You have been learning different and new words on a regular basis. But have you ever thought which of them would actually make you sound smart? We always try to make use of sophisticated words instead of plain words. It helps us to stand out from the crowd. It will leave your audience wanting more of your enriching vocabulary. Moreover, it will make the conversation more convivial.
We have prepared a list of more than 30 words that are very stylish in a way they sound. We hope you’ll like them.
English Words to Make You Sound Smart
| accolade | an award or privilege granted as a special honor or as an acknowledgment of merit. |
| acrimony | bitterness or ill-feeling. |
| angst | a feeling of deep anxiety or dread, typically an unfocused one about the human condition or the state of the world in general. |
| anomaly | something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected. |
| avant-garde | new and experimental ideas and methods in art, music, or literature. |
| antidote | medicine is taken or given to counteract a particular poison. |
| baroque | highly ornate and extravagant in style |
| bonafide | genuine; real |
| boondoggle | an unnecessary, wasteful, or fraudulent project. |
| bourgeois | belonging to or characteristic of the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes. |
| bravado | a bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate. |
| brogue | a strong outdoor shoe with ornamental perforated patterns in the leather. |
| brusque | abrupt or offhand in speech or manner. |
| byzantine | characterized by deviousness or underhand procedure |
| carte blanche | complete freedom to act as one wishes. |
| cacophony | a harsh discordant mixture of sounds. |
| camaraderie | mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together. |
| capricious | given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior. |
| caustic | sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way. |
| charisma | compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others. |
| déjà vu | a feeling of having already experienced the present situation. |
| dichotomy | a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different. |
| dilettante | a person who cultivates an area of interest, such as the arts, without real commitment or knowledge. |
| disheveled | make (a person’s hair or clothes) untidy. |
| élan | energy, style, and enthusiasm |
| ennui | a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement. |
| epitome | a person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type. |
| equanimity | calmness and composure, especially in a difficult situation. |
| equivocate | use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself. |
| esoteric | intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge or interest. |
| euphemism | a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing. |
| fastidious | very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail. |
| faux pas | an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation. |
| Fiasco | a complete failure, especially a ludicrous or humiliating one. |
| Finagle | obtain by dishonest or devious means. |
| Elucidate | make (something) clear; explain. |
| Obfuscate | make obscure, unclear, or unintelligible. |
| Perfunctory | (of an action) carried out without real interest, feeling, or effort. |
| Insidious | proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with very harmful effects. |
| Machiavellian | cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics |
| Oblivion | It is the state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happening around one. |
| Scintillating | Someone who is brilliantly and excitingly clever or skillful. |
| Paradox | Basically, a paradox is a seemingly absurd or contradictory statement or proposition which when investigated may prove to be well-founded or true. |
| Vicarious | It is experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person. |
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Idyllic |
simple and serene |
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Indelicate |
indecent, offensive, or improper |
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Junket |
made of sweetened milk coagulated with rennet |
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Litany |
prayer led by priesthood with responses from audiences |
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Malaise |
mild sickness or depression feeling |
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Mantra |
A sacred utterance or poetic hymn in Vedism |
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Maud in |
insincerely emotional |
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Mercenary |
person hired to fight for another country |
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Minimalist |
conservative advocating only minor reforms in government |
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Misnomer |
An incorrect and unsuitable name |
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Narcissist |
Someone who is excessively self-centered |
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Nirvana |
A climate beyond the rebirth cycle |
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Non Sequitur |
An answer that has nothing to do with what preceded it |
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Oblivion |
A state of neglect or forgetfulness |
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Ogle |
Stare or look, especially for romantic purposes |
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Ostentation |
It is intended to attract attention and impress others |
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Ostracize |
Dismiss from the community or group |
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Panacea |
A proven remedy for all ailments or diseases |
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Paradox |
Self-contradictory statement |
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Peevish |
Easy irritability |
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Perfunctory |
Ignoring details; not entirely |
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Philistine |
Someone who is not interested in pursuing wisdom |
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Picayune |
Small and insignificant |
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Precocious |
It is characterized by premature development |
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Propriety |
Proper behavior |
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Quid Pro Quo |
Something given instead of another |
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Quintessential |
Represents an excellent example of class or quality |
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Red Herring |
Something is intended to distract attention from the main subject |
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Revel |
Take delight in |
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Rhetoric |
A study of strategy for effective use of language |
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Scintillating |
Having short glittering points or a glow of light |
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Spartan |
Do not hold back or compromise with discipline or judgment |
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Stigma |
A sign of shame or insult |
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Suave |
Having a sophisticated charm |
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Supercilious |
To be either to show arrogance or to be arrogant |
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Sycophant |
Someone who tries to please someone in order to benefit |
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Teetotaler |
A person who does not drink alcohol |
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Tirade |
Speech of suspicion of violence |
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Tryst |
Secret dating, especially romance |
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Ubiquitous |
Being everywhere at once |
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Unrequited |
Not returned by type |
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Untenable |
Inability to protect oneself or to be forgiven |
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Verbose |
Using or containing too many words |
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Vile |
Moral suspicion |
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Zealous |
Marked by active interest and enthusiasm |
Conclusion:
Working on some interesting and sophisticated words does not mean that you have to memorize all those words and start using them all at once. The aim is to strengthen your vocabulary in a more creative way. It will be the first thing that will help you on your quest.
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