8 complicated words people use that actually make them sound less intelligent without realizing it

I used to think using big words made me sound smarter.

In university, I'd pepper my essays with unnecessarily complex vocabulary. I thought it made me sound more educated and sophisticated.

Then I started working in the real world and realized something important. The smartest people I knew used simple, clear language.

They could explain complex ideas without resorting to jargon or obscure terminology. Meanwhile, the people trying hardest to sound intelligent were the ones using complicated words that added nothing to their meaning.

There's a difference between having a strong vocabulary and using complicated words to seem smart. The first is valuable. The second is transparent and often counterproductive.

Here are the words people use thinking they sound intelligent, when actually they're doing the opposite.

1. Utilize

This is probably the most common offender.

People say "utilize" when they simply mean "use." They think the longer word sounds more professional or intelligent.

"We should utilize this opportunity" instead of "We should use this opportunity."

But here's the thing. Utilize has a specific meaning. It means to use something in an effective or practical way, particularly for a purpose it wasn't originally intended for.

Most of the time when people say utilize, they just mean use. And choosing the longer word doesn't make you sound smarter. It makes you sound like you're trying too hard.

I had a colleague who said utilize constantly. In meetings, in emails, in casual conversation. It became so noticeable that people started making fun of it behind her back.

She thought it made her sound professional. It actually made her sound pretentious.

The smartest communicators use the simplest word that accurately conveys their meaning. Usually that's just "use."

2. Synergy

Corporate speak is full of words that sound impressive but mean very little.

Synergy is one of the worst offenders. People throw it around in meetings to sound strategic and business-savvy.

"We need to create synergy between departments." "This partnership will produce synergies."

But what does that actually mean? Usually just that things will work well together. Or that combined efforts will be more effective than separate ones.

Why not just say that?

Using vague business jargon doesn't make you sound smart. It makes you sound like you're hiding behind buzzwords because you don't actually have anything specific to say.

The people who truly understand business strategy can explain their ideas clearly without resorting to meaningless terms like synergy.

3. Paradigm

Another word that's been beaten to death in business and academic contexts.

"We need a paradigm shift." "This represents a new paradigm."

Most people using this word couldn't define it if you asked them to. They've just heard it used in contexts where people were discussing big changes or new approaches.

Paradigm means a typical example or pattern of something. A paradigm shift is a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions.

But usually when people say this, they just mean things are changing or they want to try something new.

I've sat through presentations where people threw around "paradigm" multiple times without adding any actual meaning. They thought it made them sound visionary.

It made them sound like they were compensating for a lack of original ideas with impressive-sounding vocabulary.

4. Leverage

In its original meaning, leverage is about using something to maximum advantage, like using a lever to lift something heavy.

In modern business speak, people use it constantly and usually incorrectly.

"We should leverage our resources." "Let's leverage this relationship."

What they usually mean is "use" or "take advantage of."

The problem with leverage as business jargon is that it's become so overused it's essentially meaningless. It's a verbal tic people have developed to make basic concepts sound more sophisticated.

I've learned to translate when people say leverage. They almost always mean something simpler that would be clearer if they just said it directly.

5. Actionable

This is another piece of corporate jargon that people think makes them sound decisive and strategic.

"We need actionable insights." "Let's focus on actionable items."

Actionable just means you can do something about it. That it's practical rather than theoretical.

But adding "actionable" to everything doesn't make you sound more focused or strategic. It often makes you sound like you're trying to dress up basic concepts in business terminology.

My former boss used "actionable" in almost every meeting. At first, I thought he was very strategic. Eventually, I realized he was just using corporate speak to avoid actually saying anything specific.

The smartest people I work with now rarely use this word. They just talk about what needs to be done and how to do it.

6. Plethora

People use this word thinking it makes them sound educated and well-read.

"We have a plethora of options available."

It just means a lot or an abundance. And honestly, those simpler words would sound more natural in most contexts.

What's particularly funny about plethora is that it originally meant an excessive amount, almost too much. Now people use it just to mean many, without that connotation of excess.

So not only are they using an unnecessarily complicated word, they're often using it incorrectly.

I had a teacher who constantly said plethora. At first, I was impressed by her vocabulary. By the end of the year, I realized she just liked using fancy words even when simpler ones would work better.

It didn't make her sound smarter. It made her sound like she was trying to impress us with her vocabulary rather than the actual content of what she was teaching.

7. Commence

Why do people say "commence" when they could say "start" or "begin"?

"We will commence the meeting at 2pm." "Let's commence with the first item."

Commence sounds formal and official, which is probably why people use it. They think it adds gravitas.

But in most contexts, it just sounds stuffy and unnecessarily formal. Like you're trying to make a simple action sound more important than it is.

The exception might be very formal settings like legal documents or ceremonies. But in everyday business communication or conversation, it sounds pretentious.

I remember reading a memo from an executive that said we should "commence utilizing" a new system. Two unnecessarily complicated words when "start using" would have been clearer and more natural.

8. Endeavor

This is another word people use when simpler alternatives would work better.

"I will endeavor to complete this by Friday." "We should endeavor to improve our processes."

Endeavor means to try hard to do something. But most of the time, people just mean "try" or "attempt" or "work to."

Using endeavor doesn't make your commitment sound stronger. It just makes you sound like you swallowed a thesaurus.

I've noticed this particularly in professional emails. People write "I will endeavor" when they mean "I'll try" or even just "I will."

They think the fancier word makes them sound more professional. But it usually just makes the email harder to read and sounds oddly formal for modern workplace communication.

Final thoughts

Here's what I've learned about language and intelligence.

Truly intelligent people can explain complex ideas in simple terms. They use clear, precise language that communicates effectively.

People who are insecure about their intelligence try to compensate with complicated vocabulary. They think big words will make them sound smarter.

But the opposite is usually true. Using unnecessarily complex words when simpler ones would work better actually makes you sound less intelligent.

It suggests you're more concerned with appearing smart than with actual clear communication. That you're hiding behind vocabulary rather than having genuine substance to share.

The best writers and speakers I know have excellent vocabularies. But they use complicated words only when those words add specific meaning that simpler alternatives don't capture.

They're not trying to impress anyone with their vocabulary. They're trying to communicate as clearly as possible.

So before you reach for a complicated word, ask yourself: Does this word add specific meaning that a simpler word doesn't convey? Or am I just trying to sound smart?

If it's the latter, choose the simpler word. You'll sound more intelligent for it.