Difficult Words With Meanings
English is a rich and complex language with a vast vocabulary. While many words are relatively easy to understand, there are also a number of difficult words that can be challenging for even native speakers. This list of difficult words with meanings is a helpful resource for anyone who wants to improve their vocabulary and understanding of the English language.
Here are 50+ difficult words in English along with their meanings:
- Abjure – to renounce or give up formally
- Abscond – to depart secretly and hide oneself
- Acerbic – sharp and forthright in speech or tone
- Acumen – keenness and depth of perception or discernment
- Adroit – skillful and clever in using the hands or mind
- Ambivalent – having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something
- Anachronism – something that is out of place in a particular time period
- Arcane – understood by few; mysterious or secret
- Bombastic – high-sounding but with little meaning; inflated
- Cacophony – a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds
- Capricious – unpredictable and impulsive
- Cogent – clear, logical, and convincing
- Contrite – feeling remorse or guilt
- Discombobulate – to confuse or disconcert
- Ebullient – cheerful and full of energy
- Egregious – outstandingly bad or shocking
- Enigmatic – mysterious and difficult to understand
- Epiphany – a sudden realization or understanding
- Esoteric – intended for or understood by only a small number of people with special knowledge
- Facetious – treating serious issues with inappropriate humor
- Fatuous – silly and pointless
- Gregarious – fond of company; sociable
- Ignominious – deserving or causing public disgrace or shame
- Impetuous – acting or done quickly and without thought or care
- Ineffable – too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words
- Insidious – proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects
- Juxtaposition – the act of placing two things close together for contrasting effect
- Mellifluous – pleasing to the ear; smooth and musical
- Nefarious – wicked or criminal
- Obfuscate – to make something unclear or confusing
- Opulent – rich and luxurious
- Pernicious – having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way
- Perspicacious – having a ready insight into and understanding of things
- Querulous – complaining in a whining manner
- Quixotic – exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical
- Reticent – not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily
- Salubrious – health-giving; promoting health or well-being
- Serendipity – the occurrence of pleasant and unexpected discoveries by chance
- Superfluous – unnecessary, especially through being more than enough
- Surreptitious – kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of
- Ubiquitous – present or found everywhere
- Vexatious – causing annoyance, frustration, or worry
- Vicarious – experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person
- Vitriolic – filled with bitter criticism or malice
- Wistful – having a feeling of longing or nostalgia
- Xenophobia – intense dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures
- Yielding – inclined to give in to others; compliant
- Zealous – fervent, passionate, and enthusiastic
- Zenith – the highest point or culmination
- Zephyr – a gentle breeze
Learning new words can be a challenge, but it is also a rewarding one. By expanding your vocabulary, you will be able to better understand the world around you and communicate more effectively. The words in this list are just a few examples of the many difficult words that exist in the English language. With a little effort, you can learn to understand and use these words in your own writing and speech.
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