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
855 words
unnerve
C2
/ʌnˈnɜː(ɹ)v/
To make someone feel nervous, anxious, or less confident.
boohoo
C2
/ˈbuːˌhuː/
to cry loudly with audible sobs
dither
C1
/ˈdɪðɚ/
To hesitate and be unable to decide what to do.
wrathful
C1
/ˈɹæθfəl/
vehemently incensed and condemnatory
lyrically
C2
/ˈlɪrɪkli/
In a way that expresses deep emotion beautifully.
bloodcurdling
C1
/ˈblʌdˌkɝːdəlɪŋ/
causing extreme fear or horror
expressionless
C1
/ɪkˈsprɛʃənləs/
showing no emotion, feeling, or reaction in the face, voice, or manner
rapturous
C2
/ˈɹæp.t͡ʃəɹ.əs/
Showing or feeling great joy or enthusiasm.
xenophobia
C2
/ˌziː.nəˈfoʊ.bi.ə/
a fear of foreigners or strangers
uneasily
B2
/əˈniːzəli/
In a worried or nervous way.
pitfall
C2
/ˈpɪtfɔl/
A potential, unsuspected, hidden problem, hazard, or danger that is easily encountered but not immediately obvious.
forlornly
C2
In a sad and lonely way.
fluster
C1
/ˈflʌstɚ/
to make someone agitated, nervous, or confused
lorn
C2
/lɔrn/
literary or archaic: abandoned, bereft, lonely, or forlorn
dudgeon
C2
/ˈdʌd͡ʒən/
a feeling of intense indignation, now only found in the phrase 'in high dudgeon'
lachrymose
C2
/ˈlæk.ɹɪ.moʊs/
Tearful, sorrowful, sad, pertaining to tears, weeping, causing tears or crying.
acrimony
C2
/ˈækrɪˌmoʊni/
bitter anger or ill feeling expressed in speech, behavior, or a dispute
deaden
C2
/ˈdɛdən/
To make a feeling or sensation, especially pain, less strong.
heartrending
C1
/ˈhɑːrtˌrɛn.dɪŋ/
causing intense grief, distress, or sympathy
spoony
C2+
/ˈspuːni/
dated: foolishly or excessively sentimental in love
daunt
C1
/dɔnt/
To make someone feel nervous or less confident, so they are afraid to do something.
sentimentally
C1
In a way that shows tender, often nostalgic emotion.
wistfully
C2
/ˈwɪstfəli/
In a sad, thoughtful way, often while longing for something.
angsty
C2
/ˈæŋ(k)sti/
Full of anxiety, worry, or moody emotional turmoil.
exultant
B2
/ɪɡˈzʌl.tənt/
Feeling and showing great joy and pride, especially after a success.
fretful
C2
/ˈfrɛt.fəl/
worried, restless, or unable to relax
timorous
C2+
/ˈtɪmɝəs/
timid by nature or revealing timidity
tremulous
C2
/ˈtɹɛmjuləs/
quivering of the voice as from weakness or fear
unashamedly
B2
/ˌʌnəˈʃeɪmɪdli/
In a way that shows no shame or embarrassment.
jocund
C2
/ˈd͡ʒɑkənd/
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
exult
C2
/ɪɡˈzʌlt/
to express great joy
sentimentalism
C2
/ˌsɛntəˈmɛntəlɪzəm/
an excessive or uncritical reliance on tender emotion, especially at the expense of reason or realism
quietude
C2
/ˈkwaɪ.ɪ.t(j)uːd/
a state of calm, stillness, and freedom from disturbance
rancorous
C2
/ˈræŋkərəs/
showing deep, persistent resentment, bitterness, or malice
dismally
C1
/ˈdɪzməli/
In a sad or gloomy way.
discomfiture
C2
/dɪsˈkʌmfɪtʃɚ/
embarrassment, frustration, or uneasy disappointment
lassitude
C2
/ˈlæsɪˌtud/
A feeling of tiredness and lack of energy or interest.
disaffection
C2
/ˌdɪsəˈfɛkʃən/
a loss of affection or loyalty toward a person, group, or way of life; alienation
mirthless
C2
/ˈmɝθləs/
showing no genuine happiness or amusement; joyless
wroth
C2
/rɔːθ/
archaic or literary: intensely angry
coziness
B2
/ˈkoʊziːnəs/
A feeling of warm, comfortable, and pleasant snugness.
crossly
B2
In an angry or bad-tempered way.
unconcern
C1
/ˌʌnkənˈsɝn/
a lack of interest, care, or involvement; indifference
rapturously
C2
In a way that shows great joy or enthusiasm.
admiringly
B2
/ədˈmaɪɹɪŋli/
In a way that shows respect, approval, or pleasure.
detestation
C2
/ˌdiː.təˈsteɪ.ʃən/
intense hatred combined with disgust or moral revulsion
hearten
C1
/ˈhɑɹtn̩/
to make someone feel more encouraged, hopeful, or confident
demoralization
C2
/dɪˌmɔrələˈzeɪʃən/
the destruction or serious weakening of a person's or group's confidence, discipline, or morale
shamefaced
C2
/ˈʃeɪmˌfeɪst/
showing shame, guilt, or embarrassment, often through an awkward or subdued expression
heavy-hearted
C1
/ˌhɛviˈhɑːrtɪd/
weighed down by sadness or grief
animatedly
C1
/ˈænɪˌmeɪtɪdli/
In a lively, excited way, full of energy.
somberly
C1
/ˈsɑːmbɝli/
In a serious, sad, or gloomy way
gladsome
C2+
/ˈɡlæd.səm/
full of, expressing, or causing joy; cheerful and joyous
impersonally
C1
In a cold or distant way, without showing personal feeling.
overawe
C2
/ˌoʊvɚˈɔ/
to subdue, restrain, or intimidate someone by inspiring overwhelming awe or fear
formidably
C2
/ˈfɔrmədəbli/
In a way that inspires fear, respect, or awe; impressively powerfully.
low-spirited
C1
/ˌloʊˈspɪrɪtɪd/
sad, discouraged, or lacking hope and energy
connote
C2
/kəˈnoʊt/
To suggest a meaning or feeling beyond the literal one.
repine
C2
/rɪˈpaɪn/
literary: to feel or express discontent by complaining or fretting about an unwanted situation
stuffiness
C1
The state of being warm and lacking fresh air.
glumly
C1
/ˈɡlʌmli/
In a sad, gloomy way.
overstrung
C2
/ˌoʊ.vɚˈstrʌŋ/
excessively tense, nervous, or emotionally strained
unnervingly
C2
/ˈʌnˈnɜːvɪŋlɪ/
In a way that makes someone feel nervous or uneasy.
unman
C2
/ʌnˈmæn/
to deprive someone of courage, composure, or emotional strength
exhilarate
C1
/ɪɡˈzɪləˌɹeɪt/
To make someone feel very happy, excited, and full of energy.
splenetic
C2
/spləˈnɛtɪk/
Related to the spleen.
consolatory
C2
/kənˈsoʊləˌtɔri/
intended or tending to comfort someone after grief, disappointment, or distress
disquietude
C2
/dɪˈskwaɪətuːd/
a state or feeling of anxiety, uneasiness, or disturbed calm
horror-struck
C2+
/ˈhɔɹ.ɚˌstrʌk/
suddenly overwhelmed or immobilized by horror
transfix
C1
/trænsˈfɪks/
To make someone unable to move or look away, through fear, amazement, or wonder.
infatuate
C2+
/ɪnˈfætʃuˌeɪt/
to fill someone with an intense but unreasoning and often short-lived attraction or admiration, usually used in the passive
unappeased
C2
/ˌʌn.əˈpiːzd/
not calmed, satisfied, or made less angry
enamour
C2+
/ɪˈnæmɚ/
to fill someone with love, admiration, or delight, now usually used in the passive as enamoured of or with
scunner
C2
/ˈskʌnɚ/
a strong dislike, aversion, or feeling of disgust; chiefly Scottish and northern British
remorsefully
C1
In a way that shows deep guilt or regret.
pusillanimity
C2
/pjuːsɪləˈnɪmɪti/
the quality of being timid or cowardly, especially in avoiding risk or responsibility
mislike
C2
/ˌmɪsˈlaɪk/
an aversion to or dislike of someone or something; now archaic or dialectal
irately
C1
In a very angry way.
odium
C2
/ˈoʊ.di.əm/
widespread hatred, contempt, or disgust directed at a person or thing
inspiriting
C2
/ɪnˈspɪr.ɪ.tɪŋ/
giving courage, energy, or hope; encouraging and enlivening
inquietude
C2
/ɪnˈkwaɪ.ə.tuːd/
a state or feeling of uneasiness, anxiety, or restless concern
discomposure
C2
a temperament that is perturbed and lacking in composure
ebullition
C2
/ˌɛbəˈlɪʃən/
a sudden, forceful outburst or display of emotion
undismayed
C2
/ˌʌndɪsˈmeɪd/
not discouraged, alarmed, or intimidated; remaining resolute despite difficulty
cumbrous
C2
/ˈkʌmbɹəs/
Unwieldy because of size or weight; cumbersome.
despondence
C2
/dɪˈspɑndəns/
a state of deep dejection, discouragement, and loss of hope
despiser
C2
/dɪˈspaɪzɚ/
a person who regards someone or something with contempt
enamor
C2+
/ɪˈnæmɚ/
To cause to be in love.
fantods
C2+
/ˈfæntɒdz/
informal, usually in the fantods: a state of nervous agitation, uneasiness, irritability, or fidgeting
unenviably
C1
In a way that no one would want or envy.
exaltedly
C2
In a way that shows great joy or a sense of high importance.
undemonstratively
C2
In a reserved way, without openly showing emotion.
cheerless
C2+
/ˈtʃɪɹləs/
gloomy and dreary, lacking joy or comfort
excite
C2+
/ɪkˈsaɪt/
to arouse strong feeling or activity in someone or something
condole
C2+
/kənˈdoʊl/
to express sympathy or sorrow for another's grief
dispassionate
C2+
/dɪsˈpæʃənət/
not influenced by strong emotion; calm and impartial