There are words out there that are really complicated for no obvious reason.

vicissitudes=change

defenestrate=to throw someone or something out a window

What really fancy words do you know?

Well, some words are very specific, and others can change meaning depending on the context, so I don't think there are many "unnecessarily complicated" words.

For example, defenestration, in the context you're using it, describes a specific act, and perhaps you wouldn't add this word in your normal day vocabulary, but it could be useful for literature, academics etc.

Same with vicissitudes, it's not necessarily just "change", but can also be "an unwelcome change in your fortune"; the use of such specific words, depending on their contexts, makes the message you're trying to convey more precise and, well, uncomplicated! :]

But to add to your thread in some way, I've always thought the word "cavort" seems unnecessarily naughty, when it's quite innocent.

e: also, exploring the origin of certain words can sometimes explain why they came into existence, and then they don't seem unnecessarily complicated.

A favourite phrase of mine is "callipygian pulchritude", which I use at every appropriate situation.

I have a Life in Hell cartoon that always makes me laugh - sadly I can't seem to find a link... essentially it is a list of words and the tagline in this Akbar and Jeff cartoon is "I said erotic not filthy!" ;-D

There are some wonderful rarely used words in the English language. I have many that I am fond of, but they are hard to remember on the spur of the moment. However, one of my favourites is "flabbergasted".

I do enjoy a bit of sesquipedalian loquaciousness ;-)

discombobulate --- dis·com·bob·u·late tr.v. dis·com·bob·u·lat·ed, dis·com·bob·u·lat·ing, dis·com·bob·u· lates. To throw into a state of confusion.

I blame my friend for that. He is a fan of unusual words and got me into it a bit - there's a few interesting books on them LOL.

My language is French. I notice that we share some words with English, but these are often considered fancy in one language and not the other. Defenestration is a good exemple, nothing fancy about it in my eyes. But my main language uses the word "fenêtre" (historically the "ê" is the constraction of medieval french "es") for "window", that makes it a very straightforward word. It's as if you were using "unwindowing" and I was finding this word super obscure and fancy.

That being said, we also have in French a (fucking lost) tradition of high brow humour, with the best comedians having a very rich and classy vocabulary and using it for jokes and various horrors. Pierre Desproges (stand up comedy), +eorge Brassens (songs) and François Cavanna (writing) were quite popular, and still are after their death. It makes fancy words and classy rich vocabulary a value that is not necessarily "dull" or "pretentious", but actually quite fun for everyday life jest. Finding a super precise word to use in a comedic description can be quite effective. In English, this is well illustrated by "Tycho's" entries on the Penny Arcade website.

So, yeah, we tend to use them a lot in everyday life. Words are cool. Language is cool. And a rich vocabulary has a reason to be (even outside academia, I mean). It's effective, précise, economical and potentially snappy.

Formication
Nugatory

Ubiquitous = present, appearing, or found everywhere.

I think you are all just exasterbating the situation! ( to make more violent, bitter or severe )

You mean exacerbating?

I know of a sexagenarian who likes to engage in public mastication. He's never been arrested, and if you know what those words mean you'd understand why.

With his mouth open? Definitely should be arrested.

Especially considering he may have dentures at his age! :)

My favorite 'fancy' word, though not real unusual, is "conviviality".
Love the sound and meaning of it.
Kinda fits these forums. :)

EDIT: I just realized I AM a sexagenarian , sounds cool.
Don't f*** with me, I'm a Sexagenarian! ;)

How felicitously put indeed.

This is a fun thread, I'm always happy to expand my vocabulary.

Licentious = promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters.