English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
CEFR Level
A violation or breach of a rule, law, or agreement.
"The student was punished for a minor infraction of the school rules."
The state of occurring rarely or at long intervals.
"The infrequence of their meetings made it hard to maintain close ties."
an innocent, naïve young woman, especially as represented in literature or theater
"She played the role of the ingénue in the play with great charm."
Innocent, naive, and unsuspecting; showing childlike simplicity and sincerity.
"Her ingenuous smile revealed her genuine kindness."
To take food, drink, or another substance into the body, usually by swallowing.
"The patient must ingest the medicine with water."
Causing shame or disgrace; not bringing honor or glory.
"The army suffered an inglorious defeat."
To implant or fix deeply, often used in the sense of grafting an idea or quality.
"The teacher tried to ingraft good manners in the students."
An ungrateful person; someone who shows no appreciation.
"He worked hard for his friend, but the ingrate never thanked him."
To gain favor or approval by deliberate effort, often in a flattering way.
"She tried to ingratiate herself with her boss by complimenting him often."
Charming or flattering in a way intended to gain favor.
"His ingratiating smile made everyone trust him quickly."
Lack of gratitude; failure to show thanks or appreciation.
"His ingratitude hurt her feelings after all she had done for him."
lacking harmony; discordant in sound; not in tune
"The inharmonious sounds from the broken piano made everyone cover their ears."
The state of being an essential or permanent part of something.
"The inherence of risk is part of every business venture."
to bury a dead body in the ground
"They inhumed the warrior with full honors."
tending to obstruct or harm; unfriendly or hostile
"The policy was inimical to the country's economic growth."
so good or unusual as to be impossible to copy; unique
"Her inimitable style made her stand out in the fashion industry."
grossly unfair and morally wrong
"Slavery was one of the most iniquitous practices in history."
Immoral or grossly unfair behavior.
"The dictator's regime was marked by corruption and iniquity."
Situated at the very heart or deepest part; most private or secret.
"She revealed her inmost thoughts to her closest friend."
An indirect or subtle reference, often suggesting something negative.
"The article was filled with innuendo about the politician's private life."
Happening at a bad or inconvenient time.
"His call came at the most inopportune moment."
A person who asks many questions, often in an official or harsh manner.
"The inquisitor demanded detailed answers from the witness."
An advance or significant progress, often at the expense of something else.
"The company made significant inroads into the mobile market."
Unhealthy or not conducive to well-being.
"They moved out of the insalubrious neighborhood for the sake of their health."
impossible to satisfy; always wanting more
"He had an insatiate desire for power."
impossible to understand or interpret
"His inscrutable expression made it hard to know what he was thinking."
lacking physical sensation or empathy; without feeling or sensitivity
"The dictator's insensate cruelty shocked the world."
Lacking perception, consciousness, or sensation.
"The rock is an insentient object with no awareness."
A badge or symbol that shows rank, position, or membership.
"The soldier proudly wore the insignia of his regiment."
lacking flavor, interest, or excitement; dull
"The soup was insipid and needed more seasoning."
rude or disrespectful behavior
"The teacher was shocked by the student's insolence."
to such an extent
"He was insomuch tired that he could hardly stand."
Casual lack of concern; indifference.
"She carried herself with an air of insouciance, unbothered by the challenges ahead."
Showing a casual lack of concern; carefree.
"He gave an insouciant shrug and walked away."
To set up in position, office, or authority.
"The board decided to instate her as the new director."
A person who plays a musical instrument.
"The instrumentalist played a beautiful solo on the violin."
The state of being isolated or narrow-minded.
"The insularity of the group prevented them from accepting new ideas."
Impossible to overcome or surpass.
"The team faced insuperable challenges during the expedition."
Too extreme or difficult to be endured.
"The heat was insupportable during the long journey."
That cannot be suppressed or restrained.
"She had an insuppressible urge to laugh during the ceremony."
A violent uprising against an authority or government.
"The army was called in to suppress the insurrection."
A diplomatic approach that seeks to combine or coordinate different elements, interests, or parties into a unified whole.
"Integrative diplomacy strengthens alliances."
A natural outer covering, such as skin, shell, or rind.
"The snake sheds its integument as it grows."
The group of people engaged in intellectual and cultural pursuits in a society.
"The intelligentsia played a key role in shaping public opinion."
Lack of moderation or self-control, especially with drinking or eating.
"His intemperance in drinking ruined his health."
Lacking self-control; immoderate, especially in indulgence.
"The politician's intemperate remarks caused controversy."
The internal content of a concept; the set of attributes implied by a word or phrase.
"The intension of the word 'dog' includes being a mammal and domesticated."
To bury a dead body in the ground.
"They decided to inter the soldier with full honors."
to act or plead on behalf of someone in difficulty or trouble; to intervene between parties to help resolve a dispute
"She interceded with the teacher to give her brother another chance."
the act of intervening or pleading on behalf of another person
"The prisoner was released due to the intercession of influential leaders."