Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day
Free daily dose of word power from Merriam-Webster's experts
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 10, 2024 is:
bogart • \BOH-gahrt\ • verb
To bogart something is to use or consume it without sharing.
// Nelson advised his friends not to bogart all the snacks before the rest of the party guests arrived.
Examples:
"Producers of indiv...
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 9, 2024 is:
grudging • \GRUH-jing\ • adjective
Grudging is an adjective used to describe something that is said, done, or given unwillingly or reluctantly. It can also describe someone who is unwilling or reluctant to do something.
// Her theories have begun to win grud...
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 8, 2024 is:
reputation • \rep-yuh-TAY-shun\ • noun
A reputation is the common opinion that people have about someone or something. Reputation can also refer to a positive position that someone or something has in public esteem or regard.
// She's earned a reputation as ...
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 7, 2024 is:
extemporize • \ik-STEM-puh-ryze\ • verb
To extemporize means to do something extemporaneously—in other words, to improvise.
// A good talk show host must be able to extemporize when interviews don’t go as planned.
Examples:
...
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 6, 2024 is:
plangent • \PLAN-junt\ • adjective
Something, such as a sound, that is described as plangent is loud, deep, and often expressive of sadness or suffering. The word is a synonym of plaintive.
// The campers were awoken by the plangent howl of a coyote off in t...
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 5, 2024 is:
proliferate • \pruh-LIF-uh-rayt\ • verb
To proliferate is to increase quickly in number or amount.
// Problems have proliferated in recent months; every day seems to present a new challenge that needs sorting out.
Examples:
...
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 4, 2024 is:
agrarian • \uh-GRAIR-ee-un\ • adjective
Something described as agrarian has to do with farms and farming.
// Joan hopes to leave city life behind and move to a more agrarian region where she plans to raise lambs and grow heirloom vegetables.
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 3, 2024 is:
melee • \MAY-lay\ • noun
Melee refers to a confused fight or struggle, especially one involving hand-to-hand combat.
// What started as a verbal disagreement at the football game soon turned into a general melee involving scores of spectators.
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 2, 2024 is:
forfend • \for-FEND\ • verb
Forfend is used in contexts relating to some kind of real or pretended danger or other unpleasantness. In humorous and ironic use, forfend typically appears in the phrase “heaven forfend,” and, like “heaven forbid,” expresses a usu...
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 1, 2024 is:
cohesive • \koh-HEE-siv\ • adjective
Something described as cohesive sticks together and forms something closely united. The word is usually used with abstract terms in phrases like "a cohesive social unit" or "a cohesive look/aesthetic." Cohesive can also be...
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 17, 2020 is:
limpid \LIM-pid\ adjective
1 a : marked by transparency : pellucid
b : clear and simple in style
2 : absolutely serene and untroubled
Examples:
"She leaned toward him, entreaty in her eyes, and as he looked at her delicate face and into her pure, limpid eyes, as of old he was struck with his own unworthi...
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 27, 2020 is:
anomaly \uh-NAH-muh-lee\ noun
1 : something different, abnormal, peculiar, or not easily classified : something anomalous
2 : deviation from the common rule : irregularity
3 : the angular distance of a planet from its perihelion as seen from the sun
Examples:
"Thermal Scanning uses intelligent thermal technol...
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