polysyllable
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 noun /ˌpɒl.iˈsɪl.ə.bəl/

polysyllable

Meaning
a word with more than one syllable
Example
The word 'elephant' is a polysyllable because it has three syllables.
C2 adjective /ˈbɪz.ən.taɪn/ or /ˈbaɪ.zənˌtiːn/

byzantine

Meaning
Extremely complicated and detailed; relating to the Byzantine Empire or its style.
Example
The new tax regulations are so byzantine that few understand them.
C2 verb /diːˈpɒpjʊˌleɪt/

depopulate

Meaning
To reduce the number of people living in a place.
Example
The war threatened to depopulate the once-thriving town.
C2 noun /meɪs/

Mase

Meaning
spice obtained from the reddish seed covering of the nutmeg seed
Example
A pinch of mace adds warmth to the dessert.
C2 verb /dɪˈstreɪn/

distrain

Meaning
to seize someone's property in order to obtain payment of rent or other money owed
Example
The landlord distrained the tenant's furniture for unpaid rent.
C2 noun /ˈhɪlək/

hillock

Meaning
A small hill or mound.
Example
The children climbed up the grassy hillock to watch the sunset.
C2 noun /ˈdʒæɡ.ər.i/

Jaggary

Meaning
unrefined sugar made from sugarcane or palm sap; a traditional sweetener
Example
My grandmother uses jaggery instead of white sugar in her recipes.
C2 noun /ˈpɒlɪɡæmɪst/

polygamist

Meaning
a person who has more than one spouse at the same time
Example
The polygamist had three wives living in different houses.
C2 verb /dʒaɪb/

jibe

Meaning
to make an insulting remark; to be in agreement or harmony with
Example
His actions did not jibe with his words.
C2 noun /ˈsweɪʒən/

suasion

Meaning
the act of persuading or influencing someone
Example
The leader used gentle suasion to win support for the plan.
C2 verb /kənˈtjuːz/

contuse

Meaning
to bruise by striking or hitting
Example
He contused his arm when he fell off the bike.
C2 adjective /ˈpɔːrtli/

portly

Meaning
Having a stout or somewhat fat body, often implying dignity or authority.
Example
The portly man entered the room with confidence.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈkɒntɪnənt/

incontinent

Meaning
lacking control over urination or defecation; lacking self-restraint
Example
The patient was incontinent after surgery.
C2 verb /θrɛʃ/

thresh

Meaning
to separate grain from the plant by beating or by using a machine
Example
Farmers used machines to thresh the wheat after harvest.
C2 noun /əˈbaɪdəns/

abidance

Meaning
the act of following, accepting, or complying with something
Example
Her abidance by the rules impressed the committee.
C2 verb /ˈæktʃueɪt/

actuate

Meaning
to put into action or motion; to motivate or activate
Example
The engineer actuated the machine with a simple switch.
C2 noun /ˈplɛbɪsaɪt/

plebiscite

Meaning
a direct vote by the electorate on an important public question
Example
The government held a plebiscite to decide on the new constitution.
C2 adjective /ˈsɜː.kəm.spekt/

circumspect

Meaning
Wary and unwilling to take risks; careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences.
Example
Investors must be circumspect before making decisions.
C2 noun /nɛˈkroʊsɪs/

necrosis

Meaning
the death of body tissue due to disease, injury, or lack of blood supply
Example
The doctor explained that the patient’s wound showed signs of necrosis.
C2 adjective /ˌmækɪəˈvɛliən/

machiavellian

Meaning
cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics or in advancing one's career
Example
The politician was known for his Machiavellian tactics.
C2 verb /ˈædjʊˌleɪt/

adulate

Meaning
to praise or flatter excessively
Example
The fans adulated the actor after his performance.
C2 noun /ˈflæɡ ˌɒfɪsər/

flag-officer

Meaning
a senior naval officer entitled to fly a flag to mark the command
Example
The flag-officer reviewed the fleet before the ceremony.
C2 adjective /ænˈdrɒdʒɪnəs/

androgynous

Meaning
Having both male and female characteristics; not clearly masculine or feminine.
Example
The fashion show featured models with an androgynous look.
C2 noun /ˈdɛθsˌhɛd/

deaths-head

Meaning
A representation of a human skull, often used as a symbol of death.
Example
The pirate flag was marked with a grim deaths-head.
C2 verb /dɪˈkæpɪteɪt/

decapitate

Meaning
To cut off the head of a person or animal.
Example
The ancient executioner decapitated the criminal.
C2 adjective /fjuːˈnɪəriəl/

funereal

Meaning
having the mournful, somber character of a funeral
Example
The room was filled with a funereal silence after the announcement.
C2 noun, verb /ˈmaɪər/

mire

Meaning
A stretch of swampy or boggy ground; as a verb, to entangle or involve someone in a difficult situation.
Example
The car was stuck in the mire after the heavy rain.
C2 adjective /ˈnjuː.ɡə.tɔːr.i/

nugatory

Meaning
Of little or no value; worthless or insignificant.
Example
His efforts were nugatory and did not change the outcome.
C2 noun /ˌdɪləˈtænt/

dilettante

Meaning
A person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, especially in a superficial way.
Example
He was dismissed as a dilettante in the art world because he lacked formal training.
C2 adjective /ˌsuːpərˈnuːmərɛri/

supernumerary

Meaning
Exceeding the usual number; extra or unnecessary.
Example
The play included several supernumerary actors to fill the background scenes.
C2 verb /əˈpraɪz/

apprise

Meaning
to inform or notify someone
Example
The manager will apprise the staff of the new policies.
C2 noun /əˈkʌmpənɪst/

accompanist

Meaning
A person who plays a musical instrument to support a singer or another musician.
Example
The pianist served as the accompanist for the singer during the concert.
C2 adjective /kənˈdʌktəbl̩/

conductible

Meaning
capable of being conducted, especially electricity or heat
Example
Copper is highly conductible to electricity.
C2 adjective /ˈlɔːdəˌtɔːri/

laudatory

Meaning
Expressing praise or admiration.
Example
She wrote a laudatory review of the new book.
C2 noun /mjuːˈnɪfəsəns/

munificence

Meaning
great generosity or lavish giving
Example
The hospital was built thanks to the munificence of a wealthy donor.
C2 noun /ˌvɪvɪˈsɛkʃən/

vivisection

Meaning
the practice of performing operations on live animals for scientific research
Example
Vivisection has long been a controversial topic among scientists and animal rights activists.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈtriːvəbl/

irretrievable

Meaning
impossible to recover or regain
Example
The documents were lost in an irretrievable way after the fire.
C2 noun /ˈbʊljən/

bullion

Meaning
Gold or silver in bulk before being coined or made into jewelry.
Example
The bank stores gold bullion in its vaults.
C2 noun /ˈɡʌp.i fɪʃ/

Guppy fish

Meaning
a small colorful freshwater fish popular in aquariums, known for its vibrant colors and easy breeding
Example
The guppy fish is perfect for beginners who want to start an aquarium.
C2 verb /ˈpɛtɪˌfɒɡ/

pettifog

Meaning
to argue or quibble over trivial matters; to engage in petty, dishonest practices
Example
The lawyer was accused of trying to pettifog instead of addressing the real issue.
C2 noun /ˈkʌvən/

coven

Meaning
a group or gathering of witches
Example
The witches met secretly in a coven in the forest.
C2 verb /kəˈmɪŋɡəl/

commingle

Meaning
To mix or blend different things together.
Example
The charity does not commingle donations with operational funds.
C2 noun /bɜːrˈlɛsk/

burlesque

Meaning
A humorous and exaggerated imitation of a serious work; a type of theatrical entertainment involving comedy and parody.
Example
The play was a clever burlesque of traditional opera.
C2 verb /ˈstræɡəl/

straggle

Meaning
To move or spread in an irregular, scattered, or untidy way.
Example
The children began to straggle behind on the long hike.
C2 noun /ˈkloʊtʃər/

cloture

Meaning
a procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote.
Example
The Senate invoked cloture to end the lengthy debate.
C2 noun /ˈkɔːrmərənt/

cormorant

Meaning
a large black sea bird that catches fish by diving
Example
The cormorant perched on the rock, drying its wings after a dive.
C2 adjective /ˈtɔːrpɪd/

torpid

Meaning
Mentally or physically inactive; sluggish or lethargic.
Example
After the long hike, he felt torpid and unmotivated.
C2 adjective /pəˈlædʒ.ɪk/

pelagic

Meaning
Relating to the open sea or ocean water column, away from the shore.
Example
Pelagic fish like tuna are found far from the coast.
C2 noun /slaɪt/

sleight

Meaning
Skill or dexterity, especially in performing tricks.
Example
The magician amazed the crowd with his sleight of hand.
C2 adjective ɪnˈdɒm.ɪ.tə.bəl

indomitable

Meaning
Impossible to subdue or defeat.
Example
Her indomitable spirit helped her overcome adversity.
C2 adjective /tɛnˈdɛnʃəs/

tendentious

Meaning
Expressing or promoting a particular cause or point of view, often biased.
Example
The article was criticized for its tendentious tone.
C2 adjective /ˈvɜːrdənt/

verdant

Meaning
Green with grass or other rich vegetation; lush and fertile.
Example
The hills looked verdant after the monsoon rains.
C2 noun/verb /ˈsʌkər/

succor

Meaning
Assistance and support in times of hardship or distress.
Example
The charity provided succor to the flood victims.
C2 adjective /pərˈfɜrvɪd/

perfervid

Meaning
intensely passionate or fervent
Example
She gave a perfervid speech in defense of human rights.
C2 verb /rɛtʃ/

retch

Meaning
to make the sound and movement of vomiting without bringing anything up
Example
The smell of spoiled food made him retch violently.
C2 verb /ˈmɪlɪˌteɪt/

militate

Meaning
to have a strong effect against something; to work as a powerful factor in preventing or influencing an outcome
Example
His lack of experience will militate against his promotion.
C2 noun /koʊˈædʒətər/

coadjutor

Meaning
a person who helps or assists another, especially in a religious or official capacity
Example
The bishop appointed a coadjutor to assist him with his duties.
C2 verb /ʌnˈkloʊð/

unclothe

Meaning
to remove clothing from someone or something
Example
The nurse helped unclothe the patient for the examination.
C2 adjective /ˈkælkjʊləbl/

calculable

Meaning
Capable of being calculated, estimated, or measured.
Example
The risk involved in the project is calculable.
C2 adjective /ˈmæk.jʊˌleɪ.tɪd/

maculated

Meaning
Spotted or stained; marked with blemishes.
Example
The maculated surface of the old mirror gave it a unique charm.
C2 verb /bɪˈdɛk/

bedeck

Meaning
to decorate or adorn something in a showy way
Example
The hall was bedecked with flowers for the wedding.
C2 noun /ˈpɑːr.kə.tri/

parquetry

Meaning
The art or technique of laying parquet floors.
Example
The craftsman specialized in parquetry for luxury homes.
C2 adjective /ˈfraʊzi/

frowzy

Meaning
Unkempt, messy, or having a musty, unpleasant smell.
Example
He entered the room with a frowzy appearance after sleeping on the couch.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪtərəl/

littoral

Meaning
Related to or situated on the shore of the sea or a lake.
Example
The littoral zone is home to many unique marine species.
C2 noun /ˈpɛdənt/

pedant

Meaning
A person who is excessively concerned with minor details or rules, often in a showy way.
Example
The professor was criticized as a pedant who focused too much on trivial details.
C2 adjective /ˌsæpəˈneɪʃəs/

saponaceous

Meaning
Soapy or having the qualities of soap.
Example
The plant has saponaceous leaves that produce foam when rubbed in water.
C2 noun /əˈrɪə/

arrear

Meaning
A debt or payment that is overdue and unpaid.
Example
He was sued for an arrear of rent.
C2 adjective /dɪˈkɔːrəs/

decourous

Meaning
characterized by propriety, good taste, and proper manners
Example
She maintained a decourous silence during the ceremony.
C2 noun /ˈpʌndʒənsi/

pungency

Meaning
The quality of having a strong, sharp taste or smell.
Example
The pungency of garlic filled the kitchen.
C2 verb /əˈkɒst/

accost

Meaning
to approach and speak to someone boldly or aggressively
Example
The reporter was accosted by protesters outside the courthouse.
C2 adjective /dɪˈtɜːrmɪnət/

determinate

Meaning
having exact and definite limits or form
Example
The contract is for a determinate period of two years.
C2 adjective /daɪˈdæktɪk/

didactic

Meaning
Intended to teach, often with a moral lesson.
Example
The novel is not just entertaining but also didactic in nature.
C2 noun /rɪˈdʒɔɪndər/

rejoinder

Meaning
a quick or witty reply; a response to a remark or argument
Example
His sharp rejoinder silenced the crowd.
C2 phrase ˌdʒʊə.rɪs.pruːˈden.ʃəl ˈbentʃ.mɑːk

jurisprudential benchmark

Meaning
A legal standard or precedent that serves as a reference point for future legal decisions.
Example
The decision set a jurisprudential benchmark.
C2 adjective /spɪk/

Spick

Meaning
extremely clean and neat; immaculate
Example
The house was spick and span after the cleaning.
C2 noun /ˈlɪθəˌtaɪp/

lithotype

Meaning
a printing surface or type made for lithography
Example
The printer used a lithotype to produce multiple copies of the design.
C2 adjective /ˈroʊziət/

roseate

Meaning
Having a pink color; optimistic or idealistic.
Example
She looked at the future with roseate optimism.
C2 adjective /əˈbɔːrtɪv/

abortive

Meaning
Failing to produce the intended result; unsuccessful.
Example
Their abortive attempt to climb the mountain ended in retreat.
C2 noun /fluːk/

fluke

Meaning
A stroke of luck; an unexpected piece of good fortune.
Example
Winning the lottery was a complete fluke.
C2 noun /pæˈstiːʃ/

pastiche

Meaning
a work of art, literature, or music that imitates the style of another artist, period, or genre
Example
The film was a clever pastiche of 1950s detective movies.
C2 noun /ˈoʊpiət/

opiate

Meaning
a drug containing opium or its derivatives, used to relieve pain or cause sleep
Example
The doctor prescribed an opiate to relieve the patient's pain.
C2 noun /fiːf/

fief

Meaning
an estate of land held under the feudal system; a domain or area of control
Example
The knight was granted a fief by the lord for his service.
C2 noun /ˌniːoʊˈpeɪɡənɪzəm/

neopaganism

Meaning
Modern religious movements influenced by or claiming to be derived from the various historical pagan beliefs of pre-modern Europe.
Example
Neopaganism has gained popularity as people seek spiritual alternatives to mainstream religions.
C2 verb /əˈbeɪs/

abase

Meaning
to belittle or degrade someone
Example
He refused to abase himself before the king.
C2 noun /ˈklævɪkəl/

clavicle

Meaning
the collarbone, a long bone that serves as a strut between the shoulder blade and the sternum
Example
He fractured his clavicle in the accident.
C2 noun /əˈspær.ə.ɡəs biːn/

Asparagus bean

Meaning
a long, thin green vegetable pod that grows on vines; also known as yard-long bean
Example
The asparagus bean grows up to three feet long and is commonly used in Asian cooking.
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 noun /fiːˈkʌndɪti/

fecundity

Meaning
the ability to produce an abundance of offspring or new growth; fertility
Example
The fecundity of the river delta supports diverse wildlife.
C2 verb /pərˈlɔɪn/

purloin

Meaning
to steal something, often in a sneaky or dishonest way
Example
He tried to purloin a book from the library without being noticed.
C2 adjective /əˈsɪdjʊləs/

acidulous

Meaning
slightly sour or sharp in taste or manner
Example
The critic wrote an acidulous review of the movie.
C2 noun ˌkɒdʒɪˈteɪʃən

cogitation

Meaning
The action of thinking deeply about something; contemplation
Example
After much cogitation, he made the final decision.
C2 noun /məˈnɪʃən/

monition

Meaning
A warning or caution, often of a religious or moral nature.
Example
The priest gave a monition against dishonesty.
C2 noun /ˈkɒkskoʊm/

Cockscomb

Meaning
a tropical plant with bright, velvety flowers that resemble a rooster's comb
Example
The bright red cockscomb flowers added vibrant color to the garden bed.
C2 verb /ˈprɛsɪdʒ/

presage

Meaning
to be a sign or warning that something will happen; to foreshadow
Example
Dark clouds presage a storm.
C2 verb /fɔɪst/

foist

Meaning
To impose something unwelcome or unnecessary on someone.
Example
He tried to foist his old books onto his friends.
C2 noun /ɡiː/

Ghee

Meaning
clarified butter used in South Asian cooking
Example
She used ghee instead of butter for cooking the rice.
C2 adjective /ˌæf.əˈrɪs.tɪk/

aphoristic

Meaning
expressed in the style of a short, witty saying
Example
Her writing style is concise and aphoristic.
C2 verb /ɪnˈsteɪt/

instate

Meaning
To set up in position, office, or authority.
Example
The board decided to instate her as the new director.
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.
C2 noun /dʒɔːnt/

jaunt

Meaning
A short journey or excursion, usually taken for pleasure.
Example
They went on a weekend jaunt to the countryside.
C2 verb /ɡɜːrd/

gird

Meaning
to encircle with a belt or band; to prepare for action
Example
The knight girded his sword before battle.
C2 noun /fləˈtɪlə/

flotilla

Meaning
A small fleet of ships or boats operating together.
Example
A flotilla of fishing boats left the harbor at dawn.
C2 noun /ɪˌlɛkˈtrɑː.lə.sɪs/

electrolysis

Meaning
A chemical decomposition produced by passing an electric current through a liquid or solution.
Example
Electrolysis is used to separate hydrogen from water.
C2 verb /ˈɔːltərˌkeɪt/

altercate

Meaning
to argue or dispute angrily or noisily
Example
The neighbors began to altercate over the boundary wall.
C2 adjective /ɛɡˈzɪɡjuəs/

exiguous

Meaning
small in amount; scanty or inadequate
Example
They survived on exiguous rations during the journey.
C2 verb /ˈhɑːrpɪŋ/

harping

Meaning
continuously talking or complaining about something in a tiresome way
Example
She kept harping on about the mistakes I made.
C2 noun (compound/erroneous entry) /ɪnˈɛksərəbl ɑːrmi/

inexorableinexorablearmy

Meaning
This appears to be a corrupted or concatenated form; interpreted as 'inexorable army' — an unstoppable or relentless force.
Example
The rebels feared the inexorable army approaching their stronghold.
C2 noun /ˈmɪsəleɪni/

miscellany

Meaning
A collection or mixture of various things.
Example
The book is a miscellany of essays and poems.
C2 noun /ˌdɪʃəˈbiːl/

dishabille

Meaning
The state of being only partly or loosely dressed; casual or careless attire.
Example
She answered the door in a state of dishabille, wearing just a robe.
C2 noun ˌmɛtəkɒɡˈnɪʃən

metacognition

Meaning
Awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes
Example
Metacognition enhances problem-solving abilities.
C2 noun /ˈhʌk.stər/

huckster

Meaning
A person who sells small items aggressively, often in a showy or dishonest way.
Example
The huckster loudly promoted his goods in the busy marketplace.
C2 noun /əˈrɔɪ.oʊ/

arroyo

Meaning
A dry creek or stream bed that temporarily fills with water after heavy rain.
Example
After the storm, the arroyo quickly filled with rushing water.
C2 adjective /ˌækrəˈmætɪk/

achromatic

Meaning
without color; free from color
Example
The designer chose an achromatic palette of black, white, and gray.
C2 adjective /kənˈkɒmɪtənt/

concomitant

Meaning
Naturally accompanying or associated with something.
Example
Increased stress is often concomitant with long working hours.
C2 noun /wɛlp/

whelp

Meaning
a young offspring of a dog or other carnivorous mammal; sometimes used to mean an impudent young person
Example
The farmer found a wolf whelp hiding near the barn.
C2 noun /weɪf/

Waif

Meaning
a homeless or abandoned child; a stray person or animal
Example
The charity helps waifs and strays find homes and families.
C2 noun /ˈɔːldərmən/

alderman

Meaning
An elected member of a municipal council in certain cities and towns.
Example
The alderman proposed a new plan for community parks.
C2 noun /ˌser.əˈbreɪ.ʃən/

cerebration

Meaning
the process of thinking or using the brain actively
Example
The lecture sparked intense cerebration among the students.
C2 noun /ˈdʒʊntə/

junta

Meaning
A military or political group that rules a country after taking power by force.
Example
The junta seized power after the coup.
C2 adjective /kwaɪˈesnt/

Quiescent

Meaning
quiet; peaceful; inactive; dormant; at rest
Example
The volcano has been quiescent for over a century.
C2 adjective /ˈɡluː.tɪ.nəs/

glutinous

Meaning
Having a sticky or glue-like texture.
Example
The glutinous rice stuck together in the pot.