Funny Words Starting with ‘A’
Whoever said that the English language was staid and unamusing clearly hasn’t delved deep enough into the alphabetical antics that it has to offer. Today, let’s take a rollicking roll through the lexicon, spotlighting those ludicrous and laugh-inducing words that begin with the first letter of the alphabet: ‘A’. Ready for a dose of delightful diction? Let’s amble through an array of ‘A’ words that are guaranteed to tickle your funny bone.
Table of Contents
Absquatulate
To “absquatulate” is to leave abruptly, but the word itself sounds like a squawk from a confused parrot. It’s the perfect term for when you need to make a swift and sneaky exit, and it’s as fun to say as it is to execute.
Example: After the blind date went disastrously wrong, he decided to absquatulate before dessert.
Anfractuous
“Anfractuous” refers to something winding or circuitous. It’s the kind of word that feels like a journey just to pronounce, and it’s a handy descriptor for the kind of path that might leave you dizzy.
Example: The anfractuous road up the mountain had more twists and turns than a soap opera plot.
Argle-bargle
“Argle-bargle” is a delightfully silly term for a copious amount of meaningless talk or writing. It’s the verbal equivalent of a clown car—packed with noise but not much substance.
Example: The meeting devolved into argle-bargle, with everyone talking over each other but saying very little.
Asunder
While “asunder” often appears in dramatic contexts, such as something being ripped apart, it also has a humorous side, especially when used in an overly dramatic sense for something minor.
Example: When he dropped the cookie, it broke asunder on the floor, a tragic end to a chocolate chip masterpiece.
Attercop
“Attercop” is an old term for a spider, but it sounds more like an insult you’d lob at a particularly grumpy person. It’s the sort of word that’s perfect for colorful characters in fantasy novels or your cantankerous neighbor.
Example: Old man Jenkins, the neighborhood attercop, was always ready with a scowl for anyone who stepped on his lawn.
Avuncular
“Avuncular” means like an uncle, especially in kindness or indulgence. The word itself, however, sounds rather stiff and formal, which can be amusing when used to describe the most laid-back, jocular uncles out there.
Example: Uncle Bob, with his avuncular chuckles and penchant for bad jokes, was everyone’s favorite relative.
Awkward
“Awkward” is a word that encapsulates the essence of many of life’s most humorously uncomfortable moments. It’s the go-to descriptor for social gaffes and physical faux pas.
Example: The silence after he mistook his date’s sister for her mother was so awkward, you could hear a pin drop.
Azure
“Azure” is a poetic term for a blue color, reminiscent of the sky on a clear day. It’s funny when used in overly dramatic declarations about mundane blue objects.
Example: She gazed lovingly at her azure mop bucket, as if it were a piece of fine art.
Abibliophobia
The fear of running out of reading material, known as “abibliophobia,” is a word that’s likely to strike a chord with bookworms, and it sounds like a condition one might whimsically claim to suffer from.
Example: I’ve packed twelve books for my weekend getaway—can’t risk an abibliophobia episode!
Alphamegamia
“Alphamegamia” is the odd term for the act of marrying someone much older. It’s amusing in its specificity and sounds like a rare species of flower rather than a marital situation.
Example: Her alphamegamia was the talk of the town, especially since her new husband was old enough to be her grandfather.
Agastopia
“Agastopia” is the admiration of a particular part of someone else’s body. This peculiar term is bound to elicit giggles when used to compliment someone’s seemingly unremarkable feature.
Example: He’s developed a serious case of agastopia over her elbows—they’re just so…elbowy.
Ambisinister
The opposite of ambidextrous, “ambisinister” describes someone who is clumsy or unskilled with both hands. It’s a polite way of saying “hopelessly butterfingered.”
Example: She’s so ambisinister that she needs a safety net to catch everything she drops.
Amok
Running “amok” is to behave uncontrollably and disruptively, and the word has a frenetic energy thatcaptures the chaos it describes. It’s the term for when toddlers (or adults) go on a rampage in a candy store.
Example: After eating too much sugar, the children ran amok, turning the living room into a scene straight out of a cartoon.
Anomalous
“Anomalous” describes something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected. It can be comical when it refers to the one oddball item or behavior in a group that’s otherwise uniform.
Example: In a family of dedicated vegetarians, Uncle Joe’s insatiable craving for meatloaf was considered highly anomalous.
Antidisestablishmentarianism
This tongue-twister is famous for being one of the longest words in the English language. It refers to the movement against the disestablishment of the Church of England as the state church of England. The humor comes from its sheer length and complexity.
Example: “Just for fun, let’s all say ‘antidisestablishmentarianism’ three times fast,” she proposed, and the room erupted in a cacophony of tangled tongues.
Apoplectic
“Apoplectic” usually describes being overcome with anger, but it can be funny when someone is apoplectic over something trivial, like a board game or a sports call.
Example: Dad went apoplectic when he discovered the Monopoly bank was short five dollars—turns out the dog was the thief.
Appaloosa
While “Appaloosa” is actually a horse breed known for its distinctive spotted coat, the word’s peculiar rhythm makes it amusing, especially when imagining a polka-dotted horse prancing to a beat.
Example: An Appaloosa named Dotty became an online sensation for dancing to disco music in her pasture.
Aquiver
“Aquiver” is to tremble or shake with excitement or emotion. It’s an endearing word when used to describe someone’s over-the-top reaction to something relatively mundane.
Example: She was aquiver with anticipation at the grand opening of the new roundabout.
Arachibutyrophobia
The fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth is known as “arachibutyrophobia.” It’s a ridiculously specific phobia that’s bound to get a chuckle when confessed in a group.
Example: “I can’t join the peanut butter tasting,” he said solemnly, “I suffer from acute arachibutyrophobia.”
Archipelago
“Archipelago” sounds exotic, but it’s simply a group of islands. The word’s lulling rhythm is comical when used to describe something decidedly less majestic.
Example: He called the cluster of spills on the kitchen floor his “breakfast archipelago.”
Askance
To look “askance” is to look suspiciously or disapprovingly, and it’s a word that paints a picture of someone casting a sidelong glance, often in an exaggeratedly suspicious manner.
Example: The cat looked askance at the new puppy, as if it were an alien invader in her once-peaceful realm.
Ataxia
“Ataxia” is a lack of muscle coordination, but it could pass for a new dance craze, especially when someone is particularly uncoordinated on the dance floor.
Example: After his third dance lesson, it became clear that Harold wasn’t learning the tango; he was pioneering the Ataxia Shuffle.
Auspicious
“Auspicious” means conducive to success, and it’s humorously applied to situations that are anything but successful, highlighting the irony.
Example: The auspicious start to his diet was marked by accidentally joining the line for free doughnuts.
Automaton
“Automaton” refers to a moving mechanical device made in imitation of a human being. It has a quirky ring to it and is amusing when used to describe someone going through their morning routine on autopilot.
Example: Before her first coffee of the day, she moved through the house like a caffeine-deprived automaton.
Axiomatic
“Axiomatic” means self-evident or unquestionable, but when used in casual conversation, it can come off as comically formal or serious.
Example: “It’s axiomatic,” he declared, “that no one should speak before I’ve had my morning cup of tea.”
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the English alphabet’s inaugural letter offers an astonishing array of amusing words to articulate a variety of situations, all while adding a dash of humor. Whether you’re absquatulating from an awkward encounter or pondering the argle-bargle of daily life, these ‘A’ words are an arsenal of amusement at your disposal. So next time you find yourself in a quagmire of common conversation, spice it up with some of these amusing ‘A’ adjectives and watch the hilarity unfold.
