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.
Choose your level
All 27,237 words
664 words
compromiser
C2
/ˈkɑːmprəmaɪzər/
a person willing or able to settle a disagreement through mutual concessions
pertinacious
C2
/ˌpɝtəˈneɪʃəs/
holding resolutely to an opinion, purpose, or course of action
urbanity
C2
/ɝˈbænəti/
polished, refined, and courteous behavior or manner
dunderheaded
C2
/ˌdʌndɚˈhɛdɪd/
old-fashioned: very stupid or foolish
beetle-browed
C2+
/ˈbiː.təl.braʊd/
having heavy, bushy, or projecting eyebrows
lubricious
C2
/luˈbɹɪʃəs/
characterized by lust
unhesitating
C2+
/ʌnˈhɛzɪˌteɪtɪŋ/
done quickly and firmly, without hesitation
improvidence
C2
/ɪmˈpɹɑːvədəns/
failure to plan carefully for the future, especially in the use of money or resources
irascibility
C2
/ɪˌræs.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/
a tendency to become angry or irritated quickly
starer
B2
/ˈstɛrɝ/
a person who looks fixedly or for a long time
unpracticed
C2
/ʌnˈpræktɪst/
lacking training, experience, or skill gained through practice
wizen
C2
/ˈwɪz.ən/
shrunken, withered, and wrinkled, especially through age, illness, or dryness
insulter
B2
/ɪnˈsʌltər/
a person who insults another
sumptuary
C2
/ˈsʌm(p)t͡ʃuˌɛɹi/
regulating or controlling expenditure or personal behavior
imperturbability
C2
/ɪmˌpɝtərbəˈbɪləti/
a state of calm, unruffled self-assurance; aplomb, composure.
quean
C1
/kwiːn/
archaic or dialect, disparaging: a woman or girl
missish
C2+
/ˈmɪs.ɪʃ/
dated and usually disapproving: affectedly prim, prudish, or overly proper in a way stereotypically associated with a young unmarried woman
contumacious
C2
/ˌkɑːn.tʊˈmeɪ.ʃəs/
stubbornly or defiantly disobedient to authority
owlish
B2
/ˈaʊ.lɪʃ/
resembling or characteristic of an owl, especially in having large eyes or a solemn expression
titman
C2
/ˈtɪtmən/
dialectal or historical: the smallest or weakest animal in a litter; a runt
impressible
C2
/ɪmˈprɛsəbəl/
easily influenced or affected, especially in one's opinions or character
mullet-headed
C2+
/ˈmʌlɪtˌhɛdɪd/
dated informal, disparaging: foolish, dull-witted, or slow to notice what is happening
regardful
C2
/rɪˈɡɑrd.fəl/
carefully attentive or mindful of someone or something
patronizingly
C2
In a way that treats someone as less intelligent or important.
misanthropist
C2
/mɪˈsænθrəpɪst/
a person who dislikes, distrusts, or holds a deeply negative view of humankind
hardihood
C2
/ˈhɑɹdiˌhʊd/
resolute courage and endurance in the face of danger or hardship
unamiable
C1
/ʌnˈeɪ.mi.ə.bəl/
not friendly, pleasant, likable, or agreeable in manner or appearance
troglodytic
C2
/ˌtrɑɡləˈdɪtɪk/
relating to people or animals that live in caves
ingenuously
C2
/ɪnˈdʒɛnjuːəsli/
In an open, honest, and straightforward way.
freehanded
C2
/ˌfriːˈhændɪd/
generous and ready to give freely
callipygous
C2+
/ˌkæl.ɪˈpɪ.d͡ʒəs/
rare: having shapely or attractively proportioned buttocks
underbred
C2
/ˌʌndɚˈbɹɛd/
lacking refinement, good manners, or the upbringing expected in polite society
unblushing
B2
/ˌʌnˈblʌʃɪŋ/
showing no embarrassment or shame; unabashed or shameless
unamenable
C2
/ˌʌn.əˈmiː.nə.bəl/
unwilling to accept a suggestion, request, or influence
indolently
C2
In a lazy, idle way, avoiding effort.
pettish
C2
/ˈpɛtɪʃ/
easily irritated, impatient, or bad-tempered, especially over something trivial
bewhiskered
C2
/bɪˈwɪskərd/
having hair on the cheeks and chin
raunchily
C1
In an openly sexual or rude way.
pudic
C2
/ˈpjudɪk/
modest or easily embarrassed about sexual matters or bodily exposure
ill-kempt
C2+
/ˌɪlˈkɛmpt/
untidy, poorly groomed, or disheveled in appearance
closefisted
C2
/ˌkloʊsˈfɪstɪd/
unwilling to spend, give, or part with money; stingy
emulous
C2
/ˈɛmjələs/
eager to equal or surpass another; competitively ambitious
embonpoint
C2
/ɑ̃.bɔ̃ˈpwɛ̃/
a rounded or plump bodily figure, especially one regarded as pleasantly full
cloddish
C2
/ˈklɑdɪʃ/
awkward, dull, or lacking sensitivity and refinement
womanhater
C2+
/ˈwʊm.ənˌheɪ.tɚ/
a person who hates, despises, or is strongly prejudiced against women; a misogynist
distingué
C2
/dɪsˈtæŋ.ɡeɪ/
fashionably distinguished, elegant, or marked by an air of refinement
environmentally friendly
B2
philanthropically
C2
In a generous, charitable way; for the good of others.
conformable
C2+
/kənˈfɔɹməbəl/
corresponding in form or character; compliant
bland
C2+
/blænd/
lacking strong flavour, interest, or distinctive character
debase
C2+
/dɪˈbeɪs/
to lower in quality, value, character, or dignity
reckless
C2+
/ˈrɛkləs/
acting without thought for danger or consequences
barbarous
C2+
/ˈbɑrbərəs/
savagely cruel; uncivilized or coarse
ennoble
C2+
/ɪˈnoʊbəl/
to give a noble character to; to elevate in dignity or rank
aloof
C2+
/əˈluːf/
distant or reserved in manner; not friendly or forthcoming
demure
C2+
/dɪˈmjʊr/
reserved, modest, and shy
variant
C2+
/ˈvɛriənt/
a form differing from others of the same kind
bastardly
C2+
/ˈbæstɚdli/
(archaic) base, debased, or of illegitimate or spurious character
beneficent
C2+
/bəˈnɛfəsənt/
doing or producing good; generous and kindly
braveness
C2+
/ˈbreɪvnəs/
the quality of being brave; courage
charitable
C2+
/ˈtʃɛrətəbəl/
generous in giving to those in need; tolerant in judging others
diabolical
C2+
/ˌdaɪəˈbɑlɪkəl/
extremely wicked or cruel; devilish
adroit
C2+
/əˈdrɔɪt/
clever and skillful, especially in handling situations
captivating
C2+
/ˈkæptɪˌveɪtɪŋ/
capable of attracting and holding interest; charming
cocky
C2+
/ˈkɑki/
overly self-confident in a brash way
industrious
C2+
/ɪnˈdʌstriəs/
diligent and hardworking
boldness
C2+
/ˈboʊldnəs/
the quality of being daring, confident, or fearless
brainy
C2+
/ˈbreɪni/
intelligent or clever
brash
C2+
/bræʃ/
self-assertive in a rude, noisy, or overbearing way
contrition
C2+
/kənˈtrɪʃən/
sincere remorse or penitence for wrongdoing
diabolic
C2+
/ˌdaɪəˈbɑlɪk/
characteristic of the devil; fiendishly wicked or cruel
dissimilar
C2+
/dɪˈsɪmələr/
not alike; different in nature or kind
imaginable
C2+
/ɪˈmædʒənəbəl/
capable of being conceived or imagined
incompetent
C2+
/ɪnˈkɑmpətənt/
lacking the skill or ability to do something successfully
moldable
C2+
/ˈmoʊldəbəl/
capable of being shaped or formed
motile
C2+
/ˈmoʊtəl/
capable of independent movement
munificent
C2+
/mjuˈnɪfəsənt/
larger or more generous than is usual or necessary
prestidigitation
C2+
/ˌprɛstəˌdɪdʒəˈteɪʃən/
skillful sleight of hand; conjuring tricks
slumber
C2+
/ˈslʌmbɚ/
sleep, especially of a light or peaceful kind
alterable
C2+
/ˈɔltərəbəl/
capable of being changed or modified
artless
C2+
/ˈɑrtləs/
free from deceit or guile; naturally simple and sincere
audible
C2+
/ˈɔdəbəl/
capable of being heard
barbaric
C2+
/bɑrˈbærɪk/
savagely cruel, primitive, or uncivilized
believable
C2+
/bɪˈlivəbəl/
capable of being believed; credible
bungling
C2+
/ˈbʌŋɡlɪŋ/
clumsy and incompetent in action
conciliate
C2+
/kənˈsɪliˌeɪt/
to win over or pacify by friendly or soothing means
disparate
C2+
/ˈdɪspərət/
essentially different in kind and not allowing comparison
divisible
C2+
/dɪˈvɪzəbəl/
capable of being divided, especially without a remainder
domineering
C2+
/ˌdɑməˈnɪrɪŋ/
asserting one's will over others in an arrogant, controlling way
doughty
C2+
/ˈdaʊti/
brave and resolute; valiant
earnestly
C2+
/ˈɝnɪstli/
in a sincere and serious manner
facultative
C2+
/ˈfækəlˌteɪtɪv/
optional rather than obligatory; capable of but not bound to occur
foible
C2+
/ˈfɔɪbəl/
a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character
hardy
C2+
/ˈhɑrdi/
robust and capable of enduring difficult conditions
heartfelt
C2+
/ˈhɑrtˌfɛlt/
sincere and deeply felt
heedless
C2+
/ˈhiːdləs/
showing a reckless lack of care or attention