Language specialists confirm that people with a good education, those who read more, and those who like to explore new things have a bigger and richer vocabulary. You might think this automatically means that using big words makes you intelligent. Well no, that’s not how it works. It often happens that people use big words to sound smart without even understanding what that word means. Needless to say, the effect is quite often the opposite.
But besides knowing the meaning of words, you should also be aware of the appropriate situations to use them in. For one, even though the more common and the fancy word might have the same general meaning, a small nuance often makes them inapplicable in certain situations. On top of that, using high vocabulary words that belong in a textbook or a novel when you order a coffee or explain to a friend why you liked the movie you watched last night, sounds ridiculous, to say the least. Similarly, special words that are only understandable to people of a certain profession shouldn’t be forced into a conversation if you are not talking to your colleagues. They don’t make you sound smarter; they make you sound incomprehensible.
That said, it absolutely does not mean that you should always stick to basic vocabulary. There are hundreds of beautiful words in English, same as in any other language, that can expand your vocabulary and make you an interesting and pleasant counterpart. Remember that the actual goal of every conversation is to find the perfect words to describe your thoughts and feelings, not to dazzle the person you are talking to with some long and arguably unnecessary words.
Below you will find a lot of interesting words with their definitions to help you expand your English vocabulary. How many of them did you already know? Make sure you use them responsibly and also tell us in the comments if there are any fancy words you especially enjoy.
#1
Effervescent
Meaning: having the property of forming bubbles.
#2
Aeonian
Meaning: lasting for an immeasurably or indefinitely long period of time.
#3
Pusillanimous
Meaning: lacking courage and resolution.
#4
Flabbergast
Meaning: to overwhelm with shock, surprise, or wonder.
#5
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobic
Meaning: someone with a fear of long words.
#6
Floccinaucinihilipilification
Meaning: the act or habit of assessing something as worthless.
#7
Eloquent
Meaning: marked by forceful and fluent expression (having a way with words).
#8
Zenith
Meaning: the highest point.
#9
Magnanimous
Meaning: showing or suggesting a lofty, courageous, noble spirit.
#10
Quintessential
Meaning: the perfect example of something.
#11
Erudite
Meaning: having or showing knowledge that is gained by studying.
#12
Myriad
Meaning: a great number / countless.
#13
Repertoire
Meaning: a person’s list of talents and skills; a list or supply of dramas, operas, pieces, or parts that a company or person is prepared to perform.
#14
Transcendent
Meaning: extending or lying beyond the limits of ordinary experience, being beyond comprehension.
#15
Ebullience
Meaning: the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts or feelings.
#16
Brobdingnagian
Meaning: marked by tremendous size.
#17
Discombobulate
Meaning: to confuse (someone).
#18
Assiduity
Meaning: dedication, diligence and great focus.
#19
Lateritious
Meaning: brick-red in colour.
#20
Obsequious
Meaning: subservient (useful in an inferior capacity); marked by a fawning attentiveness.
#21
Statuesque
Meaning: resembling a statue especially in dignity, shapeliness, or stillness.
#22
Pulchritudinous
Meaning: physically beautiful.
#23
Amative
Meaning: relating to or indicative of love.
#24
Unparagoned
Meaning: having no equal; matchless, incomparable.
#25
Penultimate
Meaning: next to the last thing.
#26
Fortnight
Meaning: a period of 14 days.
#27
Ennui
Meaning: a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction, boredom.
#28
Rococo
Meaning: an artistic style especially of the 18th century characterized by fanciful curved asymmetrical forms and elaborate ornamentation.
#29
Maxim
Meaning: a general truth, fundamental principle, or rule of conduct.
#30
Venerable
Meaning: honorable, highly regarded.
#31
Evenfall
Meaning: the beginning of evening, dusk.
#32
Winebibber
Meaning: a person who drinks too much wine.
#33
Mellifluous
Meaning: having a smooth rich flow; filled with something (such as honey) that sweetens.
#34
Diminutive
Meaning: a word or name usually indicating small size.
#35
Aplomb
Meaning: complete and confident composure or self-assurance.
#36
Pervicacious
Meaning: very obstinate, unyielding, willful.
#37
Obfuscate
Meaning: to make obscure or unclear.
#38
Circumlocution
Meaning: the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea.
#39
Extol
Meaning: to give high praise.
#40
Incisive
Meaning: impressively direct and decisive (as in manner or presentation).
#41
Latent
Meaning: present and capable of emerging or developing but not now visible, obvious or active. In other words – there, but not there.
#42
Immaculate
Meaning: having or containing no flaw or error.
#43
Splendiferous
Meaning: extraordinarily or showily impressive.
#44
Aesthetic
Meaning: pleasing in appearance, attractive.
#45
Junoesque
Meaning: marked by stately beauty.
#46
Canny
Meaning: clever, shrewd.
#47
Perspicacious
Meaning: of acute mental vision or discernment.
#48
Prodigious
Meaning: causing amazement or wonder.
#49
Phenomenal
Meaning: highly extraordinary, exceptional, remarkable.
#50
Ineffable
Meaning: incapable of being expressed in words.
#51
Tenderness
Meaning: a tender quality or condition, such as gentleness and affection.
#52
Canoodle
Meaning: to engage in amorous embracing, caressing, and kissing.
#53
Selcouth
Meaning: unusual, strange.
#54
Orphic
Meaning: mystic, oracular; fascinating, entrancing.
#55
Malaise
Meaning: physical discomfort or a general feeling of being under the weather.
#56
Quiddity
Meaning: whatever makes something the type that it is; the essence.
#57
Cimmerian
Meaning: very dark or gloomy.
#58
Orgulous
Meaning: proud.
#59
Usufruct
Meaning: the legal right of using and enjoying the fruits or profits of something belonging to another.
#60
Auspicious
Meaning: showing or suggesting that future success is likely.
#61
Ubiquitous
Meaning: existing or being everywhere at the same time; constantly encountered.
#62
Confluence
Meaning: used when discussing a meeting of minds, a group of ideas, or a coming together of diverse people for a gathering.
#63
Granular
Meaning: finely detailed. Can also help describe a meticulous level of detail in your own work, thinking, or planning.
#64
Pithy
Meaning: having substance and point, being brief, but very efficient.
#65
Bespoke
Meaning: custom-made.
#66
Resplendent
Meaning: shining brilliantly, characterized by a glowing splendor.
#67
Diatribe
Meaning: nasty (and usually lengthy) tirade, whether spoken or written.
#68
Vitriolic
Meaning: bitterly harsh language or criticism.
#69
Bloviate
Meaning: to speak or write in a showy, grandiose way.
#70
Fastidious
Meaning: showing or demanding excessive delicacy or care.
#71
Sycophant
Meaning: a self-seeking flatterer.
#72
Sesquipedalian
Meaning: loving of long words.
#73
Boondoggle
Meaning: work that you do just so that you look busy, but it isn’t actually useful.
#74
Alacrity
Meaning: lively, cheerful and eager behavior.
#75
Amiable
Meaning: friendly, sociable, and generally agreeable.
#76
Candor
Meaning: free from prejudice or malice, honest, sincere.
#77
Deferential
Meaning: showing or expressing respect and high regard due a superior or an elder.
#78
Gregarious
Meaning: tending to associate with others of one’s kind, social.
#79
Insular
Meaning: characteristic of an isolated people; an island unto itself.
#80
Intrepid
Meaning: characterized by resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance.
#81
Meticulous
Meaning: marked by precise attention to every detail.
#82
Panacea
Meaning: a remedy for all ills or difficulties.
#83
Pellucid
Meaning: easily, clearly understandable.
#84
Predilection
Meaning: an established preference or bias.
#85
Repudiate
Meaning: to reject or refuse to recognize as valid.
#86
Salient
Meaning: something that stands out and is obvious.
#87
Substantiate
Meaning: to give facts to support a claim.
#88
Surfeit
Meaning: the quality of overabundance.
#89
Taciturn
Meaning: temperamentally disinclined (unwilling because of mild dislike or disapproval) to talk.
#90
Stupendous
Meaning: causing astonishment or wonder, marvelous.
#91
Ravishing
Meaning: unusually attractive, pleasing, or striking.
#92
Exquisite
Meaning: pleasing through beauty, fitness, or perfection.
#93
Enlightened
Meaning: freed from ignorance and misinformation.
#94
Ingenious
Meaning: having or showing an unusual aptitude for discovering, inventing, or contriving.
#95
Adulation
Meaning: extreme or excessive admiration or flattery.
#96
Amorous
Meaning: the act of being in love.
#97
Canonize
Meaning: to treat as illustrious, preeminent, or sacred.
#98
Endearment
Meaning: a word or an act (such as a caress) expressing affection.
#99
Halcyon
Meaning: characterized by happiness, great success, and prosperity.
#100
Coruscate
Meaning: to be brilliant or showy in technique or style.
#101
Bellwether
Meaning: one that takes the lead or initiative, trendsetter.
#102
Acumen
Meaning: keenness and depth of perception, discernment, or discrimination especially in practical matters.
#103
Gasconade
Meaning: to brag or boast.
#104
Idiosyncratic
Meaning: traits that belong to a person’s character.
#105
Umbrage
Meaning: displeasure, resentment, or anger.
#106
Nefarious
Meaning: flagrantly wicked or criminal.
#107
Parlance
Meaning: formal debate or parley.
#108
Despondent
Meaning: feeling or showing extreme discouragement, dejection (lowness of spirits), or depression.
#109
Lucid
Meaning: comes from the Latin adjective lucidus (shining), a more fancy word to define a person for his intelligent thinking, capability of being understood or comprehended.
#110
Abate
Meaning: to decrease in force or intensity.
#111
Facetiously
Meaning: joking or jesting, often inappropriately.
#112
Aptitude
Meaning: talent or natural ability.
#113
Debase
Meaning: to lower in status, esteem, quality, or character.
#114
Diligent
Meaning: characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort.
#115
Elucidate
Meaning: to explain very clearly.
#116
Ephemeral
Meaning: lasting a very short time.
#117
Lithe
Meaning: easily bent or flexed.
#118
Modicum
Meaning: a small portion; a limited quantity.
#119
Nuance
Meaning: a very subtle difference.
#120
Penchant
Meaning: a strong and continued inclination.
#121
Perusal
Meaning: studying with the intent to memorize.
#122
Plethora
Meaning: an abundance or extreme excess.
#123
Staid
Meaning: marked by settled sedateness and often prim self-restraint.
#124
Studious
Meaning: character trait involving diligent study.
#125
Righteous
Meaning: acting in accord with divine or moral law, free from guilt or sin.
#126
Alluring
Meaning: having a strongly attractive or enticing quality.
#127
Astute
Meaning: having or showing shrewdness and an ability to notice and understand things clearly, mentally sharp.
#128
Perceptive
Meaning: characterized by sympathetic understanding or insight.
#129
Comprehend
Meaning: to grasp the nature, significance, or meaning of.
#130
Sensational
Meaning: exceedingly or unexpectedly excellent or great.
#131
Wondrous
Meaning: that is to be marveled at, extraordinary.
#132
Devotion
Meaning: earnest attachment to a cause, person, etc.
#133
Reverence
Meaning: honor or respect felt or shown, especially profound adoring awed respect.
#134
Infatuated
Meaning: filled with or marked by a foolish or extravagant love or admiration.
#135
Besottedness
Meaning: blindly or utterly infatuated.
#136
Scintillating
Meaning: brilliantly lively, stimulating, or witty.
#137
Cacophony
Meaning: a loud, obnoxious blend of sounds.
#138
Equitable
Meaning: a fair division between all parties.
#139
Gratuitous
Meaning: unnecessary, uncalled-for.
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