Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day
Free daily dose of word power from Merriam-Webster's experts
Episodes
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 4, 2024 is:
hoity-toity • \hoy-tee-TOY-tee\ • adjective
Someone or something described as hoity-toity may also be called snooty or pretentious; hoity-toity people appear to think that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people, and hoity-toity pla...
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 3, 2024 is:
eschew • \ess-CHOO\ • verb
To eschew something is to avoid it, especially because you do not think it is right, proper, or practical.
// Their teacher was known as a Luddite because he eschewed the use of smartphones and tablets in the classroom.
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 2, 2024 is:
complaisant • \kum-PLAY-sunt\ • adjective
Someone described as complaisant is willing or eager to please other people, or is easily convinced to do what other people want.
// Derek was a complaisant boy, always happy to oblige whenever his mother or fat...
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 1, 2024 is:
scintilla • \sin-TIL-uh\ • noun
A scintilla is a very small amount of something. Scintilla is usually used in negative statements, as in “not even/nary a scintilla.”
// There wasn’t even a scintilla of evidence to support their story.
...Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 30, 2024 is:
frugal • \FROO-gul\ • adjective
Someone described as frugal is careful about spending money or using things unnecessarily. Frugal can also describe something that is simple and plain in a way that reflects such carefulness with money and resources.
// ...
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 29, 2024 is:
obfuscate • \AHB-fuh-skayt\ • verb
To obfuscate something is to make it more difficult to understand. Obfuscate can also mean “to be evasive, unclear, or confusing.”
// The revised wording of the rule obfuscates its meaning.
// They allege that the c...
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 28, 2024 is:
victuals • \VIT-ulz\ • noun plural
Victuals is a word with an old-fashioned feel that refers to food, and sometimes to both food and drink.
// Rachel’s grandparents’ larder was full of canned tomatoes and peaches, jars of pickled beans, jugs of dandel...
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 27, 2024 is:
guttural • \GUTT-uh-rul\ • adjective
A guttural sound—such as speech, laughter, or a grunt—is formed or pronounced in the throat.
// Her friends always found her deep, guttural laugh to be highly contagious.
Examples:
...
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 26, 2024 is:
eddy • \EDD-ee\ • noun
An eddy is a current of water or air running contrary to the main current, especially as a whirlpool. In figurative use, eddy may also refer to a contrary or circular current of thought or policy.
// The strong gusts whipped up e...
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 25, 2024 is:
chastise • \chass-TYZE\ • verb
To chastise someone is to criticize them harshly for doing something wrong.
// The waiter was chastised for forgetting the customer’s order.
Examples:
“… what I’m saying is that we must a...
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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