Last week, I mentioned my love of lyrics that use fifty-cent words. According to Merriam-Webster, a fifty-cent word is “an obscure word used to describe a simple idea thus making the user self-important.” Despite the negative connotation, I don’t think using such words is always a bad thing. They can help you say what you mean and challenge your reader, just a bit. So this week, some big, rare words to add spice to your writing.
- Ossify: to form in a rigid pattern
- Paucity: scarcity
- Bagatelle: a trifle
- Raconteur: a gifted, witty storyteller
- Tautology: redundancy
Hungry for more? Check out “Fifty-Cent Words: A Vocabulary Words Quiz” and “More 50-Cent Vocabulary Words” on WordPlay.
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