60+ Awesome Sounding Words
Angel loves words, learning all about what they mean, and sharing her knowledge with others.
What are some of the coolest words in the English language? Read on to find out!
60+ Cool Words: The Most Epic and Interesting Words in the English Language
Are you searching for interesting, epic words for your story, novel, or just for everyday use? Look no further! In this article, you'll find a list of 60 of the most awesome sounding words in the English language, plus cool words that start with the letter "Z," a list of silly words, some commonly misused words, words that sound funky and awkward, and more!
| #1–15 | #16–30 | #31–45 | #46–60 |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Apocalyptic | 16. Equilibrium | 31. Mitigate | 46. Serpentine |
2. Bamboozled | 17. Exquisite | 32. Nefarious | 47. Silhouette |
3. Bizarre | 18. Flippant | 33. Onomatopoeia | 48. Sinister |
4. Blasphemy | 19. Gerrymandering | 34. Persnickety | 49. Statuesque |
5. Bumblebee | 20. Hyperbolic | 35. Phosphorous | 50. Stoicism |
6. Capricious | 21. Hypnosis | 36. Picturesque | 51. Synergistic |
7. Clandestine | 22. Incognito | 37. Plebeian | 52. Tectonic |
8. Cognizant | 23. Indigo | 38. Quadrinomial | 53. Totalitarian |
9. Conundrum | 24. Insidious | 39. Quintessential | 54. Trapezoid |
10. Corrosion | 25. Kaleidoscope | 40. Rambunctious | 55. Ubiquitous |
11. Crestfallen | 26. Kleptomania | 41. Reptilian | 56. Vermillion |
12. Dastardly | 27. Languish | 42. Sabotage | 57. Villainous |
13. Diabolical | 28. Luminescence | 43. Sanctimonious | 58. Whimsical |
14. Dwindling | 29. Melancholy | 44. Scrupulous | 59. Wizardry |
15. Effervescent | 30. Mercurial | 45. Serendipity | 60. Zigzag |
Clandestine
1. Apocalyptic
(adjective) of, relating to, or resembling an apocalypse
2. Bamboozled
(adjective) thrown into a state of confusion or bewilderment especially by being deliberately fooled or misled
3. Bizarre
(adjective) strikingly out of the ordinary
4. Blasphemy
(noun) the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God
5. Bumblebee
(noun) any of numerous large robust hairy social bees
6. Capricious
(adjective) governed or characterized by caprice; impulsive, unpredictable
7. Clandestine
(adjective) marked by, held in, or conducted with secrecy
8. Cognizant
(adjective) knowledgeable of something especially through personal experience
9. Conundrum
(noun) an intricate and difficult problem
10. Corrosion
(noun) the action, process, or effect of corroding
Effervescent
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11. Crestfallen
(adjective) having a drooping crest or hanging head; feeling shame or humiliation
12. Dastardly
(adjective) characterized by underhandedness or treachery
13. Diabolical
(adjective) of, relating to, or characteristic of the devil
14. Dwindling
(verb) to become steadily less; shrink
15. Effervescent
(adjective) having the property of forming bubbles; marked by or producing effervescence
16. Equilibrium
(noun) a state of intellectual or emotional balance; a state of balance between opposing forces or actions that is either static (as in a body acted on by forces whose resultant is zero) or dynamic (as in a reversible chemical reaction when the rates of reaction in both directions are equal)
17. Exquisite
(adjective) marked by flawless craftsmanship or by beautiful, ingenious, delicate, or elaborate execution
18. Flippant
(adjective) lacking proper respect or seriousness
19. Gerrymandering
(noun) the practice of dividing or arranging a territorial unit into election districts in a way that gives one political party an unfair advantage in elections
20. Hyperbolic
(adjective) of, relating to, or marked by language that exaggerates or overstates the truth; of, relating to, or marked by hyperbole
Luminescence
21. Hypnosis
(noun) an artificially induced trance state resembling sleep, characterized by heightened susceptibility to suggestion
22. Incognito
(adjective) having one's identity concealed, as under an assumed name, especially to avoid notice or formal attentions
23. Indigo
(noun) a blue dye obtained from various plants, especially of the genus Indigofera, or manufactured synthetically
(noun) a color ranging from a deep violet-blue to a dark, grayish-blue
24. Insidious
(adjective) intended to entrap or beguile
(adjective) stealthily treacherous or deceitful
(adjective) operating or proceeding in an inconspicuous or seemingly harmless way but actually with grave effect
25. Kaleidoscope
(noun) an optical instrument in which bits of glass, held loosely at the end of a rotating tube, are shown in continually changing symmetrical forms by reflection in two or more mirrors set at angles to each other
26. Kleptomania
(noun) an irresistible impulse to steal, stemming from emotional disturbance rather than economic need
27. Languish
(verb) to be or become weak or feeble; droop; fade
(verb) to lose vigor and vitality
28. Luminescence
(noun) the emission of light not caused by incandescence and occurring at a temperature below that of incandescent bodies
(noun) the light produced by such an emission
29. Melancholy
(noun) a gloomy state of mind, especially when habitual or prolonged; depression
(noun) sober thoughtfulness; pensiveness
30. Mercurial
(adjective) changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic
Nefarious
31. Mitigate
(verb) to lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness, or pain; moderate
(verb) to make less severe
32. Nefarious
(adjective) extremely wicked or villainous; iniquitous
33. Onomatopoeia
(noun) the formation of a word, as cuckoo, meow, honk, or boom, by imitation of a sound made by or associated with its referent
34. Persnickety
(adjective) overparticular; fussy
(adjective) snobbish or having the aloof attitude of a snob
35. Phosphorous
(adjective) containing trivalent phosphorus (a solid, nonmetallic element existing in at least three allotropic forms . . . the element is used in forming smoke screens, its compounds are used in matches and phosphate fertilizers, and it is a necessary constituent of plant and animal life in bones, nerves, and embryos)
36. Picturesque
(adjective) visually charming or quaint, as if resembling or suitable for a painting
(adjective) (of writing, speech, etc.) strikingly graphic or vivid; creating detailed mental images
37. Plebeian
(adjective) belonging or pertaining to the common people
(adjective) of, relating to, or belonging to the Ancient Roman plebs
(adjective) common, commonplace, or vulgar
38. Quadrinomial
(adjective) consisting of four terms
39. Quintessential
(adjective) of the pure and essential essence of something
(adjective) of or relating to the most perfect embodiment of something
40. Rambunctious
(adjective) difficult to control or handle; wildly boisterous
(adjective) turbulently active and noisy
Reptilian
41. Reptilian
(noun) a reptile
(adjective) groveling, debased, or despicable; contemptible
42. Sabotage
(noun) any underhand interference with production, work, etc. in a plant, factory, etc. as by enemy agents during wartime or by employees during a trade dispute
43. Sanctimonious
(adjective) making a hypocritical show of religious devotion, piety, righteousness, etc.
44. Scrupulous
(adjective) having scruples, or moral or ethical standards; having or showing a strict regard for what one considers right; principled
45. Serendipity
(noun) an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident
(noun) good fortune; luck
46. Serpentine
(adjective) of, characteristic of, or resembling a serpent, as in form or movement
(adjective) shrewd, wily, or cunning
47. Silhouette
(noun) a two-dimensional representation of the outline of an object, as a cutout or configurational drawing, uniformly filled in with black, especially a black-paper, miniature cutout of the outlines of a person's face in profile
(noun) the outline or general shape of something
48. Sinister
(adjective) threatening or portending evil, harm, or trouble; ominous
(adjective) bad, evil, base, or wicked; fell
49. Statuesque
(adjective) like or suggesting a statue, as in massive or majestic dignity, grace, or beauty
50. Stoicism
(noun) a systematic philosophy, dating from around 300 B.C., that held the principles of logical thought to reflect a cosmic reason instantiated in nature
(noun) (lowercase) conduct conforming to the precepts of the Stoics, as repression of emotion and indifference to pleasure or pain
Whimsical
51. Synergistic
(adjective) pertaining to, characteristic of, or resembling synergy (the interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements, contributions, etc.; synergism
52. Tectonic
(adjective) of or relating to building or construction; constructive; architectural
(adjective) pertaining to the structure of the earth's crust
53. Totalitarian
(adjective) of or relating to a centralized government that does not tolerate parties of differing opinion and that exercises dictatorial control over many aspects of life
(adjective) exercising control over the freedom, will, or thought of others; authoritarian; autocratic
54. Trapezoid
(noun) a quadrilateral plane figure having two parallel and two nonparallel sides
(noun) a bone in the wrist that articulates with the metacarpal bone of the forefinger
55. Ubiquitous
(adjective) existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time; omnipresent
56. Vermillion
(noun) a brilliant scarlet red
57. Villainous
(adjective) having a cruel, wicked, malicious nature or character
(adjective) of, relating to, or befitting a villain
58. Whimsical
(adjective) given to whimsy or fanciful notions; capricious
(adjective) of the nature of or proceeding from whimsy, as thoughts or actions
(adjective) erratic; unpredictable
59. Wizardry
(noun) the art, skill, or accomplishments of a wizard
60. Zigzag
(noun) a line, course, or progression characterized by sharp turns first to one side and then to the other
(adjective) proceeding or formed in a zigzag
Fun Words Starting With Z
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
Zaps | Destroy or obliterate |
Zarf | A holder, usually of ornamental metal, for a coffee cup without a handle |
Zebu | A species or subspecies of domestic cattle originating in South Asia |
Zeda | An example of a zeda is the car used to patrol the streets of a city |
Zerk | A fitting often found on a wheel to allow lubrication |
Zyme | An enzyme or the origin of an old medical theory that many contagious diseases were caused by enzymes that fermented in the body |
Zonk | Hit or strike |
Ziti | Pasta in the form of tubes resembling large macaroni |
Zizz | A whizzing or buzzing sound |
Zeks | An inmate of a forced-labor camp |
Silly Words
The English language is one of the strangest languages out there. English contains contradicting rules, incredibly unique words, and confusing idioms. It's an easy language to be confused by or to misuse in ironic ways. Let's explore some of the craziest words in our living language!
Silliest and Funniest Words to Say
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
Hifalutin | Pretentious, fancy people |
Squelch | A soft, sucking sound such as that made by walking heavily through mud |
Pitter-patter | A rapid succession of light sounds or beats |
Cooties | A children's term for an imaginary germ or repellent quality transmitted by obnoxious or slovenly people |
Aardvark | A nocturnal, burrowing mammal with long ears, a tubular snout, and a long, extensible tongue that feeds on ants and termites |
Thesaurus | A reference work that lists words grouped together according to similarity of meaning |
Gibberish | Unintelligible or meaningless speech or writing; nonsense |
Stupendous | Extremely impressive |
Whatnot | An item or items that are not identified but are felt to have something in common with items already named |
Noggin | A person's head |
Akimbo | With hands on the hips and elbows turned otuward |
Bologna | A large, smoked, seasoned sausage made of various meats, especially beef and pork |
Whippersnapper | A young, inexperienced person considered to be presumptuous or overconfident |
Whittle | Carve (wood) into an object by repeatedly cutting small slices from it |
Balderdash | Senseless talk or writing; nonsense |
Lollygag | Spend time aimlessly; idle |
Spaghettification | The process by which (in some theories) an object would be stretched and ripped apart by gravitational forces upon falling into a black hole |
Pumpernickle | Dark, dense German bread made from coarsely ground whole-grain rye |
Knickerbocker | A New Yorker |
Pantaloons | A man's close-fitting garment for the hips and legs, worm especially in the 19th century; trousers |
Snickerdoodle | A soft cookie made with flour, butter, sugar, and eggs and rolled in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar before baking |
Jibber-jabber | Foolish or worthless talk; nonsense |
Commonly Misused Words
We're all guilty of using a word the wrong way from time to time
(myself included). It's the words that we think we're using correctly that wreak the most havoc.
We throw around the wrong words in meetings, e-mails, and important documents. To anyone who knows how these words work, reading these messages is infuriating. Let's explore some of these words.
Most Commonly Misused Words
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
Accept | Consent to receive (a thing offered) |
Affect | Have an effect on; make a difference to |
Ironic | Happening in the opposite way as what is expected, and typically causing wry amusement |
Et cetera | Indicating that a list is too tedious to give in full |
Gibe | An insulting or mocking remark; a taunt |
Cue | A thing said or done that serves as a signal to an actor or other performer to enter or to begin their speech or performance |
Adverse | Preventing success or development; harmful; unfavorable |
Enervate | To sap or weaken |
Nonplussed | Stunned; bewildered |
Parameter | A variable |
Awkward Words
When you poll a group of people on the "most disgusting words," moist always wins in a landslide. In fact, it's the most universally hated word in the English language. For a word to be truly objectionable, it shouldn't just sound disgusting. In fact, there's a formula for a disgusting word.
To determine why a word seems disgusting, make sure it contains phonetically abrasive letters like "b," "g," "m," "u," and "o," which you'll find to be common among the most hated words. Let's take a look at a few of these disgusting words.
Most Awkward Words
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
Moist | Slightly wet; damp or humid |
Bottom | The lowest point or part; buttocks |
Squatting | To sit in a low or crouching position with the legs drawn up closely beneath or in front of the body |
Spelunking | The exploration of caves, especially as a hobby |
Cockamamy | An altered form of the term decalcomania, which denotes a process of transferring pictures and designs from specially prepared paper to surfaces such as glass or porcelain |
Cumbersome | Large or heavy and therefore difficult to carry or use; unwieldy |
Lugubrious | Looking or sounding sad and dismal |
Gurgle | To make a hollow bubbling sound like that made by water running out of a bottle |
Curd | A soft, white substance formed when milk sours, used as the basis for cheese |
Slurp | To eat (or drink) something with a loud, sloppy sucking noise |
Cool Old Words
Language changes over time. Words and phrases will always come and go. In many cases, there is a good reason for words leaving our vocabulary. These words are no longer in everyday use or have lost a particular meaning in current usage (but are sometimes used to impart an old-fashioned flavor to historical novels). Here are ten old English words and slang terms that are fun to say and should never have left us in the first place.
Cool Old English Words
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
Bedward | Heading for bed |
Billingsgate | Abusive language and curse words |
Crapulous | Feeling ill as a result of too much eating or drinking |
Fudgel | The act of giving the impression you are working, when really you are doing nothing |
Groke | To stare intently at someone who is eating in the hope that they will give you some |
Hugger-mugger | Secretive or covert hehavior |
Jargogle | To confuse or jumble |
Mumpsimus | An incorrect view on something that a person refuses to let go of |
Quagswag | To shake something backward and forward |
Trumpery | Things that look good but are basically worthless |
Slang Words
If you’re a teenager, it might not even occur to you that the words you say are completely foreign to your parents. This is the list for you. Slang is very informal language. It can offend people if it is used about other people or outside a group of people who know each other well. We usually use slang in speaking rather than in professional writing.
Slang normally refers to particular words and meanings. However, they can also include longer expressions and idioms. Here are fun examples of slang words throughout the decades!
Slang Words Throughout the Decades
| Word | Definition | Decade |
|---|---|---|
23 skiddoo | To get going; move along; leave; scram | 1920s |
The cat's pajamas | The best; the height of excellence | 1920s |
Hotsy-totsy | Perfect | 1920s |
Girl Friday | A secretary or female assistant | 1930s |
Blockbuster | A huge success | 1940s |
Boo-boo | A mistake; wound | 1950s |
Groovy | Cool; hip; excellent | 1960s |
Mind-blowing | Unbelievable; originally an expression for the effects of hallucinogenic drugs | 1970s |
Fly | Cool; very hip | 1980s |
Homeboy | A friend or buddy | 1990s |
Peeps | Friends; people | 2000s |
On fleek | Smooth; nice; sweet | 2010s |
Extra | Doing the most for no apparent reason | 2010s |
Adulting | Doing anything traditionally viewed as adult behavior | 2010s |
Cap | When something is untrue; to lie | 2020s |
Stan | Combination of "stalker" and "fan"; to be obsessed with someone | 2020s |
Are there any words I missed? Let me know in the comments!
Jp on August 24, 2020:
Wow, thanks for this! I shall be sure to use them in my writings.
