Interesting word with definition

Are you looking for some of the most inspiring English words with deep meanings?

I’m all about learning new vocabulary, so I compiled a list of such words. These are arcane elements of the lexicon that you normally wouldn’t hear in everyday speech. I embellished them with lush definitions that’ll tease your senses.

I was looking to build a glossary of words that could serve as magic spells, igniting your imagination and giving you that goose-bumpy sensation. Like secrets hiding in plain sight!

I did my best to include some of the rarest specimens here, but this list of deep English words is by no means complete.

“I believe in the magic and authority of the words.” – René Char

Here’s a list of 100 English words with deep meanings:

Bibliopole – a dealer in books, especially rare or decorative ones.

Callipygian – having shapely buttocks.

Sabaism – the worship of stars or of spirits in them, especially as practiced in ancient Arabia and Mesopotamia.

Mundivagant – archaic word for “wandering over the world.”

Woodnote – a natural and untrained musical note resembling the song of a bird.

Luminescence – The emission of light by a substance that has not been heated, as in fluorescence and phosphorescence.

Denouement – the outcome of a complex sequence of events.

Effervescence – the property of forming bubbles (or an appealingly lively quality).

Phosphenes – an impression of light that occurs without light entering the eye. It’s usually caused by stimulation of the retina (as by pressure on the eyeball when the lid is closed).

Audacity – the confidence to say or do what you want, despite difficulties, risks, or the negative attitudes of other people.

Desiderium – an ardent desire or longing (a feeling of loss or grief for something lost).

Related content: 115 Advanced Words in English

Ataraxia – calmness untroubled by mental or emotional disquiet.

Somnambulance – walking while asleep.

Psithurism – The sound of the wind rustling the leaves.

Lore – traditional knowledge about nature and culture that people get from their parents and other older people, not from books.

Ardor – an often restless or transitory warmth of feeling or extreme vigor and energy.

Alchemy – studies about substances through which the generation of gold and silver may be artificially accomplished.

Caravan – a company of travelers on a journey through a desert or hostile regions.

Macabre – having death as a subject: comprising or including a personalized representation of death.

Serendipity – the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.

Synchronicity – the coincidental occurrence of events and especially psychic phenomena (such as similar thoughts in widely separated persons or a mental image of an unexpected event before it happens). They seem related but are not explained by conventional mechanisms of causality.

Sidereal – relating to, or expressed in relation to stars or constellations.

Dreamtime – the time of creation in the mythology of the Australian aborigines.

Enubilous – Clear from fog, mist, or clouds.

Talisman – an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune.

Zenith – the highest point reached in the heavens by a celestial body (culminating point).

Pulchritudinous – great physical beauty and appeal.

Feuillemort – having the color of a faded leaf.

Vellichor – the wistfulness of a second-hand bookshop.

Aquiver – marked by trembling or quivering.

Ineffable – incapable of being expressed in words.

Elysian – resembling paradise, causing happiness , relating to the Elysian Fields.

Vigil – the act of keeping awake at times when sleep is customary .

Elope – to run away secretly with the intention of getting married usually without parental consent.

Yore – time past (especially long past).

Nefarious – flagrantly wicked or impious.

Related content: 50 Sophisticated Words in English

Troglodyte – a person, characterized by reclusive habits or outmoded or reactionary attitudes.

Utterance – an oral or written statement, a stated or published expression, power, style, or manner of speaking.

Magniloquent – speaking in or characterized by a high-flown often bombastic style or manner.

Cavalier – marked by or given to disdainful dismissal of important matters.

Apotheosis – elevation to a divine status.

Alcazar – a Spanish palace or fortress of Moorish origin.

Lazuline – of the color of lapis lazuli (vibrant azure blue ).

Evanescent – lasting only for a very short time, tending to vanish like vapor.

Exhortation – language intended to incite and encourage.

Equanimity – a calm mental state when you deal with a difficult situation.

Bravado – a brave and confident way of behaving, especially when you do not feel like this.

Doryphore – a pedantic and annoyingly persistent critic.

Disenthrall – to free from bondage.

Erudite – having or showing knowledge that is gained by studying.

Cosmopolitan – having broad international sophistication.

Felicide – the killing of a cat.

Gerontocracy – a form of social organization in which a group of old men or a council of elders dominates or exercises control.

Unbecoming – unsuited to the wearer, place, or surroundings.

Clandestine – done in secret.

Callow – without the experience of the world.

Epicure – one with sensitive and discriminating tastes, especially in food or wine.

Ignoble – low in character or purpose.

Parallelism – essential likeness.

Antiquarian – one who collects or studies antiquities.

Arborescent – having the nature of a tree.

Ambidextrous – having the ability to use both hands with equal skill or ease.

Scintillate – To admit or send forth sparks are little flashes of light.

Misanthropy – hatred of humankind.

Confidant – one to whom secrets are entrusted.

Perennial – continuing through many years.

Sagacious – able to discern and distinguish with wise perception.

Ravenous – furiously voracious or hungry.

Glimmer – a faint, wavering, unsteady light.

Heresy – an opinion or doctrine subversive of settled beliefs or accepted principles.

Verdant – green with vegetation.

Diaphanous – transparent.

Nonentity – a person or thing of little or no account.

Fallacy – any unsound or delusive mode of reasoning, or anything based on such reasoning.

Preternatural – exceeding what is natural or regular.

Ascetic – given to severe self-denial and practicing excessive abstinence and devotion.

Metaphysics – the principles of philosophy as applied to explain the methods of any particular science.

Vociferate – to utter with a loud and vehement voice.

Related content: 80 Most Beautiful Words in The World

Harbinger – something that foreshadows a future event: something that gives an anticipatory sign of what is to come.

Petrify – to convert into a substance of stony hardness and character.

Encomium – a formal or discriminating expression of praise.

Fastidious – hard to please.

Ultimatum – a final statement or proposal concerning terms or conditions.

Truculent – having the character or the spirit of a savage.

Congenial – having kindred character or tastes.

Octogenarian – a person of between 80 and 90 years.

Euphonious – pleasing to the ear.

Eudaimonia – the condition of human flourishing or of living well.

Maxim – a principle accepted as true and acted on as a rule or guide.

Parable – a brief narrative founded on the real scenes or events usually with a moral.

Eclipse – the obstruction of a heavenly body by its entering into the shadow of another body.

Blasé – sated with pleasure.

Aspiration – an earnest wish for that which is above one’s present reach.

Mobocracy – lawless control of public affairs by the mob or populace.

Anticlimax – a gradual or sudden decrease in the importance or impressiveness of what is said.

Usurious – taking unlawful or exorbitant interest on money loaned.

Contumacy – contemptuous disregard of the requirements of rightful authority.

Munificence – a given characterized by generous motives and extraordinary liberality.

Blaspheme – to indulge in profane oaths.

Annals – a record of events in their chronological order year-by-year.

Concordance – harmony.

Poignant – severely painful or acute to the spirit.

Allusion – an indirect and incidental reference to something without definite mention of it.

Incandescence – the state of being white or glowing with heat.

Subaquatic – being, formed, or operating underwater.

Continence – self-restraint with respect to desires appetites and passion.

Herbaceous – having the character of herbs.

Equilibrium – a state of balance.

Debonair – having a gentle or courteous bearing or manner.

Panacea – a remedy or medicine proposed for all professing to cure all diseases.

Archetype – an original model on which something is patterned.

Enrapture – to delight extravagantly or intensely.

Pariah – a member of a degraded class, a social outcast.

Anthropomorphous – having or resembling a human form.

Apostasy – a portal departure from one’s faith or religion.

Efflorescence – of the state of being flowery, or a flowery appearance.

Hypocrite – one who makes false professions of his views or beliefs.

Defamation – malicious and groundless injury done to the reputation or good name of another.

Heterogeneous – consisting of similar elements or ingredients of different kinds.

Antediluvian – of or relating to the period before the flood described in the scriptures.

Vacillate – move or sway in a rising and falling or wavelike pattern.

Hereditary – passing naturally from parent to child.

Benefactor – a doer of kindly and charitable acts.

Polytechnic – pertaining to embracing or practicing many arts.

Convalescence – the state of progressive restoration to health and strength after the cessation of disease.

Luxuriate – to live sumptuously.

Iridescent – exhibiting the changing rainbow colors, use of the interference of the light.

Clairvoyance – intuitive sagacity or perception.

Perpetuate – to preserve from extinction or oblivion.

Translucent – allowing the passage of light.

Polygamy – the fact or condition of having more than one wife or husband at once.

Propaganda – an institution or systematic scheme for propagating a doctrinal system.

Pandemonium – a fiendish or a riotous uproar.

Reminiscence – the calling to the mind of incidents within the range of personal knowledge or experience.

Melancholy – a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.

Euphoria – a feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness.

Enigma – a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand.

Ambivalence – the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.

Nostalgia – a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.

Catharsis – the process of releasing and thereby providing relief from strong or repressed emotions.

Solitude – the state of being alone or isolated, either physically or emotionally.

Discombobulate – to confuse or disconcert; upset; frustrate.

Obfuscate – to make something obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.

Quintessence – the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.

Esoteric – intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest.

Inscrutable – impossible to understand or interpret; enigmatic.

Vicissitude – a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.

Indefatigable – persisting tirelessly; untiring; showing no signs of getting tired.

Mellifluous – sweet or musical; pleasant to hear; smooth and rich.

Soporific – tending to induce drowsiness or sleep; causing lethargy or dullness.

Supercilious – behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others; arrogant and haughty.

Perfidious – deceitful and untrustworthy; disloyal.

Epiphany – a sudden and profound realization or insight.

Paradox – a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that, when investigated or explained, may prove to be well founded or true.

Discretion – the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information.

Ubiquitous – present, appearing, or found everywhere; omnipresent.

Capricious – given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior; impulsive.

Magnanimous – generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful than oneself.

Ethereal – extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world; heavenly or spiritual.

Cacophony – a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.

Disconcerting – causing one to feel unsettled; disturbing.

Ephemeral – lasting for a very short time; transitory.

Platitude – a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful; a cliché.

Vicarious – experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person.

Quixotic – exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical.

Serene – calm, peaceful, and untroubled; tranquil.

Supine – lying face upwards; failing to act or protest as a result of moral weakness or indolence.

Transcendent – beyond or above the range of normal or merely physical human experience; surpassing all others; supreme.

Epitome – a person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type.

Are you inspired by this list of deep English words?

The philosopher Terence McKenna once said that the world is made of language. He was definitely onto something because, by using unique words, we construct our reality.

The more beautiful words you have in your mental arsenal, the better you can describe what’s going on around you and within you.

This leads to the emergence of a mysterious sense of wonder and curiosity about the world that makes life worth living.

I hope that the list above inspired you and filled you with a sense of wonder and yearning for high literature .

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Last updated:

February 1, 2023

Have you ever heard someone say an English word you didn’t understand?

A lot of English words come from other cultures and languages, so English has a ton of interesting words that you may not be familiar with yet.

The words in this post are considered unique because they have unusual spelling, pronunciation and meanings.

For each word, there is a pronunciation guide from Merriam-Webster, as well as our own audio, plus a definition and an example sentence.

So, let’s look at 16 unique words in English that you can add to your vocabulary lists!

Contents

• 1. Flummox
• 2. Dowdy
• 3. Howdy
• 4. Nincompoop
• 5. Muesli
• 6. Phlegm
• 7. Baloney
• 8. Myopic
• 9. Bamboozle
• 10. Phyllo
• 11. Thwart
• 12. Brouhaha
• 13. Zeal
• 14. Pneumatic
• 15. Noxious
• 16. Flimflam
• Why Learn Unique Words in English?

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1. Flummox

Pronunciation: ˈflə-məks

When you read this word, does it jump out and make you a little confused?

If so, you were right to be confused and puzzled! That’s exactly what flummox (verb) means.

Whenever you see an unusual English word, you’re likely to be flummoxed for a bit until you check your dictionary and find out that its meaning is really quite simple.

2. Dowdy

Pronunciation: ˈdau̇-dē

This word looks simple but it’s unique in that it’s a pretty old word that’s not used often these days.

Dowdy (adjective) is used to describe something that’s old and shabby, not modern or stylish.

Maybe she’s having a bad day. I’ve never seen her wearing anything so dowdy before.

3. Howdy

Pronunciation: ˈhau̇-dē

This word rhymes with the previous word but means something completely different.

Howdy is a casual greeting that is not commonly used, but can add some flavor to your English.

4. Nincompoop

Pronunciation: ˈnin-kəm-ˌpüp

Here’s a word that not only looks funny but sounds funny too. Try saying it out loud!

What’s even funnier is that nincompoop (noun) means a silly person and is sometimes used jokingly to refer to someone who is not very smart.

My house is just down the road from the bus stop. I don’t understand how those nincompoops managed to lose their way.

5. Muesli

Pronunciation: ˈmyüs-lē

Notice the unusual spelling and pronunciation of this word, which was first used in 1939.

Muesli (noun) is a cereal consisting of rolled oats, fruits and nuts. It’s a popular breakfast food in Switzerland.

Eating a bowl of muesli in the morning is a healthy way to start your day.

6. Phlegm

Pronunciation: ˈflem

This word is unusual in that its spelling doesn’t reflect how it’s pronounced.

Phlegm (noun) is the viscous (thick) fluid that blocks your nose and throat when you have the flu.

Phlegm and a runny nose can really make you feel uncomfortable, so it’s best to take the day off and stay home till you feel better.

7. Baloney

Pronunciation: bə-ˈlō-nē

According to Merriam-Webster, this word was first used almost 100 years ago! Do you know what it means? Hint: It has nothing to do with balloons. 

Baloney (noun) simply means nonsense and is often used when you disagree with someone.

That’s baloney! Don’t believe a word that he says!

8. Myopic

Pronunciation: mī-ˈō-pik

You may find this word unique because of its unusual spelling.

Myopic (adjective) is the scientific word for nearsightedness, an eye condition in which you’re unable to see objects or images that are far away from you.

I’m myopic. I really need my eyeglasses. I can’t see without them.

9. Bamboozle

Pronunciation: bam-ˈbü-zəl

This word was first used around 300 years ago. That’s really old! Any idea what it means? Hint: It’s not related to bamboo.

To bamboozle (verb) someone means to trick or confuse them.

I went to buy a TV that was on sale but ended up being bamboozled into buying a more expensive unit.

10. Phyllo

Pronunciation: ˈfē-(ˌ)lō

Now, this is a pretty unique word not only because of the way it’s spelled but also because of how it’s pronounced.

Phyllo (noun) is a very thin dough that pastry chefs layer together to form a flaky pastry.

The orange-pecan baklava pie I had yesterday was made with phyllo pastry. Yummy!

11. Thwart

Pronunciation: ˈthwȯrt

This word dates back to the 13th century. Indeed, its spelling is similar to how some old English words are spelled, and it’s unique because it’s still used quite often today.

To thwart (verb) means to ruin (spoil) someone’s efforts or to prevent a plan from becoming successful.

We spent months preparing to climb Mount Everest. Who knew the weather would thwart our plans at the last minute?

12. Brouhaha

Pronunciation: ˈbrü-ˌhä-ˌhä

Here’s an old-fashioned, informal word with a funny pronunciation that was taken directly from French. Are you laughing now? I bet you are. Ha-ha!

Brouhaha (noun) simply means an uproar (upset) or a lot of anger and complaining.

What’s with all that brouhaha? I think he did the right thing by resigning from his position.

13. Zeal

Pronunciation: ˈzēl

Words that begin with the letter “z” are always interesting. This one is also unique because it comes from Latin and Greek and was first used in the 14th century.

Zeal (noun) refers to a strong interest or eagerness in pursuing something.

Her zeal for handmade designer shoes and handbags has made her the talk of the town.

14. Pneumatic

Pronunciation: nu̇-ˈma-tik

Does this word look unusual to you? I find the spelling very interesting. It’s not common for the letter “p” to be followed by “n.”

Pneumatic (adjective) is used to describe something that’s filled with air or gas or that uses air pressure.

Can you think of an example of something that’s pneumatic? That’s right. Car tires, bicycle pumps and vacuum cleaners are all pneumatic.

15. Noxious

Pronunciation: ˈnäk-shəs

Words with the letter “x” are also quite interesting. Note the pronunciation of this word, as it’s not usually how you would pronounce the letter “x.”

Noxious (adjective) often refers to something that’s dangerous, harmful or destructive to living things.

You shouldn’t be standing behind that bus and breathing in all those noxious fumes. It’s bad for your health.

16. Flimflam

Pronunciation: ˈflim-ˌflam

Now here’s a cute and funny word that’s been around since the 16th century, according to Merriam-Webster. Can you guess its meaning?

Flimflam (noun) refers to a trick or a ploy to deceive someone.

If you’re going to buy a used car online, you must be able to separate the flimflam from the facts.

Why Learn Unique Words in English?

Because unique and unusual words are so interesting, they can be both good fun and challenging to learn.

When you look at a unique English word, you may be puzzled about how to pronounce it, or you may wonder why it’s spelled the way it is.

Apart from satisfying curiosity and challenging yourself, it’s easy to see why knowing unique words can be useful if you’re someone who loves playing word games. Many of these words may not be used very often, which may put you at an advantage to win!

Finally, because unusual English words are used less often, using them will make you sound smart.

Remember, the more you practice with these unique English words the more fluent you’ll sound, and you’ll surely impress a lot of people! Learning unique words is one path to becoming an advanced English learner.

So there you have it—a list of unique English words you can add to your vocabulary!

To learn more unusual words by hearing them in context, watch an English-language movie or try a virtual immersion program. FluentU, for example, teaches English vocabulary using web videos enhanced with interactive captions.

So, go out there, have fun and impress everyone!

Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)