English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
CEFR Level
Government policy of active involvement in economic affairs.
"The central bank's interventionism helped stabilize inflation."
The condition of dying without having made a valid will.
"His estate was divided according to the laws of intestacy."
Having died without leaving a valid will.
"She died intestate, so her assets were distributed by law."
a substance, especially alcohol or a drug, that causes intoxication
"Alcohol is the most commonly used intoxicant in many cultures."
Located or occurring within a cell.
"The drug works by targeting intracellular bacteria."
Occurring within the walls of a single institution, especially a school or college.
"The college organizes intramural sports competitions every semester."
Refusal to change one's views or to agree about something.
"The negotiations failed due to the intransigence of both parties."
Unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about something.
"She remained intransigent despite repeated requests for compromise."
The transfer of genetic information from one species to another through repeated backcrossing.
"Introgression plays a significant role in plant breeding."
To insert or introduce something into a place or body.
"The doctor carefully intromitted the instrument into the wound."
To flood or overwhelm with a large quantity of things.
"The company was inundated with job applications."
The act of flooding or overwhelming with water or things.
"The town suffered from a severe inundation after the heavy rains."
To become accustomed to something, especially something unpleasant.
"Soldiers quickly became inured to the harsh conditions."
Accustomed to something, especially something unpleasant.
"After years of hardship, she was inured to suffering."
the state of being invalid, legally void, or lacking force or validity
"The court ruled that the contract suffered from invalidity."
Insulting, abusive, or highly critical language.
"The politician’s speech was filled with invective against his opponents."
To speak or write about something with great hostility and criticism.
"He inveighed against the corruption in government."
To persuade someone to do something by deception or flattery.
"She inveigled him into signing the contract."
the formal ceremony of conferring authority, rank, or office
"The king held an investiture ceremony for the new knight."
having a long-established habit, activity, or interest that is unlikely to change
"He is an inveterate reader who spends hours in the library every day."
likely to arouse resentment, envy, or anger in others
"The manager's invidious remarks created tension among the employees."
never to be broken, dishonored, or violated
"Human rights are considered inviolable in modern democracies."
free from violation, injury, or desecration; kept safe and untouched
"The ancient temple remained inviolate for centuries."
the act of calling upon a higher power for help, blessing, or inspiration
"The ceremony began with an invocation to the gods."
a complicated or intricate form or state; in biology, the shrinking of an organ after its function has finished
"The story was full of involution, making it hard to follow."
Impossible to harm, damage, or defeat.
"The fortress was thought to be invulnerable to attack."
Easily angered; quick-tempered.
"His irascible nature often got him into trouble."
a play of lustrous, changing colors like those of a rainbow
"The butterfly's wings shimmered with iridescence."
showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles
"She wore an iridescent dress that sparkled in the light."
a hard, dense wood from various trees; also the tree itself that produces small flowers
"The ironwood tree blooms with tiny white flowers."
the quality of shining brightly; the intensity of light falling on a surface
"The irradiance of the sun at noon was overwhelming."
to shine light on something; to expose to radiation; to illuminate or brighten
"The scientist used a lamp to irradiate the sample."
not able to be eradicated; impossible to destroy or remove completely
"The love of a mother for her child is irradicable."
impossible to make compatible or bring into harmony; unable to resolve differences
"The couple separated due to irreconcilable differences."
impossible to reduce or simplify further
"The fraction 3/7 is irreducible."
Impossible to refute, deny, or break
"The lawyer presented irrefragable evidence that proved his client’s innocence."
Not to be broken, violated, or infringed
"The constitution guarantees certain irrefrangible rights to every citizen."
Indifferent or hostile to religion
"Some people in the community consider him irreligious because he never attends religious services."
Impossible to cure, repair, or remedy.
"The damage to the ancient manuscript was irremediable."
Beyond criticism; faultless.
"The judge was known for his irreproachable integrity."
uncertain or indecisive; lacking determination
"He stood irresolute at the crossroads, unsure which path to take."
impossible to recover or regain
"The documents were lost in an irretrievable way after the fire."
a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously
"His jokes about religion showed irreverence to the sacred traditions."
Showing a lack of respect for things that are generally taken seriously.
"His irreverential humor often shocked traditional audiences."
A liquid used for irrigation, especially in medical or agricultural contexts.
"The doctor used a sterile irrigant during the procedure."
the quality or state of causing irritation; legal or formal invalidation
"The constant noise became an irritancy to the neighbors."