Many times it so happens, that I'll find myself in the middle of a deliciously dark sentence, searching for the perfect word or turn of phrase. The Thesauras, bless its heart, only goes so far.
Sometimes words are an inspiration unto themselves, and I thought perhaps the following list I've put together, compiled over the last few months, might provide inspiration or assistance for other writers as well.
Some of these wicked words I've discovered nesting in the works of H.P. Lovecraft (who was an undisputed master of description); others were plucked from the pages of Victorian classics. Some words, like a good dream, arrived out of nowhere. The good Lord willing, I've spelled them the majority correctly (although I'm old enough to appreciate collq. English - 'colour' reads far better with the 'U', don't you think?).
[For some insidious reason, Spell Check is not working for me today, so be on guard for potential misspellings.]
Anyway, as we creative writers recognize, good words are the spice on the banquet of Life. Bon Appetit!
Wicked Words:
Abandoned
Abode
Abject
Abnormal
Abominal
Abomination
Absent
Abscess
Abuse
Abysmal
Abyss
Acidious Acid Acidic
Accursed
Affliction
Affright
Affront
Alter
Anathem
Anarchy
Ancient
Anguish
Animalistic
Animosity
Annihilation
Antagonist
Antedate
Antithesis
Anxiety
Apishly
Appalling
Apopalyptic
Arborescence
Artifact
Artifice
Artificial
Atrophied
Ascending
Ashen
Askew
Aspect
Aspersion
Assailant
Assault
Astonish
Atrophied
Archaic
Arcane
Artifact
Assylum
Atmosphere
Attack
Attic
Avarice
Aversion
Avid
Awed
Awful
Axe
Babbled
Bade
B'aal
Bafflement
Balked
Banquet
Banshee
Baracade
Barren
Baseless
Bastilion
Battered
Baying
Beastial
Bedevil
Beg
Beggerdly
Behead
Behemoth
Bemoan
Bestowed
Bequeath
Bestial
Bewitched
Beyond
Bezelbub
Bibulous
Billious
Bite
Bitten
Bizarre
Black
Blasphemous Blasphemy
Blazing
Bleed Bled
Blighted
Blinded
Bloated
Bludgeon
Bloody
Bodies
Boding
Boil
Bore
Brood
Brutal
Bulging
Bulk
Burial
Burned
Burst
Cacophony
Cadaverous
Caged
Candle
Caprice
Capture
Carcass
Carnage
Carve Carven
Casket
Cast
Castle
Catterwail
Catastrophic
Cautioned
Caved
Chaos
Chasm
Chilling
Choke
Chomp
Claw
Clutch
Cobwebbed
Collapse
Colossal
Confession
Conflagration
Conjure
Corpse
Corrugated
Countenance
Covert
Covet
Cowered
Craftily
Crash
Crawl
Crawlspace
Craven
Crazy
Crazed
Creak
Creature
Cremation Cremate Crematorian
Creepy
Crested
Cringe
Croak
Crone
Crouched
Crucify
Crude
Cruelty
Crumbling
Crush
Crusted
Crutch
Crypt
Cryptic
Cumrudgeon
Cunning
Curious
Curse
Cyclopean
Daemons
Damaged
Damnable
Damp
Danger
Dangerous
Dank
Daring
Dark Darken
Dastardly
Dawn
Dazed
Decadent
Decay
Deceitful
Declivity
Decomposition
Dead Deaden
Deadly
Death
Debauchery
Decadent
Decrepit
Deep
Defective
Defiant Defy
Deformed
Degenerate
Deify
Delirious
Delirium
Demise
Demonic
Depravity
Deranged
Descending
Despair
Desperate
Despised
Dessicated
Destroy
Deterrant
Detestable
Deterioration
Devastating
Deviant
Devil
Devoid
Devotee
Devour
Diabolical
Disciple
Dig
Dilated
Dim
Din
Dingy
Dire
Disarmed
Disarray
Discarded
Discolored
Disconcerting
Diseased
Disembowel
Disfigure
Disgust
Disintegration
Dismal
Dismember
Disorder
Disquiet
Dissolve
Distressed
Disturbing
Diversion
Domicile
Drained
Deaded
Dreadful
Dreary
Dripping
Drool
Druge
Dug
Dungeon
Dusk
Dwelling
Eccentric
Eclectic
Eclipsed
Edifice
Eerie
Elderly
Eldritch
Eliminate
Elusive
Emaciated
Emanation
Embodied
Emotional
Endure
Enegmatic
Enemy
Enigma
Ennui
Enshrouded
Enslaved
Entomb
Eon
Epleptic
Error
Espied
Evil
Eviscerate
Excessive
Excite
Excruciating
Execute
Exile
Expanse
Explode
Exotic
Exterpated
Exterminated
Extraordinary
Fail
Faint
Fallen
Fanatical
Fantastical
Fatal
Fear
Fearful
Febrile
Feeble
Feelers
Fend
Festered
Fey
Fiend Fiendish
Fiendish
Fiery
Filth
Flagellate
Flail
Flesh
Flog
Fluids
Flushed
Foe
Foetor
Folly
Forage
Forbade
Forbidden
Forbode
Foreshadow
Forgotten
Foul
Founder
Formulae
Fracture
Frantically
Fraught
Freaky
Frenzy
Fright
Frightful
Frightened
Frigid
Froze
Funeral
Fungus
Fungoid
Furtive
Furtively
Gag
Gargantuan
Garoute
Garret
Gash
Gasp
Gaunt
Ghastly
Ghost
Ghoul
Giant
Gibbous
Gibbering
Gigantic
Glare
Glassy Glassen
Gleamed
Gloat
Globular
Glowered
Glowing
Glyphs
Gnarly
Gnash
Gnaw
Gobbled
Gore
Gothic
Gouged
Graphic
Grasp
Grim
Grimace
Grimmoire
Grind
Grope
Gross
Ground
Grave
Graven
Graveyard
Grey
Gray
Grisly
Grotesque
Growl
Growth
Grudge
Gruesome
Gulf
Grunt
Guitined
Guts
Gutteral
Hack
Hades
Hag
Haggard
Hallow
Hanged
Hank
Harangue
Haunt
Haze
Headstones
Heaving
Hectic
Hellish
Heretic
Hermit
Hewn
Hex
Hidden
Hideous
Hieroglyphics
Hoarse
Hoary
Hollow
Homicidal
Hook
Horrendous
Horrible
Horrid
Horrific
Horror
Hostel
Hovel
Howl
Huddled
Hulking
Hung
Hunger
Hunted
Hurled
Hurried
Hypnotic
Hypnotized
Icy
Idiot
Idol Idoltry
Ill-fated
Imbecilic
Immensity
Impairment
Impeded
Imperative
Imploded
Imprisoned
Inanimate
Inarticulate
Incantation
Incendiary
Incoherent
Inconceivable
Incredulous
Incubus
Indescribable
Ineffable
Infernal
Inferno
Inhuman
Infect
Inferno
Infiltrate
Inflicted
Inhabitable
Injunction
Injury Injurous
Injustice
Illumine
Illusive Illusion
Immortal
Inflicted
Inky
Irrational
Insane
Insatiable
Inscriptions
Insensate
Insensible
Insidious
Insinuate
Insolate
Intensify Intensified
Interment
Interminable
Inundate
Invade
Invisible
Irony Ironic
Jaundiced
Kill
Knave
Knavery
Laboratory
Labyrinth
Lassitude
Leaden
Lecherous Lecher
Leering
Lethal
Lethargic
Leviathan
Lifeless
Limping
Liver
Livid
Loath
Loathsome
Lolling
Loner
Lonely
Loomed
Lope
Lost
Lucid
Lucifer
Lunacy Lunatic Lunar
Lumbering
Luminosity
Lumpish
Lunged
Lupine
Lurch
Lurked
Lustful
Mad
Maddening
Magic
Maggoty
Maledept
Malady
Maledroit
Malefactor
Malicious
Malificant
Malign
Malignant
Mangled
Mania
Maniacal
Manic
Marsh
Masochist
Matted
Maudlin
Mausoleum
Mayhem
Melancholy
Malodorous
Menacing
Merciless
Mere
Mesmerized
Metamorphosed
Metaphysical
Midnight
Minion
Mire
Mischance
Misshapen
Missing
Mistake
Misty
Moan
Mocked
Monolith
Monotonous
Monster
Monstrosity
Monstrous
Moody
Morass
Morbid
Moribund
Moritorium
Mortuary
Muffled
Murder
Musty
Mutilated
Muttered
Mystical
Narcoleptic
Narcosis
Narrow
Nasty
Nauseating
Necromencer
Necrophilia
Necropolis
Needs
Nefarious
Nervous
Nightmare
Nocturnal
Noose
Noxious
Obelisks
Obliterate
Oblique
Oblivion
Obscene
Obscure
Obsess Obsession
Obsidian
Obtuse
Odd
Odious
Offal
Offering
Ogre
Ominous
Oppose
Oppression
Organs
Orgiastic
Ostracize
Outre
Overstrained
Pagan
Pale
Pallid
Pandemonium
Panic Panicked
Paralysis
Paranormal
Paraphernalia
Parasitic
Parched
Parodies
Paroxym
Pathos
Paw
Peculiarity
Pendantic
Penetrate
Perdition
Perish
Permeates
Perverse
Pesimist
Phantasm
Phantasmagoric
Phantasy
Phantom
Phobic
Pit
Plead
Plummet
Pocked Pocks Pox
Pointy
Poisonous
Ponderous
Poorly
Portent Portentious
Possess Possession
Presiment
Precarious
Preditor
Preservative Preserved
Presient
Pretence
Preternatural
Prey
Prickly
Primeval
Primordial
Proboscule
Profane
Profound
Prophetic
Prophesy
Protagonist
Protestations
Protruding
Provoke
Pry
Psychi
Pulsate
Pungent
Punish
Punitive
Pursuit
Pus
Putrid
Putrescent
Qualm
Queer
Quest
Quiver
Rack
Rage
Ragged
Raided
Rancid
Rank
Rasp
Rattled Rattling
Ravaged
Rave
Ravenous
Raw
Realms
Reanimate
Recesses
Reclusive Recluse
Regret
Remonstrate
Remorse
Remote
Rend
Renounce
Rent
Repellent Repell
Repugnant
Repulsive
Repulse
Resent
Resentment
Resist
Restless
Resurrect
Reticent
Revere
Riddled
Rigid
Rigor (rigor mortis)
Rile
Rip
Ritual Ritualistic
Rites
Riven
Rot
Rotten
Ruin
Rushed
Sacrifice
Sadism
Sadist
Sadistic
Salivate
Sallow
Sanitarium
Sanitorium
Sarcastic
Sardonic
Satanic
Satire
Scant
Scar
Scarce
Schizo
Scintillate
Scorching
Scoundrel
Scourge
Scrabbled
Scrawled
Scream
Sculptures
Scurried
Seared
Secretive
Seedy
Seized
Sepulchred
Serious
Sequestered
Serpentine
Sever
Shackled
Shade
Shadow
Shallow
Shambling
Shave
Shiver
Shock
Shred
Shriek
Shriven
Shroud
Shrunken
Shudder
Shuffled
Shunned
Severed
Sibilant
Sicken
Sickly
Sightless
Silent Silence
Sin
Singular
Sinister
Skeletal
Slabs
Slander Slanderous
Slash
Slattern
Slave
Slay
Sliced
Slimy
Slink
Slit
Slither
Sliver
Sloth
Slouching
Slow
Slovenly
Sly
Solitary
Spat
Spawn
Spectral
Speculate
Spell
Spinster
Splayed
Splatter
Spooky
Sprawl
Sorcery
Solitude
Sore
Spasm
Spatter
Spectre
Spectral
Speculate
Spider
Spidery
Spindly
Spoil Spoiled
Squalor
Squash
Squeak
Squirm
Serpent
Serpentine
Spires
Stab
Staccato
Stale
Stalk
Stank
Stark
Starved
Stealth
Stench
Steeply
Stickley
Stiff
Stir
Stoned
Strained
Stranded
Strange
Stricken
Strident
Stroke
Struggle
Stumbled
Stun Stunted
Stupify
Stygian
Subterfuge
Subterranean
Subversive
Succumbed
Sucked
Sucubus
Sully
Summoned
Sunken
Supernatural
Suppress
Supranormal
Surging
Suspend
Suspicous
Swamp
Swell
Swollen
Tail
Tainted
Tale
Talon
Target
Taunt
Tautly
Tethered
Temple
Tenacled
Tensions
Tenuous
Terminate
Terrible
Terror Terrify
Thickened
Thievery
Thin
Things
Thirst
Thrased
Threaten Threat
Threshold
Throes
Thumping
Thug
Thwarted
Tighten
Tissue
Tomb
Tombstone
Torment
Torture
Towering
Tragic
Tragedy
Transcend
Transformation
Transmutate
Trapped
Treachery
Treacherous
Tremble
Tremulous
Trial
Tribulation
Troll
Trussed
Turmoil
Tussle
Twilight
Twisted
Twitching
Twittered
Unbearable
Unbroken
Uncannily
Uncomfortable
Undulate
Unexpected
Unfashioned
Unhealthy
Unhinged
Unholy
Unjust
Unkempt
Unknown
Unimaginable
Ululation
Unnatural
Unprecedented
Unseen
Unsightly
Utter Utterly
Unutterable
Unwholesome
Unwise
Vague
Vampire
Vampiric
Vanished
Vast Vastness
Vault Vaulted
Vengeful
Veins
Veined
Vicious
Victim Victimize
Vigil
Villainous Villify
Vile
Violate
Violent
Visage
Visions
Vivid
Void
Vulnerable
Wail
Wan
Wand
Wander
Wane
Warlock
Warped
Warned
Wary
Wasted
Wasteland
Wastral
Waxen
Wayfarer
Wayward
Weakened
Weary Wearied
Weathered
Web
Werewolf
Whine
Whip
Whispering
Wicked
Widowed
Wield
Wild
Willful
Wily
Witch
Withered
Wolfen
Worship
Worm
Worn
Wound
Wounded
Wreak
Wreck
Wreckage
Wrest
Wrestled
Writhe
Yawned
Zenith
Zombie
P.S. I'll tweak this list before too long, adding to it now and then. I've a couple of other (hopefully) helpful lists on my desktop as well, in the works.
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