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A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World

25 Words That Can Make You Instantly Funnier

Cut the malarkey. A few seconds with these words, and you'll be the funniest slangwhanger in all the land.

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absquatulateNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t say Run away

Ex.: We camped in line for the new iPhone all night, but finally absquatulated when the wolves came out.

2 / 25
bloviateNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t say Brag

Ex.:I’ve made a tremendous amount of money,” the businessman bloviated to the reporters. “Billions and billions of dollars.”

3 / 25
blunderbussNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t call your friend Clumsy

Ex.: “Be careful where you point that musket, you blunderbuss!”

4 / 25
bumbershootNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t say Umbrella

Ex.: “You can stand under my bumbershoot,” Rihanna offered as the storm began. “Eh, eh, eh/ Under my bumbershoot.” Here’s more hilarious vintage slang that will make you sound awesome.

5 / 25
cantankerousNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t say Cranky

Ex.: The cantankerous old man scowled at his waitress. “This water’s too wet,” he croaked.

6 / 25
codswallopNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t Say Nonsense

Ex.: I try to watch cable news, but everything they say is a load of codswallop. (Also try: Flapdoodle)

7 / 25
collywobblesNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t say Queasiness

Ex.: No matter how much I practice beforehand, public speaking on roller coasters always gives me collywobbles! You’ll love these 10 funny spelling mistakes that were actually printed.

8 / 25
discombobulatedNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t say Disheveled

Ex.: “For some reason,” thought the Tin Man, “passing through airport security always leaves me discombobulated.”

9 / 25
donnybrookNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t say Brawl

Ex.: When the Sharks and the Jets accidentally booked the same dance studio, it was an all-out donnybrook. (Also try: Argle-Bargle)

10 / 25
fardNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t say Face paint

Ex., as a noun: Pass the fard, Claudette—I’m due onstage any minute!

Ex., as a verb: It looks like someone farded all over that clown’s face.

11 / 25
flibbertigibbetNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t call your friend Silly

Ex.: The nuns agreed that sister Maria—late for another mass while off twirling in the Alps—was a true flibbertigibbet.

12 / 25
flummoxedNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t say Confused

Ex.: Kanye West was plum flummoxed when Beyoncé failed to win Best Female Video in 2009.

13 / 25
gongoozleNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t say Ogle

Ex.: Whenever Camilla the chicken passed Gonzo’s door, she felt sure she was being gonzoogled.

14 / 25
hobbledehoyNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t call a teenage boy Awkward

Ex.: As a young hobbledehoy, I failed to get a date until my wedding day.

15 / 25
hoosegowNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t say Prison

Ex.: They oughta throw you in the hoosegow, because that outfit is a crime against fashion. Don’t miss these other funny words that sound completely made up.

16 / 25
hurlyburlyNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t say Commotion

Ex.: Fed up with the hurlyburly of city life, The Coens found a nice quiet timeshare on Mars. (Also try: Brouhaha)

17 / 25
kerfuffleNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t say Fuss

Ex.: There was a great kerfuffle about who should get the diner’s last piece of pie, until we learned it was minced meat.

18 / 25
mollycoddleNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t say Pamper

Ex.: “I do not mollycoddle my children,” said Molly, tying her 23-year-old son’s shoes. Don’t miss these 20 grammar jokes every word nerd will appreciate.

19 / 25
namby-pambyNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t say Sissy

Ex.: “Don’t be a namby-pamby, boy. Pick up that chainsaw and cut your father’s hair.”

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skullduggeryNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t say Dishonesty

Ex.: “I’m not voting for anyone,” the millennial oozed. “Politics these days are nothing but skullduggery.”

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slangwhangerNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t call someone Profane

Ex.: “I enjoy Lil’ Wayne’s music,” Grandma admitted, “but does he have to be such a slangwhanger?”

22 / 25
smellfungusNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t call someone a Pessimist

Ex.: I hate going to the beach with Al Gore; on every sunny day he’s such a smellfungus!

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widdershinsNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t say Counterclockwise

Ex.: It is a vicious myth that toilet water rotates clockwise in Australia and widdershins in America. 

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vomitoryNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t call it an Exit

Ex.: After eating too much buttered popcorn at the circus, Dad promptly sprinted to the vomitory.

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wabbitNicole Fornabaio/rd.com

Don’t say Exhausted

Ex.: After a long day of hunting, Elmer Fudd was absolutely wabbit. You’ll also want to check out these fancy words that make you sound smarter.