SpellingIQ

Spelling list · curated by SpellingIQ.com · read on 2026-10-12

Hardest words to spell: sixteen classics

These are the sixteen words on the hardest words to spell page, in the order it lists them. Each has one trap that catches careful writers: the double M in accommodate, the second I that drops out of liaison, the -sede ending that supersede shares with no other common word.

The page explains where each word goes wrong. This is where you find out which ones you can spell: every word is read aloud, and the ones you miss come back until you spell them right a few times running. The words keep the page's order rather than being sorted by difficulty.

Hardest words 1

  1. accommodate: The hotel can accommodate up to 400 guests.
  2. liaison: She served as a liaison between the two departments.
  3. occurrence: A snowfall in July is a rare occurrence.
  4. embarrass: I did not mean to embarrass you in front of your friends.
  5. conscientious: She was a conscientious student who always turned in her work.
  6. privilege: It was a privilege to work with such a talented team.
  7. separate: We had to separate the recycling from the trash.
  8. maintenance: The building requires regular maintenance.

Hardest words 2

  1. millennium: The new millennium began in the year 2001.
  2. necessary: Bring only what is necessary for the trip.
  3. rhythm: The drummer kept a steady rhythm throughout the song.
  4. supersede: This memo will supersede all previous instructions.
  5. minuscule: A minuscule crack ran along the vase.
  6. questionnaire: Please fill out this questionnaire before your appointment.
  7. bureaucracy: Getting a permit involves navigating endless bureaucracy.
  8. entrepreneur: The young entrepreneur launched three startups.