C2 CEFR Vocabulary Word List
Here are the words for C2 CEFR level, suitable for students studying C2 Proficiency and exams of that type. This list builds on the words that are in the C1 level word list.
A Note on C2 Vocabulary
Please be aware that this list is not, and cannot be, a complete list of all C2-level words.
- The Challenge of C2: Proficiency at the C2 level mirrors the vast and nuanced vocabulary of an educated native speaker. A truly comprehensive list would be the size of an entire dictionary and would be impractical as a study tool.
- An Advisory List: This list should be considered an advisory guide, not an exhaustive checklist. It is a curated selection of high-value words that exemplify the kind of vocabulary C2 learners should aim to understand and use.
- The Goal: The purpose of this list is to serve as a starting point for exploring the precision and sophistication of C2 language. Focus on understanding the context, register, and connotations of these words, rather than simply memorising definitions.
|
CEFR Word List Pages: A1 Level Word List A2 Level Word List B1 Level Word List B2 Level Word List C1 Level Word List You are on the C2 Level Word List Back to the Reference main page |
| A | |
|
abate aberration abhor abiding absolve abstain abstentions abstruse accentuate acclaimed accede accolade accredit accreditation accrue acerbic acquiescence acquiesce acquit acrimonious acrimony acuity adamant adherence admittance admonish adroit afflatus affinity alacrity albeit alleviate |
allude aloof altruistic amenable ambivalent ambrosial ameliorate anachronistic analogous animosity annum anomaly antagonize antipathy antiquated antiquity antithesis apathetic apostle appease apprehensive arduous arguably ascertain assiduous assuage astute auspicious austere avarice axiomatic |
| B | |
|
backlash bad blood baleful banal bear up belie bellicose belligerent benevolent bequeath bequest |
berate beset besotted betrayal bewitching bilateral billow bite the bullet boisterous bombastic brusque |
| C | |
|
cacophony callous candour capitulate capricious cardinal castigate catastrophe caustic censure chagrin chastise churlish circumspect clandestine clemency clique cloistered coalesce coerce cogent colossal commensurate compatriot complacent complementary compulsion |
conciliatory condone confound conjecture connive conquest consciously consolidation contrition conundrum convene convergence convoluted copious coquettish cordial corroborate covet craven credulous culminate culpable culprit cunning cupidity cursory |
| D | |
|
daft daunting dawdle dearth debilitate debunk deceitful decrepit decorous defamation deference definitive deflate defunct dehort deity deleterious deliberation delineate deplorable deplore derelict deride despondent destitute detachment detestable detrimental deviation devious devoid dexterous diaphanous diatribe |
didactic diffident dilatory diligently dingy discern disciple discordant discrepancy disdain disaffection dishevelled disillusionment disinterested disjointed dismay disparage dispassionate dispense disregard disseminate dissertation dissolution dissonance dogged dogmatic domicile dormant drawback dubious duplicity dwindle dynasty |
| E | |
|
ebullient eccentric eclectic efficacious effusive egregious elated elicit eloquent elucidate elusive emaciated embellish embroil emulate endemic enervate engender enigma enigmatic enmity enthrall enticing ephemeral epitome epitomise |
epoch equanimity equivocal erotic err erstwhile erudite eschew escort esoteric esteem euphemism evanescent exacerbate exacting exalt excoriate excruciating execrable exemplify exonerate exquisite expedite extol extraneous exuberant |
| F | |
|
fabricate facetious fallacious farcical fastidious fawn over feisty ferocious ferret out fervent fervid fickle flagrant flaunt fleeting flimsy |
foment forbearance foresee forestall forlorn formidable fortuitous fraught fraudulent frenetic frenzy fretful frivolous frugal furtive futile |
| G | |
|
galvanize garish garner garrulous gauche genial genuflect germane |
gingerly glib gratuitous gravitas gregarious gruelling gullible |
| H | |
|
hackneyed hailed haphazard harangue harbinger harness hasten hedonistic |
heinous henceforth heretical histrionic homogeneous hyperbole hypocrisy hypothetical |
| I | |
|
iconoclast idiosyncratic idyllic ignominious ignorant ill-advised illicit immeasurably immaculate impasse impassive immortal immutable impartial impeccable impede imperative imperceptibly imperialism imperil imperious impertinent imperturbable impervious impetuous implausible impracticable impregnable impromptu inadequacies inadvertent inane inaugurate incendiary incessant incisive incite inclement inclination inclusive inconceivable incomprehensible incongruous incontrovertible incorrigible incredulous indefatigable indelible |
indemnify indifference indifferent indignant indolent indomitable induction indulgent industrious ineffable inept inexhaustible inexorable infallible inflammatory ingenuity ingenious ingenuous ingrained inhospitable inimical iniquitous innocuous innumerable insatiable inscrutable insidious insipid insolent insoluble instigate insurmountable inter alia internecine intransigent intrepid intrinsic intrusive intuition inundate invasive invective irascible irk irreproachable irreverent itinerant |
| J | |
|
jaded jeopardise jocular |
judicious juxtapose |
| K | |
|
kindle |
|
| L | |
|
lackadaisical lacklustre laconic lambaste lament languid latent laud laudable leery of lenient lethargic level-headed |
levity levy liability licentious liquidate liquidation loquacious lucid ludicrous lugubrious lukewarm luminous luxuriant |
| M | |
|
madcap magnanimous malevolent malleable malodorous maudlin meagre menacing meticulous misanthrope mischievous mismanagement |
mitigate mollify moniker morose mortal mortifying muffle multitude mundane mutable myopic myriad |
| N | |
|
nag naive nascent nebulous nefarious nemesis |
neophyte nonchalant nostalgia noxious nuance |
| O | |
|
obdurate obfuscate obligatory obliterate obscure obsequious observance obsolete obstinate obtuse obviate ominous |
omission onerous onset opaque opportunistic opulent ordinance ornate ostensible ostentatious outweighs overweening |
| P | |
|
pacify painstaking palatable palatial palliate palpable pamper panacea panegyric paradigm paragon paramount parochial parsimonious partisan patently pathos paucity pave the way pedantic peevish penchant pending penitent pensive perennial perfidious perfunctory perilous permeate pernicious perpetrator perpetual persecute perturbed pervasive pervert pessimistic petulant philanthropic phlegmatic piety pinnacle pioneering pithy pious placate placid |
plasticity platitude plausible plight poignant pompous ponder ponderous posthumous precarious precipitate preclude precocious predilection predominance preeminent preposterous prerequisite presumptuous pretentious prevalent prevaricate pristine probity proclivity procrastinate procurement prodigal prodigious profane profess profligate prohibitive proliferation propensity propitious propriety prosaic protagonist protract proven prudent puerile pugnacious punctilious pungent pusillanimous |
| Q | |
|
quaint quandary quell querulous |
quiescent quintessential quixotic |
| R | |
|
rambunctious rancour rapacious rapport ratify raucous rebuke recalcitrant recant reciprocal reclusive reconcile recondite redress refute relegate relinquish reminiscent remiss remit remorse renounce |
replete reprehensible reprieve reprimand reproach repudiate repugnant rescind residual resilient resolute resolutely resplendent reticent retract reverent reverential revoke rigour rigorous ruse rupture |
| S | |
|
safeguard sagacious salubrious salient sanctimonious sanguine sardonic saviour scrupulous scrutinize sedulous sedentary seminal serenity servile shoddy shrouded singular slander snooty sojourn solemn solicitous solitary solitude sombre sophisticated sow specious |
spurious squalid stagnant staunch stately stigma stipulate stoic strident stringent subdue sublime subordinate substantiate subvert subversive succinct sullen superficial superfluous supple surpass surreptitious susceptible sustainability sycophant symbiosis symbolise |
| T | |
|
tacit taciturn tact tangible tawdry tedious temerity tempestuous temporal tenacious tenet terse testament testimonial theologian |
timorous torment torpid torrid totalitarian tractable traitor tranquil transcribe transient treacherous treatise trite truculent turpitude |
| U | |
|
ubiquitous unanimous unctuous unenviable unequivocal unfathomable unpalatable unpretentious unrivalled |
unruly unsullied unthinkable untrodden unwieldy uprising uproarious utmost utopia |
| V | |
|
vacillate vain validate vanquished vapid variegated venerable verdant verification verve |
vestiges veto vexatious vicinity victorious vile vivacious vituperate void voluntarily |
| W | |
|
wager wayward wheedling whimsical withstand |
wizened wretched wrinkle wrongdoing |
| Z | |
|
zeal |
zealous |
