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Berlitz
berlitz.com › blog › big-words-to-sound-smart
Big words to sound smart: 127 fancy words to boost eloquence
July 25, 2023 - These words will help you express yourself in a more elegant way by substituting the basic, everyday words with their more fancy synonyms. Learning those “big” words in English is also a great way to impress those around you - whether it’s at school, at work, or during your next date. To help you take your English vocabulary to the next level, we’re prepared a list of 120+ big words to sound smart, with their meaning and an example of how to use them in context.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/englishlearning › 99 fancy words to make you sound smart
r/EnglishLearning on Reddit: 99 Fancy Words to Make You Sound Smart
December 4, 2018 -

I've also created a Learning Game to memorize those 99 words in this discord channel https://discord.gg/4qWaDgu

AccoladeA tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
AcrimonyA rough and bitter manner
AngstAn acute but unspecific feeling of anxiety
AnomalyDeviation from the normal or common order or form or rule
AntidoteA remedy that stops or controls the effects of a poison
Avant-gardeRadically new or original
BaroqueRelating to an elaborately ornamented style of art and music
Bona fideNot counterfeit or copied
BoondoggleWork of little or no value done merely to look busy
BourgeoisBeing of the property-owning class
BravadoA swaggering show of courage
BrogueA thick and heavy shoe
BrusqueRudely abrupt or blunt in speech or manner
ByzantineOf or relating to or characteristic of the Byzantine Empire or the ancient city of Byzantium
CacophonyLoud confusing disagreeable sounds
CamaraderieThe quality of affording easy familiarity and sociability
CapriciousDetermined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
Carte blancheComplete freedom or authority to act
CausticCapable of destroying or eating away by chemical action
CharismaPersonal attractiveness that enables you to influence others
CloyingOverly sweet
Deja vuThe experience of thinking a new situation already occurred
DichotomyA classification into two opposed parts or subclasses
DilettanteAn amateur engaging in an activity without serious intention
DisheveledIn disarray; extremely disorderly
ElanEnthusiastic and assured vigor and liveliness
EnnuiThe feeling of being bored by something tedious
EpitomeA standard or typical example
EquanimitySteadiness of mind under stress
EquivocateBe deliberately ambiguous or unclear
EsotericUnderstandable only by an enlightened inner circle
EuphemismAn inoffensive expression substituted for an offensive one
Fait accompliAn irreversible accomplishment
FastidiousGiving careful attention to detail
Faux pasA socially awkward or tactless act
FiascoA complete failure or collapse
FinagleAchieve something by means of trickery or devious methods
Freudian slipA slip-up that (according to Sigmund Freud) results from the operation of unconscious wishes or conflicts and can reveal unconscious processes in normal healthy individuals
GlibArtfully persuasive in speech
GregariousTemperamentally seeking and enjoying the company of others
HarbingerSomething indicating the approach of something or someone
HedonistSomeone motivated by desires for sensual pleasures
HeresyA belief that rejects the orthodox tenets of a religion
IdiosyncraticPeculiar to the individual
IdyllicCharmingly simple and serene
IndelicateSlightly indecent, offensive, or improper
InfinitesimalImmeasurably small
InsidiousWorking or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way
JunketDessert made of sweetened milk coagulated with rennet
KitschExcessively garish or sentimental art
LitanyAny long and tedious address or recital
LuridGlaringly vivid and graphic; marked by sensationalism
MachiavellianOf or relating to amoral or conniving political principles
MalaiseA general feeling of discomfort, uneasiness, or depression
MalingerAvoid responsibilities and duties
MantraLiterally a `sacred utterance' in Vedism
MaudlinEffusively or insincerely emotional
MercenaryA person hired to fight for another country than their own
MinimalistA conservative advocating only minor reforms in government
MisnomerAn incorrect or unsuitable name
NarcissistSomeone who is excessively self-centered
NirvanaThe beatitude that transcends the cycle of reincarnation
Non sequiturA reply that has no relevance to what preceded it
Nouveau-richeCharacteristic of someone who has risen economically or socially but lacks the social skills appropriate for this new position
OblivionThe state of being disregarded or forgotten
OgleStare or look at, especially with amorous intentions
OstentatiousIntended to attract notice and impress others
OstracizeExpel from a community or group
PanaceaHypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases
ParadoxA statement that contradicts itself
PeevishEasily irritated or annoyed
PerfunctoryHasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
PhilistineA person who is uninterested in intellectual pursuits
PrecociousCharacterized by exceptionally early development
ProprietyCorrect behavior
Quid pro quoSomething for something
QuintessentialRepresenting the perfect example of a class or quality
Red herringDiversion intended to distract attention from the main issue
RevelTake delight in
RhetoricStudy of the technique for using language effectively
ScintillatingHaving brief brilliant points or flashes of light
SpartanUnsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment
StigmaA symbol of disgrace or infamy
StoicSeeming unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive
SuaveHaving a sophisticated charm
SvengaliSomeone (usually maleficent) who tries to persuade or force another person to do his bidding
SycophantA person who tries to please someone to gain an advantage
TeetotalerA total abstainer
Tete-a-teteA private conversation between two people
TiradeA speech of violent denunciation
TrystA secret rendezvous, especially between lovers
UbiquitousBeing present everywhere at once
UnrequitedNot returned in kind
UntenableIncapable of being defended or justified
VicariousExperienced at secondhand
VileMorally reprehensible
WaftA long flag; often tapering
White elephantA valuable possession whose upkeep is excessively expensive
ZealousMarked by active interest and enthusiasm

Top answer
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Well ... maybe. The list is generally good, but some words are defined here with meanings that, however correct they may be in a narrow sense, are not the usual definitions. For example, "byzantine". While it certainly and accurately applies to the Byzantine Empire, it's generally an adjective that means "complex" and even "puzzling", after the elaborate government processes developed in Byzantium (which was later renamed to Constantinople and is now known as Istanbul). Also, "brogue" is certainly a shoe (from Irish brogan), but it's most commonly used to describe the sound of English as spoken by the Irish, and was originally intended as an insult, as if the speaker "had a brogan in his mouth" as he spoke. The insult is gone, but the descriptive word to mean "accent" (especially an Irish one) remains. "Fait accompli" may be irreversible in some cases, but not all. It simply means "an accomplished fact", "a thing that is completed". "Junket" is defined accurately, but that definition is now uncommon. A political junket, on the other hand, is a type of usually unnecessary travel to a usually agreeable place, with all expenses paid by others. "Waft" really is a nautical flag or banner, but I had to look that one up: it's the least used definition these days. More commonly it's a verb meaning to wave or emanate gently, as a flag or a scent. How do I know these? Because I'm a pedant.
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Just in case there are any serious learners here, almost none of these words are ever used in day to day conversation (unless you're speaking to somebody quite incredibly posh). The only ones I would say are really useful to know are: Anomaly Antidote (can be used in an idiomatic way, i.e. the antidote to a problem) Bourgeois (not pronounced how it's spelt) Charisma Deja Vu Epitome (also not prnounced how it's spelt) Mercenary Minimalist Narcissist Oblivion Paradox Rhetoric Suave Vile Also bear in mind it would sound very strange if you used these words but then mess up basic grammar, these sort of words tend to be used by people who have complete mastery of the language. My girlfriend is from abroad and speaks fantastic English, she rarely misunderstands or is misunderstood, but I'm certain she knows hardly any of these words!
People also ask

What are some other words for smart?
Some other words for “smart” are: · Intelligent · Clever · Bright · Shrewd · Astute · Sharp · Savvy · Quick-witted · “Ingenious” and “erudite” are also some smart words that are synonyms for “smart.” · Find more words for “smart” using QuillBot’s free Paraphraser.
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quillbot.com
quillbot.com › home › 40 smart words | meanings & examples
40 Smart Words | Meanings & Examples
What are some words that rhyme with smart?
Some words that rhyme with “smart” are: · Art · Cart · Dart · Depart · Heart · Mart · Part · Start · Tart · “Counterpart” is a smart word that also happens to rhyme with “smart.” · If using any of these words in your writing, QuillBot’s Grammar Checker will make sure you do so correctly.
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quillbot.com
quillbot.com › home › 40 smart words | meanings & examples
40 Smart Words | Meanings & Examples
What are some smart transition words?
Some smart transition words are: · Furthermore · Moreover · Nevertheless · Nonetheless · Conversely · Consequently · Ultimately · Use these and other smart words to elevate your writing. Just make sure to put it through QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to make sure it’s error-free!
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quillbot.com
quillbot.com › home › 40 smart words | meanings & examples
40 Smart Words | Meanings & Examples
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Bigwords
bigwords.com › bigwordslist
A List of Big Words - Find a big word for any word | BIGWORDS.com
Find Big Words - Type in what you're looking for and we'll hook you up with the longest English words we can think of.
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Parade
parade.com › living › big-words
150 Big Words That Will Make You Sound Fancy and Smart
May 30, 2025 - Related: 250 Totally Unique Words Most People Have Never Heard of (That Are Tons of Fun To Work Into Random Conversations) 118. Abnegation: The act of rejecting something, especially for oneself ... From ‘bibble’ to ‘xiphoid,’ we’ve gathered a list of strange and crazy words.
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LanguageTool
languagetool.org › home › fifteen big english words to help you sound smart
Fifteen Big English Words To Help You Sound Smart
June 12, 2025 - Have you ever found yourself amidst a conversation filled with words beyond your comprehension? It’s not a fun place to be, so to help you avoid that, we’ll teach you fifteen advanced English words that will make people believe you’re a human dictionary.
Find elsewhere
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QuillBot
quillbot.com › home › 40 smart words | meanings & examples
40 Smart Words | Meanings & Examples
September 7, 2025 - Some smart words are “acquiesce,” “capacious,” “esoteric,” “idiosyncrasy,” “Machiavellian,” “ostentatious,” “sagacious,” and “trepidation.”
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Pinky Dinky Doo Wiki
pinkydinkydoo.fandom.com › wiki › List_of_Great_Big_Fancy_Words
List of Great Big Fancy Words | Pinky Dinky Doo Wiki | Fandom
October 29, 2024 - This article is a list of all the Great Big Fancy Words featured in the series. Click on an episode to view
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Word Warriors
wordwarriors.wayne.edu › list
Words that deserve wider use - Word Warriors - Wayne State University
Word submitted by: Chris Williams , Livonia , Michigan , United States · Bewilder; baffle; confuse. To her dismay, Beth was completely flummoxed by the instructions for taking her new birth control pills.
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Twinkl
twinkl.com › blog › fancy-words-and-their-meanings
Fancy Words and Their Meanings
July 3, 2023 - Instantly access Twinkl's printable and digital K-12 teaching resources, including worksheets, eBooks, games, PowerPoints, Google Slides, and more!
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Proofreading Services
proofreadingservices.com › pages › words-that-make-you-sound-smart
List of 124 Words That Will Make You Sound Smart
Want some words to use to make you appear more intelligent? Take a look at this list of relevant examples. In this collection, you'll find words tha...
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Just Learn
justlearn.com › blog › smart-words-to-use-in-conversation
25 Fancy Words That You Can Use In Daily Conversations | Just Learn
Would you like to sound fancy? Discover 25 smart words for conversation for engaging vocabulary, enriching your language skills and spicing up your interactions.
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English Harmony
englishharmony.com › sophisticated-vocabulary
Useful Sophisticated English Words & Phrases | English Harmony
Predict all eventualities – “eventuality” is just a fancy word for “possibility”, so to predict all eventualities means to predict all possibilities, all possible outcomes of a certain event. Most likely you’d be using this expression to say that it’s not really possible to predict all eventualities and you’ll always end up with taking a certain amount of risk no matter what you do. ... Now, this list ...
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IELTS
ielts.co.nz › idp ielts new zealand › prepare for ielts › full list of 50 difficult english words and synonyms in 2023
List of 50 Difficult Words & Synonyms in English | Updated 2023 | IDP IELTS
Use these difficult words and synonyms to expand your vocabulary like a native speaker. Check out the list of 50 challenging English.
Published   January 2, 2023
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Reader's Digest
rd.com › knowledge › grammar & spelling
Fancy Words That Will Make You Sound Smarter | Reader's Digest
July 11, 2025 - Try: Ennui. You’ve probably heard this word before, but maybe you never knew how to use it in everyday conversation. We’re about to rectify that! Use ennui when you want to have a fancier way to dress up your listlessness resulting from boredom or dissatisfaction.
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QuillBot
quillbot.com › home › 40 cool words | meanings & examples
40 Cool Words | Meanings & Examples
September 3, 2025 - Some cool words in English are “anomaly,” “calamity,” “copacetic,” “demure,” “macabre,” “paradox,” “queue,” “supernova,” and “vacuum.”
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Busuu
busuu.com › en › english › cool-words
45 Cool Words in English that you Need to Know - Busuu
In this article, you'll discover 45 cool English words you might not have seen or heard before. Below is a list of 45 interesting, unique and cool words you can sprinkle into your communication. The table shows each word with its part of speech, pronunciation and meaning.
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Babbel
babbel.com › en › magazine › fancy-words
Fancy Words That Will Elevate Your Vocabulary
February 13, 2025 - Discover fancy words to enrich your vocabulary and elevate your communication skills effectively.
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YourDictionary
yourdictionary.com › vocabulary › glossaries › 40 big words that make an impact in speech and writing
40 Big Words That Make an Impact In Speech and Writing | YourDictionary
January 9, 2023 - Discerning the “right” words from the “wrong” ones can be hard and often comes down to your own voice and goals, but replacing filler words with more advanced terms (what some people like to call “big words”) is a great place to start.