Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 1, 2017 is: sericeous \suh-RISH-us\ adjective : covered with fine silky hair Examples: The plant was small and delicate, with narrow sericeous leaves. The major characters distinguishing this taxon from other members of the genus within its range are the combination of a short habit, sericeous leaves, and relatively large involucres.... — Field Guide to W...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 30, 2017 is: fidelity \fuh-DELL-uh-tee\ noun 1 : the quality or state of being faithful 2 : accuracy in details : exactness 3 : the degree to which an electronic device (such as a record player, radio, or television) accurately reproduces its effect (such as sound or picture) Examples: "Fidelity to promises is a civic virtue at least dating back to ancien...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 29, 2017 is: culminate \KUL-muh-nayt\ verb 1 : (of a celestial body) to reach its highest altitude; also : to be directly overhead 2 : to rise to or form a summit 3 : to reach the highest or a climactic or decisive point Examples: "My son and I are very interested in science and discovery. We were privileged to hear a distinguished physicist describe his...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 28, 2017 is: tristful \TRIST-ful\ adjective : sad, melancholy Examples: "Oberlus was at least an accomplished writer, and no mere boor; and what is more, was capable of the most tristful eloquence." — Herman Melville, The Piazza Tales, 1856 "I've been dreading the moment I wake. Waking is a tristful business for the man who reflects." — Howard Jacobson, T...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 27, 2017 is: scapegrace \SKAYP-grayss\ noun : an incorrigible rascal Examples: "He embarks on an arduous ocean voyage to America, where he faces swindlers and scapegraces, and nearly dies of malaria—and maintains his sunny demeanor throughout." — Scot Lehigh, The Boston Globe, 1 Jan. 2016 "Theodore Roosevelt styled himself an incorruptible politician unta...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 26, 2017 is: perspicuous \per-SPIK-yuh-wus\ adjective : plain to the understanding especially because of clarity and precision of presentation Examples: The author's perspicuous prose helps even the simple layman to follow his explanations of this complicated topic. "The whole is less than the sum of its parts and does not add up to either a perspicuous a...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 25, 2017 is: argy-bargy \ahr-jee-BAHR-jee\ noun : a lively discussion : argument, dispute Examples: The tenants got into a bit of an argy-bargy over their shared porch. "I would object to the leaders' debates much less if they took place only on the radio. Then there wouldn't be all the argy-bargy about who stands where, wearing what." — Charles Moore, Th...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 24, 2017 is: volplane \VAHL-playn\ verb : to glide in or as if in an airplane Examples: "With uncanny calm, Fauchard switched off his engine as if he were preparing to volplane to the ground in an unpowered landing." — Clive Cussler, Lost City, 2004 "[Roadrunners] can run at sustained speeds of up to 19 mph for considerable distances, and usually only mak...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 23, 2017 is: threshold \THRESH-hohld\ noun 1 : the section of wood or stone that lies under a door : sill 2 a : the means or place of entry : entrance b : the place or point of beginning : outset 3 : the point or level at which a physical or mental effect begins to be produced Examples: "[This role] was very physical. At one point, … I'm trying to steal t...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 22, 2017 is: bilious \BILL-yus\ adjective 1 a : of or relating to bile b : marked by or suffering from liver dysfunction and especially excessive excretion of bile c : appearing as if affected by liver dysfunction 2 : of or indicative of a peevish ill-natured disposition 3 : sickeningly unpleasant Examples: "These two men, of hard, _bilious_ natures both,...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 21, 2017 is: duende \doo-EN-day\ noun : the power to attract through personal magnetism and charm Examples: Her performances were said to be spellbinding: by all accounts she was a singer possessed of such duende that the audience seemed a single organism unable to look away. "[The flamenco performers] may achieve the rare quality of duende—total communic...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 20, 2017 is: pervade \per-VAYD\ verb : to become diffused throughout every part of Examples: "While the editors and contributors are careful to avoid wading into nostalgic celebration, a wistful tone pervades almost every essay…." — Lily Geismer, The Washington Post, 7 May 2017 "It is not uncommon for people to have a vague notion of something called 'ene...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 19, 2017 is: animus \AN-uh-muss\ noun 1 : a usually prejudiced and often spiteful or malevolent ill will 2 : basic attitude or governing spirit : disposition, intention 3 : an inner masculine part of the female personality in the analytic psychology of C. G. Jung Examples: Barney's newspaper editorial had been heartfelt, and he was shocked by the animus i...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 18, 2017 is: garner \GAHR-ner\ verb 1 a : to gather into storage  b : to deposit as if in a granary 2 a : to acquire by effort : earn b : accumulate, collect Examples: The first responders garnered praise from the mayor and the community for their swift response to the flash flood. "Jones told town officials that most of the Lincoln Park trail will be com...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 17, 2017 is: haywire \HAY-wyre\ adverb or adjective 1 : being out of order or having gone wrong 2 : emotionally or mentally upset or out of control : crazy Examples: The company's e-mailing system went haywire and sent out multiple copies of the advertisement to its subscribers. "While our immune system generally keeps us safe and wards off illness, somet...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 16, 2017 is: yips \YIPS\ noun : a state of nervous tension affecting an athlete (such as a golfer) in the performance of a crucial action Examples: "Golfers with the yips typically jerk the putter on short putts, occasionally knocking a five-foot putt ten feet past the cup." — Mike Towle, I Remember Ben Hogan, 2000 "In 'The Phenomenon' …, written with Tim...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 15, 2017 is: loquacious \loh-KWAY-shus\ adjective 1 : full of excessive talk : wordy 2 : given to fluent or excessive talk : garrulous Examples: "We would sit together for about half an hour, the silent old lady and the loquacious little girl, while I babbled on at her and she smiled and nodded and patted my hand." — Anna Russell, I'm Not Making This Up,...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 14, 2017 is: moue \MOO\ noun : a little grimace : pout Examples: "I like … the way her eyes twinkle with mischief even as her mouth is set in a sulky fashionista moue." — Judith Woods, The Daily Telegraph (London), 16 Sept. 2016 "But it's [Ian] McKellen we're always watching, with his twitches and moues and wistful … recollections…." — Euan Ferguson, The...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 13, 2017 is: engender \in-JEN-der\ verb 1 : beget, procreate 2 : to cause to exist or to develop : produce 3 : to assume form : originate Examples: The annual company picnic featured activities, such as a scavenger hunt, meant to engender a sense of teamwork and camaraderie among employees. "Whatever money they save is more than offset by the ill will the...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 12, 2017 is: oftentimes \AW-fun-tymez\ adverb : often, repeatedly Examples: Oftentimes, when children are in trouble, you will hear people say that it is all because of low self-esteem." — Lemony Snicket, The Miserable Mill, 2000 "However, it's important to remember that taking a nap for too long can leave you feeling groggy and oftentimes worse than befo...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 11, 2017 is: calaboose \KAL-uh-booss\ noun : jail; especially : a local jail Examples: "To put it mildly, Independence was a rough and tumble place, the first of the Wild West towns such as cowboy folklore was built around. Even the more refined guys of that day and time didn't react mildly to confinement in the calaboose or restrictions of any sort…." —...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 10, 2017 is: ascetic \uh-SET-ik\ adjective 1 : practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline 2 : austere in appearance, manner, or attitude Examples: The monks have taken a vow of poverty and maintain an ascetic lifestyle within the walls of the monastery. "His house has no modern conveniences, and the clinic h...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 9, 2017 is: squinny \SKWIN-ee\ verb : to look or peer with eyes partly closed : squint Examples: "Larkin had sat in the same place, squinnying at the little house, feeling anxious." — Andrew Motion, Granta, Autumn 1992 "EV Crowe's new play, The Sewing Group, is a sly thing. It begins in Shaker-like simplicity. Three women in long black dresses stitch in a...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 8, 2017 is: penchant \PEN-chunt\ noun : a strong and continued inclination; broadly : liking Examples: "The irony is that acting young kept me out of trouble, giving me a sense of focus and purpose. I had a penchant for adventure." — Juliette Lewis, quoted in The Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2015 "Among the many school-year rituals, none stands out in my mi...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 7, 2017 is: incoherent \in-koh-HEER-unt\ adjective : lacking coherence: such as a : lacking cohesion : loose b : lacking orderly continuity, arrangement, or relevance : inconsistent c : lacking normal clarity or intelligibility in speech or thought Examples: I found myself unable to follow the movie's rambling and incoherent plot. "All it really says is t...