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By Maitree Choube
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Updated on 5 Aug 2025, 18:41 IST
Difficult words: Have you watched Mary Poppins movie? Then, you certainly remember this word: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Did you ever say it, in your first attempt? A bit of tongue-twister and difficult right! The English language consists of a great treasure of words, and they all have their peculiar attractiveness and meaning.
There are words that we can say as easily as we are breathing but there are some rare words that are difficult to the well-versed writers. This blog will take us through a journey in using those tough words and reveal the meaning of such words as well as an assortment of fascinating words beginning with the alphabetical order A to Z.
Difficult words are those that are capable of causing us a headache when we come across a word or two. They often boast complex spellings, tricky pronunciations, or meanings that are not immediately evident. They tend to have difficult spelling, hard to pronounce or an obscure meaning. Most of these words are complicated in meaning, unusual in spelling, or have complex roots in the vocabulary and they need more learning.
Nevertheless, once we learn and add to our own vocabulary, we could develop our language and communication skills.
Below are a couple of challenging English words, A to Z with definitions:
| Letter | Word | Meaning |
| A | Aberration | A departure from what is normal or expected, typically an unwelcome one. |
| B | Bombastic | High-sounding but with little meaning; inflated. |
| C | Cacophony | A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds. |
| D | Defenestration | The act of throwing someone out of a window. |
| E | Epistemology | The study of the nature and scope of knowledge. |
| F | Facetious | Treating serious issues with inappropriate humor. |
| G | Gobbledygook | Language that is meaningless or hard to understand; jargon. |
| H | Hapax Legomenon | A word that occurs only once in a language's written record. |
| I | Ineffable | Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words. |
| J | Jeremiad | A long, mournful complaint or lamentation; a list of woes. |
| K | Kaleidoscope | A constantly changing pattern or sequence of elements. |
| L | Lethologica | The inability to remember a word or the name for something. |
| M | Mellifluous | (of a sound) Sweet or musical; pleasant to hear. |
| N | Nefarious | Wicked or criminal; extremely bad or evil. |
| O | Obfuscate | Render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible. |
| P | Pernicious | Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way. |
| Q | Quixotic | Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical. |
| R | Recumbentibus | A witty comeback you think of too late. |
| S | Sesquipedalian | (of a word) Polysyllabic; long-winded. |
| T | Tenebrous | Dark, shadowy, or obscure. |
| U | Ultracrepidarian | Someone who gives opinions on subjects they know nothing about. |
| V | Verisimilitude | The appearance of being true or real. |
| W | Weltanschauung | A particular philosophy or view of life; the worldview of an individual or group. |
| X | Xenophobe | A person who is fearful or contemptuous of foreigners or foreign cultures. |
| Y | Yokel | An unsophisticated person from the countryside; a bumpkin. |
| Z | Zugzwang | A situation in chess (or life) where any move will put you at a disadvantage. |
| Word | Pronunciation | Difficulty Level |
| Anemone | uh-NEH-muh-nee | High |
| Choir | KWY-er | Medium |
| Colonel | KER-nuhl | High |
| Epitome | ih-PIT-uh-mee | Medium |
| Hyperbole | hy-PER-buh-lee | Medium |
| Isthmus | ISS-muss | High |
| Quinoa | KEEN-wah | Medium |
| Rural | ROO-ruhl | High |
| Squirrel | SKWIR-uhl | High |
| Worcestershire | WUSS-ter-sheer | High |
| Synecdoche | sin-EK-duh-kee | High |
| Phenomenon | fuh-NOM-uh-non | Medium |
| Otorhinolaryngologist | oh-toh-rye-no-lar-in-GOL-uh-jist | Very High |
| Antidisestablishmentarianism | an-tee-dis-uh-STAB-lish-muhn-TAIR-ee-uh-niz-um | Very High |
| Onomatopoeia | on-uh-mat-uh-PEE-uh | High |
| Schadenfreude | SHAH-den-froy-duh | High |
| Draught | DRAFT | Medium |
| Brewery | BROO-uh-ree | Medium |
| February | FEB-roo-air-ee | Medium |
| Hegemony | heh-JEH-muh-nee | High |
| Gnocchi | NYOH-kee | High |
| Maelstrom | MAYL-struhm | Medium |
| Niche | NITCH or NEESH | Medium |
| Pneumonia | noo-MOHN-yuh | Medium |
| Queue | KYOO | Medium |
| Rendezvous | RON-day-voo | High |
| Sanguine | SAN-gwin | Medium |
| Subtle | SUH-tl | Medium |
| Thorough | THUR-oh | Medium |
| Vicissitude | vih-SIS-ih-tood | High |
| Xenophobia | zen-uh-FOH-bee-uh | Medium |
| Yacht | YOT | High |
| Zephyr | ZEF-er | Medium |
| Cacophony | kuh-KOF-uh-nee | High |
| Deteriorated | ih-TEER-ee-uh-rayt | Medium |
| Ethereal | ih-THEER-ee-uhl | Medium |
| Faux pas | foh PAH | High |
| Gauge | GAYJ | Medium |
| Hierarchy | HY-uh-rahr-kee | Medium |
| Liaison | lee-AY-zon | High |
Are you a student striving to improve your English vocabulary? Don't worry! Here we are with this article to help you enhance your grip on the English language. This will act as a guide to learn new English words, and tough English words that you can use in your daily conversations and communications. Continue reading below.
| Word | Meaning |
| Aberration | A departure from what is normal or expected, typically an unwelcome one. |
| Aplomb | Self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation. |
| Arcane | Understood by few; mysterious or secret. |
| Amalgamate | To combine or unite to form a single organization or structure. |
| Anathema | Something or someone that is intensely disliked or cursed. |
| Aplenty | In abundance or plenty; more than enough. |
| Avarice | Extreme greed for wealth or material gain. |
| Alacrity | Brisk and cheerful readiness; eagerness. |
| Acerbic | Sharp and forthright, often in a sarcastic or critical manner. |
| Apotheosis | The highest point in the development of something; the culmination or climax. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Bombastic | High-sounding but with little meaning; inflated. |
| Belligerent | Hostile and aggressive. |
| Bifurcate | To divide into two branches or parts. |
| Bellicose | Demonstrating a willingness to fight; warlike. |
| Baleful | Threatening harm or evil; ominous. |
| Banal | Lacking originality; trite; cliché. |
| Brobdingnagian | Enormous or gigantic in size. |
| Byzantine | Complicated, intricate, and difficult to understand. |
| Bathos | An abrupt and often ludicrous transition in style from the exalted to the commonplace. |
| Bellicosity | A disposition towards aggression and warlike behavior. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Cacophony | A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds. |
| Capitulate | To surrender or give in to an opponent. |
| Circumlocution | The use of unnecessarily long or indirect words. |
| Clandestine | Kept secret or done secretly, often for illicit purposes. |
| Conundrum | A confusing and difficult problem or question. |
| Copious | Abundant in supply or quantity. |
| Credulous | Willing to believe or trust too readily, often without proper evidence. |
| Cryptic | Having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Defenestration | The act of throwing someone out of a window. |
| Denouement | The final resolution or outcome of a story or situation. |
| Desultory | Lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm; random. |
| Discombobulate | To confuse or disconcert; upset the normal operation or function of something. |
| Disparate | Essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison. |
| Disquisition | A long or elaborate essay or discussion on a particular subject. |
| Dystopian | Relating to or denoting an imagined state or society where there is great suffering or injustice. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Epistemology | The study of the nature and scope of knowledge. |
| Esoteric | Intended for or understood by only a select few; obscure. |
| Ephemeral | Lasting for a very short time; transient. |
| Ebullient | Overflowing with enthusiasm or excitement. |
| Effervescent | Bubbling, fizzy; lively and enthusiastic. |
| Enervate | To weaken or drain of energy; to tire out. |
| Enigmatic | Mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand. |
| Euphemism | A mild or indirect word or phrase used in place of a harsh or blunt one. |
| Exacerbate | To make a situation or problem worse. |
| Extraneous | Irrelevant or unrelated to the subject at hand. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Facetious | Treating serious issues with inappropriate humor. |
| Fatuous | Silly and pointless; foolish. |
| Fecund | Fertile, capable of producing offspring or vegetation. |
| Fervent | Having or displaying a passionate intensity. |
| Flummox | To bewilder, confuse, or perplex. |
| Frenetic | Fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way. |
| Frugal | Sparing or economical with regard to money or food. |
| Fulgent | Shining brightly; radiant. |
| Fusillade | A rapid series of shots or missiles fired at once. |
| Futile | Incapable of producing any useful result; pointless. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Gobbledygook | Language that is meaningless or jargon. |
| Garrulous | Excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters. |
| Grandiloquent | Pompous or extravagant in language, style, or manner. |
| Gargantuan | Enormous, gigantic, or colossal in size. |
| Gratuitous | Given or done without any good reason or justification. |
| Gregarious | Fond of company, sociable, or friendly. |
| Guileless | Innocent, without deceit or cunning. |
| Glabrous | Smooth and hairless, especially skin or leaves. |
| Gourmand | A person who enjoys eating and often eats in large quantities. |
| Grandiosity | The quality of being grand or ambitious, especially in a showy or pretentious way. |
| Difficult Word | Meaning |
| Hapax Legomenon | A word that occurs only once in a language's written record. |
| Heliolatry | The worship or veneration of the sun. |
| Heterodox | Holding unorthodox or unconventional beliefs. |
| Hircine | Pertaining to or resembling a goat. |
| Histrionics | Exaggerated dramatic behavior designed to attract attention. |
| Hypnagogic | Relating to the state just before falling asleep. |
| Hypochondria | Excessive worry or anxiety about one's health. |
| Hypothecate | To pledge something as security without giving up possession of it. |
| Hyperborean | Pertaining to the extreme north or cold regions. |
| Hypercritical | Excessively critical or fault-finding. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Ineffable | Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words. |
| Iconoclast | A person who attacks or criticizes cherished beliefs or institutions. |
| Intransigent | Unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about something. |
| Irascible | Easily angered or prone to outbursts of temper. |
| Inscrutable | Impossible to understand or interpret. |
| Insidious | Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects. |
| Incorrigible | Not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed. |
| Inefficacious | Not producing the desired effect; ineffective. |
| Iniquitous | Grossly unfair and morally wrong. |
| Iconoclastic | Characterized by attacking or rejecting established traditions or institutions. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Jeremiad | A long, mournful complaint or lamentation; a list of woes. |
| Juxtaposition | The act or placement of two things (usually abstract concepts) near each other. |
| Jejune | Lacking interest or significance; immature or childish. |
| Juxtapose | To place or deal with close together for contrasting effect. |
| Jaundiced | Showing or affected by prejudice or bitterness. |
| Jettison | To discard or cast off, especially something considered as no longer valuable or useful. |
| Jocund | Cheerful and lighthearted in disposition or nature. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Kaleidoscope | A constantly changing pattern or sequence of elements. |
| Kowtow | To act in an excessively subservient manner; to grovel. |
| Kismet | Destiny or fate, often seen as predetermined. |
| Kitsch | Art or objects that are considered in poor taste. |
| Kenophobia | The fear of voids or empty spaces. |
| Knavery | Dishonest or unscrupulous behavior. |
| Kinesiology | The scientific study of human movement and muscle function. |
| Knavish | Mischievous or deceitful in a playful way. |
| Kinescope | An early form of television recording. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Lethologica | The inability to remember a word or a name. |
| Languor | A pleasant feeling of weariness or laziness. |
| Loquacious | Tending to talk a lot; talkative. |
| Lugubrious | Looking or sounding sad and dismal. |
| Lexicon | A dictionary or the vocabulary of a language. |
| Labyrinthine | Complicated, intricate, or confusing. |
| Luminous | Emitting or reflecting light; glowing. |
| Lackadaisical | Lacking enthusiasm or determination; lazy. |
| Lucubrate | To work diligently and meticulously, especially on scholarly or literary work. |
| Laconic | Using very few words; concise. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Mellifluous | Sweet or musical; pleasant to hear. |
| Misanthrope | A person who dislikes or distrusts humanity. |
| Maelstrom | A powerful whirlpool; a chaotic or turbulent situation. |
| Mephitic | Having a foul odor; noxious or poisonous. |
| Mawkish | Excessively sentimental; sappy or cloying. |
| Multifarious | Diverse, having many different parts or elements. |
| Mendacious | Given to lying or deception; dishonest. |
| Machination | A crafty or cunning scheme or plot. |
| Myopic | Nearsighted; lacking foresight or narrow-minded. |
| Magnanimous | Very generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Nefarious | Wicked, villainous, or criminal. |
| Nomenclature | The system or set of terms used in a particular field or subject. |
| Nonchalant | Feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety. |
| Nostalgia | A sentimental longing or affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations. |
| Noxious | Harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant. |
| Nuance | A subtle difference or distinction in meaning, expression, tone, etc. |
| Numinous | Having a strong religious or spiritual quality; mysterious and awe-inspiring. |
| Nuncio | A papal ambassador or diplomatic representative. |
| Nurturance | The provision of care and support to promote the growth and development of someone or something. |
| Nebulous | Hazy, vague, or unclear; lacking definite form or limits. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Obfuscate | To render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible. |
| Obstreperous | Noisy and difficult to control; unruly. |
| Odious | Extremely unpleasant; deserving hatred. |
| Ostracize | To exclude or banish someone from a group or society. |
| Obsequious | Excessively eager to please or serve others; fawning. |
| Opaque | Not transparent; not allowing light to pass through. |
| Onerous | Involving a great deal of effort or difficulty; burdensome. |
| Obdurate | Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action. |
| Omnipotent | Having unlimited or infinite power; all-powerful. |
| Ostentatious | Designed to impress or attract attention; showy. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Pernicious | Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way. |
| Palimpsest | A manuscript or writing material with earlier writing still visible underneath. |
| Panacea | A solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases; a cure-all. |
| Parochial | Relating to a church parish; having a limited or narrow outlook. |
| Penultimate | The second to the last in a series of things; second last. |
| Perspicacious | Having a ready insight into and understanding of things. |
| Phantasmagoria | A sequence of real or imaginary images like that seen in a dream. |
| Polyglot | Knowing or using several languages. |
| Precarious | Not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse. |
| Prognosticate | Foretell or prophesy (an event in the future). |
| Word | Meaning |
| Quixotic | Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical. |
| Quotidian | Occurring daily; commonplace. |
| Querulous | Complaining in a whining manner. |
| Quiescent | Inactive; at rest. |
| Quintessential | Representing the most perfect or typical example. |
| Quagmire | A difficult or precarious situation. |
| Quip | A witty or sarcastic remark. |
| Quaff | To drink deeply and enthusiastically. |
| Quizzical | Expressing confusion or curiosity. |
| Quandary | A state of uncertainty or perplexity. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Recumbentibus | A witty comeback you think of too late. |
| Rambunctious | Uncontrollably exuberant or boisterous. |
| Redolent | Having a strong, pleasant odor or fragrance. |
| Recalcitrant | Resisting authority or control; rebellious. |
| Reticent | Inclined to keep one's thoughts and feelings private; reserved. |
| Resplendent | Shining brilliantly; splendid or magnificent in appearance. |
| Rhapsodize | To express in an enthusiastic or ecstatic manner. |
| Repudiate | To reject or disown; refuse to accept. |
| Recondite | Obscure, little known; requiring specialized knowledge to understand. |
| Reprobate | A morally unprincipled person; a scoundrel. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Sesquipedalian | (of a word) Polysyllabic; long-winded. |
| Sycophant | A person who acts obsequiously toward someone in power. |
| Sycophancy | Excessive flattery or praise used to gain advantage. |
| Soliloquy | An act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when alone. |
| Supercilious | Behaving or looking as though one is superior. |
| Serendipity | The occurrence of events by chance in a happy way. |
| Sophistry | The use of clever but false arguments, especially with the intention of deceiving. |
| Sanguine | Optimistic or positive, especially in a difficult situation. |
| Surreptitious | Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of. |
| Sardonic | Grimly mocking or cynical. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Tenebrous | Dark, shadowy, or obscure. |
| Tergiversate | To change one's loyalties or opinions frequently. |
| Triskaidekaphobia | Fear of the number 13. |
| Taciturn | Reserved or uncommunicative in speech; reticent. |
| Trepidation | A feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen. |
| Tenacious | Holding fast; persistent; not easily letting go. |
| Trenchant | Incisive or keen; vigorously effective and articulate. |
| Tumultuous | Making a loud, confused noise; uproarious. |
| Tyro | A beginner or novice. |
| Turpitude | Depravity; wickedness. |
| Difficult Word | Meaning |
| Ubiquitous | Present, appearing, or found everywhere. |
| Ulterior | Existing beyond what is obvious or evident. |
| Umbrage | A feeling of offense or resentment. |
| Unctuous | Excessively flattering or insincerely polite. |
| Unilateral | Involving only one party or group. |
| Unobtrusive | Not attracting attention or notice. |
| Unpalatable | Not pleasant to the taste or mind. |
| Unscrupulous | Lacking moral or ethical principles. |
| Usurp | To seize or take over power or authority. |
| Utilitarian | Designed to be practical rather than attractive or aesthetic. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Verisimilitude | The appearance of being true or real. |
| Verbose | Using or expressed in more words than needed. |
| Vexatious | Causing annoyance, frustration, or worry. |
| Visceral | Relating to deep inward feelings rather than the intellect. |
| Vituperate | To criticize or censure severely or abusively. |
| Voluptuous | Relating to or characterized by luxury or sensual pleasure. |
| Voluminous | Occupying or containing much space; large in volume. |
| Voracious | Having a very eager approach to an activity, especially eating. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Weltanschauung | A particular philosophy or view of life; worldview. |
| Welter | A confused mass or jumble; to roll about in disorder. |
| Whimsical | Playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an amusing way. |
| Wraith | A ghostly or spectral image of a person, especially one seen shortly before or after their death. |
| Wunderkind | A child prodigy or exceptionally talented young person. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Xenophobe | A person who is fearful of or dislikes foreigners or strangers. |
| Xenophobia | The intense dislike or fear of people from other countries. |
| Xenodochial | Friendly or hospitable, especially to strangers or foreigners. |
| Xerophyte | A plant adapted to dry or arid conditions, often with thick, water-storing leaves or stems. |
| Xylography | The art or practice of engraving on wood, or the resulting engraved woodcut. |
| Xenogenesis | The production of offspring that are different from their parents. |
| Xenolithic | Relating to rocks or minerals originating from a different place or environment. |
| Xerography | A photocopying process that uses electrostatic charges on a light-sensitive surface to reproduce images or text. |
| Xenomorphic | Having a different or irregular shape or form. |
| Xenotransplantation | The transplantation of organs or tissues from one species to another, often from animals to humans. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Yokel | An unsophisticated person from the countryside; a bumpkin. |
| Yawp | To make a harsh or loud cry; a noisy complaint or protest. |
| Yaffle | To eat or drink noisily and greedily; to consume in a voracious manner. |
| Yegg | A burglar or safe-cracker, typically a criminal. |
| Ylem | A hypothetical primordial substance from which the universe was formed. |
| Word | Meaning |
| Zugzwang | A situation in which one is forced to make a move that puts them at a disadvantage, often used in chess strategy. |
| Zenith | The highest point or peak; the culmination of success or achievement. |
| Zephyr | A gentle, mild breeze or wind. |
| Zestful | Full of enthusiasm, energy, and zeal; lively and spirited. |
| Zeitgeist | The defining spirit or mood of a particular period in history. |
| Ziggurat | A rectangular stepped tower, often with a temple at the top, found in ancient Mesopotamian architecture. |
| Zoetrope | A device that produces the illusion of motion by displaying a rapid succession of static images or pictures. |
| Zephyrous | Pertaining to or resembling a zephyr; gentle and airy in nature. |
| Zoonosis | A disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. |
| Zeugma | A figure of speech in which a word applies to multiple parts of a sentence, often in a humorous or unexpected way. |
It may not be easy to memorize the tricky words of the English language; however, with the right strategies, you can increase your vocabulary with ease. These are some of the best tips that will enable you to learn hard words:
1. Divide the Words into smaller Divisions
Prefixes, suffixes or even roots are attached to many tough words. By dividing them, one can make sense of them.
EX.: Unbelievable = Un- (not) + Believe + -able (capable of)
2. Mnemonics & Memory Tricks
JEE
NEET
Foundation JEE
Foundation NEET
CBSE
Make pictures or phrases that are funny or relate-able to associate difficult words.
Example: pneumonia- Think New Moan (because it is an infection of the lungs that produces heavy breathing).
3. Read Difficult Content Frequently
Read difficult text (books, articles, journals) so that you become exposed to difficult words in situ.
4. Learn & Practice New Words in Sentences
Use and the memory improves. Write two or three paragraphs, or talk using the new words.
5. Hear Mentor Speakers and Podcasts
When tough words are used in natural circumstances (TED Talks, documentaries or podcasts), hearing and pronunciation are enhanced.
6. Word Games and Quiz
All playing the game of Scrabble, crossword puzzles, or online quiz on vocabularies to learn through playing.
7. A Personal Vocabulary Journal
Write words that are difficult, meanings, synonyms and example sentences so as to revise them at a glance.
8. Find out about Common Word Origins
English words being Latin, Greek or French-based, it pays to be familiar with their origins-it can encourage asking the right questions about meaning.
Example: water (aqua in Latin) aquarium, aquatic
Here are the list of 20 Tricky Words Miscellaneous, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,Onomatopoeia,Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia,Antidisestablishmentarianism,Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism,Floccinaucinihilipilification,Labyrinthine,Sesquipedalian,Quixotic,Synecdoche,Esoteric,Defenestration,Serendipity,Colloquial,Ephemeral,Obfuscate,Soliloquy,Paradox,Sycophant
Most Difficult English Words to Pronounce: Worcestershire, Entrepreneur, Synecdoche, Anemone, Chiaroscurist, Squirrel, Rural, Sixth, Ruritanian, Otorhinolaryngologist
One of the words that many kids find challenging to pronounce is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. It's famously known from the movie Mary Poppins, and its length and unusual combination of sounds can make it quite difficult for young children to say.
Determining the absolute most difficult vocabulary words can be subjective, but here's a list that includes words known for their complexity or rare usage: Sesquipedalian Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism, Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, Antidisestablishmentarianism, Floccinaucinihilipilification, Labyrinthine Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Onomatopoeia, Eschatology, Pulchritudinous