Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Free daily dose of word power from Merriam-Webster's experts

Episodes

January 1, 2026 2 mins

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 1, 2026 is:

amortize • \AM-er-tyze\  • verb

To amortize something, such as a mortgage, is to pay for it by making regular payments over a long period of time.

// If you apply extra payments directly to your loan balance as a principal reduction, your loan can be amo...

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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 31, 2025 is:

retrospective • \reh-truh-SPEK-tiv\  • adjective

Retrospective describes something that relates to the past or to something that happened in the past.

// The museum has curated a retrospective exhibit of the artist's early works.

See the entry >

...

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December 30, 2025 1 min

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 30, 2025 is:

charisma • \kuh-RIZ-muh\  • noun

Charisma refers to a special magnetic charm or appeal that causes people to feel attracted and excited by someone. A person with charisma is captivating and often admired.

// The young singer has the kind of charisma th...

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December 29, 2025 2 mins

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 29, 2025 is:

nefarious • \nih-FAIR-ee-us\  • adjective

Nefarious is a formal word that describes something as evil or immoral.

// Authorities suspect that the recovered materials were going to be used for nefarious purposes.

See the entry >

Examples:
...

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December 28, 2025 1 min

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 28, 2025 is:

yen • \YEN\  • noun

A yen is a strong desire, urge, or craving for something.

// After dinner, the family went out for ice cream to satisfy their yen for something sweet.

// Students with a yen to travel should consider studying abroad.

See the entry ...

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December 27, 2025 1 min

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 27, 2025 is:

apropos • \ap-ruh-POH\  • preposition

Apropos is used as a preposition to mean "with regard to." It is frequently used in the phrase "apropos of."

// Sean interrupted our conversation about politics and, apropos of nothing, asked who we thought would wi...

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December 26, 2025 2 mins

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 26, 2025 is:

grandiose • \gran-dee-OHSS\  • adjective

Grandiose is usually used disapprovingly to describe something that seems impressive or is intended to be impressive, but that is either not possible or practical.

// The long-vacant historic building has finall...

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December 25, 2025 1 min

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 25, 2025 is:

noel • \noh-EL\  • noun

When capitalized, Noel refers to Christmas or the Christmas season. Uncapitalized, noel refers to a Christmas carol.

// We were greeted at the door by a group of carolers singing noels.

// Every year we send our family Christma...

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December 24, 2025 1 min

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 24, 2025 is:

hark back • \HAHRK-BAK\  • verb

Harking back can be about turning back to an earlier topic or circumstance, as in "a storyteller harking back to his youth," or it can be about going back to something as an origin or source, as in "a style that harks back...

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December 23, 2025 1 min

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 23, 2025 is:

bespoke • \bih-SPOHK\  • adjective

Bespoke describes something that is custom-made—that is, made to fit the needs or requirements of a particular person.

// As a tailor, Lana specialized in crafting bespoke clothing for her clients, each piece unique an...

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