Table of Contents
- Why Expanding Your Vocabulary Matters?
- 50+ Challenging Words to Boost Your Vocabulary
- Bonus Words to Boost Your Vocabulary
- IELTS Reading Vocabulary and IELTS Writing Vocabulary
- IELTS Vocabulary for Listening
- 10 Amazing Tips to Help You Remember Difficult English Words
- Why is Knowing Difficult Words With Meanings Essential for IELTS?
- Most Commonly Misspelled Words
- Tricky Words You Need to Know- Understanding the Difference
- Hardest English Words to Pronounce
- Where to Find More Challenging Words?
- FAQs
Why Expanding Your Vocabulary Matters?
Remember that moment when you stumble upon a word that sounds like music to your ears, but its meaning dances just beyond your grasp? There’s something thrilling about discovering these linguistic gems – like finding hidden treasure in the vast ocean of language.
We’ve all been there: that split second when you hear someone use a word so perfectly, so precisely, that it captures exactly what they mean. And that feeling when you look it up? It’s like being handed a new color to paint with, a fresh way to express yourself that you never had before.
Whether you’re gearing up for the IELTS or simply love the art of language, these 50+ power-packed words are about to become your new best friends. They’re not just exam ammunition – they’re keys that unlock new ways to share your thoughts, tell your stories, and maybe even impress that friend who always seems to have the perfect word for everything.
But first, you need to know why expanding your vocabulary is crucial:
- 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 on the first try. 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 new English words for the IELTS exam with meaning and expand our knowledge!
50+ Challenging Words to Boost Your Vocabulary
Ready to add some sparkle to your vocabulary? Let’s explore these verbal treasures together. Trust me, by the time we’re done, these words won’t just be part of your study list – they’ll be part of your story.
Here comes our list of 50+ difficult words for the IELTS exam.
| S No | Word | Meaning | Sentence |
| 1 | Mirth | Amusement or laughter, especially when expressed in a lively way. | The sound of children’s mirth filled the playground. |
| 2 | Impediment | Something that obstructs or hinders progress. | His speech impediment made public speaking challenging for him. |
| 3 | Sacristy | A room in a church where sacred items are kept. | The priest went to the sacristy to prepare for the service. |
| 4 | Byzantine | Complex and intricate | You can’t just end a marriage like that, you have to complete the byzantine procedures of filing a divorce case in the courts. |
| 5 | Conciliate | To make peace with | All attempts at conciliation have failed and civil war seems inevitable |
| 6 | Equivocate | To speak vaguely, with the intention of misleading someone | Politicians often say that they will work on the issue of climate change, but they are just equivocating to get the votes. |
| 7 | Truculent | Have a fierce, savage nature | The truculent attitude of farmers to cheaper imports is inspiring |
| 8 | Diatribe | A verbal attack against a person | Because Sheila was unhappy with the administration, she launched a lengthy diatribe against the board during the lunch |
| 9 | Quisling | A traitor | He had the quisling owner of the factory arrested |
| 10 | Artless | without cunning or deceit | My artless comment was mistaken for rudeness |
| 11 | Untimely | Happening sooner than expected; premature. | His untimely death shocked everyone at the office. |
| 12 | Antagonize | To provoke someone into anger or hostility. | His rude comments only served to antagonize his coworkers. |
| 13 | Citation | A reference or quotation from a source. | The essay included a citation from a well-known author. |
| 14 | Remonstrate | To make objections while pleading | Whenever I refuse my young daughter anything, she likes to remonstrate by stomping her feet on the floor |
| 15 | Sartorial | Related to fashion | The wedding party arrived in sartorial splendor. |
| 16 | Sybarite | A person who indulges in luxury | A Sybarite on an inadequate income, was ever the man of action. |
| 17 | Inundate | Flooded | Her office was inundated with requests for tickets. |
| 18 | Curmudgeon | A surly person | Clearly, I only play a curmudgeon in the newspaper. |
| 19 | Anodyne | Something that soothes or relieves pain | Morphine is the greatest anodyne we possess, and no drug yet discovered equals it in pain-relieving power. |
| 20 | Gaffe | A socially awkward act | He didn’t realize what a gaffe he’d made |
| 21 | Insurgent | A person who fights against the government | The insurgent organized protests against the rulers. |
| 22 | Uprising | A rebellion or revolt. | The uprising was aimed at changing the political system. |
| 23 | Hubris | Overbearing pride | Her humble attitude was refreshing in a society to be saturated by hubris. |
| 24 | Dovetail | To fit together tightly | I’m following up on a few things that might dovetail. |
| 25 | Impetuous | Characterized by undue haste and lack of thought | In the past, impetuous young men would drop out of college and run off to join the army. |
| 26 | Circumlocution | Expressing someone in an indirect way | His admission came after years of circumlocution. |
| 27 | Surreptitious | Taking pains not to be caught or detected | He made a surreptitious recording with a concealed hand-held machine. |
| 28 | Peripatetic | Traveling by foot | He had a peripatetic career as a salesman. |
| 29 | Magisterial | Someone who exercises unwarranted power | Their jurisdictions coincide for the most part with the magisterial and fiscal boundaries. |
| 30 | Asperity | Harsh in manner | There was a touch of asperity in his tone. |
| 31 | Decry | Express strong disapproval of | He is impatient with those who decry the scheme. |
| 32 | Puerile | Displaying a lack of maturity | Since my son is thirty-three years of age, I do not find his puerile behavior amusing. |
| 33 | Incontrovertible | Impossible to deny | We have incontrovertible evidence of what took place. |
| 34 | Inviolate | Something that must be kept sacred | The constitution proclaims that public property shall be inviolate. |
| 35 | Puissant | Powerful | The young man has a puissant body. |
| 36 | Cosset | Excessive indulgence | He cosseted her with flowers and champagne. |
| 37 | Eclectic | Deriving the best ideas and styles from a diverse range of sources | My universities offer an eclectic mix of courses. |
| 38 | Iconoclast | Someone who criticizes or attacks cherished ideas and beliefs | His son Gegnesius 722 was taken to Constantinople, where he won over to his opinions the iconoclast emperor, Leo the Isaurian. |
| 39 | Anachronism | Something that is inappropriate for the given time period | In today’s computer world, a floppy disk is an anachronism. |
| 40 | Enormity | An act of extreme wickedness | She stared at the fire, shocked by the enormity of what she had done. |
| 41 | Dolorous | Showing sorrow | Sally stopped. Then she uttered a dolorous phrase that we could all understand. My dog is dead, she said, as tears filled her eyes. |
| 42 | Solicitous | Showing hovering attentiveness | I appreciated his solicitous inquiry about my health. |
| 43 | Impugn | Attack as false or wrong | Her motives have been scrutinized and impugned. |
| 44 | Despot | A cruel and oppressive dictator | The despot claimed to be the chosen instrument of divine providence. |
| 45 | Splenetic | Very irritable | Next in line for the splenetic outburst of a disaffected supporter: Martin Chuffing Edwards. |
| 46 | Abrogate | To revoke | The Supreme Court can abrogate laws deemed unconstitutional. |
| 47 | Inveterate | Habitual | She is an inveterate gambler. |
| 48 | Officious | Intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner | ‘I’ll see,’ the nurse said, with an officious toss of her head. |
| 49 | Pillory | Ridicule or expose to public scorn | The offensive thing is that he has been so widely pilloried for doing so. |
| 50 | Abject | Hopeless or miserable. | He lives in abject poverty. |
| 51 | Enigma | Something puzzling or mysterious. | The strange markings in the desert remain an enigma. |
| 52 | Vacillating | Indecisive or wavering. | His vacillating leadership drew criticism. |
| 53 | Enchanting | Extremely charming or attractive. | The enchanting view of the swans at sunset was mesmerizing. |
| 54 | Candor | Being honest and open. | She approached the issue with great candor. |
| 55 | Cogent | Strongly persuasive. | He presented a cogent argument. |
| 56 | Dearth | A lack or shortage. | The team has no dearth of talented players. |
| 57 | Evanescent | Brief or fleeting. | The photographer captured the evanescent beauty of the sunset. |
| 58 | Cognizant | Being aware or informed. | He is cognizant of the ongoing problem. |
| 59 | Fatuous | Lacking intelligence or sense. | His fatuous comment surprised everyone. |
| 60 | Mendacious | Dishonest or lying. | It’s time to stop telling mendacious stories and start telling the truth. |
Check out: Vocab words for IELTS
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:
| S No | Word | Meaning | Sentence |
| 1 | Disparate | Very different or distinct. | We are merging disparate ideas to create a cohesive plan. |
| 2 | Ubiquitous | Present everywhere. | He is one of the most ubiquitous figures in the media today. |
| 3 | Audacious | Bold and daring. | Her audacious plan might lead to great rewards or trouble. |
| 4 | Travesty | distorting facts or imitation | The absurdly lenient sentence is a travesty of justice. |
| 5 | Solipsism | the philosophical theory that only the self-existence is known and all that exists | We cannot avoid the popularity of the solipsism mentality. |
| 6 | Sanguine | Optimistic or hopeful, especially in difficult circumstances. | She remained sanguine about their chances of success, even when the odds were stacked against them. |
| 7 | Quotidian | something that is of daily occurrence | The car sped noisily off through the quotidian traffic. |
| 8 | Sanctimonious | the pretense of being morally pious to exhibit moral superiority | What happened to all the sanctimonious talk about putting his family first? |
| 9 | Promulgate | to broadcast or announce | These objectives have to be promulgated within the organization. |
| 10 | Phlegmatic | expressing little or no emotion | He portrays the phlegmatic British character on the show. |
| 11 | Pertinacious | someone who is stubbornly unyielding | She worked with a pertinacious resistance to interruptions. |
| 12 | Sesquipedalian | Using long and complicated words unnecessarily | Her sesquipedalian writing style confused the readers. |
| 13 | Pejorative | showing disapproval | Permissiveness is used almost universally as a pejorative term. |
| 14 | Obdurate | being stubborn and refusing to change one’s opinion | I argued this point with him, but he was obdurate. |
| 15 | Nomophobia | An irrational fear of being without a mobile phone. | Nomophobia can lead to anxiety when individuals are unable to access their devices. |
Learn More: Linking words for IELTS
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 |
Discover: 60+ New Words in English with Synonyms
IELTS Vocabulary for Listening
Improve your memory of complex 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 |
Enhance IELTS Speaking vocab | Top 30 effective words
10 Amazing Tips to Help You Remember Difficult English Words
Struggling with Difficult English Words? Here’s a Trick That Really Works!
We 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 students retain those tough difficult English words for IELTS and other exams long-term.
So, we have ten amazing tips that will blow your mind!
- Create Associations: Connect new words with images, ideas, or situations. For example, link “gregarious” (sociable) to a group of friends gathering.
- Use Mnemonics: Develop creative memory aids. For instance, to remember “aberration” (something unusual), think “a bear on the road” – an unusual sight.
- 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).
- Practice with Flashcards: Write words on one side and definitions on the other. Review these regularly to keep them fresh in your memory.
- Use the Word in a Sentence: Incorporate new words into your daily conversations or writing. This strengthens your understanding and retention.
- Visualize the Word: Imagine a picture or scene that represents the word. For example, for “serendipity” (a happy accident), imagine finding treasure unexpectedly.
- Learn Synonyms and Antonyms: Understanding similar and opposite words helps reinforce the meaning and broadens your vocabulary.
- Set Daily Goals: Aim to learn a few words each day, rather than cramming many at once. Repetition over time builds lasting retention.
- Make it Fun with Word Games: Play crossword puzzles, Scrabble, or apps like Duolingo to reinforce learning in an enjoyable way.
- 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.
Learn to Master IELTS Vocabulary words for Higher Scores
Why is Knowing Difficult Words With Meanings Essential 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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
| 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!
Ace your IELTS Cue Card : With these tips and tricks
Hardest English Words to Pronounce
Now that we have learned more than 50+ new English words with meaning, it’s time to pronounce some difficult words. Here you go!
| S No. | Hardest English Word | Right Pronunciation of Hardest English Words |
| 1 | Accessory | ak-ses–uh-ree |
| 2 | anemone | uh–nem–uh-nee |
| 3 | February | feb-roo-er-ee |
| 4 | espresso | e-spres-oh |
| 5 | Colonel | kur-nl |
| 6 | Epitome | uh–pi–tuh–mee |
| 7 | Hyperbole | hahy-pur-buh-lee |
| 8 | choir | kwahyuhr |
| 9 | Otorhinolaryngologist | oh-toh-RYE-noh-LAR-ən-GOL-ə-jee |
| 10 | Worcestershire | vu·stuh·shuh |
| 11 | Antidisestablishmentarianism | an·tee·dis·uh·sta·bluhsh·muhnt·euh·ree·uhn·i·zm |
| 12 | Brewery | broo·uh·ree |
| 13 | Floccinaucinihilipilification | Flok-si-no-si-ny-hil-i-pil-i-fi-kay-shuhn |
| 14 | Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia | Hi-poh-po-toh-mon-stroh-ses-kwee-peh-dah-leejoh-foh-beeja |
| 15 | Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis | New-muh-noh-ul-tra-my-kro-skop-ik-sil-i-ko-vol-kay-noh-ko-nee-oh-sis |
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!
Also, check out Best books for IELTS Prep 2025
FAQs
Ques 1: What Are 10 Challenging Words?
Answer 1: Check out these 10 tricky words you should know:
- Cajole – To persuade with flattery or gentle urging.
- Jabber – To talk rapidly and excitedly.
- Jostle – To push or shove while moving.
- Flabbergasted – Extremely surprised or shocked.
- Gluttony – Excessive indulgence in eating or drinking.
- Impeccable – Perfect and without any mistakes.
- Erudite – Highly educated or knowledgeable.
- Exasperated – Feeling irritated or frustrated.
- Malleable – Capable of being easily influenced or shaped.
- Nonplussed – Confused or bewildered.
Ques 2. What’s the Hardest Word to Pronounce?
Answer 2: “Worcestershire” is one of the trickiest words to say correctly in English.
Ques 3: What’s the Most Common Word?
Answer 3: “The” is the most used word in English, making up 5% of every 100 words.
Ques 4: What’s the Oldest English Word?
Answer 4: The oldest English word is “town,” dating back to Old English.
Ques 5. Is vocabulary important for the GRE?
Answer 5: 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.
Ques 6: What’s Contextual Vocabulary?
Answer 6: Contextual vocabulary means figuring out word meanings from the surrounding text without using a dictionary.
Ques 7: How Can I Remember English Difficult Words?
Answer 7: Use flashcards, apps, lists, or games. Mix and match these techniques to find what works best for you.
Ques 8. What’s the Longest English Word?
Answer 8: “Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis” is one of the longest and most complex words!
9 secrets you should know about Studying Abroad!
What a wonderful read! Thanks Ankita!
I just like to learn more and keep in my mind forfuture
I like the English
It was interesting
It was profitable
You learned in school
It was helpful