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Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day

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00:01:51

apropos

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/12/27

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 27, 2025 is: apropos • \ap-ruh-POH\ • preposition Apropos is used as a preposition to mean "with regard to." It is frequently used in the phrase "apropos of." // Sean interrupted our conversation about politics and, apropos of nothing, asked who we thought would win the basketball game. As an adjective, apropos describes something that is suitable or appropriate, as in "an apropos nickname." See the

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00:02:00

grandiose

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/12/26

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 26, 2025 is:grandiose • \gran-dee-OHSS\ • adjective Grandiose is usually used disapprovingly to describe something that seems impressive or is intended to be impressive, but that is either not possible or practical. // The long-vacant historic building has finally been purchased, and the developer has announced grandiose plans to make it the center of a new theater district. See the entry >

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00:01:54

noel

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/12/25

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 25, 2025 is:noel • \noh-EL\ • noun When capitalized, Noel refers to Christmas or the Christmas season. Uncapitalized, noel refers to a Christmas carol. // We were greeted at the door by a group of carolers singing noels. // Every year we send our family Christmas cards with our photo enclosed wishing everyone a joyous Noel. See the entry > Examples: “The meeting began with a touch of

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00:01:45

hark back

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/12/24

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 24, 2025 is:hark back • \HAHRK-BAK\ • verb Harking back can be about turning back to an earlier topic or circumstance, as in "a storyteller harking back to his youth," or it can be about going back to something as an origin or source, as in "a style that harks back to the turn of the previous century." // The dinner conversation harked back to the lunch debate over what counts as a traditional holiday

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00:01:28

bespoke

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/12/23

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 23, 2025 is: bespoke • \bih-SPOHK\ • adjective Bespoke describes something that is custom-made—that is, made to fit the needs or requirements of a particular person. // As a tailor, Lana specialized in crafting bespoke clothing for her clients, each piece unique and suited to their tastes. See the entry > Examples: “The vehicles are bespoke machines with every little detail thought of,

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00:01:55

temporize

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/12/22

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 22, 2025 is:temporize • \TEM-puh-ryze\ • verb To temporize is to avoid making a decision or giving a definite answer in order to have more time. // Pressured by voters on both sides of the issue, the congressman temporized. See the entry > Examples: "The question is, Did you eat the last piece of pie? And the politician who ate the last piece of pie doesn't want to say yes, because

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00:02:24

hibernaculum

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/12/21

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 21, 2025 is: hibernaculum • \hye-ber-NAK-yuh-lum\ • noun Hibernaculum (plural hibernacula) refers to a shelter occupied during the winter by a dormant animal, such as an insect, snake, bat, or marmot. // Local scientists are studying the longevity of bats who use bridges and other aboveground hibernacula versus that of bats who roost all winter in subterranean caves. See the entry >

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00:01:36

decorous

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/12/20

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 20, 2025 is: decorous • \DECK-er-us\ • adjective Decorous is a formal adjective used to describe an attitude or behavior characterized by propriety and good taste. // The ceremony was conducted with a decorous solemnity. See the entry > Examples: “... Elizabeth reveals, later, that she felt she never belonged to the decorous world of parties and corsets and curls and feathers on the

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00:01:47

veracity

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/12/19

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 19, 2025 is:veracity • \vuh-RASS-uh-tee\ • noun Veracity is a formal word that can refer to truth or accuracy, or to the quality of being truthful or honest. // The jury seemed not to doubt the veracity of the witness. See the entry > Examples: "Raise your hand if you've been questioning the veracity of real events, news stories and images posted on social media lately. It used to be

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00:02:03

jaunty

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/12/18

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 18, 2025 is:jaunty • \JAWN-tee\ • adjective Something described as jaunty is lively in manner or appearance. Jaunty can also describe something, such as an article of clothing, that suggests a lively and confident quality. // The server whistled a jaunty tune as she wiped the tables and set out fresh flowers in preparation for the day’s diners. See the entry > Examples: “He stood at the

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00:01:43

espouse

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/12/17

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 17, 2025 is:espouse • \ih-SPOWZ\ • verb To espouse an ideology, belief, etc., is to take it up and support it as a cause. Espouse is usually encountered in formal speech and writing. // The article explores some of the lesser-known viewpoints espoused by the charismatic leader. See the entry > Examples: “Crammed into a tiny apartment in Greenwich Village, they [Yoko Ono and John Lennon]

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00:01:56

conversant

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/12/16

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 16, 2025 is: conversant • \kun-VER-sunt\ • adjective Conversant, usually used in the phrase "conversant with," describes someone who has knowledge of or experience with something. // The ideal candidate for the sommelier position will have expert knowledge of the various wines served in the restaurant and be conversant with the rich world of viniculture. See the entry > Examples: "The

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00:02:20

dreidel

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/12/15

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 15, 2025 is:dreidel • \DRAY-dul\ • noun A dreidel is a 4-sided toy marked with Hebrew letters and spun like a top in a game of chance. The game, played by children especially at Hanukkah, is also called dreidel. // All the kids in the family look forward to playing dreidel together during Hanukkah. See the entry > Examples: “The Jewish tradition has always been syncretic, adapting and

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00:02:26

multitudinous

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/12/14

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 14, 2025 is: multitudinous • \mul-tuh-TOO-duh-nus\ • adjective Multitudinous is a formal word with meanings that relate to multitudes. It can mean “existing in a great multitude”—that is, “very many”; or “including a multitude of individuals”; or “existing in or consisting of innumerable elements or aspects.” // The two old friends reminisced about the multitudinous ways in which their lives had

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00:01:44

alleviate

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/12/13

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 13, 2025 is: alleviate • \uh-LEE-vee-ayt\ • verb To alleviate something is to make it less painful, difficult, or severe. Alleviate can also mean "to partially remove or correct." // There's no cure for the common cold, but there are various treatments that may alleviate some of the symptoms. // The new tunnel should alleviate traffic congestion on the bridge. See the entry > Examples:

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00:02:08

waggish

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/12/12

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 12, 2025 is:waggish • \WAG-ish\ • adjective Waggish describes someone who is silly and playful, and especially someone who displays a mischievous sense of humor. The word can also describe things that such a person might do or possess. // He had a waggish disposition that could irk adults but typically delighted children. // She denied the prank but did so with a waggish smirk that didn't match her

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00:02:25

leviathan

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/12/11

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 11, 2025 is:leviathan • \luh-VYE-uh-thun\ • noun Leviathan is a word with literary flair that can refer broadly to something very large and powerful, or more narrowly to a large sea animal, or a totalitarian state having a vast bureaucracy. // Towering leviathans of the forest, giant sequoias often reach heights of more than 200 feet. See the entry > Examples: “These are dim days for the

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00:01:31

grift

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/12/10

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 10, 2025 is:grift • \GRIFT\ • verb To grift is to use dishonest tricks to illegally take money or property. // The email scammer shamelessly grifted thousands of dollars from unwitting victims. See the entry > Examples: "When the families demanded he return the jewellery he had grifted from them he arranged meetings and then did not show." — Peter Spriggs, The Echo (South Essex,

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00:01:51

paltry

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/12/09

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 9, 2025 is: paltry • \PAWL-tree\ • adjective Paltry is a formal word that can describe something that is very small or too small in amount, or something that has little meaning, importance, or worth. // They're offering a paltry salary for the position. // The professor announced they'd finally had enough of the students' paltry excuses for being late to class. See the entry > Examples:

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00:01:44

bravado

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/12/08

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 8, 2025 is: bravado • \bruh-VAH-doh\ • noun Bravado refers to confident or brave talk or behavior that is intended to impress other people. // She tells the stories of her youthful exploits with enough bravado to invite suspicion that they're embellished a bit. // The crew of climbers scaled the mountain with youthful bravado. See the entry > Examples: "One problem that exists in the

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