɚd/
extremely tired; old-fashioned and informal in British English
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abortive
C2
/əˈbɔɹ.tɪv/
failing to accomplish an intended result
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unalterable
B2
/əˈnɔltɝəbəl/
not able to be changed
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sentimentally
C1
In a way that shows tender, often nostalgic emotion.
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wistfully
C2
/ˈwɪstfəli/
In a sad, thoughtful way, often while longing for something.
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refractive
C2
/rɪˈfræktɪv/
relating to refraction or to the bending of light, sound, or another wave
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permeable
C2
/ˈpɝmiəbəl/
allowing fluids or gases to pass or diffuse through
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chromatic
C2
/kɹəˈmætɪk/
relating to color or to differences in color
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genomic
C2
Relating to a genome, the complete set of genes in an organism.
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tenable
C2+
/ˈten.ə.bəl/
capable of being maintained or justified; well-founded
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tangential
C2
/tænˈd͡ʒɛn.t͡ʃəl/
of or relating to or acting along or in the direction of a tangent
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self-effacing
C2+
Shy, extremely humble and modest; making oneself seem unnoticeable.
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histrionic
C2
/ˌhɪs.triˈɑ.nɪk/
Overly dramatic or emotional, especially to get attention.
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high-toned
C2
/ˌhaɪˈtoʊnd/
dated, especially US: belonging to or characteristic of high social rank; aristocratic or refined
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unverified
C1
/ˌʌnˈvɛrəˌfaɪd/
not yet checked or confirmed as accurate, authentic, or true
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seaward
C2
/ˈsiːwə(ɹ)d/
in the direction of the sea
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experiential
C1
/ɪkˌspɪriˈɛnʃəl/
relating to, encountered through, or based on direct experience
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scornfully
C1
/ˈskɔɹnfəli/
In a way that shows you think someone or something deserves no respect.
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pell-mell
C2
/ˌpɛlˈmɛl/
in a confused, disorderly rush, without plan or restraint
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Carboniferous
C2
/ˌkɑɹbəˈnɪfɚəs/
relating to the geological period between the Devonian and Permian, about 359 to 299 million years ago
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obstinately
C2
/ˈɑbstɪnətli/
In an obstinate manner.
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portentous
C2
/pɔː(ɹ)ˈtɛntəs/
of momentous or ominous significance
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solus
C2
/ˈsoʊləs/
literary or in stage directions: alone; unaccompanied
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pathogenic
C2
/pæθəˈd͡ʒɛnɪk/
Able to cause (harmful) disease.
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surreptitious
C2
/səˌɹɛpˈtɪʃəs/
Done secretly to avoid being noticed.
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qualitative
C2
/ˈkwɑ.ləˌteɪ.tɪv/
Based on the qualities or nature of something rather than on numbers or amounts.
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fourthly
B2
/ˈfɔrθli/
in the fourth place
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angsty
C2
/ˈæŋ(k)sti/
Full of anxiety, worry, or moody emotional turmoil.
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shivery
C1
/ˈʃɪv.ər.i/
prone to shivering or feeling cold
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contributory
C2
/ˈkɑntrɪbjəˌtɔri/
helping to cause or bring about a result
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leprous
C2
/ˈlɛprəs/
affected by or relating to leprosy
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noway
C2
/ˈnoʊˌweɪ/
in no way or degree; not at all; now chiefly archaic or dialectal
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picayune
C2
/ˌpɪkəˈjun/
Of little consequence; small and of little importance; petty, trivial.
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revelatory
C2
[ˈɹɛvələtoɹi]
Revealing something surprising or previously unknown.
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unfeasible
C2
/ʌnˈfi.zə.bəl/
Not able to be done or carried out; not practical.
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expeditious
C1
/ˌɛkspəˈdɪʃəs/
done or acting with speed and efficiency
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corroborative
C2
/kəˈrɑːbəˌreɪtɪv/
serving to support, confirm, or strengthen a statement or conclusion with additional evidence
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psychical
C2
/ˈsaɪkɪkəl/
Performed by or pertaining to the psyche (the mind, spirit, or both): mental, psychic.
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mendacious
C2+
/mɛnˈdeɪʃəs/
given to lying
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stiffly
C2
/ˈstɪfli/
in a stiff manner
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demonstrably
C2
/diˈmɑnstrəbli/
in an obvious and provable manner
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appreciable
C1
/əˈpɹiːʃəbl/
enough to be estimated or measured
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prehensile
C2
/pɹiˈhɛnsəl/
adapted for grasping especially by wrapping around an object
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stylistically
C1
/staɪˈlɪstɪkli/
In terms of style, especially in writing, art, or language.
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solvable
C2
/ˈsɑlvəbəl/
capable of being solved
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sagittal
C2
/ˈsædʒətəl/
anatomy: relating to a vertical plane that divides the body into left and right portions
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nominally
C2
/ˈnɑmɪnəli/
in name only
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languorous
C2
/ˈlæŋ(ɡ)ərəs/
lacking energy, spirit, liveliness or vitality; languid, lackadaisical.
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rhythmical
C2
/ˈɹɪð.mɪ.kəl/
rhythmic
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unenviable
C1
/əˈnɛnˌviːəbəl/
So difficult or unpleasant that no one would want to be in it.
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herbaceous
C2
/ɝˈbeɪʃəs/
having soft green stems rather than persistent woody tissue, especially of a plant or plant part
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indiscrete
C2
/ɪndɪsˈkɹiːt/
Not divided or separated into distinct parts.
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malodorous
C2
/ˌmælˈoʊ.də.ɹəs/
Having a bad odor.
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