The most difficult word in english language

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• 50 Difficult English Words and their Meanings
• 12 Hardest Words to Pronounce and Tricks to Actually do that
• Why is it Important to Have a Good Vocabulary?
• How to Learn the Most Difficult Words in English?
• Final Thoughts on Difficult English Words and Their Meanings

No matter how long you have been learning the English language, still while reading a book, magazine or while watching a movie you do come across words that might startle you and call for your prolonged look. In fact, the sole reason behind it is the vastness of the language. So, don’t you wonder how to unscramble this mystery when at the same time, there are uncountable words to know about in this language? There exist countless words which we make use of, some words more often than others.

So, this article will help you out to know a little about this plethora of words. We are going to talk about some of the hardest English words and subsequently about words that are difficult to pronounce.

50 Difficult English Words and their Meanings

Words Beginning from A

• Ascetic – avoiding physical pleasures because of religious reasons
• Abnegation – an action made to reject someone or something
• Archetypal – someone having all the qualities of a particular type of lifestyle
• Aggrandize – adding to the power or wealth of an individual or country
• Anachronistic – placing someone or something chronologically wrong
• Alacrity – having great willingness and eagerness for something

Words Beginning from B

• Beguile – charm in a deceptive way
• Blandishment – statement for gently pleasuring someone

Words Beginning from C

• Convivial – friendly character
• Cajole – persuading someone with your nice behaviour
• Construe – understanding something
• Callous – not caring about others
• Camaraderie – the mutual feeling of trust
• Circumlocution – expressing something in a long way
• Clamour – demanding something
• Cognizant – being aware

Words Beginning from D

• Demagogue – a political leader will manipulate skills
• Denigrate – unfair criticism
• Didactic – teaching moral lesson
• Disparate – people or things with different qualities together

Words Beginning from E

• Eclectic – generating ideas
• Egregious – bad and shocking in a huge way
• Embezzlement – to steal
• Enervate – feeling out of energy
• Ephemeral – lasting for a short period
• Equanimity – a very calm state of mind

Words Beginning from F

• Fatuous – something pointless

Words Beginning from G

• Gratuitous – anything that has some harmful effect

Words Beginning from I

• Iconoclast – any statue
• Idiosyncratic – something unusual
• Incumbent – a person with an official position
• Inveterate – having a habit for a long time

Words Beginning from L

• Libertarian – a person of the state who conveys a message to people
• Licentious – lack of standards

Words Beginning from M

• Mendacious – lying
• Multifarious – different kinds or variety

Words Beginning from O

• Obdurate – not changing your mind according to others
• Ostracism – excluding from something

Words Beginning from P

• Pejorative – expressing criticism
• Pertinacious – sticking to your actions or words
• Phlegmatic – not getting angry easily
• Promulgate – making an official announcement

Words Beginning from Q

• Quotidian – everyday event

Words Beginning from R

• Recalcitrant – tough to control

Words Beginning from S

• Sanctimonious – acting superior to others
• Solipsism – self-centred

Words Beginning from T

• Travesty – not have qualities in a shocking way

Words Beginning from U

• Ubiquitous – something very common

Words Beginning from V

• Vicissitude – changes and problems of life that you have to deal with
• Vociferous – saying what is on your mind in a confident way

12 Hardest Words to Pronounce and Tricks to Actually do that

Good pronunciation is a very important part of the language but there are some words with which we can struggle. Hence, we have come up with a list of some of the most difficult words to pronounce and techniques to be able to actually do that:

• Synecdoche- made to represent whole (SE-NEK-DE-QKE)
• Segue- smooth transition (SE-QGWA)
• Quinoa- a crop (KEN-WA)
• Posthumous- occurring or awarded (PAS-CHE-MES)
• Onomatopoeia- a figure of speech that resonates with sounds (ONO-MATO-POEIA)
• Ignominious- something shameful (IG-NE-MI-NE-ES)
• Draught- the flow of cold air (DRAFT)
• Conch- a type of shell (KANJK)
• Cache- computing hardware (K’ASH)
• Boatswain- merchant officer (‘BO-SEN)
• Anemone- a flowering plant (E-NE-ME-NE)
• Anathema- an idea you hate (E-NA-THE-ME)

Moreover, audios will help you the best in understanding words. So, the video mentioned below will help you in understanding the pronunciation of some really difficult words better:

Why is it Important to Have a Good Vocabulary?

There are a lot of words to convey the same meaning but each word helps in conveying the meaning in a different way. That is why it is important to have a good vocabulary. In fact, we write and read a lot of things throughout the day and if we don’t have a good knowledge of words then we will definitely face difficulties in it. Additionally, repeating the same word over and over again in a piece of content can leave a bad impression on the person reading it or listening to it.

And if you are preparing for some kind of competitive exams then you can not ignore vocabulary at any cost. They have special sections for words, their meanings, synonyms, and antonyms so you need to build up your vocabulary in order to excel in that section. So, it can be said that a good vocabulary is required for day-to-day life as well as for appearing for advanced exams.

To summarize, the video mentioned below will tell you some simple ways and tricks by which you can easily improve your vocabulary:

How to Learn the Most Difficult Words in English?

It is not possible for us to learn all the difficult worlds together in one go. So here are some simple ways by which you can learn difficult English words:

• Make reading a part of your life because while reading books you come across a lot of words that are unknown to you and will gradually become a part of your dictionary.
• Also, maintain a separate notebook for your vocabulary. Whenever you come across a new word note it in your diary with its meaning and read it whenever you get time.
• Further, you can also take the help of vocabulary books and videos for a little better understanding.
• Nonetheless, You can also play games like crosswords as they will help you learn new words in a fun way.
• Also, try to include the new words that you learn in your language so that you can remember them for a long time.

Final Thoughts on Difficult English Words and Their Meanings

In conclusion, one needs to understand that keeping up with the new additions and changes taking place in the language becomes really important. Above all, with the help of this article, you would have been able to add a lot of things to your knowledge and boost your vocabulary to a whole new level. So, the next time whenever you are writing a piece of content use these new words so that you can surprise the people reading it.

To know about more such interesting facts, you can head to the Podium Blog.

How confident are you of your spelling skills? We asked top academics and writing experts to give us their top 100 hardest words to spell they’ve seen in students’ writing assignments. Spellings is extremely importnant, not less than grammar. This is what they came up with tips and a list of 100 most difficult words.

Tips on How to Spell Hard Words

So by now, you’ve realized that you have made your share of spelling mistakes and are wondering what you need to do to be a better speller. These tips are the same ones we see young students participating in spelling competitions use when they tackle any of several hard English words to spell. Give them all a try to see which tips work best for you:

• Watch what others do.

  The first thing you may want to consider doing is looking at how others utilize different techniques to spell out difficult words. Start with the kids who compete in national spelling bees to get a sense of all the different things they do spell long or rare words correctly.

• Use your palms to spell.

  If you have scratch paper at hand you can always spell out the word as close as you can and then make corrections when you see what you feel can be wrong. Other than this, you can
• Consider the origins.

  The origin of words is a study known as etymology which traces a word’s lineage and existence to the first known use in written form. It is especially helpful to people wanting to learn how to spell words because you can trace root words and syllables.

Hard Words to Spell for 6th Graders

If you want to challenge yourself with very hard words to spell at the sixth-grade level, then this collection might be just what you’re looking for:

• Noticeable (Correct) / Noticable (Incorrect)
• Vacuum (Correct) / Vacume (Incorrect)
• Recommend (Correct) / Recomend (Incorrect)
• Occasion (Correct) / Ocassion (Incorrect)
• Beginning (Correct) / Begginning (Incorrect)
• Government (Correct) / Goverment (Incorrect)
• Committee (Correct) / Comitee (Incorrect)
• Mississippi (Correct) / Missisipi (Incorrect)
• Ancient (Correct) / Ainshent (Incorrect)
• Culture (Correct) / Culcher (Incorrect)

Hard Words to Spell for 7th Graders

In a time when spellcheck comes with every computer writing program, we may lose sight of terms in this list of hard words to spell:

• Chaos (Correct) / Kaos (Incorrect)
• Accommodation (Correct) / Accomodation (Incorrect)
• Strengthen (Correct) / Strengten (Incorrect)
• Misspelled (Correct) / Mispelled (Incorrect)
• Deceive (Correct) / Deseave (Incorrect)
• Receipt (Correct) / Receit (Incorrect)
• Arithmetic (Correct) / Arithmatic (Incorrect)
• Embarrass (Correct) / Embaras (Incorrect)
• Constitution (Correct) / Constatution (Incorrect)
• Encyclopedia (Correct) / Encyclopaedia (Incorrect)

Hard Words to Spell for 8th Graders

Here are hard to spell words spell for middle-school teenagers, particularly those in the 8th grade. Can you spell them without using spell-check?

• Pneumonia (Correct) / Neumonia (Incorrect)
• Acknowledgment (Correct) / Acknoledgement (Incorrect)
• Accidentally (Correct) / Accidentilly (Incorrect)
• Descendant (Correct) / Desendent (Incorrect)
• Exaggerate (Correct) / Exagerate (Incorrect)
• Courageous (Correct) / Corageous (Incorrect)
• Competent (Correct) / Compitent (Incorrect)
• Patriarch (Correct) / Patrearch (Incorrect)
• Pediatrician (Correct) / Pidiatrision (Incorrect)
• Picturesque (Correct) / Picturesche (Incorrect)

Hard Words to Spell for 9th Graders

In your first year of high school, you will likely encounter some of the hardest words to spell ever. Check out this list for 9th grade:

• Cavalcade (Correct) / Cavacade (Incorrect)
• Conscientious (Correct) / Consciescience (Incorrect)
• Fluorescent (Correct) / Florescent (Incorrect)
• Martyr (Correct) / Marter (Incorrect)
• Olfactory (Correct) / Ofactory (Incorrect)
• Facsimile (Correct) / Faximile (Incorrect)
• Gruesome (Correct) / Grewsome (Incorrect)
• Incessant (Correct) / Incessent (Incorrect)
• Reservoir (Correct) / Resavoire (Incorrect)
• Spasmodic (Correct) / Spasmodick (Incorrect)

Hard Words to Spell for 12th Graders

As you advance through educational levels, you will be introduced to more reading assignments and will grow your vocabulary. These are the hardest English words to spell at the 12th-grade level:

• Acquiesce (Correct) / Aquese (Incorrect)
• Ambiguous (Correct) / Ambiguus (Incorrect)
• Stringent (Correct) / Stringint (Incorrect)
• Evanescent (Correct) / Evansent (Incorrect)
• Querulous (Correct) / Quarelous (Incorrect)
• Spontaneity (Correct) / Spontenaity (Incorrect)
• Tenacious (Correct) / Tenashus (Incorrect)
• Divergent (Correct) / Divergeant (Incorrect)
• Resilient (Correct) / Resiliant (Incorrect)
• Renovation (Correct) / Renovashun (Incorrect)

Hard Words to Spell for College Students

Technology has made learning the hardest words to spell a rare activity. This list of 10 terms is considered to be college-level. See if you’re able to spell them without help:

• Pharaoh (Correct) / Farow (Incorrect)
• Intelligence (Correct) / Inteligense (Incorrect)
• Didactic (Correct) / Didachtik (Incorrect)
• Pronunciation (Correct) / Pronounsiation (Incorrect)
• Gobbledegook (Correct) / Gobblydigook (Incorrect)
• Euphemism (Correct) / Yufamism (Incorrect)
• Abrogate (Correct) / Abrohgate (Incorrect)
• Demagogue (Correct) / Demagog (Incorrect)
• Facetious (Correct) / Faseshus (Incorrect)
• Hyperbole (Correct) / Hyperboly (Incorrect)

Common Words that Are Hard to Spell

This list includes common hard words to spell for adults. It’s surprising how so many people struggle but all you have to do is check the web for examples of this happening:

• Thorough (Correct) / Thorogh (Incorrect)
• Rhythm (Correct) / Rythm (Incorrect)
• Peculiar (Correct) / Pechuliar (Incorrect)
• Buffet (Correct) / Bufay (Incorrect)
• Liaison (Correct) / Liason (Incorrect)
• Anecdote (Correct) / Anechdote (Incorrect)
• Anonymous (Correct) / Anonimous (Incorrect)
• Collaborate (Correct) / Colaborate (Incorrect)
• Substantiate (Correct) / Substanchiate (Incorrect)
• Reconciliation (Correct) / Reckonsiliation (Incorrect)

Long Hard Words to Spell

Sometimes multisyllabic words that are hard to spell are difficult because we don’t think about silent letters that may appear anywhere. Check these out below:

• Grammatically (Correct) / Gramatically (Incorrect)
• Magnanimous (Correct) / Magnanimus (Incorrect)
• Metamorphosis (Correct) / Metamofisus (Incorrect)
• Satisfactorily (Correct) / Satisfactory (Incorrect)
• Surveillance (Correct) / Surveylance (Incorrect)
• Unanimous (Correct) / Unianomous (Incorrect)
• Reconciliation (Correct) / Reconsiliation (Incorrect)
• Procrastinate (Correct) / Procrastanate (Incorrect)
• Ostentatious (Correct) / Ostantatious (Incorrect)
• Camaraderie (Correct) / Comraderie (Incorrect)

Super Hard Words to Spell

These are really hard words to spell, even for the best English spellers in the world. As you can see most are words familiar to medical professionals and scientists, so unless you’re familiar with the field you are likely to have trouble with them:

• Syllepsis (Correct) / Sylepsis (Incorrect)
• Antediluvian (Correct) / Antidiluvian (Incorrect)
• Crustaceology (Correct) / Crustaciology (Incorrect)
• Epidemiologist (Correct) / Epidimialogist (Incorrect)
• Ophthalmologist (Correct) / Optamologist (Incorrect)
• Nephrology (Correct) / Nefrology (Incorrect)
• Entomology (Correct) / Entimology (Incorrect)
• Chiaroscurist (Correct) / Chiaraschurist (Incorrect)
• Logorrhea (Correct) / Logoria (Incorrect)
• Sacrilegious (Correct) / Sacriligious (Incorrect)

Easy Words that Are Hard to Spell

Finally, this last set includes hard words to spell that is considered easy. Take your time spelling these out because you may find yourself feeling a bit embarrassed if you make a simple mistake:

• Acquire (Correct) / Akwire (Incorrect)
• Argument (Correct) / Arguement (Incorrect)
• Maintenance (Correct) / Maintanence (Incorrect)
• Gauge (Correct) / Ghage (Incorrect)
• Memento (Correct) / Mamento (Incorrect)
• Occurrence (Correct) / Ocurrance (Incorrect)
• Questionnaire (Correct) / Questionaire (Incorrect)
• Sergeant (Correct) / Sargeant (Incorrect)
• Weather (Correct) / Wheather (Incorrect)
• Awkward (Correct) / Awkwerd (Incorrect)

What did you think of our list? Did you manage to spell the majority of them? As you can see, a lot of the mistakes come from simple mispronunciations of the words or syllables. This, of course, can be fixed with time and patience. We’re always available to assist you, so just get a hold of our customer support team and we’ll provide you with more tips and tricks to improve your spelling skills and get better writing jobs.

There are numerous difficult words in English. Knowing them is essential in improving one’s communication, and writing skills. Difficult English words are certain words that are hard to read, spell, write, and understand. A good vocabulary makes it easier to communicate, and interact with others. Knowing difficult English words helps an individual to express themselves better. It makes one’s thoughts more accurate. One needs more than a definition to understand a word’s meaning. The word must be seen in how it was used in a sentence.  Seeing a word within a sentence’s context helps someone understand it better and how to use it correctly. English has numerous tricky words. It becomes impossible to remember all these words, particularly the difficult ones. Consistent studying and learning enable one to identify difficult words in English. Reading helps a lot in familiarizing one’s self with words that are new, and unfamiliar. 

People sometimes avoid using difficult English words in daily conversations, for fear of being misunderstood. However, the only way to be more familiar with these difficult words is by using them regularly. Using difficult English words sharpens the mind and improves communication skills. The only way to understand complex English words is by facing them. Do not skip a paragraph that contains a difficult word when reading. Learn and understand its meaning instead. Constant reading makes a person gets exposed to a variety of English words, particularly the difficult ones. Difficult English words are challenging for many people because they do not encounter them regularly. The best way to understand the meaning of difficult words in English is by looking up their definition in the Dictionary.

Listed below are five of the Most Difficult Words in English.

• Belie: The word “belie” means to give a false representation. “Belie” originated from Middle English “belyen”, which means “to lie around.” “Belie” works in a sentence as a transitive verb.
• Arrant: The meaning of the word “arrant” is wholly, or complete. “Arrant” originated from the Old French “errant,” the present participle of “errer”, which means “to walk.”
• Untoward: The meaning of “untoward” is inconvenient. “Untoward” originated from the Old English “un” meaning “not.” The word “toward” was derived from Old English “toward,” which means “in the direction of. ”Untoward’ works as either a noun or an adjective in a sentence.
• Byzantine: The meaning of “Byzantine” is intricate, or complex.  “Byzantine” originated from the late Latin “byzantinus”, from Byzantium. “Untoward’ works as either a noun or an adjective in a sentence.
• Conciliate: The meaning of “conciliate” is to make peace with. “Conciliate” originated from the Latin “conciliatus”, the past participle of “conciliare “to bring together, unite in feelings.” 

1. Belie

The word “Belie” comes from Middle English “belyen” or “beliggen.” Old English “belican” or  “bilicgan” means (to lie around, surround, hedge in, or encompass). “Belie” means to show something false or hide something, such as an emotion. Contradict is one synonym for the word “belie.” The term “approve” is the antonym for “belie.” “Belie” is used in a sentence as a transitive verb.  An example sentence of “belie.” “Her cheerful appearance belies her feelings.” The word “belie” was used to describe something that is not true, which pertains to feelings.  “Belie” is among the difficult words in English because it is not commonly used by many. 

2. Arrant 

‘“Arrant” means extreme, or being notorious without moderation. The word “Arrant” comes from a variant of errant, from Middle English “erarunt,” from Anglo-Norman “erraunt,” from Old French errant, the present participle of “errer” (“to walk”). Although arrant is a variant of errant, their modern meanings have diverged. “Arrant” is used in the sense of “complete; downright, while errant means “roving around.” The synonym of “arrant” is complete. The antonym o the word ‘arrant” is “suspicious.” An example sentence of “arrant.” “All the rumors being spread about Kim are nothing but arrant.” “Arrant” is used in a sentence as an adjective to say how bad something is. “Arrant” is one of the most difficult words in English. It is not an easy and common word that appears regularly. 

3. Untoward 

“Untoward” means improper or unseemly. It has enjoyed this meaning since the early 1520s. The origin of the word “untoward” comes from the prefix of negotiation, Old English “un.” From Proto-Germanic “un,” from PIE “n” (source of Sanskrit a-, an- “not,” Greek a-, an-, Old Irish an-, Latin in-), combining form of PIE root “ne”-”not.” Often the nature of (such as untruth for “lie”). The most abundant of English prefixes, freely and generally used in Old English, were form more than 1,000 compounds. The word “toward” comes from Old English “toward” “in the direction of,” prepositional use of “toward” (adjective) “coming, facing, approaching, “from to (see to) + – ward.  One synonym for the word “untoward” is “unexpected,” while its antonym is “expected.” “Toward” is one of the difficult words in English.  The adjective “untoward” is used in a sentence to express something inappropriate or offensive. An example sentence of the word “untoward”, is “I hope nothing untoward will happen on the event.” 

4. Byzantine 

“Byzantine” involves the Byzantine Empire or the Eastern Orthodox Church. Another definition of “Byzantine” is something incredibly complicated, and usually relates to a great deal of administrative detail. “Byzantine” comes from the late Latin “byzantinus”, itself from Byzantium. The metaphorical senses gave rise to the reputation for palace intrigue of the Byzantium imperial court. The word “complicated is synonymous with “Byzantine.” The antonym of “Byzantine” is “simple.” The adjective ‘Byzantine” is used in sentences relating to complex, or complicated. The noun “Byzantine” is used in a sentence when referring to a native or citizen of Byzantium.  An example sentence of the word “Byzantine” is “We are engaged in a Byzantine process this evening,” and “Julie became more confused as she walked through the Byzantine maze.”   

5. Conciliate

The word “Conciliate” means to stop someone from being angry, or to pacify. “Conciliate” comes from the Latin “conciliatus”, the past participle of “conciliare “to bring together, unite in feelings,” from “concilium”, “a meeting, or gathering,” from an assimilated form of “com” “together, together with.” The earlier verb was Middle English concile “to reconcile” from the late 14th century. The synonym of “conciliate” is appeased, while its antonym is “irritate.” “Conciliate” is used in a sentence as a verb to overcome distrust, or to reconcile. An example sentence of the word “conciliate” is “Mayor George hoped that by calling them to his councils, he should conciliate the opposition.”

6. Equivocate

The word “equivocate” means to use ambiguous, or vague expressions.” The origin of “equivocate” comes from the late 15th century, from Medieval Latin equivocatus, the past participle of equivocare “to call by the same name, be called by the same name, have the same sound. ” “Equivocate” is synonymous with the word  “fudge.” The antonym of “equivocate” is “to be honest.” The verb ‘equivocate” is used in a sentence to deceive, or mislead, someone. An example sentence of the word “equivocate” is, “Please do not equivocate about this subject; we need to make a plan.” “Equivocate” is one of the most difficult words in English because it is not a common term used daily. 

7. Truculent

“Truculent” means quick to argue, or aggressively defiant. The origin of the word “trulucent” dates back to the 1530s, from Latin trulculentus meaning “fierce, savage, and cruel.” From trux (genitive trucis) “fierce, rough, wild,”. It has been used in English since the 16th century to describe a person or a thing that is cruel, and ferocious. The synonym of “truculent” is “defiant,” while its antonym is “amiable.” The word “truculent” is an adjective used in a sentence to describe someone who is quick to argue. An example sentence of the word “truculent”, is “He is always in a truculent mood.”  Not many people understood the meaning of “truculent” because it is not a common word. It is one of the most difficult English words.

8. Diatribe

“Diatribe” is a verbal attack against someone or something. The origin of “diatribe” started way back in the 1640s from the French diatribe, and directly from the Latin diatriba “learned discussion.” From the Greek diatribe “employment, study,” in Plato, “discourse,” literally “a wasting of time.” The modern definition “a strain of insult, a bitter, and violent criticism” by 1804, from the French. “Diatribe” is synonymous with “tirade.” The antonym of “diatribe” is “compliment.” “Diatribe” refers to a disrespectful speech or form of writing. The word “diatribe” is among the most difficult English words and is not commonly found in contemporary contexts. A “diatribe” nowadays, is less formal than a rant, made for criticism, employing humor, and sarcasm. An example sentence of the word “diatribe” is “The book is a diatribe against social media.”    

9. Quisling

The word ‘quisling” originated from “national traitor,” particularly during World War II in Nazi-occupied countries. It comes from the word “collaborationist,”, from Vidkun Quisling (1887-1945), a Norwegian fascist politician who led the puppet government during the German occupation of Norway in World War II. The traitor was shot because of treason after the German defeat. “Quisling” was first used in the London Times on April 15, 1940, in a Swedish context. The synonym of ‘quisling” is “backstabber.” The antonym of “quisling” is “patriot.” “Quisling” is used in a sentence as a noun, often attributive to a traitor. An example sentence of “quisling” is “All quislings would be punished without mercy.”

10. Artless 

The word “artless’ is defined as without effort or without skill. The history o the word “artless” started in the 1580s, “unskillful,” from “art” and “less.” The word ‘art” originated from early 13c, which means “skill as a result of learning.” From Old French art, from Latin artem (nominative ars), “work of art; practical skill; a craft. The word “less” came from Old English “leas” “free (from) false, feigned,” from Proto_Germanic “lausaz.” the synonym of ‘artless” is “ingenou.” The antonym of the word “artless” is “sophisticated.” The adjective “artless” is used in a sentence about lacking art or knowledge. ‘Artless” generally denotes an appearance of utter naturalness. The first known use o the word “artless’ was in 1586. An example sentence of the word “artless” is, “The diction is simple; however, the writing is artless.”

11.Blinkered                                                                                

“Blinkered” means narrow-minded, or having a limited understanding. The first known use of the word “blinkered” was in 1838. “Blinkered” is used in a sentence as an adjective to describe someone with a limited understanding of something. The origin of “blinkered” comes from the figurative sense, from horses being fitted with blinders to limit the range of their vision, in 1849. “Blinkered” is an adjective used in a sentence when describing a narrow-minded person. An example sentence of “blinkered” is, “His worst qualities are that he is blinkered most o the time.” “Blinkered” is considered one of the most difficult English words because it is British slang.

12. Maudlin

“Maudlin” means self-pitying, or feeling sorry for yourself. The origin of the word “maudlin” comes from the Middle English proper name Maudelen (early 14c), from Magdalene (Old French Madelaine), a woman’s name, which was believed to be similar to the repentant sinner forgiven by Jesus Christ. “Magdalene” was often shown crying as a sign of repentance in paintings. This association led to the constant portrayal of Mary Magdalene as a weeping  penitent. Even the name Magdalene suggested sad emotions to many native English speakers. The synonym of “maudlin” is “emotional.” The antonym of the word “maudlin”  is  “unemotional.” The adjective “maudlin” is used in a sentence to describe someone who is effusively sentimental. An example sentence of ‘maudlin” is “The Governor made a compassionate speech, without being maudlin.”

13. Invective

The word “invective” is defined as something abusive, or insulting. The history of the word “invective” comes from Middle French invective, from Medieval Latin invectiva (“abusive speech”), from Latin invectīvus, from invectus, the perfect passive participle of invehō (“bring in”), from in- + vehō (“carry”). The earlier noun form in English was inveccion, and invective in Middle English. The synonym of “invective” is “insult.” The antonym of the word “invective” is “compliment.” The noun “invective” is used in a sentence as a rude or unpleasant thing that people shout. It is a form of abusive expression or speech. “Invective” originated in the 15th century as an adjective relating to “insult.” The word “invective” is identical to “verbal abuse.” An example sentence of “invective” is “He indulged in the more violent invective.”

14. Remonstrate 

The word “remonstrate” means to plead in protest, or to oppose. “Remostrate” comes from Medieval Latin remonstratus, the past participle of remonstrate “to demonstrate.” Meaning “to show or present strong reasons against.” The first known use of “remonstrate” was in 1615. The synonym for “remonstrate” is “object.” The antonym for “remonstrate” is ‘accept.” “Remonstrate” is used in a sentence either as an intransitive or transitive verb. An example sentence of “remonstrate” is “The locals tried to remonstrate with the Mayor’s new policy.”

15. Sartorial

“Sartorial” means tailored clothes or relating to a tailor. The history of “sartorial” originated from Modern Latin sartorius, from the Late Latin word sartor “tailor,” “patcher, mender,” from Latin sart-, past participle stem of sarcire “to patch, mend.” From PIE root srko- “to make whole”).  One of the synonyms for sartorial is “elegant.” The antonym of sartorial is  “unstylish.” “Sartorial” is an adjective used in a sentence involving clothes. The word ‘sartorial” is mainly used in fashion magazines. “Sartorial” has been in style with English speakers since at least 1823. An example sentence of “sartorial” is “The Countess is determined to make sartorial choices that bring her joy.” “Sartorial” is one of the most difficult English words because many people do not commonly use it. 

16. Sybarite

The definition of ‘sybarite” is sensualist, or voluptuary. The word “sybarite” is a person devoted to pleasure.” The history of “sybarite” originated from an ancient Greek town in southern Italy, the inhabitants of Sybaris. They are people known for their love of Luxury. One synonym for the word “sybarite” is ‘sensualist.” The antonym for “sybarite” is “puritan.” ‘Sybarite” is a noun used in a sentence referring to sensualist. An example sentence of “sybarite” is “My grandma is a self-proclaimed sybarite, who wears nothing but luxurious clothes.” “Sybarite” acts as an adjective and a noun. “Sybarite” as a noun, is a person addicted to luxury. 

17. Inundate

“Inundate” means overwhelm, or overflow. It is typically used to refer to a deluge of water, and concerning an overflow of something less tangible. The origin of the word “inundate” comes from inundation in the 1620s. It originated from the Latin inundatus, the past participle of inundated “to overflow.” One synonym for “inundate” is “overflow.” The antonym for “inundate” is “drain.” “Inundate” is a verb used in a sentence referring to something overwhelming. An example sentence of “inundate” is “The storm will inundate low-lying regions in our country.”

18. Curmudgeon

The word “curmudgeon” means a person who gets annoyed easily, usually an old person. “Curmudgeon” originates from an unknown origin in the 1570s. According to the suggestion, it was based on a misreading of a garbled note from Johnson, that it was from the French “Coeur mechan” or “evil heart.” Most linguists believe that the word ‘cur”, meaning dog, is slightly connected to the word “curmudgeon.”  Liberman says the word “must have been borrowed from Gaelic muigean “disagreeable person.” The word “crank” is synonymous with “curmudgeon.” The antonym for “curmudgeon” is “cordial.” “Curmudgeon” is a noun used in a sentence pertaining to an old person who always has a bad temper.  An example sentence of “curmudgeon” is “Only a curmudgeon will not appreciate the neighborhood’s holiday decorations.”

19. Anodyne

The word “anodyne” as a noun means something that calms. “Anodyne” as an adjective means serving to lessen pain. The origin of “anodyne” originated in the 1540s, from the Medieval Latin anodynus “pain-removing,” from the Latin anodynus “painless.” From Greek anodynos “free from pain,” others suggest it is an asuffixed form of PIE root “ed” – “to eat,” “to devour.” As a noun, “substance which alleviates pain,” derived from old slang, an understatement for “death.” The synonym of “anodyne” is “bland.” The antonym of “anodyne” is “poisonous.” An example sentence of “anodyne” is “The doctor gave his patient a strong anodyne to relieve the pain.”

20. Gaffe

“Gaffe” means a diplomatic blunder, or an obvious mistake. The origin of the word “gafee” comes from perhaps French gaffe “clumsy remark’, from Old Provencal gafar “to seize, “from a Germanic source, from Proto_germanic Gaf-which is from the PIE root “kap” meaning “to grasp.” Possible origin from Modern English derived from the British slang verb gaff “to cheat,” or from the Scottish dialect of ‘loud, rude talk.” The synonym of “gaffe” is “mistake.” The antonym o the word “gaffe” is “correction.” “Gaffe” is a noun used in a sentence when referring to a noticeable mistake. An example sentence of “gaffe” is “He committed an embarrassing gaffe when he mispronounced a word, during his speech. “

21. Vie

The word “vie” means to compete, or to contend.  “Vie” comes from the 1560s “to bet, make a bet,” from the shortened form of Middle English envie “make a challenge.” From the Old French envier “compete, provoke, or summon,” in gambling, from Latin invitare “to invite.” The word “vie” is a verb used in a sentence to convey content or show superiority. The synonym of “vie” is “contend’. The antonym for the word “vie” is “agree.” An example sentence of “vie” is “The high school football team continues to vie for a national championship.” “Vie” is not a common word and is one of the most difficult English words.

22. Decimation

“Decimation” means the act of killing numerous animals, plants, or people in a certain area. The origin of “decimation” comes from Old French decimation, and directly from Late Latin decimationem (nominative decimatio) “the taking of a tenth.” A noun of action from past participle stem of Latin decimare “the removal or destruction of one-tenth,” from decem “ten.” The synonym for “decimation” is “devastate.” The antonym of “decimation” is  “construction.” “Decimation” is used in a sentence as a noun, the act of salvaging numbers of animals, plants, or people. An example sentence of “decimation” is “The decimation of the indigenous tribe is rampant during the ancient times.” 

23. Garrulous

The word “garrulous” means talking a lot, particularly about unimportant things. “Garrulous” comes from the Latin garrulus “talkative, chattering,” from garrire “to chatter.” It came from the PIE root gar – “to call, cry.” The synonym of “garrulous” is talkative. The antonym for the word “garrulous” is “concise.” “Garrulous” is used in a sentence as an adjective to describe someone having the habit of talking about a lot of unimportant things.  An example sentence of “garrulous” is “Our garrulous neighbor is busy gossiping again.” The word “garrulous” is among the most difficult English words. It is not a commonly used word daily. 

24. Hubris

The word “hubris” means an overbearing pride, or egotism. The history of the word ‘hubris” dates back to 1884, from the Greek word Hybris “wanton violence, insolence, outrage,” originally “presumption towards the gods. One synonym for “hubris” is  ‘arrogance.” The antonym of “hubris” is “modesty.” “Hubris” is used in a sentence as a noun, the act of being too proud. An example sentence of “hubris” is, “It is easy to offend people when blinded by hubris.” “Hubris” is one of the most difficult English words. It is not a common word encountered daily by many people. 

25. Dovetail

“Dovetail” means to connect precisely, or harmoniously. The history of “dovetail” dates back to the 1580s, dovetail, in carpentry, is “tenon cut in the form of a reverse wedge.” From the resemblance of shape in the tenon or mortise of the joints to that of the bird’s tail display. As a verb, “to unite by dovetail tenons.” The word “interlock” is synonymous with “dovetail.” The antonym for “dovetail” is “clash.”  Dovetail is used in a sentence as a verb to join or fit together. An example sentence of “dovetail” is “Many o the changes dovetail with work by the US and global regulators.”

26. Impetuous

The word “impetuous” means acting quickly without careful thought. The origin of “impetous” comes from late 14c, “hot-tempered”, late 15C., “done with a rush.”  It came from the Old French word impetuous, and from the Late Latin impetuous “impetuous, violent.” From Latin impetus “attack.” The synonym of “impetuous” is impulsive. The antonym of the word “impetuous” is cautious. “Impetuous” is used in a sentence as an adjective often applied to a lot of behavior, and to the person who displays that behavior. The word “impetuous” is commonly used for people and their actions. An example sentence of “impetuous” is “The newly crowned prince is known to be boastful, arrogant, and impetuous.”   

27. Circumlocution

“Circumlocution” means using numerous unnecessary words to convey an idea. The origin of the word “circumlocution” originates from the Latin circumlocutionem “a speaking around,” from circum “around, roundabout.” The synonym of “circumlocution” is “ambage.” The antonym of “circumlocution” is “directness.” ‘Circumlocution” is used in a sentence as a noun. The first known use of “circumlocution” dates back to 1518. An example sentence of the word “circumlocution” is “The author is trying to keep away from circumlocution in his writing.”

28. Surreptitious

The word “surreptitious” means to keep secret, an action done secretly. “Surreptitious” comes from mid-15c, from the Latin surrepticius, “stolen, furtive,” from surreptus, past participle of surripere “seize secretly, steal, plagiarize.”  The synonym of “surreptitious” is concealed. The antonym of “surreptitious” is open. “Surreptitious” is used in a sentence as an adjective to describe an action done secretly. The first known use of “surreptitious” was in the 15th century. An example sentence of ‘surreptitious” is “The popular singer made a superstitious entrance to the club through the little back door.”

29. Peripatetic

The word “peripatetic” means a follower of Aristotle, or an Aristotelan. “Peripatetic” comes from the mid-15th century. It comes from the word “Peripatetik”, “a disciple of Aristotle,” one of the sets of philosophers who followed the teachings of Aristotle. It came from Old French perypatetique from the 14th century. The synonym of the word “peripatetic” is nomadic. The antonym of “peripatetic” is settled. The word “peripatetic” is an adjective used in a sentence to describe a person traveling from place to place. An example sentence of “peripatetic” is “He worked as a peripatetic teacher for most of his life.”

30. Magisterial

“Magisterial” means relating to the characteristics of a master, or a teacher. “ Magisterial” originates from Medieval Latin magisterialis, “of or referring to the office of magistrate, director, or teacher.” The synonym of “magisterial’ is “authoritative.” The antonym of “magisterial” is “submissive.” “Magisterial” is an adjective used in a sentence relating to an authoritative person. The first known use of “magisterial” was in 1632. An example sentence of “magisterial” is “Our school principal spoke with a magisterial tone.”

31. Asperity 

The word “asperity” means harshness of behavior or speech that usually expresses anger. The origin of “asperity” comes from the 1200c, asprete “hardship,” from Old French asperité “difficulty, painful situation, harsh treatment” (12c., Modern French âpreté), a figurative use, from Latin asperitatem (nominative asperitas) “roughness,” from asper “rough, harsh,” which is of unknown origin. The Latin adjective was used for sour wine, bad weather, and hard times. The synonym of “asperity” is “roughness.” The antonym of “asperity” is “softness.” “Asperity” is a noun used in a sentence as a roughness of behavior. An example sentence of the word “asperity” is, “The child responded to her mother with a touch of asperity.”

32. Decry

“Decry” means to express strong disapproval. “Decry” comes from the French decrier “cry out, announce,” from the Latin quiritare “cry.” The synonym of the word “decry” is “criticize.” The antonym of “decry” is “applaud.” Decry demonstrates an open condemnation that makes it the best choice for cases in which criticism is not at all veiled. “Decry” is used in a sentence as a verb that shows belittling. An example sentence of “decry” is “The animal rights activists decry the country’s lack of animal rights law.” “Decry” is one of the most difficult words in English because it is not commonly used in daily conversations. 

33. Puerile

The word “puerile” means juvenile, immaturity, or childish. “Puerile” comes from the French  puéril, from the Latin puerilis “boyish, childish,” from puer “boy, child.” The synonym of “puerile” is “immature.” The antonym of “puerile” is “mature.” The first known use of the word “perile” dates back to 1527. The word “puerile” is used in a sentence as an adjective describing youth qualities, or immaturity. An example sentence of the word “perile” is, “Those teenage boys should not be tolerated for such puerile behavior.”

34. Incontrovertible

“Incontrovertible” means indisputable, or not open to queries. The first known use of “incontrovertible” was in 1646. “Incontrovertible” comes from the 1640s, from in “not” and controvert “oppose by argument.” The synonym of “incontrovertible” is “indisputable.” The antonym of “incontrovertible” is “disputable.” The antonyms controvertible and incontrovertible are both derivatives of the verb “controvert” (meaning “to dispute or oppose by reasoning”). “Incontrovertible” is used in a sentence as an adjective that describes something that is not open to questions. The first known use of “incontrovertible” was in 1646. An example sentence  of “incontrovertible” is “The jury was presented incontrovertible evidence during the trial.”

35. Inviolate

The meaning of “inviolate” is profaned, or not violated. The origin of word “inviolate” comes from the early 15c, from the Latin inviolatus “unhurt,” from in-” not, opposite of.” The synonym for “inviolate” is “sacred.” The antonym of “inviolate” is “profane.” The first known use of “inviolate” was in the 15th century.  “Inviolate” is used in a sentence as an adjective, especially to describe something pure. An example sentence of the word “inviolate” is, “The villagers were stunned to see the unearthed mummies in the cave are still inviolate.”

36. Puissant

“Puissant” means having great power, or influence. The history of the word “puisant” comes from the mid-15th century, “puissaunt” means influential, in a position of authority.” From the Old French puissant “strong, powerful.” From the stem of Old French poeir “to be able.” The synonym of “puissant” is “powerful.” The antonym of “puissant” is “flimsy.” The first known use of “puissant” was in the 15th century. “Puissant” is used in a sentence as an adjective to describe someone mighty and influential. An example sentence of the word “puissant” is, “The book was written by one o the nation’s respected authors and puissant advocates for human rights.”

37. Cosset

The word “cosset” means to care for, to pamper. “Cosset” comes from the Old English cot-sæta “one who dwells in a cot.” From a noun in the 1570s meaning “lamb brought up as a pet.” The synonym of the word “cosset” is “coddle.” The antonym of “cosset” is “neglect.” “Cosset” is used in a sentence as a verb to treat with extra care. The first known use of “cosset” was in 1579. An example sentence  of “cosset” is “The resort cossets its guests with hospitable service.” 

38. Eclectic

“Eclectic” means deriving ideas, or tastes, from a diverse range of sources. The origin of word “eclectic” comes from the French eclectique, from the Greek eklektikos “selective,” literally “picking out.” From eklektos.” The synonym of “eclectic” is “assorted.” The antonym of “eclectic” is “homogeneous.” “Eclectic” was used in a sentence as an adjective to describe something that is composed of elements from various sources. Eclectic was initially related to ancient philosophers who were not devoted to any sole system of philosophy, but instead chose whichever doctrines they liked from every school of thought. An example sentence of “eclectic” is, “The restaurant’s menu is so eclectic and includes various cuisine from all over the world.”

39. Iconoclast

“Iconoclast” means a person who attacks settled beliefs. The history of the word “iconoclast” date back to the 1590s, from French iconoclaste, and Medieval Latin iconoclastes, from Late Greek eikonoklastes, from eikon (genitive eikonos) “image” + latest “breaker.” The synonym of “iconoclast” is  “nonconformist.” The antonym of “iconoclast” is “conformist.” “Iocnoclast” is used in a sentence as a noun, pertaining to someone who attacks an institution or certain beliefs. An example sentence  of “iconoclast” is “Joseph was fired from his current job because he is an iconoclast.”

40. Anachronism

The word “anachronism” means the state of being chronologically out of place. “Anachrosnism” originated from the 1640s, “an error in computing time,” from Latin anachronismus, from Greek anakhronismos, and from anakhronizien “refers to wrong time.” It was derived from ana “against” + khronos “time.” The synonym of “anachronismus” is  “antique.” The antonym of “anachronism” is “modern.” “Anachronism is used in a sentence as a noun referring to an error in chronology. The first known use of “anachronism” was in 1617. An example sentence of the word “anachronism” is, “In many households, most family meals has become an anachronism.” 

41. Enormity

“Enormity” means the state of being monstrous, or immoderate. “Enormity” comes from Old French enormité “extravagance, heinous sin,” from Latin enormitatem (nominative enormity) “hugeness, vastness; irregularity.” From enormis “irregular, huge”, meaning “ultimate wickedness” in English attested from the 1560s.  “Enormity” is synonymous with the word “wickedness.” The antonym of “enormity” is  “kindness.” “Enormity” is used in a sentence as a noun pertaining to an outrageous act. Although “enormity” was used since the late 1700s to describe something having a large size, its usage continues to be disparaged by many language commentators. They argue that “enormity” must be reserved for senses related to “great wickedness.” An example sentence of “enormity” is “The police officer was shocked at the enormity of the crime.”  

42. Dolorous

The word “dolorous” means causing misery, or grief. The origin of “dolorous” comes from the Old French doloros “painful, sorrowful,” from Late Latin dolorosus “painful, sorrowful,” from Latin dolor “pain, grief.” During 1400, “dolorous” was linked to physical pain. At present, “dolor” is used in English, meaning “sorrow.” The synonym of “dolorous” is “afflicted.” The antonym of “dolorous’ is “happy.”  “Dolorous’ is used in a sentence as an adjective expressing grief or pain. The first known use of the word “dolorous” was in the 15th century. An example sentence of “dolorous” is, “You can see in his dolorous expression that he had suffered enough.” 

43. Solicitous

“Solicitous” means expressing solitude, or being full of concerns. The history of “solicitous” comes from the Latin Sollicitus “restless, unease, full of anxiety.” The word “sol” comes from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning “whole.” The synonym of “solicitous” is “attentive.” The antonym of “solicitous” is “thoughtless.” “Solicitous” is used in a sentence as an adjective that shows a full of concern or fear. The first known use of the word “solicitous” was in 1563. An example sentence of “solicitous” is “Mr. Antonio had always been solicitous for the welfare of his students.”

44. Impugn

“Impugn” means to oppose or attack as false or lacking integrity. The origin of the word “impugn” comes from the late 14th century, from Old French impugner, from Latin impugnare “to fight against,” In its earliest known English use in the 1300s, impugn refers to a physical attack. The synonym of “impugn” is “condemn.” The antonym of “impugn” is “defend.” The first known use of impugn” was in the 14th century. An example sentence of “impugn” is “The Governor leaked news of the arrest to the media to impugn his rival’s character.”

45. Despot

Despot means having unlimited power over other people. The first known use of the word “despot” was in 1604. It originated from Middle French despote, from Greek despotēs master, lord, autocrat, from des- (akin to domos house) + -potēs (akin to posis husband); akin to Sanskrit dampati lord of the house — more at. The synonym of “despot” is “dictator.” The antonym of “despot” is “democrat.” An example sentence of “despot” is, “She was a successful choreographer, but many of her students regarded her as a petty despot.” 

46. Splenetic

The word “splenetic” means showing or having a bad temper regularly. The history of “spelenetic” dates back to the e1540s. It comes from the Late Latin speleneticus, from spleen, meaning “irritable morose.”  The synonym of “splenetic” is “ill-tempered.” “Splenetic” is used in a sentence as an adjective to describe a bad temper.  The antonym of “splenetic” is “good-humored.” The first known use of “splenetic” was in 1697. An example sentence of “splenetic” is “The rude and splenetic expression was evident in his face.” 

47. Abrogate

“Abrogate” means to abolish by authoritative action. The word “abrogate” comes from the Latin abrogatus, the past participle of abrogare “to annul, repel (a law), from ab “off, away from.”  The synonym of “abrogate” is “abolish.” The antonym of “abrogate” is “institute.” “Abrogate” is used in a sentence as a verb that shows abolishing using an authoritative action. An example sentence of “abrogate” is  “The U.S. Congress can abrogate old treaties that are unfair to Native Americans.” 

48. Inveterate

The word “inveterate” means habitual or firmly established by long persistence. It comes from the Latin inveteratus “of long-standing, chronic, old,” past participle of inveterare “become old in.” From in- “in, into” (from PIE root en “in”) + verb from vetus (genitive veteris) “old” (veteran) which led to the Latin verb inveterare (“to age”). The verb, in turn, eventually gave rise to the adjective inveteratus, the direct source of the adjective inveterate (in use since the 14th century). “Inveterate” has meant “long-standing” or simply “old,” in the past. The first known use of “inverterate” dates back to the 15th century. “Inverterate” is used in a sentence as an adjective relating to a habit. An example sentence of “inveterate” is “He became an inveterate liar.” 

49. Officious

“Officious” means volunteering one’s services even when not needed. “Officious” comes from the Latin officiosus “full of courtesy, dutiful, obliging,” from officium “duty, service.” The synonym of officious is “impertinent.” The antonym of “officious” is “timid.” The word “officious is used in a sentence as an adjective to describe someone who always volunteers to help even when not needed. The first known use of “officious” was in the 15th century. An example sentence of “officious” is “Lory doesn’t like it when officious strangers try to start a conversation in the checkout line.”

50. Pillory

A “pillory” means a device used for punishing criminals, consisting of a wooden frame with holes in which the head and hands are locked. Having unlimited power over other people. The first known use of the word “despot” was in 1604. It originated from Middle French despote, from Greek despotēs master, lord, autocrat, from des- (akin to domos house) + -potēs (akin to posis husband); akin to Sanskrit dampati lord of the house — more at. “Pillory” is used in a sentence either as a noun or a verb. “Pillory” as a noun pertains to a device used for punishing offenders in public. The word “pillory” means to set in a pillory as punishment, as a verb. It is a wooden frame with holes for the head and hand. The first known use of “pillory” was in the 13th century. An example sentence of “pillory” is “He endured public humiliation in a pillory and was sent to jail.”

51. Abject

The word “abject” means existing in a very low state. “Abject” comes from Latin inveteratus “of long-standing, chronic, old,” past participle of inveterare “become old in,” from in- “in, into” (from PIE root en “in”) + verb from vetus (genitive veteris) “old” (veteran). Which led to the Latin verb inveterare (“to age”). The verb gave rise to the adjective inveteratus, the direct source of the adjective inveterate (in use since the 14th century). Inveterate was meant as “long-standing” or simply “old” in the past. The first known use of “abject” was in the 15th century. “Abject” is used in a sentence as an adjective showing hopelessness or cast down in spirit.  An example sentence  of the word “abject” is, “He was an abject teenager when his parents died.” 

52. Candor

“Candor” means honest, or sincere expression. The history of the word “candor” comes from the Latin candor “purity,” initially from “whiteness, radiance,” from candere “to shine, to be white.” It was borrowed earlier in English from the Latin literal sense of “extreme whiteness.” “Candor” is synonymous with the word “sincerity.” The antonym of “candor” is “dishonesty.” “Candor” is used in a sentence as a noun. An example sentence of the word “candor” is, “Our Leader must earn a reputation for candor, and integrity.” 

53. Cogent

“Cogent” means logical, appealing forcibly to the mind. The history of “cogent” comes from the French cogent “necessary, urgent,” from the Latin cogentem (nominative cogens), the present participle of cogere “to curdle, to compel.” The synonym of “cogent” is  “compelling.” The antonym of “cogent” is “uncompelling.” “Cohent” is used in a sentence as an adjective for incisive presentation. An example sentence of “cogent” is, “Usually her argument was cogent.”

54. Dearth

“Dearth” means an inadequate amount, especially food or scarcity. The origin of “dearth” comes from the abstract noun from the root of Old English deore “precious, costly” + abstract noun suffix -th. The synonym of “dearth” is “drought.” The antonym of “dearth” is “abundance.” Dearth, in one form or another, has been used to describe things that have been in short supply since at least the 13th century, when it often referred to a food shortage. The word “dearth” is used in a sentence as a noun, specifically relating to famine. An example sentence  of “dearth” is “There was a dearth of fresh fruits at the local grocery store.” 

55. Evanescent

The word “evanescent” means fleeting, or fading away. “Evanescent” comes from the French évanescent, from the Latin evanescentem (nominative evanescens), the present participle of evanescere “disappear, vanish, pass away.” “Evanescent” is synonymous with the word “passing.” The antonym of “evanescent” is “endless.” “Evanescent” is used in a sentence as an adjective to vanish like vapor. The first known use of “evanescent” was in 1717. An example sentence  of “evanescent” is “The newly crowned Miss Globe has a beauty that is evanescent as a rainbow.” 

56. Cognizant

“Cognizant” means having knowledge of something. The first known use of “cognizant” was in 1820. The word “cognizant” is linked to “cognizance,” which comes from Anglo-French conysance “recognition,” which later became “knowledge.” It comes from the Old French conoissance “acquaintance, recognition, knowledge.” “Cognizant” is synonymous with the word “conscious.” The antonym of “cognizant” is “insensible.” “Cognizant” is used in a sentence as an adjective for having knowledge of something. An example sentence of “cognizant” is, “It was only then that she seemed to become cognizant of her surroundings.”   

57. Futuous (Fatuous)

“Fatuous” means silly, or foolish.  The word “fatuous” comes from the Latin fatuus “foolish, silly, insipid,” which is of uncertain origin. The first known use of “fatuous” was in 1633. The synonym of “fatuous” is “foolish.” The antonym of “fatuous” is “intelligent.” “Fatuous” is used in a sentence as an adjective for being stupid. “Fatuous” is used in a sentence as an adjective to describe a foolish person. An example sentence of “fatuous” is, “Buying a house without negotiating down the price is a fatuous move.”

58. Mendacious

“Mendacious” means lying, or not telling the truth. The origin of the word “mendacious” comes from the French menacieux, directly from the Latin mendacium “a lie, falsehood, untruth, fiction.” The synonym for “mendacious” is “dishonest.” The antonym of “mendacious” is “honest.” “Mendacious” is used in a sentence as an adjective describing a person who tells a lie. The first known use of “mendacious” was in 1616. An example sentence of “mendacious” is, “A product claiming to help one get whiter skin instantly is mendacious advertising.”

59. Disparate

The word “disparate” means different in kind, or markedly distinct in quality. The origin of “disparate” comes from the Latin disparate, the past participle of disparate, which means “divide, separate,” from dis – “apart” + parare “get ready.” The meaning was influenced in Latin by dispar which means “unequal, unlike.” The word “disparate” is synonymous with the word “different.” The antonym of “disparate” is “alike.” “Disparate” is used in a sentence as an adjective showing differences in qualities or character. An example sentence of “disparate” is “The new student is having a hard time adapting to two disparate cultures.”

60. Ubiquitous

“Ubiquitous” means being everywhere or being found everywhere. The origin of word “ubiquitous”  comes from ubiquity + ous. The earlier word was Ubiquitary, from Modern Latin ubiquitous, from Latin ubique, “everywhere.” The synonym of “ubiquitous’ is “common.” The antonym of “ubiquitous” is “rare.” “Ubiquitous” is used in a sentence as an adjective describing something or someone that seems to be everywhere. “An example sentence of the word “ubiquitous” is “Sugar is ubiquitous in the dishes prepared.”  

61. Capitulate

The word “capitulate” means to surrender after negotiations. “Capitulate” comes from Medieval Latin capitulatus, the past participle of capitulare, “to draw up in heads or chapters,” and “arrange conditions.” The word “capitulate” was often used in terms of surrender. The synonym for “capitulate” is “give in.” The antonym of “capaitulate” is “resist.” “Capitulate” is used in a sentence as an intransitive verb to cease resisting. The first known use of “capitulate” was in 1596. An example sentence of “capitulate” is “The rebel group as forced to capitulate, and free their captives.” 

62. Divisive

“Divisive” means creating dissension, or tending to cause disagreement. The origin of “divisive” comes from the past participle stem of Latin dividere meaning “to divide.” The first known use of the word “divisive” dates back to 1642. The synonym of “divisive” is “disruptive.” The antonym of “divisive” is “agreement.” The word “divisive” is used in a sentence as an adjective creating disunity. An example sentence of “divisive” is “Selena made a divisivse move, and lost her friends in the process.”

63. Extant

“Extant” means currently existing, or surviving. The origin of word “extant” originated from the Latin extantem (nominative extans), the present participle of extare, which means “stand out, be visible, exist,” from ex “out” + stare “to stand.” The first known use of “extant” dates back to 1545. The synonym for “extant” is “alive.” The antonym of “extant” is “extinct.” “Extant” is used in a sentence as an adjective for still existing. An example sentence of “extant” is “One of the oldest buildings in our town is extant up to this day.”    

64. Fetter  

“Fetter” means a chain around the ankles or to restrain from motion. “Fetter” comes from the Old English fetor, which means “chain or shackle by which a person or an animal is bound by the feet,” figuratively meaning “check, restraint.” The synonym of “fetter” is “constraint.” The antonym of “fetter” is “unbind.”  The first known use of the word “fetter” dates back to the 12th century. “Fetter” is both a noun and a verb, depending on its usage in a sentence. As a verb, “fetter” is used to restrain the action. As a noun, “fetter” refers to the chain for the feet. An example sentence of “fetter” is, “I can still hear the sound of the jingling metal fetters on his feet.” 

65. Hegemony

“Hegemony” means domination or leadership. The origin of “hegemony” comes from the Greek hēgemonia “leadership, a going first.” Initially, it came from the predominance of one city or another in Greek history. The first known use of “hegemony” dates back to 1567. The synonym for “hegemony” is “dominance.” The antonym of “hegemony”  is “impotency.” “Hegemony” is used in a sentence as a noun referring to authority over others. An example sentence of “hegemony” is, “Rome succeeded to the hegemony o the Latin league.” 

66. Inoculate

 “Inoculate” is defined as giving a person or animal a vaccine. “Inoculate” originates from the Latin inoculatus, the past participle of inoculare “graft in, implant a bud.” It means to “implant germs of a disease to produce immunity.” “Inoculate” was then applied to other forms of engrafting, including establishing vaccines as a preventative against certain diseases. The first known use of “inoculate” dates back to 1721. “Inoculate” is synonymous with the word “infuse.” The antonym of “inoculate” is “eliminate.” The word “inoculate” is used in a sentence as a verb to introduce active material to treat a disease. An example sentence of “inoculate” is, “The doctor was able to inoculate people with a polio vaccine.”       

67. Linchpin

“Linchpin” means a locking pin inserted crosswise or a person vital to an enterprise. “ Linchpin” originates from the Middle English lins “axle.” It is a word of uncertain origin. The first known use of the word “linchpin” dates back to the 13th century. English speakers used “linchpin” for anything as critical to a complex situation as a linchpin was to a wagon in the early 20th century. The synonym for “linchpin” is “anchor.”  The antonym of ”linchpin” is “disallow.” “Linchpin” is used in a sentence as a noun. An example sentence of “linchpin” is “sales is the linchpin of almost any business.” 

68. Mores

“Mores” means the fixed moral binding of a certain group, an essential characteristic of a community, or social norms. “Mores” originates from the Latin mores, “customs, morals, or manners.” The synonym for “mores” is “etiquette.” The antonym of “mores” is “unconventional.” The first known use of “mores’ dates back to 1898.  “Mores” is used in a sentence as a plural noun, referring to more than one person or thing.  An example sentence of “mores” is “Their mother teaches them good manners, and social mores.”

69. Pariah

“Pariah” means a member of a low caste of Southern India, or an outcast. “Pariah” originates from the Portuguese paria or directly from Tamil (Dravidian) paraiyar, plural of paraiyan “drummer” (at festivals, the hereditary duty of members of the largest of the lower castes of southern India), from parai “large festival drum.” Pariah” is synonymous to the word “outcast.” The antonym of “pariah” is “insider.” “Pariah” is used in a sentence as a noun referring to an outcast. The first known use of “pariah” dates back to 1613. An example sentence of “pariah” is, “They discovered what it meant to be a pariah in their own country.” “Pariah” is among the difficult English words that are not used in daily conversations.

70. Reprobate

“Reprobate” means a depraved person. The word “reprobate” works in a sentence as a noun, verb, or adjective. The verb form of “reprobate” means to condemn strongly as evil. The adjective form of “reprobate” means morally corrupt. The noun form of “reprobate” means an unprincipled person. “Reprobate” comes from the early 15c., “rejected as worthless,” from Late Latin reprobatus. From the past participle of reprobare “disapprove, reject, condemn,” from Latin re- “back, again,” here perhaps indicating “opposite of, reversal of the previous condition” (see re-) + probare “prove to be worthy” (see probate (n.)). The meaning “abandoned in character, morally depraved, unprincipled” was by the 1650s. The original reprobates were hardened sinners who had fallen from God’s grace. In time, the name was used outside of religious contexts for anyone who behaved morally wrong. In Late Latin, reprobare means “to disapprove” or “to condemn.” An example sentence of “reprobate” is “A band of reprobate criminals was sentenced to death.” 

71. Worcestershire

Worcestershire is a savory vinegar, soy sauce, and spices sauce. It was originally made in England.  Worcestershire sauce is probably Worcestershire’s most well-known product. It was first produced in Worcester by two chemists, John Wheeley Lea and William Perrins, and they tried to sell it in 1837. It is still made in the city today, although the recipe’s origin remains a mystery. The first known use of the word “Worcestershire” dates back to 1843. It comes from Wireceastre (1086), Old English Wigranceastre (717), and Weogorna civitas (691), from Weogora, a tribal name. Worcestershire sauce (Lea & Perrin’s) is attested from 1843. “Worcestershire” is used in a sentence as a noun, a sauce whose ingredients are composed of soy sauce, vinegar, and spices. An example sentence of “Worcestershire” is, “Add oil, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce.”

72. Onomatopoeia

“Onomatopoeia” originates from the Late Latin onomatopoeia, from Greek onomatopoiia “the making of a name or word” (in imitation of a sound associated with the thing being named). From onomatopoios, from onoma (genitive onomatos) “word, the name” (from PIE root no-men- “name”) + a derivative of poiein “compose, make” (see poet). English speakers have started to use the word onomatopoeia since the mid-1500s, but people have been creating words from the sounds heard around them for much longer. The language’s presence of many imitative words generated the linguistic bow-wow theory, which suggests that language originated in imitation of natural sounds. “Onomatopeia” is used in a sentence as a noun for the naming of a thing based on its vocal imitation. An example sentence of “onomatopeia” is “There is an element of onomatopoeia in the phrase.”

73. Sesquipedalian

“Sesquipedalian” means having several syllables. The word “sesquipedalian” comes from Latin sesquipedalia “a foot-and-a-half long.” The first known use of the word “sesquipedalian” was in 1656. The synonym of “sesquipedalian” is “polysyllable.” The antonym of “sesquipedalian” is “monosyllabic.” “Sesquipedalian” is used in a sentence as an adjective, given to the use of long words. An example sentence of “sesquipedalian” is, “She thought that using many sesquipedalian phrases would make her look smarter.”     

What are the Reasons for Existing Difficult Words in English?

Difficult English words exist because some people want to use words that are descriptive as possible when expressing themselves. English is widely recognized by many. However, there are still English words that are difficult to understand. Not all recognize and are familiar with these difficult English words. Difficult English words are sometimes used to express the exact message a writer wants to convey to their readers. Certain words have distinct meanings that deliver a solid and impactful message when used in a sentence. Difficult English words are not typically used in a person’s daily living. Aside from the difficulty in meaning, most difficult words are hard to spell too. Words are constantly evolving, there are new modern words nowadays that the older generations are unfamiliar with. Difficult English words only show how diverse it is. Words are not only restricted geographically and socially. They are often limited to speaking and writing styles, making them difficult.     

How to Determine Difficult Words in English?

Difficult English words sometimes appear in a sentence, and people find it hard to know their meaning initially. Several difficult words in English are not familiar and are used daily. Create a learning system first to determine difficult words in English. Using a learning system that fits one’s capability. Learning systems are a person’s method of understanding, memorizing, and applying difficult English words. Second, define the goal. A person is learning these tricky words in English for studies, work, or effective communication. One must identify the reasons for learning these difficult words to set a goal. Third, know how to pronounce difficult words correctly. Every word has its way of being said. One has to ensure to listen to the word clearly to pronounce it correctly and efficiently. Know the syllables of every word. Repeated word dividing allows one to pronounce the word quickly. Fourth, find the synonyms of the difficult word. Put a difficult English word in a sentence, replace it with one of its synonyms, then do it again. Notice that difficult words are easier to understand. Lastly, apply the learnings. Use difficult English words in daily conversations. Familiarization in that way becomes easier. Use them in writing school essays, and reports. Learning difficult English words is retained in a person’s memory when used daily, like easy English words.    

How do Content Writers use Difficult English Words?

Content writers use difficult English words effectively. However, a content writer’s biggest challenge is the English language’s enormous vocabulary. English has borrowed several words from other languages, greatly widening its vocabulary. Content writers use difficult English words on almost any kind of topic. Difficult English words are not very common and are not always used in a sentence. A writer must know the basic rules when it comes to grammar in content writing. Not only is proper grammar practiced by content writers, even the choice of words matters. Common and easy words in English make one’s writing appear ordinary and common. The content writer uses difficult English words to clarify the subject or give extra subject information. Using difficult English words means that sensory verbs like appears, look, smell, sound, or taste function as difficult English words when describing a subject. Difficult English words, when utilized properly in a sentence, make the content unique, and distinct. One of the most effective ways content writers do to expand their vocabulary is through reading. Viewing words in the context of books, articles, and conversations help them understand and figure out the meaning of words that are not familiar to them. Reading is a major part of their writing process, although writing is what content writers usually do. Content writers always use appropriate and grammatically correct words, which is very important in Content Writing. 

Do English Difficult Words Affect SEO and UX?

Yes, difficult English words affect SEO and UX. Understanding the meaning of a difficult word takes a lot of time, and learning. Choices of words are significant in communicating better. Imagine reading a book, and the author uses difficult words in every sentence; it annoys most readers. One must have to look first at the meaning in the dictionary to understand what is being written in the book. Difficult words impact the user experience of a reader because one needs to learn first the meaning of the difficult word to understand a sentence entirely. Compared to easy words used in daily conversations, difficult English words must be processed in our brains first. However, difficult English words are essential in improving one’s vocabulary. It improves one’s way of communication, and it serves as a second language. Having a vast vocabulary is helpful, too, especially at work, as it gives the impression that a person is knowledgeable. Using words that are easy to understand is essential, in whatever aspect. The same thing goes for SEO. Informative, and valuable content helps a website rank better. Consistent use of keywords, and quality content.     

Do Difficult English Words affect User Experience?

Yes, difficult English words influence user experience. Users need clarification when certain words appear, and they need help understanding them. Not only are these words not usually seen in daily conversations, but their meaning is quite hard to remember. A word is considered to be easy when it is used regularly. One gets to be familiar with a particular word, which is always present in magazines, books, and other forms of writing. Imagine a reader encountering an unfamiliar and challenging word in a sentence. It interrupts their reading because the reader needs help understanding the difficult English word. One has to look up a dictionary to know the meaning of a difficult word. Every word is deliberate and purposeful. Each word creates an impact. Good word choices make it easy to communicate. Users are able to understand clearly if a word is familiar and understandable. Words are potent symbols capable of evocative expression, categorization, and conceptualization, and it makes sense that they impact the user experience.    

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Learn the most difficult words in the English language! English has a lot of rules and truisms. For example, if “a” and “u” are put together in a word, they will make the sound, “aw”. And if “g-h-t” comes at the end of a word, the g-h will be silent. The rules are there, obviously, to help us find our way through the challenging maze that is the English language.

And the guidelines do help.

Yet, every day, we use words that seem to thumb their noses at rules. They simply refuse to follow any expected route. That’s simply because they are such difficult words. They might be hard to say or cause a problem when reading. These kinds of words might even be tough to pronounce. Here are a few —

Difficult Words

The Most Difficult Words in the English Language to SPELL Correctly

1. Collectible

There is no way to tell that the letter between the t and the b is supposed to be an “i”. Except to just know.

2. Judgment

This is misspelled FREQUENTLY. Be careful.

3. Irritable

There is never a clue whether that “a” really ought to be an “a”. It simply has to be remembered.

4. Seize

The “i” before “e’ rule doesn’t work here.

5. Aleve

This is hard to spell because the word doesn’t exist. Aleve is a pain reliever/anti-inflammatory. If you wish to get rid of pain, you ALLEVIATE it.

6. Nickel

This is a coin worth five cents. It is very easy to think it should be spelled more like “tickle”.

The Most Difficult Words in the English Language to PRONOUNCE Correctly

1. Sixth

The “x” is said at nearly the same time as the “th”. In order to accomplish this, the speaker has to modify the ‘x” sound a bit and raise the tongue higher than usual while saying the “th”. Not an easy word at all.

2. Squirrel

They’re cute, but a person’s tongue could cramp with all the moves necessary to say this word.

3. Laughter/Slaughter

These two words are spelled exactly alike, except for the S in front of the second word. Still, the first one is laughter, as in what happens when someone tickles your toes. Laughter is pronounced “LAFF-ter”. The second word is about as far from laughter as possible—to slaughter is to kill. It is pronounced, “SLAW-ter”.

4. Rural

Pronounced “RER-ruhl”. Try saying THAT word three times fast.

5. Choir

Pronounced “KWY-er”. Strange, yes. But boy can they sing.

6. February

February has an “r” before “u”, which gets caught in a lot of people’s tongues.

The Most Difficult Words in the English Language to READ Correctly

1. Anemone

According to all the rules, this word ought to read, “uh-NEE-mown”. But this wildflower, which is the buttercup’s cousin, ignores what it is “supposed” to do. It is pronounced “uh-NEH-muh-nee.”

2. Gnash

This one may have you grinding your teeth since it belongs in all three categories. It can be hard to spell correctly and hard to pronounce correctly, as well as be a problem while reading.

3. Sword

This one is messed up so often, even people born in English-speaking households often mispronounce it. The “w” is silent.

Difficult Words | Infographic

Most Difficult Words In the English Language

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One of the most problematic aspects of documenting words from audio is deciphering words that may be mispronounced due to being difficult for foreigners and even English-speaking Americans. That’s one of the many reasons to hire translation services that can do the work for you. Here are 20 English words that commonly cause pronunciation problems. 

20 Most Difficult Words to Pronounce in the English Language

1. Colonel                                                             
2. Worcestershire
3. Mischievous
4. Draught
5. Quinoa
6. Onomatopoeia
7. Scissors
8. Anemone
9. Isthmus
10. Otorhinolaryngologist
11. Squirrel
12. Ignominious
13. Successful
14. Sixth
15. Phenomenon
16. Rural
17. Specific
18. Synecdoche
19. Temperature
20. Often

1. Colonel — Derived from Middle French, this pronunciation is «ker-nul.» The reason it’s a strange word for foreigners is that it lacks an «r,» despite using that sound when spoken. The second «o» is silent, which adds to the confusion. 

2. Worcestershire — Americans mispronounce this name since it uses its traditional British-English pronunciation, which is «woo-ster-sher» instead of wor-cest-er-shi-er.» The ending «shire» means «county» in Britain. So the Worcestershire sauce used as food seasoning is merely named after the region in which it originates. It may help to remember that after «wo» the «rce» part of the word is silent and «shire» is pronounced «sher,» like in New Hampshire.

3. Mischievous — While many Americans say «mis-CHEEV-ee-us,» the actual pronunciation is «MIS-chiv-us.» The confusion lies in the fact that it’s a three-syllable word but appears to have four syllables. 

4. Draught — Travelers from outside the United States or the UK might say «drot,» but the correct pronunciation of this British word is «draft,» which is also what it means, as in cool air or alcoholic beverage from a keg.  

5. Quinoa — This super food has gained popularity among health food consumers in recent years, even though it’s a grain from the ancient world. Some people might mispronounce it as «qwin-o-ah,» but this Spanish word has multiple pronunciations, such as «KEEN-wah,» «ken-WAH» or «KEN-on-ah.»

6. Onomatopoeia — Have you even ever heard of this word, which applies to words that imitate the sound they make?  It’s actually a six-syllable word and is pronounced «on-o-mot-o-PEE-a.» An example of a term that would fit this description is «buzz.»

7. Scissors — While most Americans know how to pronounce this word as «sizz-ers,» people who are just learning English might say «skiss-ors.» They might think the «s» at the end makes it plural, although it’s a singular tool referred to as a pair of scissors. 

8. Anemone — From the buttercup family, this wild, colorful plant may look hard to say for any person unfamiliar with gardening. It’s pronounced «ah-NEM-oh-nee.» Just ignore the «mone» ending, which looks like it should rhyme with «phone» but doesn’t. 

9. Isthmus — If you study geography, you might recognize this two-syllable term as a reference to a tight strip of land between two seas. It helps if you forget about the «th,» which is silent, as the word is pronounced «is-muss.»

10. Otorhinolaryngologist – Many people can trip over this lengthy word that is used in the medical profession for an ear, nose and throat doctor. It’s understandably complex for anyone outside of the medical field, as it’s pronounced «oh-toh-rye-no-lar-ing-GOL-uh-jee.» A more convenient title for this medical position is «ENT.»

11. Squirrel — German speakers may have problems with this animal word since the «rl» sound is usually coming at the end of a syllable. They might say «skwörl,» when most Americans say «SKWIR-rel.»

12. Ignominious — Articulate speakers who show off vocabulary use this word to describe a person who is dishonorable.» It’s a five-syllable word that is pronounced «ig-ne-MIN-ee-us.»

13. Successful — Here’s one of the easiest words on this list for anyone to pronounce, although people unfamiliar with English might be confused by the double c and double “s” since the «cc» has a «k» sound. Yet just «c» alone can be an «s,» «k» or «ch» sound. 

14. Sixth — Numbers are among the first things students of second languages learn to pronounce, but adding a «th» after «x» can be tricky for some people new to English. 

15. Phenomenon — This singular form of «phenomena» means an amazing event and is pronounced «fi-NOM-uh-non.»

16. Rural — Residents of farms and ranches are familiar with this term, which is pronounced «roor-uhl,» whereas urban dwellers who don’t talk about less populated areas much might find it to be a tongue twister.

17. Specific — Here’s another easy word for most to decipher, but difficult for those who don’t understand that «s» and «c» can have the same, yet different sounds within the same word. 

18. Synecdoche — This rare literary device is more read than spoken, making it unfamiliar to many, as it’s pronounced «se-NEK-de-kee.»

19. Temperature — For some people, «tem-per-uh-chur» is difficult to say quickly, as the «t» takes on a «ch» sound. Many people chop the four syllables down to three. 

20. Often — Many Americans, more often than not, drop the «t» to say «OFF-uhn,» while others say «OFT-uhn.» But either pronunciation is acceptable in the United States.

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Difficult Words and Terms in Legal Transcription

What are Difficult Words?

Difficult words in English refer to terms that people find hard to understand, spell, or pronounce. How hard a word is usually depends on a person’s age, location, vocabulary, and knowledge of the English language.

Some of the hardest words in English are:

• Disparate
• Cajole
• Gregarious
• Ephemeral
• Ignominious
• Hegemony
• Quinoa
• Conscience
• Liaise
• Cupboard

Content creators should use difficult words carefully because they have the potential to change the meaning of the sentence.

They can also affect your readability. And, therefore, your ability to connect with your target audience. In this way, using too many difficult words or complicated sentences can also affect your ability to rank well in search engine results.

Remember: your goal is to write content that your audience can easily find and engage with. Understanding what your audience talks about and how they talk about it can help you write the best content for your target.

Most writers have a tough time using these words because they are either difficult to hear or say. Or, they might have deep meanings.

Hardest Words to Pronounce in the English Vocabulary

Once, a friend of mine spent almost an hour in the grocery store looking for a sauce. My friend’s wife asked him to buy Wuss-ter-sheer (Worcestershire) sauce.

Unfortunately, my poor friend could only find Wor-cess-ter-shayr sauce.

So, as you can see, some words are harder than others because they’re difficult to say.

In my example, the wife pronounced Worcestershire the right way. However, the husband read and say it differently, so it caused confusion.

Below are some examples of these commonly mispronounced words and the right way to say them.

Anemone

• Correct: aa-neh-mowniy
• Wrong: aa-neh-mown

Epitome

• Correct: ih-pit-uh-mee
• Wrong: epi-tohm

Boatswain

• Correct: boh-suhn
• Wrong: boht-sweyn

Debauch

• Correct: dih-bawch
• Wrong: de-botch

Colonel

• Correct: ker-nuhl
• Wrong: ko-lo-nel

Faux

• Correct: fow
• Wrong: fohx

Hegemony

• Correct: huh-jeh-muh-nee
• Wrong: hi-jeh-muh-nee

Genre

• Correct: zhahn-ruh
• Wrong: jen-re

Knell

• Correct: nel
• Wrong: kn-ehl

Mauve

• Correct: mahv
• Wrong: mohv

Ignominious

• Correct: ig-nuh-min-ee-uhs
• Wrong: ig-nuh-min-uhs

Onomatopoeia

• Correct: aa-nuh-maa-tuh-pee-uh
• Wrong: on-uh-mat-uh-pee-uh

Salmon

• Correct: sa-mən
• Wrong: sal-mən

Cupboard

• Correct: kuh-brd
• Wrong: kap-bord

Posthumous

• Correct: paas-chuh-muhs
• Wrong: pos-chuh-muhs

Quinoa

• Correct: keen-wah
• Wrong: key-no-ah

Segue

• Correct: seh-gwei
• Wrong: se-ge

Niche

• Correct: neesh
• Wrong: nitch

Liaison

• Correct: lee-ei-zaan
• Wrong: lie-a-zon

All native English speakers might not use the same difficult words. Note that most words can be used differently in depending on the context, region, and dialect.

In addition, some of these words can have a variety of meanings within one dialect.

For instance, where Americans use the word “incomprehensible,”Australians might use “confusing.”Swedes might use “ugly,” while the British could use “rude.”

People in some English-speaking areas might have difficulty with one or two of these words, while others have none.

What Makes a Word Difficult?

What makes difficult words difficult is the fact that they are hard to write, say, or understand.

You’ve probably found yourself repeating a particular word several times in your writing before. Or, you may have rearranged the way you use a specific word to make sure you are using or saying it correctly.

Learning to write using difficult words is no easy feat. Even with a dictionary around, there are still so many words that are difficult to say and spell.

When using these words, always pay attention to what you’re saying and how you’re saying it.

Read More: What Are Some Tone Words?

Most Difficult Words in the English Vocabulary

Regardless of how well-versed you are in the English language, some words will still make you scramble for a dictionary. Here are some of them and their corresponding definitions.

Disparate

• Things that are essentially different there’s no basis for comparison.

Gregarious

• Sociable; one who likes company.

Cajole

• To persuade someone with gentle coaxing or flattery.

Acumen

• The ability to make sound and quick decisions.

Ephemeral

• Lasting for a very short time.

Florid

• Tinged with red; elaborate or intricate.

Beguile

• To charm someone, often in a deceptive manner.

Idyllic

• Picturesque in natural simplicity.

Juxtaposition

• Placing two or more objects side by side to compare and contrast.

Ostentatious

• Attracting attention by means of pretentious display, gaudiness, or obviousness.

Hiatus

• A brief pause or interruption in time or continuity.

Laconic

• Using minimal words.

Munificent

• Extremely generous or giving.

Nefarious

• Wicked or impious.

Quotidian

• Occurring daily; everyday.

Proclivity

• An inclination toward something; a tendency to do something regularly.

Sanctimonious

• A show of being morally superior to others.

Ruminate

• To think deeply about something.

Travesty

• A debased, distorted, or grossly inferior imitation; a false, absurd, or distorted representation of something.

Ubiquitous

• Present, appearing, or found everywhere; constantly encountered.

Most Commonly Misspelled Words in the English Vocabulary

We often misspell words because we tend to spell them based on how they sound when we pronounce them. Usually, words pronounced with silent letters or those that have repeating letters are the most difficult to spell.

How often do you misspell “Mississippi,”“accommodate,” or “committee?”

Correct spelling is crucial, particularly if you are a writer. One way to fix your spelling issues is by memorizing words you find hard to spell and using them as often as you can.

Or, you can use writing editors with spell checkers like INK or Grammarly. With that said, below are some of the most commonly misspelled words in the English language.

• Apparent
• Drunkenness
• Dumbbell
• Amateur
• Conscience
• Exaggerate
• Foreseeable
• Gauge
• Harassment
• Irresistible
• Judgment
• Knowledge
• Liaise
• Millennium
• Noticeable
• Occurrence
• Possession
• Questionnaire
• Referred
• Vacuum

Things to Remember Before Using Difficult Words

There are some words that are more appropriate in daily conversation. There are others that are more appropriate for writing.

There’s no fixed rule. However, this is a useful guideline to demonstrate your command of the English language.

We’ve all encountered difficult words, and we want to avoid them as much as possible.

In order to make your readers interested in what you’re trying to convey, you need to provide them with helpful and important information. To accomplish this, you have to choose your words carefully.

Words that are considered difficult words are very subjective. But, if you can use them in a way that is agreeable to you, then use those words in your writing.

Once you are certain that you’ve used your words appropriately, you can move on to writing for a specific target audience. Your goals and objectives will naturally influence your choice of words.

Also, you should consider cultural differences when choosing your words.

English is one of the most commonly used languages in the world. However, it doesn’t mean that it’s used in the same way as other languages.

So, if you’re planning to use difficult words in your writing, try to use them sparingly. This will help you improve your writing skills.

Sources:Lexico Powered by Oxford Americal College Dictionary / Merriam-Webster Dictionary / HowToPronounce Pronunciation Dictionary

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English is a tricky language. What are the most difficult words in English? There are so many rules and then there are so many exceptions to every rule. And the loopholes are always there… English is not black and white. There are so many gray areas. Some words are hard to pronounce, some are spelled not at all like how they sound, and some words have multiple meanings. Below we will list the 20 of the most difficult words in English based on one, two, or all of those reasons.

1. Anemone

Anemone is pronounced uh-nem-uh-nee. As you can see, that is not how it is smelled. This also isn’t a common word, so you may not know what it means. It comes from the Greek word “wildflower.”

2. Antidisestablishmentarianism

This is one of the longest words in the English language. It has 28 letters and 13 syllables. It is also a tongue twister… I’m not sure I can even pronounce it properly.

3. February 

Unlike January, February has an r before the u, which gets caught in a lot of people’s tongues. A lot of people pronounce Feb-roo-er-ee like Febuary.

4. Floccinaucinihilipilification

The longest word in English. It is 29 words and 12 syllables. It means seeing something as worthless… funny because that word seems to have a lot of worth in the length.

5. Onomatopoeia

Saying this word and spelling this word is a tricky one. Onomatopoeia is when you make a sound relating to something like buzz, hiss, splash.

6. Left

Left isn’t hard to say or to spell, however, it has multiple meanings which makes it tricky for people trying to learn English. Left can mean the left side of your body, or that you left something at someone’s house or that you are politically left (liberal). This can easily confuse a non-native English speaker.

7. Park

Like left, park is not hard to say, but has multiple meanings. You can park your car in the driveway or go to the park and watch the sunset. This can confuse people who have only learned one meaning of the word and then it can be taken out of context.

8. Mourning

This word sounds the exact same as morning but is spelled slightly different and has an entirely different meaning. For a non-native English speaker, this is extremely confusing because it sounds like one thing but means another. Morning relates to the time of day, whereas mourning, means deep sorrow for someone who has died.

9. Amateur

Amateur is one of the most misspelled words in the English language because the ending is french. Most English words end in -er, like harder, colder, freezer, meaner, but amateur has the u. This is an exception to a basic English rule.

10. Collectible

You would think collectible is spelled collectable, but it is just one of those -ible words that must be memorized.

11. Rhyme

Rhyme seems like it should be spelled rime and it used to be, but in the 1600’s it was changed to be more like rhythm, which is another hard one the spell and commonly misspelled.

12. Misspelled

Another commonly misspelled word is misspelled. Isn’t that ironic and embarrassing? Mis-spell is an easy way to remember the proper spelling.

13. Occasionally

Doubling consonants can get confusing. Oftentimes people put two s’s and forget an l.

14. Twelfth

It is very common to forget the f when spelling twelfth. Most people even pronounce it without the “F” sound.

15. Weather

Weather is another word that sounds just like another word that is spelled differently and means something else. Whether vs. weather. Don’t confuse them in your paper because they mean two very different things. Weather relates to the temperature and whether relates to an option or whether or not you are doing something.

16. Principal

When to use principle and when to use principal… Just remember that your principal is your pal and a person, and a principle is a theory.

17. Specificities

Specificities is extremely hard to say for people with a lisp. All of the s’s and c’s make it almost impossible for anyone with a speech impediment.

18. Quinoa

Pronounced Keen-wah, this is a yummy seed. You just have to know its a q instead of a k. One of those words without any type of reason.

19. Timbre

The r before the e throws a lot of people off. Usually, words have an er ending… and it is pronounced like many other -er ending words.

20. Rambunctious

This is a fun and different word to say, spell, and use in general. Bunc is pronounced – bunk, a soft c sound.

There are so many hard words in English. To choose only 20 was a challenge because words are difficult for many reasons.

Difficult Words in English | Image

20 Most Difficult Words in English with Image

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Last Updated on August 23, 2022