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Have you heard of the word ‘pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokoniosis’? OMG!! This is the longest word in English with 43 letters. The meaning corresponds to the name of lung disease as a result of inhaling silica dust, such as from a volcano. General English is the common part of every competitive examination, whether it is State-wise PSC, UPSC, Banking exams like SBI PO, SBI Clerk, IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, IBPS RRB, NABARD. The language tests consist of the testing of the vocabulary skills of the candidates. The skills are easy to be developed in a long-term course, but for the examination purpose, candidates have to prepare within a short span. This article will be focused on this particular need of aspirants, and discuss the difficult English words with meaning, and synonyms. Also, check how to memorize the words and expand your vocab.
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Vocabulary can be defined as the body of words used in a particular language. We usually use millions of words, still, we may not be familiar with the other million! And, it is usually, a greater number of unheard words will be there and that we are not using in our daily life. Reading books, newspapers, watching English films, etc. will help us to improve our skills on vocabulary.
Covid was selected as the top word of 2020 according to Global Language Monitor, an American data-research company. The word Pandemic was also chosen by many Dictionaries as the word of 2021.
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English Words and Its Importance for Competitive Exams
While reading a book or newspaper, it is easy to grasp the words according to the circumstance it is used. But, while coming to find its synonyms, antonyms, it becomes difficult for the fluent ones and also for the starter. There are many tough English words, and the chance for these to be your question is more. And these huge number becomes hectic for the learners. The questions will be almost 5-6 numbers, and these really are important in the case of sectional marks and overall marks. The negative marking in many examinations, really finds it hard to crack.
So, a timely, best preparation of English vocab is a must to crack the verbal ability section of the competitive examination. The detailed preparation tips and weekly vocabulary quizzes are available on Entri’s page.
List of 50 Difficult English Words with Meaning
Here is a brief list of some of the tough English words with meaning and synonyms. Interested candidates go through the whole list.
- Sesquipedalian – ‘a foot and a half long, this word literally stands for ‘long-winded’ words
- Onomatopoeia – similar to sounds or noises, these words are often used for boom or buzz.
| SI.NO | English Word | Synonyms | Word Meaning |
| 1 | Anachronistic | antiquated. archaic. out-of-date. outmoded | misplaced chronologically |
| 2 | Ephemeral | transient, passing, momentary | lasting a very short time; short-lived; transitory |
| 3 | Inane | Ridiculous, stupid | lacking sense, significance, or ideas; silly |
| 4 | Maverick | a free spirit, individualist, nonconformist | an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party |
| 5 | Iconoclast | Critic, sceptic, Questioner, heretic | someone who criticizes or attacks cherished ideas and beliefs |
| 6 | Bilk | Cheat, fleece. exploit | to defraud; cheat |
| 7 | Emollient | Balsamic, soothing, Softening, humectant | Having the quality of softening or soothing the skin |
| 8 | Proclivity | Leaning, disposition, propensity, bent, bias | a strong natural liking for something that is usually bad |
| 9 | Incumbent | mandatory, necessary, compulsory | something that is morally binding |
| 10 | Abscond | escape, bolt, clear out | Leave hurriedly and secretly |
| 11 | Licentious | dissipated, debauched, degenerate | someone who is promiscuous |
| 12 | Protean | variable, changeable, mutable | Frequently changing, Trending, Versatile |
| 13 | Convivial | warm, sociable, outgoing, gregarious | enjoyable atmosphere or jovial company |
| 14 | Eclectic | wide, broad | deriving the best ideas and styles from a diverse range of sources |
| 15 | Penance | atonement, expiation, self-punishment | The punishment inflicted on oneself for expressing repentance for any wrongdoing of one’s own |
| 16 | Epistolary | epigram, parodic | In the form of letters or documents |
| 17 | Promulgate | publicize, spread, communicate | to broadcast or announce |
| 18 | Demagogue | rabble-rouser, agitator | a political leader who uses rhetoric to appeal to prejudices and desires of ordinary citizens |
| 19 | Multifarious | different, heterogeneous, eclectic | multifaceted or diverse |
| 20 | Ostracism | shun, spurn, cold-shoulder | excluding a person or certain section from society by the majority |
| 21 | Unremitting | Ceaseless, constant, incessant | continuing forever; or for an indefinitely long time |
| 22 | Grandiloquence | pomposity, mouthiness, antiloquence | a lofty, extravagantly colorful, pompous, or bombastic style, manner, or quality especially in language |
| 23 | Quotidian | conventional, mainstream, unremarkable | something that is of daily occurrence |
| 24 | Pejorative | disparaging, derogatory | showing disapproval |
| 25 | Exacerbate | worsen, inflame, compound | To make a situation, a bad feeling or a problem worse |
| 26 | Cognizant | conscious, apprised | awareness or realization |
| 27 | Sanctimonious | self-righteous, churchy | the pretense of being morally pious to exhibit moral |
| 28 | Tutelage | Care, charge, guardianship | attention, and management implying responsibility for safety |
| 29 | Trite | banal, clichéd | not interesting or effective because of being used too often: not fresh or original |
| 30 | Didactic | instructional, educational | instructive with a moral intent |
| 31 | Enervate | tire, fatigue, weary | lacking in vitality or mentally/ morally drained |
| 32 | Luxate | Dislocate, splay | move out of position |
| 33 | Ablutionary | Cleansing, purifying | cleaning the body by washing |
| 34 | Coronate | Crown | invest with legal power; enthrone |
| 35 | Raspingly | Gratingly, harshly | in a harsh and granting manner |
| 36 | Objurgation | Chiding, scolding | rebuking a person harshly |
| 37 | Surreptitious | undercover, covert | to bring under complete control or subjection; conquer; master |
| 38 | Upstart | Nouveau-riche, parvenu, parvenue | characteristic of someone who has risen economically or socially but lacks the social skills appropriate for this new position |
| 39 | Scallywag | Knave, rapscallion, rogue | a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel or one who is playfully mischievous |
| 40 | Vicissitude | Change, alteration, instability | an unwelcome or unpleasant change in circumstances or fortune |
| 41 | Henchman | Collaborator, confederate | someone who assists in a plot |
| 42 | Denunciation | stigmatization. castigation | public condemnation of someone or something / informing against someone |
| 43 | Capitulate | submit, back down, climb down | Cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand |
| 44 | Dispel | banish, eliminate | make doubt disappear |
| 45 | Circumlocution | tautology, repetition, euphemism | expressing someone in an indirect way |
| 46 | Pellucid | translucent, transparent | Clear, Easy to understand |
| 47 | Travesty | misrepresentation, distortion, mockery, parody | distorting facts or imitation |
| 48 | Gratuitous | unjustifiable, needless, unnecessary | uncalled for or unwarranted |
| 49 | Zephyr | light breeze air-sea breeze | a gentle, mild breeze |
| 50 | Vociferous | outspoken, vocal, plain-spoken, frank | something or someone who is offensively/ conspicuously loud |
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List of New English words with Meaning
| SI.NO | English Word | Synonyms |
| 1 | Buzzy | Something that generates excitement |
| 2 | Awesomesauce | extremely good |
| 3 | Stan | A devoted fan |
| 4 | Chicken headed | Foolish, stupid |
| 5 | Deepfake | an image or recording that has been convincingly altered to misrepresent someone |
| 6 | Bagel | Something that is transitive |
| 7 | E-waste | worthless electronic text |
| 8 | Kvetchy | Ill-tempered |
| 9 | Squelch | use force to compress |
| 10 | Awel | any of various types of hooks or hook instrument |
| 11 | Eye lessness | lack of fear or respect for authority |
| 12 | Screen time | amount of time spent looking at screens of electronic devices |
| 13 | Futzing | Ineffectual |
| 14 | Covid 19 | An acute respiratory illness in human beings |
| 15 | Social distancing | act of maintaining a physical distance |
| 16 | Self-isolate | to isolate oneself from others |
| 17 | Unfathom | Puzzling |
| 18 | People-kind | gender-neutral |
| 19 | Theonomous | Ruled or governed by God |
| 20 | WIP | work in progress |
| 21 | Puggle | a young or baby echidna |
| 22 | Hellacious | an awful experience |
| 23 | Freegan | A person who eats thrown away food |
| 24 | Permaculture | combine two words to make a new one |
| 25 | Next tomorrow | day after tomorrow |
List of Common Homonyms
Check some of the homonyms from the English Vocabulary
- Accept– to receive something
Except– to take or leave out
- Veracity: it means, truthfulness, correctness, accuracy
Voracity: it refers to the quality of being voracious
- Reign: refers to the period during which authority is on the throne.
Rein: harness; to restrict
- Mendacious: it refers to telling lies
Mendicant: it refers to the act of begging
- Altogether – entirely
All Together– gathered, with everything in one place
- Complement –something that completes; verb, to complete
Compliment- praise; verb, to praise
- Flaunt- means ‘display ostentatiously’
Flout- means ‘openly disregard (a rule)’.
- Elicit: to draw or bring out
Illicit-illegal
- Amiable – showing good-natured personal qualities, affable, friendly
Amicable- peaceful, agreeable, harmonious
- Principal-adjective, most important; noun, a person who has authority
Principle-a general or fundamental truth
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Train yourself to Remember Difficult English Words with Meaning
The words as discussed above, we may be confused over the tricky questions, and the synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, which are the favorite areas for vocabulary questions. The chance to ask words repeatedly will be tough, as we know there are lots of words available. Many online platforms are providing coaching on words and meaning, quizzes. Mugging up will be easy for some, but not for all. Because of that, learning and remembering a large number of words is not an easy task. So, given are some tips to remember the difficult English words with meaning.
Tricks and tips to remember the difficult English words with meaning
- As in our childhood, follow an organized pattern, better keep a notebook or papers.
- Note down at least 5 words a day from various sources like books (stories, novels), Newspapers, or online platforms
- Now, read the words regularly, each day, you will be adding and revising.
- Make your own sentences to use the word. Connect with anything that you feel!
- Attempt online and offline quizzes on words and their meanings. Go through previous question papers.
Summary
Obviously, this vocabulary section is a never-ending learning task. The English words are huge in number, and the candidates who lag in English Verbal Ability find it as a hard nut to crack. But, the daily practice without losing the spirit to learn and revise surely helps candidates to come up with flying colors and master the vocabulary.
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