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About This Quiz
Calling anyone and everyone who considers themselves more than a bit of a wordsmith. For this tricky quiz, we've compiled some of the toughest words in the English language that begin and end with the same letter. Don't be fooled; we stayed away from the easy words like dad, mom and pup and really delved deep into some of the most obscure and compelling turns of phrase in the entire language.Â
Only those who got a near-perfect SAT score will even have a remote chance of beating this quiz, but everyone is welcome to go ahead and try! If you think that you have a comprehensive grasp of the English language and can tell us the meaning of every word, from calisthenic to rapier and everything in between, this quiz was made for you.Â
If you are able to get the majority of these questions right, you'll earn the right to bask in the warm glow of all of the bragging rights that you'll get. Most people don't have a shot at acing this tough vocabulary quiz, and those that do are real bonafide wordsmiths.Â
No peeking in the dictionary! If you think you have a million-dollar vocabulary, we want to see what you've got!Â
A select group of people
If you are an elite, you are part of a select group of people who are admired because they have special skills, an advantage or another desirable quality. "Elite" can have a negative connotation, however, if the word is used to make others feel inferior.
A cream-filled pastry
A popular brand of cereal
A synonym for book
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A subatomic particle
Neutrons are subatomic particles that cannot be seen by the naked human eye. They have no electronic charge, unlike protons or electrons, and they exist in just about every atomic nuclei.
Wheat-based bread
A weight loss supplement
A type of frog
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A specific strain of peas
A sweet and earthy root that is exceptionally healthy
Ginseng is a root vegetable that is wildly popular all over the world. It's quite healthy for you. It can be pickled and served alongside sushi, or ground up and added to foods or tea.
A large, round pumpkin
A type of soy milk
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A movement during the Baroque period
Fine china made only in Namibia
Having certain elephant-like qualities, like being large and clumsy
"Elephantine" is not a positive term. It is an adjective that refers to having elephant-like qualities, such as being large, awkward or clumsy. Elephantine is also an island in the Nile River.
A spa treatment involving elephant skin
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A type of seaweed
An abnormal growth in the colon
Polyps are abnormal growths often found in the colon, and they are generally not dangerous. Still, any polyps should be checked out by a doctor to make sure that they are completely benign.
Someone who speaks many languages
A gourmet dip
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A type of beagle
A method of sending packages between European countries
A natural or artificial lake used as a water supply
A reservoir is a natural or artificial lake that is used as a water supply for a municipality. However, a reservoir can also be a supply or source of something other than water — even a reservoir of knowledge.
One of Mozart's famous symphonies
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A type of bandage
The result of a very tough exam
Referring to intense exercise that works large muscle groups
Calisthenic is the singular form of calisthenics, a type of extremely intense exercise that involves working large muscle groups in deliberate movements. It is tough and effective.
An intricate stew of root vegetables
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An insulting remark
When you taunt someone, you deliberately provoke them through insults or challenges. Used as a noun, a taunt is an insulting remark designed to hurt or inspire anger in someone else.
Pulled tightly across
A type of tennis racket
A peace treaty between two previously warring nations
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A large suitcase able to carry 100 pounds of weight
A small item that doesn't have much monetary value
A trinket is a small item or piece of jewelry that might be sentimental but has little monetary value. A trinket is generally given as a token of affection between friends or romantic partners.
A specific type of Danish shoe
A miniature xylophone
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To make someone extremely happy
If you make someone extremely happy, you elate them. "Elate" is the present-tense verb to signify extreme happiness. It is most commonly used in its adjective form, "elated."
To raise a ship through a series of locks
A type of inline skating
A variety of corn cake
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A type of carnival ride
Deep-fried pickles served with mayonnaise
A large blue-footed bird
Without enthusiasm or motivation
If you lack enthusiasm, motivation or determination, you are lackadaisical. "Lackadaisical" is sometimes used to mean "lazy." This fun word is also a stand-in for laid-back and chill.
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To completely indulge in something pleasurable
We all like to wallow sometimes. Anyone who has ever settled into a long Netflix binge has wallowed in a pleasurable activity. Of course, we can also wallow in unhealthy things, such as self-pity.
A type of candle that melts slowly
A card game using aces and kings
A baby hippo
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The northernmost county in Alaska
A small watercraft propelled by a person with a paddle
If you love the great outdoors, you'll want to get your kayak out of storage and paddle down the river. This thin, self-propelled watercraft is a great way to get your exercise in.
A type of shish kabob
The official language of Antarctica
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To read a story
To brush your hair
To calm down
You will often hear the word "lull" used with "to sleep." It can also mean to calm someone down completely and quickly. As a noun, "lull" refers to a calm or uneventful period of time.
To feed dinner
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A system of Soviet Union labor camps
Gulag refers to the old Soviet Union system of labor camps. They were notoriously known for being difficult places to live, and many people died there. Today, it's slang for any labor camp.
A brand of diet soda
A sushi roll containing puffer fish
Spanish for "uncle"
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To run out of a maze
To face and fend off bullies in the schoolyard
To navigate through rough waters
To avoid or escape from something
If you successfully evade someone or something, you have successfully avoided or escaped from them. You can evade not only specific things, like enemies, but also abstract things, like detection.
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Pertaining to cats
A type of monarchy
Exploring the microcosmic natural world
Something very unfortunate or disastrous
If something is catastrophic, it is highly unfortunate or disastrous. The noun form of the word is "catastrophe," which refers to a massive natural event that causes widespread loss of life or property.
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They got knocked down a rank.
Nobody wants to be demoted, because the term means that you are kicked down a rank or two. Demotion, the opposite of promotion, generally happens after a poor performance review or as a disciplinary action.
They were praised publicly.
They were chosen for an award.
They were pushed into the ground.
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A type of skirt steak
An instrument similar to a harmonica
A fleet of battle-ready ships
An armada is a fleet of battle-ready ships. The most famous armada in the world was the Spanish Armada, which lost to the British in 1588, changing the power dynamics of the world.
A buttery roll
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A crystal ball
Hypnosis
A deck of cards used for fortune telling
"Tarot" refers to a deck of cards that is used to tell the future. Each card comes in one of the four suits — pentacles, cups, swords or wands. Tarot is popular all over the world.
A ceremony involving parrots
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Being very gifted athletically
Having a belief in certain supernatural elements
People who are superstitious believe in elements of the supernatural, as well as omens and signs. They may use special strategies and rituals to protect themselves and those they love.
Possessing amazing verbal skills
Having superpowers
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A smorgasbord of incredible ingredients
A play in which the hero is uncertain
A coffee drink with cayenne pepper
A device used to stop the flow of blood
If you find yourself in a situation where you're losing a ton of blood, you will have to fashion a tourniquet. Use anything you have on hand to stop the flow of blood and save your life.
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A person's energy field
An aura refers to the energy field that is supposed by some to drift around people and manifest in a burst of color. It is often referenced in New Age practices. Places and things may have auras, as well.
A pudding made with figs and dates
A special area of physics
Another word for green-blue
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A happy feeling
A type of French dessert
A fancy loveseat
A term that refers to horses or things related to horses
"Equine" is an adjective that refers to horses or members of the horse family. As a noun, "equine" can refer to the horse itself, but this particular word is most often used as an adjective.
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A type of bear native to Asia
A small booth in a public space
Visit any mall in the United States, and you will probably come across a kiosk. A kiosk is a small, standalone booth that exists to sell specific goods or services within a larger public structure.
A high-end camera
A blackberry flavored ice cream
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A kitten born with extra toes
A mass that is soft, wet and without shape
Pulp is a wet, soft and shapeless mass of material. Fruits and vegetables may be reduced to pulp by cooking or pureeing. You can buy orange juice with no pulp, some pulp or a lot of pulp included.
The capital of Denmark
A platform for people to preach from
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The area in front of a fireplace
The cozy spot right in front of your fireplace is known as the hearth. Cute sayings about the comforts of home often contain the term "hearth," as it has warm and safe connotations.
A hearty soup featuring potatoes
A type of tent used in the woods
A method of protecting your heart health
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A book written about the law
The defamation of someone in print
Libel refers to the defamation of someone in print. It is the written version of slander, which refers to defaming someone in speech. Both libel and slander are covered under the First Amendment.
A rule against posting too many pictures on Facebook
A specific label
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Very salty or spicy
Covered in water
Bite-sized
Inspiring an inappropriate interest in risque things
"Salacious" is one of those words that you've probably heard over and over again, but you're not quite sure what it means. It means arousing inappropriate interest in risque or bawdy things.
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An extremely low temperature in which molecular motion stops
"Cryogenic" relates to an extremely low temperature: the temperature at which molecular motion stops. Cryogenics is the study of molecules at this level. Cryotherapy is therapy that involves cold.
An alien life form, devoid of bones
Being overly pragmatic
The study of sleep paralysis
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An oceanic wave pattern
A style of knitting
A solo in an opera
An aria is an important part of an opera because it allows the diva to shine. An aria is a solo song, generally accompanied by music but featuring only one voice. It often conveys a vital plot point.
A type of goats' milk cheese
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The immature form of an insect
Most insects go through a larval stage, which occurs before they make the metamorphosis into adulthood. Larvae are generally worm-like and not fully formed — maggots are one example.
A hazelnut spread
Pertaining to space
Another word for lava
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Started a string of events
Made more open
"Dilated" refers to a state in which something has been made more open or widened. It's often used in its present tense, "dilate," and can refer to body parts, such as eyes or nostrils.
Minced vegetables for a stew
Shut completely
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A creaky old pirate ship
A foul-mouthed parrot
A sentimental locket
A thin sword
A thin, light sword that's perfect for stabbing is called a rapier. A rapier is deadly because it is easy to wield in experienced hands, and the blade can be moved quickly because it's so light.
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Prone to panic
A shade of brown
Feral
Of or like a cone
If something is conic, it is shaped like a cone. In geometry, a conic section is any piece sliced out of a cone. Of course, ice cream is tasty when it's served in a sugary conic waffle.
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