Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 1, 2020 is: interpolate \in-TER-puh-layt\ verb 1 a : to alter or corrupt (something, such as a text) by inserting new or foreign matter b : to insert (words) into a text or into a conversation 2 : to insert between other things or parts : intercalate 3 : to estimate values of (data or a function) between two known values 4 : to make insertions (as of est...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 29, 2020 is: untenable \un-TEN-uh-bul\ adjective 1 : not able to be defended 2 : not able to be occupied Examples: Faced with a budget deficit, the company's CEO made the untenable decision to lay off several upper management employees while still making sure he received a salary bonus. "At noon on February 20, tanks from the 8th Panzer Regiment slamm...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 28, 2020 is: coax \KOHKS\ verb 1 : to influence or gently urge by caressing or flattering : wheedle   2 : to draw, gain, or persuade by means of gentle urging or flattery  3 : to manipulate with great perseverance and usually with considerable effort toward a desired state or activity Examples: "Toasting the pine nuts until they're properly...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 27, 2020 is: trenchant \TREN-chunt\ adjective 1 : keen , sharp 2 : vigorously effective and articulate; also : caustic 3 a : sharply perceptive : penetrating b : clear-cut , distinct Examples: "Felix had a confident, gayly trenchant way of judging human actions which Mr. Wentworth grew little by little to envy; it seemed like criticism made easy." — H...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 26, 2020 is: injunction \in-JUNK-shun\ noun 1 : the act or an instance of enjoining : order , admonition 2 : a court order requiring a party to do or refrain from doing a specified act Examples: The family gathered in the room to hear the matriarch's dying injunctions . "The Benton County district filed a lawsuit asking for the division of fees to be...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 25, 2020 is: dissemble \dih-SEM-bul\ verb 1 : to hide under a false appearance 2 : to put on the appearance of : simulate 3 : to put on a false appearance : to conceal facts, intentions, or feelings under some pretense Examples: "The front room of the gallery will feature the artist's new work presented in large scale and a salon style arrangement of...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 24, 2020 is: acumen \AK-yoo-mun\ noun : keenness and depth of perception, discernment , or discrimination especially in practical matters Examples: The author's detective possesses a superior acumen that enables her to solve the most bizarre and puzzling of mysteries. "Much of Pei's business acumen was shaped early on in his career, in the late 1940s....

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 23, 2020 is: misbegotten \miss-bih-GAH-tun\ adjective 1 : unlawfully conceived : illegitimate 2 a : having a disreputable or improper origin : ill-conceived b : contemptible , deformed Examples: The city's misbegotten attempt to install new traffic signals at the busy intersection only caused greater confusion for motorists. "Stillness fills the remai...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 22, 2020 is: pontificate \pahn-TIF-uh-kayt\ verb 1 : to speak or express opinions in a pompous or dogmatic way 2 a : to officiate as a pontiff b : to celebrate pontifical mass Examples: Stan loves to hear himself talk and will often pontificate on even the most trivial issues. "If a talker's objective through nonstop chatter is to impress others, I ha...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 21, 2020 is: numismatic \noo-muz-MAT-ik\ adjective 1 : of or relating to the study or collection of coins, tokens, and paper money 2 : of or relating to currency : monetary Examples: Andrew brought his father's collection of 19th-century coins to an antique dealer to find out if any were of numismatic value. "Many a well-meaning metal detector enthusi...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 20, 2020 is: judgment \JUJ-munt\ noun 1 a : the process of forming an opinion or evaluation by discerning and comparing b : an opinion or estimate so formed 2 a : the capacity for judging : discernment b : the exercise of this capacity 3 a : a formal utterance of an authoritative opinion b : an opinion so pronounced 4 : a formal decision given by a co...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 19, 2020 is: eradicate \ih-RAD-uh-kayt\ verb 1 : to do away with as completely as if by pulling up by the roots 2 : to pull up by the roots Examples: Widespread, global vaccination has been successful in eradicating smallpox . "The golf-cart fleet is fully powered by lithium batteries, food and horticultural waste is processed into fertilizer for the...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 18, 2020 is: dissemble \dih-SEM-bul\ verb 1 : to hide under a false appearance 2 : to put on the appearance of : simulate 3 : to put on a false appearance : to conceal facts, intentions, or feelings under some pretense Examples: "The front room of the gallery will feature the artist's new work presented in large scale and a salon style arrangement of...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 17, 2020 is: probity \PROH-buh-tee\ noun : adherence to the highest principles and ideals : uprightness Examples: The tale of young George Washington's refusal to tell a lie after cutting down his father's cherry tree was told to us as grade schoolers to illustrate his probity . "The schoolmaster was often the most trusted man in America's rural schoo...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 16, 2020 is: stipulate \STIP-yuh-layt\ verb 1 : to make an agreement or covenant to do or forbear something : contract 2 : to demand an express term in an agreement 3 : to specify as a condition or requirement (as of an agreement or offer) 4 : to give a guarantee of Examples: "The county charter stipulates that county council appoint four citizens—two...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 15, 2020 is: vinaceous \vye-NAY-shus\ adjective : of the color of red wine Examples: The dove had a slight vinaceous tinge on its breast and tail. "My Warwickshire venison was even better…; the seared loin was medium-rare, with a gorgeous vinaceous colour at its centre." — Zoe Williams, The Telegraph (London), 19 Feb. 2012 Did you know? The first reco...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 14, 2020 is: Cupid \KYOO-pid\ noun 1 : the Roman god of erotic love 2 not capitalized : a figure that represents Cupid as a naked usually winged boy often holding a bow and arrow Examples: I purchased a large Valentine's Day card decorated with hearts and cupids. "St. Clair said the library won't actively purchase more cake pan designs, but would...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 13, 2020 is: gustatory \GUSS-tuh-tor-ee\ adjective : relating to or associated with eating or the sense of taste Examples: "December may be full of sparkling holiday soirees, intimate dinners with friends or boisterous family gatherings. This glorious gustatory time is perfect for preparing luscious hors d'oeuvres, creative cocktails, delectable desse...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 12, 2020 is: resile \rih-ZYLE\ verb : recoil , retract ; especially : to return to a prior position Examples: "Sir Keir Starmer, who has also announced his candidacy, said his aim was also to restore 'trust' in Labour. The manifesto, he conceded, was 'overloaded,' yet he did not resile from its ambitions." — The Telegraph (London), 6 Jan. 2020 "Morris...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 11, 2020 is: obloquy \AH-bluh-kwee\ noun 1 : a strongly condemnatory utterance : abusive language 2 : the condition of one that is discredited : bad repute Examples: The manager walked quickly back to the dugout as insults and obloquy rained down from the stands. "During [literary critic Harold Bloom's] extremely prolific career, his audience was spli...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 10, 2020 is: debonair \deb-uh-NAIR\ adjective 1 : suave , urbane 2 : lighthearted , nonchalant Examples: "Bacs, 47, has sharp features, including a pointed nose; he carries permanent stubble and slicks back his silvered hair, in the style of a debonair , world-conquering James Bond villain." — Cam Wolf, GQ , May 13, 2019 "The fat kolaches and muffins...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 9, 2020 is: expunge \ik-SPUNJ\ verb 1 : to strike out, obliterate, or mark for deletion 2 : to efface completely : destroy 3 : to eliminate from one's consciousness Examples: As part of the plea bargain, the defendant's record will be expunged after 100 hours of community service. "Now, court officials and prosecutors are bracing for a possible flood...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 8, 2020 is: lenticular \len-TIK-yuh-ler\ adjective 1 : having the shape of a double- convex lens 2 : of or relating to a lens 3 : provided with or utilizing lenticules Examples: Amateur astronomers might be interested in what the observatory markets as the "largest lenticular telescope on Earth." "This is not the first time Boulder County has been ent...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 7, 2020 is: infantilize \IN-fun-tye-lyze\ verb 1 : to make or keep infantile 2 : to treat as if infantile Examples: "Food manufacturers have been infantilizing us by selling calorie-dense, salty, sweet stuff in brightly colored packages with exciting punctuation for a very long time. And we're buying it." — Tamar Haspel, The Washington Post , 23 Dec....

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 6, 2020 is: canard \kuh-NARD\ noun 1 a : a false or unfounded report or story; especially : a fabricated report b : a groundless rumor or belief 2 : an airplane with horizontal stabilizing and control surfaces in front of supporting surfaces; also : a small airfoil in front of the wing of an aircraft that can increase the aircraft's performance Exampl...