foolhardy
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
C2 adjective /ˈfuːlˌhɑːrdi/

foolhardy

Meaning
Recklessly bold or rash; taking foolish risks.
Example
It was foolhardy of him to climb the mountain without proper gear.
B2 adjective /ˈbʌmpi/

Bumpy

Meaning
having an uneven surface; rough; jolting
Example
The bumpy road made the car ride very uncomfortable.
C2 verb /ˈhæloʊ/

hallow

Meaning
to honor as holy; to make sacred or greatly respected
Example
The ancient temple was hallowed by centuries of worship.
B2 noun /trænˈzækʃən/

transaction

Meaning
an instance of buying or selling something; a business deal or exchange
Example
Every online transaction is recorded for security purposes.
B2 verb ɪˈrɛktɪŋ

erecting

Meaning
To build; construct; set up in a vertical position.
Example
The workers were erecting a new building downtown.
A1 adverb /ˈnɛvər/

never

Meaning
at no time in the past or future; not ever
Example
I have never seen such a beautiful sunset.
B1 noun /kəmˈpəʊzə(r)/

composer

Meaning
a person who writes music, especially classical music
Example
The composer is working on a new symphony.
A2 noun /tɪp/

tip

Meaning
a small but useful piece of advice
Example
I received a tip on how to improve my presentation.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈɪntrəstɪd/

disinterested

Meaning
not influenced by personal interest; impartial or neutral
Example
The judge remained disinterested in the case.
C1 noun ˈsʌs.tɪ.nəns

Sustenance

Meaning
Food or support necessary for sustaining life
Example
Water is essential for human sustenance.
C2 verb /aɪˈdɒləˌtraɪz/

idolatrize

Meaning
To worship idols; to regard with excessive devotion or admiration.
Example
They began to idolatrize the statue as a deity.
C1 adjective /ˈɡæl.ənt/

gallant

Meaning
Brave, heroic, or chivalrous.
Example
The gallant firefighter saved the child from the burning building.
C2 noun /ˌmɪsˈtʃæns/

mischance

Meaning
An unfortunate accident or event; bad luck.
Example
By mischance, he missed the last train home.
C2 noun /boʊl/

boll

Meaning
The rounded seed capsule of plants such as cotton or flax.
Example
The farmer examined the cotton boll to check its quality.
C1 noun ˌpraɪɔːrɪtaɪˈzeɪʃən

prioritization

Meaning
The action or process of deciding the relative importance or urgency of things.
Example
Effective prioritization ensures resources are used efficiently.
C2 adjective /ˈfɔːnɪŋ/

fawning

Meaning
displaying exaggerated flattery or affection
Example
Her fawning compliments made everyone uncomfortable.
C2 verb /ˌpriːɪˈstæblɪʃ/

preestablish

Meaning
To establish or set up beforehand.
Example
Certain rules were preestablished before the meeting.
A2 adjective /ˈʌɡ.li/

Ugly

Meaning
unpleasant or repulsive in appearance; morally reprehensible
Example
The old building looked ugly after years of neglect.
C1 adjective /ˈdʒɑː.rɪŋ/

jarring

Meaning
Striking or shocking in a way that creates a strong contrast or clash.
Example
The sudden loud noise was jarring to everyone in the room.
B2 noun /wɪðˈdrɔːəl/

withdrawal

Meaning
the act of taking something back or removing oneself from a situation
Example
He made a withdrawal of $500 from his bank account.
A1 noun /pɔɪnt/

Point

Meaning
a particular detail, idea, or fact; the sharp end of something
Example
What's the point of arguing about this issue?
C1 noun /ˈfɔːrˌbɛərz/

forebears

Meaning
Ancestors or people in previous generations from whom one is descended.
Example
We must honor the traditions of our forebears.
A1 noun /lɒt/

lot

Meaning
A large number or amount; a group or portion.
Example
She bought a lot of books at the fair.
A2 verb /ˌrɛkəˈmɛnd/

recommend

Meaning
to suggest or advise something as being good or suitable
Example
I recommend trying the new restaurant downtown.
B1 verb /ˈθretən/

threaten

Meaning
to express an intention to harm or punish someone; to be likely to cause harm
Example
The storm clouds threaten to bring heavy rain tonight.
B1 noun /ˈmeɪkʌp/

makeup

Meaning
cosmetics used to enhance or alter appearance
Example
She applied makeup before the party.
C2 noun /ˈkɔː.seər/

corsair

Meaning
a pirate, especially one operating along the Mediterranean coasts
Example
The corsair plundered ships along the coast.
C1 noun /ˈtæbloʊ/

tableau

Meaning
a striking or artistic scene or arrangement of people or objects, often presented on stage or in art
Example
The actors froze in a tableau that captured the final moment of the play.
C1 noun /njʊˈrɑːlədʒi/

neurology

Meaning
The branch of medicine that deals with disorders of the nervous system.
Example
She specializes in neurology and treats patients with brain diseases.
C2 noun /ˈkælvɪnɪzəm/

calvinism

Meaning
A Protestant theological system based on John Calvin’s teachings, emphasizing predestination and the sovereignty of God.
Example
Calvinism played a major role in shaping Protestant theology.
C1 adjective /ˈhɛlθfəl/

healthful

Meaning
Promoting good health; beneficial to health.
Example
A healthful diet includes fresh fruits and vegetables.
C1 noun /kəmˈpəʊ.ʒər/

composure

Meaning
The state or feeling of being calm and in control of oneself.
Example
She maintained her composure during the interview.
B2 noun /mæt/

Mat

Meaning
a piece of coarse material placed on a floor for people to wipe their feet on
Example
Please wipe your feet on the mat before entering.
C1 noun /ˌkɒn.stəˈleɪ.ʃən/

constellation

Meaning
a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern in the night sky
Example
Orion is one of the most famous constellations.
C1 noun ˈhaɪ.drə.dʒən ˈpaʊ.əd bʌsɪz

hydrogen-powered buses

Meaning
Buses powered by hydrogen fuel cells that produce only water vapor as emission.
Example
Hydrogen-powered buses reduce air pollution.
A1 verb /mʌst/

must

Meaning
to be required or obligated to
Example
You must complete your homework before you go out.
A2 noun /dəˈrɛkʃən/ or /daɪˈrɛkʃən/

direction

Meaning
the course or path on which someone or something is moving; instructions on what to do
Example
He asked for directions to the train station.
C1 adjective /ˌɔːtəˈkrætɪk/

autocratic

Meaning
Relating to a ruler who has absolute power and does not consult others.
Example
The manager’s autocratic style discouraged employees from sharing their ideas.
A2 verb /prɪˈvent/

prevent

Meaning
to stop something from happening; to keep from occurring
Example
Vaccination helps prevent many diseases.
C2 noun /ˈvɪrjʊləns/

virulence

Meaning
The severity or harmfulness of a disease or poison.
Example
Scientists studied the virulence of the new virus strain.
A2 adjective, noun /tʃaɪˈniːz/

chinese

Meaning
relating to China, its people, or its language
Example
We went to a Chinese restaurant last night.
C2 noun /ɪnˈtɜːrmənt/

interment

Meaning
The act of burying a dead body in a grave or tomb.
Example
The interment took place at the family cemetery.
C2 noun /kænˈtɑː.tə/

cantata

Meaning
A vocal composition with instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir.
Example
The choir performed a beautiful cantata during the festival.
B2 noun /diːp siː/

deep sea

Meaning
The deep parts of the sea or ocean, typically beyond the continental shelf.
Example
Many deep-sea creatures produce bioluminescence for survival.
B2 noun /ˈskʌlp.tʃər/

Sculpture

Meaning
the art of making objects by carving; a work of art made by carving
Example
The museum displays ancient Greek sculpture.
B2 adjective /ˈsɛksi/

sexy

Meaning
sexually attractive or exciting
Example
She wore a sexy red dress to the party.
C2 adverb /ˌpɛlˈmɛl/

pell-mell

Meaning
In a confused, rushed, or disorderly manner.
Example
The children ran pell-mell through the playground.
A2 verb /əˈplaɪ/

apply

Meaning
to make a formal request for something; to put into practice
Example
He decided to apply for the scholarship.
B2 adjective /ˈnær.ə.tɪv/

Narrative

Meaning
relating to storytelling; descriptive; telling a story; recounting events
Example
The narrative structure of the novel was quite complex.
C1 noun /əˌfɪl.iˈeɪ.ʃən/

affiliation

Meaning
The state or process of affiliating or being affiliated; a connection or association.
Example
His affiliation with the company lasted for a decade.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈprəʊtʃəbl̩/

irreproachable

Meaning
Beyond criticism; faultless.
Example
The judge was known for his irreproachable integrity.
B2 adjective /hɑːrʃ/

Harsh

Meaning
unpleasantly hard or rough in texture; cruel or severe
Example
The teacher gave harsh criticism about my work.
B1 noun, verb /paʊnd/

pound

Meaning
a unit of weight equal to 16 ounces or a unit of currency
Example
The price of the book is five pounds.
B2 adjective sɪˈvɪər

severe

Meaning
Very great; intense or extreme in degree.
Example
Without action, climate change impacts will become severe.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈseɪʃəbl̩/

insatiable

Meaning
impossible to satisfy; always wanting more
Example
Her insatiable curiosity drove her to read every book in the library.
C2 adjective /ˈbeɪnfəl/

baneful

Meaning
Causing harm, ruin, or destruction; deadly or poisonous.
Example
His baneful influence ruined the community.
B1 verb /ˈwɒndər/

Wander

Meaning
to walk aimlessly without a fixed destination
Example
She likes to wander through the old city streets.
B1 noun /kənˈkluː.ʒən/

Conclusion

Meaning
the end or finish of an event, process, or text; a judgment or decision reached by reasoning
Example
The conclusion of the research paper summarized all the important findings.
C2 verb /raɪv/

rive

Meaning
to tear apart violently
Example
The earthquake rived the ground in several places.
C2 noun /ɪˌkliːziˈæstɪk/

ecclesiastic

Meaning
A member of the clergy or church official.
Example
The council was attended by several high-ranking ecclesiastics.
C1 adjective /ˈsʌbstəntɪv/

substantive

Meaning
Having a firm basis in reality; important, meaningful, or considerable.
Example
The company made substantive changes to its policy.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈsɒlvənt/

insolvent

Meaning
unable to pay debts owed
Example
The insolvent firm could not meet its financial obligations.
B2 adjective /ˌprɒb.ləˈmæt.ɪk/

Problematic

Meaning
causing problems; troublesome; difficult to deal with
Example
The new policy changes are problematic and need to be reviewed.
C2 noun /ˈaɪ.ərn.wʊd/

Ironwood

Meaning
a hard, dense wood from various trees; also the tree itself that produces small flowers
Example
The ironwood tree blooms with tiny white flowers.
C2 noun /dɪˈstɪlər/

distiller

Meaning
A person or company that makes alcoholic drinks or purified liquids by distillation.
Example
The distiller introduced a new brand of whiskey last year.
C1 noun /rɪˈvʌlʃən/

revulsion

Meaning
a strong feeling of disgust or repulsion
Example
She felt revulsion at the sight of the cruel act.
C1 phrasal verb /ɡlɒs ˈoʊ.vər/

gloss over

Meaning
to avoid discussing something unpleasant or make it seem less important
Example
The report glossed over the company's financial problems.
B2 verb /ˌriːprəˈdjuːs/

reproduce

Meaning
To make a copy of something; to generate offspring.
Example
Many animals reproduce rapidly in favorable conditions.
C1 verb /ˌriːɪnˈsteɪt/

reinstate

Meaning
To restore someone or something to their former position or condition.
Example
The company decided to reinstate the suspended employee.
A1 pronoun /ˈɛniwʌn/

anyone

Meaning
any person at all; used to refer to an unspecified person
Example
Does anyone know the answer to this question?
C1 noun /təˈlɛfəni/

telephony

Meaning
the technology and systems for transmitting voice over distances by telephone
Example
Modern telephony has evolved to include internet-based calls.
B1 verb /ter/

tear

Meaning
to pull apart or damage by force; to rip
Example
Be careful not to tear the paper.
C1 verb /pəˈveɪd/

pervade

Meaning
to spread through and be present in every part of something
Example
The smell of fresh flowers pervaded the entire room.
C1 noun /ˈneɪ.vəl fɔːrs/

Naval Force

Meaning
the branch of a nation's armed services that conducts military operations at sea
Example
The naval force protected the country's coastline from enemy attacks.
C1 verb /siːp/

seep

Meaning
to flow or leak slowly through small openings or pores
Example
Water began to seep through the cracks in the wall.
B2 adjective /ˈstʌb.ərn/

Stubborn

Meaning
refusing to change opinion or course of action; persistent; obstinate
Example
The stubborn child refused to eat his vegetables.
B2 adjective /ˌɪnsɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/

insignificant

Meaning
Too small or unimportant to be worth considering.
Example
The cost was so insignificant that nobody noticed it.
C1 verb /aʊtˈwɪt/

outwit

Meaning
to defeat or gain an advantage over someone by being more clever or cunning
Example
The fox managed to outwit the hunters.
C2 noun /fluːk/

fluke

Meaning
A stroke of luck; an unexpected piece of good fortune.
Example
Winning the lottery was a complete fluke.
C1 noun /ˈtæn.ər/

tanner

Meaning
A person whose job is to tan animal hides to make leather.
Example
The tanner worked long hours to produce fine leather.
C1 adjective /ˈhɑːrtˌrɛndɪŋ/

heartrending

Meaning
Causing great sadness or distress; very moving emotionally.
Example
The documentary showed heartrending scenes of war victims.
A2 noun /fɔːrk/

Fork

Meaning
a tool with two or more prongs used for eating or serving food
Example
Please use a fork to eat your salad.
C1 noun /rɪˈnaʊn/

Renown

Meaning
the condition of being known or talked about by many people; fame
Example
The scientist achieved international renown for her discoveries.
C1 noun /ˌɡaɪnəˈkɒlədʒi/

gynecology

Meaning
the branch of medicine dealing with women's reproductive health
Example
She decided to specialize in gynecology after medical school.
C1 verb /ˈviːtoʊ/

veto

Meaning
to reject or forbid a decision, proposal, or law
Example
The president decided to veto the new bill.
C2 verb /ˌækwiˈɛs/

acquiesce

Meaning
to accept something reluctantly but without protest
Example
She decided to acquiesce to her parents’ wishes.
C1 noun /ˌɛlɪˈveɪʃən/

elevation

Meaning
The act of raising something to a higher position or level.
Example
The hikers reached a high elevation after hours of climbing.
B1 adverb /ɪkˈstriːm.li/

Extremely

Meaning
to a very high degree; exceptionally
Example
The weather today is extremely hot and humid.
C1 verb /koʊˈhæbɪt/

cohabit

Meaning
To live together, often as partners without being married.
Example
They decided to cohabit before getting married.
C1 adjective /ˌɛnɪɡˈmætɪk/

enigmatic

Meaning
mysterious and difficult to interpret or understand
Example
He gave me an enigmatic smile.
C1 verb /sɪˈsiːd/

secede

Meaning
To formally withdraw from a political or organizational union.
Example
Several states threatened to secede from the union.
B2 adjective /ˈkaʊntləs/

countless

Meaning
too many to be counted; innumerable
Example
There are countless stars in the sky.
B1 noun /ʃɔːr/

Shore

Meaning
the land along the edge of a sea, lake, or other body of water
Example
We walked along the shore collecting seashells.
B2 noun /ˈmæstərpiːs/

Masterpiece

Meaning
A work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship
Example
The Mona Lisa is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of all time.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈɡɑː.dɪd/

Unguarded

Meaning
not protected or defended; careless about revealing private thoughts or information
Example
In an unguarded moment, she revealed her true feelings about the project.
C2 adjective /vɛˈstɪdʒiəl/

vestigial

Meaning
Relating to a small, undeveloped remnant of something that was once much larger or more functional.
Example
Humans have a vestigial tailbone that no longer serves its original purpose.
B1 noun /ˌpɜr.sənˈæl.ə.ti/

Personality

Meaning
the combination of characteristics that form an individual's distinctive character; a famous person
Example
She has a very outgoing and friendly personality.
A2 verb /səˈpəʊz/

suppose

Meaning
to assume or believe something is true without proof
Example
I suppose she will be here soon.
A2 noun /flaʊər/

Flour

Meaning
fine powder made by grinding wheat or other grains; used for making bread, cakes, and pastry
Example
She mixed flour with water to make dough for bread.
B2 noun /ˈswiː.pər/

Sweeper

Meaning
a person whose job is to clean floors and streets by sweeping
Example
The sweeper cleaned the school corridor every morning.
B2 noun /ˈprɑsɪˌkjuːtər/

prosecutor

Meaning
a lawyer who represents the government in criminal cases
Example
The prosecutor argued that the defendant was guilty of the crime.
B2 noun /ˌɛkskləˈmeɪʃən/

exclamation

Meaning
A sudden cry or remark expressing strong emotion or surprise.
Example
She let out an exclamation of joy when she heard the news.
A2 verb /wɛr/

wear

Meaning
to have clothing or accessories on one's body
Example
She likes to wear bright colors.
B2 noun rɪˈpʌb.lɪk

republic

Meaning
A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, with an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.
Example
A republic is governed by representatives of the people.
A2 verb /əˈnaʊns/

announce

Meaning
to make a formal public statement about something
Example
The company will announce the new product tomorrow.
B2 noun /ˌɒn.trə.prəˈnɜːr/

Entrepreneur

Meaning
a person who organizes and operates a business or businesses
Example
The young entrepreneur started her own tech company at age 22.
C2 noun /əˈklɪvɪti/

acclivity

Meaning
An upward slope or incline on the ground.
Example
The hikers struggled as they climbed the steep acclivity.
C2 noun /ˌdaɪ.jʊˈret.ɪk/

diuretic

Meaning
A substance that promotes the production of urine.
Example
Coffee has a mild diuretic effect.
A1 pronoun /miː/

me

Meaning
Used by a speaker to refer to themselves as the object of a verb or preposition.
Example
She gave me a beautiful gift.
B1 noun /ˈfaɪəˌfaɪtə/

firefighter

Meaning
a person whose job is to put out fires
Example
The firefighter saved the family from the burning building.
A2 verb /riːtʃ/

reach

Meaning
to arrive at a destination; to extend one's arm to touch something
Example
We will reach the station in ten minutes.
B2 noun, verb /ˈhɑːrbər/

harbor

Meaning
noun: a place on the coast where ships may find shelter; verb: to keep (a thought or feeling, often negative) in one's mind
Example
He continued to harbor resentment towards his former boss.
C1 adverb /ʌnˈnætʃrəli/

unnaturally

Meaning
in a way that is not natural or normal; excessively or strangely
Example
He smiled unnaturally, making everyone feel uncomfortable.
A2 noun /ˈθiːətər/

theater

Meaning
a building or area for dramatic performances
Example
We are going to the theater tonight.
A2 noun ˈmuːv.mənts

movements

Meaning
Organized efforts by groups of people working together to advance their shared political, social, or artistic ideas.
Example
Freedom movements paved the way for independence.
C1 noun /ˌkɒnfləˈɡreɪʃən/

conflagaration

Meaning
This is a common misspelling of 'conflagration', which means a large, destructive fire.
Example
The term 'conflagaration' is often incorrectly used instead of 'conflagration'.
C1 adjective ˈpɪv.ə.təl

pivotal

Meaning
Of crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something else.
Example
Renewable energy plays a pivotal role in sustainability.
B1 noun /beɪkt miːt/

Baked meat

Meaning
meat that has been cooked in an oven using dry heat
Example
The baked meat was tender and flavorful.
B2 noun ˈfreɪm.wɜːk

framework

Meaning
An essential supporting structure of a building, vehicle, or object; a basic structure underlying a system, concept, or text.
Example
A strong framework is vital for governance.
C1 adjective /ɪˈlɪsɪt/

illicit

Meaning
Forbidden by law, rules, or custom.
Example
The police shut down the illicit drug operation.
B2 noun /ˈpraɪ.vət ˈtuː.tər/

Private tutor

Meaning
a teacher who gives individual instruction to a student outside of regular school
Example
The private tutor helped the student improve his math skills.