Hard drawing game words
These 228 hard words make the artist plan: a stethoscope, the Golden Gate Bridge, a revolving door. Some are detailed, some are easy to mistake for something else, and some are whole scenes.
Give players 90 seconds, and allow the artist to draw "sounds like" clues if your group agrees. It keeps the game moving when a word is close to impossible.
Carousel
Hard objects to draw
This set has 55 ideas. Start with "Calendar", "Old telephone", "Hourglass" — give each actor 90 seconds; it leans on long titles and "sounds like" clues, so give actors the longer timer and expect half the round to need a second pass.
- CalendarHard
- Old telephoneHard
- HourglassHard
- CompassHard
- Power outletHard
- Ceiling fanHard
- Washing machineHard
- DishwasherHard
- StoveHard
- DrillHard
- PliersHard
- Garden hoseHard
- Paint canHard
- StethoscopeHard
- BottlecapHard
- ChandelierHard
- DresserHard
- CoolerHard
- Cruise shipHard
- Aircraft carrierHard
- BulldozerHard
- CarouselHard
- Diving boardHard
- Hot tubHard
- AnvilHard
- BrainHard
- SaxophoneHard
- TromboneHard
- CelloHard
- HarpHard
- ClarinetHard
- StereoHard
- PassportHard
- PostcardHard
- HurricaneHard
- The Mona LisaHard
- Grandfather clockHard
- Vending machineHard
- EscalatorHard
- Traffic coneHard
- SatelliteHard
- TelescopeHard
- MicroscopeHard
- TypewriterHard
- Record playerHard
- Sewing machineHard
- Wind chimeHard
- Lava lampHard
- Fire extinguisherHard
- Shopping cartHard
- Kitchen sinkHard
- Spiral staircaseHard
- Revolving doorHard
- Parking meterHard
- CannonHard
Hard places and landmarks
This set has 32 ideas. Start with "City skyline", "Village", "Highway" — give each actor 90 seconds; it leans on long titles and "sounds like" clues, so give actors the longer timer and expect half the round to need a second pass.
- City skylineHard
- VillageHard
- HighwayHard
- Parking lotHard
- Gas stationHard
- Police stationHard
- Post officeHard
- BankHard
- The Great Wall of ChinaHard
- Big BenHard
- StonehengeHard
- Mount RushmoreHard
- Taj MahalHard
- Golden Gate BridgeHard
- Niagara FallsHard
- Grand CanyonHard
- AntarcticaHard
- Solar systemHard
- Black holeHard
- GalaxyHard
- GlacierHard
- OasisHard
- ShipwreckHard
- Desert islandHard
- AtticHard
- BasementHard
- Office cubicleHard
- Race trackHard
- Farmers marketHard
- Car washHard
- LaundromatHard
- Hotel lobbyHard
Hard animals to draw
This set has 30 ideas. Start with "Iguana", "Jaguar", "Armadillo" — give each actor 90 seconds; it leans on long titles and "sounds like" clues, so give actors the longer timer and expect half the round to need a second pass.
- IguanaHard
- JaguarHard
- ArmadilloHard
- AnteaterHard
- PlatypusHard
- ManateeHard
- NarwhalHard
- ParakeetHard
- BisonHard
- YakHard
- MoleHard
- BadgerHard
- FerretHard
- GazelleHard
- AntelopeHard
- WarthogHard
- BaboonHard
- OrangutanHard
- LemurHard
- Komodo dragonHard
- TadpoleHard
- PuffinHard
- CoyoteHard
- ChihuahuaHard
- TarantulaHard
- TermiteHard
- CentipedeHard
- PhoenixHard
- PegasusHard
- Loch Ness MonsterHard
Hard food to draw
This set has 25 ideas. Start with "Asparagus", "Green beans", "Blackberry" — give each actor 90 seconds; it leans on long titles and "sounds like" clues, so give actors the longer timer and expect half the round to need a second pass.
- AsparagusHard
- Green beansHard
- BlackberryHard
- CroissantHard
- SmoothieHard
- DumplingHard
- KiwiHard
- MangoHard
- PlumHard
- GarlicHard
- LettuceHard
- Gumball machineHard
- Jelly beansHard
- Jar of jamHard
- Peanut butter and jelly sandwichHard
- Salt and pepperHard
- Fish sticksHard
- Mac and cheeseHard
- LasagnaHard
- Fortune cookieHard
- BrownieHard
- Mustard bottleHard
- PomegranateHard
- ArtichokeHard
- Gingerbread cookieHard
Hard actions, jobs and holiday words60 of 86
This set has 86 ideas. Start with "Writing thank-you cards", "Grim Reaper", "Holly" — give each actor 90 seconds; it leans on long titles and "sounds like" clues, so give actors the longer timer and expect half the round to need a second pass.
- Writing thank-you cardsHard
- Grim ReaperHard
- HollyHard
- Breaking a resolutionHard
- Synchronized swimmingHard
- Trick candles that relightHard
- Court jesterHard
- Pulling a Christmas crackerHard
- Learning a new languageHard
- Hang glidingHard
- Pretending to like a giftHard
- Sea captainHard
- Hearing sleigh bellsHard
- Starting a new diaryHard
- ParaglidingHard
- Smash cakeHard
- Superhero's sidekickHard
- PoinsettiaHard
- Red envelopeHard
- PoloHard
- Party favorsHard
- Father TimeHard
- Yule logHard
- Eating twelve grapes at midnightHard
- CricketHard
- Turning 100Hard
- TinselHard
- Making a vision boardHard
- LacrosseHard
- Pass the parcelHard
- GarlandHard
- Out with the old, in with the newHard
- SquashHard
- Surprise party gone wrongHard
- MistletoeHard
- Fresh startHard
- JavelinHard
- Guessing what's in the boxHard
- Christmas puddingHard
- Year in reviewHard
- Shot putHard
- Birthday paradeHard
- Roasting chestnutsHard
- Hugging at midnightHard
- DiscusHard
- Opening presents too fastHard
- Jack-in-the-boxHard
- Forgetting to write the new year on a checkHard
- TriathlonHard
- Cake falling overHard
- Christmas movie marathonHard
- Signing up for a marathonHard
- DecathlonHard
- Too many candles to blow outHard
- Wrapping a present badlyHard
- Giving up sweetsHard
- Speed skatingHard
- Finding a gray hairHard
- Finding the biggest presentHard
- Deleting old photosHard
Printable drawing game word cards
64 cards from this list, eight to a page with cut lines and card backs for double-sided printing. Free PDF.
Questions
What are hard things to draw in a drawing game?
Objects defined by small details (a stethoscope, a compass), landmarks (Stonehenge), and things that look like other things (a narwhal is not a unicorn fish).
How do you draw a hard word?
Draw the setting first, then the object: a doctor before the stethoscope, a river before the bridge. Arrows and circling the key part help guessers focus.
Are these words too hard for kids?
For most under-tens, yes. Older children who like a challenge can manage many of them; for younger players use the easy or kids lists.
Can you use letters or numbers when drawing?
Not in the usual rules. Some groups allow a number of dashes for words, like hangman; agree before you start.
How long should a turn be with hard words?
Ninety seconds works well. Increase to two minutes for scenes.