This list is a collection of obscure and advanced words that rarely come up in everyday conversation but reward learners who take the time to master them. It suits advanced students, competitive word-game players, and anyone who enjoys collecting unusual words to use in writing or conversation for effect.
A feeling of offense or resentment, usually at a perceived insult.
She took umbrage at his blunt comment about her cooking.
No matching words in this collection.
Why learn obscure words
Obscure words are worth learning because they often capture a precise shade of meaning that a common word cannot. Perfunctory, for example, says more in one word than the phrase done without care or enthusiasm, and taciturn is sharper than saying someone does not talk much. Building a working vocabulary of these words gives a writer more precise tools, even if most are used sparingly.
Using obscure words carefully
Words like sesquipedalian and grandiloquent are almost jokes about their own length and formality, so they work best used knowingly rather than to sound impressive. Others, such as ephemeral, serendipity, and ubiquitous, have become common enough in edited writing that they read naturally rather than showy. Reading widely is the easiest way to see how skilled writers deploy an obscure word without overloading a sentence.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good obscure word to know?
Serendipity, meaning a fortunate accidental discovery, is a widely loved obscure word that is useful in both writing and conversation.
What does sesquipedalian mean?
Sesquipedalian describes someone who uses unusually long words, or a word that is itself unusually long.