Language specialists confirm that people with a good education, those who read more, and those who like to explore new things have a bigger and richer vocabulary. You might think this automatically means that using big words makes you intelligent. Well no, that’s not how it works. It often happens that people use big words to sound smart without even understanding what that word means. Needless to say, the effect is quite often the opposite.
But besides knowing the meaning of words, you should also be aware of the appropriate situations to use them in. For one, even though the more common and the fancy word might have the same general meaning, a small nuance often makes them inapplicable in certain situations. On top of that, using high vocabulary words that belong in a textbook or a novel when you order a coffee or explain to a friend why you liked the movie you watched last night, sounds ridiculous, to say the least. Similarly, special words that are only understandable to people of a certain profession shouldn’t be forced into a conversation if you are not talking to your colleagues. They don’t make you sound smarter; they make you sound incomprehensible.
That said, it absolutely does not mean that you should always stick to basic vocabulary. There are hundreds of beautiful words in English, same as in any other language, that can expand your vocabulary and make you an interesting and pleasant counterpart. Remember that the actual goal of every conversation is to find the perfect words to describe your thoughts and feelings, not to dazzle the person you are talking to with some long and arguably unnecessary words.
Below you will find a lot of interesting words with their definitions to help you expand your English vocabulary. How many of them did you already know? Make sure you use them responsibly and also tell us in the comments if there are any fancy words you especially enjoy.
#1
Effervescent
Meaning: having the property of forming bubbles.
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#2
Aeonian
Meaning: lasting for an immeasurably or indefinitely long period of time.
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#3
Pusillanimous
Meaning: lacking courage and resolution.
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#4
Flabbergast
Meaning: to overwhelm with shock, surprise, or wonder.
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#5
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobic
Meaning: someone with a fear of long words.
Meaning: someone with a fear of long words.
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#6
Floccinaucinihilipilification
Meaning: the act or habit of assessing something as worthless.
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#7
Eloquent
Meaning: marked by forceful and fluent expression (having a way with words).
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#8
Zenith
Meaning: the highest point.
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#9
Magnanimous
Meaning: showing or suggesting a lofty, courageous, noble spirit.
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#10
Quintessential
Meaning: the perfect example of something.
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#11
Erudite
Meaning: having or showing knowledge that is gained by studying.
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#12
Myriad
Meaning: a great number / countless.
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#13
Repertoire
Meaning: a person’s list of talents and skills; a list or supply of dramas, operas, pieces, or parts that a company or person is prepared to perform.
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#14
Transcendent
Meaning: extending or lying beyond the limits of ordinary experience, being beyond comprehension.
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#15
Ebullience
Meaning: the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts or feelings.
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#16
Brobdingnagian
Meaning: marked by tremendous size.
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#17
Discombobulate
Meaning: to confuse (someone).
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#18
Assiduity
Meaning: dedication, diligence and great focus.
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#19
Lateritious
Meaning: brick-red in colour.
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#20
Obsequious
Meaning: subservient (useful in an inferior capacity); marked by a fawning attentiveness.
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