The Ultimate List Of 369 Beautiful Words

What makes a word beautiful?

Is it the sound of the word or its meaning?

The study of the pleasantness or unpleasantness of the way words and phrases sound (regardless of their meaning) is called phonaesthetics.

But I think the combination of sound and meaning is what makes for pretty words.

Consider the word “diarrhea” which trills off the tongue but isn't a pleasant topic to ponder.

But the word “diary” is equally pleasing to the ear and has an intriguing meaning.

What's in this post:
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What Are the Most Beautiful Words?

The most beautiful words in English are those that thrill the ear and that stir the mind or soul.

They are words that inspire, uplift, excite, comfort, challenge, move and entice us. But they can also have a neutral or even unpleasant meaning (hemorrhage, flatulence, etc.).

British linguist, David Crystal, created a series of attributes of words that are commonly considered beautiful. Those attributes include:

  • Having three or more syllables.
  • Emphasis on the first syllable.
  • The presence of particular letters people enjoy saying (like I and M).

Ultimately, the most beautiful words are the words that you find beautiful.

What is the Prettiest Word in the World?

There are more than 7000 languages in the world, with hundreds of thousands of words in most of them. So it's difficult (if not impossible) to narrow the list to one word alone.

You might start by exploring the most beautiful languages in the world which are often considered Italian, French, Arabic, and Turkish.

But still, what each person finds beautiful is subjective.

Maybe we should just be happy there are so many lovely words in all languages.

How to Use Beautiful Words in English

Whether you are a logophile (a word lover) and simply enjoy the variety and character of words, or you're a writer who is looking for the perfect word, you'll find yourself needing to find aesthetic words at some point.

Maybe you wonder, “What are elegant words I can use to reflect my intelligence or sophisticated style.” The words you use do communicate to others who you are and how you see yourself.

You can use these words to . . .

  • Expand your vocabulary.
  • Write a memorable poem or song lyrics related to something lovely and pleasing.
  • Better express yourself in conversation.
  • Create a mood or feeling with your writing.
  • Enhance your descriptions of people, places, emotions, and things.
  • Develop a particular rhythm or flow with your writing.
  • Develop your own list of favorite words with beautiful meanings and sounds.

Are you ready to explore some really good words that you can add to your vocabulary?

Our list of beautiful words below is a great resource to bookmark and keep handy whenever you need just the right word that sounds lovely.

Don't have time to read the complete list of beautiful words? You can download the PDF here.

List of 369 of the Most Beautiful Words

1. Abundance

A very large quantity of something.


2. Ad Infinitum

Again and again in the same way; forever


3. Admirable

Arousing or deserving respect and approval.


4. Adoration

Deep love and respect.


5. Affable

Friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to.


6. Agility

Ability to move or think quickly and easily.

Agility, beautiful words

7. Ailurophile

A cat lover.


8. Alacrity

Brisk and cheerful readiness.


9. Alluring

Powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating; seductive.


10. Aloha

A Hawaiian word used when greeting or parting from someone.


11. Altruism

The belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others.


12. Amaranthine

From the Greek word amarantos, meaning immortal or unfading.


13. Amiable

Having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner.


14. Amorous

Showing, feeling, or relating to sexual desire.


15. Angelic

An exceptionally beautiful, innocent, or kind person.


16. Apotheosis

The highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax.


17. Assemblage

A collection or gathering of things or people.


18. Astonishing

Extremely surprising or impressive; amazing.


19. Astounding

Surprisingly impressive or notable.


20. Ascension

The act of rising to an important position or a higher level.


21. Astral

Of, connected with or resembling the stars.


22. Audacious

Showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks.


23. Aurora

A natural electrical phenomenon characterized by the appearance of streamers of reddish or greenish light in the sky, usually near the northern or southern magnetic pole.


24. Awe

A feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder.


25. Beatify

To make holy or sacred.


26. Beauteous

Beautiful.


27. Becoming

Flattering a person's appearance.


28. Beguile

To charm or enchant (someone), sometimes in a deceptive way.


29. Belonging

An affinity for a place or situation.


30. Beloved

Dearly loved.


31. Benefactor

A person who gives money or other help to a person or cause.


32. Benevolence

The quality of being well-meaning; kindness.


33. Blazing

To burn fiercely or brightly.


34. Blessing

A beneficial thing for which one is grateful; something that brings well-being.


35. Bliss

Perfect happiness; great joy.


36. Blossom

The state or period of flowering.


37. Breathtaking

Astonishing or awe-inspiring in quality, so as to take one's breath away.


38. Breeziness

Fresh and animated;lively.


39. Brilliance

An intense brightness of light.


40. Brisk

Active, fast, and energetic.


41. Bubbling

Characterized by cheerful high spirits.


42. Bucolic

Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.


43. Bungalow

A low house, with a broad front porch, having either no upper floor or upper rooms set in the roof, typically with dormer windows.


44. Buoyancy

The ability or tendency to float in water or air or some other fluid.


45. Calcination

To heat (a substance) to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point, causing loss of moisture, reduction or oxidation, and the decomposition of carbonates and other compounds.


46. Calm

Not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other strong emotions.


47. Candor

The quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness.


48. Caprice

A sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior.


49. Carpe Diem

Latin, ‘seize the day!’, a quotation from Horace.


50. Cascade

A small waterfall, typically one of several that fall in stages down a steep rocky slope.


51. Cashmere

Fine, soft wool, originally that from the Kashmir goat.


52. Catharsis

The process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.


53. Celerity

The swiftness of movement.


54. Centered

Well balanced and confident or serene.


55. Champion

A person who fights or argues for a cause or on behalf of someone else.


56. Charisma

Compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others.


57. Charm

The power or quality of giving delight or arousing admiration.


58. Chatoyant

Of a gem, especially when cut en cabochon, showing a band of bright reflected light caused by aligned inclusions in the stone.


59. Cheerful

Noticeably happy and optimistic.


60. Chrysalis

A transitional state.


61. Cinnamon

An aromatic spice made from the peeled, dried and rolled bark of a Southeast Asian tree.


62. Clarity

The quality of being coherent and intelligible.


63. Classy

Stylish and sophisticated.


64. Clearheaded

Alert and thinking logically and coherently.


65. Clinomania

An obsession with bed rest.


66. Coalesce

Come together to form one mass or whole.


67. Comely

Typically a woman who is pleasant to look at; attractive.


68. Compassion

Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.


69. Conflate

Combine (two or more texts, ideas, etc.) into one.


70. Consciousness

The state of being awake and aware of one's surroundings.


71. Contentment

A state of happiness and satisfaction.


72. Coruscate

Flash or sparkle of light.


73. Creativity

The use of the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work.


74. Crepuscular

Of, resembling, or relating to twilight.


75. Crystalline

Having the structure and form of a crystal; composed of crystals.


76. Cuddle

Hold close in one's arms as a way of showing love or affection.


77. Cynosure

A person or thing that is the center of attention or admiration.


78. Dalliance

A casual romantic or sexual relationship.


79. Dandy

A man unduly devoted to style, neatness, and fashion in dress and appearance.


80. Dapper

Typically a man who is neat and trim in dress, appearance, or bearing.


81. Dauntless

Showing fearlessness and determination.


82. Dazzling

Extremely bright, especially so as to blind the eyes temporarily.


83. Debonair

A man who is confident, stylish, and charming.


84. Delicate

Very fine in texture or structure; of intricate workmanship or quality.


85. Delicious

Highly pleasant to the taste.


86. Delightful

Causing delight; charming.


87. Demesne

Land attached to a manor and retained for the owner's own use.


88. Demure

A woman who is reserved, modest, and shy.


89. Denouement

The final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.


90. Desirable

Wanted or wished for as being an attractive, useful, or necessary course of action.


91. Desuetude

A state of disuse.


92. Desultory

Lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm.


93. Devotion

Love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause.


94. Diaphanous

Light, delicate, and translucent, especially a fabric.


95. Discombobulate

To disconcert or confuse someone.


96. Dissemble

To conceal one's true motives, feelings, or beliefs.


97. Divinity

The state or quality of being divine.


98. Doting

Extremely and uncritically fond of someone; adoring.


99. Dreamy

Having a magical or pleasantly unreal quality; dreamlike.


100. Dulcet

A sweet and soothing sound.


101. Earnest

Resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction


102. Ebullience

The quality of being cheerful and full of energy; exuberance.


103. Ecstasy

An overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement.


104. Effervescent

A liquid giving off bubbles; fizzy.


105. Efflorescence

A state or time of flowering.


106. Effortless

Requiring no physical or mental exertion.


107. Elation

Great happiness and exhilaration.


108. Elegant

Pleasingly graceful and stylish in appearance or manner.


109. Elision

The omission of a sound or syllable when speaking


110. Elixir

A magical or medicinal potion.


111. Eloquence

Fluent or persuasive speaking or writing.


112. Embrocation

A liquid used for rubbing on the body to relieve pain from sprains and strains.


113. Emollient

Having the quality of softening or soothing the skin.


114. Emulate

Match or surpass (a person or achievement), typically by imitation.


115. Enamoured

To be filled with a feeling of love for someone or something.


116. Enchanted

Placed under a spell; bewitched.


117. Enraptured

Experiencing intense pleasure or joy.


118. Enthralled

Experiencing fascinated attention.


119. Ephemeral

Lasting for a very short time.


120. Epiphany

A moment of sudden revelation or insight.


121. Equanimity

Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation.


122. Equilibrium

A state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced.


123. Erstwhile

Former.


124. Ethereal

Extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world.


125. Etiquette

The customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession or group.


126. Euphoria

A feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness.


127. Evanescent

Soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing.


128. Evocative

Bringing strong images, memories, or feelings to mind.


129. Exonerate

To absolve someone from blame for a fault or wrongdoing, especially after due consideration of the case.


130. Exquisite

Extremely beautiful and, typically, delicate.


131. Exuberant

Filled with or characterized by a lively energy and excitement.


132. Fabulous

Amazingly good; wonderful.


133. Faithful

Loyal, constant, and steadfast.


134. Fascination

The power to fascinate someone; the quality of being fascinating.


135. Feasible

Possible to do easily or conveniently.


136. Feisty

A person who is relatively small or weak but also lively, determined, and courageous.


137. Felicity

Intense happiness.


138. Festive

Cheerful and jovially celebratory.


139. Fetching

Attractive.


140. Fidelity

Faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support.


141. Filament

A slender threadlike object or fiber, especially one found in animal or plant structures.


142. Flawless

Without any blemishes or imperfections; perfect.


143. Flourish

To grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly favorable environment.


144. Flowing

Hanging or draping loosely and gracefully.


145. Forbearance

Patient self-control; restraint and tolerance.


146. Fortitude

Courage in pain or adversity.


147. Friendship

The emotions or conduct of friends; the state of being friends.


148. Fugacious

Tending to disappear; fleeting.


149. Fulfilling

Making someone satisfied or happy because of fully developing their character or abilities.


150. Furtive

Attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive.


151. Gambol

Run or jump about playfully.


152. Gargantuan

Enormous.


153. Giddy

Having a sensation of whirling and a tendency to fall or stagger; dizzy.


154. Ginger

A hot, fragrant spice made from the rhizome of a plant, which may be chopped or powdered for cooking, preserved in syrup, or candied.


155. Glamour

An attractive or exciting quality that makes certain people or things seem appealing.


156. Glorious

Having a striking beauty or splendor that evokes feelings of delighted admiration.


157. Goddess

A woman who is adored, especially for her beauty.


158. Gorgeous

Beautiful; very attractive.


159. Gossamer

Used to refer to something very light, thin, and insubstantial or delicate.


160. Graceful

Having or showing grace or elegance.


161. Halcyon

Denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful.


162. Handsome

A good-looking man.


163. Harbinger

A forerunner of something.


164. Harmony

The quality of forming a pleasing and consistent whole.


165. Heartfelt

A feeling or its expression that is sincere; deeply and strongly felt.


166. Heartwarming

Emotionally rewarding or uplifting.


167. Heavenly

Very pleasing; wonderful.


168. Hilarity

Extreme amusement, especially when expressed by laughter.


169. Holiness

The state of being holy.


170. Hopefulness

Having or manifesting hope.


171. Humility

A modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness.


172. Idyllic

A time or place that is extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque.


173. Illumination

Lighting or light.


174. Illustrious

Well known, respected, and admired for past achievements.


175. Imbrication

An overlapping of edges (as of tiles or scales).


176. Imbroglio

An extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing situation.


177. Imbue

To inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality.


178. Incandescence

The light emmited by an incandescent object.


179. Incipient

In an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop.


180. Ineffable

Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.


181. Ingenue

An innocent or unsophisticated young woman, especially in a play or film.


182. Inglenook

A space on either side of a large fireplace.


183. Insouciance

Casual lack of concern; indifference.


184. Intrepid

Fearless; adventurous (often used for rhetorical or humorous effect).


185. Inure

Accustom to something, especially something unpleasant.


186. Invincible

Too powerful to be defeated or overcome.


187. Iridescent

Showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles.


188. Jaunty

Having or expressing a lively, cheerful, and self-confident manner.


189. Jocular

Fond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful.


190. Jovial

Cheerful and friendly.


191. Joyous

Feeling,showing,or causing joy; joyful


192. Jubilant

Feeling or expressing great happiness and triumph.


193. Judicious

Having or showing good judgment or sense.


194. Juvenescent

Becoming young or youthful.


195. Kindred

One's family and relations.


196. Kindliness

The quality of being kind, warmhearted, or gentle; kindness.


197. Kissable

Capable of being kissed; inviting to be kissed through attractiveness.


198. Labyrinthine

A network like a labyrinth; irregular and twisting.


199. Lagniappe

Something given as a bonus or extra gift.


200. Lagoon

A stretch of salt water separated from the sea by a low sandbank or coral reef.


201. Languid

Displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed.


202. Languor

The state or feeling, often pleasant, of tiredness or inertia.


203. Lassitude

A state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy.


204. Leisure

Free time.


205. Lilting

Speak, sing, or sound with a lilt.


206. Lissome

A person or their body that is thin, supple, and graceful.


207. Lithe

A person's body that is thin, supple, and graceful.


208. Lovable

Inspiring or deserving love or affection.


209. Lullaby

A quiet, gentle song sung to send a child to sleep.


210. Luminescence

The emission of light by a substance that has not been heated, as in fluorescence and phosphorescence.


211. Luxury

Sumptuous or extremely comfortable living surroundings.


212. Magnificent

Splendid in appearance;grand.


213. Marvelous

Causing great wonder; extraordinary.


214. Mellifluous

Sweet or musical; pleasant to hear.


215. Mellow

Pleasantly smooth or soft; free from harshness.


216. Mindfulness

A mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.


217. Minutiae

Small or trivial details.


218. Moiety

Each of two parts into which a thing is or can be divided.


219. Mondegreen

A misunderstood or misinterpreted word or phrase resulting from a mishearing of the lyrics of a song.


220. Murmurous

Filled with or characterized by murmurs; low and indistinct


221. Nemesis

A long-standing rival; an archenemy.


222. Namaste

A respectful greeting said when giving a namaskar.


223. Nebulous

Unclear, vague, or ill-defined concept or idea.


224. Nirvana

A transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of karma and the cycle of death and rebirth. It represents the final goal of Buddhism.


225. Nourishment

The food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition.


226. Nurture

Care for and encourage the growth or development of.


227. Oblivion

The state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happening.


228. Omnipotent

Having unlimited power; able to do anything.


229. Onomatopoeia

The formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named


230. Optimistic

Hopeful and confident about the future.


231. Opulent

Ostentatiously rich and luxurious or lavish.


232. Pacify

Quell the anger, agitation, or excitement of.


233. Palimpsest

A manuscript or piece of writing material on which the original writing has been effaced to make room for later writing but of which traces remain.


234. Panacea

A solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases.


235. Panoply

A complete or impressive collection of things.


236. Paradise

An ideal or idyllic place or state.


237. Passion

Strong and barely controllable emotion.


238. Pastiche

An artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period.


239. Persevering

Persistent; constant in the execution of a purpose.


240. Perspicacious

Clear-sighted; mentally perceptive or acute; keen.


241. Petrichor

A pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather.


242. Phenomenal

Very remarkable; extraordinary.


243. Phosphenes

A ring or spot of light produced by pressure on the eyeball or direct stimulation of the visual system other than by light.


244. Piquancy

A pleasantly sharp and appetizing flavor.


245. Plethora

A large or excessive amount of something.


246. Precious

An object, substance, or resource of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly.


247. Prevarication

To deviate from the truth


248. Propinquity

The state of being close to someone or something; proximity.


249. Prosperity

The state of being prosperous.


250. Pyrrhic

A victory won at too great a cost to have been worthwhile for the victor.


251. Quaint

Attractively unusual or old-fashioned.


252. Quantum

A discrete quantity of energy proportional in magnitude to the frequency of the radiation it represents.


253. Quickening

To enter into a phase of active growth and development


254. Quiescent

In a state or period of inactivity or dormancy.


255. Quietude

A state of stillness, calmness, and quiet in a person or place.


256. Quintessential

Representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.


257. Radiant

Sending out light; shining or glowing brightly.


258. Rapturous

Characterized by, feeling, or expressing great pleasure or enthusiasm.


260. Ratatouille

A vegetable dish consisting of onions, zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers, fried and stewed in oil and sometimes served cold.


261. Ravel

Untangle or unravel something.


262. Ravishing

Delightful; entrancing.


263. Redolent

Strongly reminiscent or suggestive of something.


264. Rejuvenate

Make someone or something look or feel younger, fresher, or more lively.


265. Relent

Abandon or mitigate a harsh intention or cruel treatment.


266. Repose

A state of rest, sleep, or tranquility.


267. Resilience

The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.


268. Resplendent

Attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous.


269. Revelation

A surprising and previously unknown fact, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way.


270. Reverence

Deep respect for someone or something.


271. Rhapsodic

Immoderately empassioned or enthusiastic.


272. Righteousness

The quality of being morally right or justifiable.


273. Riparian

Relating to or situated on the banks of a river.


274. Ripple

A small wave or series of waves on the surface of water, especially as caused by an object dropping into it or a slight breeze.


275. Romance

A feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love.


276. Sacred

Connected with God (or the gods) or dedicated to a religious purpose and so deserving veneration.


277. Salve

Something that is soothing or consoling for wounded feelings or an uneasy conscience.


278. Sapphire

A transparent precious stone, typically blue, that is a variety of corundum (aluminum oxide).


279. Savor

Enjoy or appreciate something pleasant completely, especially by dwelling on it.


280. Scintilla

A tiny trace or spark of a specified quality or feeling.


281. Sempiternal

Eternal and unchanging; everlasting.


282. Sequoia

A redwood tree, especially the California redwood.


283. Seraglio

A large harem.


284. Serendipity

The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.


285. Serenity

The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled.


286. Silky

Of or resembling silk, especially in being soft, fine, and lustrous.


287. Simplicity

The quality or condition of being easy to understand or do.


288. Solitude

The state or situation of being alone.


289. Somnambulism

An abnormal condition of sleep in which motor acts (such as walking) are performed


290. Sonorous

Capable of producing a deep or ringing sound.


291. Soulmate

A person ideally suited to another as a close friend or romantic partner.


292. Spacious

Having ample space.


293. Spellbound

Hold the complete attention of someone as though by magic; fascinate.


294. Spherical

Shaped like a sphere.


295. Splendid

Magnificent; very impressive.


296. Sprightliness

Marked by a gay lightness and vivacity.


297. Statuesque

An attractively tall and dignified woman.


298. Sublime

Of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe.


299. Succulent

Tender, juicy, and tasty food.


300. Summery

Characteristic of or suitable for summer.


301. Sumptuous

Splendid and expensive-looking.


302. Supine

Lying face upward.


303. Surreptitious

Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.


304. Susquehanna

A river 444 miles (714 kilometers) long in the eastern U.S. flowing from central New York south through Pennsylvania and into the Chesapeake Bay in northern Maryland


305. Susurrous

Full of whispering sounds.


306. Symphony

Something regarded, typically favorably, as a composition of different elements.


307. Talisman

An object, typically an inscribed ring or stone, that is thought to have magic powers and to bring good luck.


308. Tenacity

The quality or fact of being able to grip something firmly; grip.


309. Tender

Showing gentleness and concern or sympathy.


310. Tintinnabulation

A ringing or tinkling sound.


311. Tolerance

The ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular, the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.


312. Tranquility

The quality or state of being tranquil; calm.


313. Transfiguration

A complete change of form or appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state.


314. Triumph

A great victory or achievement.


315. Umbrella

A device consisting of a circular canopy of cloth on a folding metal frame supported by a central rod, used as protection against rain or sometimes sun.


316. Unabashed

Not embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed.


317. Unflappable

Having or showing calmness in a crisis.


318. Unification

The process of being united or made into a whole.


319. Unique

Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else.


320. Varnish

Resin dissolved in a liquid for applying on wood, metal, or other materials to form a hard, clear, shiny surface when dry.


321. Veneration

Great respect; reverence.


322. Verity

A true principle or belief, especially one of fundamental importance.


323. Vestigial

Forming a very small remnant of something that was once much larger or more noticeable.


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324. Vibrant

Full of energy and enthusiasm.


325. Victorious

Having won a victory; triumphant.


326. Virtuous

Having or showing high moral standards.


327. Vitality

The state of being strong and active; energy.


328. Vitriolic

Filled with bitter criticism or malice.


329. Vortex

A mass of whirling fluid or air, especially a whirlpool or whirlwind


330. Vulnerable

Susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm.


331. Waft

Pass or cause to pass easily or gently through or as if through the air.


332. Wanderlust

A strong desire to travel.


333. Warmhearted

A person or their actions that are sympathetic and kind.


334. Wherewithal

The money or other means needed for a particular purpose.


335. Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and physical well-being.


337. Wondrous

Inspiring a feeling of wonder or delight; marvelous.


336. Worship

The feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity.


338. Xanadu

An idealized place of great or idyllic magnificence and beauty.


339. Xenophobia

Dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.


340. Xylophone

A musical instrument played by striking a row of wooden bars of graduated length with one or more small wooden or plastic mallets.


341. Yearling

An animal (especially a sheep, calf, or foal) that is a year old or that is in its second year.


342. Yearn

Have an intense feeling of longing for something, typically something that one has lost or been separated from.


343. Yesteryear

Last year or the recent past, especially as nostalgically recalled.


344. Zealous

Having or showing zeal.


345. Zenith

The time at which something is most powerful or successful.


346. Zephyr

A soft gentle breeze.


347. Zestful

Characterized by great enthusiasm and energy.


348. Zinfandel

A variety of wine grape grown in California.


349. Zither

A musical instrument consisting of a flat wooden soundbox with numerous strings stretched across it placed horizontally and played with the fingers and a plectrum. It is used especially in central European folk music.


350. Zoophilic

Having an attraction to or preference for animals.


Beautiful Words with Dark Meanings

There are some words that sound lovely but have darker or more negative meanings. Take a look at these pretty words whose sound belies their meanings.


351. Amorphous

Without a clearly defined shape or form.


352. Atrament

A very dark substance — usually liquid.


353. Caliginous

Misty, dark, obscure.


354. Cimmerian

A member of a mythical people living in perpetual mist and darkness near the land of the dead.


355. Crepuscule

Twilight. Obscure, doubtful, or uncertain.


356. Darkling

Growing dark or characterized by darkness.


357. Dystopian

Relating to an imagined state or society where there is great suffering or injustice.


358. Eigengrau

The dark grey color that human eyes see in perfect darkness.


359. Gloaming

Twilight, dusk.


360. Nebulochaotic

A state of being hazy and confused.


361. Nefarious

Wicked or criminal.


362. Nyctophilia

An attraction to darkness or night; finding relaxation or comfort in the darkness.


363. Pernicious

Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.


364. Photophobic

Having an extreme sensitivity to light; growing best under reduced illumination.


365. Somber

Gloomy, sullen, melancholy; solemn in mood.


366. Stygian

Extremely dark, gloomy, or forbidding.


367. Tenebrous

Dark, shadowy, or obscure.


368. Umbra

Shadow or darkness. A shaded area.


369. Woebegone

Exhibiting great sorrow, or misery.


Final Thoughts

Which of these beautiful words are your favorites?

How will you include them in your writing or conversation so you can make them a regular part of your vocabulary?

Learning good words that aren't part of your current lexicon has a variety of benefits. Improving your vocabulary . . .

  • Boosts your ability to articulate well.
  • Improves reading comprehension.
  • Gives you access to powerful and effective language.
  • Allows you to better express your beliefs and opinions.
  • Improves verbal fluency.
  • Leads to academic and career success.
  • Opens your mind to new ideas.

The most beautiful words in the English language don't mean anything unless they are appreciated and used in communication, education, and writing.

Take advantage of this list of words, commit as many of them to memory as possible, and try to use a new word every day.

And . . . if you want to inspire others, please share this list of beautiful words on your favorite social media platform.