Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day

00:02:15

illustrious

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/08/30

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 30, 2026 is:illustrious • \ih-LUSS-tree-us\ • adjective Illustrious describes a person or deed that is highly admired and respected. // During the ceremony, the illustrious star of stage and screen was presented with a lifetime achievement award. See the entry > Examples: “Two of the most respected professors—an academic power couple—invited me to their home for dinner. I was flattered and

en-us

00:01:53

kith

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/08/29

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 29, 2026 is: kith • \KITH\ • noun Kith is an old-fashioned term that refers to familiar friends, neighbors, or relatives. It is often used in the phrase “kith and kin,” which means “friends and relatives.” // Spending time with kith and kin at the end of the summer is the highlight of our year. See the entry > Examples: “One thing that you could usually count on was the loyalty of your

en-us

00:02:17

cogent

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/08/28

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 28, 2026 is:cogent • \KOH-junt\ • adjective Cogent is a formal word that describes something that is very clear and easy for the mind to accept and believe. It is used as a synonym of convincing. // At the town meeting, citizens presented many cogent arguments in support of building a new senior center. See the entry > Examples: “The history of art reads here as one long, free verse

en-us

00:02:17

cogent

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/08/28

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 28, 2026 is:cogent • \KOH-junt\ • adjective Cogent is a formal word that describes something that is very clear and easy for the mind to accept and believe. It is used as a synonym of convincing. // At the town meeting, citizens presented many cogent arguments in support of building a new senior center. See the entry > Examples: “The history of art reads here as one long, free verse

en-us

00:01:44

southpaw

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/08/27

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 27, 2026 is:southpaw • \SOUTH-paw\ • noun Southpaw is an informal word for someone who is left-handed. It is especially used for a left-handed baseball pitcher or boxer. // The team’s new pitcher is a southpaw with a wicked knuckleball. See the entry > Examples: “The Sox southpaw’s perfect game bid ended when the Yankees loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth …” — Gabrielle Starr,

en-us

00:02:10

devolve

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/08/26

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 26, 2026 is:devolve • \dih-VAHLV\ • verb To devolve is to gradually go from an advanced state to a less advanced state, or to pass something, such as responsibility or power, from one person or group to another at a lower level of authority. // Somehow the debate devolved into a petty competition to see who could get more applause. // Community leaders hope that the new government will devolve more power

en-us

00:02:17

tilde

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/08/25

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 25, 2026 is: tilde • \TIL-duh\ • noun Tilde refers to the mark ~ placed especially over the letter n (as in the Spanish señor, meaning "sir") to denote the sound \nʸ\, or over vowels (as in the Portuguese irmã, meaning "sister") to indicate nasality. When a tilde appears as an independent character, it usually means "approximately" (as in "we'll be there in ~ 30 minutes"). // A familiar example of the tilde

en-us

00:02:00

expeditious

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/08/24

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 24, 2026 is:expeditious • \ek-spuh-DISH-us\ • adjective Expeditious is a formal word that is used to describe someone acting in a quick and efficient way, or something done in such a manner. // Both sides hoped for an expeditious resolution of the dispute. See the entry > Examples: “Inspectors were on campus Friday afternoon with a certified arborist to determine which trees are protected

en-us

00:02:10

prowess

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/08/23

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 23, 2026 is: prowess • \PROW-us\ • noun Prowess refers to someone’s great ability, skill, or talent for something specified, as in “the pop star's vocal prowess” or “a lawyer of great prowess.” // Already a proven virtuoso on guitar, she extends her considerable instrumental prowess to the piano throughout her new album as well. See the entry > Examples: “On another Friday ... I led a

en-us

00:01:59

august

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/08/22

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 22, 2026 is: august • \aw-GUST\ • adjective The word august, which is pronounced with the accent on "gust," describes someone or something marked by majestic dignity or grandeur. // We toured the old mansion's august halls and expansive grounds. See the entry > Examples: "His tone is temperate, but the words echo through the State Capitol’s Assembly chamber, the august backdrop for his

en-us

00:02:05

rigmarole

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/08/21

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 21, 2026 is:rigmarole • \RIG-uh-muh-rol\ • noun Rigmarole refers to a long, complicated, and annoying process, description, etc. // We went through the rigmarole of installing, registering, and activating the software before we found out it wouldn’t work. See the entry > Examples: “Over the last 10 years or so, I’ve had an on-again, off-again relationship with running. On the one hand, I

en-us

00:02:04

divulge

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/08/20

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 20, 2026 is:divulge • \dih-VULJ\ • verb To divulge something, especially secret or private information, is to make it known. // Rather than divulge the baby name we’ve chosen, we’re waiting till the little one arrives to make introductions. See the entry > Examples: “Sun Ra’s agent had called, he said. ... The Arkestra was heading out on tour soon, to Europe, and Sonny wanted the three of

en-us

00:02:05

balmy

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/08/19

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 19, 2026 is:balmy • \BAH-mee\ • adjective Balmy is an adjective that is often used to describe weather that is warm, calm, and pleasant. It can also be used to describe someone or something (such as an idea) that is foolish or irrational. // After a long, eight-hour drive, we were rewarded with a mild, balmy evening at our vacation spot on the shores of Lake Erie. // Despite being a devout Green Bay fan,

en-us

00:02:14

oxymoron

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/08/18

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 18, 2026 is: oxymoron • \ahk-sih-MOR-ahn\ • noun An oxymoron is a combination of words that have opposite or very different meanings, such as "cruel kindness" or "open secret." In broader usage, oxymoron can also refer to something (such as a concept) that is made up of contradictory or incongruous elements. // Some of Shakespeare's most famous plays are filled with oxymorons such as "loving hate" and

en-us

00:01:47

lackadaisical

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/08/17

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 17, 2026 is: lackadaisical • \lak-uh-DAY-zih-kul\ • adjective Something or someone described as lackadaisical is lacking in interest, enthusiasm, or zest. // Feeling particularly lackadaisical in the summer heat, they lazily tossed a ball back and forth. See the entry > Examples: "The defense was lackadaisical at best, while the offense wasn't much better." — Shreyas Laddha, The Daily

en-us

00:02:03

zeugma

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/08/16

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 16, 2026 is:zeugma • \ZOOG-muh\ • noun Zeugma refers to wordplay in which a single word relates to other words in such a way that it means something different in each case, as in “building a boat and a reputation” and “open a book along with your mind.” // A clever use of zeugma was demonstrated by Groucho Marx’s character Rufus T. Firefly in Duck Soup (1933): “You can leave in a taxi. If you can’t get a

en-us

00:01:58

circumscribe

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/08/15

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 15, 2026 is: circumscribe • \SER-kum-skrybe\ • verb To circumscribe something is to limit its range or activity. // The president’s decision-making power was carefully circumscribed by the company’s board. See the entry > Examples: “A mid-credits scene that shows Santos and Mel at a karaoke bar performing a duet ... might seem to be a throwaway. But it’s more like a glimmer of a happy

en-us

00:01:51

vacuous

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/08/14

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 14, 2026 is:vacuous • \VAK-yuh-wus\ • adjective Vacuous is a formal word indicating a lack of thought, intelligence, or substance. // Despite a lengthy advertising campaign pitching the film as a masterwork, critics ultimately assailed it as dull and filled with self-important characters spouting vacuous platitudes. See the entry > Examples: "Harper Lee was not slight, was not vacuous

en-us

00:02:21

salvo

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/08/13

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 13, 2026 is: salvo • \SAL-voh\ • noun In military contexts, salvo refers to various actions involving discharge or release of bombs, rockets, artillery, etc., as well to the bombs or projectiles released in such an action. In general use, salvo is usually used to refer to a strong or sudden verbal attack, but it can also refer to a sudden occurrence of applause, laughter, etc., from many people. // The

en-us

00:01:54

gnomic

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/08/12

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 12, 2026 is:gnomic • \NOH-mik\ • adjective Gnomic is a formal word that describes something cryptically said or written in few words. // The painter is notorious for offering terse, gnomic responses to questions about her work that leave interviewers and critics scratching their heads. See the entry > Examples: “Indeed, the album that ‘Michelangelo Dying’ reminds me of most is [Laurie]

en-us

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

Eliana Benavides

The Moth

The Moth

About Art

Heidi Zuckerman

Stage Whisper

Andrew Cortes and Hope Bird

Podcast Patapoe

0d0a