Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day

00:02:01

postulate

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/04/17

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 17, 2026 is:postulate • \PAHSS-chuh-layt\ • verb Postulate is a formal word used to mean “to suggest something, such as an idea or theory, especially in order to start or continue a discussion.” // Scientists have postulated the existence of water on the planet’s largest moon. See the entry > Examples: “Based on their findings, researchers postulate that Homo sapiens reacted better to lead

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00:02:40

brazen

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/04/16

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 16, 2026 is:brazen • \BRAY-zun\ • adjective Brazen describes someone who is acting, or something that is done, in a very open and shocking way without shame or embarrassment. // The opposition party’s campaign has not been shy in assailing the brazen corruption of the incumbent for funneling public funds into private coffers. See the entry > Examples: “There are no coyotes on Block

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00:01:56

mayhem

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/04/15

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 15, 2026 is:mayhem • \MAY-hem\ • noun Mayhem refers to needless or willful damage or violence, and especially to a scene or situation that involves a lot of violence. In figurative use, it may refer to any instance of excited activity. // The director's newest thriller is brimming with murder and mayhem. See the entry > Examples: "The storage space is a veritable Fort Knox safe from

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00:02:04

enjoin

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/04/14

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 14, 2026 is: enjoin • \in-JOIN\ • verb Enjoining is about requiring or prohibiting. To enjoin a person is to direct or order them to do something. To enjoin an act or practice is to prohibit it; in legal contexts, that prohibition is by way of a judicial order. // Our guide enjoined us to take great care as we began our journey. // The court has enjoined the ban. // We were enjoined from speaking on the

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00:01:47

kibitzer

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/04/13

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 13, 2026 is: kibitzer • \KIB-it-ser\ • noun A kibitzer is someone who watches other people and makes unwanted comments about what they are doing. // It wasn't long after they bought their house that the couple heard from neighborhood kibitzers offering tips on landscaping and remodeling. See the entry > Examples: "During the chess games, the telegraph operators occasionally asked each other

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00:02:10

recondite

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/04/12

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 12, 2026 is: recondite • \REK-un-dyte\ • adjective Recondite is a formal word used to describe something that is difficult to understand or that is not known by many people. // The text addresses a technical subject using recondite vocabulary, which makes it very difficult to read. // The candy has the perfect balance of sweet and tart, but what delights me most are the recondite facts printed inside the

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00:01:58

subterfuge

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/04/11

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 11, 2026 is:subterfuge • \SUB-ter-fyooj\ • noun Subterfuge is a formal word that refers to the use of tricks to hide, avoid, or get something. // They obtained the documents by subterfuge. See the entry > Examples: “Despite her difficult childhood, Mavis [Gallant] persevered, through grit, bloody-mindedness, an absence of self-pity, and an ironic sense of humor. Lunch with her was always

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00:02:20

glaucous

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/04/10

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 10, 2026 is:glaucous • \GLAW-kus\ • adjective Glaucous as a color word can describe things of two rather different shades: a light bluish-gray or bluish-white color, or a pale yellow-green. It can also mean "having a powdery or waxy coating that gives a frosted appearance and tends to rub off." // His glaucous eyes grew wide with curiosity. // The tree's glaucous leaves help prevent sun damage. See the

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00:01:58

decry

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/04/09

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 9, 2026 is:decry • \dih-KRY\ • verb To decry something is to express strong disapproval of it. // The editorial decried the shuttering of the movie theater, which has been a local landmark for many years. See the entry > Examples: “Twenty years ago, I wrote a book about the branding of youth culture called Branded: The Buying and Selling of Teenagers. As a parent, I have come to understand

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00:02:24

panache

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/04/08

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 8, 2026 is:panache • \puh-NAHSH\ • noun In simplest terms, panache refers to lively grace and style; it appears in contexts in which words like verve and flair are also applied. // The cast of the play was excellent—even those playing supporting characters acted with great panache. See the entry > Examples: “The star appeared as an airline pilot, twirling her way through baggage reclaim

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00:01:44

laudable

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/04/07

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 7, 2026 is: laudable • \LAW-duh-bul\ • adjective Laudable is a somewhat formal word used to describe something as worthy of praise. It is a synonym of commendable. // Thanks to the laudable efforts of dozens of volunteers, the town's Spring Festival was an enjoyable event for everyone. See the entry > Examples: "Fair and equal access to higher education, regardless of socioeconomic status or

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00:02:17

cotton

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/04/06

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 6, 2026 is: cotton • \KAH-tun\ • verb The verb cotton is used with on or on to to mean “to begin to understand something; to catch on.” Cotton used with to alone means “to begin to like someone or something.” // It took a while, but they are finally starting to cotton on. // She quickly cottoned on to why her friend was nudging her, and stopped talking just before their teacher entered the room. // We

en-us

00:02:01

verdant

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/04/05

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 5, 2026 is: verdant • \VER-dunt\ • adjective Verdant describes something that is green in tint or color, or green because it is covered with growing plants. Verdant can also describe a person who is inexperienced or has not yet developed good judgment. // The golf course is noted for its tricky hazards and lush, verdant borders along its fairways. See the entry > Examples: “On the other

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00:01:54

wiseacre

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/04/04

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 4, 2026 is: wiseacre • \WYZE-ay-ker\ • noun A wiseacre is someone who says or does things that are funny but annoying. Wiseacre is an informal and old-fashioned word, as well as a synonym of smart aleck. // Some wiseacre in the audience kept heckling the comedian throughout the performance. See the entry > Examples: "In 1982's hit action comedy 48 Hours, a young Eddie Murphy plays a wiseacre

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00:01:41

adroit

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/04/03

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 3, 2026 is:adroit • \uh-DROYT\ • adjective Adroit describes someone or something that has or shows skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations. // We marveled at how adroit the puppeteers were, the marionettes responding to each precise shift of their hands, each flick of their wrists. See the entry > Examples: “She offers here the most invigorating of performances,

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00:01:46

fawn

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/04/02

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 2, 2026 is:fawn • \FAWN\ • verb To fawn over or on someone (usually someone important or powerful) is to try to get their approval through praise, special attention, or flattery. Fawn is also sometimes used—especially but not exclusively of dogs—to mean “to show affection.” // Still new to celebrity, the musician blushed at the restaurant staff fawning over her during her recent hometown visit. // I’d only

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00:02:20

shenanigans

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/04/01

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 1, 2026 is:shenanigans • \shuh-NAN-ih-gunz\ • plural noun Shenanigans is an informal word used to refer to activity or behavior that is either not honest or proper, or is mischievous or high-spirited. Its oldest meaning, and the one most likely to be encountered as the singular shenanigan, is “a devious trick used especially for an underhanded purpose.” // The CEO resigned amid accusations of financial

en-us

00:02:22

genteel

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/03/31

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 31, 2026 is: genteel • \jen-TEEL\ • adjective Genteel means “of or relating to people who have high social status” and can be used as a somewhat old-fashioned synonym of aristocratic. It can also be used to describe something with a quietly appealing or polite quality, as in “genteel manners.” // Their genteel upbringing shaped the way they viewed the world. See the entry > Examples: “The

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00:01:58

oblivion

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/03/30

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 30, 2026 is: oblivion • \uh-BLIV-ee-un\ • noun Oblivion can refer to the state of something that is not remembered or thought about any more, or to the state of being unconscious or unaware. It also sometimes refers to the state of being destroyed. // After so many days of exhaustingly difficult work, he longed for the oblivion of sleep. // The sandcastles of summer had long since been swept into oblivion by

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00:02:18

cadge

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/03/29

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 29, 2026 is: cadge • \KAJ\ • verb To cadge something is to persuade someone to give it to you for free. Cadge can also mean “to take, use, or borrow (something) without acknowledgment.” // I don’t know how, but my brother always manages to cadge an extra scoop of ice cream on his sundaes. // The last line of the poem is cadged from Shelley’s “Ozymandias.” See the entry > Examples: “How

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