Better word for fun

Funny Words starting with A:

1. Abibliophobia: The fear of running out of reading materials to read.

Sentence: I have so many reading materials in my house, anyone would think that I have Abibliophobia or something!

1. Abozzo: A rough sketch of a drawing or a draft poem.

Sentence: I’m almost finished with my abozzo of the Eiffel tower.

1. Ama: Japanese diver who dives for pearls or food.
2.  

Sentence: Amas have been diving for pearls in the Japan region for many years. 

1. Araba: A carriage or coach used in Turkey.

Sentence: I’m taking the araba through the city today.

1. Argle-bargle:  A lot of commotion or a row happening.

Sentence: What’s all this argie-bargie about?

1. Aye-aye: A type of lemur which can be found in Madagascar. 

Sentence: The aye-ayes are such cute little creatures.

Starting with B:

1. Bamboozled: To trick or confuse someone. 

Sentence: I have been bamboozled again by you. 

1. Blubber: This word has two meanings: It can mean to cry very loudly or could refer to excess body fat.

Blubber Sentence: Please, stop your blubbering.

1. Brouhaha: An event which involves great excitement or loud confusion.

Brouhaha in a sentence: Last night’s event was such a brouhaha and nothing was achieved.

1. Bumbershoot: A Bumbershoot is an old-fashioned word for an umbrella.

Bumbershoot in a sentence: Don’t forget your Bumbershoot, dear.

1. Bumfuzzle: This refers to being confused.

Bumfuzzle in a Sentence: I’m completely bumfuzzled!

Starting with C:

1. Cantankerous: Someone who is very grumpy.

Sentence: Our neighbour is such a Cantankerous.

1. Catawampus: Something positioned diagonally. 

Sentence: To get to the school, you need to walk catawampus across that park over there.

1. Collywobbles (kol-ee-wob-uh lz): This is the feeling when you have a stomach ache or when you feel really nervous or scared.

Collywobbles in a sentence: This place gives me the collywobbles, let’s go!

Hilarious Words Starting with D:

1. Dingy: Something that is dark and dull.

Sentence: This house looks a little dingy to me. 

1. Donnybrook: This refers to a fight, riot or a big brawl.

Donnybrook in a sentence: A Donnybrook broke out last night when the police when to arrest the leader of the operation.

1. Doozy: Something that is really great.

Sentence: I’m having a doozy of a time at this party.

1. Dweeb: This is not a nice word to call someone. It means that you think the person is boring and uninteresting.

Sentence: No-one wants to be a dweeb. 

Funny Words That Start With E: 

1. Egad: Used as an expression of shock or amazement.

Sentence: Egad! I never thought of that! 

1. Eep: Another expression of surprise or fear.

Sentence: Eep! That was scary!

1. Epos: Could refer to an epic poem or something that is epic.  

Sentence: That poem was just epos!

Starting with F:

1. Filibuster: Somone who refusing to give up the floor in a debate to prevent a vote.

Sentence: Someone get that silly filibuster out of here now!

1. Flibbertigibbet (flib·ber·ti·gib·bet): Is a word used to describe someone who talks a lot or is very gossipy.

Flibbertigibbet in a sentence: Imagine sitting on a 12-hour flight with a flibbertigibbet next to you.

1. Flabbergasted: To be surprised or shocked by something.

Sentence: I’m just flabbergasted to hear that.

1. Formication: The feeling that ants are crawling on your skin.

Sentence: Her constant shivering could be described as a formication.

1. Fuddy-duddy: Someone who is a mild-mannered person.

Sentence: He can be such a fuddy-duddy sometimes.

Starting with G:

1. Gaberlunzie: A beggar that walks around town to town.

Sentence: He didn’t really have a profession, some may even call him a gaberlunzie.

1. Gardyloo (gahr-dee-loo): This is a disgusting one. It refers to the cry people use to shout when they would throw their slops or droppings out of the window.

Gardyloo in a Sentence: Watch out, Gardyloo coming!

1. Gazump: This word really has a specific meaning. It means to refuse to sell your house to someone who you previously agreed to sell your house to.

Sentence: I’m so happy my offer to buy the house next door was accepted, but what if I get gazumped?

1. Gobbledygook: Speaking Nonsense.

Sentence: Why do you always have to speak such Gobbledygook?

1. Goombah: An older friend who protects you.

Sentence: Jamie didn’t have many friends, but was glad that his grandpa could be his protector – His Goombah.

1. Gubbins: These are objects of very little value like rubbish or litter.

Gubbins in a sentence: No one’s going to buy your gubbins.

Starting with H:

1. Hairball: A ball of hair that a cat normally chokes out.

Sentence: Cats are cute, but I hate it when they throw-up hairballs everywhere.

1. Hocus-pocus: A trick or magical spell.

Sentence: What’s all this hocus-pocus about?

1. Hokey: Something is is silly or old-fashioned.

Sentence: Now that was hokey old movie to watch!

1. Hootenanny: A country music party or get-together.

Sentence: I’m going to an old-fashioned Hootenanny on Saturday, would you like to come?

1. Heckler: Someone who interrupts a public performance with offensive comments.

Sentence: Those footballers are always having to deal with hecklers at their matches. 

Starting with I:

1. Itty-Bitty: Something that is really small or tiny.

Sentence: That ladybird is so itty-bitty.

1.  Ickle: Something that is small and normally cute

Sentence: Look at that ickle baby dolphin!

1. izzat:  This relates to your personal respect and dignity.

Sentence: I’m afraid of saying that in public, as it’ll be against my izzat. 

Starting with J:

1. Jabberwock: Something that is complete nonsense or gibberish

Sentence: Everything he just said was complete Jabberwock.

1. Jazzetry: The reading of poetry which is accompanied by jazz. 

Sentence: I love reading poems, but I’ve never tried jazzetry.

1. Jink: The sudden change in direction.

Sentence: He jinked out of the way, as the ball came towards him.

Fun Words Starting with K:

1. Kagu: An blueish-greyish type of bird which is now an endangered species. 

Sentence: The rare Kagu can be found in the Pacific island of New Caledonia.

1. Kaka: A breed of parrot that can be found in New-Zealand.

Sentence: The kaka parrots are so cool!

1. Kebbie: A Scottish term relating to a walking stick with a hooked end.

Sentence: Pass the old man his keebie.

1. Kibble: Ground meal or gains used as animal feed. 

Sentence: The chickens love this new brand of kibble.

1. Kraken: A mythical sea creature.

Sentence: Just like the loch ness monster, the Kraken is a myth. 

Starting with L:

1. La-di-da: If you described someone as “La-di-da”, you are suggesting that they are upper-class or behaving unnaturally only to impress other people.

La-di-da in a sentence: She thinks she is all La-di-da, but I know what she’s really like.

1. Lol: Short for laughing out loud. Mosting used on social media and in text messages. 

Sentence: Lol – That’s so funny!

1. Lollygagger: Someone who walks around with no aim or goal.

Sentence: They spent their summer lying about, eating and general lollygagging.

1. Lickety-split: When something moves really fast.

Sentence: He was out of the door lickety-split.

Starting with M:

1. Malarkey: An informal word for talking about meaningless things or nonsense.

Malarkey in a sentence: This is all malarkey, I tell ya!

1. Moist: Something that is slightly wet.

Sentence: This blanket seems a little moist to sit on. 

1. Mollycoddle: To be extra nice to someone or to overprotect them.

Sentence: Sometimes what a child needs is some tough love and not mollycoddling all the time.

Starting with N:

1. Nacket: A light lunch or snack.

Sentence: I’m going to have a quick nacket before dinner. 

1. Namby-pamby: Someone who is weak, with no backbone.

Sentence: I don’t want to be some namby-pamby little girl!

1. Napoo: The end of something. A term mostly used by soldiers.

Sentence: Napooh! That’s the end of that story.

1. Niff: Something that smells bad.

Sentence: It’s got that horrible fishy niff. 

1. Nincompoop: This refers to someone who is not intelligent or a fool.

Nincompoop sentence: You act like such a nincompoop sometimes.

Starting with O:

1. Obi: A sash worn around the waist of a kimono.

Sentence: That pink obi would look nice with this kimono. 

1. Oozy: Something that is slimy and wet

Sentence: That table is dripping in ooze. 

1. Oompah: The sound of deep brass instruments in a band.

Sentence: The oompah music in the background really set the tone.

Starting with P:

1. Panjandrum: Someone who thinks that they are superior to others.

Sentence: She’s no queen, but she saw acts like a panjandrum.

1. Patroon: The captain of a ship

Sentence: Look sharp, the patroon will be here soon.

1. Pettifogger: A pettifogger is someone who deals with small or petty businesses. It can also be to argue over small, unimportant matters.

Pettifogger in a sentence: Why do you look up to such a pettifogger?

Starting with Q:

1. Quab: Something that is incomplete or immature

Sentence: That baby bird is still just a quab.

1. Quark: Scientific term used to describe atoms which are made up of smaller particles. 

Sentence: Understanding quarks of fundamental to the world of physics.

1. Quoz: Something that is strange.

Sentence: That’s so quoz! No-one wants to eat cheese and ice-cream together!

Silly Words Starting with R:

1. Ratoon: This refers to the small root that sprouts from a plant, especially during the springtime.

Sentence: I heard somewhere that ratooned plants grow taller and healthier.

1. Rugrat: Refers to a young child or toddler

Sentences: Those rugrats don’t know what’s coming to them!

1. Ruddy: The term sometimes can be used to suggest good health in a person.

Sentence: That ruddy-faced girl was someone I never seen before. 

Starting with S:

1. Sialoquent: Somone who splits while talking.

Sentence: My old science teacher was Sialoquent. I was always scared to go near him!

1. Skedaddle: To ask some to leave or run away very quickly

Skedaddle in a sentence: This is no place to play your silly games, now skedaddle before I get you!

1. Skullduggery Refers to dodgy dealings and some no good business.

Sentence: We need to put a stop to all this skullduggery around this town.

1. Shenanigan: This is when someone is causing a lot of mischiefs or playing tricks.

Shenanigans in a sentence: What’re all the shenanigans about?

1. Snollygoster (snol·ly·gos·ter): This refers to an unethical politician who is guided by personal advantage.

Snollygoster in a sentence: I don’t want any help from a snollygoster.

1. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious: Something that is really good. And the longest word in the English dictionary.

Sentence: Your cake is simply supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Starting with T:

1. Tatterdemalion:  A poor child wearing rags.

Sentence: I grew up like a tatterdemalion on the streets and now I’m a billionaire!

1. Taradiddle (tar-uh-did-l): this is a small lie or when someone is speaking nonsense.

Taradiddle in a sentence: That’s such taradiddle –  I don’t trust you at all!

1. Thingamajig. A thing for which you have forgotten the name of. 

Sentence: Can you pass that thingamajig over?

1. Troglodyte: Someone that lives in a cave.

Sentence: All my life I’ve been living like Troglodyte cooped up in this house!

Starting with U:

1. Uber: Something that is really great.

Sentence: That’s a really uber-looking coat you got there!

1. Ube: Type of yam which is coloured purple

Sentence: You can make really nice curry using ube.  

1. Upsy-daisy: Lifting up a small child. 

Sentence: Upsy daisy! It’s time for your nap. 

1. Urubu: A blank vulture found in South American.

Sentence: The Urubu is a rare species of bird found in America.

Starting with V:

1. Vamp: To make something brand-new.

Sentence:  Let’s vamp-up your car. 

1. Vexed: Something that is really annoying or frustrating. 

Sentence: This puzzle has really got me vexed. 

1. veepstakes: A competition to find a party-s vice president. 

Sentence: Have you prepared for the upcoming veepstakes?

Starting with W: 

1. Wabbit: A Scottish word referring to feeling exhausted or a little unwell.

Sentence: I’m feeling wabbit today.

1. Widdershins (with -er-shinz): This refers to going in the opposite direction or going down the wrong path.

Widdershins in a sentence: Only widdershins going down that road.

Starting with X:

All words beginning with X are funny ones!

1. Xanthoderm: A person with yellowish skin. 

Sentence:  This make-up makes my skin look a little Xanthoderm. 

1. Xebec: A small sailing-ship with square sails.

Sentence: Let’s take a ride on my new Xebec. 

Starting with Y:

1. Yabby: Refers to any Australian crayfishes used for food. 

Sentence: These yabbies are going to taste delicious. 

1. Yachty: Relates to yachts.

Sentence: I have a yachty-looking T-shirt. 

1. Yaff: A type of bark.

Sentence: The dog yaffed at the mailman.

1. Yawny: When you yawn or when something is boring

Sentence: That movie was a little yawny. 

1. Yahoo:  A rube, a country bumpkin.

Sentence: What’s that yahoo doing here!

1. Yerk: Pull or push something with a sudden movement.

Sentence; She yerked at the rope, as they tried to pull the bucket up from the well.

1. yips: When a golfer misses an easy putt due to nervousness. 

Sentence: Looks like he has the yips today. 

Funniest Words starting with Z:

1. Zaftig: Having a full-rounded figure.

Sentence:  Her zaftig figure was admired by all. 

1. Zappy: Something that is lively and energetic.

Sentence: She looks very zappy today. 

1. Zazzy:  Something that is shiny and flashy

Sentence: Jenny brought herself a new zazzy handbag to match her shoes.

1. Zeze: A string instrument from South Africa. 

Sentence: The sound of the zeze is unique in South Africa.

1. Zizz: To take a short nap or sleep.

Sentence: James likes to take a 2-hour zizz every afternoon at 2 pm.

1. Zoanthropy (zoh-an-thruh-pee): This is when someone believes that they are an animal.

Zoanthropy in a sentence:  I think she suffers from a mild case of Zoanthropy.

20 Better Words for Fun to use as a writing reference and for class discussions.

Ideal to use when building vocabulary in the classroom. Students refer to the list of words when writing and choosing alternative words for ‘fun’.

Print and display the poster and word cards. Encourage students to refer to the list of words when they want to use the word  ‘fun’.

The 20 better words for ‘fun’ include:

agreeable, amazing, amusing, awesome, delightful, enjoyable, entertaining, excellent, exciting, fantastic, festive, great, interesting, joyful, lively, pleasant, pleasing, satisfying, terrific, thrilling

These are the words that I find the most fun to use, whether it be in speaking or writing, and by sprinkling a few of them into your daily vocabulary, you will almost certainly add humor to your life.

It is not an exhaustive list, nor is the definition of “fun” based on anything other than my own amusement, but I hope you will enjoy it nonetheless.

1. Howdy

Howdy is an informal greeting that is generally associated with Texas and other southwestern states. This particularly fun word can be used to spice up greetings with close friends and acquaintances.

“Howdy, partner. How about you and I take a trip to the rodeo this afternoon.”

2. Palsy-Walsy

Palsy-walsy is an adjective that describes someone or something that is very friendly or intimate. Believe it or not, this phrase is almost 100 years old; the first recorded usage was in the 1930s.

“I’m palsy-walsy with all my coworkers. We get dinner outside of the office every Thursday night.”

3. Scrumptious

Scrumptious means tasty or delicious. Your favorite dish or an extremely pleasant meal could be described as “scrumptious.”

“The lobster with the lemon butter was scrumptious.”

4. Lollygag

Lollygag means to loaf about or act lazily. This fun verb is both a treat to use and to do – especially when you have important things to take care of.

“The reports are due today, but we’ll lollygag for a few hours before we get started; I say it’s the perfect work-life balance.”

5. Indubitably

The adjective form of this word, indubitable, means unquestionable or certain. Indubitably is the adverb form, which is more fun to say and can be used to express certainty about an action.

“Aaron Judge will indubitably hit a home run against the Red Sox during the game on Thursday.”

6. Fantastical

Fantastical describes something that is like a fantasy: imaginary. For the most part, people enjoy works of fantasy, and so the term has taken on a positive meaning.

“She had a beautiful, fairy-tale wedding. It was fantastical.”

7. Funky

Funky is an adjective that has two primary definitions:

First, it describes a rhythm or music – think of the funk genre. Second, it is used to characterize a strange, musty smell.

Regardless of how you use it, funky will always be fun to say.

“The mixture of sweat, deodorant, and cologne gave the men’s locker room a funky smell.”

8. Serendipity

Serendipity is a fortunate coincidence or happy accident. If you find yourself in a serendipitous situation, then things are probably going very well.

“Serendipity proved once again to be John’s close friend: he had not studied for the test, but luckily for him, the professor canceled class at the last minute.

9. Bodacious

Bodacious means excellent, admirable, or attractive. You can use this word to depict a number of pleasant objects or experiences.

“I bought the car at a bodacious price – 50% off!”

10. Bonkers

To call something bonkers is to say that it is crazy or unbelievable.

“Are you bonkers? Everyone knows that Interstellar is Matthew McConaughey’s best movie; not How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days.”

11. Rad

Rad, or radical, is another way to call something cool, awesome, or great. While this word is used less today than it was in the 1980s and 1990s, it still retains its fun.

“The new Porsche body style is rad.”

12. Frazzle

A frazzled person is someone who is anxious, tired, worn down, or fatigued. It derives its meaning from frayed rope or fabric. While the definition possesses a negative connotation, the word is still great fun to roll off the tongue.

“Ms. Smith’s energetic third grade class wore her down to a frazzle at the day’s end.”

13. Dazzle

If something dazzles you, you are either overpowered with a brilliant light or deeply impressed. This word is both fun to say and a good addition to your vocabulary.

“The rendition of the Nutcracker was a dazzling performance despite the dancer’s frazzled appearance.”

A dazzling light

14. Quack

Quack can mean the sound a duck makes or a meritless medical doctor. The former definition always makes for good fun to imitate while the latter is used as an insult.

“Doctor Morris prescribed snake oil for your cough? He might be a quack.”

15. Tummy

Tummy is another word for stomach or abdomen. The term is usually reserved for children to use, but it is still fun to say when trying to vary your vocabulary.

“That pasta was yummy in my tummy.”

16. Sizzle

Sizzle is the sound certain objects make when exposed to heat – particularly food. The example that comes to mind most often is bacon. This word is classified as an onomatopoeia because its pronunciation mimics the sound it describes.

“The bacon fat sizzled when I placed it on the pan.”

Bacon sizzling in a pan. Can you hear it?

17. Jiggle

Merriam-Webster defines jiggle as a verb meaning “to cause to move with quick little jerks or oscillating motions.” Jiggle is a delight to use humorously.

“John tapped the Jell-O with his spoon and watched it jiggle back and forth.”

18. Rambunctious

Rambunctious means full of energy or difficult to control. This word is most commonly used to describe energetic children.

“Ms. Smith did not have the energy to keep up with her rambunctious students.”

19. Saucy

If you’re European, a saucy person might mean that you’ve met someone rude or disrespectful. If you’re in North America, a saucy individual might be bold and well-dressed.

“Did you see John’s new jacket? That saucy fellow looks sharp.”

20. Eureka

Eureka is an exclamation of great satisfaction or relief. According to legend, the term was shouted by the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes when he discovered a method of determining the purity of gold.

“Eureka! I’ve discovered the cure to the common cold.”

Eureka! That’s a great idea.

21. Golly

Golly, like eureka, is an exclamation. It is used to express delight, surprise, or disappointment in a situation. You can consider it a one-stop shop for exclamations, although it has fallen out of use in recent times.

“Golly! Did you get me a bicycle for my birthday? I sure appreciate that.”

22. Sloshed

Sloshed is a word that you would use to describe inebriated friends. Think of it as a step above drunk but not quite at the level of a college fraternity party. This word is fun to use, although you may regret it the next morning.

“After three beers I’ll be sloshed. I’m a lightweight when it comes to alcohol.”

23. Flabbergasted

Flabbergasted means greatly surprised.

“I was flabbergasted by the party. It was a perfect surprise – I was speechless.”

24. Jeez

Jeez, like golly, is an exclamation that has fallen out of use lately, but it is still fun to say for its unique pronunciation. It is primarily used for expressing mild surprise or annoyance.

“Jeez-Louise! Those bagel bites are hot. I think I burnt my tongue.”

25. Scoundrel

A scoundrel is a dishonest or immoral person. While you can probably think of other names to describe such individuals, this word is both forceful, descriptive, and full of character. Consider adding it to your vocabulary.

“Doctor Morris stole funds from the hospital? That scoundrel!”

26. Boogie

Boogie got its start as a style of blues, but now it is used as a general term for dance. Boogie is another word of a bygone era, but don’t let that stop you from hitting the dance floor.

“I boogied all night at Dave’s wedding.”

27. Scoot

Scoot is a verb that means to slide or move over. If you want a seat on a bench, you might ask someone to scoot over to make room.

“Would you mind scooting over so I could sit? There’s still no space; keep scooting. Scoot scoot scoot. That’s perfect, thank you.”

28. Chic

Chic means well dressed and fashionable. A wardrobe that consists of designer clothes would be considered chic.

“His faux-ostrich-hide-pleather belt was designed in Milan. It’s so chic.”

29. Scandalous

Scandalous is a word used to describe an event as outrageous, offensive, or in poor taste. While the word retains its serious meaning, it has developed a light-hearted connotation in some situations.

30. Aficionado

An aficionado is a person who is an expert in their past time, hobby, or subject matter. This is a great term to use when you need a synonym for expert or connoisseur.

“Addison, a true chocolate aficionado, can name every Swiss and German chocolatier in business today.”

31. Jubilee

A jubilee is an event celebrating 25 (silver), 40 (ruby), 50 (golden), 60 (diamond), 65 (sapphire), and 70 (platinum) years of activity. You may have heard this word used during the Queen of England’s platinum jubilee, which she celebrated in early 2022. This is a fantastic term for adding elegance to milestones in your life.

“My grandmother and grandfather celebrate their golden jubilee anniversary in March. They’ve been married for 50 years.

The Queen of England’s platinum jubilee celebration

32. Juicy

Juicy describes a food that is full of liquid or moisture. It can also be used to describe an interesting piece of gossip.

“Oranges are juiciest when they’re freshly picked.”

33. Phalanges

The definition of phalanges might be mundane, but no one can deny how fun it is to say it. In anatomy, it is another word for the bone of a finger or toe. In other contexts, it can refer to a formation of police or troops.

“What’s the deal with chicken fingers? Do they even have phalanges?”

34. Gooey

Gooey is an adjective that defines an object as soft and sticky. Most people, excluding children, dislike touching gooey substances.

“I made gooey slime for my science fair project. Ah gross, it’s stuck to my fingers.”

35. Sham

A sham is something that is falsely portrayed or a lie. This can be a fun word to use when expressing annoyance at being deceived.

“That two-for-one deal was a sham. The cost came out to be the exact same.”

36. Bamboozle

To be bamboozled means you were fooled or tricked. Most people would not use this word today, but it could be a silly alternative to create a lively conversation.

“How was I to know that he was a card sharp? I can’t believe he bamboozled out of $50 bucks with those tricks.”

37. Shenanigans

A shenanigan is a fun word used to describe a prank or mischievous behavior. Despite being considered an outdated word, it is used more today than when it was first coined in the mid-1800s. Don’t expect to hear it in serious conversation, although it may pop up when people are in a playful mood.

Darius is up to his shenanigans again; he unscrewed the cap to the salt and pepper shakers.”

38. Jibber-Jabber

Jibber-jabber is another archaic phrase that is making a comeback. It means to quickly talk back and forth or to talk on an unimportant subject.

“Enough jibber-jabber. Let’s get down to business; these stock prices aren’t going to discuss themselves.”

39. Jabberwocky

Jabberwocky is an invented, nonsensical, or meaningless language. The term was coined by Lewis Carrol in his poem by the same name. It is an interesting word that can be used to describe anything that you find to be nonsense.

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

— The first stanza of the Jabberwocky by Lewis Carrol

40. Malarkey

Some readers may recognize this word from our “Joe Biden Teaches Slang” article. Check it out if you haven’t already. Anyway, malarkey is an expression used to describe something as disingenuous or nonsense.

“The Earth is flat you say? As a NASA scientist, I think that’s total malarkey’”

41. Catawampus

This fun-sounding word has a beastly definition: it describes an imaginary, fierce, and wild animal. According to Merriam-Webster, it can also mean to go askew or awry.

“I planned a surprise party for Sarah, but things went catawampus when Jake spilled the beans during breakfast.”

42. Stupendous

Stupendous is used to praise something as fantastic, great, or impressive.

“Our pilot landed the plane in a hurricane. That was stupendous flying on his part.”

43. Frolic

If you ask Oxford Languages what it means to frolic, it will tell you that frolicking is to “play or move about cheerfully, excitedly, or energetically. Frolicking means the same thing as lollicking and rollicking, in case you were wondering.

“I felt fantastic yesterday in the ocean air; I frolicked on the beach as if I were a child again.”

A child frolicking on the beach

44. Boisterous

A boisterous person will be loud, rowdy, and (hopefully) cheerful. When describing the weather, boisterous means extremely windy. You now have a fun word to use for your rambunctious friends or for a particularly breezy day.

“I love going to hockey games with Randy. His boisterous persona helps the players get their heads in the game.”

45. Pandowdy

Pandowdy is a type of baked good that closely resembles an apple pie. You may not have any use for this word unless you work at a bakery, but I would encourage everyone to work it into a sentence at least once a day.

“I could use a spiced apple dessert. Anyone up for a pandowdy.”

46. Bonanza

Our friends at Merriam-Webster tell us that bonanza has two definitions: The first is narrow and related to mining: “an exceptionally large and rich mineral deposit.” The second, broader definition derives its meaning from the first. It means “something that is very valuable, profitable, and rewarding.” Bonanza is also an American western TV show that aired from 1959 to 1973.

“The mattress sale bonanza ends today. Go now to get a great discount before it’s too late.”

47. Pawky

Pawky is a term used to describe someone with a shrewd or cynical sense of humor. If you know a person that is witty in their criticisms, you can accurately call them pawky.

“Mohammad’s pawky remarks about the movie’s poor plot had the car roaring with laughter.”

48. Peewee

Peewee means tiny or small. It is usually reserved for describing children, and in particular, children’s sports leagues. The usage can be stretched to cover anything you find tiny, and using this word will bring you more than a peewee amount of laughter.

“Hey John, I heard your son won a peewee league trophy. I didn’t know they let 4-year-olds play basketball.”

49. Groovy

Groovy is a word synonymous with the 70s and hippie culture. When you call something groovy, you are saying that it is “awesome” or “fantastic”.

“Hey, I heard you started a new band. That’s groovy.”

Now that’s a groovy van

50. Piffle

Piffle is an interesting word because it is a noun that means nonsense. This definition combined with the parts of speech leads to some hilarious sentences.

“Fred’s piffle about the anatomy of chickens and the lack of fingers is starting to make sense, I think.”

51. Ragamuffin

A ragamuffin is a child that is dressed in ragged or dirty clothes.

“Melissa you’ve worn that outfit for four days in a row. You’re starting to look like a ragamuffin.”

52. Rhapsody

Rhapsody has two definitions: an outburst of emotional feeling, and a poem in ancient Greek culture meant to be recited, at least in part, during one sitting. This word could be a fun way for you to describe the singing you do in the car.

“With tears in my eyes, I rhapsodized to the crowd about the need to be a more caring society.”

53. Worrywart

True to its name, a worrywart is a person who worries excessively or unnecessarily. Be sure to add this to your vocabulary if you have an over-worrier in your life. Plus, worrywart is an alliteration, and alliterations are always fun to use.

“Of course, I’ll wear a helmet when I ride my motorcycle. Don’t be such a worrywart.”

54. Persnickety

Persnickety characterizes a person who is fussy or finicky over small things. Perhaps you know a persnickety eater who needs every meal to be perfect.

“Jennifer’s persnickety approach to car interior ensures that it stays as clean as the day she bought it.”

55. Rapscallion

A rapscallion is a mischievous person. This could describe a prankster or a more serious hooligan, but either way, it is a great word to keep around.

“Hannah, the little rapscallion, put a whoopie cushion under my chair.”

56. Pettifog

Returning to our trusted Merriam-Webster definitions, pettifogging is “to quibble over petty details” and “to engage in legal chicanery.” While no one knows what chicanery means, we all understand petty quibbling. Use this word to at least make the pettifogging fun.

“We pettifogged all night about the contract. She wanted to sign her name first, but I absolutely would not stand for it.”

57. Bungalow

A bungalow is a small, one-story house, cottage, or hut. This word is a must for anyone looking to spice up their vocabulary. Say it a few times in a sing-song voice to get the full effect.

“Despite the millions of dollars she made selling her textile company, the former CEO refused to live an exorbitant lifestyle of fast cars and big mansions, instead opting for a bungalow on the beach.

58. Dongle

Dongle is a hilarious word for no other reason than the sound it makes. What is a dongle you may ask? It is an adaptor device of sorts that connects to other devices and increases their functionality. If you own an iPhone, you probably received a dongle that connects the lighting port to a headphone jack

“Did someone borrow my dongle? I need that back or else I can’t listen to jams in my car.”

Items that could be classified as dongles

59. Banjo

Many people are familiar with a banjo: it is a stringed instrument that resembles a guitar and is played by plucking and strumming. It is featured most often in American folk music. What makes this a fun word to use, and why you should add it to your vocabulary, is that it is the most unique name for an instrument in the English language – at least in my opinion.

“The rustic twangs of the banjo are a staple at the county fair, where live music is performed by members of the Appalachian community.”

60. Rascal

Rascal is a term used to affectionately describe a misbehaved child.

“Ah those little rascals – they tracked mud through the house again, but I still love them.”

Want to learn more?

If you want to learn more funny English words, head over to the ReDefiners website and check our English classes! We offer courses for both children and adults. Our unique curriculum specializes in teaching language through online courses and group class conversations. You can begin learning immediately by signing up for classes twice a week and participating in group sessions for real, practical conversation experience. We offer classes in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Arabic. For more information, please visit our online program page or email us at info@redefinerswl.org.

The English language is pretty wild. And by that, we mean that it contains some wacky words that seem too weird to be real, yet absolutely are. So if you appreciate a varied vocabulary and would like to embrace a wider range of words, then you’re in luck! We can help you bumfuzzle your friends with the funniest words that are undeniably fanty-sheeny and will leave you in a finifugal mood. If you don’t believe us—or have any clue what that means—then take a peek below to learn about the funniest words in the English language and how to use them.

1. Brouhaha

If you tweet something divisive the generates a lot of conversation, you might say that you started a bit of a brouhaha. That’s a way better word for it than «commotion» or «uproar.»

Example: «Her speech started a brouhaha on all the 24-hour news channels.»

2. Pettifogger

You’ve seen them in movies and on local commercials: lawyers who are willing to do anything to score a client or get a win. In other words, pettifoggers.

Example: «The prosecution’s pettifogger called some pretty shady witnesses.»

3. Sozzled

Hammered. Wrecked. Drunk. Forget all those boring words for being intoxicated—»sozzled» makes it sound almost sophisticated.

Example: «Don’t let him order another drink, he’s already sozzled.»

4. Wassail

If you enjoy warmed, spiced wine, you can get sozzled on wassail.

Example: 

5. Inkle

Okay, so maybe this one only comes up in conversation if you’re a weaver, but it’s still a funny word. According to Merriam-Webster, an inkle is «a colored linen tape or braid woven on a very narrow loom and used for trimming.»

Example: «My inkle won’t stay in place!»

6. Mollycoddle

Have a lot of siblings? Your parents probably mollycoddle the youngest, meaning that they baby and indulge them, no matter what they do.

Example: «Stop mollycoddling her, she’s a grown woman!»

7. Skirl

If you travel to Scotland (or go to a Scottish pride event), you’ll almost certainly hear someone skirl, i.e. play the bagpipes.

Example: «Let’s get closer, the bagpipers are about to start skirling.»

8. Hoosegow

A wild night out could land you in the hoosegow for breaking the law. It’s just a funny word for jail!

Example: «Come on, we’ve gotta bail him out of the hoosegow.»

9. Rigmarole

Try to do anything with a government agency and it’ll be a lot of rigmarole. That can either mean a lot of circular discussion or just a generally tedious ordeal.

Example: «Let’s get the rigmarole of the paperwork taken care of.»

10. Impignorate

Despite the reputation of the animal within this word, impignorate actually means to pawn off or mortgage something in your possession.

Example: «I’m going to impignorate this watch for some extra cash.»

11. Bumfuzzle

We all find ourselves confused and flustered from time to time, perhaps even to the point where we might describe ourselves as perplexed. But if those words don’t quite capture your bewildered state of mind, then you may want to use the term bumfuzzle.

Example: «That movie was bumfuzzling and left me, well, bumfuzzled.»

12. Winklepicker

While a winklepicker sounds like it should refer to someone who picks winkles (whatever those might be), a winklepicker is, in fact, a shoe or boot that features a sharp-pointed toe.

Example: «I’ve been looking for the perfect winklepicker to go with these pants.»

13. Hullaballoo

A perfect example of a word that sounds like its meaning, hullaballoo refers to a ruckus or uproar that’s on the unpleasant side.

Example: «The hullaballoo was totally wild.»

14. Argle-bargle

Blah, blah, blah, some people like to drone on for as long as others are willing to listen and there are those particular kinds of mind-numbing conversations that never seem to end. Meaningless arguments and worthless chatter—whether done by talking or writing—is called argle-bargle.

Example: «This is just a bunch of pointless argle-bargle.»

15. Doodlesack

Scottish musicians are well-known for their skill with the bagpipes, but they’re not as famous for their talents with the doodlesack. And that’s kind of funny considering this funniest word is just another word for bagpipes.

Example: «What songs do you like to play on a doodlesack?»

16. Gobbledygook

Slang is one thing, but people who indulge in gobbledygook are a lot like turkeys who also gobble, gobble, gobble, or use language that is basically incomprehensible.

Example: «He sure likes to go on and on with the gobbledygook.»

17. Eeksie-peeksie

If you like everything in your world to be perfectly balanced or appreciate even numbers and identical amounts, then you like things to be eeksie-peeksie, which is a term for equal.

Example: «I think it should be eeksie-peeksie for each of us.»

18. Nudiustertian

No one would blame you for thinking that nudiusterian had something to do with being naked, perhaps representing a cheeky lifestyle that rejects clothes. But the word has nothing to do with showing off your body. Instead, it refers to the day before yesterday.

Example: «I went to work on that nudiustertian morning.

19. Gardyloo

Although we no longer toss garbage out of the windows the way people did years ago, it’s still helpful to know that if you hear someone shout «gardyloo» then you better watch out for flying trash, since that’s the appropriate warning to use.

Example: «Gardyloo and watch out!»

20. Tittynope

This is another word that might make you blush until you find out its perfectly innocent meaning. Tittynope is what you call a small amount of something that’s simply leftover.

Example: «There’s a tittynope of sugar in the bowl.»

21. Lackadaisical

If you know someone who’s rather lazy and fails to show any sort of enthusiasm or ambition, then they’re lackadaisical. It’s probably one of the funniest words because of all those syllables.

Example: «My coworker never gets his work done because he’s lackadaisical.»

22. Snickersnee

Snickersnee is certainly a funny word, but the item behind its meaning is no joke. The term refers to a large (and obviously super sharp) knife.

Example: «That’s not a snickersnee. This is a snickersnee.»

23. Flibbertigibbet

Some people are unreliable and don’t seem to be bothered by their own silly vibe. And while we generally accept that they’re the flighty ones among us, you could also call that certain someone a flibbertigibbet.

Example: «My flibbertigibbet friend failed to show up again.»

24. Fanty-sheeny

If you like the finer things in life—and to show them off—then you appreciate anything that’s fanty-sheeny, which is a word that can be used for someone or something that’s fancy or even ostentatious.

Example: «Her house was filled with fanty-sheeny furniture.»

25. Cattywampus

If something is askew, awry, or lined up in a way that’s not totally straight, such as diagonally—basically, slightly off-center or not quite right—then it’s not just annoying, you could say it’s cattywampus.

Example: «The books on the desk are all cattywampus.»

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26. Woebegone

If you know that «woe» is a word for sadness, then it might seem like woebegone is a term for wanting sadness to go away. But since «begone» is actually an old word for being within something, it turns out that woebegone is actually one of the funniest words for being in a sad state.

Example: «He was left woebegone, but hopeful.»

27. Taradiddle

It may seem like pretentious nonsense to use as silly of a word as taradiddle to describe, well, pretentious nonsense, but it would certainly suitable since that’s exactly what taradiddle means.

Example: «His stories are more taradiddle than truth.»

28. Maltipoo

The next time you’re thinking about getting a new pet, perhaps you’ll consider a Maltipoo, which is a cross-breed originating from a Maltese terrier and a miniature or toy poodle. Otherwise, you could also consider a Puggle (a pug and beagle mix) or a Dorgi (a dachshund and corgi cross).

Example: «I just adopted the cutest Maltipoo puppy.»

29. Wabbit

Cartoon character Elmer Fudd was famous for calling Bugs Bunny a «wascally wabbit,» which we assumed was because of his particular way of speaking. But perhaps he was actually using the word wabbit, which means weary or exhausted.

Example: «You wabbit rabbit.»

30. Borborygmus

When your insides make a little noise, you can accurately call that borborygmus. That’s the word for the noisy rumbling and gurgling that comes from your midsection. It’s caused by fluids or gas moving in your intestines.

Example: «Can you hear my belly borborygmus?»

31. Funambulism

If you’re looking for a new pastime and prefer extreme endeavors, you could take up skydiving or white water rafting. But you might want to try funambulism instead, which is another way to say tightrope walking.

Example: «I always thought funambulism looked fun—but I’m afraid of heights, so no thanks.»

32. Widdershins

Counterclockwise is rather fun to say, but take things up a notch wonky word-wise when referring to which way you’re heading by saying that your walking widdershins, which is another word for counterclockwise.

Example: «I took a path widdershins through the forest.»

33. Collywobbles

If you’re experiencing stomach pain or queasiness, whether it’s due to illness or anxiety, then you’re feeling collywobbles, a term for that icky feeling.

Example: «I have some collywobbles happening in my tummy.»

34. Quomodocunquizing

While the word looks rather complicated, it’s meaning is simple. Quomodocunquizing is a way to describe something (or someone) who makes money in any way possible.

Example: «He’s a quomodocunquizing businessperson.»

35. Diphthong

When you combine two vowel sounds together in one word to create something a little different, then you’re using a diphthong.

Example: «The sound ‘oy’ in boy or toy is a diphthong. So is the ‘ou’ in you or loud.»

36. Bloviate

If you were given the task of coming up with a word to describe a person who likes to ramble on, then you might opt for something like bloviate, which is the perfect term for your local windbag.

Example: «That guy couldn’t resist bloviating at the party.»

37. Gubbins

While gibbons are the adorable primates that spend their days swinging through the rain forest, gubbins is something totally different. Instead of being cute creatures, they’re miscellaneous bits and pieces or gadgets.

Example: «The drawer is filled with random gubbins.»

38. Blatherskite

There are plenty of terms for people who like to use words to their full extent (or perhaps even overuse language), which is why we also have blatherskite to describe the kind of person who can’t self-edit and cares more about making noise than making sense.

Example: «My ex is a boring blatherskite.»

39. Snollygoster

Any time you cross paths with someone who’s a snollygoster, then it’s time to head in the other direction. Although they may be a person who’s shrewd, they’re also more likely to be the villain than the hero, which means you’ll want to be wary.

Example: «My nemesis is a snollygoster.»

40. Finifugal

Finifugal is not only a fear of finishing things, it’s also the term you can put into use any time you get the desire to prolong a final moment or prevent a seemingly inevitable ending.

Example: «I have a finifugal vibe towards this funniest words article I’m reading on Best Life.

Published April 16, 2021

From throwing a party to going on an adventure to simply playing a new board game, we tend to describe any form of entertainment as fun. Going to the movies? Fun. Baking a cake? Fun. Training for a marathon? Fun—for some people, anyway.

As a result, the word fun has become a go-to, often cliché, description for having a good time. We get it, fun is pretty fun. But, if it can be used for everything from baking cakes to marathon training, it might be time to dial back our use of this word and switch to alternatives that are … funner (yes, that’s a real word)!

To help mix it up a little bit, we’ve gathered some of our favorite synonyms for one of the most entertaining words around. We think you’ll have fun trying out some of these alternatives for fun as an adjective.

Before we get into the alternatives, though, we first want to draw your attention to a term that typically isn’t one, which is …

funny

If something is fun, meaning “enjoyable,” you may find it funny, as in “causes laughter.” While these two terms are related, they are not interchangeable.

For example:

• The baseball game yesterday was a lot of fun.

If you try to substitute funny into the sentence, it doesn’t make any sense. You wouldn’t go to a baseball game expecting to laugh in the same way you would a comedy show, right?

However, maybe one of the plays at the game made you laugh. Then, it would make sense to say, “That awkward bunt was pretty funny.”

The word fun comes from the obsolete fon which meant “to act the fool” or “to make a fool of.” As a general rule, if something is simply diverting or entertaining, it is likely fun. If it is supposed to make you laugh, it is likely funny. Sometimes, things are both, as in, “The comedy show was fun and funny,” meaning the comedy show was a good time and it made people laugh.

Now, let’s move on to take a look at some of the words we can use to substitute for fun.

entertaining

One of the easiest synonyms of fun to use is entertaining. Entertaining means “amusing, diverting.” This term can be used in many contexts as a synonym for fun when it is used as an adjective, especially when discussing topics such as performances (such as music or theater) or games. It is slightly more formal than fun, but still an everyday term.

For example:

• It was entertaining to watch the acrobats tumble up on the high wire.
• We thought the card games at Cary’s birthday party were very entertaining.

The word entertaining ultimately comes from the Latin intertenēre meaning “to hold mutually.” Entertain was originally used in English to describe how things are entwined together. Later, entertain described something that holds one’s attention—like a play or spectacle.

If entertaining isn’t fun enough for you, you might want to kick it up a notch with our next word.

engrossing

While the term engrossing might sound a little disgusting, it’s really not yucky at all. Engrossing means “fully occupying the mind or attention; absorbing.” You can think of it like a more intense form of entertaining. If something entertaining holds your attention, something engrossing completely takes all of your attention.

Keep in mind, not everything that is engrossing is fun. For example, working hard on a task may be described as “engrossing,” but it probably isn’t very fun for most people. However, an activity that is enjoyable and totally captivates you is engrossing.

For example:

• From the opening curtain, Fedwa found the play entirely engrossing; she could barely look away.

Perhaps, though, you prefer the kind of entertainment that doesn’t just hold your attention, but also gives you chills. Then you might prefer the synonym …

If something is truly engrossing, would you also call it “interesting”? We have some better options for you here.

thrilling

We are thrilled to introduce you to our next synonym … thrilling. The adjective thrilling means “producing sudden, strong, and deep emotion or excitement.” It can also mean “producing a tremor, as by chilling” or “vibrating; trembling; quivering.”

This word is a synonym of fun in the sense that when you are having fun you might experience a thrill. Examples of the kind of fun that is thrilling are bungee jumping, scary movies, or bumper cars.

For instance:

• It was thrilling to gallop the horses across the field with her best friend at her side.

The word thrilling comes from the Middle English thrillen, which originally meant “to penetrate.” Now here’s a fun (and funny) connection: it turns out the word thrill is related to the word nostril. See if you can trace the connection of their origins by learning more about nostril here.

delightful

Anything that brings you pleasure might be described as delightful. Delight comes from the Latin dēlectāre meaning “to allure, attract, charm, please.” (The adjective form of the verb, delightful, was first recorded around 1520.)

The term delightful may be considered a bit more sophisticated, but still common enough, term than fun. Some things that might be described as delightful are a delicious meal, a pleasant afternoon spent at the park, or a creative piece of music.

For example:

• The tiny bells hanging off the edge of her skirt tinkled in a delightful way that reminded Yosra of winter sleigh rides.

Here, the soft tinkling sounds of bells bring Yosra some small pleasures. But it isn’t the same high-octane kind of fun suggested by …

enthralling

If something has ever grabbed your attention so quickly and completely that you were focused on it to the exclusion of all else, you have experienced something enthralling. Action flicks, roller coasters, magic shows—all enthralling.

A thrall is “a person who is morally or mentally enslaved by some power, influence, or the like.” Another meaning of it is “a person held in bondage or slavery.” The prefix en- has various meanings, including “to cause (a person or thing) to be in” a place or condition. Enthrall literally means “to cause bondage.” While this sounds (and was originally) very dark, you can think of enthralling, the adjective form of the word, as an even more intense form of entertaining and engrossed.

For example:

• The enthralling performers were pulling out all the stops—from pyrotechnics to complicated dance choreography—to keep the audience energized.

Sounds like a fun show to us. An important part of having fun, though, isn’t just that it takes up all of your attention—it also distracts you from boring, not-fun responsibilities like chores. That’s where our next term for fun comes in.

diverting

Diverting sounds more like a traffic direction than a synonym for fun, but trust us—diverting can mean “entertaining, amusing.”

It does have some connection with directions, though. The word divert comes from the Latin dīvertere, meaning “to turn in different directions.” Essentially, you think of something diverting as turning you away from something boring toward something more interesting. The adjective form of the word, diverting, was first recorded around 1650.

Some examples of fun things you might find diverting are scrolling through videos on social media, playing word games, or joking around with your friends in class. Here’s an example of how to use diverting in a sentence:

• There were tons of diverting activities at the summer camp, like kayaking, pottery, and archery.

Sounds like a fun camp, and we’re willing to bet that the campers are …

boisterous

The term boisterous is most often used to describe people or other creatures that are a lot of fun to be around because of their high energy (although, sometimes, it can be a little hard to handle). Boisterous means “rough and noisy; noisily jolly or rowdy; clamorous; unrestrained.”

For example:

• The pair had come upon a boisterous scene: a group was crowded around the piano singing, and Donia and Nyzar were dancing in the kitchen.

Boisterous comes from the Middle English boistous meaning “crude, strong, fierce, gross.” While boisterous is a less-common synonym for fun, it’s perfect for describing chaotic but entertaining scenarios like this party.

Another term that could be used to describe a party is …

a gas

Literally, a gas is “a substance possessing perfect molecular mobility and the property of indefinite expansion, as opposed to a solid or liquid.” But when it comes to having fun, a gas is “a good time.”

According to Green’s Dictionary of Slang, this use of gas to mean “a very enjoyable experience” comes from Irish slang. In fact, the first known recorded use of it in this sense is from James Joyce’s 1914 collection Dubliners. While the origins of this slang term are unknown, apocryphally it is said to be related to nitrous oxide or laughing gas, a form of anesthetic known to cause feelings of exhilaration. It is often used in the expression “to have a gas.”

While a gas is a bit of a dated expression these days, we can attest that it is really fun to use. Take this as an example:

• Everyone had a gas at the wrap party for the show, even the grouchy stage manager.

Sounds like a fun party, or might we say …

have a ball

It doesn’t require a huge stretch of the imagination to understand how a ball came to be a synonym for fun. After all, what’s more fun than a ball? While a ball is literally “a large, usually lavish, formal party featuring social dancing,” in this expression it has come to refer to any kind of party or celebration.

According to Green’s Dictionary of Slang, the expression a ball in this sense comes from Black American slang dating to 1864. The full phrase to have a ball is first in evidence around the 1920s. While originally a ball referenced parties explicitly, it quickly came to define any kind of fun to be had, from sporting events to family vacations.

For example:

• My grandparents had a ball at bingo night at the church last week.

Of course, fun isn’t always an adjective. Sometimes, it’s also our next word.

merriment

Fun, of course can also be used as a noun, as in, “Emy is full of fun.” Here, fun is used as a thing, a quality, that Emy is full of. Most of the synonyms for fun we have covered are good replacements for when you need a new adjective. But, what if you’re looking for a substitute for fun as a noun? Well, look no further. We have you covered there, too.

One of our favorite synonyms for fun as a noun is merriment (and not just because it makes us think of Merry Brandybuck from The Lord of the Rings). Merriment means “cheerful or joyful gaiety; mirth; hilarity; laughter.” It comes from the Old English myrige, meaning “pleasant, delightful.” You can use merriment to mean fun as a noun in most contexts, although it is particularly associated with causing laughter.

For example:

• Merriment was had by all at the extravagant five-course meal.

Some other synonyms for fun as an noun that you might choose to use are:

• celebration
• distraction
• joy
• blast
• pastime

We hope you had a diverting, thrilling, delightful time with our coverage of some of our favorite fun synonyms. If you want even more options, check out fun over at Thesaurus.com, or let Grammar Coach™ do the work of swapping synonyms (as well as grammar checking and more!) for you. You’re sure enjoy writing a whole lot more.