defeatist
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
C1 noun, adjective /dɪˈfiːtɪst/

defeatist

Meaning
A person who expects or is excessively ready to accept failure; showing a tendency to expect defeat.
Example
His defeatist attitude discouraged the rest of the team.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈhɛlpfəl/

unhelpful

Meaning
not providing help or support; making a situation harder rather than easier
Example
His unhelpful attitude slowed down the entire project.
C1 verb /prəˈkjʊər/

procure

Meaning
to obtain something, especially with effort or difficulty
Example
They managed to procure enough supplies for the expedition.
A2 noun /ˈɪnfoʊ/

info

Meaning
information; knowledge or facts about something or someone
Example
She gave me all the info I needed for the meeting.
C1 adjective /ˈtɜːrʃieri/

tertiary

Meaning
third in order, rank, or level
Example
He is pursuing his tertiary education at the university.
C2 verb /ˌweɪˈleɪ/

waylay

Meaning
to stop or interrupt someone unexpectedly, often to attack or detain them
Example
He was waylaid by reporters as he left the courthouse.
B2 noun /ˈɛθɪks/

ethics

Meaning
moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conduct of an activity
Example
Business ethics require companies to act fairly and responsibly.
C1 noun /wæɡ/

Wag

Meaning
a humorous or playful person; someone who enjoys joking around
Example
The class wag always made everyone laugh with his clever jokes.
C2 noun /ˈbiːtənd raɪs/

Beatened rice

Meaning
flattened rice; rice that has been parboiled, dried, and beaten into flat flakes
Example
Beaten rice is commonly eaten with milk and sugar for breakfast.
C2 noun /dɪsˈkwaɪɪtjuːd/

disquietude

Meaning
A state of uneasiness, anxiety, or restlessness.
Example
His constant pacing showed his inner disquietude.
B2 adjective /ˈwɪk.ɪd/

Wicked

Meaning
evil or morally wrong; intended to or capable of harming someone or something
Example
The wicked queen cast a spell on the princess.
C2 adjective /ˈvɪsɪd/

viscid

Meaning
Having a thick, sticky consistency.
Example
The sap had a viscid texture that stuck to his hands.
A1 pronoun /jɔːrz/

yours

Meaning
belonging to or associated with the person or people that the speaker is addressing
Example
This pen is yours.
C1 adjective /ˈtrænzɪtɔːri/

transitory

Meaning
Not permanent; temporary.
Example
The transitory nature of fame makes it difficult to maintain.
B2 adjective /ˈflɔː.ləs/

Flawless

Meaning
perfect; without any defects or faults; immaculate
Example
Her flawless performance earned her a standing ovation.
B2 verb, noun, adjective /flʌʃ/

flush

Meaning
to become red in the face, usually from embarrassment, heat, or excitement; to clean something with a flow of water
Example
She flushed with embarrassment when she realized her mistake.
B2 noun, verb /ˈrætəl/

rattle

Meaning
to make a rapid series of short, sharp sounds; a device or object that makes such a sound
Example
The loose window began to rattle in the strong wind.
C2 noun /njuːˈmɪzmətɪst/

numismatist

Meaning
A person who studies or collects coins, paper currency, and medals.
Example
The numismatist displayed his rare coin collection at the exhibition.
C1 noun /drɑːft/ (UK), /dræft/ (US)

draught

Meaning
a current of cool air in a room or another confined space; also a portion of liquid, especially beer, served from a barrel or cask
Example
She closed the window to keep out the cold draught.
B2 noun /rɪˈmeɪnz/

remains

Meaning
the parts, pieces, or substances that are left after the rest has been used or removed
Example
The remains of the meal were left on the table.
C2 adjective /pəˈnjʊəriəs/

penurious

Meaning
extremely poor; poverty-stricken; miserly
Example
The penurious family struggled to buy food.
A2 noun /səˈpraɪz/

surprise

Meaning
a sudden and unexpected event or situation
Example
His arrival was a pleasant surprise.
C1 noun /juːˈfɔː.ri.ə/

euphoria

Meaning
A feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness; elation.
Example
Winning the championship brought a sense of euphoria.
C1 verb /ɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪt/

intimidate

Meaning
To frighten or overawe someone, especially to make them do what one wants.
Example
The bully tried to intimidate the smaller kids.
A2 preposition /ˈɒntu/

onto

Meaning
moving to a position on the surface of something
Example
She jumped onto the table to get the book.
C1 noun ˈtær.ɪf

tariff

Meaning
A tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports.
Example
The government imposed high tariffs on luxury goods.
B2 adjective /ɪkˈstɪr.i.ər/

Exterior

Meaning
relating to the outside part or surface of something; outer
Example
The exterior of the building was painted in bright colors.
B2 verb ˈtrɪɡərz

triggers

Meaning
To cause or initiate something to happen
Example
Air pollution triggers chronic diseases.
A2 noun /ˈsen.tər/

center

Meaning
A place or building designated for a particular activity or service.
Example
The first robotic surgery center was established in Rangpur.
C2 verb /ˈwɪn.oʊ/

winnow

Meaning
to remove the less desirable parts from a group; originally, to separate grain from chaff by blowing air
Example
The committee will winnow the list of applicants to ten finalists.
B2 adjective /ˈaɪ.dəl/

Idle

Meaning
lazy; inactive; not working or being used
Example
The factory workers were idle during the strike.
C2 noun /ˈkɒl.ə.kwi/

colloquy

Meaning
A formal conversation or dialogue, often on serious or academic topics.
Example
The professors engaged in a deep colloquy about the future of education.
C2 adjective /kənˈvɪviəl/

convivial

Meaning
friendly, lively, and enjoyable; sociable
Example
The party had a convivial atmosphere with music and laughter.
B1 noun /pruːf/

proof

Meaning
evidence or argument establishing a fact or the truth of a statement
Example
The detective presented proof of the suspect's guilt.
C2 noun /sɪnˈtɪl.ə/

scintilla

Meaning
A tiny trace or spark of a specified quality or feeling.
Example
There wasn’t a scintilla of doubt in her mind.
B2 noun, verb, adjective /ræŋk/

rank

Meaning
A position in a hierarchy; to place in order according to importance or quality.
Example
She quickly rose to a senior rank in the company.
C2 noun /ænˈtɪpəθi/

antipathy

Meaning
a deep-seated feeling of dislike or aversion toward something or someone
Example
There was a mutual antipathy between the two rival companies.
A1 verb /kætʃ/

catch

Meaning
to grab something that is moving; to get a disease; to understand
Example
Can you catch the ball I'm throwing?
C1 noun /ɑːˌtɪkjʊˈleɪʃən/

articulation

Meaning
The action of putting into words an idea or feeling of a specified type.
Example
His articulation during the debate impressed everyone.
C2 noun /ˈmɛtəl/

mettle

Meaning
A person's ability to cope well with difficulties or to face demanding situations with courage.
Example
The young athlete showed his mettle in the final match.
C2 noun /ʃiːf/

sheaf

Meaning
a bundle of grain stalks laid lengthwise and tied together after reaping; a bundle of objects tied together
Example
The farmer carried a sheaf of wheat on his shoulder.
C1 verb /bɪˈreɪt/

berate

Meaning
to scold or criticize angrily
Example
The teacher berated the student for being late.
C2 verb /ˌpriːɔːrˈdeɪn/

preordain

Meaning
To decide or determine an outcome in advance, especially by fate or divine will.
Example
They believed their meeting was preordained by destiny.
A2 adjective /kənˈfjuːzɪŋ/

confusing

Meaning
causing someone to be unable to think clearly or understand; difficult to comprehend
Example
The instructions were confusing and hard to follow.
C2 adjective /ˈbreɪsɪŋ/

bracing

Meaning
Invigorating, refreshing, or providing strength and energy.
Example
The hikers enjoyed the bracing mountain air.
B1 adjective /ˈsæt.ɪs.fæk.tər.i/

Satisfactory

Meaning
acceptable; meeting requirements; adequate
Example
The test results were satisfactory.
C1 noun /ˌpænəˈsiːə/

panacea

Meaning
A solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases.
Example
Education is often seen as a panacea for social problems.
B2 noun /ˌæbəˈlɪʃən/

abolition

Meaning
the act of formally ending or eliminating a system, practice, or institution
Example
The abolition of slavery was a major milestone in human rights history.
B1 noun /ˈʃoʊldər/

Shoulder

Meaning
the part of the body between the neck and the arm
Example
He carried the bag over his shoulder.
B2 noun /ˈwʊd.pek.ər/

Woodpecker

Meaning
a bird that pecks at tree bark to find insects and create nesting holes
Example
The woodpecker hammered against the oak tree.
B2 noun ˌdedɪˈkeɪʃn

dedication

Meaning
The quality of being dedicated or committed to a task or purpose; devotion.
Example
His dedication laid the foundation of Indian science.
B2 adjective /ɪˈlæs.tɪk/

Elastic

Meaning
able to stretch and return to original shape; flexible; adaptable
Example
The elastic band can stretch and return to its original shape.
A1 adjective /sloʊ/

slow

Meaning
moving or happening at a low speed
Example
The car moved slowly down the street.
C1 adjective /ˈsaʊnd.pruːf/

Sound-proof

Meaning
impervious to sound; preventing sound from entering or leaving
Example
The recording studio has sound-proof walls.
A2 noun /kraʊd/

crowd

Meaning
a large number of people gathered together
Example
A huge crowd gathered to watch the concert.
C1 adverb /ˌɪn.ədˈvɜːr.tənt.li/

Inadvertently

Meaning
without being aware of what you are doing; unintentionally; by mistake
Example
She inadvertently deleted the important file while cleaning her computer.
C1 verb /kənˈfleɪt/

conflate

Meaning
To combine two or more things, often confusingly, into one.
Example
The article tends to conflate facts with opinions.
B2 noun ɪˈfɪʃ.ən.si

efficiency

Meaning
The state or quality of being efficient; achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense.
Example
Efficiency in communication is crucial for businesses.
B2 noun /rɪˈmaɪndər/

reminder

Meaning
something that helps you remember a fact, event, or action that you need to do or recall
Example
He set a reminder to call his mother on her birthday.
C2 adjective /ˈrɛkənˌdaɪt/ or /ˈrɛkəndaɪt/

recondite

Meaning
Little known or difficult to understand.
Example
The professor’s lecture was full of recondite theories.
C2 noun (plural) /ˈlɪniəmənts/

lineaments

Meaning
The features or distinctive characteristics of the face or body.
Example
The lineaments of his face were sharp and stern.
B1 noun /ˈtʃæptər/

chapter

Meaning
A main division of a book or a period in someone's life.
Example
I just finished the first chapter of the novel.
C1 noun /ˈsɔː.dʌst/

sawdust

Meaning
The tiny particles of wood produced by sawing or sanding.
Example
The floor was covered with sawdust from the carpentry work.
A2 noun ˈmɛdɪsɪn

medicine

Meaning
A compound or preparation used for the treatment or prevention of disease.
Example
Modern medicine has made great strides in treating diseases.
B2 noun sliːp ˌdɛprɪˈveɪʃən

sleep deprivation

Meaning
The condition of not having enough sleep; lack of adequate sleep.
Example
Sleep deprivation can severely impact mental health.
C2 verb /ˈkæstreɪt/

castrate

Meaning
To remove the testicles of a male animal or human.
Example
The farmer castrated the young bulls to make them easier to manage.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈvɛtərət/

inveterate

Meaning
having a long-established habit, activity, or interest that is unlikely to change
Example
He is an inveterate reader who spends hours in the library every day.
C2 noun /ruːˈeɪ/

roue

Meaning
A man devoted to a life of sensual pleasure; a debauched man.
Example
The old roue squandered his fortune on gambling and women.
B2 noun, adjective /ˌpəʊstˈɡrædʒuət/

postgraduate

Meaning
A student who has completed a first degree and is studying for a further degree.
Example
She is doing postgraduate research in physics.
C1 adjective /drəˈkoʊniən/

draconian

Meaning
Extremely harsh and severe, especially laws or rules.
Example
The new regulations were criticized as draconian.
B1 noun /ˈɡroʊ.sər/

Grocer

Meaning
a person who sells food and household goods in a shop
Example
The grocer has fresh vegetables and fruits in his store.
B2 noun /ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt/

establishment

Meaning
An organization, business, or system; the act of setting something up.
Example
The restaurant is a new establishment in town.
C1 noun /ˈɡreɪdiənt/

gradient

Meaning
A gradual slope, or the degree of inclination of a surface.
Example
The cyclist struggled up the steep gradient of the hill.
C1 noun /ˈpɛndənt/

pendant

Meaning
a piece of jewelry that hangs from a chain worn around the neck
Example
She wore a silver pendant around her neck.
B2 noun /ˈtes.tɪ.moʊ.ni/

Testimony

Meaning
a formal written or spoken statement given in a court of law; evidence or proof
Example
The witness gave compelling testimony during the trial.
C1 verb /ˈkrɪsən/

christen

Meaning
to give a name to someone at baptism or to name something officially
Example
They christened the ship after the queen.
C1 noun /ˈnɔːrmən/

Norman

Meaning
A member of a people of mixed Scandinavian and Frankish origin who settled in Normandy, or relating to their culture.
Example
The Normans conquered England in 1066.
C2 noun /ˈæntɪk/

antic

Meaning
a playful, funny, or silly act or gesture
Example
The children laughed at the clown’s antics.
B2 noun /ˈhændlɪŋ/

handling

Meaning
the act of managing or dealing with something or someone
Example
His handling of the situation was impressive.
B2 adjective /ˈvɛriənt/

Variant

Meaning
differing in form, details, or in some other respect; alternative
Example
There are several variant spellings of this word.
B1 noun /raɪs ˈkʊkər/

Rice cooker

Meaning
an electric appliance designed to cook rice automatically
Example
The rice cooker automatically switches off when the rice is perfectly cooked.
A2 noun /ˈpoʊstər/

poster

Meaning
a large printed picture or notice that is put on a wall for decoration or to advertise something
Example
They put up a movie poster outside the theater.
B2 noun /krɑk pɑt/

Crock pot

Meaning
an electric cooking pot that cooks food slowly at low temperatures
Example
I put the chicken and vegetables in the crock pot before going to work.
C1 verb /ˈstɪntɪŋ/

stinting

Meaning
to supply sparingly or with restrictions
Example
He never stinting his efforts to help the poor.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈvaɪələt/

inviolate

Meaning
free from violation, injury, or desecration; kept safe and untouched
Example
The ancient temple remained inviolate for centuries.
B2 noun /ˈlaɪf.taɪm/

lifetime

Meaning
The duration of a person's life or the existence of something.
Example
She achieved more in her lifetime than most people dream of.
A1 adverb /wen/

When

Meaning
at what time; at the time that; during the time that
Example
When will you arrive at the station?
B2 noun /ˈækni/

acne

Meaning
a skin condition in which pores become inflamed and clogged, causing pimples and spots
Example
Regular cleansing and a balanced diet can help reduce acne.
C2 noun /ˈdɒldrəmz/

doldrums

Meaning
A state of inactivity, stagnation, or low spirits; also a region near the equator with calm winds.
Example
After the project failed, the team was stuck in the doldrums for months.
C1 noun /ɪkˈspoʊnənt/

exponent

Meaning
a person who supports, promotes, or explains an idea; in math, a symbol denoting power
Example
She is a leading exponent of modern dance.
B2 adjective ɪkˈstɪŋkt

extinct

Meaning
No longer in existence; having died out completely.
Example
Some species are becoming extinct due to overfishing.
C2 noun /ˌlɛksɪˈkɒɡrəfi/

lexicography

Meaning
The art or practice of compiling dictionaries.
Example
Lexicography requires both linguistic and cultural knowledge.
B2 noun /ˈkʌmbæk/

comeback

Meaning
A return to a former status or success after a period of decline.
Example
The singer made a remarkable comeback after years of silence.
B2 verb, adjective /ˈfɒstər/

foster

Meaning
to encourage the development of something; to raise a child that is not one's own
Example
The program aims to foster creativity in young students.
C1 adjective /ˈskeɪðɪŋ/

scathing

Meaning
severely critical; harshly scornful
Example
The critic wrote a scathing review of the movie.
C1 adjective ˈleɪ.tənt

latent

Meaning
Existing but not yet developed or manifested; hidden potential.
Example
His artistic talent remained latent for years.
B1 noun /ˈsɛkrəteri/

secretary

Meaning
a person employed to handle correspondence and manage routine tasks for an individual or organization
Example
The secretary scheduled the meeting for tomorrow.
C2 noun /əˈbluːʃən/

ablution

Meaning
the act of washing oneself, often for religious purposes
Example
He performed his morning ablution before the prayer.
B1 noun /rɪˈspɒns/

Response

Meaning
a reaction to something; an answer or reply; the way in which something reacts to external stimulus
Example
The government's response to the crisis was swift and decisive.
C1 adjective /ˈɔːrəl/

aural

Meaning
Relating to the ear or the sense of hearing.
Example
The lecture was an aural experience as well as an intellectual one.
C1 noun /kəˈloʊkwiəˌlɪzəm/

colloquialism

Meaning
a word or phrase used in informal speech or writing
Example
The novel is full of regional colloquialisms.
C2 noun /ˈstriːmlɪt/

streamlet

Meaning
a small stream; a tiny brook or rivulet
Example
A streamlet flowed through the meadow.
C1 noun /ˈdaʊri/

dowry

Meaning
Property or money brought by a bride to her husband at marriage.
Example
The dowry tradition is still followed in some cultures.
B1 noun /bʌntʃ/

Bunch

Meaning
a number of things of the same type fastened together or occurring close together
Example
She picked a bunch of flowers from the garden for her mother.
A2 adjective /ˈfroʊzən/

frozen

Meaning
preserved by being made extremely cold; turned into ice
Example
The lake was completely frozen during winter.
B1 adjective /def/

Deaf

Meaning
unable to hear; having a hearing impairment
Example
The deaf child learned to communicate using sign language.
C1 noun/adjective /kənˈfɛdərət/

confederate

Meaning
a person, group, or state joined in an alliance or union; relating to a confederacy
Example
The confederate soldiers fought bravely in the war.
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.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsˈmaʊnt/

dismount

Meaning
to get off or down from something, especially a horse, bicycle, or motorcycle
Example
The rider dismounted from the horse after a long journey.
C2 noun /laʊs/

Louse

Meaning
a small insect that lives on the hair or skin of people or animals
Example
The child had a louse in his hair.
A1 verb /fərˈɡet/

forget

Meaning
to be unable to remember something; to fail to bring something to mind
Example
Don't forget to lock the door when you leave.
C1 noun /ˈpær.ə.di/

Parody

Meaning
an imitation of a particular style for comic effect; a humorous exaggerated copy
Example
The comedy show featured a parody of famous politicians.
A2 adjective /θɪk/

Thick

Meaning
having a large distance between opposite sides; dense; not thin
Example
The book has thick pages and a heavy cover.
C1 verb /bɪˈɡɛt/

beget

Meaning
to bring about or give rise to; to father or produce
Example
Violence begets more violence.
B2 verb /kənˈfes/

confess

Meaning
to admit guilt or wrongdoing; to acknowledge
Example
He confessed his mistake to his teacher.
B2 adjective /əˈkaʊntəbl/

accountable

Meaning
Required or expected to justify actions or decisions; responsible.
Example
Staying accountable helps reduce delays.
C1 noun /ˈkɔːl.drən/

Cauldron

Meaning
a large metal pot with a lid and handle, used for cooking over a fire
Example
The witch stirred her potion in a large cauldron.
C2 adjective /ɪˈlɪbərəl/

illiberal

Meaning
Opposed to liberal principles; restricting freedom of thought or behavior.
Example
The government was criticized for its illiberal policies.
C1 noun /ˈskrɪmɪdʒ/

scrimmage

Meaning
A practice game or informal match, often in sports, especially football.
Example
The team had a scrimmage before the official season started.
C2 adverb /ˌsʌb ˈroʊzə/

sub rosa

Meaning
secretly, in confidence, or in private
Example
The deal was made sub rosa to avoid public scrutiny.
C2 adjective /ˈrɪz.ə.bəl/

risible

Meaning
so absurd or ridiculous that it deserves to be laughed at
Example
The idea of flying pigs is completely risible.