4/8/2015 100 Whimsical Words

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The English language can be maddening to native speakers and learners alike, but is alsodelightfully rich, especially for those who seek to convey a lighthearted tone in their writing. Hereare 100 words it’s difficult to employ without smiling. Though their meanings may be obscure,they each present a challenge — I mean an opportunity — for you to paint a vivid word picture.Imbue your musings with mirth by incorporating these terms:

absquatulate: to flee, abscondabstemious: restrained in consumption of food and alcoholbalderdash: nonsenseballyhoo: commotion, hypebindle stiff: hobobodacious: remarkable, voluptuousborborygmus: sound of intestinal gascahoots (in the expression “in cahoots with”): schemingcallipygian: possessing a shapely derrierecantankerous: irritating, difficultcarbuncle: pustulecaterwaul: to wail or protest noisilycattywampus: in disarraycockamamie (also cockamamie): ridiculouscomeuppance: just desertsconcupiscent: possessed of erotic desirecopacetic (also copasetic, copesetic): satisfactorycurmudgeon: ill­tempered (and often old) persondebauchery: sensual gratificationdoohickey: gadget or attachmenteffluvium: unpleasant smellfactotum: all­around servant or attendantfarrago: confused mixturefestoon: to decorate; dangling decorative chainsfinagle: to trickfisticuffs: fighting with fistsflabbergasted: dumbfoundedflagitious: villainousflibbertigibbet: flighty personflummoxed: confusedfoible: faultfolderol: nonsensefoofaraw: flash, frillsfusty: moldy, musty, old­fashionedgallimaufry: mixture, jumblegallivant: to jaunt or carousegobbledygook: nonsense, indecipherable writing

4/8/2015 100 Whimsical Words

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haberdasher: men’s clothier; provider of sundriesharridan: shrewish womanhiggledy­piggledy: in a disorganized or confused mannerhigh jinks (also hijinks): boisterous anticshodgepodge: mixture, jumblehokum: nonsensehoodwink: to deceivehoosegow: jailhornswoggle: to dupe or hoaxhortatory: advisoryhullabaloo: uproarignoramus: dunceimbroglio: confused predicamentjackanapes: impudent or mischievous personjiggery­pokery: deceitkerfuffle: disturbancelackadaisical: bereft of energy or enthusiasmloggerheads (in the expression “at loggerheads”): quarrelsomelollygag: to meander, delayloquacious: talkativelouche: disreputablelugubrious: mournful, dismalmalarkey (also malarky): nonsensemaleficence: evilmendacious: deceptiveoaf: clumsy or stupid personobfuscate: confuse, obscureobloquy: condemning or abusive language, or the state of being subject to suchobsequious: flatteringorotund: sonorous, or pompousosculate: to kissparoxysm: convulsion or outburstpeccadillo: minor offenseperiwinkle: light purplish blue; creeping plant; aquatic snailperspicacious: astutepettifogger: quibbler; disreputable lawyerpoltroon: cowardly, cowardprognosticate: to predictpusillanimous: cowardlyraffish: vulgarragamuffin: dirty, disheveled personrambunctious: unrulyresplendent: brilliantly glowing

4/8/2015 100 Whimsical Words

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ribaldry: crude or coarse behaviorrigmarole (also rigamarole): confused talk; complicated procedureruckus: disturbancescalawag: scampscofflaw: lawbreakershenanigans: tricks or mischiefskedaddle: fleeskulduggery: devious behaviorspiffy: stylishsquelch: to suppress or silence; act of silencing; sucking soundsubterfuge: deception, or deceptive ploysupercilious: haughtyswashbuckler: cocky adventurer; story about the samesylph: lithe womantatterdemalion: raggedly dressed person; looking disreputable or decayedtermagant: shrewish womanwhirligig: whirling toy; merry­go­round; dizzying course of eventswiddershins (also withershins): counterclockwise, contrarywilly­nilly: by force, haphazardly