For scarce words, I am an advocate of context clues. You can paint a picture for a reader and have them learn a word without a dictionary. But I don't do it every time. For example with the word trudge. You can easily use context with such a word.
I walked slowly to the couch and flopped down. I groaned and said, "I am so tired."
I trudged to the couch...
It's basically the same thing, but the reader can easily guess what trudge means. Though, the word is often used with mud.
She trudged through the mud.
I nudged my house's door open, and I (trudged) (dragged my feet) to the couch.
I am not saying one will be better, but I just find these things neat. In this case, trudge is good because it rhymes with nudge. Nudging and trudging are slow, but they can also be opposite. You can nudge something without much force, but trudging is exertion like you are exhausted. Trudging to me means heavy feet. Nudging feels like when you lightly push. It's a cool oxymoron.
