A thing I've started doing sort of in addition / conjunction with flashcards is trying to make up my own phrases or sentences with new words. I first need to look up how they actually are used, but I think it kind of helps association. And I also for this purpose search words with google images. Even if the word doesn't represent a physical object that can be photographed, there often seems to be a meme based around it.

And with these latest developments I feel that learning new words has become my new favorite hobby. Which is pretty unusual, I would think.