The English language has hundreds of thousands of cool unique words, with new words being created regularly. Some of these words might seem weird when you first encounter them, whether due to their pronunciation, their spelling, or a meaning that takes you by surprise.
There’s a joy and satisfaction in discovering a weird word that accurately describes what you intended. Whether you’re searching for weird words to describe someone’s behavior or to articulate an inexplicable emotion, growing your lexicon of weird words is handy.
What is a weird word?
What defines a “weird word” is subjective. Here are a few reasons a word might get on your list of weird words:
It looks weird: You might find the word weird because it’s among the trickiest words to spell. Perhaps the way the word is spelled looks nothing like how it sounds phonetically. Conversely, commonly misspelled words might be perplexing enough to be deemed weird.
It sounds weird: When spoken aloud, the word might sound playful or absurd or might literally elicit a chuckle.
It’s not commonly used: Some words fall into disuse and become archaic. Words that are rarely used in writing or everyday speech might be perceived as weird.
It has an unexpected meaning: Weird words also have the power to shock or delight once you discover their true definition.
It has an interesting origin: The genesis of a word can be curious and intriguing enough to add it to your list of weird words.
22 weird words in English
To help you build your vocabulary of weird words, we’ve pulled together a few examples of odd words you might not have heard before.
1 Ballyrag
Pronounced: bally-rag
Part of speech: verb
Meaning: To bully or annoyingly tease someone
“His brother ballyragged him for losing the game for the third time.”
2 Buttress
Pronounced: but-tress
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: A component that provides stability, strength, or support
“The cathedral’s centuries-old walls were recently reinforced with strong buttresses.”
3 Catawampus
Pronounced: cat-a-wam-pus
Part of speech: adjective
Meaning: Standing askew or awry
“In the aftermath of the earthquake, the once straight fence stood catawampus, jutting out at odd angles from the cement.”
4 Chockablock
Pronounced: chock-a-block
Part of speech: adjective
Meaning: Packed, brimming; very full
“The Super Bowl arena was chockablock with fans scrambling to find their seats before kickoff.”
5 Dongle
Pronounced: dongle
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: A small electronic device to connect a computer. Sometimes used as an adapter for other devices or for added features.
“You need a dongle to charge your smartphone to your laptop; otherwise the cables aren’t compatible.”
6 Frippery
Pronounced: frip-pery
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: Clothing or finery that’s seen as frivolous or foolish
“Their vests were ostentatious, gilded with golden thread and frippery that jingled as the group marched through the crowd.”
7 Gambo
Pronounced: gam-bo
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: A low, flat farm cart
“She piled bales of hay onto the gambo and made her way to the stables.”
8 Hootenanny
Pronounced: hootn-Annie
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: An informal gathering with folk music
“The hootenanny had five string bands, decorations, and a big dance floor.”
9 Hullabaloo
Pronounced: hulla-buh-loo
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: A commotion
“The appearance of the stranger at the door created a hullabaloo among the dinner guests.”
10 Innuendo
Pronounced: in-nu-en-do
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: an insinuation, particularly one that veils an opinion about a person’s character
“The comedian’s subtle innuendo had the audience laughing and in near tears.”
11 Kenspeckle
Pronounced: ken-speck-le
Part of speech: adjective
Meaning: Conspicuous
“With its towering spires piercing the sky, the kenspeckle landmark could be seen from miles away.”
12 Lollygag
Pronounced: lol-ly-gag
Part of speech: verb
Meaning: Wasting time, foolishly causing delay
“Keep lollygagging with cleaning up your room, and you’ll never make it in time to the party.”
13 Oomph
Pronounced: um-ph
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: To give something punch or gusto; personal charm or appeal
“The special effects added oomph to the band’s performance.”
14 Popple
Pronounced: pop-ple
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: Rough and choppy waters, typically referring to seafaring conditions
“The water began to popple as the wind picked up on the bay.”
15 Sked
Pronounced: s-ked
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: Schedule
“We need to check the sked to see when the next train arrives.”
16 Syzygy
Pronounced: sy-zy-ghee
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: When three celestial bodies are almost aligned in a straight line
“Next month, the Earth, moon, and sun will be in syzygy, creating a total solar eclipse.”
17 Ragtag
Pronounced: rag-tag
Part of speech: adjective
Meaning: Untidy, disorganized, or varied in character
“The militia was made up of a ragtag group pulled from the surrounding communities.”
18 Unked
Pronounced: un-ked
Part of speech: adjective
Meaning: Strange, weird, ghastly
“The old, unked manor had an eerie atmosphere that seemed cloistered in time.”
19 Verklempt
Pronounced: ver-Klemp-t
Part of speech: adjective
Meaning: Seized with overwhelming emotion
“She became verklempt with emotion upon receiving the unexpected and thoughtful gift.”
20 Whiffler
Pronounced: whiffler
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: A person who dodges arguments through evasion; changes course often
“The political rally featured a charismatic whiffler, skillfully managing the crowd to maintain their energy and enthusiasm for the candidate.”
21 Xeric
Pronounced: zer-ic
Part of speech: adjective
Meaning: Needing only minimal moisture
“Cacti is a xeric plant that’s well-adapted to arid environments and periods of drought.”
22 Zonk
Pronounced: z-onk
Part of speech: verb
Meaning: To stun or strike; pass out
“After working the graveyard shift for the first time, he felt completely zonked and decided to take a power nap.”
Use more weird words
Experimenting with new and unusual words can enhance your writing and speech. Whether by weaving in uncommon but memorable words in your writing or by using an odd word as a conversation starter, circulating weird words can bring people and thoughts together.
