Advanced Words That Start With B

Advanced Words That Start With B

The letter ‘B’ is unique compared to most other letters—do you know why? It’s one of the few letters where the phonetic sound differs from its name. This article provides several lists of words that begin with ‘B’ to help you grasp its pronunciation and expand your vocabulary.

List of Advanced Words That Start With B

Advanced Words That Start With B with meaning and examples

Babble

• Meaning: To talk rapidly and continuously in a foolish or incomprehensible way.
• Example: The child began to babble excitedly about his new toy.

Bacchanalian

• Meaning: Relating to or resembling the revelry of the ancient Roman festival Bacchanalia; characterized by drunkenness and wild festivities.
• Example: The party took on a bacchanalian atmosphere as the night went on.

Baffle

• Meaning: To perplex or confuse someone.
• Example: The complex puzzle baffled even the most experienced players.

Baleful

• Meaning: Threatening harm; menacing.
• Example: His baleful glare made it clear that he was not pleased with the outcome.

Balk

• Meaning: To hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking.
• Example: She balked at the idea of moving to a new city without a job lined up.

Ballast

• Meaning: A heavy material placed in the bottom of a ship or other vessel to provide stability.
• Example: The ship’s ballast was adjusted to ensure it remained upright in the rough seas.

Banal

• Meaning: So lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring.
• Example: The movie’s plot was so banal that it failed to captivate the audience.

Bane

• Meaning: A cause of great distress or annoyance.
• Example: The noise from the construction site was the bane of her peaceful mornings.

Baneful

• Meaning: Causing ruin or harm.
• Example: The baneful effects of the disease were evident throughout the community.

Baroque

• Meaning: Relating to the highly decorative and extravagant style of architecture and art that flourished in Europe from the early 17th to the mid-18th century.
• Example: The baroque palace was adorned with intricate sculptures and ornate detailing.

Barrage

• Meaning: A concentrated artillery bombardment over a wide area; a rapid, continuous outpouring.
• Example: The troops faced a barrage of enemy fire during the battle.

Bastion

• Meaning: A stronghold or fortress; a place or system in which something is defended or upheld.
• Example: The library was a bastion of knowledge in the small town.

Bate

• Meaning: To reduce the force or intensity of something.
• Example: The manager decided to bate his enthusiasm after the initial excitement died down.

Bauble

• Meaning: A small, showy trinket or decoration.
• Example: The Christmas tree was adorned with colorful baubles.

Bawdy

• Meaning: Dealing with sexual matters in a comical way; indecent.
• Example: The comedian’s bawdy jokes were met with mixed reactions from the audience.

Beatific

• Meaning: Blissfully happy.
• Example: She had a beatific smile on her face as she walked down the aisle.

Beatitude

• Meaning: Supreme blessedness or happiness; a set of teachings by Jesus on the mount.
• Example: The sermon was filled with beatitudes that inspired the congregation.

Bedlam

• Meaning: A scene of uproar and confusion.
• Example: The auction turned into a bedlam of shouting and frantic bidding.

Befuddle

• Meaning: To make someone unable to think clearly; to confuse.
• Example: The complex instructions befuddled everyone who tried to follow them.

Beget

• Meaning: To cause or bring about.
• Example: His innovative ideas begot a new era of technological advancement.

Beguile

• Meaning: To charm or enchant someone, often in a deceptive way.
• Example: She managed to beguile the audience with her captivating performance.

Belabor

• Meaning: To argue or elaborate in excessive detail; to attack or criticize.
• Example: The speaker belabored the point to the extent that it became tedious.

Beleaguer

• Meaning: To besiege or surround with difficulties.
• Example: The company was beleaguered by financial problems and legal issues.

Belie

• Meaning: To contradict or show something to be false.
• Example: His cheerful demeanor belied the stress he was under.

Bellicose

• Meaning: Demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.
• Example: The bellicose leader’s speeches often incited conflict.

Belligerent

• Meaning: Hostile and aggressive.
• Example: The belligerent tone of his voice indicated that he was ready for a fight.

Bemoan

• Meaning: To express discontent or sorrow over something.
• Example: She bemoaned the loss of her favorite café, which had closed down.

Bemuse

• Meaning: To confuse or bewilder.
• Example: The complicated instructions bemused the new employees.

Benediction

• Meaning: A blessing or prayer for divine protection.
• Example: The priest gave a benediction at the end of the wedding ceremony.

Benefactor

• Meaning: A person who gives money or other help to a person or cause.
• Example: The scholarship was funded by a generous benefactor.

Beneficence

• Meaning: The quality of being kind or charitable.
• Example: Her beneficence was evident in the many charitable works she supported.

Beneficent

• Meaning: Doing or producing good; charitable.
• Example: The beneficent actions of the organization helped improve the lives of many.

Benevolent

• Meaning: Well-meaning and kindly.
• Example: The benevolent leader was loved by all for his generosity and fairness.

Benighted

• Meaning: In a state of moral or intellectual ignorance; darkness or obscurity.
• Example: The remote village was benighted until the arrival of modern education.

Benign

• Meaning: Gentle and kindly; not harmful.
• Example: The doctor assured her that the tumor was benign and not a cause for concern.

Bequeath

• Meaning: To leave something to someone in a will; to pass on.
• Example: She bequeathed her jewelry collection to her granddaughter.

Berate

• Meaning: To scold or criticize angrily.
• Example: The manager berated the team for missing the deadline.

Bereave

• Meaning: To be deprived of a loved one through a profound absence, especially due to the loved one’s death.
• Example: The family was bereaved after the sudden passing of their father.

Bereft

• Meaning: Deprived or lacking something, especially a non-material asset.
• Example: She felt bereft of hope after the project failed.

Beseech

• Meaning: To ask urgently and fervently to do something; to implore.
• Example: He beseeched the judge for a lenient sentence.

Beset

• Meaning: To trouble or threaten persistently.
• Example: The company was beset by financial difficulties.

Besmirch

• Meaning: To damage the reputation of someone or something in the opinion of others.
• Example: The scandal besmirched the politician’s previously clean image.

Bestial

• Meaning: Savage; brutal.
• Example: The bestial behavior of the criminals shocked the community.

Bestow

• Meaning: To present an honor, right, or gift to someone.
• Example: The university bestowed an honorary degree upon the distinguished author.

Betoken

• Meaning: To be a sign or indication of something.
• Example: The dark clouds betokened an impending storm.

Betray

• Meaning: To expose someone to danger by treacherously giving information to an enemy; to reveal unintentionally.
• Example: His nervousness betrayed his true feelings.

Bevy

• Meaning: A large group of people or things of a particular kind.
• Example: A bevy of reporters gathered outside the courthouse.

Bewilder

• Meaning: To cause someone to become perplexed and confused.
• Example: The maze of streets bewildered even the most experienced city dwellers.

Bewitch

• Meaning: To enchant and delight someone to the point of distraction.
• Example: Her beauty seemed to bewitch everyone she met.

Bibliophile

• Meaning: A person who collects or has a great love of books.
• Example: The bibliophile spent hours browsing rare bookshops.

Bifurcate

• Meaning: To divide into two branches or forks.
• Example: The path bifurcated into two different trails through the forest.

Bigoted

• Meaning: Having or revealing an obstinate belief in the superiority of one’s own opinions and a prejudiced intolerance of the opinions of others.
• Example: The bigoted comments made during the meeting were met with condemnation.

Bilious

• Meaning: Affected by or associated with nausea or vomiting; peevish or irritable.
• Example: His bilious temperament made him difficult to work with.

Bilk

• Meaning: To cheat or defraud.
• Example: The scam artist bilked thousands of dollars from unsuspecting victims.

Bivouac

• Meaning: A temporary camp or shelter, especially in the open air.
• Example: The soldiers set up a bivouac for the night in the wilderness.

Blanch

• Meaning: To make white or pale by extracting color; to grow pale from shock or fear.
• Example: She blanched at the sight of the gruesome accident.

Blandish

• Meaning: To coax or persuade someone through flattery or gentle talk.
• Example: He tried to blandish his boss to get a promotion.

Blaspheme

• Meaning: To speak irreverently about God or sacred things.
• Example: The act of blaspheming in the church caused an uproar among the congregation.

Blatant

• Meaning: Done openly and unashamedly; obvious.
• Example: His blatant disregard for the rules was evident to everyone.

Blather

• Meaning: To talk long-windedly without making much sense.
• Example: He continued to blather about his achievements long after the point had been made.

Blazon

• Meaning: To display prominently or vividly; to announce or proclaim.
• Example: The company blazoned its logo across all its marketing materials.

Bleak

• Meaning: Lacking in warmth, life, or kindliness; grim.
• Example: The weather was bleak, with grey skies and biting winds.

Blight

• Meaning: A plant disease or any cause of impairment or destruction.
• Example: The blight devastated the crop yield, leading to a poor harvest.

Blithe

• Meaning: Showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper.
• Example: Her blithe attitude towards the serious issue was troubling.

Bloated

• Meaning: Swollen with fluid or gas; excessively inflated.
• Example: After the feast, he felt bloated and uncomfortable.

Bludgeon

• Meaning: To beat someone repeatedly with a heavy object; to coerce or bully.
• Example: He tried to bludgeon his opponent into submission.

Blunder

• Meaning: A careless or foolish mistake.
• Example: The accountant’s blunder led to a significant financial loss.

Blunt

• Meaning: Not sharp; having a dull edge or point; straightforward and frank.
• Example: His blunt remarks about the project’s shortcomings were hard to ignore.

Bluster

• Meaning: To talk or act with noisy swaggering threats; to be windy or stormy.
• Example: The politician’s bluster did little to convince voters of his competence.

Bogus

• Meaning: Not genuine; fake.
• Example: The document turned out to be a bogus certificate.

Boisterous

• Meaning: Noisy, energetic, and cheerful.
• Example: The boisterous laughter of the children filled the playground.

Bolster

• Meaning: To support or strengthen; a long pillow or cushion.
• Example: She used a cushion to bolster her back while sitting at her desk.

Bombard

• Meaning: To attack continuously with bombs or artillery; to assail persistently.
• Example: The town was bombarded with artillery fire during the siege.

Bombastic

• Meaning: High-sounding but with little meaning; inflated.
• Example: His bombastic speech was full of grandiose promises but lacked substance.

Bonhomie

• Meaning: Cheerful friendliness; geniality.
• Example: The party was filled with bonhomie and laughter.

Boon

• Meaning: A thing that is helpful or beneficial.
• Example: The new policy was a boon for small business owners.

Boorish

• Meaning: Rough and bad-mannered; coarse.
• Example: His boorish behavior at the dinner party was noted by all the guests.

Botch

• Meaning: To carry out a task badly or carelessly; a botched job.
• Example: The repair was a botch, leading to more problems in the long run.

Bountiful

• Meaning: Generously given; plentiful.
• Example: The garden produced a bountiful harvest of vegetables.

Bourgeois

• Meaning: Relating to the middle class; typically characterized by materialism and conventional attitudes.
• Example: The novel critiqued the bourgeois values of its time.

Bowdlerize

• Meaning: To remove material considered improper or offensive from a text.
• Example: The editor bowdlerized the book to make it suitable for young readers.

Boycott

• Meaning: To withdraw from commercial or social relations with a country, organization, or person as a protest or punishment.
• Example: They decided to boycott the company due to its unethical practices.

Brackish

• Meaning: Slightly salty; a mix of fresh and saltwater.
• Example: The brackish water in the estuary was home to various species of fish.

Braggart

• Meaning: A person who boasts about their achievements or possessions.
• Example: The braggart’s constant boasting about his wealth became tiresome.

Brandish

• Meaning: To wave or flourish something, especially a weapon, as a threat or in anger.
• Example: The soldier brandished his sword to intimidate his opponents.

Bravado

• Meaning: A show of boldness or confidence intended to impress or intimidate.
• Example: His bravado did not fool anyone; we could all see he was nervous.

Brawn

• Meaning: Physical strength and muscle.
• Example: The bodybuilder’s brawn was evident in his powerful physique.

Brazen

• Meaning: Bold and without shame.
• Example: Her brazen disregard for the rules shocked everyone.

Breach

• Meaning: A violation or breaking of a law, agreement, or code of conduct.
• Example: The breach of contract led to a lengthy legal battle.

Breadth

• Meaning: The distance or measurement from side to side of something; width.
• Example: The breadth of the room was impressive, allowing for a large gathering.

Brevity

• Meaning: Conciseness in speech or writing.
• Example: The brevity of his speech made it all the more impactful.

Bridle

• Meaning: The headgear used to control a horse; to restrain or control.
• Example: She pulled on the bridle to guide the horse along the path.

Bristle

• Meaning: Short, stiff hairs or fibers; to react angrily or defensively.
• Example: The bristles of the brush were too hard for the delicate surface.

Broach

• Meaning: To raise a difficult subject for discussion; to open or pierce.
• Example: He hesitated to broach the topic of salary during the interview.

Brocade

• Meaning: Richly decorative fabric with a raised pattern, typically with gold or silver thread.
• Example: The bride wore a gown made of intricate brocade.

Brogue

• Meaning: A strong accent or dialect; a type of shoe with decorative perforations.
• Example: His Irish brogue was unmistakable during our conversation.

Bromide

• Meaning: A trite or unoriginal idea or remark, intended to soothe or placate.
• Example: The speaker’s bromide did little to address the real issues at hand.

Brook

• Meaning: A small stream; to tolerate or endure.
• Example: He could not brook any further delay in the project’s timeline.

Browbeat

• Meaning: To intimidate or bully someone into doing something.
• Example: The manager tried to browbeat the staff into working overtime without pay.

Brusque

• Meaning: Abrupt or offhand in speech or manner.
• Example: His brusque response caught everyone off guard.

Bucolic

• Meaning: Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.
• Example: The artist’s painting depicted a bucolic scene of rolling hills and grazing sheep.

Buffoon

• Meaning: A ridiculous but amusing person; a clown.
• Example: He acted like a buffoon, making everyone laugh with his silly antics.

Bulbous

• Meaning: Fat, round, or bulging.
• Example: The bulbous nose of the character gave him a comical appearance.

Bullion

• Meaning: Gold or silver in bulk before coining or valued by weight.
• Example: The treasure chest was filled with gold bullion.

Bulwark

• Meaning: A defensive wall; something serving as a principal defense.
• Example: The fortress was a bulwark against enemy attacks.

Bumptious

• Meaning: Self-assertive or proud to an irritating degree.
• Example: His bumptious behavior made him unpopular among his colleagues.

Bungler

• Meaning: A person who habitually bungles things; an amateur.
• Example: The bungler managed to mess up every task he was given.

Buoyant

• Meaning: Able to float; cheerful and optimistic.
• Example: Her buoyant personality made her the life of the party.

Bureaucracy

• Meaning: A system of government or management where decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.
• Example: The project was delayed by the endless bureaucracy of the government offices.

Burgeon

• Meaning: Begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish.
• Example: The tech industry continues to burgeon with new innovations.

Burlesque

• Meaning: An absurd or comically exaggerated imitation of something, especially in a literary or dramatic work.
• Example: The play was a burlesque of the political scandals of the time.

Burnish

• Meaning: To polish something by rubbing; to enhance or perfect.
• Example: She burnished the silverware until it shone.

Buttress

• Meaning: A projecting support of stone or brick built against a wall; to support or strengthen.
• Example: The ancient cathedral was buttressed by massive stone pillars.

Bygone

• Meaning: Belonging to an earlier time; past.
• Example: The museum displayed artifacts from bygone eras.

Byzantine

• Meaning: Excessively complex; relating to the Byzantine Empire.
• Example: The byzantine regulations made it nearly impossible to get approval.

Backbone

• Meaning: The chief support of a system or organization; courage or strength of character.
• Example: The dedicated team was the backbone of the company’s success.

Brimstone

• Meaning: Sulfur; associated with fiery or passionate rhetoric, often in a religious context.
• Example: The preacher’s brimstone sermons were both feared and respected.

Brio

• Meaning: Vigor or vivacity in performance or style.
• Example: The dancer performed with such brio that the audience was left breathless.

Brisk

• Meaning: Active, fast, and energetic; cool and fresh.
• Example: They took a brisk walk in the morning to start their day.

Brittle

• Meaning: Hard but liable to break or shatter easily.
• Example: The old book’s pages had become brittle with age.

Bungalow

• Meaning: A low house, with a broad front porch, having either no upper floor or upper rooms set in the roof.
• Example: They spent the summer in a charming bungalow by the beach.

Bureaucratic

• Meaning: Relating to the business of running an organization, or government.
• Example: The bureaucratic process was slow and tedious, frustrating those involved.

Burgeoning

• Meaning: Beginning to grow or increase rapidly; flourishing.
• Example: The burgeoning market for electric vehicles is reshaping the auto industry.

Burrow

• Meaning: A hole or tunnel dug by a small animal; to dig a hole or tunnel.
• Example: The rabbit quickly burrowed into the ground to escape the predator.

Bustle

• Meaning: To move in an energetic or busy manner; noisy, energetic activity.
• Example: The city was alive with the bustle of the morning rush hour.