Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 21, 2020 is: exhort \ig-ZORT\ verb See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 20, 2020 is: ne plus ultra \nay-plus-UL-truh\ noun See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 19, 2020 is: dulcet \DUL-sut\ adjective See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 16, 2020 is: See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 15, 2020 is: See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Welcome to Word Matters! In our first episode, we ask a simple but surprisingly complex question: when is a meal supper and when is it dinner? Is there even a difference? Then, we navigate one of English’s most fraught topics. That’s right, we’re talking about the word (yes, WORD) irregardless. Hosted by Emily Brewster, Neil Serven, Ammon Shea, and Peter Sokolowski. Produced in collaboration with...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 14, 2020 is: See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Please enjoy a special bonus episode, introducing the new podcast from Merriam-Webster, Word Matters! From the editors at Merriam-Webster, Word Matters is a show for readers, writers, and anyone who ever loved their English class.  Hosted by Emily Brewster, Neil Serven, Ammon Shea, and Peter Sokolowski. Produced in collaboration with New England Public Media. Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spo...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 13, 2020 is: See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 12, 2020 is: See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 11, 2020 is: See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 10, 2020 is: See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 9, 2020 is: See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 8, 2020 is: See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 7, 2020 is: midriff \MID-riff\ noun See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 6, 2020 is: grubstake \GRUB-stayk\ verb : to provide with material assistance (such as a loan) for launching an enterprise or for a person in difficult circumstances Examples "Kimbro, on the other hand, traveled widely, still hoping to find the speculator who would  grubstake  him for the big attack on the hidden field. He would go anywhe...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 5, 2020 is: demure \dih-MYOOR\ adjective 1 :  reserved ,  modest 2 : affectedly modest, reserved, or serious :  coy Examples "Her  demure  demeanor belies the inner Goth girl who once hung out with Mötley Crue and Ozzy Osbourne. She maintains art forms her first priority for being alive. The social distancing produced...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 4, 2020 is: aficionado \uh-fish-ee-uh-NAH-doh\ noun : a person who likes, knows about, and appreciates a usually fervently pursued interest or activity :  devotee Examples Mickey's brother, an  aficionado  of jazz, was a regular at the downtown clubs and often bought new records on the day they were released. "But assessing the...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 3, 2020 is: risible \RIZZ-uh-bul\ adjective 1 a : capable of laughing b : disposed to laugh 2 : arousing or provoking laughter;  especially  :  laughable 3 : associated with, relating to, or used in laughter Examples "When they arrived … they were treated to a sight that was as surreal as it was  risible : Kamo Pe...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 2, 2020 is: ombudsman \AHM-boodz-mun\ noun 1 : a government official (as in Sweden or New Zealand) appointed to receive and investigate complaints made by individuals against abuses or capricious acts of public officials 2 : one that investigates, reports on, and helps settle complaints Examples "High-performing nursing homes usually have wait...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 1, 2020 is: hotdog \HAHT-dawg\ verb : to perform in a conspicuous or often ostentatious manner;  especially  : to perform fancy stunts and maneuvers (as while surfing or skiing) Examples The wide receiver  hotdogged  into the end zone after catching the touchdown pass. "When you're skating a four-and-a-half mile long trail,...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 31, 2020 is: rife \RYFE\ adjective 1 : prevalent especially to an increasing degree 2 :  abundant ,  common 3 : copiously supplied :  abounding Examples "Like most colleges and universities, ad schools have found themselves going virtual … because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. However, students soon graduating from...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 30, 2020 is: catastrophe \kuh-TASS-truh-fee\ noun 1 : a momentous tragic event ranging from extreme misfortune to utter overthrow or ruin 2 : utter failure :  fiasco 3 a : a violent and sudden change in a feature of the earth b : a violent usually destructive natural event (such as a  supernova ) 4 : the final event...