criticize
All a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
All CEFR A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
Content locale
EN English BN Bengali HI Hindi ES Spanish FR French DE German RU Russian ZH Chinese JA Japanese
All Vocabulary Cards All Vocabularies
B1 verb /ˈkrɪtɪsaɪz/

criticize

Meaning
to express disapproval or find fault with someone or something
Example
The teacher criticized the student's poor handwriting.
A2 noun /ˈnoʊtbʊk/

notebook

Meaning
a small book with blank or ruled pages for writing notes; also a portable computer
Example
She opened her notebook to jot down some ideas.
A1 verb /lɪv/

live

Meaning
to have life; to reside in a particular place; to exist
Example
They live in a beautiful house by the lake.
A1 noun /mɑːm/

mom

Meaning
an informal word for mother
Example
My mom makes the best homemade food.
C1 adjective /rɪˈsɛsɪv/

recessive

Meaning
In genetics, relating to a trait that is expressed only when two copies of the gene are present.
Example
Blue eye color is often a recessive trait.
C1 noun /məˈræŋ/

meringue

Meaning
A light dessert topping made from whipped egg whites and sugar.
Example
She decorated the pie with a fluffy meringue topping.
A2 noun /ˈɛləˌveɪtər/

elevator

Meaning
a machine that carries people or goods up and down between floors in a building
Example
We took the elevator to the tenth floor.
B1 adverb /ˈθæŋkfəli/

thankfully

Meaning
used to express relief or gratitude
Example
Thankfully, she arrived just in time for the meeting.
A1 noun /ˈstɔːri/

story

Meaning
a narrative of real or imaginary events
Example
She told a fascinating story about her travels.
C1 noun /ˈʃʊɡ.ər ˈkæn.di/

Sugar candy

Meaning
crystallized sugar formed into small pieces; rock candy made from sugar syrup
Example
The children enjoyed eating colorful sugar candy at the festival.
C2 noun /ɪˈmɒljʊmənt/

emolument

Meaning
payment for work or services; salary or fees
Example
The professor received his annual emolument from the university.
C2 noun /ˈtæksɪˌdɜːrmi/

taxidermy

Meaning
The art of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skins of animals for display.
Example
The museum had a large collection of taxidermy animals.
C1 noun, verb /tɪndʒ/

tinge

Meaning
a slight added color, flavor, or feeling; to add a slight amount of color or quality
Example
Her voice was tinged with sadness.
B2 verb ˈɛkəʊd

echoed

Meaning
To repeat or resound; to be reminiscent of something.
Example
The words of gratitude echoed in his heart.
B2 noun /ˈen.ə.dʒi sɪˈkjʊə.rɪ.ti/

energy security

Meaning
The reliable availability of energy sources at an affordable price for a nation or region.
Example
Energy security ensures consistent supply.
C1 adjective /ˌeɪθiˈɪstɪk/

atheistic

Meaning
Relating to or characteristic of atheists or atheism.
Example
She grew up in an atheistic household with no religious rituals.
C1 noun ˌlɪb.ərˈeɪ.ʃən

liberation

Meaning
The action of setting someone free from imprisonment, slavery, or oppression; release.
Example
Liberation movements inspired many countries.
A2 noun /ˈdaʊnˌtaʊn/

downtown

Meaning
the central part of a city
Example
They spent the afternoon shopping downtown.
A2 verb /sɜːrv/

serve

Meaning
to provide service; to work for; to offer food or drink
Example
She serves breakfast at 8 AM every morning.
B1 noun /ˈɡæl.ər.i/

Gallery

Meaning
a room or building for the display or sale of works of art; an area for spectators
Example
The art gallery featured paintings by famous local and international artists.
B1 noun riˈæləti

reality

Meaning
The world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea.
Example
The reality of the situation was evident.
C1 noun /ˈɑː.kɪ.taɪp/

archetype

Meaning
A very typical example of a certain person or thing; an original model or prototype.
Example
This painting is the archetype of modern art.
C1 verb /ɪnˈvælɪdeɪt/

invalidate

Meaning
To make something not valid or legally acceptable.
Example
The new evidence may invalidate the previous ruling.
C1 verb /ɡoʊd/

goad

Meaning
to provoke, annoy, or urge someone to take action
Example
He tried to goad his opponent into making a mistake.
C2 noun /ˈɛpɪtɑːf/

epitaph

Meaning
A short text written on a tombstone in memory of the deceased.
Example
The gravestone bore an epitaph honoring the soldier’s bravery.
A1 pronoun /hɜːr/

her

Meaning
used to refer to a female person or animal already mentioned or easily identified
Example
I saw her at the park yesterday.
C1 noun /ˌsɒl.jʊˈbɪləti/

solubility

Meaning
The ability of a substance to dissolve in a solvent.
Example
The solubility of salt in water is high.
C1 adjective /ˈfuːlpruːf/

foolproof

Meaning
Designed to be very easy to use or understand, leaving no possibility of failure or error.
Example
The new software has a foolproof installation process.
B1 adjective /ˈfluː.ənt/

Fluent

Meaning
able to speak a language easily and accurately; flowing smoothly and gracefully
Example
She is fluent in three languages including English and French.
C2 adjective /ˈfluːtɪd/

fluted

Meaning
having grooves or ridges, often for decoration
Example
The vase had a beautiful fluted design around the rim.
C2 noun /səˈvɑːnt/

savant

Meaning
a learned person, especially a distinguished scientist or scholar; sometimes used in the phrase ‘savant syndrome’ for someone with exceptional abilities alongside developmental differences
Example
The conference keynote was delivered by a linguistic savant who studies endangered languages.
C2 noun /ˈneɪdɪər/

nadir

Meaning
The lowest point of a situation or condition.
Example
The company reached its nadir during the financial crisis.
C2 adjective /hərˈmɛtɪk/

hermetic

Meaning
Completely sealed, especially so that no air can enter or escape.
Example
The medicine was kept in a hermetic container.
C2 noun /ˈfoʊ.nə.ɡræm/

phonogram

Meaning
a written symbol representing a speech sound
Example
The teacher showed how each phonogram represents a particular sound.
C2 noun /ˈmaɪtər/

miter

Meaning
a tall, pointed hat worn by bishops; also a type of joint made between two pieces of material
Example
The bishop placed the miter on his head during the ceremony.
B2 adjective /ˌʌn.əkˈsep.tə.bəl/

Unacceptable

Meaning
not satisfactory or allowable; not acceptable
Example
The quality of work was completely unacceptable.
C1 adjective /əbˈtjuːs/

Obtuse

Meaning
annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand; lacking in intelligence or perception
Example
He was being deliberately obtuse about the instructions.
C2 adjective /aɪˈtɪnərənt/

itinerant

Meaning
Traveling from place to place, especially for work or duty.
Example
The itinerant teacher moved from village to village to educate children.
C1 verb /spɜːrn/

spurn

Meaning
To reject something or someone with disdain or contempt.
Example
She spurned his offer of help.
A2 verb /ˈɔːfər/

offer

Meaning
to present something for acceptance or rejection; to propose
Example
She offered to help with the project.
C1 adjective ˈskruː.pjʊ.ləs

scrupulous

Meaning
Diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details; having moral integrity; acting in strict regard for what is considered right or proper.
Example
He is known for being scrupulous in his work.
C2 adjective /rɪˈflɛksəbl/

reflexible

Meaning
Capable of being reflected or bent back.
Example
The surface was highly reflexible, bouncing light in different directions.
A2 adverb/adjective/verb /ˈfɜːrðər/

further

Meaning
At a greater distance; to advance or promote something.
Example
She studied hard to further her career.
C2 verb /bɪˈtaɪd/

betide

Meaning
to happen or occur, usually of something that befalls someone
Example
Woe betide anyone who breaks the rules.
C1 noun /ˈpeɪtriɑːrk/

patriarch

Meaning
a male head of a family or tribe; an older respected man who leads a group
Example
As the family patriarch, he mediated disputes and kept long traditions alive.
C1 noun /ˈtriːtɪs/

treatise

Meaning
a formal and systematic written work dealing with a subject in detail
Example
He wrote a treatise on modern economic theory.
C2 adjective /ˌmɛrəˈtrɪʃəs/

meretricious

Meaning
apparently attractive but having no real value or integrity.
Example
The design was flashy but meretricious.
A2 adjective /ˈsɪŋɡəl/

single

Meaning
only one; not one of several
Example
She bought a single ticket for the concert.
C1 noun /ˈlʌɡ.ɪdʒ væn/

Luggage van

Meaning
a vehicle designed for carrying luggage and cargo
Example
The luggage van carried all the passengers' suitcases.
C2 noun /ˈspæŋɡəl/

spangle

Meaning
A small shiny piece of metal or plastic used for decoration on clothes.
Example
Her dress was covered with silver spangles that glittered in the light.
B2 phrase teɪk ˈpɜː.sən.əl.i

take personally

Meaning
To interpret someone's words or actions as a personal attack or criticism.
Example
Don't take it personally, he didn't mean to upset you.
B2 verb/noun /buː/

boo

Meaning
To show disapproval by shouting 'boo'; or a sound made to surprise or scare.
Example
The audience began to boo the bad performance.
B1 adjective /dɪsˈeɪbld/

disabled

Meaning
having a physical or mental condition that limits movements, senses, or activities
Example
The park has special facilities for disabled people.
B1 noun /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

Shadow

Meaning
a dark area where light is blocked by something; a person's silhouette
Example
The tree cast a long shadow across the garden in the evening.
A2 noun /ˌen.təˈteɪn.mənt/

Entertainment

Meaning
the action of providing or being provided with amusement or enjoyment
Example
The concert provided excellent entertainment for the entire family.
C2 noun /ˈfriːˌθɪŋkər/

freethinker

Meaning
A person who forms opinions based on reason and independent thought rather than tradition or authority.
Example
Voltaire was considered a great freethinker of his time.
B2 noun /ˈsɜːvɪŋ/

serving

Meaning
a portion of food for one person; the act of giving food or drink to someone
Example
He ate a large serving of rice and curry.
B2 noun dɪˈstrækʃən

distraction

Meaning
Something that prevents concentration or takes attention away from something else.
Example
Distraction during study time can hinder learning.
A2 noun /ˈpoʊɪm/

poem

Meaning
a piece of writing that expresses ideas, feelings, or tells a story in a distinct form, often using rhyme or meter
Example
She wrote a beautiful poem for her mother.
C2 noun /ˈdaɪəˌdɛm/

diadem

Meaning
A crown or headband worn as a symbol of royalty or authority.
Example
The queen wore a glittering diadem at the coronation.
C1 verb /rɪˈprɛs/

repress

Meaning
To restrain, suppress, or keep under control, especially emotions or desires.
Example
He tried to repress his anger during the meeting.
C2 noun /ˈhɔːzər/

hawser

Meaning
A thick rope or cable used in mooring or towing a ship.
Example
The sailors secured the ship to the dock with a heavy hawser.
B2 noun /əˈlaɪnmənt/

alignment

Meaning
arrangement in a straight line or in proper position
Example
The alignment of the planets was perfect for the celestial event.
C1 noun /ˈpæs.ɪ.fɪst/

pacifist

Meaning
a person who believes in peace and opposes war or violence
Example
She is a committed pacifist who campaigns against armed conflict.
A2 noun /drʌɡ/

drug

Meaning
a substance used as a medicine or an illegal addictive substance
Example
The doctor prescribed a new drug for the illness.
A2 noun /mæp/

map

Meaning
a drawing that shows the features of an area of land or sea
Example
He studied the map before starting his journey.
C1 noun ɪˌlæˈstɪs.ə.ti

elasticity

Meaning
The responsiveness of demand or supply to changes in price.
Example
The elasticity of demand for luxury goods is high.
A2 noun /ˈfɑːr.mər/

Farmer

Meaning
a person who grows crops or raises animals for food or profit
Example
The farmer planted rice in the fertile fields this season.
C2 noun /haɪˈdrɒl.ɪ.sɪs/

hydrolysis

Meaning
A chemical process that breaks down compounds by adding water, splitting complex molecules into simpler forms.
Example
Hydrolysis breaks down complex molecules into simpler forms.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈθɪŋkɪŋ/

unthinking

Meaning
done without careful thought; automatic or thoughtless
Example
His unthinking remark hurt her feelings.
C1 verb ɪmˈbjuː

Imbue

Meaning
Mixing some idea or feeling deeply into someone's mind
Example
The teacher tried to imbue students with a love for learning.
C2 noun /ˌdaɪələˈtɪʃən/

dialectician

Meaning
A person skilled in dialectic or logical argument.
Example
Socrates is often considered the greatest dialectician in history.
C2 noun ˈsɒmnələns

somnolence

Meaning
A state of drowsiness or sleepiness; inclination to sleep.
Example
The somnolence after a heavy meal made it hard to concentrate.
C1 verb /dɪˈvɒlv/

devolve

Meaning
To pass power, responsibility, or duties to another person or group.
Example
The responsibility will devolve on the new manager.
B1 noun /trʌŋk/

Trunk

Meaning
a large box or chest, typically used for storage or travel
Example
She packed her clothes in the trunk.
C2 adjective /bəˈnɛfɪsənt/

beneficent

Meaning
generous or doing good
Example
The beneficent leader donated funds to build a hospital.
C1 noun ˈredʒ.ɪ.strɑːr

registrar

Meaning
An official responsible for keeping records or registers.
Example
The registrar oversees all administrative tasks.
C2 noun /ˈtrɛntʃərmən/

trencherman

Meaning
a person who eats in a hearty or robust manner; a big eater
Example
The trencherman devoured the feast with great enthusiasm.
C1 adjective /ˈtɔːrtʃuəs/

tortuous

Meaning
Full of twists and turns; excessively complex or complicated.
Example
The tortuous mountain road made driving very difficult.
C1 noun /ˈdjuːplɛks/

duplex

Meaning
A house or apartment divided into two separate residences.
Example
They live in a duplex near the city center.
C2 adjective /ˈvɜːrnəl/

vernal

Meaning
related to spring; fresh, youthful
Example
The garden was filled with vernal beauty after the long winter.
C1 noun /kənˈtɪn.ju.əns/

continuance

Meaning
the state of continuing or being prolonged; persistence
Example
The continuance of the project depended on securing additional funding.
C2 adjective /ˌpɛntəˈveɪlənt/

pentavalent

Meaning
Having a valence of five, especially in chemistry.
Example
Phosphorus can exist in a pentavalent state.
C1 noun /ˈsɑːri/

Saree

Meaning
a garment consisting of a length of cotton or silk elaborately draped around the body, traditionally worn by women from South Asia
Example
She looked elegant in her red silk saree at the festival.
B2 noun ɪˈmɪʃ.ən

emission

Meaning
The release or discharge of gases, particles, or other substances into the environment.
Example
Car manufacturers are reducing carbon emissions.
C2 noun /proʊˈdʒɛnɪtər/

progenitor

Meaning
a direct ancestor; a person or thing that originates something
Example
Researchers traced the custom back to a common progenitor.
C1 adjective /ˈmiːɡər/

meager

Meaning
Lacking in quantity or quality; inadequate.
Example
He could barely survive on his meager salary.
A2 noun /ˈtʊərɪst/

tourist

Meaning
a person who is traveling or visiting a place for pleasure
Example
The city attracts many tourists every year.
C1 noun /ˌɪntɪˈmeɪʃən/

intimation

Meaning
A subtle or indirect hint or suggestion.
Example
She gave no intimation of her plans.
B1 verb /kwoʊt/

quote

Meaning
to repeat someone else's words; to give a price or estimate
Example
The teacher asked students to quote the famous author in their essays.
B1 noun /seɪk/

Sake

Meaning
purpose or reason for doing something; benefit or interest
Example
She worked overtime for the sake of her family's future.
B1 noun /ˈdɛv.əl/

devil

Meaning
An evil spirit or supernatural being often regarded as the embodiment of wickedness and harm.
Example
The story warned children about making deals with the devil.
B2 noun /ˌkɑːrboʊˈhaɪdreɪt/

carbohydrate

Meaning
a nutrient that provides energy, found in foods like rice, bread, and sugar
Example
Rice and potatoes are rich in carbohydrates.
C1 adjective /ˈtrɛtʃərəs/

treacherous

Meaning
Dangerously unstable or deceptive; likely to betray trust.
Example
The treacherous road made driving difficult.
C1 noun /sɪˈkluːʒən/

seclusion

Meaning
The state of being private, away from other people.
Example
She spent the weekend in complete seclusion in her cabin.
B2 noun /ˌsɜː.kjʊˈleɪ.ʃən/

circulation

Meaning
The movement of blood through the body, or the movement of any fluid through a closed system.
Example
Proper circulation ensures that oxygen and nutrients reach every cell.
C1 verb /ˌoʊvərˈʃædoʊ/

overshadow

Meaning
to appear more important or significant than something else, reducing its impact
Example
The scandal overshadowed his achievements.
B2 noun /ˈraɪvəl/

Rival

Meaning
a person or thing competing with another for the same objective or for superiority in the same field
Example
The two companies have been business rivals for decades.
C2 verb /ˈfɛtər/

fetter

Meaning
to restrain or restrict someone’s freedom
Example
The strict rules fettered the creativity of the students.
C1 noun ˈrez.ɪ.djuː

residue

Meaning
A small amount of something that remains after the main part has gone or been removed.
Example
Soap residue affects appliance efficiency.
C1 noun /ˈkwɒn.dər.i/

Quandary

Meaning
a difficult situation where you cannot decide what to do; dilemma
Example
She was in a quandary about which job offer to accept.
C2 noun /ˌkʌmˈʌpəns/

comeuppance

Meaning
A deserved punishment or fate; just deserts.
Example
The corrupt official finally got his comeuppance in court.
C2 noun /ˌɛksɪˈkreɪʃən/

execration

Meaning
An act of cursing or denouncing someone or something with hatred.
Example
The dictator’s name was spoken with execration after his fall.
B2 adjective + noun æmˈbɪʃəs ɪnˈdevər

ambitious endeavor

Meaning
A bold and determined attempt to achieve something challenging.
Example
Artemis is an ambitious endeavor in space exploration.
C2 noun /ˌrep.ɑːˈtiː/

Repartee

Meaning
conversation or speech characterized by quick, witty comments or replies
Example
The dinner party was filled with brilliant repartee between the guests.
B1 adjective /ˈskɪlfʊl/

Skilful

Meaning
having or showing skill; expert and accomplished
Example
The skilful surgeon performed the operation with great precision.
B2 verb, noun /ɪnˈdevər/

endeavour

Meaning
To try hard to achieve something; an attempt or effort
Example
She endeavoured to finish the project on time.
C1 noun /ˈrɛl.ɪk/

relic

Meaning
an object surviving from an earlier time, often of historical or religious interest
Example
The museum displayed relics from the ancient civilization.
C2 adjective /rəˈkoʊkoʊ/

rococo

Meaning
characterized by ornate detail and elaborate decoration, especially in art, architecture, and design
Example
The palace was decorated in a lavish rococo style.
A2 adverb /ˈriː.sənt.li/

Recently

Meaning
in the recent past; not long ago
Example
I recently moved to a new apartment.
A2 verb /bɪˈlɒŋ/

belong

Meaning
to be in the right place or to be a member of a group
Example
She felt she truly belonged to the team.
C1 noun /ʃraɪn/

Shrine

Meaning
a holy or sacred place dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, or saint
Example
Pilgrims visit the shrine to pray for good health.
B1 adjective /ˈɛd.jʊ.keɪ.tɪd/

educated

Meaning
Having received a good level of formal schooling or training; knowledgeable
Example
She is an educated woman who values lifelong learning.
B2 adjective /ˈkɔːstli/

costly

Meaning
expensive or causing a lot of money, time, or effort
Example
Their mistake proved to be very costly for the company.
B2 noun ˈɒksɪdʒən prəˈdʌkʃən

oxygen production

Meaning
The process of generating oxygen through photosynthesis or other means.
Example
Plants are vital for oxygen production and the maintenance of life.
A1 verb /wɪn/

win

Meaning
to be successful or victorious in a contest or competition
Example
Our team will win the championship.
C1 noun /sɪˈnɪləti/

senility

Meaning
The state of being old and showing the weaknesses of age, especially mental decline.
Example
His forgetfulness was attributed to senility.
B2 noun /ˈstiː.mər/

Steamer

Meaning
a ship or boat powered by steam engines
Example
The old steamer crossed the river slowly.
B1 noun /əˈpɒlədʒi/

apology

Meaning
a statement expressing regret for something wrong or hurtful
Example
He offered an apology for being late to the meeting.
C1 noun /ˈlɪbərəlɪzəm/

liberalism

Meaning
a political and social philosophy advocating individual freedoms, democracy, and equality
Example
Liberalism emphasizes freedom of speech and human rights.
A2 verb /kjʊər/

cure

Meaning
to make someone healthy again after an illness
Example
The new medicine cured her of the infection.