impugn
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 verb /ɪmˈpjuːn/

impugn

Meaning
to dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of a statement or motive
Example
The lawyer tried to impugn the credibility of the witness.
B2 noun ɪnˈdʒʌstɪs

injustice

Meaning
Lack of fairness or justice; the practice of being unjust or unfair.
Example
The story portrays the injustices faced by the common people.
B2 noun /ˈɪm.pʌls/

Impulse

Meaning
a sudden strong and unreflective urge or desire to act; a driving force or motivation
Example
She bought the expensive dress on impulse and later regretted the purchase.
C1 adjective; noun /ɪˈmɔːrtl/

immortal

Meaning
living forever; never dying; lasting forever in fame or memory
Example
Legends often describe heroes as immortal beings who never die.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnkəmˈprɛsəbl/

incompressible

Meaning
Not able to be pressed or squeezed into a smaller space.
Example
Liquids are generally considered incompressible.
C1 adjective ɪn ˈfleɪ.ʃə.ner.i

inflationary

Meaning
Characterized by or tending to cause monetary inflation; relating to rising prices.
Example
The government took measures to control inflationary pressures.
C2 noun /ˌɪntərˈlɒkjətər/

interlocutor

Meaning
a person who takes part in a conversation or dialogue
Example
She was a skilled interlocutor during the debate.
C2 adjective /ˌɪlˈneɪ.tʃəd/

ill-natured

Meaning
Having a bad or unpleasant character; unkind or malicious.
Example
He made an ill-natured remark about his colleague.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnækˈsɛsəbl/

inaccessible

Meaning
unable to be reached, entered, or understood
Example
The remote village is almost inaccessible during the rainy season.
C2 noun /ɪkˈsɔːr.ə/

Ixora

Meaning
a tropical flowering shrub with clusters of small bright red, orange, or yellow flowers
Example
The bright red ixora bushes lined the pathway to the tropical garden.
B2 adjective /ˈɪɡ.nər.ənt/

Ignorant

Meaning
lacking knowledge or awareness; uninformed
Example
She was ignorant about the new technology trends.
B2 adjective /ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənt/

inconsistent

Meaning
Not staying the same throughout; lacking harmony or regularity.
Example
His answers were inconsistent and confusing.
C1 noun ɪnˌɛv.ɪ.təˈbɪl.ɪ.ti

inevitability

Meaning
The quality of being certain to happen and impossible to avoid or prevent.
Example
The inevitability of change is a part of life.
B1 noun /ɪˌmædʒ.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

Imagination

Meaning
the faculty or action of forming new ideas or images not present to the senses; creative thinking
Example
Children's imagination allows them to turn a cardboard box into a spaceship or castle.
B1 adjective /ɪˈliː.ɡəl/

illegal

Meaning
Not allowed by law; unlawful.
Example
It is illegal to drive without a valid license.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnkɒntrəˈvɜːtəbl/

incontrovertible

Meaning
impossible to deny or dispute; unquestionable
Example
The evidence was incontrovertible and proved his innocence.
C2 noun /ˈaɪdɪl/

idyll

Meaning
An extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque episode or scene, often idealized.
Example
Their honeymoon was an idyll on a tropical island.
B2 noun /ˈɪntərvəl/

interval

Meaning
a period of time between two events or points; a pause or break in activity
Example
There was a short interval between the two performances.
C1 noun /ɪnˈsek.tɪ.saɪd/

Insecticide

Meaning
a substance used for killing insects; a chemical pesticide that targets insects
Example
The farmer sprayed insecticide on his crops to protect them from harmful bugs.
C2 adjective /ɪˈrædɪkəbəl/

irradicable

Meaning
not able to be eradicated; impossible to destroy or remove completely
Example
The love of a mother for her child is irradicable.
C2 noun /ˈɪmpjʊdəns/

impudence

Meaning
Rude and disrespectful behavior.
Example
The student's impudence shocked the entire class.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnədˈvaɪzəbl/

inadvisable

Meaning
Not recommended; likely to have undesirable consequences.
Example
It is inadvisable to drive in such heavy rain.
C1 adjective /ɪˈlʌstriəs/

illustrious

Meaning
Well known, respected, and admired for past achievements.
Example
She had an illustrious career in medicine.
C1 noun /ɪnˈædɪkwəsi/

inadequacy

Meaning
lack of sufficient ability, quality, or strength; a feeling of not being good enough
Example
She struggled with feelings of inadequacy at work despite her strong qualifications.
B2 adjective /ˌɪntəˈpɜːsənl/

interpersonal

Meaning
Relating to relationships or communication between people.
Example
He has excellent interpersonal skills and gets along well with others.
C2 adjective /ˌɪntəˈrɒɡətəri/

interrogatory

Meaning
expressed in the form of a question; relating to questioning
Example
The lawyer’s interrogatory tone made the witness uncomfortable.
C1 noun /ɪmˈpɛdɪmənt/

impediments

Meaning
A hindrance or obstruction in doing something; things that prevent progress or achievement.
Example
Economic impediments often hinder social development.
C2 noun /ˌɪmprəˈsɑːrioʊ/

impresario

Meaning
A person who organizes or finances concerts, plays, or operas.
Example
The impresario arranged a series of concerts for the rising star.
C2 noun /ɪˌledʒ.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/

Illegibility

Meaning
the quality of being impossible or difficult to read; unclear writing or print
Example
The doctor's handwriting was famous for its illegibility among the pharmacy staff.
B2 adjective /ˌɪnkənˈviːniənt/

Inconvenient

Meaning
causing trouble, difficulties, or discomfort; awkward; troublesome
Example
The broken elevator made it inconvenient to reach the top floor.
B2 verb /ˈɪmɪɡreɪt/

immigrate

Meaning
to come to live permanently in a foreign country
Example
He immigrated to Canada five years ago.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈɛksərəbl/

inexorable

Meaning
Impossible to stop or prevent; relentless.
Example
The inexorable rise of technology is changing every aspect of life.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈsɪdiəs/

insidious

Meaning
Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way but with harmful effects.
Example
The insidious spread of misinformation can damage trust.
C1 verb /ɪmˈpɒvərɪʃ/

impoverish

Meaning
To make someone poor or reduce the quality or richness of something.
Example
The long war impoverished the entire nation.
C1 noun /ˈaɪsətəʊp/

isotope

Meaning
Atoms of the same element with equal number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
Example
Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope used in dating fossils.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɛndiˌɛri/

incendiary

Meaning
designed to cause fires or stir up conflict
Example
The politician’s incendiary remarks angered the crowd.
B2 noun /ˈaɪ.dəl/

Idol

Meaning
an image or representation of a god used as an object of worship; a person who is greatly admired
Example
The singer became a teenage idol after her hit song topped the charts worldwide.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnkænˈdɛsənt/

incandescent

Meaning
emitting light as a result of being heated; extremely bright or passionate
Example
The incandescent lamp lit up the entire hall.
B2 noun /ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊərɪti/

insecurity

Meaning
lack of confidence or assurance; a state of uncertainty or vulnerability
Example
Her insecurity made her doubt her abilities despite her experience.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈdiːsənt/

indecent

Meaning
not conforming to accepted standards of behavior or morality; improper or offensive
Example
He was warned for making an indecent remark during the meeting.
B2 noun /ˌɪnəˈbɪləti/

inability

Meaning
the state of being unable to do something
Example
His inability to make decisions affected his career.
B2 noun /ˈɪnvənˌtɔːri/

inventory

Meaning
A complete list of items, such as goods in stock or property.
Example
The shopkeeper checked the inventory before opening the store.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈpɑːlɪtɪk/

impolitic

Meaning
Unwise or imprudent; not showing good judgment.
Example
It would be impolitic to criticize them openly.
C1 noun ˌɪn.tuˈɪʃ.ən

intuition

Meaning
The ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning.
Example
Her intuition told her something was wrong.
C1 adjective /ˈaɪərnˌklæd/

ironclad

Meaning
impossible to change, break, or dispute; very strong and firm
Example
The company had an ironclad contract with its suppliers.
B2 verb /ˈɪr.ɪ.teɪt/

irritate

Meaning
To make someone annoyed or angry; to cause discomfort or inflammation.
Example
Rubbing your eyes can irritate them.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnɪkˈsprɛsəbl/

inexpressible

Meaning
Too strong or extreme to be expressed in words.
Example
She felt inexpressible joy at the news of her success.
C1 noun /ɪnˈsæn.ə.ti/

Insanity

Meaning
the state of being seriously mentally ill; extreme foolishness or irrationality
Example
The defense lawyer argued that his client was not guilty by reason of insanity.
B1 noun /ɪmˈprɛʃən/

impression

Meaning
an idea, feeling, or opinion about something or someone
Example
The book gave me a good first impression.
B2 noun /ɪnˈspɛktər/

inspector

Meaning
An official employed to ensure regulations are obeyed or standards are met.
Example
The inspector carefully checked the restaurant's kitchen for hygiene standards.
C1 verb /aɪˈdiː.ə.laɪz/

idealize

Meaning
To regard or represent something as perfect or better than it really is.
Example
Children often idealize their parents.
B2 noun /ˈɪnˌsaɪt/

insight

Meaning
The ability to understand the true nature of something; deep understanding.
Example
Her insight into human behavior made her a successful psychologist.
B2 adjective /ɪmˈper.ə.tɪv/

imperative

Meaning
Of vital importance; crucial; giving or expressing a command.
Example
It is imperative to address the climate crisis immediately.
B2 verb ˈɪmplɪment

implement

Meaning
To put a decision or plan into effect; to execute or apply.
Example
Implementing educational policies is essential for progress.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈdʒɛnjuəs/

ingenuous

Meaning
Innocent, naive, and unsuspecting; showing childlike simplicity and sincerity.
Example
Her ingenuous smile revealed her genuine kindness.
B2 noun /ˌɪntərˈsɛkʃən/

intersection

Meaning
a point where two or more things intersect, especially a road or path
Example
The intersection of Main Street and 5th Avenue is always busy.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnfəˈlɪsɪtəs/

infelicitous

Meaning
not suitable or well chosen; awkward or unfortunate
Example
His infelicitous remark ruined the atmosphere of the meeting.
B1 noun /ɪnˈvɛstər/

investor

Meaning
a person or organization that puts money into financial schemes, property, or business ventures with the expectation of achieving a profit
Example
The investor funded the startup with a large sum of money.
C1 noun /ˌɪnkəmˈpliːtnəs/

incompleteness

Meaning
the state of not being complete or whole; lack of necessary parts or fullness
Example
The incompleteness of the report caused delays in the project.
C2 noun /ˌɪkθiˈɒlədʒɪst/

ichthyologist

Meaning
A scientist who studies fish.
Example
The ichthyologist discovered a new species of fish in the river.
C1 noun /ˌɪntɪˈmeɪʃən/

intimation

Meaning
A subtle or indirect hint or suggestion.
Example
She gave no intimation of her plans.
C2 noun /ɪnˈtɛnʃən/

intension

Meaning
The internal content of a concept; the set of attributes implied by a word or phrase.
Example
The intension of the word 'dog' includes being a mammal and domesticated.
C2 noun /ˈɪntərˌloʊpər/

interloper

Meaning
A person who becomes involved in a situation or place where they are not wanted.
Example
He felt like an interloper at the private family gathering.
B2 adjective /ɪsˈlɑːmɪk/

islamic

Meaning
relating to Islam, its followers, or its teachings
Example
The city has many Islamic cultural centers.
A2 noun /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/

invitation

Meaning
a written or spoken request to attend an event or to participate in something
Example
She sent me an invitation to her wedding.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈkɒrɪdʒəbəl/

incorrigible

Meaning
incapable of being corrected, improved, or reformed
Example
He is an incorrigible optimist who never loses hope.
C2 verb /ˌɪntərˈlɒk/

interlock

Meaning
to fit or connect together securely so that two or more things are joined
Example
The gears interlock to ensure smooth movement of the machine.
C1 verb /ɪnˈskraɪb/

inscribe

Meaning
to write or carve words or symbols on a surface
Example
They inscribed her name on the trophy.
C2 adjective /ˌɪn.trəˈsɛl.jʊ.lər/

intracellular

Meaning
Located or occurring within a cell.
Example
The drug works by targeting intracellular bacteria.
B1 verb /ɪnˈfɔ:m/

inform

Meaning
to tell someone about something; to give information
Example
Please inform me when you arrive at the airport.
C1 adjective /ɪˈnɜːrt/

inert

Meaning
lacking the ability or strength to move or act; chemically inactive
Example
The patient remained inert on the bed.
C2 noun /ˈɪnroʊd/

inroad

Meaning
An advance or significant progress, often at the expense of something else.
Example
The company made significant inroads into the mobile market.
C2 adjective /ɪˈnɪkwɪtəs/

iniquitous

Meaning
grossly unfair and morally wrong
Example
Slavery was one of the most iniquitous practices in history.
C1 verb /ɪmˈpɛl/

impel

Meaning
to drive, force, or urge someone to do something
Example
Her curiosity impelled her to open the mysterious box.
B2 verb /ɪnˈheɪl/

inhale

Meaning
to breathe in; to draw air into the lungs
Example
Take a deep breath and inhale slowly.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈfɜːm/

infirm

Meaning
Weak, especially due to old age or illness.
Example
The infirm old man needed assistance to walk.
C1 verb /ˈɪnsjuleɪt/

insulate

Meaning
To protect something by covering it, especially to prevent heat, sound, or electricity from escaping or entering.
Example
The house was insulated to reduce heating costs.
B1 noun /ˈɪnpʊt/

input

Meaning
information, advice, or data that is put into a system, device, or process
Example
The manager asked for everyone's input on the new project.
B1 noun /ɪnˈstrʌktər/

instructor

Meaning
A person who teaches a subject or skill.
Example
The driving instructor was very patient with new learners.
C2 noun /ˌɪnvəˈlɪdɪti/

invalidity

Meaning
the state of being invalid, legally void, or lacking force or validity
Example
The court ruled that the contract suffered from invalidity.
C1 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈspɛktɪv/

Irrespective

Meaning
without taking something into account; regardless of
Example
All students will be treated equally, irrespective of their background.
C2 adjective /ˌɪm.pəˈfɛk.tə.bəl/

imperfectible

Meaning
Incapable of being made perfect or complete.
Example
Some human qualities are considered imperfectible.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnədˈvɜːrtənt/

inadvertent

Meaning
Not resulting from or achieved through deliberate planning; unintentional.
Example
Her inadvertent mistake caused a delay in the project.
B1 noun ɪmˈpruːv.mənts

improvements

Meaning
The action of making or becoming better; an instance of something becoming or being made better.
Example
Continuous improvements increase productivity.
B2 noun ˌɪn.fləˈmeɪ.ʃən

inflammation

Meaning
A localized physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, hot, and often painful.
Example
Chronic inflammation can lead to severe diseases.
C1 adjective ˌɪm.pəˈsɛp.tɪ.bəl

imperceptible

Meaning
So subtle or gradual that it is difficult to notice or perceive
Example
The changes in his behavior were imperceptible at first.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈfrændʒɪbəl/

irrefrangible

Meaning
Not to be broken, violated, or infringed
Example
The constitution guarantees certain irrefrangible rights to every citizen.
C1 noun/verb /ˈɪnsɛns/

incense

Meaning
a substance burned for its sweet smell (noun); to make very angry (verb)
Example
The smell of incense filled the temple, but his rude words incensed her.
C1 adjective /ˌɪməˈtɪəriəl/

immaterial

Meaning
Not important or relevant; lacking physical substance.
Example
The judge ruled that the argument was immaterial to the case.
C1 adjective /ˌɪntərˈtʃeɪndʒəbl/

interchangeable

Meaning
able to be exchanged with each other without difference or loss of function
Example
These machine parts are interchangeable, so they can be replaced easily.
C1 noun /ˌɪnækˈtɪvɪti/

inactivity

Meaning
the state of not being active physically or mentally; lack of action
Example
Prolonged inactivity can negatively affect both physical and mental health.
B2 adjective /ɪnˈfɔːrmətɪv/

Informative

Meaning
giving or providing useful information; educational; instructive
Example
The documentary was very informative and educational.
C1 noun /ˌɪn.dɪˈsɪʒ.ən/

Indecision

Meaning
the inability to make decisions quickly; uncertainty about what to do
Example
Her indecision about which job offer to accept caused her to miss both opportunities.
C2 verb /ɪmˈpeɪl/

impale

Meaning
to pierce or fix something with a sharp object
Example
The knight was impaled by the enemy’s spear.
C1 noun /ɪmˌpɜː.sənˈeɪ.ʃən/

impersonation

Meaning
The action of pretending to be another person for the purpose of entertainment or fraud.
Example
Online impersonation is a serious cybercrime.
A2 noun, verb /ˈɪʃuː/

issue

Meaning
A problem, topic, or the act of supplying or distributing something.
Example
The magazine will issue a new edition next week.
A1 noun /ˈɪntənet/

internet

Meaning
A global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities.
Example
The internet has revolutionized the way we access information.
B1 adverb /ˈɪnstəntli/

instantly

Meaning
immediately, without any delay
Example
He replied instantly to the message.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnˌkɒnsɪˈkwɛnʃəl/

inconsequential

Meaning
Not important or significant; too small to matter.
Example
The mistake was minor and inconsequential.
C2 noun /ˈɪd.i.ə.si/

Idiocy

Meaning
extremely stupid behavior or actions; foolishness
Example
The decision to ignore safety protocols was pure idiocy that endangered everyone.
C2 noun /ɪˌluːmɪˈnɑːti/

illuminati

Meaning
a group of people claiming to have special enlightenment or secret knowledge, often linked to conspiracies
Example
Many conspiracy theories involve the Illuminati as a secret world-controlling group.
C2 adjective /ˈɪndələnt/

indolent

Meaning
Wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy.
Example
The indolent cat slept in the sun all afternoon.
C2 noun /ɪnˈtræn.sɪ.dʒəns/

intransigence

Meaning
Refusal to change one's views or to agree about something.
Example
The negotiations failed due to the intransigence of both parties.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈpjʊər/

Impure

Meaning
contaminated; not clean; mixed with foreign substances
Example
The impure water caused health problems in the village.
B2 adjective /ɪnˈfɪə.ri.ər/

inferior

Meaning
Of lower quality, rank, or status.
Example
This material is inferior to the one we used before.
C2 adjective /ɪˈmɒdɪst/

immodest

Meaning
lacking humility or decency; excessively proud or improper
Example
His immodest remarks offended the audience.
C2 adjective /ɪmˌpɜːrˈsweɪdəbl/

impersuadable

Meaning
not able to be convinced or persuaded
Example
She remained impersuadable despite all our arguments.
C1 noun /ˈɪnkjʊˌbeɪtər/

incubator

Meaning
a device or environment that provides suitable conditions for eggs, cells, or infants to develop
Example
The premature baby was placed in an incubator for care.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈpæsəbəl/

impassable

Meaning
Impossible to travel along or over.
Example
The road became impassable after the heavy snowfall.
A2 noun/verb /ˈɪntrəst/ or /ˈɪntəˌrɛst/

interest

Meaning
A feeling of curiosity or concern about something; or money paid for the use of borrowed money.
Example
He showed great interest in learning new languages.
C2 adjective /ɪnhɑːrˈmoʊniəs/

Inharmonious

Meaning
lacking harmony; discordant in sound; not in tune
Example
The inharmonious sounds from the broken piano made everyone cover their ears.
C1 adjective ɪnˈdel.ə.bəl

indelible

Meaning
Making marks that cannot be removed; impossible to forget or remove.
Example
Her speech left an indelible mark on the audience.
C1 noun /ˈɪnlɛt/

inlet

Meaning
A small arm of the sea, a lake, or a river; an opening or passage for entry.
Example
The boat entered a narrow inlet along the coast.
C2 noun /ɪnˌtɛl.ɪˈdʒɛntsi.ə/

intelligentsia

Meaning
The group of people engaged in intellectual and cultural pursuits in a society.
Example
The intelligentsia played a key role in shaping public opinion.
B1 adjective /ˈɪrɪteɪtɪŋ/

irritating

Meaning
causing annoyance, impatience, or mild anger
Example
The constant noise from the street is extremely irritating.
B2 verb /ˌɪntərˈfɪər/

interfere

Meaning
to become involved in something that is not your concern; to hinder or obstruct
Example
Parents should not interfere in their children’s personal choices.
A2 adjective /ɪl/

Ill

Meaning
sick; unwell; in poor health
Example
He felt ill and decided to stay home from work.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈkrɛdjələs/

incredulous

Meaning
unwilling or unable to believe something
Example
He gave her an incredulous look when she claimed she could fly.
B2 noun /ɪnˈkluːʒən/

inclusion

Meaning
the action or state of including or being included within a group or structure
Example
Diversity and inclusion are key values in modern workplaces.
C2 adverb /ˈɪntʃmiːl/

inchmeal

Meaning
Gradually, little by little.
Example
The old castle fell inchmeal into ruin.
B2 adjective /ɪnˈtɛns/

intense

Meaning
Of extreme force, degree, or strength.
Example
She felt intense pain after the accident.