For mastery-level learners — literary vocabulary for narrating a career: professional character, workplace dynamics, and reputation.
Free Work & Careers vocabulary flashcards at the C2 level — all 35 words with definitions and examples. Study them with spaced repetition and use these words precisely, including nuance most learners miss.
Browse the full word list below for free. Sign up to study the set with spaced repetition — Budling schedules reviews so the words you know less well come back sooner.
vocation
a strong sense of being suited to a particular kind of work
drudgery
boring, hard work that has to be done repeatedly
acumen
sharp judgement and skill in a particular practical area
tenure
the length of time a person holds a particular position at work
sinecure
a paid position that requires very little actual work
malaise
a vague, general feeling of discomfort that is hard to explain
complacency
excessive satisfaction with oneself that stops any further effort
gravitas
a serious and dignified manner that earns other people's respect
fiefdom
a department a person controls as if it were their own private territory
doyen
the most senior and respected person in a particular profession
maverick
a person who thinks and works in an independent, unconventional way
malingerer
a person who pretends to be ill in order to avoid work
equanimity
a calm and steady state of mind, especially under pressure
inertia
a strong tendency to stay the same and resist any change
schism
a serious division between people who used to work well together
taskmaster
a person who makes others work very hard, often without much sympathy
workhorse
a person who works steadily and reliably without seeking attention
prodigy
a young person with an exceptional natural talent for something
languish
to remain in an unpleasant, neglected situation for a long time
supersede
to replace something older with something newer and more suitable
rebuff
to firmly and unkindly reject a proposal someone has made
assuage
to make an unpleasant, worried feeling less intense
vindicate
to prove that someone was right after earlier public criticism
extricate
to free yourself from a difficult, awkward situation
broach
to raise a difficult, sensitive subject for the first time
rescind
to officially cancel an agreement that was already made
eschew
to deliberately avoid doing something entirely
perfunctory
done quickly and without any real care, purely as a routine
unassuming
modest and never seeking attention for oneself
affable
friendly, pleasant, and easy to talk to
taciturn
saying very little and reluctant to speak in conversation
obsequious
excessively eager to please and flatter someone important
pernicious
having a harmful effect that develops gradually and is hard to notice
ostensible
appearing to be true, though perhaps not actually the real reason
meteoric
extremely rapid and impressive, especially describing a rise in someone's career