08/15/2024 | 8 minute read

130 Hard Vocabulary Words

English words can be hard to spell, here practice some challenging words and learn new ones to help you improve your reading comprehension.


This Blog Includes:

  1. Why Spelling in English Is so Difficult?
  2. List of Hard Vocabulary Words in English
  3. Difficult Words in English A-E
  4. Difficult Words in English F-J
  5. Difficult Words in English K-O
  6. Difficult Words in English P-T
  7. Difficult Words in English U-Z (Bonus 4)
  8. Want to practice and improve your English skills?
  9. Frequently Asked Questions on Hard Words?



Why Spelling in English Is so Difficult?



English, though a very popular language, has been difcult for alot due to its complex history, diverse influences, and inconsistencies. English has borrowed extensively from other languages, including Latin, French, German, and Greek. This has led to a mishmash of spelling rules and conventions. For example, words like 'knight' and 'gnome' have silent letters due to their Old English or Greek origins. Between the 15th and 18th centuries, a major pronunciation change, known as the Great Vowel Shift, altered the way vowels were pronounced in English. However, spelling largely remained the same, which is why words like 'bite' and 'meet' have vowels that don’t match their sounds.


Vocabulary quiz maker, like Examize can be used to quiz yourself on these words. With multiple choice questions and answers it allows you to practive your vocab words.By repeatedly encountering vocabulary words in different contexts or formats, quizzes reinforce learning. This repetition helps you remember and use words more effectively



List of Hard Vocabulary Words in English:


This list of words will help you improve your reading skills, increase in knowledge in the language and communication skills. You and your friends can create placards featuring challenging words and quiz each other on their meanings. This enjoyable activity will keep you engaged while helping you remember those tough words more easily.Try to time yourself to see how much you get right.




Difficult Words in English A-E


# Hard Word Meaning
1Abnegation Renouncing a belief or doctrine
2Aggrandize enhance power, wealth or status
3Alacrity Eagerness
4Anachronistic misplaced chronologically
5Archetypal quintessential of a certain kind
6Ascetic one who practices self-denial as part of spiritual discipline
7Beguile influence someone in a deceptive way
8Blandishment intentional flattery for persuasion
9Cajole persuade by flattery or coaxing
10Callous disregard for others
11Camaraderie a sense of solidarity arising out of familiarity and sociability
12Circumlocution expressing someone in an indirect way
13Clamour proclaim something noisily
14Cognizant awareness or realization
15Construe interpret or assign meaning
16Convivial enjoyable atmosphere or jovial company
17Demagogue a political leader who uses rhetoric to appeal to prejudices and desires of ordinary citizens
18Denigratebelittle someone
19Didacticinstructive with a moral intent
20Disparateof a distinct kind
21EnervateTo weaken or drain energy from
22EphemeralLasting for a very short time
23EsotericIntended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge
24EbullientCheerful and full of energy
25ExacerbateTo make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse
26EnervateTo weaken or drain energy from
27EphemeralLasting for a very short time
28EsotericIntended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge
29EbullientCheerful and full of energy
30ExacerbateTo make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse


The most important thing is to read as much as you can, like I did. It will give you an understanding of what makes good writing and it will enlarge your vocabulary. - J.K Rowling


Difficult Words in English F-J


# Hard Word Meaning
31FastidiousVery attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail
32FatuousSilly and pointless
33FloridExcessively intricate or elaborate; having a red or flushed complexion
34FortuitousHappening by chance or luck, often in a fortunate way
35FractiousInclined to make trouble; unruly
36GarrulousExcessively talkative, especially on trivial matters
37GregariousFond of company; sociable
38GrandiloquentPompous or extravagant in language, style, or manner
39GlibFluent and voluble but insincere and shallow
40GuileSly or cunning intelligence
41HackneyedLacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite
42HaplessUnfortunate; having bad luck
43HarangueA lengthy and aggressive speech
44HeinousUtterly odious or wicked
45HubrisExcessive pride or self-confidence
46ImpecuniousHaving little or no money
47InexorableImpossible to stop or prevent; relentless
48IndefatigablePersisting tirelessly
49InscrutableImpossible to understand or interpret
50IntransigentUnwilling or refusing to change one’s views or to agree about something
51JuxtaposeTo place or deal with close together for contrasting effect
52JingoisticCharacterized by extreme patriotism, especially in the form of aggressive or warlike behavior
53JettisonTo throw or drop something from an aircraft or ship
54JudiciousHaving, showing, or done with good judgment or sense
55JocularFond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful





happy reading with words flying to him

We must always enjoy learning even through the hard vocab words.




Difficult Words in English K-O


# Hard Word Meaning
56KnellThe sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral
57KineticRelating to or resulting from motion
58KnaveryDishonest or unscrupulous behavior
59KiboshTo put an end to; dispose of decisively
60KafkaesqueMarked by a senseless, disorienting, often menacing complexity
61LaconicUsing very few words; concise
62LanguidDisplaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed
63LargesseGenerosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others
64LeviathanA thing that is very large or powerful, especially a large sea monster
65LugubriousLooking or sounding sad and dismal
66MendaciousNot telling the truth; lying
67MunificentMore generous than is usual or necessary
68MagnanimousVery generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful
69MisanthropeA person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society
70MaladroitIneffective or bungling; clumsy
71NefariousWicked or criminal
72NadirThe lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization
73NascentJust coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential
74NonplussedSurprised and confused so much that they are unsure how to react
75NostrumA medicine, especially one that is not considered effective, prepared by an unqualified person
76ObfuscateTo render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible
77OstentatiousCharacterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice
78ObdurateStubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action
79ObstreperousNoisy and difficult to control
80OpulentOstentatiously rich and luxurious or lavish






Want to Build your own Vocab Quiz: Try Examize





Difficult Words in English P-T


# Hard Word Meaning
81PedanticOverly concerned with minute details or formalisms, especially in teaching
82ProsaicCommonplace or dull; lacking poetic beauty
83PerniciousHaving a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way
84PrevaricateTo speak or act in an evasive way; to lie
85PusillanimousShowing a lack of courage or determination; timid
86QuagmireA soft, boggy area of land that gives way underfoot; a complex or hazardous situation
87QuixoticExceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical
88QuerulousComplaining in a petulant or whining manner
89QuintessentialRepresenting the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class
90QuiescentIn a state or period of inactivity or dormancy
91RecalcitrantHaving an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline
92Recondite(Of a subject or knowledge) little known; abstruse
93ReprobateAn unprincipled person; someone who is morally depraved
94RedolentStrongly reminiscent or suggestive of something; fragrant or sweet-smelling
95RancorousCharacterized by bitterness or resentment
96SagaciousHaving or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; wise or shrewd
97SalubriousHealth-giving; healthy
98SoporificTending to induce drowsiness or sleep
99SycophantA person who acts obsequiously toward someone important to gain advantage
100SpeciousSuperficially plausible, but actually wrong; misleading in appearance
101TaciturnReserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little
102TantamountEquivalent in seriousness to; virtually the same as
103TruculentEager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant
104TenebrousDark; shadowy or obscure
105Turbid(Of a liquid) cloudy, opaque, or thick with suspended matter


Life is tons of discipline. Your first discipline is your vocabulary; then your grammar and your punctuation - Robert Frost


Difficult Words in English U-Z (Bonus 4)


# Hard Word Meaning
105UbiquitousPresent, appearing, or found everywhere
106UnctuousExcessively or ingratiatingly flattering; oily
107UntenableNot able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection
108UsurpTo take (a position of power or importance) illegally or by force
109UnilateralPerformed by or affecting only one person, group, or country involved in a particular situation, without the agreement of others
110VacillateTo alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive
111VapidOffering nothing that is stimulating or challenging; bland
112VariegatedExhibiting different colors, especially as irregular patches or streaks
113VehementShowing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or intense
114VestigeA trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists
115WistfulHaving or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing
116WinsomeAttractive or appealing in appearance or character
117WelterA large number of items in no order; a confused mass
118WrathfulFull of or characterized by intense anger
119WheedleTo use flattery or coaxing in order to persuade someone to do something or give one something
120XenophobicHaving or showing a dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries
121XericRelating to or requiring only a small amount of moisture
122XanthicRelating to a yellow or yellowish color
123XylographAn engraving on wood
124XerophyteA plant adapted to an environment with little water
125YenA longing or yearning; a desire
126YokeTo join together; to harness or connect
127YieldingInclined to give way to pressure, persuasion, or influence
128YearnTo have an intense feeling of longing for something, typically something that one has lost or been separated from
129YonderAt some distance in the direction indicated; over there
130ZealousHaving or showing zeal; passionate or fervent
131ZenithThe highest point reached by a celestial or other object; peak
132ZephyrA gentle, mild breeze
133ZanyAmusingly unconventional and idiosyncratic
134ZoomorphicHaving or representing animal forms or gods of animal form



Want to practice and improve your English skills?


Install the Examize App right in your Google Workspace™, to get access to new ways to create unique quizzes. You can create vocabulary quizzes from different books or articles you read. This will help you prepare for any test or create quizzes to challenge yourself or a student. You can even take the words you learned here and create multiple choice questions to really test your exam skills.



Frequently Asked Questions on Hard Words?


1. List 10 difficult words to spell

  • Accommodate
  • Connoisseur
  • Eccentricity
  • Floccinaucinihilipilification
  • Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia
  • Incomprehensible
  • Juxtaposition
  • Mnemonics
  • Onomatopoeia
  • Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism


2. Do all words have vowels?

No, not all words have vowels. While most words in English and many other languages include vowels, there are some words that do not contain any traditional vowels (a, e, i, o, u). Example: Rhythm, Myth, Cry, Gyms, Fly



2. How can I effectively learn and remember hard vocabulary words?

Effective strategies include using the words in sentences, creating flashcards, practicing with quizzes, and reading extensively in various genres. Associating words with images or stories can also aid in retention.





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