50+ Unfamiliar words with meaning and example

Unfamiliar words with meaning and example

Do you ever come across words that you’ve never seen before? Words that seem to dance on the page, their meanings elusive and intriguing? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Expanding your vocabulary is a journey, not a destination. Let’s embark on that journey together by exploring some unfamiliar words, their meanings, and how to use them in sentences.

Unfamiliar words with meaning and example

• Aberration
  • Meaning: A departure from what is normal or expected.
  • Example: The sudden snowstorm in April was an aberration of the typical spring weather.
• Alacrity
  • Meaning: Eagerness or enthusiasm.
  • Example: She accepted the job offer with alacrity, excited for the new opportunity.
• Belligerent
  • Meaning: Hostile or aggressive.
  • Example: His belligerent attitude often led to arguments with colleagues.
• Capricious
  • Meaning: Impulsive or unpredictable.
  • Example: Her capricious decisions made her friends hesitant to rely on her.
• Conundrum
  • Meaning: A difficult problem or puzzle.
  • Example: The mystery of the lost keys was a conundrum for the whole family.
• Diaphanous
  • Meaning: Light, delicate, and translucent.
  • Example: The diaphanous curtains let in the soft morning light.
• Ephemeral
  • Meaning: Lasting a very short time.
  • Example: Their summer romance was intense but ephemeral.
• Flabbergasted
  • Meaning: Extremely surprised or shocked.
  • Example: She was flabbergasted when she won the lottery.
• Garrulous
  • Meaning: Excessively talkative.
  • Example: The garrulous waiter talked about the menu for nearly half an hour.
• Halcyon
  • Meaning: Denoting a period of time that was peaceful and happy.
  • Example: He often reminisced about the halcyon days of his youth.
• Iconoclast
  • Meaning: A person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions.
  • Example: As an iconoclast, she frequently challenged traditional practices.
• Juxtapose
  • Meaning: To place things side by side for comparison.
  • Example: The exhibit juxtaposed modern art with classical pieces.
• Labyrinthine
  • Meaning: Complex and maze-like.
  • Example: The city’s labyrinthine streets were confusing to navigate.
• Lugubrious
  • Meaning: Looking or sounding sad and dismal.
  • Example: He had a lugubrious expression after hearing the bad news.
• Melancholy
  • Meaning: A feeling of sadness, often without a clear reason.
  • Example: The gray sky added to her sense of melancholy.
• Nefarious
  • Meaning: Wicked or criminal.
  • Example: The villains in the story had a nefarious plan to take over the world.
• Obfuscate
  • Meaning: To make something unclear or confusing.
  • Example: The politician’s evasive answers only served to obfuscate the issue.
• Penchant
  • Meaning: A strong liking for something.
  • Example: She has a penchant for collecting vintage clothes.
• Quixotic
  • Meaning: Extremely idealistic and unrealistic.
  • Example: His plan to save the world seemed quixotic but admirable.
• Redolent
  • Meaning: Strongly reminiscent or suggestive of something.
  • Example: The house was redolent of fresh-baked cookies.
• Serendipity
  • Meaning: The occurrence of fortunate events by chance.
  • Example: Finding the old photograph was a moment of serendipity.
• Taciturn
  • Meaning: Reserved or uncommunicative.
  • Example: His taciturn nature made him hard to get to know.
• Umbrage
  • Meaning: Offense or annoyance.
  • Example: She took umbrage at his rude remarks.
• Vicarious
  • Meaning: Experienced through someone else’s actions or feelings.
  • Example: She felt a vicarious thrill watching the daring stunt.
• Winsome
  • Meaning: Charming in a childlike or innocent way.
  • Example: Her winsome smile made everyone around her feel at ease.
• Xenophobic
  • Meaning: Having a fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers.
  • Example: His xenophobic remarks were offensive to the international guests.
• Zephyr
  • Meaning: A gentle breeze.
  • Example: A refreshing zephyr blew through the open windows.
• Aplomb
  • Meaning: Self-confidence or assurance.
  • Example: She handled the unexpected situation with aplomb.
• Bucolic
  • Meaning: Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside.
  • Example: They enjoyed the bucolic landscape of rolling hills and farms.
• Cacophony
  • Meaning: A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
  • Example: The construction created a cacophony that disrupted our work.
• Debilitate
  • Meaning: To weaken or drain.
  • Example: The long illness debilitated her for months.
• Effervescent
  • Meaning: Bubbly, lively, or enthusiastic.
  • Example: Her effervescent personality made her popular.
• Felicity
  • Meaning: Happiness or bliss.
  • Example: They found great felicity in their new home.
• Gossamer
  • Meaning: Delicate and light.
  • Example: The gossamer fabric of her dress floated in the breeze.
• Hubris
  • Meaning: Excessive pride or self-confidence.
  • Example: His hubris ultimately led to his downfall.
• Ineffable
  • Meaning: Too great or extreme to be expressed in words.
  • Example: The beauty of the mountains was ineffable.
• Languid
  • Meaning: Lacking energy or enthusiasm.
  • Example: The hot weather made everyone feel languid.
• Mellifluous
  • Meaning: Sweet-sounding or musical.
  • Example: Her mellifluous voice soothed everyone in the room.
• Nepotism
  • Meaning: Favoritism shown to relatives.
  • Example: The CEO’s nepotism led to his family members being hired.
• Obdurate
  • Meaning: Stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion.
  • Example: Despite the evidence, he remained obdurate.
• Pernicious
  • Meaning: Harmful in a subtle way.
  • Example: The rumors spread in a pernicious manner.
• Quagmire
  • Meaning: A difficult or messy situation.
  • Example: The project turned into a financial quagmire.
• Rancor
  • Meaning: Bitterness or resentment.
  • Example: They parted with deep rancor and anger.
• Sycophant
  • Meaning: A person who flatters others for personal gain.
  • Example: He surrounded himself with sycophants who praised him.
• Transitory
  • Meaning: Temporary or short-lived.
  • Example: The feeling of happiness was transitory.
• Ubiquitous
  • Meaning: Present everywhere.
  • Example: Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern life.
• Vex
  • Meaning: To irritate or annoy.
  • Example: His constant questions began to vex her.
• Wistful
  • Meaning: Having a longing or yearning.
  • Example: She gave a wistful smile, thinking of the past.
• Yoke
  • Meaning: To join together or bind.
  • Example: They were yoked by their common interests.
• Zeitgeist
  • Meaning: The defining spirit or mood of a particular time.
  • Example: The music captured the zeitgeist of the 1980s.
• Oblique
  • Meaning: Not straightforward; indirect.
  • Example: He gave an oblique answer, avoiding the direct question.
• Petrichor
  • Meaning: The pleasant, earthy smell that accompanies the first rain after a long dry period.
  • Example: The petrichor after the summer rain was a welcome relief.
• Schadenfreude
  • Meaning: Pleasure derived from another person’s misfortune.
  • Example: Some people take schadenfreude in watching others fail.
• Epiphany
  • Meaning: A sudden, intuitive perception of reality or truth.
  • Example: He had an epiphany about his life’s purpose.
• Somnambulist
  • Meaning: A person who walks in sleep.
  • Example: The somnambulist wandered the halls, oblivious to his surroundings.

List of Unfamiliar Words

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