Words are more than mere tools of communication; they’re portals to whimsy and delight. Add a sprinkle of flair to your written and spoken communication with these 75 rare words. Be careful using them in everyday conversation. A few are outdated. They would work, though, quite well in poetry and even experimental literature.
Let’s now acquaint ourselves with these interesting and sometimes even funny words in English. Use them to impress your employer, a new date, or among buddies whilst in conversation.
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1. Mellifluous
Smooth, flowing, or melodious in sound.
2. Serotinal
Relating to or occurring in late summer.
3. Bamboozle
To deceive or cheat someone, often by trickery or flattery.
4. Lollygag
To spend time aimlessly; to dawdle or be lazy.
5. Malarkey
Nonsense or meaningless talk; foolishness or bunk.
6. Zephyrous
Relating to or characterized by a gentle, mild breeze.
7. Zibeline
A soft, lustrous fabric made from the fur of a sable or similar animal.
8. Mumpsimus
A person who obstinately clings to an error, bad habit, or mistaken way of doing things.
9. Crwth
A traditional Welsh musical instrument similar to a violin or lyre.
10. Sesquipedalophobia
The fear of long words.
11. Sphenic
A positive integer that is the product of three distinct prime numbers.
12. Quizzaciously
In a playful or teasing manner; used to describe lighthearted and whimsical interactions.
13. Wobbledegook
Confusing, nonsensical language; a playful term for speech or writing that lacks clarity.
14. Fiddle-faddle
Trivial or foolish talk; nonsense or inconsequential activities.
15. Blubbernut
A term of endearment, often used in a humorous or affectionate manner.
16. Codswallop
Nonsense, rubbish, or absurd talk; a fun way to dismiss something as untrue or ridiculous.
17. Kerfuffle
A commotion or fuss; a disorderly outburst or tumult.
18. Bumfuzzle
To confuse or perplex; a delightful term for feeling bewildered or disoriented.
19. Widdlytinks
Imaginary creatures that live in one’s pocket and make strange, tinkling noises.
20. Gigglywiggly
Full of laughter and merriment; a playful and cheerful description.
21. Spaghettification
The stretching and elongation of an object due to extreme gravitational forces, often seen near black holes.
22. Iouea
A taxonomic genus name for a group of tropical sea sponges.
23. Zenzizenzizenzic
An obsolete term for the eighth power of a number.
24. Pareidolia
Pareidolia is a psychological phenomenon where individuals perceive familiar patterns, such as faces or shapes, in random stimuli, like clouds, rocks, or objects.
25. Aibohphobia
Fear of palindromes; ironically, the word itself is a palindrome.
26. Buccolic
A term used to describe rural or countryside settings, often associated with pastoral life, tranquility, and simplicity.
27. Vexillology
The study of flags, including their design, symbolism, and usage throughout history.
28. Psithurism
The sound of wind rustling through trees or leaves, often considered calming or soothing.
29. Aphotic
Refers to areas of the ocean where sunlight cannot penetrate, typically beyond the depth of 656 feet (200 meters).
30. Absquatulate
To leave abruptly or hastily; to abscond or depart without notice, often in a secretive or furtive manner.
31. Persnickety
Overly concerned with minor details or very particular about small matters; fussy or finicky.
32. Troglodyte
Primitive, socially reclusive, or out of touch with modern ideas or customs.
33. Xenoglossy
Ability to speak or understand a language without prior exposure or learning, often linked to paranormal or spiritual beliefs.
34. Dolorous
Characterized by or expressing sorrow, grief, or sadness.
35. Reticent
Reserved, reluctant, or hesitant to speak or share one’s thoughts or feelings.
36. Polylemma
A situation or problem with multiple possible solutions or outcomes, often presenting a complex or perplexing dilemma.
37. Umbrageous
Shaded or darkened; easily offended or provoked.
38. Jollity
Cheerfulness or high spirits, often expressed through laughter, merriment, or lively social gatherings.
39. Woldy
Relating to or characteristic of open, rolling upland areas, typically covered in grass or low vegetation.
40. Inenarrable
Beyond description or impossible to convey in words.
41. Brimborion
A small, trivial, or insignificant object or trinket, often valued for its ornamental or decorative qualities.
42. Paraprosdokian
A figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected, often leading to a humorous or ironic twist.
43. Noctambule
One who walks or roams at night, especially for pleasure or recreation.
44. Obnubilate
To obscure or darken, either literally by covering or clouding something; the act of causing mental confusion or uncertainty.
45. Obsequious
Excessively obedient or attentive to an ingratiating degree.
46. Perspicacious
Having a ready insight into and understanding of things.
47. Lugubrious
Looking or sounding sad and dismal.
48. Munificent
Larger or more generous than is usual or necessary.
49. Nugatory
Of no value or importance.
50. Inveigle
To persuade someone to do something by means of deception or flattery.
51. Bosky
Covered with bushes, shrubs, or small trees.
52. Conflate
To combine two or more texts, ideas, etc., into one.
53. Deleterious
Causing harm or damage.
54. Desuetude
A state of disuse.
55. Divagate
To stray or digress.
56. Elucidate
To make (something) clear; explain.
57. Ensorcell
To enchant; to fascinate.
58. Felicitate
To congratulate.
59. Osculate
To kiss.
60. Perfidious
Deceitful and untrustworthy.
61. Pluvial
Relating to or characterized by rainfall.
62. Rebarbative
Unattractive and objectionable.
63. Saponaceous
Resembling or containing soap; soapy.
64. Polymath
A person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning.
65. Amaranthine
Undying, immortal, eternally beautiful.
66. Antediluvian
Extremely old-fashioned.
67. Avuncular
Kind and friendly towards a younger or less experienced person.
68. Bellicose
Demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.
69. Flocculent
Having or resembling tufts of wool.
70. Emacity
Fondness for buying things.
71. Deipnosophist
A person who is skilled in table talk or dinner-table conversation.
72. Obfuscate
To deliberately make something confusing or difficult to understand.
73. Surreptitious
Done, made, or acquired by stealth or in a clandestine manner.
74. Pulchritudinous
Having great physical beauty and appeal.
75. Peripatetic
Traveling from place to place, especially working or based in various places for relatively short periods..