Table of Contents
Let’s look at some difficult words to spell in English! These words are similar to riddles in that they might be difficult to decipher. Even if you’re a natural wordsmith, some of these will make you pause and reflect. We’ll find out where these words came from and what they mean. It’s like going on a word journey! So, be ready to study and have fun with some of English’s most difficult terms.
100+ List of Hard Words To Spell
Catastrophe | Caricature | Juxtapose | Hierarchy | Liaison |
Cacophony | Ouija | Exaggerate | Fettuccine | Camouflage |
Diphtheria | Embarrass | Epitome | Fettuccine | Fluorescent |
Khaki | Harangue | Hippopotamus | Irrelevant | Oblique |
Memento | Rapport | Repercussion | Succulent | Subpoena |
Supersede | Verisimilitude | Vacuum | Chandelier | Nephrology |
Xylophone | Zephyr | Mnemonic | Pizzazz | Quesadilla |
Quinoa | Syzygy | Vaudevillian | Weltanschauung | Ziggurat |
Aberration | Ubiquitous | Xanadu | Quixotic | Languorous |
Perspicacious | Xanthophyll | Querulous | Unscrupulous | Vivisection |
Welterweight | Xerophyte | Quintessential | Zymurgy | Verisimilitude |
Quintillion | Zephyr | Sycophant | Xiphoid | Quandary |
Zirconium | Quizzical | Xerxes | Yttrium | Querulous |
Zoonosis | Zygote | Xylography | Waggish | Xenophobic |
Yahrzeit | Yokel | Zamboni | Ziggurat | Zeitgeist |
Zephyr | Wunderkind | Welterweight | Waggish | Xylography |
Zymurgy | Ziggurat | Yahrzeit | Yokel | Zamboni |
Wunderkind | Winsome | Wistful | Wherewithal | Wily |
Wraith | Welterweight | Whimsical | Waggish | Whetstone |
Winsome | Wizen | Wunderkind | Xerophyte | Ziggurat |
Perseverance | Conscientious | Entrepreneur | Labyrinth | Niece |
Belligerent | Ophthalmology | Fascinate | Chameleon | Lieutenant |
Neanderthal | Guerrilla | Pneumonia | Connoisseur | Absence |
Surreptitious | Exhilarate | Beleaguer | Axiom | Philharmonic |
Barbiturate | Idiosyncrasy | Bureaucracy | Sherbet | Procrastinate |
Obfuscate | Melancholy | Maintenance | Prestigious | Appliance |
Scissors | Macabre | Fuchsia | Nostalgia | Questionnaire |
Inoculate | Irascible | Plenipotentiary | Tourniquet | Ammunition |
Reservoir | Ventriloquist | Rhythm | Anesthesia | Sibling |
Mischievous | Pterodactyl | Phenomenon | Synthesize | Cauliflower |
Hardest Words To Spell with Examples
Catastrophe
- Meaning: A sudden and widespread disaster.
- Example: The earthquake was a catastrophe that affected the entire region.
Caricature
- Meaning: A humorous exaggeration or distortion of someone’s characteristics.
- Example: The political cartoon featured a caricature of the mayor, highlighting his distinctive features.
Juxtapose
- Meaning: To place things close together for contrasting effects.
- Example: The artist juxtaposed light and dark colors to create a visually striking painting.
Hierarchy
- Meaning: A system or organization in which people or groups are ranked according to their status.
- Example: In the military, there is a clear hierarchy of officers and enlisted personnel.
Liaison
- Meaning: A close connection or relationship.
- Example: The teacher maintained a liaison with parents to ensure effective communication.
Cacophony
- Meaning: A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
- Example: The cacophony of car horns in the city was overwhelming.
Exaggerate
- Meaning: To represent something as being larger, better, or worse than it is.
- Example: Sarah tended to exaggerate the difficulty of her exams.
Fettuccine
- Meaning: A type of pasta in the form of flat ribbons.
- Example: The chef prepared a delicious dish with homemade fettuccine.
Camouflage
- Meaning: The use of disguise to blend in with the surroundings.
- Example: The chameleon’s ability to camouflage itself helps it avoid predators.
Diphtheria
- Meaning: A bacterial infection causing severe sore throat and fever.
- Example: Vaccination has greatly reduced the incidence of diphtheria.
Embarrass
- Meaning: To cause someone to feel self-conscious or ashamed.
- Example: Tripping on the stage embarrassed Maria during the performance.
Epitome
- Meaning: A perfect example or representation of something.
- Example: The elegant mansion was the epitome of luxury.
Fluorescent
- Meaning: Emitting light as a result of being excited by radiation.
- Example: The scientist studied the fluorescent properties of certain minerals.
Khaki
- Meaning: A dull, yellowish-brown color.
- Example: The soldiers wore khaki uniforms for better camouflage in the desert.
Harangue
- Meaning: A lengthy and aggressive speech.
- Example: The politician delivered a harangue against corruption in the government.
Hippopotamus
- Meaning: A large, mostly herbivorous mammal with a thick skin.
- Example: The hippopotamus is often found near rivers in Africa.
Irrelevant
- Meaning: Not connected or applicable to the matter at hand.
- Example: His comments were completely irrelevant to the topic of discussion.
Oblique
- Meaning: Slanting or sloping; not explicit or done directly.
- Example: The detective asked oblique questions to uncover the truth.
Memento
- Meaning: An object kept as a reminder of a person or event.
- Example: The seashell served as a memento from their beach vacation.
Rapport
- Meaning: A close and harmonious relationship.
- Example: The therapist built a rapport with the patient to encourage open communication.
Repercussion
- Meaning: An unintended consequence or indirect effect of an event.
- Example: The economic downturn had repercussions on businesses around the world.
Succulent
- Meaning: Juicy and tender, often used to describe plants.
- Example: The ripe watermelon was so succulent that it dripped with juice.
Subpoena
- Meaning: A legal document requiring someone to attend court as a witness.
- Example: The lawyer issued a subpoena to obtain important evidence.
Supersede
- Meaning: To replace or take the place of something.
- Example: The new edition of the software will supersede the older version.
Verisimilitude
- Meaning: The appearance of being true or real.
- Example: The film achieved verisimilitude by using realistic sets and costumes.
Vacuum
- Meaning: A space entirely devoid of matter.
- Example: The vacuum cleaner sucked up all the dust from the carpet.
Chandelier
- Meaning: A decorative hanging light fixture with branches for several bulbs.
- Example: The grand ballroom was illuminated by a dazzling crystal chandelier.
Nephrology
- Meaning: The branch of medicine deals with the kidneys.
- Example: The patient was referred to a nephrologist for kidney-related issues.
Xylophone
- Meaning: A musical instrument with wooden bars of different lengths.
- Example: The children played a melody on the xylophone during the music class.
Zephyr
- Meaning: A gentle, mild breeze.
- Example: The zephyr rustled the leaves on the trees, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
Mnemonic
- Meaning: A device, such as a pattern of letters, to aid memory.
- Example: “Roy G. Biv” is a mnemonic for remembering the colors of the rainbow.
Pizzazz
- Meaning: An attractive combination of vitality and glamour.
- Example: The singer added pizzazz to her performance with a flashy costume.
Quesadilla
- Meaning: A Mexican dish consisting of a tortilla filled with cheese.
- Example: The chef prepared a delicious quesadilla with melted cheese and vegetables.
Quinoa
- Meaning: A nutritious grain-like seed used in cooking.
- Example: Quinoa is a popular choice for salads due to its health benefits.
Syzygy
- Meaning: The alignment of three celestial bodies, such as the sun, moon, and earth.
- Example: The rare syzygy created a spectacular celestial event.
Vaudevillian
- Meaning: A performer in vaudeville, a type of variety show.
- Example: The vaudevillian entertained the audience with comedic sketches.
Weltanschauung
- Meaning: A comprehensive worldview or philosophy of life.
- Example: The author’s novel reflected his unique weltanschauung on the human condition.
Ziggurat
- Meaning: A stepped pyramid with a temple at the top, especially in ancient Mesopotamia.
- Example: The ziggurat served as a religious center in the ancient city.
Aberration
- Meaning: A departure from what is normal or expected.
- Example: The sudden change in his behavior was considered an aberration by his friends.
Ubiquitous
- Meaning: Present, appearing, or found everywhere.
- Example: In today’s world, smartphones are ubiquitous, and almost everyone owns one.