Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 17, 2024 is: grandiloquence • \gran-DIH-luh-kwunss\ • noun Grandiloquence is a formal word that refers to the use of extravagantly colorful or pompous language often in order to sound impressive and important. // He was known for the flowery grandiloquence of his speeches which, his passionate delivery notwithstanding, always caused more than a few listeners to doze off. See the entry > Examples: “The novel, a melodramatic saga of so...
Nov 17, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 16, 2024 is: steadfast • \STED-fast\ • adjective Someone described as steadfast is very devoted or loyal to a person, belief, or cause. Steadfast is also used to describe something, such as support, that remains unchanging. // Despite the singer’s recent change in creative direction, his true fans have remained steadfast . // She remained committed to her steadfast belief in nature's ability to heal itself. See the entry > Examples: ...
Nov 16, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 15, 2024 is: cachet • \ka-SHAY\ • noun Cachet is used as a synonym of prestige to refer to the respect and admiration someone or something receives for being successful or important. It can also be used to refer to a characteristic feature or quality that confers such prestige. // His research in Antarctica gave him a certain cachet among other scientists. See the entry > Examples: "This 175-year-old real-life castle in Northern Irel...
Nov 15, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 14, 2024 is: raddled • \RAD-uld\ • adjective Someone described as raddled is in a confused or befuddled state (as from drinking). Raddled can also describe things that are broken-down or worn. // We were met at the door by a raddled old man who turned out to be the actor’s father, and who in his day had also been an estimable presence on the London stage. // Louisa was delighted to discover a raddled old radio in her grandparents’ at...
Nov 14, 2024•3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 13, 2024 is: bevy • \BEV-ee\ • noun A bevy is a large group of people or things. Bevy is usually used in the singular form and accompanied by the word of . // The new streaming platform featured a bevy of new movies to choose from. See the entry > Examples: “Among several ‘moving murals’ currently displayed on select CTA trains is the picture of a young girl standing among daffodils, meant as a symbol of hope. Another train features ...
Nov 13, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 12, 2024 is: labile • \LAY-byle\ • adjective Someone or something described as labile is readily open to change. Labile can also be used as a synonym of unstable to describe things that are readily or continually undergoing chemical, physical, or biological change or breakdown. // The director was known for being exacting but also labile , open to actors' interpretations of characters. See the entry > Examples: "Amid this high level ...
Nov 12, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 11, 2024 is: armistice • \AHR-muh-stus\ • noun An armistice is an agreement to stop fighting a war, or in other words, a truce . // Both sides in the conflict agreed to an armistice . See the entry > Examples: "The year is 1918, and the armistice is just around the corner, but no one on the front line can possibly know that yet." — Damon Wise, Deadline , 31 Aug. 2024 Did you know? Armistice comes from the New Latin word armistitium ,...
Nov 11, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 10, 2024 is: truncate • \TRUNG-kayt\ • verb To truncate something—such as a discussion or essay—is to make it shorter. // The interview was truncated and edited for clarity. See the entry > Examples: “I am a scholar and a student of the Arabic poetic tradition. I study poets from Imru’ al-Qays to Mahmoud Darwish , from al-Samaw’al to Hiba Abu Nada. I am not willing to chop up this tradition into palatable and digestible bites. I will...
Nov 10, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 9, 2024 is: inchoate • \in-KOH-ut\ • adjective Inchoate is a formal adjective that describes something that is not completely formed or developed yet. // In the podcast, the author described the process by which she took a series of inchoate vignettes and shaped them into her best-selling novel. See the entry > Examples: "Graffiti inserts itself like the blade of a knife between creation and destruction, between publicity and furtive...
Nov 09, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 9, 2024 is: inchoate • \in-KOH-ut\ • adjective Inchoate is a formal adjective and synonym of vague that describes something that is not completely formed or developed yet. // In the podcast, the author described the process by which she took a series of inchoate vignettes and shaped them into her best-selling novel. See the entry > Examples: "Graffiti inserts itself like the blade of a knife between creation and destruction, between ...
Nov 09, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 8, 2024 is: feign • \FAYN\ • verb To feign something (such as surprise, ignorance, or sleep) is to pretend to feel or be affected by it. // I would never feign illness just to get out of a test. See the entry > Examples: “After Eric’s betrayal, Harper has landed at a fund dedicated to so-called impact investing in eco-friendly companies, a real-life financial trend that dovetails with a core ‘Industry’ theme: reflexive cynicism towar...
Nov 08, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 7, 2024 is: dedication • \ded-ih-KAY-shun\ • noun Dedication refers to devotion, loyalty, or commitment to a person or cause. It can also refer to a message at the beginning of a book, song, etc., that expresses affection or gratitude for someone, or to a ceremony to mark the official completion or opening of something, such as a building. // It took a lot of hard work and dedication , but we managed to finish the project on time. //...
Nov 07, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 6, 2024 is: a cappella • \ah-kuh-PEL-uh\ • adverb or adjective When a song is performed a cappella, it is sung unaccompanied by instrumental music. // A hush fell over the audience as a voice from offstage began singing a cappella . // Several a cappella groups are slated to perform during the celebration. See the entry > Examples: "In a video posted to Twitter ... H.E.R. delivers a hauntingly beautiful cover of Coldplay’s classic 'F...
Nov 06, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 5, 2024 is: psephology • \see-FAH-luh-jee\ • noun Psephology is the scientific study of elections. // Brianna was excited to learn that a course on psephology on the schedule for next semester will coincide with local and state elections. See the entry > Examples: "The high school-aged participants of the program partake in various aspects of psephology , from gaining support early in a campaign to debating fellow candidates." — Jame...
Nov 05, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 4, 2024 is: amalgamate • \uh-MAL-guh-mayt\ • verb Amalgamate is a formal verb meaning "to unite (two or more things) into one thing." // The band became famous for amalgamating different musical styles into a unique, signature sound. See the entry > Examples: "Place the cornmeal in a bowl, and sift in the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Stir the mixture with a spoon or whisk to amalgamate ." — Martha Rose Shulman, The New...
Nov 04, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 3, 2024 is: cursory • \KER-suh-ree\ • adjective Something described as cursory has been done or made quickly. // We were disappointed that the mayor gave only a cursory glance at our report. See the entry > Examples: “After a few cursory questions … one of the owners offered me the job on the spot and I said yes without asking about the pay, which caused the other one to laugh and hit the table with his hand and promise to teach me a...
Nov 03, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 28, 2024 is: gadfly • \GAD-flye\ • noun In literal use, gadfly refers to any of various flies (such as a horsefly, botfly , or warble fly ) that bite or annoy livestock . Gadfly is most popular in figurative use, however, where it refers to someone who provokes or annoys other people especially by persistent criticism. // The journalist was known as a gadfly for exposing hypocrisy in politics. See the entry > Examples: "For years, the [L....
May 28, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 27, 2024 is: glean • \GLEEN\ • verb To glean is to gather or collect something bit by bit, or in a gradual way. Glean can also be used to mean “to search (something) carefully” and “to find out.” // Neil has a collection of antique tools gleaned from flea markets and garage sales. // They spent days gleaning the files for information. // The police used old-fashioned detective work to glean his whereabouts. See the entry > Examples: “Not ...
May 27, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 26, 2024 is: symposium • \sim-POH-zee-um\ • noun Symposium can refer either to a formal meeting at which experts discuss a particular topic, or to a collection of articles on a particular subject. Symposium has two plural forms: symposia and symposiums . // Professors and graduate students attended a three-day symposium on climate change. // The organization will be publishing a symposium on genetic research. See the entry > Examples: “In...
May 26, 2024•3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 25, 2024 is: countermand • \KOUNT-er-mand\ • verb To countermand an order is to revoke it, especially by giving a new order. // Orders to blow up the bridge were countermanded by local officials. See the entry > Examples: "He [rugby player Lewis Jones] almost missed his 1950 Welsh debut as he was about to board an aircraft carrier for Hong Kong before the orders were countermanded ." — The Daily Telegraph (London), 9 Mar. 2024 Did you kno...
May 25, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 24, 2024 is: ebullient • \ih-BULL-yunt\ • adjective If someone or something is appealingly lively and enthusiastic, they may also be described as ebullient. // Akua's ebullient personality made her the life of the party. See the entry > Examples: "[Les] McCann, who would later serve as a drummer and horn player in his high-school marching band, soon developed a love for the great symphonies and for distinctive rhythm and blues vocal styli...
May 24, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 23, 2024 is: panoply • \PAN-uh-plee\ • noun Panoply is a formal word that refers to a group or collection that is impressive either because of its size or because it includes so many different kinds of people or things. // The new website offers shoppers a panoply of snack foods, soft drinks, and other treats from around the world. See the entry > Examples: “Given that all of us, in our daily lives, are constantly confronted by a limitles...
May 23, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 22, 2024 is: belie • \bih-LYE\ • verb To belie something is to give a false idea or impression of it. Belie can also mean "to show (something) to be false or wrong." // Martin's easy banter and relaxed attitude belied his nervousness. // Their actions belie their claim of innocence. See the entry > Examples: "But his humble presence belies the adventurous life that brought him through World War II and multiple attempts at sailing around t...
May 22, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 21, 2024 is: neophyte • \NEE-uh-fyte\ • noun A neophyte is a person who has just started learning or doing something. // As an acting neophyte , Femi took a while to adjust to his newfound Hollywood fame. See the entry > Examples: "First premiering in 2006, Ugly Betty … built up a devoted fanbase. The series, which is now streaming on Netflix, starred Ferrera as the titular 'Ugly' Betty Suarez, a braces-wearing 22-year-old fashion neophyt...
May 21, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 20, 2024 is: futile • \FYOO-tul\ • adjective An effort, action, or emotion described as futile has no result or effect, and therefore serves no useful purpose. // City officials attempted to stifle the scandal, but their efforts were futile . See the entry > Examples: “... when resolve is wearing thin and hope feels futile , sometimes the only thing left to do is laugh.” — Cassidy George, Rolling Stone , 10 Feb. 2023 Did you know? Attempt...
May 20, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 19, 2024 is: sequester • \sih-KWESS-ter\ • verb To sequester a person or group is to keep them separate or apart from other people. Sequester is also often used to mean “to bind or absorb (carbon dioxide) as part of a larger chemical process or compound.” // The jury was sequestered until a verdict was reached. See the entry > Examples: “When sea otters were reintroduced to an Alaskan island, they … led to the return of offshore kelp. As ...
May 19, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
