Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 3, 2026 is: corrode • \kuh-ROHD\ • verb Corrode means "to slowly break apart and destroy (metal, an object, etc.) through a chemical process" or "to undergo such a process." It is also used as a synonym of undermine to mean "to gradually destroy or weaken." // Several sections of the pipe have corroded and will need to be replaced. // Years of lies and secrets had corroded their relationship. See the entry > Examples: "Each piece is made of durable s...
Jul 03, 2026•2 min
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 2, 2026 is: sagacious • \suh-GAY-shus\ • adjective Someone or something described as sagacious has or shows an ability to understand difficult ideas and situations and to make good decisions. Sagacious may be considered a formal synonym of wise and discerning . // Student reviews paint the writing professor as a sagacious mentor and a compassionate teacher. See the entry > Examples: “It’s a lyrical truism with the kind of wisdom that feels particular...
Jul 02, 2026•2 min
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 1, 2026 is: nabob • \NAY-bahb\ • noun A nabob is a very rich or important person. // The upscale hotel downtown is a popular meeting spot for the city’s corporate nabobs . See the entry > Examples: “NBA nabobs were dismayed by the player empowerment era, where players dictated trades or abandoned teams via free agency.” — Christopher L. Gasper, The Boston Globe , 26 Jan. 2025 Did you know? In India’s Mogul Empire , founded in the 16th century, provin...
Jul 01, 2026•2 min
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 30, 2026 is: bereft • \bih-REFT\ • adjective To be bereft is to be deprived or robbed of something, or to lack something that you need, want, or expect. Bereft is also used as a synonym of bereaved . // They appear to be completely bereft of new ideas. See the entry > Examples: "... this morning when I was going out to play in the gardens, I went to put on my favorite baseball cap since the sun was hot and, being bereft of my own natural covering, I ...
Jun 30, 2026•2 min
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 29, 2026 is: umami • \oo-MAH-mee\ • noun Umami refers to the taste sensation that is produced by several amino acids and nucleotides and that has a rich or meaty flavor characteristic of cheese, cooked meat, mushrooms, soy, and ripe tomatoes. // The chef’s secret ingredient added the perfect burst of umami to the signature dish. See the entry > Examples: "This recipe uses a classic marble cake technique to swirl rich layers of cinnamon into a fluffy ...
Jun 29, 2026•2 min
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 28, 2026 is: gainsay • \gayn-SAY\ • verb To gainsay something is to deny or disagree with it, or to show or say that it is not true. Gainsay is a formal word usually used in negative statements. // Although the defendant initially denied involvement in the incident, there was no gainsaying the evidence that the prosecutor presented at the trial. See the entry > Examples: “Whatever you think of it, there’s no gainsaying the fact that ‘The Sound of Mus...
Jun 28, 2026•2 min
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 27, 2026 is: oracular • \aw-RAK-yuh-ler\ • adjective Oracular is a formal word that can describe something used to forecast or prophesize, or something that resembles or relates to something used for such purposes. Oracular can also describe something that resembles an oracle —a person (such as a priestess of ancient Greece) through whom a deity is believed to speak; in this sense, an oracular statement, voice, etc. conveys wisdom or solemnity. // A few...
Jun 27, 2026•2 min
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 26, 2026 is: symbiosis • \sim-bee-OH-sis\ • noun Symbiosis is a formal word that refers to a relationship between two people or groups that work with and depend on each other. In biology, symbiosis refers to the relationship between two different kinds of living things that live together and depend on each other. // The new playground is the result of symbiosis between multiple stakeholders, including residents, donors, and town officials. // The bacter...
Jun 26, 2026•2 min
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 25, 2026 is: jaundiced • \JAWN-dist\ • adjective Jaundiced means “showing or influenced by feelings of distrust, distaste, or hostility.” Someone described as jaundiced, or as possessing jaundiced opinions or views, is typically understood to feel that way because of negative past experiences. // She developed a jaundiced view of politics after years of chairing her local school board committee and witnessing all kinds of petty shenanigans. See the entr...
Jun 25, 2026•2 min
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 24, 2026 is: pantheon • \PAN-thee-ahn\ • noun Pantheon usually refers to a group of famous or notable people or things. It also refers to the officially recognized gods of a particular people, as well as to the Roman Pantheon, the domed temple begun in 27 B.C. and rebuilt circa 118-128 A.D. // With her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the distinguished bassist and songwriter joined a pantheon of musical legends. // His research is primaril...
Jun 24, 2026•2 min
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 23, 2026 is: quail • \KWAIL\ • verb To quail is to feel afraid and often to show your fear in a way that can be clearly seen. // Although giving a 5-minute speech was a requirement for passing the class, a few students quailed at the thought of public speaking, seeming to shrink behind their desks. See the entry > Examples: “Several came to protest but didn’t want their own voices cited. A woman holding a sign reading ‘I’M A 77 YEAR OLD GRANNY FOR FR...
Jun 23, 2026•2 min
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 22, 2026 is: cavalcade • \kav-ul-KAYD\ • noun Cavalcade most often refers to a series of related things. An older meaning, still in use, is “a procession of riders or carriages”; vehicles or ships in a procession can be referred to as a cavalcade too. // Since the high-powered console’s debut late last year, video game companies have steadily unveiled a cavalcade of new games that showcase its groundbreaking graphics. See the entry > Examples: “The e...
Jun 22, 2026•2 min
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 21, 2026 is: assiduous • \uh-SIJ-uh-wus\ • adjective Assiduous is a formal word that means “showing great care, attention, and effort.” // Thanks to the assiduous efforts of the local land trust over many years, a substantial amount of whip-poor-will habitat is now protected from development. See the entry > Examples: “My mom was also assiduous about what we would today call food safety, avoiding anything that could possibly cause illness, especially...
Jun 21, 2026•2 min
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 20, 2026 is: longueur • \lawn-GUR\ • noun Longueur refers to a boring part of something (such as a book or play). It is usually used in the plural form. // Though not without its longueurs , the opera came to life in the last act. See the entry > Examples: “Game 3 of the World Series was a stone-cold thriller, with peaks of high drama and longueurs of exquisitely tense tedium ...” — Steve Rushin, The Atlantic , 2 Nov. 2025 Did you know? You’ve probab...
Jun 20, 2026•2 min
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 19, 2026 is: indomitable • \in-DAH-muh-tuh-bul\ • adjective Indomitable is a formal word used to describe something that is impossible to defeat or discourage. // Juneteenth celebrates the abolition of slavery in the United States, and honors the indomitable spirit of African Americans past and present fighting for justice, liberation, and the fulfillment of this nation’s ideals. See the entry > Examples: “During his legendary NBA career, Michael Jor...
Jun 19, 2026•2 min
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 18, 2026 is: acquiesce • \ak-wee-ESS\ • verb To acquiesce to something is to accept it, agree with it, or allow it to happen by staying silent or by not arguing. Acquiesce is somewhat formal, and is often used with in or to . // Eventually, the professor acquiesced to the students’ request to have the seminar’s final class be a potluck lunch. See the entry > Examples: “It may be just the right time for a chicken burger to become a significant stop on...
Jun 18, 2026•2 min
