Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 22, 2014 is: Yooper • \YOO-per\  • noun : a native or resident of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan - used as a nickname Examples: The land of the Yoopers-the Upper Peninsula, or U.P.-is connected to Michigan's Lower Peninsula by means of the Mackinac Bridge. "Every Yooper I've ever met was an uncommonly unique character-a real salt-of-the-earth townie, ski...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 21, 2014 is: fiduciary • \fuh-DOO-shee-air-ee\  • adjective 1 : involving a confidence or trust 2 : held or holding in trust for another Examples: "While bank trust departments have a fiduciary duty to file claims on behalf of their clients, many are overworked and understaffed." - Business Wire, September 17, 2010 "The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals dec...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 20, 2014 is: big data • \BIG-DAY-tuh\  • noun : an accumulation of data that is too large and complex for processing by traditional database management tools Examples: "The age of big data has driven advances in technology that make it possible to collect, store, and transmit nearly infinite amounts of information." - Sean Lahman, Rochester Democrat and C...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 19, 2014 is: blandish • \BLAN-dish\  • verb 1 : to coax or persuade with flattery : cajole 2 : to act or speak in a flattering or coaxing manner Examples: Some of Tim's coworkers even managed to blandish him into doing their work for them by complimenting him shamelessly. "Glennan believed a presidential statement would help to gain initiative against Con...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 18, 2014 is: lèse-majesté • \layz-MAJ-uh-stee\  • noun 1 : an offense violating the dignity of sovereign 2 : a detraction from or affront to dignity or importance Examples: "That kind of suppression actually harkens back … to the 1976 coup, when the penalty for lèse majesté was increased to a maximum of 15 years in prison per count.…" -David Streckfuss, V...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 17, 2014 is: walleyed • \WAWL-EYED\  • adjective 1 : having walleyes or affected with walleye 2 : marked by a wild irrational staring of the eyes Examples: After getting beaned by the pitcher, the walleyed batter was immediately checked by the paramedics for signs of a concussion. "And then after that, there's a picture with 10-year-old me holding a dog t...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 16, 2014 is: steampunk • \STEEM-punk\  • noun : science fiction dealing with 19th-century societies dominated by historical or imagined steam-powered technology Examples: "The multiroom bar and restaurant is now decked out with steampunk-ish exposed ducts, geometric light fixtures, and rustic barn doors." - Anna Roth, SF Weekly, June 18, 2014 "It is also...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 15, 2014 is: instigate • \IN-stuh-gayt\  • verb : to cause to happen or begin : to goad or urge forward : provoke Examples: "The catcher instigated the collision by blocking home plate without the ball." - Ryne Sandberg, quoted in The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 8, 2014 "U.S. and European Union officials accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of instigat...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 14, 2014 is: undertaker • \UN-der-tay-ker\  • noun 1 : one that undertakes : one that takes the risk and management of business : entrepreneur 2 : one whose business is to prepare the dead for burial and to arrange and manage funerals 3 : an Englishman taking over forfeited lands in Ireland in the 16th and 17th centuries Examples: The undertaker offered t...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 13, 2014 is: tortuous • \TOR-chuh-wus\  • adjective 1 : marked by repeated twists, bends, or turns : winding 2 a : marked by devious or indirect tactics : crooked, tricky b : circuitous, involved Examples: After it left the tree, the leaf followed a tortuous path through the air before settling on the ground. "The decision in Vergara vs. California also d...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 12, 2014 is: hobbyhorse • \HAH-bee-horss\  • noun 1 a : a stick having an imitation horse's head at one end that a child pretends to ride b : a rocking horse c : a toy horse suspended by springs from a frame 2 : a topic to which one constantly reverts Examples: "The intricate toys, hobbyhorses and tiny working carriages, were made for child play before th...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 11, 2014 is: unregenerate • \un-rih-JEN-uh-rut\  • adjective 1 : not spiritually reborn or converted 2 a : not reformed : unreconstructed b : obstinate, stubborn Examples: "She sings … in a voice that could melt the heart of the most unregenerate musical hater." - Charles Isherwood, The New York Times, May 18, 2008 "A string of revivals later known as the...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 10, 2014 is: pho • \FUH\  • noun : a soup made of beef or chicken broth and rice noodles Examples: Joan and Rob decided they were too tired to cook, and ordered pho with an assortment of other Vietnamese food. "As a first-generation Vietnamese-American growing up in Stillwater, I enjoyed my family's Sunday tradition that paid tribute to both cultures near...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 9, 2014 is: vaunted • \VAWN-tud\  • adjective : highly or widely praised or boasted about Examples: We were able to overcome our opponents' vaunted defense and achieve an upset victory which will take us to the finals. "The vaunted school for years has sent its best students to the nation's top conservatories." - Ericka Mellon, Houston Chronicle, June 8,...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 8, 2014 is: epenthesis • \ih-PEN-thuh-sis\  • noun : the insertion or development of a sound or letter in the body of a word Examples: The "b" in the adjective "nimble" is the result of epenthesis; in Middle English, the word was spelled "nimel." "When Yogi Bear talks about swiping 'pick-a-nick' baskets in Jellystone Park, it sounds as if he's just having...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 7, 2014 is: sclaff • \SKLAF\  • verb : to scrape the ground instead of hitting the ball cleanly on a golf stroke Examples: "Despite a bogey on his penultimate hole of the morning, where he sclaffed about in the sand and made things worse with three putts, it was a second consecutive 72 for the former Open champion." - Paul Forsyth, Scotland on Sunday, Apr...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 6, 2014 is: duplicity • \doo-PLISS-uh-tee\  • noun : the disguising of true intentions by deceptive words or action Examples: In a shameful act of duplicity, Jerry took the money he was entrusted to donate to the homeless shelter and instead used it to buy drugs. "Duplicity abounds in the Athenian Berean Community Players production of Oscar Wilde's 'The...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 5, 2014 is: homonymous • \hoh-MAH-nuh-mus\  • adjective 1 : ambiguous 2 : having the same designation 3 : of, relating to, or being homonyms Examples: We always called the elder Michael "Big Mike" to distinguish him from his homonymous son. "Weezer's latest disc and its third to be self-titled (it's being referred to as 'The Red Album' just as the previou...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 4, 2014 is: firework • \FYRE-werk\  • noun a : a device for producing a striking display by the combustion of explosive or flammable compositions 2 plural : a display of fireworks 3 plural b : a display of temper or intense conflict c : a spectacular display Examples: We made sure to arrive at the waterfront early enough to grab a good spot for viewing th...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 3, 2014 is: misbegotten • \miss-bih-GAH-tun\  • adjective 1 : unlawfully conceived : illegitimate 2 : having a disreputable or improper origin 3 : not worthy of respect or approval Examples: Many hoped that the newly-elected administration would focus on ending what they perceived to be a misbegotten war. "The annals of medical history are strewn with wro...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 2, 2014 is: catfish • \KAT-fish\  • noun 1 : any of numerous usually freshwater stout-bodied fishes with large heads and long thin feelers about the mouth 2 : a person who sets up a false personal profile on a social networking site for fraudulent or deceptive purposes Examples: Mariah's mother worried that anyone her daughter interacted with via online d...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 1, 2014 is: germane • \jer-MAYN\  • adjective : being at once relevant and appropriate : fitting Examples: While his comments were witty and entertaining, they weren't particularly germane to the overall discussion. "They contend the Senate did not merely 'amend' the original House bill because the health care reform amendment was not germane to the origi...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 30, 2014 is: gamification • \gay-muh-fuh-KAY-shun\  • noun : the process of adding games or gamelike elements to something (as a task) so as to encourage participation Examples: "Establishing user identity opens the door for brands to create incentives for customers to keep coming back through interactive reward systems and loyalty programs like gamificat...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 29, 2014 is: chivy • \CHIV-ee\  • verb 1 : to tease or annoy with persistent petty attacks 2 : to move or obtain by small maneuvers Examples: She watched her little brother as he chivied an olive from the jar with his fingers. "After chivvying a batch [of whirligig beetles] into a food storage box, Lemann, manager of animal and visitor programs [at the Au...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 28, 2014 is: gadabout • \GAD-uh-bout\  • noun : a person who goes from place to place in social activity Examples: When you're a gadabout like Liz, who knows just about everyone, you have no problem getting invited to all of the best parties. "Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston star as an undead European gadabout and a reclusive Detroit rocker who reignite...