If you’ve ever wondered which prompts spark the loudest laughs and the fastest guesses, this best words for charades list is your shortcut. We’ve grouped words by difficulty and added a few hosting tips so you can match the vibe — family night, party crowd, or remote team session.

Skip list-building and play instantly at /play.

Easy (great for kids and first-timers)

Animals: Cat, Dog, Elephant, Giraffe, Monkey, Penguin, Lion, Dolphin, Kangaroo, Butterfly

Actions: Brushing teeth, Riding a bike, Baking cookies, Jumping rope, Flying a kite, Watering plants, Reading a book

Objects & places: Backpack, Balloon, Airplane, Ice cream, Playground, Supermarket, Tent, Beach day

Medium (for mixed groups)

Occupations: Detective, Astronaut, Chef, Barista, Librarian, Lifeguard

Sports & fitness: Penalty kick, Slam dunk, Marathon, Yoga pose, Tennis serve, Home run

Movies & TV: The Lion King, Jurassic Park, Titanic, Frozen, The Avengers, The Matrix

Hard (for competitive nights)

Abstract & phrases: Undercover agent, Plot twist, Cliffhanger, Mind blown, Time machine, Renaissance

Trickier animals/actions: Chameleon, Rhinoceros, Parallel parking, Documentary, Orchestra

How to mix difficulty in one session

• Round 1: Easy (build confidence)
• Round 2: Medium (increase challenge)
• Round 3: Medium/Hard (for the finale)

If you’re playing online, set 60–90 second turns and allow one pass. Rotate actors quickly and keep transitions lively to maintain momentum.

For a zero-prep option, open /play and choose a category — you’ll get an endless supply of balanced prompts with timers built in.