156 Really Difficult Trivia Questions + Answers

There’s nothing better than a trivia night to show off your skills and engage in some friendly competition, but sometimes it’s hard to come up with good questions on your own. If you’re in this situation, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve compiled a list of tough trivia questions on a wide range of topics, including science, history, geography, literature, movies, and music. Keep reading to find the perfect questions, whether you’re hosting a trivia night for friends or just studying up for your own enjoyment.

Tough Trivia Questions

Who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? Michelangelo
How many bones are in the human body? 206
What is the only continent that’s on all 4 hemispheres? Africa
What is the only metal that’s liquid at room temperature? Mercury
Who is credited as the author of The Iliad? Homer
What is the smallest country in the world by land area? Vatican City
What is the largest desert in the world? Antarctica

Section 1 of 12:

Science Trivia Questions

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Quiz your guests with some tricky science trivia. Test their knowledge (and how well they paid attention in science class!) with these tough questions about the human body, nature, space, and chemistry:
- Question: What is the chemical symbol for salt?
  - Answer: NaCl
- Question: What does a Geiger counter measure?
  - Answer: Radiation
- Question: What is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature?
  - Answer: Mercury
- Question: What is the most abundant gas in the Earth’s atmosphere?
  - Answer: Nitrogen
- Question: How long does it take for sunlight to reach Earth?
  - Answer: 8 minutes
- Question: How many elements are there on the periodic table?
  - Answer: 118
- Question: What is the waste product of photosynthesis?
  - Answer Oxygen gas
- Question: Which scientist is known for the theory of evolution?
  - Answer: Charles Darwin
- Question: At what temperature does water boil?
  - Answer: 212°F (100°C)^{[1]
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- Question: What travels faster, light or sound?
  - Answer: Light^{[2]
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Section 2 of 12:

Animal Kingdom Trivia Questions

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Test the animal lovers with some zoology trivia. These questions about animals are perfect for the science buffs, and those who just happen to be fans of furry friends.
- Question: What is the largest mammal on Earth?
  - Answer: The blue whale
- Question: What is the fastest flying insect in the world?
  - Answer: Dragonfly
- Question: What is the only species of bear found south of the equator?
  - Answer: The spectacled bear
- Question: What animal has 3 hearts?
  - Answer: Octopus
- Question: Which animal has the highest blood pressure?
  - Answer: Giraffe
- Question: What does a bat use to navigate and locate prey?
  - Answer: Echolocation
- Question: What’s the fastest land animal?
  - Answer: Cheetah
- Question: What is a group of crows called?
  - Answer: A murder
- Question:What is the only mammal that can fly?
  - Answer: Bat
- Question: How many bones do sharks have?
  - Answer: 0^{[3]
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- Question: What is a group of porcupines called?
  - Answer: A prickle^{[4]
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Section 3 of 12:

Anatomy Trivia Questions

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Quiz the biology buffs with some trivia about the human body. Members of the group who paid attention in anatomy class or who aspire to be doctors one day will definitely earn their team some points with these questions!
- Question: What are the 4 lobes of the human brain?
  - Answer: Temporal, parietal, frontal, and occipital
- Question: What blood type is known as the “universal donor”?
  - Answer: O negative
- Question: What is the largest organ in the human body?
  - Answer: The skin
- Question: What are the three bones that make up your arm?
  - Answer: The humerus, the ulna, and the radius
- Question: How many teeth does an adult human have?
  - Answer: 32
- Question: Which tendon is named after a famous figure in Greek mythology?
  - Answer: Achilles tendon
- Question: What is the longest bone in the human body?
  - Answer: Femur
- Question: What is the only organ in the human body that can regenerate?
  - Answer: The liver
- Question: What is the outermost layer of skin called?
  - Answer: Epidermis
- Question: What is the scientific name for the eardrum?
  - Answer: Tympanic membrane
- Question: The “nares” are another name for which part of your body?
  - Answer: Nostrils
- Question: How many bones are there in the human body?
  - Answer: 206^{[5]
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Section 4 of 12:

Outer Space Trivia Questions

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Shoot for the stars with some astronomy and outer space trivia. These questions are perfect for the aspiring astronauts out there, or for those who just happen to love stargazing and learning about the universe.
- Question: What is the hottest planet in our solar system?
  - Answer: Venus
- Question: Which planet orbits the sun the fastest?
  - Answer: Mercury
- Question: Which planet in our solar system has the most gravity?
  - Answer: Jupiter
- Question: Who was the first American woman in space?
  - Answer: Sally Ride
- Question: Which two planets in our solar system have no moons?
  - Answer: Mercury and Venus
- Question: What is another name for the North Star?
  - Answer: Polaris
- Question: What was the first vegetable to be grown in space?
  - Answer: Potato
- Question: What is the closest star to Earth (besides the Sun)?
  - Answer: Proxima Centauri
- Question: How far away is the moon from Earth?
  - Answer: 238,900^{[6]
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- Question: What galaxy is closest to ours?
  - Answer: Andromeda Galaxy^{[7]
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Section 5 of 12:

History Trivia Questions

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Test the history buffs with these questions about the past. If you or your guests are experts on history, these fun questions will give you a chance to rack up some points. They also cover a wide range of historical periods and topics, including U.S., European, ancient, and world history, so you’ll be able to really show off your skills!
- Question: Which Renaissance artist painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?
  - Answer: Michelangelo
- Question: French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi designed which U.S. landmark?
  - Answer: The Statue of Liberty
- Question: In which year did the Titanic sink?
  - Answer: 1912
- Question: Who was the first Black justice on the Supreme Court of the U.S.?
  - Answer: Thurgood Marshall
- Question: Which Greek philosopher did Alexander the Great study under?
  - Answer: Aristotle
- Question: Who were the last king and queen of France before the French Revolution?
  - Answer: King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette
- Question: In which year did the Berlin Wall fall?
  - Answer: 1989
- Question: Who won the Peloponnesian War?
  - Answer: Sparta
- Question: In which war did the most American soldiers die?
  - Answer: The Civil War
- Question: What ancient civilization built Machu Picchu?
  - Answer: The Incas
- Question: What was the name of the Russian royal family from 1613 to 1917?
  - Answer: The Romanovs
- Question: Which Greek city is referred to as the “birthplace of democracy”?
  - Answer: Athens
- Question: Who was the longest reigning British monarch?
  - Answer: Queen Elizabeth II
- Question: What ancient wonder of the world is still standing today?
  - Answer: The Great Pyramid of Giza^{[8]
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- Question: What is the oldest known civilization in the world?
  - Answer: Mesopotamia^{[9]
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- Question:The oldest bottled condiment continuously sold in the U.S. wasn't invented in the U.S. It was first sold in 1837 in which 14-letter English county?
  - Answer: Worcestershire^{[10]
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Section 6 of 12:

Geography Trivia Questions

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Find out how well you know the world with some geography trivia. These questions about continents, countries, and cities are perfect for the geography buffs and world travelers, and they may even give you some ideas for your next vacation.
- Question: What is the largest ocean in the world?
  - Answer: The Pacific Ocean
- Question: What is the capital of Croatia?
  - Answer: Zagreb
- Question: Where is the deepest point in the ocean located?
  - Answer: The Mariana Trench
- Question: What is the only continent that spans all four hemispheres?
  - Answer: Africa
- Question: What is the largest desert in the world?
  - Answer: Antarctica
- Question: How many recognized countries are there in the world?
  - Answer: 195
- Question: Which U.S. state is nicknamed the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”?
  - Answer: Minnesota
- Question: Which country is also a continent?
  - Answer: Australia
- Question: What is the smallest country in the world by land area?
  - Answer: Vatican City
- Question: What is the only cold desert in the U.S.?
  - Answer: The Great Basin Desert
- Question: What is the longest river in China?
  - Answer: The Yangtze River
- Question: What is the official language of Lichtenstein?
  - Answer: German
- Question: Which country has the most naturally occurring lakes?
  - Answer: Canada
- Question: What is the only city in the world that straddles two continents?
  - Answer: Istanbul, Turkey^{[11]
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- Question: What was the U.S.’s first national park?
  - Answer: Yellowstone National Park^{[12]
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Section 7 of 12:

Literature Trivia Questions

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Test avid readers with these tricky trivia about books. We’ve compiled a wide range of questions, so there are chances for all kinds of book lovers to score some points, whether they’re fans of classic literature or more modern titles.
- Question: Who wrote the 1817 novel Persuasion?
  - Answer: Jane Austen
- Question: What do citizens call the dictator in George Orwell’s 1984?
  - Answer: Big Brother
- Question: What is Lord Voldemort’s real name (first, middle, and last) in the Harry Potter series?
  - Answer: Tom Marvolo Riddle
- Question: Which Ancient Greek poet is the author of The Iliad and The Odyssey?
  - Answer: Homer
- Question: What classic novel opens with the line “Call me Ishmael”?
  - Answer: Moby Dick
- Question: What is the name of the fictional dystopian country in The Hunger Games?
  - Answer: Panem
- Question: What is Frankenstein’s first name in the classic novel by Mary Shelley?
  - Answer: Victor
- Question: Which Nobel and Pulitzer prize winning author wrote Beloved?
  - Answer: Toni Morrison
- Question: Which character is the narrator in The Great Gatsby?
  - Answer: Nick Carraway
- Question: What is the name of Dante’s epic poem about a journey through hell, purgatory, and heaven?
  - Answer: The Divine Comedy
- Question: Which Victorian novel features the character Mr. Rochester as a love interest?
  - Answer: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
- Question What is the main character’s name in The Handmaid’s Tale?
  - Answer Offred
- Question: Where does Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet take place?
  - Answer: Verona, Italy
- Question: Which Victorian author wrote David Copperfield?
  - Answer: Charles Dickens
- Question: Jack White is the name of a supervillain from comic book fame. Name him?
  - Answer: The Joker.^{[13]
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    Roy Cohen
    Trivia Expert
    
    Expert Interview}

Section 8 of 12:

Movie Trivia Questions

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Ask some tough movie questions for all the film buffs. These fun questions about films, directors, and actors are sure to get all the movie lovers invested in a trivia night. We’ve also included questions that span a wide range of film history, so lovers of classic cinema and modern box-office hits will all get a chance to win some points.
- Question: Who directed the 2023 movie Barbie?
  - Answer: Greta Gerwig
- Question: What is the highest grossing movie of all time?
  - Answer: Avatar (2009)
- Question: Who plays the character of Molly Brown in Titanic?
  - Answer: Kathy Bates
- Question: Which film composer composed the music for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Jaws, and Jurassic Park?
  - Answer: John Williams
- Question: What is the name of the hotel in The Shining?
  - Answer: The Overlook Hotel
- Question: Who was the first person to receive an Oscar nomination for acting in a Marvel movie?
  - Answer: Angela Bassett
- Question What 1995 rom-com is loosely based on Jane Austen’s novel Emma?
  - Answer: Clueless
- Question: Who directed both Crazy Rich Asians (2018) and Wicked (2024)?
  - Answer: John M. Chu
- Question: Which original members of ABBA make cameos in the Mamma Mia films?
  - Answer: Benny Andersson and Björn Ulaeus
- Question: Who directed the 2013 film adaptation of The Great Gatsby?
  - Answer: Baz Luhrmann
- Question: Which actress has the most Academy Award nominations of all time?
  - Answer: Meryl Streep (21 nominations)
- Question: Who directed Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood?
  - Answer: Quentin Tarantino
- Question: Who was the actress Liza Minelli's mother?
  - Answer: Judy Garland
- Question: What do Joaquin Phoenix, Heath Ledger, and Jared Leto all have in common?
  - Answer: They’ve all played The Joker.
- Question: Which actor plays themselves in the movie Zombieland?
  - Answer: Bill Murray

Section 9 of 12:

Music Trivia Questions

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Sprinkle in some music trivia to test the music lovers. These questions about musicians, hit songs, and iconic performances are perfect for the members of the group who are pop culture experts. Those who never leave their house without their headphones are bound to score some major points for their teams!
- Question: Which musician has the most Grammys of all time?
  - Answer: Beyoncé (35 awards)
- Question: Who was the first winner of American Idol?
  - Answer: Kelly Clarkson
- Question: What is the highest selling band of all time?
  - Answer: The Beatles
- Question: What animal did Britney Spears famously hold on her shoulders during a performance?
  - Answer: A snake
- Question: Who was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
  - Answer: Aretha Franklin
- Question: What reality T.V. show did the members of One Direction meet on?
  - Answer: The X Factor
- Question: What is Rihanna’s real name?
  - Answer: Robyn Rihanna Fenty
- Question: What Swedish band sings the song “Chiquitita”?
  - Answer: ABBA
- Question: Who was the youngest person to win Album of the Year at the Grammys, and how old were they?
  - Answer: Billie Eilish; 18 years old
- Question: How old was Taylor Swift when she signed her first record deal with the label Big Machine?
  - Answer: 14 years old
- Question: Who is the only rapper to have won the Pulitzer Prize?
  - Answer: Kendrick Lamar
- Question: Which iconic country artist is Miley Cyrus’s godmother?
  - Answer: Dolly Parton
- Question: What is the highest selling album of all time?
  - Answer: Thriller by Michael Jackson
- Question: Who was the drummer in the band Nirvana?
  - Answer: Dave Grohl
- Question: What name is the musician Stefani Germanotta better known by?
  - Answer: Lady Gaga
- Question: What is the name of the song that repeats the lyrics "a little bit softer now" 17 times and "a little bit louder now" 12 times?
  - Answer: "Shout" by The Isley Brothers^{[14]
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    Roy Cohen
    Trivia Expert
    
    Expert Interview}

Section 10 of 12:

Sports Trivia Questions

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Quiz the fanatics with some fun sports trivia. Whether they’re fans of watching sports or actually play sports themselves, they’re sure to score some major points for their teams with these questions about football, baseball, basketball, and more!
- Question: How long is a marathon?
  - Answer: 26.2 miles
- Question: Which country has played in every single soccer World Cup?
  - Answer: Brazil
- Question: How many rings are in the Olympic logo?
  - Answer: 5
- Question: What is the diameter of a basketball hoop in inches?
  - Answer: 18 inches.
- Question: What is Muhammad Ali’s real name?
  - Answer: Cassius Clay
- Question: What is it called when you get 3 strikes in a row in bowling?
  - Answer: A turkey
- Question: What is the name of the trophy given to Super Bowl champions?
  - Answer: The Vince Lombardi Trophy
- Question: In baseball, when is “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” traditionally sung?
  - Answer: The 7th inning
- Question: Which sporting event is held over memorial day weekend?
  - Answer: The Indianapolis 500
- Question: Which athlete has won the most olympic medals?
  - Answer: Michael Phelps (28)^{[15]
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Section 11 of 12:

Really Difficult Trivia Questions

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Looking for some extra tough trivia questions? These super tricky options are sure to stump even the most knowledgeable trivia buff. They’re perfect for a tie-breaker round, or if you’re hosting a game night for a bunch of trivia experts.
- Question: What is the name of Jupiter’s biggest moon?
  - Answer: Ganymede
- Question: How many countries are in the European Union?
  - Answer: 27
- Question: What is Scout’s real name in To Kill a Mockingbird?
  - Answer: Jean Louise Finch
- Question: Which actress is in all 3 of the highest-grossing movies of all time?
  - Answer: Zoe Saldaña
- Question: What U.S. president was the teddy bear named after?
  - Answer: President Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt
- Question: What was Shakespeare’s wife’s name?
  - Answer: Anne Hathaway
- Question: What German word is used to describe a coming-of-age novel?
  - Answer: Bildungsroman
- Question: Who was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize?
  - Answer: Marie Curie
- Question: How many moons does Saturn have?
  - Answer: 146
- Question: Which Romantic poet was Mary Shelley married to?
  - Answer: Percy Bysshe Shelley
- Question: What is the smallest bone in the human body?
  - Answer: The stapes (also known as the stirrup), located in the ear
- Question: Which country has the largest population in the world?
  - Answer: India
- Question: Which event is widely thought to have sparked World War I?
  - Answer: The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
- Question: What is the longest running broadway show in history?
  - Answer: The Phantom of the Opera
- Question: Which famous composer was completely deaf by his mid 40’s?
  - Answer: Beethoven

Section 12 of 12:

General Knowledge Trivia Questions

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Go easy on guests with some general questions. These trivia questions are about things that technically should be common knowledge, but they’re still tricky enough to keep things interesting. This makes them a perfect place to start if you want to give guests a chance to warm up before shifting to super tough questions, or if you’re hosting a trivia night for beginners.
- Question: What does the “www” stand for at the start of website addresses?
  - Answer: World Wide Web
- Question: What are the tiny pieces at the end of shoelaces called?
  - Answer: Aglets
- Question: In what year was the first iPhone released?
  - Answer: 2007
- Question: What two colors mixed together make green?
  - Answer: Blue and yellow
- Question: What does the SPF stand for in sunscreen products?
  - Answer: Sun Protection Factor
- Question: What is another title for the Bishop of Rome in the Catholic church?
  - Answer: The Pope
- Question: How many millimeters are in a meter?
  - Answer: 1000
- Question: Which museum is the Mona Lisa located at?
  - Answer: The Louvre
- Question:What is the best selling book of all time?
  - Answer: The Bible
- Question: Who invented the telephone?
  - Answer: Alexander Graham Bell
- Question: Which month has either 28 or 29 days, depending on the year?
  - Answer: February
- Question: What is a fear of spiders called?
  - Answer: Arachnophobia
- Question: What is a word that reads the same backwards and forwards called?
  - Answer: A palindrome
- Question: What is the only letter that doesn’t appear in any U.S. state name?
  - Answer: Q

Join the Discussion...

What are the best types of trivia questions?

Roy Cohen
Trivia Expert

When I started hosting trivia events, I quickly realized that some questions were too hard. People would say, "We can't figure it out, even as a team." So, I adjusted the content to include a mix of easy and hard questions, which made people feel more engaged and willing to participate. Eventually, I found the right balance, and people seemed to enjoy it. The questions are best when they are fun, educational, and interesting.

I believe my approach stands out because my content could be used in high schools and colleges. I prioritize questions that are educational and thought-provoking. For example, if I hear an interesting lyric in a rock and roll song, I'll develop a question from it. A new one I haven't used yet is, "What is the name of the song that repeats the lyrics 'a little bit softer now' 17 times and 'a little bit louder now' 12 times?" The answer is "Shout" by the Isley Brothers.

Sometimes, I create unique questions you won't find anywhere else. For instance, I once looked up how many number-one songs the Beatles had on the Billboard chart—it's 20. I use these types of questions to break ties at the end of my events.