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Language may probably be the greatest invention in human history. We shifted from simple sounds to creating complex sentences to communicate with ease. But after so many years and shifts, it is not surprising that there are some difficult words that even the best spellers and speakers can’t quite articulate. As we communicate through writing and speaking, some difficult English words can be a thorn in the side when you're speaking at a business meeting or writing an important letter to someone. While modern technology, like autocorrect, has eliminated the need to double-check a word when writing, it is still a wonder just how difficult words in English can be!

With millions of words to choose from and use in different combinations, it can be seen as art, when a person can use even the hardest words with ease. Hard words can be the elements that separate a work of literature from the sea of mediocrity. An idea can only be fully realized by the words that are used to explain it. Of course, when it comes to speaking, there is a long list of hard words to pronounce, due to their complexity and rare usage. In the heat of the moment, a word can become the thing that ruins a great speech and puts the speaker in an awkward situation. And who wants to be in that position?

As the English dictionary keeps getting bigger with every word added, now should be a good time to check up on your English skills. In the list below, you can check out some of the most difficult words to spell that you might be using every day unknowingly. Upvote the ones that you use or hear being used commonly and comment below if you’ve ever used them in a letter or speech in the wrong way. No worries, no one is judging!

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#1

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Sanctimonious.

[sangk-tuh-moh-nee-uhs]

Meaning: making a hypocritical show of religious devotion, piety, righteousness, etc.

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#2

Gratuitous.

[gruh-too-i-tuhs]

Meaning: being without apparent reason, cause, or justification.

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#3

Egregious.

[ih-gree-juhs]

Meaning: extraordinary in some bad way; glaring; flagrant.

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#4

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Mischievous.

[mis-chuh-vuhs]

Meaning: maliciously or playfully annoying.

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#5

Eclectic.

[ih-klek-tik]

Meaning: selecting or choosing from various sources.

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#6

Throughout.

[throo-out]

Meaning: in or to every part of; everywhere in.

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#7

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Inchoate.

[in-koh-eyt]

Meaning: not yet completed or fully developed; rudimentary.

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#8

Recalcitrant.

[ri-kal-si-truhnt]

Meaning: resisting authority or control; not obedient or compliant; refractory.

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#9

Ubiquitous.

[yoo-bik-wi-tuhs]

Meaning: existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time; omnipresent.

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#10

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Antidisestablishmentarianism.

[an-tee-dis-uh-stab-lish-muhn-tair-ee-uh-niz-uhm]

Meaning: opposition to the withdrawal of state support or recognition from an established church, especially the Anglican Church in 19th-century England.

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anubis1 avatar
Hippopotamuses
Hippopotamuses
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I didn’t know that was a real word. I thought it was simply to show how long an English word could get, whilst still making sense.

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#11

Defibrillator.

[dee-fahy-bruh-ley-ter]

Meaning: an agent or device for arresting fibrillation of the atrial or ventricular muscles of the heart.

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#12

Sphygmomanometer.

[sfig-moh-muh-nom-i-ter]

Meaning: an instrument, often attached to an inflatable air-bladder cuff and used with a stethoscope, for measuring blood pressure in an artery.

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#13

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Rural.

[roor-uh]

Meaning: in, relating to, or characteristic of the countryside rather than the town.

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Laura Ketteridge
Laura Ketteridge
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Curious phonetic approximation. Anyone know where this pronunciation might be used? (For me, it's 'roo-ral'.)

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#14

Otorhinolaryngology.

[oh-toh-rahy-noh-lar-ing-gol-uh-jee]

Meaning: a medical specialty concerned especially with the ear, nose, and throat and related parts of the head and neck.

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Gabriela
Gabriela
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Am I the only one who thinks most of these are not difficult words

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#15

Fünfhundertfünfundfünfzig.

[fünf-hun-dert-fünf-und-fünf-zig]

Meaning: five hundred fifty-five in German.

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#16

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Colloquialism.

[kuh-loh-kwee-uh-liz-uhm]

Meaning: characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal.

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#17

Anachronistic.

[uh-nak-ruh-nis-tik]

Meaning: something or someone that is not in its correct historical or chronological time, especially a thing or person that belongs to an earlier time.

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#18

Onomatopoeia.

[on-uh-mat-uh-pee-uh]

Meaning: the formation of a word, as cuckoo, meow, honk, or boom, by imitation of a sound made by or associated with its referent.

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#19

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Worcestershire.

[woos-ter-sheer]

Meaning: a former county in central England, now part of Hereford and Worcester.

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#20

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.

[llan-fair-pwll-gwyn-gyll-go-ger-ych-wyrn-drob-wll-llan-ty-silio-go-go-goch]

Meaning: the name of a village in Carmarthenshire, which means "a quiet, beautiful village; a historic place with rare kite under threat from wretched blades".

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Laura Ketteridge
Laura Ketteridge
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is a village in Angelsey (Ynys Mon) in north Wales, not Carmarthenshire (Sir Gar). Carmarthenshire is in the south west of Wales. . . . . The translation given is a bit of sarcasm. The correct translation from Welsh is "St Mary's Church in the Hollow of the White Hazel near a Rapid Whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio near the Red Cave". I used to live not too far from the village. We called it Llanfair PG - much less of a mouthful.

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#21

Specificity.

[spes-uh-fis-i-tee]

Meaning: the quality or state of being specific.

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#22

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Apocryphal.

[uh-pok-ruh-fuhl]

Meaning: of doubtful authorship or authenticity.

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#23

Demagogue.

[dem-uh-gog]

Meaning: a person, especially an orator or political leader, who gains power and popularity by arousing the emotions, passions, and prejudices of the people.

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#24

Epitome.

[ih-pit-uh-mee]

Meaning: a person or thing that is typical of or possesses to a high degree the features of a whole class.

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#25

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Forte.

[fawr-tey]

Meaning: a person's strong suit, or most highly developed characteristic, talent, or skill; something that one excels in.

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#26

Grandiloquent.

[gran-dil-uh-kwuhnt]

Meaning: speaking or expressed in a lofty style, often to the point of being pompous or bombastic.

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#27

Mauve.

[mohv]

Meaning: a pale bluish purple.

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#28

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Vicissitude.

[vi-sis-i-tood]

Meaning: a change or variation occurring in the course of something.

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#29

Aggrandize.

[uh-gran-dahyz]

Meaning: to widen in scope; increase in size or intensity; enlarge; extend.

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#30

Beguile.

[bih-gahyl]

Meaning: to influence by trickery, flattery, etc.

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#31

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Camaraderie.

[kah-muh-rah-duh-ree]

Meaning: a spirit of trust and goodwill among people closely associated in an activity or endeavor.

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#32

Refrigerator.

[ri-frij-uh-rey-ter]

Meaning: a box, room, or cabinet in which food, drink, etc., are kept cool by means of ice or mechanical refrigeration.

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#33

Hippopotamus.

[hip-uh-pot-uh-muhs]

Meaning: a large herbivorous mammal, Hippopotamus amphibius, having a thick hairless body, short legs, and a large head and muzzle, found in and near the rivers, lakes, etc., of Africa, and able to remain under water for a considerable time.

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#34

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Nadir.

[ney-der, ney-deer]

Meaning: the point on the celestial sphere directly beneath a given position or observer and diametrically opposite the zenith.

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#35

Pulchritude.

[puhl-kri-tood]

Meaning: physical beauty; comeliness.

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#36

Timbre.

[tam-ber]

Meaning: the characteristic quality of a sound, independent of pitch and loudness, from which its source or manner of production can be inferred. Timbre depends on the relative strengths of the components of different frequencies, which are determined by resonance.

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#37

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Truculent.

[truhk-yuh-luhnt]

Meaning: aggressively hostile; belligerent.

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#38

Construe.

[kuhn-stroo]

Meaning: to give the meaning or intention of; explain; interpret.

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#39

Convivial.

[kuhn-viv-ee-uhl]

Meaning: friendly; agreeable:

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#40

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Equanimity.

[ee-kwuh-nim-i-tee]

Meaning: mental or emotional stability or composure, especially under tension or strain; calmness; equilibrium.

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#41

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

[soo-per-kal-uh-fraj-uh-lis-tik-ek-spee-al-i-doh-shuhs]

Meaning: used as a nonsense word by children to express approval or to represent the longest word in English.

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#42

Restaurateur.

[res-ter-uh-tur]

Meaning: the owner or manager of a restaurant.

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anubis1 avatar
Hippopotamuses
Hippopotamuses
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good to see this one spelt correctly. When you nick words from other languages, things can get tricky.

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#43

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Circumlocution.

[sur-kuhm-loh-kyoo-shuhn]

Meaning: a roundabout or indirect way of speaking; the use of more words than necessary to express an idea.

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Laura Ketteridge
Laura Ketteridge
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I had a migraine my brain will often lose words. An example of circumlocution is the time I asked for an item. "Where is it?" was the reply. My brain could not find the right word, "In the cold place." "The fridge?" "No, the REALLY cold place." "Ah, the freezer!" "Yes!". It's not a huge deal of extra words, but it's taking a circuitous pathway to get to the forgotten words.

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#44

Idiosyncratic.

[id-ee-oh-sin-krat-ik]

Meaning: pertaining to the nature of idiosyncrasy, or something peculiar to an individual.

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CatFist
CatFist
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is idiosyncratic of @7773989 to provide the Finish translation for many of these words

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#45

Libertarian.

[lib-er-tair-ee-uhn]

Meaning: a person who advocates liberty, especially with regard to thought or conduct.

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#46

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Espouse.

[ih-spouz]

Meaning: to make one's own; adopt or embrace, as a cause.

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#47

Fatuous.

[fach-oo-uhs]

Meaning: foolish or inane, especially in an unconscious, complacent manner; silly; witless.

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#48

Puerile.

[pyoo-er-il]

Meaning: of or relating to a child or to childhood.

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#49

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Abnegation.

[ab-ni-gey-shuhn]

Meaning: the act or an instance of abnegating, or denying oneself some rights, conveniences, etc.

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#50

Vicissitude.

[vi-sis-i-tood]

Meaning: a change or variation occurring in the course of something.

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#51

Phenomenon.

[fi-nom-uh-non]

Meaning: a fact, occurrence, or circumstance observed or observable.

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#52

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Cavalry.

[kav-uhl-ree]

Meaning: the part of a military force composed of troops that serve on horseback.

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#53

Sesquipedalian.

[ses-kwi-pi-dey-lee-uhn]

Meaning: given to using long words.

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#54

Acetylcholine.

[uh-seet-l-koh-leen]

Meaning: The acetic acid ester of choline, C7H17NO3, released and hydrolyzed during nerve conduction and causing muscle action by transmitting nerve impulses across synapses.

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#55

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Nauseant.

[naw-zee-uhnt]

Meaning: producing nausea.

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#56

Girlfriend.

[gurl-frend]

Meaning: a frequent or favorite female companion; sweetheart.

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#57

Jewelry.

[joo-uhl-ree]

Meaning: any ornaments for personal adornment, as necklaces or cuff links, including those of base metals, glass, plastic, or the like.

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#58

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Regularly.

[reg-yuh-ler-lee]

Meaning: usually; ordinarily.

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#59

Panacea.

[pan-uh-see-uh]

Meaning: a remedy for all disease or ills.

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#60

Phlegmatic.

[fleg-mat-ik]

Meaning: not easily excited to action or display of emotion; apathetic; sluggish.

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#61

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Enervate.

[en-er-veyt]

Meaning: to deprive of force or strength; destroy the vigor of; weaken.

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CatFist
CatFist
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Funny, it feels like the meaning should be quite the opposite... or is that innervate?

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#62

Iconoclast.

[ahy-kon-uh-klast]

Meaning: a person who attacks cherished beliefs, traditional institutions, etc., as being based on error or superstition.

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#63

Ignominious.

[ig-nuh-min-ee-uhs]

Meaning: marked by or attended with ignominy; discreditable; humiliating.

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#64

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Entrepreneur.

[ahn-truh-pruh-nur]

Meaning: a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk.

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#65

Deteriorate.

[dih-teer-ee-uh-reyt]

Meaning: to make or become worse or inferior in character, quality, value, etc.

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#66

Thoroughly.

[thur-uh-lee]

Meaning: in a thorough manner or degree; completely and carefully.

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#67

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Anemone.

[uh-nem-uh-nee]

Meaning: any of various plants belonging to the genus Anemone, of the buttercup family, having petallike sepals and including several wild species with white flowers as well as others cultivated for their showy flowers in a variety of colors.

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#68

Colloquial.

[kuh-loh-kwee-uhl]

Meaning: characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal.

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#69

Alias.

[ey-lee-uhs]

Meaning: a false name used to conceal one's identity; an assumed name.

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#70

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Debauch.

[dih-bawch]

Meaning: to corrupt by sensuality, intemperance, etc.; seduce.

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#71

Emollient.

[ih-mol-yuhnt]

Meaning: having the power of softening or relaxing, as a medicinal substance; soothing, especially to the skin.

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#72

Espresso.

[e-spres-oh]

Meaning: a strong coffee prepared by forcing live steam under pressure, or boiling water, through ground dark-roast coffee beans.

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#73

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Quixotic.

[kwik-sot-ik]

Meaning: extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary, impractical, or impracticable.

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#74

Staid.

[steyd]

Meaning: of settled or sedate character; not flighty or capricious.

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#75

Surfeit.

[sur-fit]

Meaning: excess; an excessive amount.

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#76

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Alacrity.

[uh-lak-ri-tee]

Meaning: cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness.

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#77

Ascetic.

[uh-set-ik]

Meaning: a person who dedicates his or her life to a pursuit of contemplative ideals and practices extreme self-denial or self-mortification for religious reasons.

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#78

Cajole.

[kuh-johl]

Meaning: to persuade by flattery or promises; wheedle; coax.

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#79

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Callous.

[kal-uhs]

Meaning: made hard; hardened.

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#80

Largess.

[lahr-jes]

Meaning: generous bestowal of gifts.

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#81

Ostracism.

[os-truh-siz-uhm]

Meaning: exclusion, by general consent, from social acceptance, privileges, friendship, etc.

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#82

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Exponentially.

[ek-spoh-nen-shuh-lee]

Meaning: at a steady, rapid rate.

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#83

Lackadaisical.

[lak-uh-dey-zi-kuhl]

Meaning: without interest, vigor, or determination; listless; halfhearted.

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#84

Stultiloquence.

[stul-til-o-quence]

Meaning: senseless or silly talk.

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#85

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Turmeric.

[tur-mer-ik]

Meaning: the aromatic rhizome of an Asian plant, Curcuma domestica (or C. longa), of the ginger family.

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#86

Colonel.

[kur-nl]

Meaning: an officer in the U.S. Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps ranking between lieutenant colonel and brigadier general: corresponding to a captain in the U.S. Navy.

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Hippopotamuses
Hippopotamuses
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A French term from the 1500s used in most French and English speaking countries. It’s not specific to the U.S

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#87

Accede.

[ak-seed]

Meaning: to give consent, approval, or adherence; agree; assent; to accede to a request; to accede to the terms of a contract.

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#88

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Neophyte.

[nee-uh-fahyt]

Meaning: a beginner or novice.

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#89

Noisome.

[noi-suhm]

Meaning: offensive or disgusting, as an odor.

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Robert Trebor
Robert Trebor
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Enormity - a terrible act. "The Holocaust was an enormity." Being stolen to mean huge, when ginormous would work quite well.

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#90

Quinoa.

[kee-noh-uh]

Meaning: a tall crop plant, Chenopodium quinoa, of the amaranth family, cultivated mainly in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile for its small, ivory-colored seed, which is used as a food staple.

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#91

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Sanguine.

[sang-gwin]

Meaning: cheerfully optimistic, sometimes to the point of seeming complacent, oblivious, or naive.

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#92

Blandishment.

[blan-dish-muhnt]

Meaning: Often blandishments. something, as an action or speech, that tends to flatter, coax, entice, etc.

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#93

Cognizant.

[kog-nuh-zuhnt]

Meaning: having awareness, realization, or knowledge; notice; perception.

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#94

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Pejorative.

[pi-jawr-uh-tiv]

Meaning: having a disparaging, derogatory, or belittling effect or force.

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#95

Vociferous.

[voh-sif-er-uhs]

Meaning: crying out noisily; clamorous.

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#96

Schadenfreude.

[shahd-n-froi-duh]

Meaning: satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune.

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#97

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Circumspect.

[sur-kuhm-spekt]

Meaning: watchful and discreet; cautious; prudent.

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#98

Isthmus.

[is-muhs]

Meaning: a narrow strip of land, bordered on both sides by water, connecting two larger bodies of land.

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#99

Zephyr.

[zef-er]

Meaning: a gentle, mild breeze.

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#100

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Multifarious.

[muhl-tuh-fair-ee-uhs]

Meaning: having many different parts, elements, forms, etc.

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#101

Quotidian.

[kwoh-tid-ee-uhn]

Meaning: daily, usual.

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#102

Synecdoche.

[si-nek-duh-kee]

Meaning: a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole or the whole for a part, the special for the general or the general for the special, as in ten sail for ten ships or a Croesus for a rich man.

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#103

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Dengue.

[deng-gey]

Meaning: an infectious, eruptive fever of warm climates, usually epidemic, characterized especially by severe pains in the joints and muscles.

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#104

Erinaceous.

[er-uh-ney-shuhs]

Meaning: of the hedgehog kind or family.

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#105

Maelstrom.

[meyl-struhm]

Meaning: a large, powerful, or violent whirlpool.

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#106

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Protean.

[proh-tee-uhn]

Meaning: readily assuming different forms or characters; extremely variable.

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#107

Pertinacious.

[pur-tn-ey-shuhs]

Meaning: holding tenaciously to a purpose, course of action, or opinion; resolute.

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#108

Expatiate.

[ik-spey-shee-eyt]

Meaning: to enlarge in discourse or writing; be copious in description or discussion.

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#109

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Pauciloquy.

[pau-cil-o-quy]

Meaning: brevity in speech.

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#110

Glomerulus.

[gloh-mer-yuh-luhs]

Meaning: a compact cluster of capillaries.

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#111

Squirrel.

[skwur-uhl]

Meaning: any of numerous arboreal, bushy-tailed rodents of the genus Sciurus, of the family Sciuridae.

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Robert Trebor
Robert Trebor
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Squirrels seem to be born to amuse - a total madness in every movement.

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#112

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Anathema.

[uh-nath-uh-muh]

Meaning: a person or thing detested or loathed.

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#113

Ephemeral.

[ih-fem-er-uhl]

Meaning: lasting a very short time; short-lived; transitory.

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#114

Fatuous.

[fach-oo-uhs]

Meaning: foolish or inane, especially in an unconscious, complacent manner; silly; witless.

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#115

116 Difficult Words For The Linguist In You Inveterate.

[in-vet-er-it]

Meaning: settled or confirmed in a habit, practice, feeling, or the like.

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#116

Hegemony.

[hej-uh-moh-nee]

Meaning: leadership or predominant influence exercised by one nation over others, as in a confederation.

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