Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day

00:02:13

blandishment

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/06/12

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 12, 2026 is:blandishment • \BLAN-dish-munt\ • noun Blandishments are nice things that you say or do to convince someone to do something. Blandishment is usually used in the plural form. // Despite the many blandishments of the dressing room attendant, we were resolved not to overspend at the fashion boutique. See the entry > Examples: “… he sought to turn the attack around by saying his

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00:02:06

saturnine

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/06/11

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 11, 2026 is:saturnine • \SAT-er-nyne\ • adjective Saturnine is a literary word that typically describes people who are glum and grumpy, or things that suggest or express gloom. It can also mean “slow to act or change.” // A walk in the sunshine can improve your mood significantly, raising the spirits of even the most saturnine among us. See the entry > Examples: “If he was once more

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00:01:43

foible

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/06/10

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 10, 2026 is:foible • \FOY-bul\ • noun Foibles are minor flaws or shortcomings in someone's character or behavior. In fencing, foible refers to the weakest part of a sword's blade, between the middle and point. // You have to be able to laugh at your own foibles. See the entry > Examples: "The British sketch comedy troupe Monty Python loved taking aim at contemporary foibles through its

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00:02:02

deleterious

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/06/09

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 9, 2026 is: deleterious • \del-uh-TEER-ee-us\ • adjective Deleterious is a word used in formal speech and writing to describe something that is damaging or harmful, usually in a subtle or unexpected way. // Though effective at keeping pests away from plants, the spray is no longer used because of its deleterious effects on the respiratory system. See the entry > Examples: “Canceling email

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00:02:11

accoutrement

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/06/08

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 8, 2026 is: accoutrement • \uh-KOO-truh-munt\ • noun An accoutrement is a piece of clothing or equipment that is used in a particular place or for a particular activity. In military contexts, accoutrement refers specifically to a soldier's outfit. The word can also refer to an identifying and often superficial characteristic or device. Accoutrement in any of its uses is often pluralized. // They have all the

en-us

00:02:17

MacGyver

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/06/07

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 7, 2026 is:MacGyver • \muh-GHYE-ver\ • verb To MacGyver something is to make, form, or repair it with materials that are conveniently on hand. // Social media websites are full of videos that show people MacGyvering everything from a life jacket out of a pair of pants to a stove using three metal cans and some dirt. See the entry > Examples: “Maybe your shovel broke the first time you tried

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00:01:56

valedictory

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/06/06

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 6, 2026 is: valedictory • \val-uh-DIK-tuh-ree\ • adjective Valedictory describes something expressing or containing a farewell. // The valedictory speech given by the department chair moved several faculty members to tears. See the entry > Examples: “Did I regret not catching a retrospective showing of ‘Little Miss Sunshine,’ in a special valedictory program of Sundance sensations from over

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00:01:59

interloper

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/06/05

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 5, 2026 is:interloper • \in-ter-LOH-per\ • noun An interloper is a person who intrudes in a place or sphere of activity; they are not wanted or welcome by the other people present. // Summer residents were regarded as interlopers who lacked a commitment to the town's welfare. See the entry > Examples: "... my garden is wildlife friendly, sometimes too friendly. By not being overly concerned

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00:01:49

redolent

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/06/04

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 4, 2026 is:redolent • \RED-uh-lunt\ • adjective As a synonym of aromatic, the word redolent can describe something that has a noticeable smell without specifying the scent, but more often it is accompanied by of or with and means “full of a specified fragrance,” as in “redolent with incense.” Redolent can also describe something that causes thoughts or memories of something, as in “music redolent of the

en-us

00:01:49

redolent

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/06/04

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 4, 2026 is:redolent • \RED-uh-lunt\ • adjective As a synonym of aromatic, the word redolent can describe something that has a noticeable smell without specifying the scent, but more often it is accompanied by of or with and means “full of a specified fragrance,” as in “redolent with incense.” Redolent can also describe something that causes thoughts or memories of something, as in “music redolent of the

en-us

00:02:13

engender

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/06/03

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 3, 2026 is: engender • \in-JEN-der\ • verb Engender is a formal word that means “to be the source or cause of something.” // Our monthly book club meetings started as a way to connect and ended up being a great place to engender unity and build life-long friendships. See the entry > Examples: “... ‘During a moment defined by anti-intellectualism, escapism, and AI tools that let you skip

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00:01:48

crux

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/06/02

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 2, 2026 is: crux • \KRUKS\ • noun Crux refers to the most important part of something (such as a problem, issue, or puzzle). It is often used in the phrase "the crux of." // The crux of the problem is that the project's budget is totally inadequate. See the entry > Examples: "The new trees number in the thousands. ... What will become of this nursery in the wild in the next hundred years, or

en-us

00:02:03

palatable

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/06/01

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 1, 2026 is: palatable • \PAL-uh-tuh-bul\ • adjective Palatable describes something that has a pleasant or agreeable taste, or that is pleasant or acceptable to someone. // Our group was pleasantly surprised that the food options at the local fair were actually palatable this year. // Given the traffic downtown, traveling by train is a palatable alternative to driving. See the entry >

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00:02:23

permutation

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/05/31

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 31, 2026 is: permutation • \per-myoo-TAY-shun\ • noun Permutation is a formal word for any one of the many different ways or forms in which something exists or can be arranged. It can also refer to a major or fundamental change in something based primarily on rearrangement of its existing elements. Permutation is usually used in its plural form. // Early permutations of the design look nothing like the final

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00:02:29

unctuous

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/05/30

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 30, 2026 is: unctuous • \UNK-chuh-wus\ • adjective Unctuous is a word that’s undergone change in recent years. It now often describes food that is fatty and oily, especially in a pleasing way. Formerly it was more typically applied as a formal adjective describing someone who is figuratively oily—that is, overly or insincerely flattering. Both uses can be found today. // Braising chicken thighs with their skins

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00:02:17

cohort

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/05/29

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 29, 2026 is:cohort • \KOH-hort\ • noun Cohort refers to a group or band of individuals, as in “a cohort of supporters.” It can also be used for a group of individuals who have a statistical factor (such as age) in common in a demographic study, as in “a cohort of people born in the 1980s.” Cohort can be used for individuals too, as for a friend, companion, or colleague, but it is almost always used in its

en-us

00:01:54

ingratiate

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/05/28

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 28, 2026 is:ingratiate • \in-GRAY-shee-ayt\ • verb To ingratiate yourself with others is to gain their favor or approval by deliberately doing or saying things they will like. Ingratiate is usually used with with, and is often (though not always) used disapprovingly. // Scam artists often have an uncanny ability to ingratiate themselves with their victims using subtle flattery that only seems obvious in

en-us

00:01:45

benevolent

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/05/27

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 27, 2026 is:benevolent • \buh-NEV-uh-lunt\ • adjective Benevolent can describe someone or something that is kind and generous or something that is organized for the purpose of doing good. // The event's reception was courtesy of a benevolent donor who's chosen to remain anonymous. // They belong to several benevolent societies and charitable organizations. See the entry > Examples: "The

en-us

00:02:09

Gordian knot

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/05/26

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 26, 2026 is: Gordian knot • \GOR-dee-un-NAHT\ • noun Gordian knot refers to a complicated and difficult problem. It is often used in the phrase cut the Gordian knot, which means “to solve a difficult problem in a very direct way by doing something forceful or extreme.” // The organization’s change in leadership is being widely applauded as a step toward stability, but many are less than optimistic about the new

en-us

00:02:11

sacrosanct

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/05/25

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 25, 2026 is: sacrosanct • \SAK-roh-sankt\ • adjective Sacrosanct is a formal word that describes something too important and respected to be changed or criticized. It can also mean "most sacred or holy." // While the family's new matriarch aimed to maintain the familiar traditions of the holidays, she did not consider the details of their celebration to be sacrosanct. See the entry > Examples:

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