50 New Difficult English Words For IELTS Exam 2024

Have you ever encountered a word that was so abstruse and new to your ears, but as soon as you searched for its meaning, you wanted to add it to your vocabulary? If this sounds familiar, you’re in the right spot! In this blog, we’re diving into 50 challenging words and their meanings. Wondering why these difficult vocabulary words for IELTS are important? They can improve your exam performance, improve self-expression, and offer many other competitive advantages. Read on to learn difficult vocabulary words for IELTS and many other exams.

Why Expanding Your Vocabulary Matters?

Expanding your vocabulary is crucial for several reasons:

• Ace Those Aptitude Tests: Exams like the GRE, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and SAT are all about testing your knowledge bank on the English vocabulary front. If your vocabulary is good, then you will excel in your exams and probably clear the papers in the first go. Knowing difficult vocabulary words for IELTS and other exams can give you an edge and help you stand out in applications.

• Talk Confidently Abroad: Confidence is the best accessory you can wear. Knowing the language of the country where you will reside makes you confident, articulate, and well-spoken. It allows you to converse freely, speak without shame, and communicate efficiently. When you’re studying or working overseas, you’ll come across new words. A strong vocabulary helps you keep up and communicate more easily with others.

• Sharpen Your Mind: Learning new words is a great mental exercise and develops cognitive abilities. It helps keep your brain active and improves your thinking skills.

• Express Yourself Clearly: Ever struggled to find the right words? A comprehensive and diverse vocabulary helps you say what you mean more accurately, whether you’re sharing ideas or feelings.

• Advance in Your Career: Good communication can boost your career. With a rich vocabulary, you can express yourself more effectively and make a stronger impression at work.

• Build Stronger Relationships: Better communication helps you connect with people on a deeper level, strengthening both personal and professional relationships.

• Think More Creatively: A rich vocabulary amplifies your creative thinking and helps you come up with innovative solutions to problems.

• Boost Your Confidence: Knowing more words helps you feel more confident in conversations and presentations, making you more comfortable in various settings.

By focusing on difficult vocabulary words for IELTS and other exams, you can significantly enhance your academic and professional opportunities. Case in point, let’s take a look at the most difficult words for IELTS with meaning and expand our knowledge!

50 Challenging Words to Boost Your Vocabulary

Mirth – Amusement or laughter, especially when expressed in a lively way. Example: The sound of children’s mirth filled the playground.

Impediment – Something that obstructs or hinders progress. Example: His speech impediment made public speaking challenging for him.

Sacristy- A room in a church where sacred items are kept. Example: The priest went to the sacristy to prepare for the service.

Byzantine –  Complex and intricate Example: You can’t just end a marriage like that, you have to complete the byzantine procedures of filing a divorce case in the courts

Conciliate – To make peace with Example: All attempts at conciliation have failed and civil war seems inevitable

Conciliate – To make peace with Example: All attempts at conciliation have failed and civil war seems inevitable

Conciliate – To make peace with Example: All attempts at conciliation have failed and civil war seems inevitable

Conciliate – To make peace with Example: All attempts at conciliation have failed and civil war seems inevitable

Equivocate – To speak vaguely, with the intention of misleading someone Example: Politicians often say that they will work on the issue of climate change, but they are just equivocating to get the votes

Equivocate – To speak vaguely, with the intention of misleading someone Example: Politicians often say that they will work on the issue of climate change, but they are just equivocating to get the votes

Truculent – Have a fierce, savage nature Example – The truculent attitude of farmers to cheaper imports is inspiring

Diatribe – A verbal attack against a person Example – Because Sheila was unhappy with the administration, she launched a lengthy diatribe against the board during lunch.

Quisling – A traitor Example – He had the quisling owner of the factory arrested

Artless – without cunning or deceit Example – My artless comment was mistaken for rudeness

Take it slow and learn a few new words each day and quiz yourself.  It is not uncommon for students to get bemused while learning difficult words with meaning for IELTS, but determination and strong willpower can take you to places you may not know.

Why Knowing Difficult Words With Meanings for IELTS

If you’re gearing up for the GMAT or GRE or other English language proficiency evaluation exams,  this blog is very important for learning difficult words with meaning for IELTS. But before that, here’s why tackling tough vocabulary is crucial: 

1. Ace Your Mock Tests: Start by taking a mock test to assess your current skills. You might find some questions tricky, not because they’re tough, but because they use advanced English words you might not know. For instance, learning difficult vocabulary words for IELTS can make a big difference in understanding questions and choosing the right answers.
2. Understand the Questions Better: Understanding the question properly is a half-battle won for a student, but many are unable to do so as they might not know high-level English vocabulary words that can take them way ahead of their competitors.. For example, in a GRE Sentence Completion question, you need to understand words like “forthright” and “reticent” to pick the right answers.
3. Boost Your Scores Across Sections: Both the GRE and GMAT test your vocabulary in different sections. GRE’s Verbal section and GMAT’s Verbal Reasoning and Analytical Reasoning sections necessitate a strong command over advanced vocabulary to emerge with flying colors in exams. Mastering difficult words with meaning for IELTS and TOEFL, among others becomes very critical for your success.

This is where our list of 50 difficult words with meanings comes in.

10 More Difficult Words With Meaning for IELTS

1. Untimely – Happening sooner than expected; premature.
   Example: His untimely death shocked everyone at the office. 
2. Antagonize – To provoke someone into anger or hostility.
   Example: His rude comments only served to antagonize his coworkers. 
3. Citation – A reference or quotation from a source.
   Example: The essay included a citation from a well-known author. 
4. Remonstrate – To make objections while pleading
   Example – Whenever I refuse my young daughter anything, she likes to remonstrate by stomping her feet on the floor 
5. Sartorial – Related to fashion
   Example – The wedding party arrived in sartorial splendor. 
6. Sybarite – A person who indulges in luxury
   Example – A Sybarite on an inadequate income, was ever the man of action. 
7. Inundate – Flooded
   Example – Her office was inundated with requests for tickets. 
8. Curmudgeon – A surly person
   Example – Clearly, I only play a curmudgeon in the newspaper. 
9. Anodyne – Something that soothes or relieves pain
   Example – Morphine is the greatest anodyne we possess, and no drug yet discovered equals it in pain-relieving power. 
10. Gaffe – A socially awkward act
    Example – He didn’t realize what a gaffe he’d made

More New IELTS Speaking Vocabulary With Example for 2024-25 

1. Insurgent – A person who fights against the government.
   Example- The insurgent organized protests against the rulers. 
2. Uprising – A rebellion or revolt.
   Example- The uprising was aimed at changing the political system. 
3. Hubris – Overbearing pride
   Example – Her humble attitude was refreshing in a society to be saturated by hubris. 
4. Dovetail – To fit together tightly
   Example – I’m following up on a few things that might dovetail. 
5. Impetuous – Characterized by undue haste and lack of thought
   Example – In the past, impetuous young men would drop out of college and run off to join the army. 
6. Circumlocution – Expressing someone in an indirect way
   Example – His admission came after years of circumlocution. 
7. Surreptitious – Taking pains not to be caught or detected
   Example – He made a surreptitious recording with a concealed hand-held machine. 
8. Peripatetic – Traveling by foot
   Example – He had a peripatetic career as a salesman. 
9. Magisterial – Someone who exercises unwarranted power
   Example – Their jurisdictions coincide for the most part with the magisterial and fiscal boundaries.

 

Quick Tip – Try using sticky notes to learn these difficult words with meaning for IELTS.

1. Asperity – Harsh in manner
   Example – There was a touch of asperity in his tone. 
2. Decry – Express strong disapproval of
   Example – He is impatient with those who decry the scheme. 
3. Puerile – Displaying a lack of maturity
   Example – Since my son is thirty-three years of age, I do not find his puerile behavior amusing. 
4. Incontrovertible – Impossible to deny
   Example – We have incontrovertible evidence of what took place. 
5. Inviolate – Something that must be kept sacred
   Example – The constitution proclaims that public property shall be inviolate. 
6. Puissant – Powerful
   Example – The young man has a puissant body. 
7. Cosset – Excessive indulgence
   Example – He cosseted her with flowers and champagne. 
8. Eclectic – Deriving the best ideas and styles from a diverse range of sources
   Example – My universities offer an eclectic mix of courses. 
9. Iconoclast – Someone who criticizes or attacks cherished ideas and beliefs
   Example – His son Gegnesius 722 was taken to Constantinople, where he won over to his opinions the iconoclast emperor, Leo the Isaurian. 
10. Anachronism – Something that is inappropriate for the given time period
    Example – In today’s computer world, a floppy disk is an anachronism.

10 more to go!

 

1. Enormity – An act of extreme wickedness
   Example – She stared at the fire, shocked by the enormity of what she had done. 
2. Dolorous – Showing sorrow
   Example – Sally stopped. Then she uttered a dolorous phrase that we could all understand. My dog is dead, she said, as tears filled her eyes. 
3. Solicitous – Showing hovering attentiveness
   Example – I appreciated his solicitous inquiry about my health. 
4. Impugn – Attack as false or wrong
   Example – Her motives have been scrutinized and impugned. 
5. Despot – A cruel and oppressive dictator
   Example – The despot claimed to be the chosen instrument of divine providence. 
6. Splenetic – Very irritable
   Example – Next in line for the splenetic outburst of a disaffected supporter: Martin Chuffing Edwards. 
7. Abrogate – To revoke
   Example – The Supreme Court can abrogate laws deemed unconstitutional. 
8. Inveterate – Habitual
   Example – She is an inveterate gambler. 
9. Officious – Intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
   Example – ‘I’ll see,’ the nurse said, with an officious toss of her head. 
10. Pillory – Ridicule or expose to public scorn
    Example – The offensive thing is that he has been so widely pilloried for doing so.

Mastering these difficult vocabulary words for IELTS and other exams can boost your vocabulary and exam performance.

Bonus Words to Boost Your Vocabulary

Here are some extra challenging words that can give your vocabulary a serious upgrade, perfect for IELTS and other exams:

1. Abject – Hopeless or miserable.
   Example: He lives in abject poverty. 
2. Enigma – Something puzzling or mysterious.
   Example: The strange markings in the desert remain an enigma. 
3. Vacillating – Indecisive or wavering.
   Example: His vacillating leadership drew criticism. 
4. Enchanting – Extremely charming or attractive.
   Example: The enchanting view of the swans at sunset was mesmerizing. 
5. Candor – Being honest and open.
   Example: She approached the issue with great candor. 
6. Cogent – Strongly persuasive.
   Example: He presented a cogent argument. 
7. Dearth – A lack or shortage.
   Example: The team has no dearth of talented players. 
8. Evanescent – Brief or fleeting.
   Example: The photographer captured the evanescent beauty of the sunset. 
9. Cognizant – Being aware or informed.
   Example: He is cognizant of the ongoing problem. 
10. Fatuous – Lacking intelligence or sense.
    Example: His fatuous comment surprised everyone. 
11. Mendacious – Dishonest or lying.
    Example: It’s time to stop telling mendacious stories and start telling the truth. 
12. Disparate – Very different or distinct.
    Example: We are merging disparate ideas to create a cohesive plan. 
13. Ubiquitous – Present everywhere.
    Example: He is one of the most ubiquitous figures in media today. 
14. Audacious – Bold and daring.
    Example: Her audacious plan might lead to great rewards or trouble.

Keep these difficult vocabulary words for IELTS in mind as you prepare—they’ll add depth and precision to your language!

IELTS Reading Vocabulary and IELTS Writing Vocabulary

Here’s a collection of popular words along with their synonyms to help you broaden your understanding of difficult vocabulary for ielts reading and writing:

Words	Synonyms
Beautiful	Pretty
Begin	Start
Come	Arrive
Cool	Frosty
Dangerous	Risky
Decide	Settle
Definite	Certain
Delicious	Savoury
Wrong	Mistaken
Tell	Narrate, Inform
Show	Display, Exhibit
New	Recent, current
Neat	Clean
Interesting	Intriguing

IELTS Vocabulary for Listening

Improve your memory of difficult vocabulary words for the IELTS Listening test by pronouncing them, writing them down, checking your spelling, and repeating the process. Try spelling the challenging words listed below.

conscious	disappear	exciting
necessary	original	realistic
obesity	marriage	solar
beautiful	highway	percentage
fluctuate	peak	recover
argument	Wednesday	neighbour
boring	rhythm	immediately
receive	February	tendency
fuel	friendly	until
million	thousand	hundred

Struggling with Difficult English Words? Here’s a Trick That Really Works!

I get it—remembering tricky vocabulary can be a challenge. But guess what? There’s a powerful technique used by Memory Athletes that can make a huge difference! Try remembering difficult words with meaning for IELTS by using them in everyday conversations with friends and family

While many methods suggest repeating words aloud or using them in daily conversations, these tricks often fade quickly. But the Memory Athletes’ method? It’s a game-changer!

This approach helped me retain those tough difficult English words for IELTS and other exams long-term.

Easy Ways to Remember Tough English Words

We have ten amazing tips that will blow your mind!

10 amazing tips to help you remember difficult English words:

1. Create Associations: Connect new words with images, ideas, or situations. For example, link “gregarious” (sociable) to a group of friends gathering.
2. Use Mnemonics: Develop creative memory aids. For instance, to remember “aberration” (something unusual), think “a bear on the road” – an unusual sight.
3. Break the Word Down: Divide the word into smaller parts (prefix, root, and suffix). For example, “benevolent” (kind) comes from “bene-” (good) and “-volent” (wishing).
4. Practice with Flashcards: Write words on one side and definitions on the other. Review these regularly to keep them fresh in your memory.
5. Use the Word in a Sentence: Incorporate new words into your daily conversations or writing. This strengthens your understanding and retention.
6. Visualize the Word: Imagine a picture or scene that represents the word. For example, for “serendipity” (a happy accident), imagine finding treasure unexpectedly.
7. Learn Synonyms and Antonyms: Understanding similar and opposite words helps reinforce the meaning and broadens your vocabulary.
8. Set Daily Goals: Aim to learn a few words each day, rather than cramming many at once. Repetition over time builds lasting retention.
9. Make it Fun with Word Games: Play crossword puzzles, Scrabble, or apps like Duolingo to reinforce learning in an enjoyable way.
10. Listen to Audiobooks or Podcasts: Hearing words in context helps cement their meaning. Audiobooks and podcasts offer a natural and engaging way to pick up new vocabulary.

These strategies can turn those difficult English words for IELTS and other exams into lasting knowledge.

How? Let’s see-
Inundated means Flooded
So I imagined that the restaurant I was in started to flood!

I know what you’re thinking – it’s crazy.

But it works, doesn’t it? 

Now, you’ll never forget what inundated means.

Try out this trick with the words on this list of difficult vocabulary words for IELTS and other exams, and have fun while memorizing them. You’re welcome!

Most Commonly Misspelled Words are as below

Misspelling	Correct spelling
Acomodate	Accommodate
seperate	separate
questionaire	questionnaire
accidentaly	accidentally
Comitte	Committee
Definately	Definitely
Embaras	Embarrass
Fourty	Forty
Irrestable	Irresistible
Appearence	Appearance
Calender	Calendar
unecessary	unnecessary
apparant	Apparent

Master the spelling of these difficult vocabulary words for IELTS and other exams to avoid common errors and perform better on your tests!

Tricky Words You Need to Know- Understanding the Difference

Most Misusing words can be just as tricky as misspelling them! Here are some commonly mixed-up words to get right:

• Further vs. Farther
  “Further” is for abstract distances, and “farther” is for physical distances.

• Accept vs. Except
  “Accept” means to receive, while “except” means to leave out.

• Among vs. Between
  Use “among” for groups and “between” for two specific things.

• Advice vs. Advise
  “Advice” is a noun (guidance), and “advise” is a verb (to guide).

• Effect vs. Affect
  “Effect” is the result, while “affect” is the influence.

Keep these straight to avoid confusion!

Hardest English Words to Pronounce

Now that we have learned more than 50 new words with meaning, it’s time to pronounce some difficult words. Here you go! 

Hardest English Word	Right Pronunciation of Hardest English Words
Accessory	ak-ses–uh-ree
anemone	uh–nem–uh-nee
February	feb-roo-er-ee
espresso	e-spres-oh
Colonel	kur-nl
Epitome	uh–pi–tuh–mee
Hyperbole	hahy-pur-buh-lee
choir	kwahyuhr

Near By cities study abroad consultants	Top cities study abroad consultants
study abroad consultants in India	study abroad consultants in Bangalore
study abroad consultants in Delhi	study abroad consultants in Chennai
study abroad consultants in Trivandrum	study abroad consultants in Mumbai
study abroad consultants in Chennai	study abroad consultants in Noida
Study Abroad consultants in Puducherry	study abroad consultants in Hyderabad

Where to Find More Challenging Words. Looking for more challenging words? Check out these top resources to build your vocabulary:

• Word Power by Norman Lewis
  This engaging book lets you learn just 10 words a day. The author’s unique method helps you grasp the meanings behind hundreds of words, plus it includes exercises to boost your grammar and syntax. Perfect for SAT, GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, and IELTS prep!

• GRE Vocabulary Flashcards on Magoosh
  Dive into this app for a treasure trove of flashcards. Review a few each day, use memory tricks, and check out the examples to master those tough GRE words.

• The IELTS Vocabulary Book by IELTSMaterial.com
  Ideal for IELTS prep, this book offers a glossary, idioms, phrasal verbs, and sample essays. It’s perfect for expanding your difficult vocabulary words for IELTS and sharpening your writing skills.

These resources will make expanding your vocabulary both fun and effective!

FAQs

Q1. What Are 10 Challenging Words?
Answer: Check out these 10 tricky words you should know:

1. 1. Cajole – To persuade with flattery or gentle urging.
   2. Jabber – To talk rapidly and excitedly.
   3. Jostle – To push or shove while moving.
   4. Flabbergasted – Extremely surprised or shocked.
   5. Gluttony – Excessive indulgence in eating or drinking.
   6. Impeccable – Perfect and without any mistakes.
   7. Erudite – Highly educated or knowledgeable.
   8. Exasperated – Feeling irritated or frustrated.
   9. Malleable – Capable of being easily influenced or shaped.
   10. Nonplussed – Confused or bewildered.

Q2. What’s the Hardest Word to Pronounce?
Answer: “Worcestershire” is one of the trickiest words to say correctly in English.

Q3. What’s the Most Common Word?
Answer: “The” is the most used word in English, making up 5% of every 100 words.

Q4. What’s the Oldest English Word?
Answer: The oldest English word is “town,” dating back to Old English.

Q5. Is vocabulary important for the GRE?
Answer: Yes, vocabulary is important for the GRE because it enhances reading comprehension, and analytical writing skills, and demonstrates language proficiency, which are all crucial for the Verbal Reasoning section.

Q6. What’s Contextual Vocabulary?
Answer: Contextual vocabulary means figuring out word meanings from the surrounding text, without using a dictionary.

Q7. How Can I Remember English Difficult Words?
Answer: Use flashcards, apps, lists, or games. Mix and match these techniques to find what works best for you.

Q8. What’s the Longest English Word?
Answer: “Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis” is one of the longest and most complex words!