17 words that were first used by Shakespeare

Oct 20, 2023

Aakanksha Sharma

​The ‘Bard of Avon'

William Shakespeare, the beloved ‘Bard of Avon', stands as the unrivaled champion of English playwrights, celebrated for his storytelling prowess.

​Words created by Shakespeare

Additionally, his pioneering use of language has left an indelible mark on our modern vocabulary, shaping it into what and how we use it today. Here we list 17 words first used by Shakespeare.

​Arch-Villain

First used in Timon of Athens, Arch-Villain refers to the most prominent antagonist or villain in a story.

​Dauntless

First used in 'King Henry V', Dauntless means being fearless or indomitable.

Addiction

First used in 'King Henry V', the word refers to the condition of being obsessed with a substance or activity.

​Bedazzled

First used in ‘The Taming of the Shrew’, the word refers to being greatly impressed or dazzled by someone.

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​Eyeball

First used in 'The Tempest', the word refers to the spherical part of the eye or to stare closely.

Obscene

First used in Love’s Labour Lost, the words refers to offensive or morally indecent acts.

Swagger

First used in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, the word refers to walking or acting in a confident, often arrogant manner.

​Ode

First used in ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’, Ode refers to a poem that is meant to be sung.

​Majestic

First used in ‘Julius Caesar’, the word refers to something grand or regal.

Cold-blooded

First used in ‘King John’, cold-blooded refers to an act committed without pity or emotions.

​Gossip

First used in ‘The Comedy of Errors’, to gossip means to spread information that has not been proved true.

​Bandit

First used in ‘King Henry VI’, the word refers to a person who is a part of a violent gang.

Outbreak

First used in ‘Hamlet’, the word refers to an outburst or a sudden emergence of something bad or ill.

Unreal

First used in ‘Macbeth’, unreal refers to something that does not exist or is illusory.

​Tranquil

First used in ‘Othello’, the word means peaceful or free from any disturbance.

​Mimic

First used in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, to mimic is to copy or imitate someone for entertainment.

Torture

First used in ‘King Henry VI’, torture refers to inflicting pain or suffering upon someone.

Thanks For Reading!

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