More difficult word families

Today, I’m sharing new color the chunk pages for seven different short a word families! There are TWO LEVELS of learning to make it easier for you to differentiate!

Find all our free Color the Chunk Phonics Pages or grab our Color the Chunk Phonics Bundle! They are a fantastic way to help beginning or struggling readers use word chunks to read words.

By the way, I’ve enjoyed reading emails from several readers who are using our color the chunk pages and having great success with their dyslexic readers! Woot!

Short a Word Families - Color the Chunk - free - This Reading Mama

*This post contains affiliate links.
**Scroll to the END of the post and click the teal download button to grab your freebie!

Color the Chunk – Short a Word Families

Once learners understand the skill of sounding out CVC words like this c-a-t, introducing word families is a great way to help them chunk and read new words.

And these color the chunk pages are a fun way to give it a go! These short a word family pages include -at, -ad, -ag, -an, -ap, -ack, & -ash.

Learners find the short a word chunk in each word, color it in, and use that chunk to read the words. There are two levels of color the chunk pages included, so read about those below.

Level 1 {pictured above} has simple, CVC short a word family words in the top section. Below the line are more difficult word family words with blends and digraphs. Learners may need more support with those words.

color the chunk -at word family level 2 page

Level 2 has words takes it a step further with short a word families. The top still has CVC short a word family words and the bottom still has harder words with blends & digraphs. BUT, level 2 pages include nonsense words, too. This requires learners to read the words AND circle only the real words. This adds a component of comprehension to the task!

If you don’t understand why I used nonsense words, you might want to read my article, Using Nonsense Words with Readers. You can even download a free page with nonsense words for several phonics skills!

Keep scrolling to grab the freebies or grab the entire bundle pack at my shop.

Download these free Color the Chunk Pages below:

Enjoy teaching!
~Becky

Introduction

Are you struggling to help your child understand how to read? There are many things that you can do to help encourage literacy, one of which includes teaching your child word families.

Word families are the grouping of common letters into similar word lists. In short, if your child understands the word family, they’ll be able to understand a list of words with the word family in common.

This guide will not only explain the various word families in the English language but also give you tips and tricks on how to increase reading comprehension.

A word family is a group of letters that are combined to make a specific sound. For example, -ack, -am-, and -at are all word families.

The purpose of understanding a word family is the notion that if you can identify one word, you should be able to identify many others with the common word family. So, if your child can sound out “back,” then they should easily be able to sound out “smack, tack, and rack” as well.

This is also the foundation of understanding how words work together to create a rhyme. Since these words all sound the same, you can combine them to make them have the same flow and rhyme scheme.

Word families increase with difficulty as children age. The first world families that are taught are generally simple, like “at” (for “cat, bat, and sat”). As children age, they will be asked to identify more complex word families like “ain” (or “rain, refrain, and stain”).

Word families and sight words work together to help children learn how to read. All of these words are high-frequency words, which means that children will see them often. When children can identify them quickly and easily, they can become more persuasive writers.

What are Word Families?

Examples

According to Wylie and Durrell, there are 37 common word families in the English language. In actuality, there are many more than 37, but these are the highest frequency words.

Many popular nursery rhymes include these 37 word families. They are simple because each letter is pronounced the way it should be. The only time that words are not pronounced as they are spelled is in the event of two vowels being next to each other. When you encounter one of these two-vowel words (like rain), the rule is to pronounce the first vowel only.

Below is a list of examples for each of the 37 most popular word families.

ack ain ake ale all ame
attack brain awake ale all blame
back chain bake bale ball came
black explain brake dale call fame
crack gain cake gale fall flame
hack grain fake kale gall frame
knack main flake male hall game
lack pain Jake pale install lame
pack plain lake sale mall name
quack rain make scale small same
rack slain quake stale squall shame
snack sprain rake tale stall tame
stack stain sake whale tall  
tack strain shake   thrall  
whack train snake   wall  
  vain stake      
    take      
    wake      
an ank ap ash at ate
an bank cap ash at abate
ban blank clap bash bat ate
bran crank flap brash brat crate
can dank gap cash cat date
clan drank lap clash chat debate
Dan flank map crash fat fate
fan frank nap dash flat gate
flan Hank rap flash gnat grate
Fran plank sap gash hat hate
Jan prank scrap gnash mat Kate
Japan rank slap hash pat late
man sank snap lash rat mate
pan shrank strap mash sat plate
pecan spank tap rash slat rate
plan tank trap sash spat relate
ran thank wrap slash tat sate
scan yank yap smash that skate
span   zap splash vat state
Stan     stash    
tan     thrash    
than     trash    
van          
aw ay eat ell est ice
caw away beat bell best dice
claw bay cheat cell chest ice
draw bray cleat dell crest mice
flaw clay eat dwell jest nice
gnaw day feat farewell nest price
jaw decay greet fell pest rice
law delay heat hell quest slice
paw display meat sell rest spice
raw flay neat shell test splice
saw gay peat smell unrest thrice
slaw gray pleat spell vest twice
straw hay seat swell west vice
thaw jay treat tell zest  
  lay wheat well    
  may   yell    
  nay        
  okay        
  pay        
  play        
  pray        
  quay        
  ray        
  relay        
  replay        
  say        
  slay        
  spray        
  stay        
  stray        
  sway        
  they        
  today        
  tray        
  way        
ick ide ight ill in ine
brick bride bright bill bin brine
chick decide delight chill chin decline
click glide fight dill din define
flick hide flight drill fin dine
kick pride fright fill gin fine
lick ride height frill grin line
nick side knight gill in mine
pick slide light grill kin nine
quick stride might hill pin pine
Rick tide night ill shin shine
sick wide plight Jill skin shrine
slick   right kill sin sine
stick   sight krill spin spine
thick   slight mill thin swine
tick   tight pill tin tine
trick   tonight quill twin twine
wick     shrill win vine
      sill within whine
      skill   wine
      spill    
      still    
      swill    
      thrill    
      thrill    
      till    
      trill    
      will    
ing ink ip it ock op
bring blink blip admit block coop
cling brink chip bit clock droop
fling drink dip fit cock hoop
king fink drip flit crock loop
ping ink flip grit dock scoop
ring link grip hit flock snoop
sing mink hip it frock stoop
sling pink lip kit hock troop
spring rink nip knit jock  
sting shrink quip lit knock  
string sink rip mit lock  
swing stink ship pit mock  
thing think sip quit o’clock  
wing wink skip sit rock  
wring   slip skit shock  
zing   snip slit smock  
    strip snit sock  
    tip spit stock  
    trip split    
    whip twit    
    zip wit    
ore ot uck ug ump unk
bore apricot buck bug bump bunk
chore blot chuck dug clump chunk
core bot cluck hug dump drunk
fore clot duck jug grump dunk
gore cot luck lug hump flunk
lore dot muck mug jump funk
more forgot puck plug lump hunk
ore got pluck pug plump junk
pore hot stuck rug pump lunk
score jot struck shrug rump plunk
shore knot truck smug slump punk
sore lot tuck snug stump skunk
spore not yuck thug thump slunk
store plot   tug trump spunk
swore pot       sunk
tore rot       trunk
wore shot        
yore slot        
  spot        
  tot        
  trot        

Tips and Tricks for Teaching Reading

When beginning to teach your child to read, you will want to blend information from word families and sight words to help your child start identifying words.

To do this, pick a list of words that matches their age-level and start practicing those words only. When your child can identify these words in a text, it means that they are beginning to see the patterns and identify those high-frequency words in writing.

When you begin teaching word families, start with one of the easier ones first, like am. Once they can identify am, sound it out, and find words that end in am, move to a more complicated word.

Once your child understands how to form these word families into actual words, they will be able to spell and read them!

If your child struggles with some of the foundational skills associated with reading, consider adding a workbook to their daily practice. ArgoPrep has worked with educators to deliver high-quality practice that will entertain, educate, and excite your child. These workbooks are especially helpful for students who might need a little extra attention to reading comprehension, English language skills, and more.

begin teaching word families

Conclusion

My daughter loves to build things with Magnatiles. She will grab all of the tiles and construct fantastic castles, homes, and more with the simple building tools. But what happens when she builds a weak base? We all know. It can’t stand, it’s not steady, and it falls.

Learning how to read can kind of be similar to building a weak structure. Identifying something as simple as a word family seems like a mindless activity for us. Still, for kids, it’s necessary to understand the increasingly tricky skills that kids learn for reading comprehension.

learn word families

Taking the time to learn word families will help them identify words more quickly and spell with more accuracy. This list of 37 high-frequency word families is a great place to start, but once your child masters it, consider researching more challenging word families to increase comprehension!

Тема словообразования одна из самых обширных в английском языке. Мы можем образовывать глаголы от существительных, существительные от прилагательных и глаголов и т.д. В данном уроке рассмотрим наиболее употребимые слова, которые образуются друг от друга при помощи префиксов и суффиксов.

Не существует единого правила словообразования в английском языке, поэтому мы рассмотрим наиболее характерные примеры словообразования, которые могут вам пригодиться в личном общении, для сдачи экзаменов, понимания речи собеседника или чтения текста на английском.

Структура слова и механизм словообразования

Несколько упрощая можно представить слово как корень + аффикс. Корень — это часть слова, которая может употребляться самостоятельно, а аффикс — морфема, которая присоединяется к корню слова и не употребляется самостоятельно.

Например, прибавление аффиксов -er, -ment, un-, ed к слову employ образует другие однокоренные слова, относящиеся к разным частям речи:

  • employ — держать на службе
  • employer — работодатель
  • employment — служба, работа
  • employed — трудоустроенный
  • unemployed — безработный и др.

К аффиксам относятся префиксы (un-, in-, dis- и др) — ставятся перед корнем, и суффиксы (-ly, -ment, -er, -ence, -ance и др) — ставятся после корня.

Обратите внимание, что аффиксы могут быть:

  • флексионными — меняют только такие грамматические значения слова, как множественное число, притяжательный падеж, указание на лицо и число
  • словообразовательными — создают новое слово, преобразуют одну часть речи в другую

Сравните примеры:

Флексионные аффиксы:

He goes to work every day.

Сars are expensive.

My father’s car.

Словообразовательные аффиксы:

differ (различать, глагол) — difference (различие, существительное)

salt (соль, существительное) — salty (соленый, прилагательное)

slow (медленный, прилагательное) — slowly (медленно, наречие)

Родственные слова (Word Family)

Слова, образованные от одного корня за счет словообразующих аффиксов, объединяются в группу слов, которую в английском языке называют Word Family. Например:

  • exploit — эксплуатировать (глагол)
  • exploitation — эксплуатация (существительное)
  • exploitative — эксплуататорский (прилагательное)
  • exploiter — эксплуататор (существительное)
  • exploitability — годность к эксплуатированию (существительное)

Ниже мы рассмотрим с помощью каких суффиксов и префиксов образуются существительные, прилагательные и наречия от глагола и других частей речи.

Образование существительных

Существительные образуются от глаголов и прилагательных с помощью разных суффиксов: -y, -ence, -ance, -al, -ment, -tion, -ion. Рассмотрим эти случаи словообразования подробнее и с примерами.

Образование существительного с помощью суффикса -y

deliver — delivery

доставлять — доставка

discover — discovery

открывать — открытие

injure — injury

травмировать — травма

jealous — jealousy

ревновать — ревность

difficult — difficulty

сложный — сложность

Образование существительного с помощью суффикса -ence

prefer — preference

предпочитать — предпочтение

differ — difference

различать — различие

refer — reference

отсылать — отсылка

interfere — interference

вмешиваться — вмешательство

confident — confidence

уверенный — доверие

independent — independence

независимый — независимость

violent — violence

жестокий — жестокость

Образование существительного с помощью суффикса -ance

annoy — annoyance

раздражать — раздражение

attend — attendance

посещать — посещение

assist — assistance

помогать — помощь

important — importance

важный — важность

Образование существительного с помощью суффикса -al

deny — denial

отказывать — отказ

propose — proposal

предлагать — предложение

approve — approval

одобрять — одобрение

disapprove — disapproval

не одобрять — неодобрение

Образование существительного с помощью суффикса -ment

improve — improvement

улучшать — улучшение

encourage — encouragement

поощрять — поощрение

arrange — arrangement

организовывать — организация

Образование существительного с помощью суффикса -tion

repeat — repetition

повторять — повторение

solve — solution

решать — решение

introduce — introduction

представлять — представление

explain — explanation

объяснять — объяснение

Образование существительного с помощью суффикса -ion

prevent — prevention

предотвращать — предотвращение

elect — election

выбирать — выбор

protect — protection

защищать — защита

Образование глаголов

Глаголы от прилагательных чаще всего образуются при помощи суффикса -en:

short — shorten

короткий — укоротить

dark — darken

темный — затемнять

sweet — sweeten

сладкий — подсластить

bright — brighten

яркий — осветлить, прояснить

Образование прилагательных

Прилагательные могут образовываться от глаголов и существительных при помощи суффиксов: -able, — ive, -ic, -al, -y, -ly, -ous.

Образование прилагательных с помощью суффикса -able

suit — suitable

подходить — подходящий

change — changeable

изменять — изменяемый

depend — dependable

зависеть — зависящий

enjoy — enjoyable

наслаждаться — приятный

Образование прилагательных с помощью суффикса -ive

attract — attractive

привлекать — привлекательный

create — creative

творить — творчески

talk — talkative

говорить — разговорчивый

Образование прилагательных с помощью суффикса -ic/-al

energy — energetic

энергия — энергетический

science — scientific

наука — научный

climate — climatic

климат — климатический

democracy — democratic

демократия — демократичный

grammar — grammatical

грамматика — грамматический

practice — practical

практика — практичный

Образование прилагательных с помощью суффикса -y/-ly

salt — salty

соль — соленый

risk — risky

риск — рискованный

rain — rainy

дождь — дождливый

friend — friendly

друг — дружелюбный

Образование прилагательных с помощью суффикса -ous

poison — poisonous

яд — ядовитый

nerve — nervous

нервы — нервный

danger — dangerous

опасность — опасный

humour — humorous

юмор — юмористический

Отрицательные префиксы

Отрицательные префиксы non-, dis-in-im-, ir-, un-, il- чаще всего меняют значение слова на противоположное, при этом слово остается той же частью речи.

order (сущ) — disorder (сущ)

порядок — беспорядок

appropriate (прил) — inappropriate (прил)

подходящий — неподходящий

polite (прил) — impolite (прил)

вежливый — невежливый

lock (гл) — unlock (гл)

заблокировать — разблокировать

Другие случаи

В английском языке (как и в русском) одно и то же слова может являться разной частью речи: существительным, прилагательным, глаголом, наречием. Например, возьмем слово «fast» и посмотрим какой частью речи оно может быть в разных контекстах:

  • a fast — пост (существительное)
  • a fast car — быстрая машина (прилагательное)
  • to fast — поститься (глагол) 
  • fast — быстро (наречие): He drives fast — Он едет быстро

Это важно знать при переводе и восприятии английской речи.

Многие существительные и глаголы, образованные от одного корня, различаются чередованием корневого гласного и изменением написания слова:

  • breath — breathe
  • life — live
  • relief — relieve
  • proof — prove
  • advice — advise
  • choice — choose
  • loss — lose
  • death — die

Кроме этого существуют отдельные случаи, которые надо запомнить. Например:

  • live — life — living — alive — lively
  • polite — politeness — impolite
  • forget — forgetfulness — forgetful
  • fail — failure
  • know — knowledge — unknown
  • и др

Заключение

В этом уроке мы рассмотрели механизм словообразования в английском языке. Привели примеры образования существительных, прилагательных, наречий и глаголов путем прибавления суффиксов и префиксов к корню слова.

Если у вас остались вопросы — задавайте их в комментариях.

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:
  1. Why Improve Your Vocabulary?
  2. 50 Difficult Words with Meanings and Examples
  3. How to Learn the Unfamiliar Words with Meaning?
  4. 20 Hard Words with Meanings
  5. Difficult English Words to Pronounce
  6. [BONUS] 50 Simple Words with Meaning
  7. Importance of Difficult Words in Competitive Exams
  8. Use of English Vocabulary in GMAT
  9. Use of English Vocabulary in GRE
  10. Best Vocabulary Books 
  11. FAQs

Why Improve Your Vocabulary?

Here are some reasons why you must improve your vocabulary:

  1. 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.
  2. Developing your vocabulary will sharpen your mind.
  3. Knowing the correct word can help you express your thoughts more accurately.
  4. 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

  1. Abnegation /abnɪˈɡeɪʃ(ə)n/: Renouncing a belief or doctrine
    Example: “I believe in the abnegation of political power”
  2. Aggrandize /əˈɡrandʌɪz/: enhance power, wealth or status
    Example: It was an action intended to aggrandize the Frankish dynasty.
  3. Alacrity /əˈlakrɪti/: Eagerness
    Example: He accepted the invitation with alacrity.
  4. Anachronistic /ənakrəˈnɪstɪk/: misplaced chronologically
    Example: He is rebelling against the anachronistic morality of his parents.
  5. Archetypal /ˌɑːkɪˈtʌɪp(ə)l/: quintessential of a certain kind
    Example: She is the archetypal country doctor.
  6. 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.
  7. Beguile /bɪˈɡʌɪl/: influence someone in a deceptive way
    Example: He beguiled the voters with his good looks.
  8. Blandishment /ˈblandɪʃm(ə)nt/: intentional flattery for persuasion
    Example: The blandishments of the travel brochure.
  9. Cajole /kəˈdʒəʊl/: persuade by flattery or coaxing
    Example: He hoped to cajole her into selling the house.
  10. Callous (/ˈkaləs/: disregard for others
    Example: Her callous comments about the murder made me shiver.
  11. Camaraderie /kaməˈrɑːd(ə)ri/: a sense of solidarity arising out of familiarity and sociability
    Example: I like the enforced camaraderie of office life.
  12. Circumlocution /ˌsəːkəmləˈkjuːʃ(ə)n/: expressing someone in an indirect way
    Example: His admission came after years of circumlocution.
  13. Clamour/ˈklamə/: proclaim something noisily
    Example: The questions rose to a clamour in the meeting.
  14. Cognizant /ˈkɒ(ɡ)nɪz(ə)nt/: awareness or realization
    Example: Politicians must be cognizant of the political boundaries within which they work.
  15. Construe /kənˈstruː/: interpret or assign meaning
    Example: His words could hardly be construed as an apology.
  16. Convivial /kənˈvɪvɪəl/: enjoyable atmosphere or jovial company
    Example: It is a convivial cocktail party.
  17. 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.
  18. Denigrate /ˈdɛnɪɡreɪt/: belittle someone
    Example: Many doom and gloom merchants denigrate their own country.
  19. Didactic /dɪˈdaktɪk/: instructive with a moral intent
    Example: It is a didactic novel that set out to expose social injustice.
  20. 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!

50 Difficult Words with Meanings
  1. Eclectic /ɪˈklɛktɪk/: deriving the best ideas and styles from a diverse range of sources
    Example: My university is offering an eclectic mix of courses.
  2. Egregious /ɪˈɡriːdʒəs/: reprehensible or outrageously bad
    Example: It is an egregious abuse of copyright.
  3. Embezzlement /ɛmˈbɛzlm(ə)nt/: misappropriation of funds
    Example: He has charges of fraud and embezzlement.
  4. Enervate /ˈɛnəveɪt/: lacking in vitality or mentally/ morally drained
    Example: The weather has an enervating heat today.
  5. Ephemeral /ɪˈfɛm(ə)r(ə)l/: lasting for a short duration
    Example: Fads are ephemeral: new ones regularly drive out the old.
  6. Equanimity /ˌɛkwəˈnɪmɪti/: maintaining composure in stressful situations
    Example: He accepted both the good and the bad with equanimity.
  7. Fatuous /ˈfatjʊəs/: devoid of intelligence
    Example: It was a fatuous comment.
  8. Gratuitous /ɡrəˈtjuːɪtəs/: uncalled for or unwarranted
    Example: Gratuitous violence was reported.
  9. 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. 
  10. Idiosyncratic /ˌɪdɪə(ʊ)sɪŋˈkratɪk/: something peculiar to an individual
    Example: He emerged as one of the great, idiosyncratic talents of the nineties.
  11. Incumbent /ɪnˈkʌmb(ə)nt/: something that is morally binding
    Example: The government realized that it was incumbent on them to act.
  12. Inveterate /ɪnˈvɛt(ə)rət/: habitual
    Example: She is an inveterate gambler.
  13. Libertarian /ˌlɪbəˈtɛːrɪən/: someone who cherishes ideas of free will
    Example: He is studying libertarian philosophy.
  14. Licentious /lʌɪˈsɛnʃəs/: someone who is promiscuous
    Example: The ruler’s tyrannical and licentious behaviour.
  15. 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
  16. Multifarious /ˌmʌltɪˈfɛːrɪəs/: multifaceted or diverse
    Example: The university offers multifarious activities.
  17. Obdurate /ˈɒbdjʊrət/: being stubborn and refusing to change one’s opinion
    Example: I argued this point with him, but he was obdurate.
  18. 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”
  19. Pejorative /pɪˈdʒɒrətɪv/: showing disapproval
    Example: Permissiveness is used almost universally as a pejorative term.
  20. Pertinacious /ˌpəːtɪˈneɪʃəs/: someone who is stubbornly unyielding
    Example: She worked with a pertinacious resistance to interruptions.
  21. Phlegmatic /flɛɡˈmatɪk/: expressing little or no emotion
    Example: He portrays the phlegmatic British character on the show.
  22. Promulgate /ˈprɒm(ə)lɡeɪt/: to broadcast or announce
    Example: These objectives have to be promulgated within the organization.
  23. Quotidian /kwɒˈtɪdɪən/: something that is of daily occurrence
    Example: The car sped noisily off through the quotidian traffic.
  24. Recalcitrant /rɪˈkalsɪtr(ə)nt/: resistant to authority
    Example: A class of recalcitrant fifteen-year-olds raided the store.
  25. 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?
  26. 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.
  27. Travesty /ˈtravɪsti/: distorting facts or imitation
    Example: The absurdly lenient sentence is a travesty of justice.
  28. Ubiquitous /juːˈbɪkwɪtəs/: omnipresent or existing everywhere
    Example: His ubiquitous influence was felt by the family.
  29. Vicissitude /vɪˈsɪsɪtjuːd/: an unwelcome or unpleasant change in circumstances or fortune
    Example: Her husband’s sharp vicissitudes of fortune.
  30. 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?

50 Difficult Words with Meanings

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:

  1. Abject /ˈabdʒɛkt/: Experienced or present to the maximum degree
    “The result plunged her into abject misery”
  2. Abscond /əbˈskɒnd,abˈskɒnd/: Leave hurriedly and secretly
    “After her secret was revealed she absconded from the party”
  3. Bereft /bɪˈrɛft/: Deprived of or lacking“
    The house bereft of colours and painting”
  4. 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”
  5. Capitulate /kəˈpɪtjʊleɪt/: Cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand
    “Our forces were prepared to capitulate enemies”
  6. Umbrage /ˈʌmbrɪdʒ/: Annoyance or offence
    “She took umbrage of his rude comment.”
  7. Emollient /ɪˈmɒlɪənt/: Having the quality of softening or soothing the skin
    “I prefer using an emollient shampoo over others”
  8. 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”
  9. Dispel /dɪˈspɛl/: make doubt disappear
    “The calmness of the morning dispel Ross’s disappointment”
  10. Epistolary /ɪˈpɪst(ə)ˌləri/: In the form of letters
    “My grandparent’s college times epistolary collection is very interesting.”
  11. Epistolary /ɪˈpɪst(ə)ˌləri/: In the form of letters or documents
    Example: The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a perfect example of Epistolary.
  12. 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.
  13. Forbearance /fɔːˈbɛːr(ə)ns/: Self-control, Patience, Tolerance
    Example: Without forbearance, Ray wouldn’t have cleared his house loan.
  14. 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.
  15. Heterogeneous /ˌhɛt(ə)rə(ʊ)ˈdʒiːnɪəs/: Diverse in content or character
    Example: I gave him heterogeneous ideas for his master’s thesis topics.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. Protean /ˈprəʊtɪən,prəʊˈtiːən/: Frequently changing, Trending, Versatile
    Example: Vicky Kaushal is a protean actor who is capable of performing any kind of role.
  20. 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:

  1. Otorhinolaryngologist: oh-toh-RYE-noh-LAR-ən-GOL-ə-jee
  2. Anemone: uh·neh·muh·nee
  3. Anathema: uh·na·thuh·muh
  4. Worcestershire: vu·stuh·shuh
  5. Balmoral: bal·maw·ruhl
  6. Antidisestablishmentarianism: an·tee·dis·uh·sta·bluhsh·muhnt·euh·ree·uhn·i·zm
  7. Asterisk: a·stuh·ruhsk
  8. Brewery: broo·uh·ree
  9. Defibrillator: duh·fi·bruh·lei·tuh
  10. February: feh·bruh·ree
  11. Rural: roo·ruhl
  12. Floccinaucinihilipilification: Flok-si-no-si-ny-hil-i-pil-i-fi-kay-shuhn
  13. Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia: Hi-poh-po-toh-mon-stroh-ses-kwee-peh-dah-leejoh-foh-beeja
  14. Colonel: kuh·nuhl
  15. Choir: kvai·uh
  16. Chores: chawz
  17. Isthmus: is·muhs
  18. Library: lai·bruh·ree
  19. Strait: streit
  20. Gibraltar: ji·braal·tuh
Source: The Urban Fight

[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:

  1. Back: The rear surface of the human body from the shoulders to the hips.
  2. Base: The lowest part or edge of something, especially the part on which it rests or is supported.
  3. Behaviour: How one acts or conducts oneself, especially towards others.
  4. Belief: An acceptance that something exists or is true, especially one without proof.
  5. Birth: The emergence of a baby or other young from the body of its mother; the start of life as a physically separate being.
  6. Answer: A thing that is said, written, or done as a reaction to a question, statement, or situation.
  7. Approval: The belief that someone or something is good or acceptable.
  8. Bread: Food made of flour, water, and yeast mixture and baked.
  9. Breath: An inhalation or exhalation of air from the lungs. 
  10. Brother: A man or boy concerning other sons and daughters of his parents. 
  11. Building: It is a structure with a roof and walls, such as a house or factory. 
  12. Burn: (Of a fire) produces flames and heat while consuming a material such as coal or wood.
  13. Business: It refers to a person’s regular occupation, profession, or trade.
  14. Butter: It is a pale yellow edible fatty substance made by churning cream and used as a spread or in cooking. 
  15. Current: Belonging to the present time; happening or being used or done now.
  16. Damage: Physical harm that impairs the value, usefulness, or normal function of something. 
  17. Danger: The possibility of suffering harm or injury. 
  18. Daughter: A girl or woman concerning either or both of her parents. 
  19. 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.
  20. Death: The action or fact of dying or being killed; the end of the life of a person or organism.
  21. Decision: A conclusion or resolution reached after consideration.
  22. Detail: An individual fact or item
  23. Development: The process of developing or being developed.
  24. Direction: A course along which someone or something moves.
  25. Comparison: A consideration or estimate of the similarities or dissimilarities between two things or people. 
  26. Competition: The activity or condition of striving to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others.
  27. Connection: A relationship in which a person or thing is linked or associated with something else.  
  28. Cook: To prepare (food, a dish, or a meal) by mixing, combining, and heating the ingredients.
  29. Country: A nation with its government, occupying a particular territory.
  30. Cover: To put something on top of or in front of (something), especially to protect or conceal it. 
  31. Credit: A customer can obtain goods or services before payment, based on the trust that payment will be made in the future.
  32. Cry: To shed tears, typically as an expression of distress, pain, or sorrow.
  33. Care: The provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something. 
  34. Cause: A person or thing that gives rise to an action, phenomenon, or condition. 
  35. Chance: It is the probability of something desirable happening. 
  36. Change: Make (someone or something) different; alter or modify. 
  37. Cloth: A woven or felted fabric made from wool, cotton, or a similar fibre. 
  38. 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. 
  39. Comfort: A state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint. 
  40. Company: A commercial business. 
  41. 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.
  42. Attack: Take aggressive military action against (a place or enemy forces) with weapons or armed force.
  43. Attention: When a notice is taken of someone or something; the regarding of someone or something as interesting or important. 
  44. 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.
  45. Blow: (Of wind) move creating an air current.
  46. Body: The physical structure, including the bones, flesh, and organs, of a person or an animal.
  47. 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. 
  48. Air: The invisible gaseous substance surrounding the earth, a mixture mainly of oxygen and nitrogen.
  49. Amount: A quantity of something, especially the total of a thing or things in number, size, value, or extent.
  50. 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 ____________. 

  1. Original
  2. Orthodox
  3. Eccentric
  4. Conventional
  5. Innovative
  6. 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.

The English language is enriched with more than a million words. There are numerous difficult words in English vocabulary. Learning an approximate count of 3000 words is enough for an individual to actively participate in an everyday English conversation. A rich vocabulary eases the trouble of expression, and it helps individuals improve their communication skills. The following article on difficult words in English will help you to build a wide and varied vocabulary.

  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letters ‘A’ to ‘Z’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘A’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘B’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘C’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘D’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘E’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘F’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘G’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘H’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘I’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘J’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘K’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘L’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘M’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘N’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘O’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘P’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘Q’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘R’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘S’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘T
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘U’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘V’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘W’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘X’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘Y’
  • Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘Z’
  • How Can We Learn Tough English Words?
  • Frequently Asked Questions on Difficult Words

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letters ‘A’ to ‘Z’

Are you thinking of a solution to enrich your English vocabulary? Practising difficult English words and using them frequently will help you. Use the comprehensive list of words given below to learn more hard words and improve your vocabulary.

List of Difficult Words in English:

The following list of words will help you improve your reading comprehension, language knowledge, communication skills, and expression of ideas to others. Always keep in mind that everything is hard until it’s made easy.

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘A’

Difficult Words Meanings
Abandon cease to support or look after someone
Abolish formally put an end to (a system, practice, or institution)
Abscond leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detection of or arrest for an unlawful action such as theft
Accelerate (of a vehicle or other physical object) begin to move more quickly
Accretion the process of growth or increase, typically by the gradual accumulation of additional layers or matter
Acumen the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, typically in a particular domain
Adamant refusing to be persuaded or to change one’s mind
Adverse preventing success or development; harmful; unfavourable
Advocate a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy
Affluent
  1. having a great deal of money; wealthy
  2. (of water) flowing freely or in great quantity

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘B’

Difficult Words Meanings
Backbite talk maliciously about someone who is not present
Baffle totally bewilder or perplex
Ballad a poem or song narrating a story in short stanzas
Banish send (someone) away from a country or place as an official punishment
Barbaric savagely cruel; exceedingly brutal
Barren too poor to produce much or any vegetation
Bedlam a scene of uproar and confusion
Benefactor a person who gives money or other help to a person or cause
Beseech ask (someone) urgently and fervently to do something

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘C’

Difficult Words Meanings
Cajole persuade (someone) to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery
Charisma compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others
Chasm a deep crack or opening in the earth, rock, or another surface
Chauvinist a person with a prejudiced belief in their own superiority
Cliche a phrase or opinion that is overused
Contagion the communication of disease from one person to another by close contact
Countenance a person’s face or facial expression
Cringe have a feeling of awkwardness or embarrassment
Cue a signal for action

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘D’

Difficult Words Meanings
Dauntless showing fearlessness and determination
Delicacy fineness or intricacy of texture or structure
Delicate very fine in texture or structure; of intricate workmanship or quality
Depict show or represent by a drawing, painting, or other art form
Desolate feeling or showing misery, unhappiness, or loneliness
Destitute without the basic necessities of life
Devote give all or a large part of one’s time or resources to (a person, activity, or cause)
Diabolical disgracefully bad or unpleasant, characteristic of the Devil
Discrepancy a lack of similarity between two or more facts
Dismantle take (a machine or structure) to pieces

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘E’

Difficult Words Meanings
Edifice a building, especially a large, imposing one
Elegy a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead
Endeavour try hard to do or achieve something
Endure suffer patiently
Enigma a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand
Enslave make (someone) a slave
Epitaph a phrase or form of words written in memory of a person who has died, especially as an inscription on a tombstone
Extinction the process of a particular thing ceasing to exist
Extricate free (someone or something) from a constraint or difficulty

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘F’

Difficult Words Meanings
Fasten close up securely
Fathom understand something after a lot of thought
Fete a celebration or festival
Fidelity faithfulness to a person
Flick a sudden sharp movement
Flip turn over with a sudden quick movement
Foresight the ability to predict or the action of predicting what will happen or be needed in the future.
Fragile easily broken or damaged
Franchise an authorization granted by a government or company to an individual or group enabling them to carry out specified commercial activities
Futile incapable of producing any useful result

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘G’

Difficult Words Meanings
Gale a very strong wind
Gallant brave
Gambit a device, action, or opening remark, typically one entailing a degree of risk, that is calculated to gain an advantage
Gamble play games of chance for money; bet
Garment an item of clothing
Gastronomy the practice or art of choosing, cooking, and eating good food
Gaze a steady intent look
Genial friendly and cheerful
Genre a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterised by similarities in form, style, or subject matter
Gibberish meaningless speech or writing, nonsense

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘H’

Difficult Words Meanings
Habitual done or doing constantly or as a habit
Hail call out to (someone) to attract attention
Harbinger a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another
Haughty arrogantly superior and disdainful
Havoc widespread destruction
Heathen a follower of a polytheistic religion
Hegemony leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others
Hinder create difficulties for (someone or something), resulting in delay or obstruction
Hostile unfriendly; antagonistic

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘I’

Difficult Words Meanings
Idiosyncracy a mode of behaviour or way of thought peculiar to an individual
Idle lazy, inactive
Imbibe assimilate some ideas or knowledge
Imperative of vital importance; crucial
Impetus the force or energy with which a body moves
Incarnate embodied in flesh; in human form
Indigenous originating or occurring naturally in a particular place
Inevitable certain to happen; unavoidable
Insane mentally illness

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘J’

Difficult Words Meanings
Jabber talk rapidly and excitedly but with little sense
Jargon special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand
Jaunt a short journey for pleasure
Jolly happy and cheerful
Jovial cheerful and friendly
Judicious having, showing, or done with good judgement or sense
Juncture a particular point in events or time
Junk old or discarded articles that are considered useless or of little value
Jurisdiction the territory within which power can be exercised
Juxtapose place or deal with close together for contrasting effect

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘K’

Difficult Words Meanings
Kalopsia the state in which everything, and everyone, looks beautiful
Keen having or showing eagerness or enthusiasm
Keystone the central principle on which all else depends
Kickoff the start of an event or activity
Kindle light or set on fire
Kinesis movement; motion
Kinship blood relationship
Kleptomania a recurrent urge to steal, typically without regard for need or profit
Knight a man who served his sovereign or lord as a mounted soldier in armour
Kudos praise and honour received for an achievement

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘L’

Difficult Words Meanings
Labyrinth a complicated irregular network of passages or paths in which it is difficult to find one’s way; a maze.
Lacuna an unfilled space or interval; a gap
Lampoon publicly criticise by using ridicule, irony, or sarcasm
Languid pleasantly lazy and peaceful
Languish lose or lack vitality; grow weak or feeble.
Leverage the exertion of force by means of a lever
Luminary a person who inspires or influences others
Lunatic a mentally ill person

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘M’

Difficult Words Meanings
Macrocosm the whole of a complex structure
Magnanimous generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person
Malapropism the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one
Mandarin a powerful official or senior bureaucrat
Manifestation an event, action, or object that clearly shows or embodies something, especially a theory or an abstract idea
Manoeuvre a movement or series of moves requiring skill and care
Mediocre of only moderate quality; not very good
Merchandise goods to be bought and sold
Mundane lacking interest or excitement

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘N’

Difficult Words Meanings
Narcissist a person who has an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves
Nemesis the inescapable agent of someone’s or something’s downfall
Neophyte a person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief
Nepotism the practice among those with power or influence of favouring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs
Niche a comfortable or suitable position in life or employment
Nirvana a state of perfect happiness
Nocturnal done, occurring, or active at night
Nomenclature the devising or choosing of names for things, especially in a science or other discipline
Nullify invalidate

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘O’

Difficult Words Meanings
Oblivion the state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happening.
Oblivious not aware of or not concerned about what is happening around one
Obscure uncertain
Obsolete no longer produced or used; out of date.
Odour a distinctive smell, especially an unpleasant one
Omen an event regarded as a portent of good or evil
Omnipotent having unlimited power
Omnipresent common or widespread
Omniscient knowing everything
Overwhelm defeat completely

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘P’

Difficult Words Meanings
Pandemonium uproar
Paramount supreme
Paranoia suspicion and mistrust of people or their actions without evidence or justification
Perplex confuse
Petrify make someone so frightened that they are unable to move
Pinnacle the most successful point
Preamble an introduction
Protocol the official procedure or system of rules governing affairs of state or diplomatic occasions
Pseudonym a false name

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘Q’

Difficult Words Meanings
Quadrilateral a four-sided figure
Qualitative relating to, measuring, or measured by the quality of something rather than its quantity
Quandary uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation
Quantitative relating to, measuring, or measured by the quantity of something rather than its quality
Quantum the smallest amount or unit of something
Quarantine a state, period, or place of isolation in which people or animals that have arrived from elsewhere or been exposed to infectious or contagious disease are placed
Quench satisfy one’s thirst
Querulous complaining in a weak high voice
Quibble a slight objection or criticism about a matter of little value
Quintessence the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘R’

Difficult Words Meanings
Rampant Getting worse quickly in an uncontrolled way
Realm a kingdom
Rebuke express sharp disapproval or criticism of someone because of their behaviour or actions
Reconnaissance preliminary surveying or research
Reiterate say something again or a number of times, typically for emphasis or clarity
Rejuvenate give new energy or vigour to
Relegate consign or dismiss to an inferior rank
Reminiscent tending to remind one of something
Remorse deep regret for a wrong committed
Renaissance a revival of or renewed interest in something

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘S’

Difficult Words Meanings
Sagacious having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgement
Sarcasm the use of irony to mock or convey contempt
Satire the use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to criticise people’s stupidity or vices
Scornful feeling or expressing contempt or derision
Scrutinise examine or inspect closely and thoroughly
Semantics the branch of linguistics and logic concerned with meaning
Seminal strongly influencing later developments
Serendipity the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way
Solace comfort in a time of distress

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘T’

Difficult Words Meanings
Taboo a prohibited social practice
Tactful sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues
Tactical relating to or constituting actions carefully planned
Tangible perceptible by touch, real
Tantamount equivalent to
Taunt a remark made in order to anger, wound, or provoke someone
Tenet a principle or belief
Tenuous very weak or slight
Termination the action of bringing something to an end
Threshold a point of entry or beginning

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘U’

Difficult Words Meanings
Ubiquitous found everywhere
Unanimous a decision held or carried by everyone involved
Unbiased showing no prejudice for or against something
Undaunted not intimidated or discouraged by difficulty
Unilateral performed by or affecting only one person, group, or country involved in a particular situation, without the agreement of another or the others
Unravel undo
Upheaval a sudden change or disruption to something
Utility the state of being useful, profitable, or beneficial
Utopian a state in which everything is perfect; idealistic
Utterance a spoken word, statement, or vocal sound

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘V’

Difficult Words Meanings
Valediction the action of saying farewell
Valiant showing courage or determination
Valour great courage in the face of danger
Vengeance punishment inflicted or retribution exacted for an injury or wrong
Vernacular the language spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region
Versatile able to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities
Versification the making of poetry
Vertigo a sensation of whirling and loss of balance
Vigilante a member of a self-appointed group of citizens who undertake law enforcement in their community without legal authority, typically because the legal agencies are thought to be inadequate
Vigorous strong, healthy, and full of energy

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘W’

Difficult Words Meanings
Wanderlust a strong desire to travel
Wardrobe a tall cabinet in which clothes may be hung or stored
Wayfarer a person who travels on foot
Whimsical playfully quaint or fanciful
Winsome appealing in appearance or character
Wither cease to flourish
Wizard a man who has magical powers, especially in legends and fairy tales.
Wrangle a long argument
Wrath extreme anger
Wretched in a very unhappy or unfortunate state

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘X’

Difficult Words Meanings
Xenophobia dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries
Xerox photocopy
Xylography the art of making woodcuts or wood engravings, especially by a relatively primitive technique

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘Y’

Difficult Words Meanings
Yank pull with a jerk
Yatter endless talk

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘Z’

Difficult Words Meanings
Zeal great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective
Zest great enthusiasm and energy
Zippy bright, fresh, or lively

How Can We Learn Tough English Words?

Have you heard the term ‘Semantics’ before? Semantics is the study of meanings. English is not our mother tongue, so it requires effort to learn. There are numerous difficult words in the English language. It is hard to acquire knowledge and apply it in day to day conversations. But by practising semantics, even the most difficult words in English can be learnt quickly. Mastering the English language will not be a Himalayan task if you are ready to learn new vocabulary on a regular basis. Start practising on simpler words and gradually step into difficult vocabulary words. Prepare a list of complex words with meaning and try to learn at least five new words from the list regularly to improve your wisdom in the English language.

Frequently Asked Questions on Difficult Words

Q1

List 20 hard words in English.

Labyrinth
Nirvana
Nomenclature
Pandemonium
Patriarchy
Pseudonym
Malapropism
Omniscient
Rejuvenate
Sagacious
Serendipity
Solace
Tangible
Tenet
Unbiased
Unilateral
Utopian
Valediction
Overwhelm
Whimsical
Xenophobia

Q2

List 10 difficult words starting with the letter ‘I’.

Iconoclast
Idiosyncrasy
Idle
Imbibe
Imperative
Impetus
Incarnate
Indigenous
Inevitable
Insane

Q3

What is semantics?

Semantics is the study of meanings.

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