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Before we begin with the official introductions to our list of hard spelling bee words, let’s remember one viral video from a couple of (okay, okay, more like ten) years ago. You know, the one where a kid is asked to spell numnah (a thing you put under a horse’s saddle), and he’s all super confused and asks to repeat the word several times just to be sure it wasn’t what he thought he had heard. Disclaimer - he thought it was numbnut. Google it if you haven’t seen it - it’s absolutely brilliant.
Okay, with that story out of the way, we can go back to our list of the hardest spelling bee words. And boy, aren’t we glad that we didn’t have to spell these words in front of an audience when we were kids! In fact, we are even more glad that we don’t have to do it as adults. Although, when we were compiling this list, we took a mental note of some very cool words to be used in situations where we’d like to seem fancier-than-thou. In hopes, of course, that we won’t have to spell them afterward. But, if you find us using words like malfeasance or antediluvian, just know that it is almighty Grammarly that made sure we got them right.
As far as introductions go, we think this one did its job, and now it is about time to check out the hardest words to spell we’ve rounded up in this article. Since a better half of them are hardly ever used anymore, we’ve supplied them with short explanations so you’ll know the proper instances to use these spelling bee words. Once you are done checking out the list, rank the submissions so the hardest words to spell find their way to the top!
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#2
Mlechchha
Definition: people of foreign extraction in ancient India
#3
Woebegoneness
Definition: strongly affected with woe
#4
Milquetoast
Definition: a timid, unassertive, or apologetic person
#5
Eudaemonic
Definition: producing happiness; based on the idea of happiness as the proper end of conduct
#6
Chauffeur
Definition: a person hired to drive a private automobile or limousine
Alban Bizet 2 years ago
it's just the french word for it, it comes from the word chauffant (heating) with eur to design a person, because it was what the people who maintained the fire in a steam engine so it became to word for the job of driving any vehocule after that, from train to truck to hired car
#7
Staphylococci
Definition: a genus of non-motile spherical eubacteria that occur singly, in pairs or tetrads and comprise a few parasites of skin and mucous membranes
#8
Cymotrichous
Definition: having the hair wavy
#10
Crystallographer
Definition: a science that deals with the forms and structures of crystals
Punk Princess Sheena 2 years ago
I sold crystals for twenty five years and love them.... I have a huge collection. But far too many people rely on their healing powers above all else. I had a regular customer who ended up getting cancer and refused all treatment other than her crystals. I tried to talk her into getting treatment or even doing both but she refused. She died within a year.
#11
Pince-nez
Definition: eyeglasses clipped to the nose by a spring
Queen Julius Her Majesty the 3rd 2 years ago
So how's it pronounced ? Options:. a) Price niece b) Prince sneeze. c) Prince ness.
#12
Crustaceology
Definition: a branch of zoology that deals with animals belonging to crustaceans like prawns, lobsters, crabs, shrimps, woodlice, etc.
#13
Odontalgia
Definition: toothache
#14
Surveillance
Definition: continuous observation of a person, place, or activity in order to gather information
#15
Idiosyncrasy
Definition: a tendency, habit or mannerism that is peculiar to an individual; a quirk
#17
Feldenkrais
Definition: a method of exercise therapy that emphasizes connections between the brain and body
#18
Neutercane
Definition: a subtropical cyclone that is usually less than 100 miles in diameter and that draws energy from sources common to both the hurricane and the frontal cyclone
#19
Xenarthra
Definition: a suborder or other division of Edentata comprising the American anteaters, armadillos, sloths, and usually the extinct ground sloths
#20
Wednesday
Definition: the day of the week before Thursday and following Tuesday
#21
Bologna
Definition: a large smoked sausage made of bacon, veal, pork suet, and other meats
#24
Sacrilegious
Definition: committing excessive irreverence towards a hallowed place, thing, or thing
#25
Psoriasis
Definition: a chronic skin-disease characterized by circumscribed red-patches covered with white scales
#26
Narcissistic
Definition: having or showing an excessive interest in or admiration of oneself and one's physical appearance
#27
Entrepreneur
Definition: a person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit
#28
Lightning
Definition: the occurrence of a natural electrical discharge of very short duration and high voltage between a cloud and the ground or within a cloud, accompanied by a bright flash and typically also thunder
#29
Handkerchief
Definition: a square of cotton or other finely woven material intended for wiping one's nose
#31
Milieu
Definition: the physical or social setting in which something occurs or develops; environment, setting
#32
Autochthonous
Definition: indigenous, native, aboriginal—used especially of floras and faunas
#35
Chrysanthemum
Definition: a widely cultivated plant with brightly-colored showy flower heads
#36
Demitasse
Definition: small coffee cup
#37
Vengeance
Definition: punishment inflicted for a wrong done to oneself or another person; revenge
#38
Malfeasance
Definition: conduct by a public official that violates the public trust or is against the law
#43
Succedaneum
Definition: one that comes next after or replaces another in an office, position or role
#44
Appoggiatura
Definition: an accessory embellishing note or tone preceding an essential melodic note or tone and usually written as a note of smaller size
#45
Feuilleton
Definition: a part of a European newspaper or magazine devoted to material designed to entertain the general reader; a feature section
#51
Stromuhr
Definition: a medical instrument that determines the amount of blood flowing through a vein or artery
#53
Montessorian
Definition: of, following, or relating to a system for training young children emphasizing free physical activity, informal and individual instruction, early development of writing and reading, and extended sensory motor training
#55
Fuchsia
Definition: a shrub with pendulous tubular flowers that are typically of two contrasting colors
#57
Audience
Definition: the assembled spectators or listeners at a public event such as a play, film, concert, or meeting
#58
Canoeing
Definition: the sport or activity of paddling a light, narrow boat
#60
Opinionated
Definition: firmly or unduly adhering to one's own opinion or to preconceived notions
#64
Phlegm
Definition: the thick viscous substance secreted by the mucous membranes of the respiratory passages, especially when produced in excessive quantities during a cold
#69
Chiaroscurist
Definition: an artist who uses the arrangement or treatment of the light and dark parts in a pictorial work of art
#72
Onomatopoeia
Definition: the formation of a word by imitation of a sound of the noise or action described, such as hiss, honk, or meow
#74
Antediluvian
Definition: 1. of or relating to the period before the Biblical flood
2. old-fashioned; antiquated
#76
Logorrhea
Definition: excessive and often incoherent talkativeness
Ahimsa Soul 2 years ago
Logorrhea: the inability to log in with the correct password in the first 3 attempts.
#77
Semaphore
Definition: a system of visual signaling (as between ships) in which the sender holds a flag in each hand and moves his arms to different positions according to a code alphabet
#80
Ursprache
Definition: a parent language; especially; one reconstructed from the evidence of later languages
#83
Lyceum
Definition: an institution or building that hosts lectures and other educational programs
#85
Plumbiferous
Definition: containing lead
#86
Kittiwake
Definition: a small gull that nests in colonies on sea cliffs, having a loud call that resembles its name
#90
Threshold
Definition: intensity that must be exceeded for a certain reaction, phenomenon, result, or condition to occur or be manifested
#92
Rapport
Definition: a close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned understand each other's feelings or ideas and communicate well
#93
Discipline
Definition: the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience
#97
Weltanschauung
Definition: a particular philosophy or view of life; the world view of an individual or group
#101
Accessory
Definition: a thing which can be added to something else in order to make it more useful, versatile, or attractive
#102
Broccoli
Definition: a cultivated variety of cabbage bearing heads of green or purplish flower buds that are eaten as a vegetable
#105
Chihuahua
Definition: breed of very small roundheaded dogs that occur in short-coated and long-coated varieties
#112
Gesellschaft
Definition: a rationally developed mechanistic type of social relationship characterized by impersonally contracted associations between persons
#113
Asceticism
Definition: the practice of avoiding indulgences and temptations, usually for religious reasons
#121
Heiau
Definition: a pre-Christian Hawaiian temple or other place of worship (as a stone platform or an earthen terrace)
#131
Soubrette
Definition: a lady’s maid in comedies who acts the part of a coquettish maidservant or frivolous young woman
#132
Foulard
Definition: a lightweight plain-woven or twilled silk usually printed with a small neat evenly spaced pattern
#135
Transept
Definition: the short area that trans-versing the long-side of a church and giving the church the shape of a cross when viewed from above
What do you think ?
Catrovert 2 years ago
Oh I have so many of these: cachexia, juxtapose, sesquipedalian, llullaillaco, vexillologist, croquignole, hiortdahlite, tchefuncte, darmstadtium, i could go on forever; I still have my list from my 6th grade county spelling bee. I made it past the school bee and got within the top ten of county.
Punk Princess Sheena 2 years ago
I lost the third grade spelling bee when I misspelled herb...left the h off. Thankfully I'm a great speller now but as I get older I'm noticing simple words trip me up sometimes.
Katy McMouse 2 years ago
Same! I type something or write it down and I can't decide if it's spelled correctly or not. It almost looks alien.
Load More Replies... Alban Bizet 2 years ago
For most of them if you know some Latin or ancient greek you can spell them
Catrovert 2 years ago
Oh I have so many of these: cachexia, juxtapose, sesquipedalian, llullaillaco, vexillologist, croquignole, hiortdahlite, tchefuncte, darmstadtium, i could go on forever; I still have my list from my 6th grade county spelling bee. I made it past the school bee and got within the top ten of county.
Punk Princess Sheena 2 years ago
I lost the third grade spelling bee when I misspelled herb...left the h off. Thankfully I'm a great speller now but as I get older I'm noticing simple words trip me up sometimes.
Katy McMouse 2 years ago
Same! I type something or write it down and I can't decide if it's spelled correctly or not. It almost looks alien.
Load More Replies... Alban Bizet 2 years ago
For most of them if you know some Latin or ancient greek you can spell them
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