I’ve collected the best 350+ Hangman words and broken them down into categories based on difficulty, age-appropriateness, and even humor.
This list has it all.
Plus, you’ll find tips for picking the best Hangman word based on who you’re playing with.
Easy Words
Great for kids or beginners, these words will give just enough challenge without too many stumpers.
- Dog
- Cat
- Hat
- Sun
- Tree
- Car
- Fish
- Bird
- Moon
- Cup
- Apple
- Mop
- Star
- Bed
- Shoe
- Ball
- Fox
- Bush
- Frog
- Deer
- Rock
- Rain
- Cap
- Bed
- Fan
- Poo
- Bee
- Milk
- Start
- Cake
- Bus
- Pencil
- Spoon
- Van
- Pear
- Book
- Duck
- Egg
- Flag
- Ship
- Soap
- Lamp
- Bread
- Pot
- Rose
- Boot
- Mug
- Key
- Hand
- Nail
- Doll
- Bag
- Fig
- Hog
- Hat
- Net
- Nook
- Star
- Box
- Toad
- Boat
- Car
- Cup
- Pen
- Tree
- Boa
- Bat
- Fork
- Bell
- Sun
- Kite
- Drum
- Hen
- Ice
- Coat
Hard Words
These words will start to make people think—but not too hard. Includes entertaining definitions!
- Python (A large, non-venomous snake that’s cooler than your average slithering reptile.)
- Bumblebee (A fat, fuzzy bee that seems almost too slow to fly but still manages.)
- Unicorn (The mythical creature we all wish existed—a horse with a magical horn.)
- Octopus (An eight-armed sea creature that could be plotting world domination.)
- Elephant (The giant of the animal kingdom that never forgets.)
- Jigsaw (A puzzle or a type of saw—take your pick.)
- Galaxy (A vast collection of stars, planets, and cosmic dust, kind of like a glitter-filled space party.)
- Platypus (The animal that looks like it was made by a committee that couldn’t decide between a duck and a beaver.)
- Falcon (A fast, sharp-beaked bird that hunts for its lunch on the wing.)
- Trampoline (A stretchy, bouncy surface that dares you to jump higher.)
- Igloo (A house made out of snow—cool, right?)
- Telescope (A magical tube that lets you see distant stars and planets up close.)
- Tyrannosaurus (The king of dinosaurs who still rules pop culture.)
- Carousel (The spinning ride that lets you pretend you’re galloping on a horse.)
- Lighthouse (A tall structure that helps ships avoid crashing into things.)
- Parachute (A giant fabric umbrella that helps you fall slowly instead of quickly.)
- Rollercoaster (A ride that goes up, down, and all around.)
- Metamorphosis (The process of turning into something totally different, like a caterpillar into a butterfly.)
- Galapagos (A chain of islands where unique animals roam free.)
- Narwhal (A medium-sized Arctic whale known for its long, spiral tusk resembling a unicorn horn.)
- Raccoon (The mischievous trash panda of the night.)
- Marzipan (A sweet almond paste that’s both a treat and tricky to spell.)
- Thermometer (A device that tells you how hot or cold something is.)
- Chrysanthemum (A type of flower that sounds as fancy as it looks.)
- Iguana (A large, spiny lizard that’s cooler than your average pet.)
- Asteroid (A rocky body floating around in space, often minding its own business.)
- Gyroscope (A device that spins to maintain orientation—kind of like a fidget spinner for science.)
Advanced Words
For those who like to feel smart and enjoy tripping others up. I’ve included definitions for some of the trickier words.
- Hypnosis
- Baguette
- Pterodactyl
- Fjord
- Chandelier
- Pharaoh
- Kaleidoscope
- Apothecary
- Eccentric
- Chimera
- Photosynthesis
- Hologram
- Atmosphere
- Nephilim
- Millennium
- Centrifugal
- Phonograph
- Semaphore
- Bioluminescence
- Circumference
- Electromagnetism
- Archaeology
- Fibonacci
- Zephyr (A gentle breeze or a fancy way to say “wind.”)
- Papyrus (The ancient form of paper that Egyptians wrote on.)
- Raspberry (A fruit with delicious red seeds hidden inside.)
- Obsidian (A shiny black rock that’s formed from cooled lava.)
- Thunderbolt (The ultimate weapon of Zeus, god of the sky.)
- Perpendicular (When two lines meet at a right angle—math at its finest.)
- Monolith (A giant stone slab that seems to hold ancient secrets.)
- Odyssey (A long, adventurous journey, like Homer’s epic tale.)
- Quicksilver (The liquid metal also known as mercury—quick, slippery, and dangerous.)
- Labyrinth (A confusing maze designed to get you lost.)
Expert Words
Only for the brave. These words will stretch your vocabulary to its limits.
- Quizzacious (Full of mockery or teasing; use this one when you really want to show off.)
- Sesquipedalian (A long word that literally means “long word.” Meta, right?)
- Ziggurat (An ancient Mesopotamian temple that sounds like a zippy lizard.)
- Xerophyte (A plant that thrives in dry climates, like a cactus’s best friend.)
- Rhombicosidodecahedron (A shape with so many sides it makes math class feel like a dream—or a nightmare.)
- Syzygy (An astronomical alignment of three celestial bodies. Sounds like magic!)
- Incandescence (The glow of something that’s really, really hot—think light bulbs and lava.)
- Epitome (The perfect example of something.)
- Soliloquy (A speech in a play where the character talks to themselves.)
- Idiosyncratic (A fancy word for “weird and unique habits.”)
- Cauliflower (A vegetable that looks like a brain but tastes like heaven when roasted.)
- Anemone (A sea creature that waves its tentacles in the water, looking for a snack.)
- Labyrinthine (A word that means “as confusing as a labyrinth.”)
- Xenophobia (Fear or dislike of people from different cultures or countries.)
- Apotheosis (When someone or something is elevated to god-like status.)
- Interlocutor (A person who takes part in a conversation—think of a chatty friend.)
- Kaleidoscopic (Like a kaleidoscope—colorful, shifting, and hypnotic.)
- Discombobulated (When you’re so confused, you don’t even know what happened.)
- Anthropomorphism (Giving human traits to animals or objects, like talking dogs.)
- Synecdoche (A figure of speech where a part represents the whole, like saying “wheels” for a car.)
- Circumnavigate (To sail or travel all the way around something, like the world.)
- Phantasmagoria (A sequence of real or imaginary images that feel dreamlike or surreal.)
- Xenotransplantation (The process of transplanting organs from one species to another.)
Impossible Words
The stuff of Hangman legends. These will either leave your opponent in awe or agony.
- Uncharacteristically (In a way that is not typical or usual for someone or something.)
- Incontrovertibility (The quality of being undeniable or not open to dispute.)
- Disenfranchisement (The act of depriving someone of a right, especially the right to vote.)
- Hypopituitarism (A medical condition where the pituitary gland doesn’t produce enough hormones.)
- Heterogeneousness (The quality of being diverse or made up of different parts.)
- Spectroheliograph (An instrument used to photograph the sun in a specific wavelength.)
- Institutionalization (The process of establishing something as a norm or practice, or placing someone in an institution.)
- Deinstitutionalization (The process of releasing individuals from an institution, often to integrate them back into society.)
- Antidisestablishmentarianism (A movement against removing the Church of England’s official status.)
- Floccinaucinihilipilification (The act of considering something as worthless.)
- Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (A lung disease caused by inhaling very fine silica dust.)
- Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (A made-up word meaning extraordinarily wonderful or fantastic.)
- Spectrophotometer (An instrument that measures how much light is absorbed by a substance.)
- Honorificabilitudinitatibus (A word that means the ability to achieve honors.)
- Incomprehensibilities (Things that are impossible to understand.)
- Electroencephalographically (Relating to the measurement of electrical activity in the brain.)
- Misunderestimations (A tongue-twisting word made famous by politicians.)
- Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (A mild form of a genetic disorder—you’ll win just by spelling it right.)
- Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (A pesticide known by its shorter name, DDT.)
- Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (Ironically, this means “fear of long words.”)
Funny Hangman Words
Laughter is a good game strategy.
- Banana
- Flapjack
- Wombat
- Dingbat
- Noodle
- Lollygag
- Blubber
- Chupacabra
- Zamboni
- Gobbledygook
- Pickle
- Booger
- Wobble
- Bamboozle
- Snorkel
- Giraffe
- Goblin
- Flibbertigibbet
- Squeegee
- Bumblebee
- Ding-a-ling
- Sasquatch
- Capybara
- Noodle
- Tofu
- Jalopy
- Mongoose
- Zipper
- Yodel
- Giggle
- Fizzle
- Jellyfish
- Gobstopper
- Doodad
- Flapdoodle
- Bumbershoot
- Bamboozle
- Snickerdoodle
- Poppycock
- Troll
- Hobgoblin
- Whippersnapper
Hangman Words for Kids
Perfectly suited for younger players—easy and fun.
- Doll
- From
- Kitten
- Pizza
- Dragon
- Unicorn
- Robot
- Turtle
- Candy
- Ice Cream
- Pegasus
- Glider
- Cookie
- Burger
- Cookie
- Holiday
- Rocket
- Android
- Balloon
- Lizard
- Circus
- Dinosaur
- Castle
- Elephant
- Jellybean
- Kangaroo
- Marshmallow
- Peeved
- Snail
- Tiger
- Wagon
Hangman Words for Adults
Challenge your adult friends with these trickier, more mature words.
- Mortgage
- Bureaucracy
- Taxonomy
- Inflation
- Encryption
- Cryptocurrency
- Algorithm
- Liability
- Portfolio
- Recession
- Blockchain
- Satellite
- Equation
- Hypocrisy
- Resume
- Litigation
- Hierarchy
- Industry
- Infrastructure
- Redundancy
- Autocracy
- Migration
- Amnesty
- Legislation
- Philosophy
- Arbitration
Animal-Themed Hangman Words
Here are some Hangman words for the animal lovers.
- Giraffe
- Alligator
- Elephant
- Kangaroo
- Sloth
- Hedgehog
- Meerkat
- Toucan
- Zebra
- Jellyfish
- Salamander
- Koala
- Chameleon
- Hippopotamus
Food-Themed Hangman Words
If you’re hungry for a challenge, check out these Hangman words about food.
- Cheeseburger
- Spaghetti
- Pomegranate
- Croissant
- Sushi
- Avocado
- Pancakes
- Meatballs
- Tacos
- Cinnamon
- Zucchini
- Butternut Squash
- Macaroni
- Eggplant
Movie-Themed Hangman Words
Movie buffs might appreciate these cinematic Hangman words.
- Terminator
- Inception
- Spartacus
- Titanic
- Avatar
- Jumanji
- Interstellar
- Matrix
- Casablanca
- Frozen
- Shrek
- Jurassic Park
- Star Wars
- Harry Potter
Historical Hangman Words
If you like history, you’ll love these historical Hangman words.
- Renaissance
- Napoleon
- Hieroglyphics
- Cleopatra
- Colosseum
- Byzantium
- Medieval
- Gladiator
- Constitution
- Ramses
- Crusade
- Mesopotamia
- Revolution
- Pyramids
Holiday-Themed Hangman Words
Get festive with these Holiday-themed words for your next Hangman game.
- Halloween
- Christmas
- Thanksgiving
- Valentine
- New Year’s
- Hanukkah
- Easter
- Candy Cane
- Reindeer
- Stocking
- Pumpkin
- Fireworks
- Jack-o-Lantern
Hangman Phrases
Now we’re adding fun, challenging phrases to guess during a Hangman game.
- “To be or not to be”
- “Piece of cake”
- “Out of the blue”
- “Burning the midnight oil”
- “Over the moon”
- “Break a leg”
- “Once in a blue moon”
- “Curiosity killed the cat”
- “Barking up the wrong tree”
- “Under the weather”
- “Spill the beans”
- “Hit the nail on the head”
- “Cat’s out of the bag”
- “A blessing in disguise”
- “Beat around the bush”
How to Pick the Best Hangman Word
Picking the best Hangman word depends on your audience.
Here are some strategies:
- For Kids: Stick with short, familiar words—think animals, toys, and food. Words like dog, car, and cake are fun without being too tricky.
- For Family Game Night: Choose words that are challenging but not frustrating. Mix in some fun, thematic words like bumblebee or galaxy. Throw in the occasional elephant for a bit of humor!
- For a Real Challenge: Bring out the antidisestablishmentarianism for advanced players, or use words like pterodactyl and ziggurat to push them to the limit. Beware of complaints after floccinaucinihilipilification, though.
- For a Laugh: Use silly words like sasquatch or gobbledygook—they’ll keep the game lighthearted and fun.
- For Experts: Go for complex words like syzygy or rhombicosidodecahedron. Just make sure you can pronounce them first!
Here is a video claiming to share the very best Hangman word (What do you think?):
Final Thoughts: Hangman Words
Now you know exactly how to stump even your smartest friend — or that annoying co-worker who always brags about Trivia night.
The best way to get better at Hangman is to master a bigger vocabularly.
So, I have hand-selected a few blog posts below to get you started.