September 27, 2019
Did you know that it’s not just people who don’t have English as their first language who are looking for explanations for all kinds of difficult English words? There are tens of thousands of native English speakers who are looking for the correct way to spell or pronounce complicated English words. If you are a non native English speaker, things tend to get a lot more complicated. And if you are also a student, you really have a problem. Misspelling certain words in your essays will get you penalized quite harshly by your professor, so you may even need to consider using proofreading services. There are many weird words in English and we will try to show you how to spell the most common 101 of them. We even explain some funny Russian words in English.
Are There Any Weird Words in the English Language?
Many people don’t know that there are plenty of difficult English words. You may have encountered a couple of them over time, but there are hundreds. There are words that are difficult to spell and there are even words that are difficult to pronounce. However, it’s easy to learn the difficult English words to pronounce. Spelling is a bit more difficult to learn. Let’s take a look at the most difficult words in English and their explanation.
List of Difficult English Words to Spell
In most cases, students are having a pretty difficult time spelling certain words. Don’t worry, it’s not just you! Tens of thousands of students have visited our list of the most complicated English words so far. This means that most of these people have run into trouble with at least some of the following English words:
- Abjure – solemnly renounce something
- Abnegation – the action of renouncing or rejecting something
- Bashful – reluctant to draw attention to oneself
- Beguile – to charm someone in a deceptive way
- Bereft – deprived of or lacking something
- Blandishment – a flattering statement or action used to convince someone to do something
- Cajole – persuade someone to do something by flattery
- Callous – having an insensitive disregard for others
- Camaraderie – mutual trust and friendship among people
- Candor – the quality of being open and honest
- Debacle – a sudden failure
- Debunk – expose the falseness of an idea or belief
- Defunct – no longer existing
- Demagogue – a political agitator
- Eclectic –deriving ideas from a broad range of sources
- Ebullient – cheerful and full of energy (one of the most difficult English words)
- Egregious – outstandingly bad
- Fallacious – based on a mistaken belief
- Fatuous – silly and pointless
- Fetter – a chain used to restrain a prisoner
- Garrulous – excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters
- Gourmand – a person who enjoys eating
- Grandiloquent – pompous or extravagant in language or style
- Idiosyncratic – relating to idiosyncrasy
- Impecunious – having little or no money
- Knell – the solemn sound of a bell at a funeral
- Laconic – using very few words
- Largesse – generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others
- Legerdemain – skilful use of one’s hands when performing tricks
- Maelstrom – a powerful whirlpool in the sea or a river
- Maudlin – self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental
- Maverick – an unorthodox or independent-minded person
- Negligent – failing to take proper care over something
- Neophyte – a person who is new to a subject or activity
- Obdurate – stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion
- Obfuscate – make obscure or unclear
- Obstreperous – noisy and difficult to control
- Palliate – make something less severe without removing the cause
- Paradigm – a typical example or pattern of something
- Quixotic – extremely idealistic
- Quandary – a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do
- Recalcitrant – having an obstinately uncooperative attitude
- Redoubtable – formidable, especially as an opponent
- Sanguine – optimistic or positive in a difficult situation
- Scurrilous – making or spreading scandalous claims about someone
- Toady – a person who behaves obsequiously to someone important
- Torpid – mentally or physically inactive
- Ubiquitous – present, appearing, or found everywhere
- Umbrage – offence or annoyance
- Upbraid – to find fault with someone
- Vicissitude – an unpleasant change of circumstances or fortune
- Vilify – speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner
- Virtuoso – a person highly skilled in artistic pursuit
- Wanton – deliberate and unprovoked
- Winsome – attractive or appealing in a fresh, innocent way
- Yoke – the wooden crosspiece that is placed over the necks of two animals (part of the plough)
- Zephyr – a soft gentle breeze
- Wily – skilled at gaining an advantage
- Tirade – a long, angry speech of criticism
List of Difficult Words to Pronounce for Non Native English Speakers
- Rural – characteristic of the countryside rather than the town
- Otorhinolaryngologist – a specialist in the disorders of the ear or nose or throat (one of the most difficult English words to say)
- Colonel – a rank of officer in the army and in the US air force
- Penguin – a large flightless seabird of the southern hemisphere
- Sixth – constituting number six in a sequence
- Isthmus – a narrow strip of land with sea on either side
- Anemone – a plant of the buttercup family
- Squirrel – an agile tree-dwelling rodent with a bushy tail
- Choir – an organized group of singers
- Worcestershire – a former county in West-central England
List of Weird English Words
When it comes to the English dictionary, there are times when you won’t believe your eyes. There are hundreds of strange English words that almost nobody knows about. Truth be told, we never even heard about 80% of the following words:
- Bamboozled – to cheat or fool someone
- Bumfuzzle – to confuse someone
- Cattywampus – not lined up or not arranged correctly
- Discombobulate – to disconcert or confuse someone
- Flabbergast – to surprise someone greatly
- Foppish – a person concerned with his clothes in an excessive way.
- Gardyloo – a warning cry when somebody threw slops from the windows into the streets
- Jalopy – an old car in a dilapidated condition (just one of the weird words in the English dictionary)
- Lothario – a man who behaves irresponsibly in sexual relationships with women
- Taradiddle – a petty lie
- Tergiversate – to make conflicting or evasive statements
- Snickersnee – a large knife
- Collywobbles – stomach pain or queasiness
List of Funny Russian Words in English
- Pochemuchka – a child who asks many questions
- Perepodvypodvert – doing something in an overly complex or totally incomprehensible way
- Nedoperepil – somebody who drank more than they should have, but less than they could have
- Toska – sadness, melancholia, or lugubriousness
- Poshlost’ – vulgarity, banality, platitude, triteness, or triviality
- Kapel – small Christian place of worship
- Dacha – a country house or cottage in Russia
- Glazomer – the ability to measure without any instruments
List of Funny Old English Words
Of course, the dictionary contains a ton of funny English words. Many of these are old words that are rarely used nowadays. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t use them in your essays. It’s always fun to see your teacher searching through the dictionary. So here are the most interesting old English words that are as funny as they get:
- Ultracrepidarian – giving opinions and advice on matters outside of one’s knowledge
- Philogrobolized – stupefied, or having a hangover
- Hum durgeon – an imaginary illness
- Quomodocunquize – that makes money in any possible way
- Zwodder – a drowsy, foolish frame of mind
- Groke – to look at somebody while they’re eating hoping they’ll give you some of their food
- Famelicose – pertaining to being hungry
- Bang-a-bonk – to sit lazily on a riverbank
- Crambo-clink – rime or riming
- Inisitijitty – a worthless, ridiculous-looking person (one of the most difficult words in English)
- Omperlodge – to disagree with or contradict someone
Why Does This List of Difficult Words to Pronounce in English Matter?
Many students have asked us why we bothered to make this list of 101 difficult English words. The truth is that we really enjoyed it. However, this list is of great help to people who are looking for ways to improve their vocabulary. Yes, many of these words may seem old-fashioned and obsolete. However, we guarantee you that your professor will greatly appreciate you using many of them. It shows that you are a well-read student and that you are not afraid to use uncommon language to make an impression. It also shows your professor that you are a master of the English vocabulary.
Another reason why you would want to take a look at our list of difficult English words to spell is to avoid any future errors. Your professor will swiftly penalize you for spelling errors in your academic papers. You can lose valuable points because of some improperly spelled words. Furthermore, you need to understand exactly what each word means and how it is used.
Do You Need to Learn These Words?
No, you don’t need to learn all these words. These are all the most complicated English words, but you can find plenty of synonyms for each one of them. So you can simply use a synonym instead of the words listed in our list. There are, however, times when you want to demonstrate your strong grasp of the English language. That’s when you may want to consider using words from this list. This is why we encourage you to bookmark this list of complicated English words. You can come back at any time. This list of difficult English words will always be free. However, we may update it to add more words in the future. We are all about helping students excel at school!
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Hardest Words: The English language is a funny, complicated and yet useful language that has thousands of words in its kitty. While some are very easy to learn, speak, and write, a few others are mind-numbingly hard to even understand, and don’t even get us started on pronouncing such words. And those words, which are difficult in their very nature, are rarely used by people in general. Such difficult words are only used by academicians and literature graduates.
However, keep in mind that most difficult words have much simpler and simplistic meanings, which when used in your communication can dramatically improve their meaning, tone, and texture. In this particular article on the hardest words to spell, we are going to discuss the following topics that are going to help students, teachers, writers, and general English enthusiasts learn about the hardest words in the English language:
- Why is it necessary to learn hard words in English?
- The hardest words in English to spell
- The hardest words in English to pronounce
- List of 100 hardest words in the English language
- How to teach and learn the hardest words in the English language?
- FAQs on the hardest words in the English language
Improve your English Grammar Faster with English Grammar Notes.
Why Is It Necessary To Learn Hard Words in English?
Below are a few reasons why one should learn about the hardest words in the English language:
- If you want to become a serious writer, it is practically mandatory for you to know about the hard words in the English language.
- Interviews: if you want to impress HR, great vocabulary can take you places.
- Brand communication: branding and marketing are all about communication, and the usage of sensible words can help a brand connect with its target group.
- Corporate environment: whether it’s internal customers or external, the usage of great vocabulary will always create a great impression within the office environment and it can bode well for your image.
- Entrance examinations: Exams like CAT, UPSC CSE, GMAT, XAT, NMAT, or MAT will demand good vocabulary from students to clear them. Knowing such difficult words can help them answer English grammar and comprehension questions correctly and score well.
- Now that we have understood why we should know about the hardest words in the English language, let us understand which words are the hardest words in the English language.
The Hardest Words To Spell in English
Below is a long difficult English word to spell:
- Vivisepulture
- Pococurante
- Acquiesce
- Demitasse
- Laodicean
- Chauffeur
- Liaison
- Gobbledegook
- Euonymus
- Smaragdine
- Unconscious
- Chiaroscurist
- Pharaoh
- Eudaemonic
- Ursprache
- Idiosyncracies
- Foreign
- Neighbour
- Psoriasis
- Canonical
- Xanthosis
- Equipage
- Dulcimer
- Soubrette
- Maculature
- Orient
- Suntech
- Asterisk
- Deterioration
- Wrinkle
- Library
- Honest
- Listen
- Fuchsia
- Onomatopoeia
- Paraphernalia
- Brocolli
- Weird
- misspell
- Bourgeois
- Necessary
- Increase
- Sandal
- Island
- Mischievous
- Miniscule
- Pastime
- Vacuum
- Kinkajou
- Releasable
- Cataclysm
- Coalescent
- Archetypes
- Idealist
- Primaeval
- Ozone
- Exhumation
- Occipital
- Longeron
- Oligopoly
Hardest English Words To Pronounce
Below is a list of the hardest words in English to pronounce:
- Worcestershire
- Draught
- Brewery
- Derby
- Phenomenon
- Droit
- Detroit
- Fille
- Heure
- February
- Hour
- Maintenant
- Oil
- Portefeuille
- Pneus
- Greenwich
- Although
- -Fortunate
- Quinoa
- Sixth
- Anemone
- Anime
- Colonel
- Kernel
- Asterisk
- Massachusetts
- Temperature
- Onomatopoeia
- Penguin
- Two
- Honest
- Colonel
- Irritable
- Bridge
- Numb
- Dumb
- Columns
- Isle
- Design
- Anchor
- Ascend
- Design
- Psychological
- Chaos
- Apostle
- Apostille
- Autumn
- Palm
- Bridge
- Budge
- Swift
- Seize
- Pneumoniae
- Talk
- Bomb
- Plumber
- Clothes
- Whistle
- Almond
- Knee
If you observe, in both the difficult words to pronounce and the difficult to spell in the English language, certain letters are silent, and that is what makes them tricky, especially for beginners and average-level English speakers.
List of 100 Hardest Words in the English Language
Below is a list of the 100 hardest words in the English language:
- Languid
- Poise
- Isle
- Frolic
- Disabuse
- Exponential
- Iconoclast
- Ascetic
- Inert
- Avalanche
- Feet
- Boulevard
- Mauve
- Hegemony
- Disparate
- Beguile
- Jolt
- Abeyance
- Vilify
- Fracas
- Knell
- Emblem
- Licence
- Naturally
- Shindler
- Canine
- Famine
- Library
- Fathom
- Echoes
- Inching
- Fawn
- Often
- Knowledge
- Wrinkle
- Grasp
- occurred
- Literally
- Finally,
- Laconic
- February
- Embarrassed
- Height
- business
- Foreign
- Beginning
- Magazine
- Schedule
- Arctic
- Architectural
- Grammar
- Consent
- Define
- Demonstration
- Deviate
- Diminish
- Integrated
- Contract
- Priorities
- Piece
- Succedaneum
- Soubrette
- Equipage
- Vignette
- Hydrophyte
- Crustaceology
- Ratoon
- Detect
- Thrifty
- Absurd
- Accord
- Shine
- Impede
- Rural
- Misery
- Urban
- Eulogy
- Echoed
- Wiggle
- Shaky
- Buttress
- Explicit
- Unique
- Blown
- Brown
- Guile
- Placate
- Alias
- Increase
- Staid
- epitome
- Espresso
- Fork
- Follicles
- Zephyr
- Nauseous
- Accommodation
- Miniscule
- Onomatopoeia
- Synchronous
How To Teach and Learn the Hardest Words in the English Language?
The number of ways to improve one’s vocabulary and learn the hardest words in the English language is not limited in any sense. One can follow the below methodologies to learn the hardest words in English:
- Learn and write one new word every day.
- Keep reading editorials of newspapers such as the Hindu New Indian Express or the Live Mint. These newspapers provide quality content with a high vocabulary.
- Read novels written by Nobel laureates and people from different walks of life and geography so that your mental horizon expands.
- Start writing articles and blogs yourself and use the vocabulary that you have learnt in these articles so that you get to practise the same.
The above mentioned are a few of the methodologies that one can adopt to learn the hardest words in the English language. There are other methods as well that people adopt, but one should never memorise these words because memorising them is of no value and you will not learn how, when, where, and how much to use.
FAQs on the Hardest Words in the English Language
The frequently asked question regarding the hardest words in the English Language are given below:
1. Is it necessary to learn hard words in English?
Answer: Yes, learning hard words in English will help you improve your vocabulary and communication skills.
2. How to Learn the Difficult English Words?
Answer: By reading and writing every day, one can improve their vocabulary and learn the hardest words in the English language.
3. Where are hard words in the English language used?
Answer: Hard words in the English language are mostly used in academic papers, literary works, novels, editorials, and columns in newspapers and magazines.
4. What makes a few words hard in English?
Answer: Silent letters, double letters, and long spelling can make a few words hard in the English language.
Conclusion
Most of us opt for an easier way out in life, and that is exactly what we do with English vocabulary also. All the usage of simple words can be made easier. One should start inculcating usage of difficult vocabulary in the English language so that it improves their hold and grasp of the language.
There are thousands of difficult words in the English language and you can’t learn all the difficult words, but knowing a few can help you make a good impression in interviews, essay writing competitions and entrance examinations.
One of the biggest challenges facing people who are trying to learn English as a second language is the thought that, there are so many hard English words to pronounce!
What makes a word hard to pronounce? Often times the
difficult words to pronounce for non-native English speakers are those that are spelled completely different from how they are pronounced.
Not all English words are pronounced phonetically. When a word is pronounced phonetically, it is pronounced how it is spelled. Take the word “know”, if it was pronounced phonetically, the “k” would be spoken. However, the “k” is not spoken and this makes “know” one of the English
language’s tricky pronunciation words.
Take a look at the
English vocabulary words below. These are hard words for kids to say, even if they are native English speakers, and that can trip up adults as well. So don’t be ashamed to look them up and practice the correct way to pronounce them.
1. Accede
How is it pronounced?
“ak-SEED”, emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
To accede means to give your consent or approval to someone else’s actions. It can also mean that you agree with the opinions of a group.
2. Alias
How is it pronounced?
“AY-lee-iss”, emphasis on the first syllable
What does it mean?
An alias is an assumed name or identity.
3. Anathema
How is it pronounced?
“un-NATH-uh-muh”, emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
This means that you dislike something or someone intensely
4. Anemone
How is it pronounced?
“uh-NEH-muh-nee”, emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
Properly called a “sea anemone”, this is a marine animal that lives on reefs and ocean floors. It’s a sedentary animal that attaches itself to a particular area and doesn’t move, that many people think looks like a flower.
There is also a type of flowering land plants that are called anemones.
5. Antarctic
How is it pronounced?
“ant-AHRK-tik”
What does it mean?
The Antarctic is simply the South Pole.
6. Brewery
How is it pronounced?
“BROO-uh-ree”, emphasis on the first syllable.
What does it mean?
Why is it that words that have something to do with drinking are such hard words to say when drunk? This three syllable word is used for bars specializing in beer. They often brew their own beers.
7. Camaraderie
How is it pronounced?
“kah-muh-RAH-duh-ree”, emphasis on the third syllable
What does it mean?
This is the feeling of warmth and familiarity you get when around a group of trusted friends.
8. Cavalry
How is it pronounced?
“KAV-uhl-ree”, emphasis on the first syllable.
What does it mean?
Traditionally, the cavalry were soldiers on horseback. Now, cavalry is usually used to mean someone or something who offers help when you really need it.
9. Choir
How is it pronounced?
“kwah-yuhr”
What does it mean?
A choir is a group of singers. Traditionally, choirs sang religious songs during church services.
10. Colonel
How is it pronounced?
“ker-nul”
What does it mean?
A military officer.
11. Comfortable
How is it pronounced?
“KUHM-fer-tuh-buh”, with emphasis on the first syllable
What does it mean?
If you are comfortable, you are relaxed and at ease.
12. Defibrillator
How is it pronounced?
“dee-FIB-ruh-ley-ter”, emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
If you watch a lot of medical TV shows, you might have seen this. It’s that device, with two paddles attached to wires that are held to someone’s chest to deliver a shock that is supposed to help restart your heart.
13. Deteriorate
How is it pronounced?
“dih-TEER-ee-uh-reyt”
What does it mean?
When someone deteriorates their condition grows worse. This can also be used to talk about a situation you find yourself in. Basically, things are getting bad.
14. Draught
How is it pronounced?
“draft”
What does it mean?
An alcoholic beverage, usually traditional kept in a keg. Like draught beer.
15. Epitome
How is it pronounced?
“ih-PIT-uh-mee”, emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
Someone or something that is the perfect example of a quality or of a type.
16. Espouse
How is it pronounced?
“ih-SPOWZ”, emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
When you follow or support a particular idea. Usually you are vocal and proud about your support.
17. Espresso
How is it pronounced?
“eh-SPRES-oh”
What does it mean?
When you order an “espresso” you are asking for a type of strong Italian coffee.
18. Explicit
How is it pronounced?
“ik-SLIS-it”, with emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
This is not one of those hard words to say with a lisp, as you are supposed to sound like your lisping slightly. When you are explicit about something, you state it clearly and in complete detail.
19. Exponentially
How is it pronounced?
“ek-spoh-NEN-shuh-lee”, emphasis on the third syllable
What does it mean?
This is an adverb that means something is increasing rapidly.
20. Ignominious
How is it pronounced?
“ig-nuh-MIN-ee-uhs”, emphasis on the third syllable
What does it mean?
This is usually used as an adverb to describe and action that is considered disgraceful or dishonorable.
21. Isthmus
How is it pronounced?
“is-muss”
What does it mean?
This is the name of a geographical feature. An isthmus is a narrow piece of land that is located between two different seas.
22. Know
How is it pronounced?
“noh”
What does it mean?
This is a tricky word because it is an example of a word with what we call a silent “k”. To know how to pronounce “know”, you need to know it has a silent k.
23. Knell
How is it pronounced?
“nel”
What does it mean?
The rule about a silent “k” makes for tricky pronunciation words. Here’s another word where the “k” is silent and so is the second “l”. This word is used to refer to the ringing of a bell. Usually, this is a big church bell that makes a slow, loud noise.
24. Library
How is it pronounced?
“LAHY-brer-ee”, emphasis in the first syllable
What does it mean?
This is a building which contains a collection of books and other published materials.
25. Mauve
How is it pronounced?
“mohv”
What does it mean?
Mauve is a color. It is a shade of pale purple.
26. Mischievous
How is it pronounced?
“MISS-chiv-us”, with the emphasis on the first syllable.
What does it mean?
This is an adjective that basically means behaving in a way that causes “trouble”. A mischievous action is not bad or evil. It is usually playful and with no malice behind it.
27. Nadir
How is it pronounced?
“NAY-deer”, emphasis on the first syllable
What does it mean?
This means reaching the lowest point.
28. Neophyte
How is it pronounced?
“NEE-uh-fahyt”
What does it mean?
This word is used to refer to a beginner, someone who is new to a task, job, or a group.
29. Often
How is it pronounced?
“AW-fuhn”, emphasis in the first syllable
What does it mean?
If you do something “often” you do it a lot or repeatedly.
30. Onamatopeia
How is it pronounced?
“on-o-mot-o-PEE-a”, with the emphasis on the fifth syllable.
What does it mean?
This is a term for a word that refers to a sound. These words actually imitate the sound they are supposed to refer to, such as “roar” or “buzz”. It has six syllables which make it quite
a mouthful to pronounce, even for native speakers of English.
31. Otorhinolaryngologist
How is it pronounced?
“oh-toh-rye-no-lar-ing-GOL-uh-jee”, emphasis on the seventh syllable.
What does it mean?
This nine syllable word is the formal title of a specific type of medical doctor. This is a doctor who specializes in treating eye, nose, and ear conditions. The simpler way to refer to these types of doctors is as an ENT doctors.
32. Panacea
How is it pronounced?
“pan-uh-SEE-uh”, emphasis on the third syllable
What does it mean?
This refers to a remedy for illness.
33. Phlegmatic
How is it pronounced?
“fleg-MAT-ik”, emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
This is someone who is easy-going. No matter what happens around them they remain calm and collected.
34. Penguin
How is it pronounced?
“peng-gwin”
What does it mean?
A penguin is a type of flightless sea bird. They are typically black and white.
35. Phenomenon
How is it pronounced?
“fi-NOM-uh-non”, emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
A phenomenon is an event that is observable,
36. Puerile
How is it pronounced?
“PYOO-er-il”, emphasis on the first syllable
What does it mean?
When you think something is “purile” you believe it is foolish or childish.
37. Quinoa
How is it pronounced?
Either “KEEN-wah,” “ken-WAG, or “KEN-o-ah”
What does it mean?
Quinoa is an ancient grain that has grown in popularity in the recent decade because of its nutritional values. It’s considered a “superfood” and is actually a Spanish word.
38. Quixotic
How is it pronounced?
“kwik-SOT-ik”
What does it mean?
This is someone who is very idealistic, to the point that their ideas are impractical or unrealistic.
39. Rural
How is it pronounced?
“roor-uhl”
What does it mean?
When you say a place is “rural” you mean that it is located in the countryside.
40. Sanguine
How is it pronounced?
“SANG-gwin”, emphasis on the first syllable
What does it mean?
Someone who is sanguine is cheerful and hopeful, even if they are facing a bad situation.
41. Scissors
How is it pronounced?
“sizzors”
What does it mean?
These are two bladed cutting instruments that you use to cut into thin materials such as paper or cloth.
42. Sixth
How is it pronounced?
“siksth”
What does it mean?
When you say something is the “sixth”, your saying it is item number six in a sequence.
43. Specific
How is it pronounced?
“spi-SIF-ik”, emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
This means that something is clearly defined.
44. Squirrel
How is it pronounced?
“skwi-rel”
What does it mean?
A squirrel is a bushy tailed rodent that lives in trees.
45. Staid
How is it pronounced?
“steyd”
What does it mean?
Someone who is staid is sedate and calm.
46. Successful
How is it pronounced?
“SUKH-ses-fuhl”, emphasis on the first syllable
What does it mean?
If you are successful in pronouncing this word, then you pronounced it correctly. When you are successful in something, you accomplished your aim or your purpose.
47. Surfeit
How is it pronounced?
“SUR-fit”, emphasis in the first syllable
What does it mean?
A surfeit is an extra amount of something.
48. Temperature
How is it pronounced?
“tem-PER-uh-cher”, emphasis on the second syllable
What does it mean?
This is a scientific measurement meant to gague the degree of heat that is present in an object or a substance.
49. Truculent
How is it pronounced?
“TRUHK-yeh-luhnt”, emphasis on the first syllable
What does it mean?
Someone who is truculent is quick tempered. They get into arguments or fights easily.
50. Worcestershire
How is it pronounced?
“WOOster-sher”
What does it mean?
A special sauce that originated in Worcester, a town in England. The town name is also pronounced the as “WOOster-sher”.
51. Zephyr
How is it pronounced?
“ZEF-er”, emphasis on the first syllable
What does it mean?
This refers to a breeze that is soft and mild.
Conclusion
If you want to learn how to correctly pronounce tricky vocabulary words, the answer is: Practice, practice, practice.
It’s also a really good idea to get a native language speaker as an English tutor who can listen to you say these words and help you with your pronunciation. You can also practice using these hard to pronounce words in conversation which will really help you learn them.
50 Difficult Words with Meanings. Really? Is it something that matters in the preparation for competitive exams? Or is it even something you should bother going through? The simple answer is YES. Good vocabulary can take you to places in competitive exams as well as in life. Are you ready to learn new difficult words with meanings? Here is the complete list of 50 difficult words with meanings!
This Blog Includes:
- Why Improve Your Vocabulary?
- 50 Difficult Words with Meanings and Examples
- How to Learn the Unfamiliar Words with Meaning?
- 20 Hard Words with Meanings
- Difficult English Words to Pronounce
- [BONUS] 50 Simple Words with Meaning
- Importance of Difficult Words in Competitive Exams
- Use of English Vocabulary in GMAT
- Use of English Vocabulary in GRE
- Best Vocabulary Books
- FAQs
Why Improve Your Vocabulary?
Here are some reasons why you must improve your vocabulary:
- Study abroad tests such as GRE, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, SAT, etc. include vocabulary sections to test your English proficiency. Hence, practising vocabulary daily can help you score well on these tests.
- Developing your vocabulary will sharpen your mind.
- Knowing the correct word can help you express your thoughts more accurately.
- Developing your vocabulary is a great way to improve your communication skills.
Must Read: Daily Used English Words
50 Difficult Words with Meanings and Examples
- Abnegation /abnɪˈɡeɪʃ(ə)n/: Renouncing a belief or doctrine
Example: “I believe in the abnegation of political power” - Aggrandize /əˈɡrandʌɪz/: enhance power, wealth or status
Example: It was an action intended to aggrandize the Frankish dynasty. - Alacrity /əˈlakrɪti/: Eagerness
Example: He accepted the invitation with alacrity. - Anachronistic /ənakrəˈnɪstɪk/: misplaced chronologically
Example: He is rebelling against the anachronistic morality of his parents. - Archetypal /ˌɑːkɪˈtʌɪp(ə)l/: quintessential of a certain kind
Example: She is the archetypal country doctor. - Ascetic /əˈsɛtɪk/: one who practices self-denial as part of spiritual discipline
Example: She has adopted an ascetic life of prayer, fasting, and manual labour. - Beguile /bɪˈɡʌɪl/: influence someone in a deceptive way
Example: He beguiled the voters with his good looks. - Blandishment /ˈblandɪʃm(ə)nt/: intentional flattery for persuasion
Example: The blandishments of the travel brochure. - Cajole /kəˈdʒəʊl/: persuade by flattery or coaxing
Example: He hoped to cajole her into selling the house. - Callous (/ˈkaləs/: disregard for others
Example: Her callous comments about the murder made me shiver. - Camaraderie /kaməˈrɑːd(ə)ri/: a sense of solidarity arising out of familiarity and sociability
Example: I like the enforced camaraderie of office life. - Circumlocution /ˌsəːkəmləˈkjuːʃ(ə)n/: expressing someone in an indirect way
Example: His admission came after years of circumlocution. - Clamour/ˈklamə/: proclaim something noisily
Example: The questions rose to a clamour in the meeting. - Cognizant /ˈkɒ(ɡ)nɪz(ə)nt/: awareness or realization
Example: Politicians must be cognizant of the political boundaries within which they work. - Construe /kənˈstruː/: interpret or assign meaning
Example: His words could hardly be construed as an apology. - Convivial /kənˈvɪvɪəl/: enjoyable atmosphere or jovial company
Example: It is a convivial cocktail party. - Demagogue /ˈdɛməɡɒɡ/: a political leader who uses rhetoric to appeal to prejudices and desires of ordinary citizens
Example: The minister is a gifted demagogue with particular skill in manipulating the press. - Denigrate /ˈdɛnɪɡreɪt/: belittle someone
Example: Many doom and gloom merchants denigrate their own country. - Didactic /dɪˈdaktɪk/: instructive with a moral intent
Example: It is a didactic novel that set out to expose social injustice. - Disparate /ˈdɪsp(ə)rət/: of a distinct kind
Example: They inhabit disparate worlds of thought.
Time to take a breather! You’re almost there! Let’s quickly finish up our list of 50 difficult words with meanings!
- Eclectic /ɪˈklɛktɪk/: deriving the best ideas and styles from a diverse range of sources
Example: My university is offering an eclectic mix of courses. - Egregious /ɪˈɡriːdʒəs/: reprehensible or outrageously bad
Example: It is an egregious abuse of copyright. - Embezzlement /ɛmˈbɛzlm(ə)nt/: misappropriation of funds
Example: He has charges of fraud and embezzlement. - Enervate /ˈɛnəveɪt/: lacking in vitality or mentally/ morally drained
Example: The weather has an enervating heat today. - Ephemeral /ɪˈfɛm(ə)r(ə)l/: lasting for a short duration
Example: Fads are ephemeral: new ones regularly drive out the old. - Equanimity /ˌɛkwəˈnɪmɪti/: maintaining composure in stressful situations
Example: He accepted both the good and the bad with equanimity. - Fatuous /ˈfatjʊəs/: devoid of intelligence
Example: It was a fatuous comment. - Gratuitous /ɡrəˈtjuːɪtəs/: uncalled for or unwarranted
Example: Gratuitous violence was reported. - Iconoclast /ʌɪˈkɒnəklast/: someone who criticizes or attacks cherished ideas and beliefs
Example: His son Gegnesius 722 was taken to Constantinople, where he won over to his opinions the iconoclast emperor, Leo the Isaurian. - Idiosyncratic /ˌɪdɪə(ʊ)sɪŋˈkratɪk/: something peculiar to an individual
Example: He emerged as one of the great, idiosyncratic talents of the nineties. - Incumbent /ɪnˈkʌmb(ə)nt/: something that is morally binding
Example: The government realized that it was incumbent on them to act. - Inveterate /ɪnˈvɛt(ə)rət/: habitual
Example: She is an inveterate gambler. - Libertarian /ˌlɪbəˈtɛːrɪən/: someone who cherishes ideas of free will
Example: He is studying libertarian philosophy. - Licentious /lʌɪˈsɛnʃəs/: someone who is promiscuous
Example: The ruler’s tyrannical and licentious behaviour. - Largess /lɑːˈ(d)ʒɛs/: Kindness or Generosity in bestowing gifts or money
Example: The king can’t bestow these costly jewels with such a largess - Multifarious /ˌmʌltɪˈfɛːrɪəs/: multifaceted or diverse
Example: The university offers multifarious activities. - Obdurate /ˈɒbdjʊrət/: being stubborn and refusing to change one’s opinion
Example: I argued this point with him, but he was obdurate. - Ostracism /ˈɒstrəsɪz(ə)m/: excluding a person or certain section from society by majority consent
Example: “I argued this point with him, but he was obdurate” - Pejorative /pɪˈdʒɒrətɪv/: showing disapproval
Example: Permissiveness is used almost universally as a pejorative term. - Pertinacious /ˌpəːtɪˈneɪʃəs/: someone who is stubbornly unyielding
Example: She worked with a pertinacious resistance to interruptions. - Phlegmatic /flɛɡˈmatɪk/: expressing little or no emotion
Example: He portrays the phlegmatic British character on the show. - Promulgate /ˈprɒm(ə)lɡeɪt/: to broadcast or announce
Example: These objectives have to be promulgated within the organization. - Quotidian /kwɒˈtɪdɪən/: something that is of daily occurrence
Example: The car sped noisily off through the quotidian traffic. - Recalcitrant /rɪˈkalsɪtr(ə)nt/: resistant to authority
Example: A class of recalcitrant fifteen-year-olds raided the store. - Sanctimonious /ˌsaŋ(k)tɪˈməʊnɪəs/: the pretence of being morally pious to exhibit moral superiority
Example: What happened to all the sanctimonious talk about putting his family first? - Solipsism /ˈsɒlɪpsɪz(ə)m/: the philosophical theory that only the self-existence is known and all that exists
Example: We cannot avoid the popularity of the solipsism mentality. - Travesty /ˈtravɪsti/: distorting facts or imitation
Example: The absurdly lenient sentence is a travesty of justice. - Ubiquitous /juːˈbɪkwɪtəs/: omnipresent or existing everywhere
Example: His ubiquitous influence was felt by the family. - Vicissitude /vɪˈsɪsɪtjuːd/: an unwelcome or unpleasant change in circumstances or fortune
Example: Her husband’s sharp vicissitudes of fortune. - Vociferous /və(ʊ)ˈsɪf(ə)rəs/: something or someone who is offensively/ conspicuously loud.
Example: He was a vociferous opponent of the takeover.
Good job! How many of these 50 Difficult Words with Meanings do you remember? No, don’t peep. Be honest. It’s okay even if you remember none of these hard words for now. The task of making yourself familiar with the new difficult words, especially those that we don’t use in our everyday conversations can seem impossible and exhaustive, but fret not for a few simple tricks can help you go a long way.
Must Read: 50 Difficult Phrases with Meaning
How to Learn the Unfamiliar Words with Meaning?
Our mind tends to be more active and learn better when we engage in activities that seem more fun, learning difficult words in English can seem boring but you can make this task more fun and exciting. You and your friends can make placards with difficult words and challenge each other with meanings, the fun activity will keep you engaged and help you keep those difficult words in mind.
If group activities don’t seem like the ideal situation for you, you can make lists of the difficult words and revise them before going to bed, our brain tends to revise the things we learn and observe through the day while we sleep so this might help you learn better.
20 Hard Words with Meanings
Have you memorized 50 difficult words? If yes, we have got another set of hard words that will help you ace competitive exams. Here is the list of hard words in English that you must remember:
- Abject /ˈabdʒɛkt/: Experienced or present to the maximum degree
“The result plunged her into abject misery” - Abscond /əbˈskɒnd,abˈskɒnd/: Leave hurriedly and secretly
“After her secret was revealed she absconded from the party” - Bereft /bɪˈrɛft/: Deprived of or lacking“
The house bereft of colours and painting” - Calumny /ˈkaləmni/: The making of false and defamatory statements about someone to damage their reputation
“He doesn’t seem like a person who would spread a calumny of others” - Capitulate /kəˈpɪtjʊleɪt/: Cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand
“Our forces were prepared to capitulate enemies” - Umbrage /ˈʌmbrɪdʒ/: Annoyance or offence
“She took umbrage of his rude comment.” - Emollient /ɪˈmɒlɪənt/: Having the quality of softening or soothing the skin
“I prefer using an emollient shampoo over others” - Dirge /dəːdʒ/: A lament for the dead, especially one forming part of a funeral rite
“When Rachel sang a dirge for her father, everyone had teary eyes” - Dispel /dɪˈspɛl/: make doubt disappear
“The calmness of the morning dispel Ross’s disappointment” - Epistolary /ɪˈpɪst(ə)ˌləri/: In the form of letters
“My grandparent’s college times epistolary collection is very interesting.” - Epistolary /ɪˈpɪst(ə)ˌləri/: In the form of letters or documents
Example: The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a perfect example of Epistolary. - Exacerbate /ɪɡˈzasəbeɪt,ɛkˈsasəbeɪt/: To make a situation, a bad feeling or a problem worse
Example: According to a survey stress can cause or exacerbate health conditions the humans. - Forbearance /fɔːˈbɛːr(ə)ns/: Self-control, Patience, Tolerance
Example: Without forbearance, Ray wouldn’t have cleared his house loan. - Gourmand /ˈɡʊəmənd,ˈɡɔːmənd/: A person who likes and enjoys eating food
Example: If you are a dessert gourmand, then you must try Kentucky Chocolate Pie. - Heterogeneous /ˌhɛt(ə)rə(ʊ)ˈdʒiːnɪəs/: Diverse in content or character
Example: I gave him heterogeneous ideas for his master’s thesis topics. - Impecunious /ˌɪmpɪˈkjuːnɪəs/: Having less money or no money at all
Example: After buying a new house, Sam was so impecunious that he couldn’t even afford Christmas cards. - Pellucid /pɪˈl(j)uːsɪd,pɛˈl(j)uːsɪd/: Clear, Easy to understand, comprehensible
Example: His pellucid explanation of why he wants to leave the job made higher authorities release him without any conditions. - Philanthropic /.fɪlənˈθrɒpɪk/: An organisation or person promoting the welfare of others
Example: Because of the financial aid received by the philanthropic bodies, Kate managed to complete her higher education. - Protean /ˈprəʊtɪən,prəʊˈtiːən/: Frequently changing, Trending, Versatile
Example: Vicky Kaushal is a protean actor who is capable of performing any kind of role. - Spurious /ˈspjʊərɪəs/: Illegitimate, False
Example: They made spurious claims of accidents just to get the insurance funds.
Difficult English Words to Pronounce
Want to know the hardest word? Here are the most difficult words to pronounce in English:
- Otorhinolaryngologist: oh-toh-RYE-noh-LAR-ən-GOL-ə-jee
- Anemone: uh·neh·muh·nee
- Anathema: uh·na·thuh·muh
- Worcestershire: vu·stuh·shuh
- Balmoral: bal·maw·ruhl
- Antidisestablishmentarianism: an·tee·dis·uh·sta·bluhsh·muhnt·euh·ree·uhn·i·zm
- Asterisk: a·stuh·ruhsk
- Brewery: broo·uh·ree
- Defibrillator: duh·fi·bruh·lei·tuh
- February: feh·bruh·ree
- Rural: roo·ruhl
- Floccinaucinihilipilification: Flok-si-no-si-ny-hil-i-pil-i-fi-kay-shuhn
- Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia: Hi-poh-po-toh-mon-stroh-ses-kwee-peh-dah-leejoh-foh-beeja
- Colonel: kuh·nuhl
- Choir: kvai·uh
- Chores: chawz
- Isthmus: is·muhs
- Library: lai·bruh·ree
- Strait: streit
- Gibraltar: ji·braal·tuh
[BONUS] 50 Simple Words with Meaning
Here is a collection of simple words with meanings that are commonly used in everyday life, some of which are as follows:
- Back: The rear surface of the human body from the shoulders to the hips.
- Base: The lowest part or edge of something, especially the part on which it rests or is supported.
- Behaviour: How one acts or conducts oneself, especially towards others.
- Belief: An acceptance that something exists or is true, especially one without proof.
- Birth: The emergence of a baby or other young from the body of its mother; the start of life as a physically separate being.
- Answer: A thing that is said, written, or done as a reaction to a question, statement, or situation.
- Approval: The belief that someone or something is good or acceptable.
- Bread: Food made of flour, water, and yeast mixture and baked.
- Breath: An inhalation or exhalation of air from the lungs.
- Brother: A man or boy concerning other sons and daughters of his parents.
- Building: It is a structure with a roof and walls, such as a house or factory.
- Burn: (Of a fire) produces flames and heat while consuming a material such as coal or wood.
- Business: It refers to a person’s regular occupation, profession, or trade.
- Butter: It is a pale yellow edible fatty substance made by churning cream and used as a spread or in cooking.
- Current: Belonging to the present time; happening or being used or done now.
- Damage: Physical harm that impairs the value, usefulness, or normal function of something.
- Danger: The possibility of suffering harm or injury.
- Daughter: A girl or woman concerning either or both of her parents.
- Day: Each of the twenty-four-hour periods, reckoned from one midnight to the next, into which a week, month, or year is divided, and corresponding to a rotation of the earth on its axis.
- Death: The action or fact of dying or being killed; the end of the life of a person or organism.
- Decision: A conclusion or resolution reached after consideration.
- Detail: An individual fact or item
- Development: The process of developing or being developed.
- Direction: A course along which someone or something moves.
- Comparison: A consideration or estimate of the similarities or dissimilarities between two things or people.
- Competition: The activity or condition of striving to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others.
- Connection: A relationship in which a person or thing is linked or associated with something else.
- Cook: To prepare (food, a dish, or a meal) by mixing, combining, and heating the ingredients.
- Country: A nation with its government, occupying a particular territory.
- Cover: To put something on top of or in front of (something), especially to protect or conceal it.
- Credit: A customer can obtain goods or services before payment, based on the trust that payment will be made in the future.
- Cry: To shed tears, typically as an expression of distress, pain, or sorrow.
- Care: The provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something.
- Cause: A person or thing that gives rise to an action, phenomenon, or condition.
- Chance: It is the probability of something desirable happening.
- Change: Make (someone or something) different; alter or modify.
- Cloth: A woven or felted fabric made from wool, cotton, or a similar fibre.
- Colour: The property possessed by an object of producing different sensations on the eye as a result of the way it reflects or emits light.
- Comfort: A state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint.
- Company: A commercial business.
- Art: The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.
- Attack: Take aggressive military action against (a place or enemy forces) with weapons or armed force.
- Attention: When a notice is taken of someone or something; the regarding of someone or something as interesting or important.
- Blood: The red liquid that circulates in the arteries and veins of humans and other vertebrate animals, carrying oxygen and carbon dioxide from the tissues of the body.
- Blow: (Of wind) move creating an air current.
- Body: The physical structure, including the bones, flesh, and organs, of a person or an animal.
- Account: A report or description of an event or experience OR a record or statement of financial expenditure and receipts relating to a particular period or purpose.
- Air: The invisible gaseous substance surrounding the earth, a mixture mainly of oxygen and nitrogen.
- Amount: A quantity of something, especially the total of a thing or things in number, size, value, or extent.
- Animal: A living organism that feeds on organic matter, typically having specialized sense organs and a nervous system and able to respond rapidly to stimuli.
Importance of Difficult Words in Competitive Exams
Some difficult words in English can be a pest for everyone, whether it be a native speaker or a new learner. There are multiple tough words in the language which are troublesome. It becomes impossible to get a hold of these words, especially for those who are preparing for competitive exams. Students, however, invent new techniques to ease the learning process like using music to learn new words or making flashcards with hard words on one side and meaning on the other. Another fascinating method for memorizing difficult words is to associate a story around it as remembering the story is much easier than retaining the meaning of a tough word.
We know that for all those who wish to pursue an education abroad or even appear for entrances, you must fare well in the verbal ability section of the test, it can seem like a never-ending task-learning new difficult words and their meanings, so we have curated a list of few difficult words that can give you an edge over others while you prepare for your SAT/ACT or GMAT/GRE as well as IELTS/TOEFL/PTE.
This list is also going to help students with English for competitive exams. Even those who enjoy the English language or wish to improve their vocabulary can go through our list and learn 50 Difficult Words with Meanings.
Must Read: Not Just Mandarin, These are the Most Difficult Languages in the World!
Use of English Vocabulary in GMAT
The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) mainly comprises 4 sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Analytical Writing, and Integrated Reasoning. A thorough English vocabulary is a must to score on 3 of these sections of the GMAT syllabus, with only the quantitative section relying more on your mathematical and logical skills. In the various sections of the GMAT exam pattern, students are assessed on their ability to read and understand the written material and apply those to the subsequent questions to conform to standard written English. Moreover, GMAT verbal reasoning questions and critical reasoning problems imperatively evaluate one’s knowledge of English proficiency in terms of reasoning and analytical skills.
Use of English Vocabulary in GRE
The GRE pattern includes 3 sections: Quantitative, Verbal, and Analytical Writing. While studying the GRE syllabus, you must master English grammar along with hundreds of hard words to get a good score on two of these three sections excluding the quantitative reasoning section.
Sample Question Under the Category of Sentence Equivalence: Although it does contain pioneering strategies, one would hardly describe the work as ____________.
- Original
- Orthodox
- Eccentric
- Conventional
- Innovative
- Trifling
The answer is (1) and (5)
Explanation: We first eliminate the words “Orthodox” and “Conventional” because they are very similar in meaning and do not complete the sentence sensibly. The word “Although” and “Hardly” are crucial signposts here. The work contains some pioneering strategies, but apparently, it is not completely a pioneering work.
Best Vocabulary Books
Why do you want to limit yourself to only 50 difficult words? Become a master of vocabulary with the help of reference books. Here is a list of some best-selling vocabulary books that can help you to ace the word meaning section of any competitive exam:
| Reference Books | Link |
| 1100 Words You Need to Know by Murray Brombert, Melvin Gordon | Click Here, to get your copy! |
| Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis | Click Here, to get your copy! |
| Verbal Advantage: Ten Easy Steps to a Powerful Vocabulary by Charles Harrington Elster | Click Here, to get your copy! |
| The Vocabulary Builder Workbook by Chris Lele | Click Here, to get your copy! |
| Six Weeks to Words of Power by Wilfred Funk | Click Here, to get your copy! |
| Little Red Book of Word Power by Terry O’Brien | Click Here, to get your copy! |
| Merriam-Webster’s Vocabulary Builder by Mary Wood Cornog | Click Here, to get your copy! |
| Instant Word Power by Norman Lewis | Click Here, to get your copy! |
FAQs
Q1. What are some difficult words?
Ans. Here are the 10 most confusing English words:
1. Literally
2. Ironic
3. Regardless
4. Colonel
5. Colonel
6. Nonplussed
7. Disinterested
8. Enormity
9. Accretion
10. Commensurate
Q2. Which are the difficult words in English?
Ans. Words that are hard to read, write, spell and understand are considered to be difficult words in English.
Q3. Do all words have vowels?
Ans. No, not all words need to have vowels. Here are some examples to show the same – Mythm, Sync, Rhythm, Hymn, etc.
Q4. Which is the best way to remember difficult words for a longer period?
Ans. Students should always read, write, and learn the words before attempting to put them together in sentences.
We hope this list of 50 Difficult Words with Meanings and these tricks will help you engage with new difficult words and help you in your test preparation. If you wish to seek further guidance on your test preparation and your career, you can check out Leverage Edu today and schedule a free consultation session now. Call us immediately at 1800 57 2000 for a free 30-minute counselling session.
By
Last updated:
November 11, 2022
They always somehow pop up.
I’m talking about tricky English words, of course!
Some English words can even have different meanings depending on the situation.
In this post, I’ll show you 15 common but difficult English words and phrases, plus my favorite tricks for dealing with complicated English vocabulary.
Contents
- 15 Confusing English Vocabulary Terms
-
- 1. Literally
- 2. Nonplussed
- 3. Left
- 4. Refrain
- 5. Bound
- 6. Overlook
- 7. Dust
- 8. Custom
- 9. Either
- 10. Original
- 11. Hold up
- 12. Back up
- 13. Throw out
- 14. Go off
- 15. Wound up
- How to Learn Difficult Words in English
-
- Listen to catchy song lyrics
- Make associations with art
- Describe your everyday routine
- Use context clues
- Get a high-quality dictionary
Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)
15 Confusing English Vocabulary Terms
English is constantly changing as a language, and it can also have a lot of contradictions (ideas that are opposed to one another). Here are some English words with opposite meanings:
1. Literally
Originally, this word meant something that was exact, and was the opposite of figuratively. Today, through much misuse, the word is most often used to exaggerate something, and make it seem bigger and more important.
Meaning #1: Exact and not exaggerated.
There were literally thousands of butterflies flying all around us.
Note: This means that if someone had counted all of the butterflies, there would have actually been thousands.
Meaning #2: Exaggerated for emphasis, and not necessarily true.
That is literally the ugliest bag in the world.
Note: There are likely other bags that are uglier than this bag, so it’s not actually the ugliest in the whole world.
2. Nonplussed
The word nonplussed comes from Latin, and means no more. It’s used to mean a state of being where nothing more can be said or done, like when you are so confused by something you don’t know how to react.
Because of the negative prefix non-, though, people confused this word to mean not surprised. Both meanings became true over the years.
Meaning #1: Extremely surprised and confused.
He was nonplussed at seeing his cat chase the neighbor’s dog up a tree.
Meaning #2: Not surprised or affected at all (mostly used in American English).
The surprise birthday party left him nonplussed; he had known about it for a week already.
3. Left
Here’s a word you probably use all the time without realizing it’s contradictory! It’s the past tense of the verb to leave.
When you leave your home, you are moving away from someplace. When you leave your keys at home, though, your keys are staying in one place.
Meaning #1: Departed, moved away from someplace.
He left his house at 6 in the morning to be on time for his flight.
Meaning #2: Remaining, something that’s not moved away.
He missed his flight because he accidentally left his passport in his bedroom.
4. Refrain
The more commonly used meaning of this word is to stop yourself from doing something, like when you refrain from commenting on someone’s terrible shoes.
Another meaning, though, is the opposite: to do something over and over. The word comes from two different roots, so technically, it’s a homonym (two words that are spelled the same and sound the same but have different meanings).
Meaning #1: To stop yourself from doing something.
Please refrain from making noise during the concert.
Meaning #2: A line or phrase that is repeated in a song or poem.
The chorus, or the repeated part of a song, is called the refrain.
5. Bound
If your train is east-bound, it’s moving in the direction of east. If it’s bound to the station with ropes, it’s not moving anywhere at all. This is another case of homonyms being mistaken for the same word, as the two meanings have two different origins.
Meaning #1: Restrained and held in place.
He’s bound to his city because of his excellent job. I don’t think he’ll ever move away.
Meaning #2: Moving towards a destination.
She’s bound for college this weekend, so we’re loading up the car on Friday afternoon.
6. Overlook
If you take the word apart, you can see why overlook has two different meanings. When you look over something, you are either examining it closely, or you’re failing to see it.
The second meaning of the word comes from the 1500s, when people started using it to mean to choose not to see something.
Meaning #1: To supervise and watch over something.
His job is to overlook the construction site and make sure everyone remains safe.
Meaning #2: To neglect or fail to see something.
Because he overlooked a big safety hazard, the construction had to be started over.
7. Dust
To dust can mean to either remove dust, or add it. You might dust some sugar on a cake you’re baking, or dust the shelves to clean them. This is one case where context is really important!
Meaning #1: To add small particles to a surface.
The policemen dusted the crime scene for prints.
Meaning #2: To remove small particles from a surface.
My mother is a clean freak; she dusts our tables and shelves at least twice a day.
8. Custom
Something that is customary is normal and expected in a certain culture. Something that is custom-made is one of a kind.
How did these two different meanings come about? It might have been thanks to an Americanism (a word or slang term specific to America) that eventually got accepted into the language.
Meaning #1: Typical behavior exhibited by many in a society.
Taking off your shoes when entering the house is not only a custom, it’s also polite.
Meaning #2: Especially made, one of a kind.
This violin was custom-made for the famous violinist who has really small hands.
9. Either
The word either is an interesting one, since the definition we use most often is not entirely correct. The word comes from an Old English word that meant both or each. When we use the word to mean both, we are using it the way it was used originally.
Meaning #1: One or the other.
You can choose between eating either this chicken meal or that beef one.
Meaning #2: Both.
There’s traffic on either side of the road.
10. Original
When you have an original idea, it’s a new idea that no one has thought of before. But when you speak of something original, you might also be referring to something old that has existed for a while.
Surprisingly, both versions use the same meaning: Something original means it’s the first, whether it’s the first copy of a document, or the first great idea.
Meaning #1: Something old and unchanged.
I liked the original version of the movie better, not the remake.
Meaning #2: Something new and unique.
I had an original idea for a company, but I have no money to start it.
11. Hold up
This phrase has several meanings that can be contradictory. To hold up can mean to support something, or to prevent it.
These meanings start to make sense when you consider the original definition of a hold-up: something used to hold a foundation in place, or to prevent a fall.
When you help someone through their troubles, you are holding them up (supporting them). You can also say that something held up, in the sense that it continued or lasted.
But when you stop someone from moving down a line, you are holding them up (stopping the line from moving).
Technically, the phrase even has a fourth meaning: to rob a place, like a bank.
You may have heard it used in a movie before, where the robbers “hold up the bank.” This means that the robbers prevented the bank from continuing its normal activities.
Meaning #1: To support something so it doesn’t fall down.
We need more poles and ropes to hold up the tent.
Meaning #2: To stay strong and continue despite troubles.
The tree held up to the rough hurricane winds, but the house was wrecked.
Meaning #3: To prevent something from continuing.
What’s the hold up? Can we please get going—I’m in a rush!
Bonus – Meaning #4: To rob a place like a bank.
The robbers held up the bank and left with all of the money.
12. Back up
“I’ve got your back!” That saying, which means “I’ll help you out,” can help explain why to back someone up means you support them. Or you might be literally backing up: moving away from something.
Meaning #1: To help or support someone by providing additional information.
If Ms. Smith doesn’t believe you when you tell her that your dog ate your homework, I’ll back you up. I’ll tell her how your dog chews on paper all the time!
Meaning #2: To retreat or move away.
I backed up slowly to get away from the growling dog.
13. Throw out
The key to understanding this phrase is the word throw, or the sometimes-used synonym “toss.” When you throw something, you are moving it away from yourself. That’s why throwing something out can mean to throw it into the garbage, or to throw it into the air for others to hear.
Meaning #1: To dispose of something, to put something in the garbage.
I threw out my old socks because they had holes in them.
Meaning #2: To suggest, to bring out a new idea.
When we had our brainstorming meeting, I threw out some new ideas that the boss liked.
14. Go off
The meaning of the word off is clear: closed, not working, the opposite of “on.”
On the other hand, an alarm or a bomb also goes off when the alarm sounds or when the bomb explodes. This definition is limited to firearms or things that are “explosive” like guns, or your alarm clock’s explosion of sound that wakes you up.
You can also go off on someone and “explode” at them—not in a literal way, but through aggressive actions like yelling, criticizing or complaining a lot.
Meaning #1: The word go off on its own means to close or stop working. It can even be used for food that’s gone bad or rotten.
This stew went off quickly because you didn’t put it in the fridge.
Meaning #2: The phrase to go off means to start or to turn on.
I didn’t hear my alarm when it went off this morning, so I was late to work.
Meaning #3: The phrase to go off on means behaving angrily and shouting at someone.
He was having a bad day and went off on me even though none of it was my fault.
15. Wound up
Before we had electricity, many things worked through gears. You had to wind up the gears to keep them running (the past tense is wound up). That’s why when someone is wound up (adjective), it’s like someone moved their gears to get them excited.
The verb “to wind” comes from the same root as “wander”: to move around or travel. That explains the third definition: When you wind up somewhere, you are ending your traveling and coming to a conclusion or a final place.
Meaning #1: To turn a knob or handle so something will work.
The last time I wound up my old clock was yesterday at noon. I have to wind it up every day or two, otherwise it stops working.
Meaning #2: To be excited or upset about something. (Informal adjective.)
The children will be completely wound up if you let them eat all of that candy today.
Meaning #3: To end up.
I originally thought I’d come back home, but I wound up staying at Sarah’s house last night.
How to Learn Difficult Words in English
When you come across a difficult English word that you want to learn, here’s what you can do:
Listen to catchy song lyrics
Some songs are naturally easy to remember because they’re fast-paced and easy to sing. You can take advantage of this for learning English vocabulary!
You can use a song lyrics search engine like Lyrics.com to find songs that have a vocabulary word you’re trying to remember. Try reading along with the lyrics next time you listen to a song, or turn the subtitles on if you’re watching a music video.
An online immersion program may simplify the process. FluentU, for example, has music videos on its platform, along with movie trailers, TV show clips and other interesting English media.
Every video has interactive captions that let you instantly look up unfamiliar words and add them to a multimedia flashcard deck for further review:
Here are a couple of difficult words that you can remember better with songs.
Examples:
- The word “millennial” means someone born roughly between the early 1980s and late 1990s. The 1975 song “Give Yourself a Try” uses this word in its lyrics (“I was 25… a Millennial that Baby Boomers like”):
- “Oblivious” means to not be conscious or aware of someone or something. There’s a song that’s actually called “Oblivious,” and it uses the word repeatedly throughout the lyrics. The singer talks about wishing he was oblivious to the troubles he had in a difficult relationship:
Make associations with art
When you catch yourself staring at a piece of art for a long period of time, whether it be in an art museum or online, that art is bound to stick in your mind. Associating difficult vocabulary terms with beautiful images is another way to help you remember them.
For the following words, we’ll use Leonardo da Vinci’s famous “Mona Lisa” painting to make our vocabulary associations. You can of course use any image that’s meaningful to you!
Examples:
- “Sustainable” means to be capable of being maintained or to be eco-friendly. Think of how “Mona Lisa” has sustained her mysterious smile for centuries! To remember the environmental aspect of this word, fix your mind on the green background behind her.
- “Ecstasy” is a state of elated bliss, and it’s often used to describe extreme emotion. In contrast, Mona Lisa has a famously subdued, flat smile. You can imagine how different she would look if she were in ecstasy—mouth open, arms waving!
Describe your everyday routine
You know your everyday routine inside and out. There are objects you see every day, like your mirror or coffee pot. These are opportunities to create memorable associations for hard English words.
You can also use this exercise with younger children who want to learn hard English words.
Examples:
- “Supersede” means to take the place of something or someone that’s no longer useful. Think of the brand new electric toothbrush you have:
“For a very long time, I’ve been using a scratchy, cheap old toothbrush. Today, my new electric toothbrush arrived and superseded the old one.”
- “Maintenance” means the upkeep of property or equipment, usually in reference to your home or belongings. You could talk about the oven you have to call your landlord to take care of:
“Today I called my apartment complex’s maintenance service to fix my oven, which I’ve been wanting to cook in for a very long time.”
Use context clues
Let’s say you’re taking an English exam. No Wi-Fi, no dictionary. And you still don’t understand what the heck a word means.
There’s another way you can figure it out. Can you guess what it is?
If you thought of the answer context clues, you’ve already won the game!
Context clues might not get you the exact meaning of the word, but they do give you a strong hint or idea (in other words, a clue!).
Examples:
- “Commodity” means a product that can be bought or sold.
“In his job before, my grandpa was in charge of the commodities between his farm and one of the factories that still runs even to this day. He sold his vegetables, fruits and other crops, and the factory bought them from him so they could produce food.”
From this passage, you can see that the commodities must be the same as the vegetables, fruits and other crops. You can figure out that they must be the products the narrator’s grandpa was selling.
- “Recommend” means to express a good opinion of something or suggest something to someone else.
“My classmates recommended the new pizzeria that had just opened across the street. I took their suggestion and enjoyed it very much.”
We can see that it involves a suggestion between two people or groups of people, with positive associations.
Get a high-quality dictionary
At a restaurant and confused by a word on the menu? Not sure what that character just said in an English TV show?
You need a good English dictionary to help you quickly learn the hard words you encounter.
My favorite online dictionary is Vocabulary.com, because it’s a great tool where you can get both the audio, definition and simplified outline of what the word means.
Compared to other dictionary apps or online dictionaries, this site breaks down what the word means in ways you can understand, whether you’re a beginner learner or a native speaker. It also gives you the option to see where the word can be found in other online resources.
Now you can use a dictionary to show off your vocabulary skills and boost your knowledge of hard English words every time you see one!
It looks like we’ve wound up at the end of this post! Start using these words and phrases and applying the tips above, and the meanings won’t feel so difficult anymore.
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