27 words starting with H

• hallmark noun

  a typical feature that identifies a person or thing

  Careful observation is a hallmark of a good scientist.

  Like trademark, characteristic, sign

• hamper verb

  to make it harder for someone to do something

  Thick fog hampered the pilots’ view of the runway.

  Like hinder, obstruct, impede

• haphazard adjective

  without any order or plan

  Books were piled in a haphazard way all over the floor.

  Like random, disorganized, careless

• hapless adjective

  unlucky, with things often going wrong

  The hapless tourist missed the bus three days in a row.

  Like unlucky, unfortunate, luckless

• hardy adjective

  strong and able to survive difficult conditions

  Hardy yaks can survive the freezing winters of the high Himalaya.

  Like tough, robust, sturdy

• harmonious adjective

  forming a pleasing whole; friendly and free of conflict

  The choir’s harmonious voices filled the hall.

  Like melodious, peaceful, agreeable

• harrowing adjective

  very upsetting or frightening to experience

  The pilot described the harrowing landing in a heavy storm.

  Like distressing, terrifying, traumatic

• haughty adjective

  proud and acting as if you are better than others

  The haughty prince refused to speak to the farmers.

  Like arrogant, proud, snobbish

• headstrong adjective

  determined to do things your own way and not listen to advice

  The headstrong boy insisted on climbing the tree by himself.

  Like stubborn, willful, obstinate

• heed verb

  to pay careful attention to advice or a warning

  The trekkers heeded the guide’s warning and turned back before the storm.

  Like follow, mind, obey

• hegemony noun

  control or strong influence of one group or country over others

  For centuries, the empire held hegemony over trade in the region.

  Like dominance, supremacy, control

• heresy noun

  a belief that goes strongly against accepted religious or official teaching

  In Galileo’s time, saying the Earth moved was treated as heresy.

  Like unorthodoxy, heterodoxy

• heterogeneous adjective

  made up of parts that are different from one another

  A salad is a heterogeneous mixture of vegetables.

  Like diverse, mixed, varied

• hinder verb

  to delay or make it harder for something to happen

  Loud music hindered my efforts to study.

  Like hamper, obstruct, impede

• hindrance noun

  something that makes progress slower or harder

  The heavy backpack was a hindrance on the narrow path.

  Like obstacle, barrier, impediment

• hoard verb

  to collect and hide away a large supply of something

  Squirrels hoard nuts to eat during the winter.

  Like stockpile, store, amass

• homage noun

  honor or respect shown publicly to someone

  The museum paid homage to the first Nepali woman to climb Everest.

  Like tribute, honor, respect

• homogeneous adjective

  made up of parts that are all the same kind

  Salt water is a homogeneous mixture, because it looks the same throughout.

  Like uniform, consistent, alike

• hone verb

  to sharpen a blade; to improve a skill through practice

  She honed her drawing skills by sketching every day.

  Like sharpen, refine, polish

• hostile adjective

  unfriendly and ready to fight or argue; very harsh

  The desert is a hostile place for most plants.

  Like unfriendly, aggressive, unwelcoming

• humane adjective

  kind and caring, trying not to cause suffering

  The shelter treats stray dogs in a humane way.

  Like compassionate, kind, merciful

• humble adjective

  not proud; not thinking you are better than others

  Despite winning many medals, the athlete stayed humble.

  Like modest, unassuming, meek

• humility noun

  the quality of not thinking you are better than others

  The great scientist spoke with humility about her discoveries.

  Like modesty, humbleness, meekness

• hyperbole noun

  deliberate exaggeration used for effect, not meant literally

  Saying the bag weighed a ton was hyperbole, but it really was heavy.

  Like exaggeration, overstatement

• hypocrisy noun

  pretending to have beliefs or standards that you do not actually follow

  It is hypocrisy to tell others to save water while leaving your own tap running.

  Like insincerity, double standard

• hypocrite noun

  a person who claims to hold beliefs but acts against them

  He called his brother a hypocrite for banning sweets and then eating chocolate.

  Like pretender, phony

• hypothetical adjective

  imagined or supposed for the sake of discussion, not real

  The teacher asked a hypothetical question: what if the moon disappeared tomorrow?

  Like theoretical, imaginary, supposed