Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day

00:02:01

perseverate

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/10/05

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 5, 2026 is:perseverate • \per-SEV-uh-rayt\ • verb To perseverate is to intently focus one's attention on a thought or thoughts. Perseverate can also mean "to recur or repeat continually." // They teach that there is no use in perseverating about past regrets. // Nervous thoughts perseverated in the back of her mind for weeks leading up to the event, but it was a complete success. See the entry >

en-us

00:02:20

adventitious

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/10/04

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 4, 2026 is:adventitious • \ad-ven-TISH-us\ • adjective Adventitious is a formal word that most often describes something that comes from an outside source, and is neither inherent or innate. In botanical contexts especially, the word also describes something that arises or occurs sporadically, or not in the usual or expected location. // The house is like a museum—beautifully restored, full of period

en-us

00:02:07

tittle

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/10/03

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 3, 2026 is: tittle • \TITT-ul\ • noun Used chiefly in British English, tittle refers to a very small part or amount; it is often paired with the word jot. In writing and printing on both sides of the pond, tittle also refers to a point or small sign used as a diacritical mark. // There is not a jot or tittle of evidence to support their claims. See the entry > Examples: "First-class

en-us

00:02:08

heterodox

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/10/02

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 2, 2026 is:heterodox • \HET-uh-ruh-dahks\ • adjective Like both unorthodox and unconventional, heterodox describes something, such an idea or belief, that is contrary to or different from an acknowledged standard, a traditional form, or an established religion. Heterodox can also describe a person or group that holds unorthodox opinions or doctrines. // The two new faculty members' heterodox approach to

en-us

00:02:09

slew

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/10/01

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 1, 2026 is:slew • \SLOO\ • noun Slew is an informal word for a large number of people or things. // The pile of junk mail included a slew of catalogs. See the entry > Examples: “The nonalcoholic drinks category has expanded so much in recent years that it’s not uncommon to find a list of thoughtful, complex nonalcoholic beverages on a bar or restaurant’s cocktail menu—yes, even outside

en-us

00:01:52

epistemic

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/30

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 30, 2026 is:epistemic • \ep-uh-STEE-mik\ • adjective Epistemic means "of or relating to knowledge or knowing." // He's a brilliant teacher who has the epistemic humility to know that there is always more to learn. See the entry > Examples: "Is a novel's primary purpose to entertain or to deepen our experience of being alive—to offer escape or epistemic enrichment?" — Brady

en-us

00:01:04

argot

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/29

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 29, 2026 is:argot • \AHR-goh\ • noun Argot refers to the language or set of words used by a particular group of people. // The novels were such a success that fans began communicating in the secret argot spoken by the series’ characters. See the entry > Examples: “[Lenny] Bruce, born Leonard Alfred Schneider on Long Island, quit school at 16 and got his start telling jokes at a

en-us

00:02:14

fungible

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/28

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 28, 2026 is:fungible • \FUN-juh-bul\ • adjective Fungible describes things, such as currency, goods, and commodities, that can be exchanged for something else of the same kind or value. In broader usage, fungible can also mean “interchangeable,” as well as “readily changeable to adapt to new situations.” // A dollar bill is considered fungible because it can easily and acceptably be traded for ten

en-us

00:02:14

bellwether

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/27

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 27, 2026 is:bellwether • \BEL-WEH-ther\ • noun Bellwether usually refers to something that serves as an indicator of trends. It can also refer to someone or something that leads others. // Event organizers say the concert series is a bellwether, demonstrating that good shows can bring visitors to the town. See the entry > Examples: “Disney, with its long and illustrious history and

en-us

00:02:18

confabulate

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/26

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 26, 2026 is: confabulate • \kun-FAB-yuh-layt\ • verb Confabulate has two very different meanings. Most of the time, to confabulate is to generate a false memory by filling in memory gaps with fabrications. An older meaning, still in use, is "to talk informally; to chat." // Patients who have this type of memory disorder are known to confabulate. See the entry > Examples: "My

en-us

00:02:01

tactile

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/25

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 25, 2026 is:tactile • \TAK-tul\ • adjective Tactile typically describes something, such as a sensation or experience, relating to the sense of touch. It can also be used specifically to describe something that is perceptible by touch. // With the introduction of haptics to smartphones, receiving a call from a friend became a much more tactile experience. See the entry > Examples:

en-us

00:02:02

pundit

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/24

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 24, 2026 is:pundit • \PUN-dit\ • noun A pundit is someone, especially an expert, who presents their opinions and ideas on a particular subject via the media. // Grandpa likes watching political pundits spar about the issues of the day on the Sunday morning talk shows. See the entry > Examples: “… fashion pundits slammed the costumes, with some likening them to fast-fashion copies of

en-us

00:02:27

compendious

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/23

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 23, 2026 is:compendious • \kum-PEN-dee-us\ • adjective A compendious book, research paper, article, etc. is one that provides most or all of the information one may want or require. Similarly, a person might be said to have compendious knowledge of a subject if they have a full and wide-ranging—that is, comprehensive—grasp of it. Compendious can also describe something that is both comprehensive and

en-us

00:01:39

nemesis

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/22

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 22, 2026 is:nemesis • \NEM-uh-siss\ • noun A nemesis is a formidable foe—an opponent or enemy who is very difficult to defeat. As a proper noun, Nemesis refers to the Greek goddess of vengeance. // She will be playing against her old nemesis for the championship. See the entry > Examples: "There were never any doubts about the man playing He-Man's nemesis, Skeletor. ... Frank Langella

en-us

00:02:21

elegiac

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/21

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 21, 2026 is:elegiac • \el-uh-JYE-ak\ • adjective Elegiac means “of, relating to, or comprising an elegy," an elegy being a sorrowful poem or song, and especially one that expresses sorrow for someone who is dead. Elegiac often describes a poem, song, piece of writing, etc. that mourns something now past. // The elegiac tone of the singer’s first album always leaves me in tears. See the entry >

en-us

00:01:54

volition

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/20

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 20, 2026 is:volition • \voh-LISH-un\ • noun Volition is a formal word that means “the power to make your own choices or decisions.” Usually, though not always, volition follows own, as in “left the company of her own volition.” // Every choice I made was of my own volition and not due to outside influence. See the entry > Examples: “Believe it or not, a lot of people find worms in

en-us

00:01:49

aggrandize

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/19

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 19, 2026 is: aggrandize • \uh-GRAN-dyze\ • verb To aggrandize someone (or something) is to enhance their power, wealth, position, or reputation. Aggrandize can also mean "to increase or enlarge" or "to praise highly." // Critics of the book argue that the author aggrandizes corrupt politicians. See the entry > Examples: "... many congregants spoke of their admiration for Tsietsi. They

en-us

00:02:22

churlish

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/18

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 18, 2026 is:churlish • \CHUR-lish\ • adjective Churlish is a formal word used to describe someone or something that is impolite or rude. // I was shocked by the churlish remarks made by my opponent. See the entry > Examples: “… I think a Bob Dylan concert is fundamentally for Bob Dylan himself. You could call it churlish, but I think it’s self-assuredness, an elder’s clarity: The man

en-us

00:02:29

watershed

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/17

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 17, 2026 is:watershed • \WAW-ter-shed\ • noun Watershed, used figuratively, refers to a crucial dividing point, line, or factor. Used literally, the word may refer to a ridge from which rivers drain on either side, or to the area of land that includes a particular river or lake and all the rivers, streams, etc. that flow into it. : a crucial dividing point, line, or factor // The protests marked a

en-us

00:02:09

facsimile

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2026/09/16

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 16, 2026 is:facsimile • \fak-SIM-uh-lee\ • noun A facsimile is an exact copy of something. The word facsimile is also still sometimes used to refer to a system of transmitting and reproducing graphic matter, such as printed text or photos, though the word fax is more common. // The forged painting was an impressive facsimile of the original. // The documents can be sent by facsimile to the number

en-us

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