The Words Americans Use to Make Themselves Seem Smarter

Published by Web Desk Monday, March 23, 2026

Many people think that a complex vocabulary is a sign of intelligence. Americans have different habits around word use and different perceptions of what words are used and when. Context matters when it comes to the use of complex words, but the words themselves matter too. The team at Preply surveyed Americans on the topic of complex words to find out which words they think sound intelligent, when they use big words, and how they feel when others use them.

The team found that these are the words Americans turn to most often when they want to sound smart:

• Ambiguous
• Articulate
• Exacerbate
• Aesthetic
• Dichotomy
• onundrum
•  Plethora
• Ambivalent
• Frivolous
• Embellish
• Mitigate

They found that these words are most commonly used at school, work, and home. Over half of Americans think that when people use big words at work, they seem smart, so there’s a good chance your crafty plan to impress will work out if you choose your words carefully.

infographic by: preply.com

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