Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day
Build your vocabulary with Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day! Each day a Merriam-Webster editor offers insight into a fascinating new word -- explaining its meaning, current use, and little-known details about its origin.
- Update frequency
- every day
- Average duration
- 1 minutes
- Episodes
- 81
- Years Active
- 2025
glitch
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 17, 2025 is: glitch \GLITCH\ noun
Glitch is an informal word referring to an unexpected and usually minor problem. It is used especially for a minor pr…
00:02:15 |
Sun 17 Aug 2025
tempestuous
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 16, 2025 is: tempestuous \tem-PESS-chuh-wus\ adjective
Tempestuous is used to describe something that is related to or resembles a violent storm. In it…
00:02:11 |
Sat 16 Aug 2025
meander
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 15, 2025 is: meander \mee-AN-der\ verb
To meander is to follow a winding or intricate course—that is, one with a lot of turns and curves—or to walk slo…
00:01:44 |
Fri 15 Aug 2025
immutable
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 14, 2025 is: immutable \ih-MYOO-tuh-bul\ adjective
Immutable is a formal adjective used to describe something that is unable to be changed.
// It is h…
00:01:57 |
Thu 14 Aug 2025
calculus
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 13, 2025 is: calculus \KAL-kyuh-lus\ noun
Calculus refers to an advanced branch of mathematics that deals mostly with rates of change and with finding …
00:02:13 |
Wed 13 Aug 2025
ramshackle
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 12, 2025 is: ramshackle \RAM-shak-ul\ adjective
Ramshackle describes things that are in a very bad condition and need to be repaired, or that are carel…
00:01:56 |
Tue 12 Aug 2025
stipulate
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 11, 2025 is: stipulate \STIP-yuh-layt\ verb
To stipulate is to demand or require something as part of an agreement.
// The rules stipulate that player…
00:01:45 |
Mon 11 Aug 2025
hidebound
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 10, 2025 is: hidebound \HYDE-bound\ adjective
Someone or something described as hidebound is inflexible and unwilling to accept new or different ideas.…
00:01:43 |
Sun 10 Aug 2025
behemoth
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 9, 2025 is: behemoth \bih-HEE-muth\ noun
A behemoth is something of monstrous size, power, or appearance. Behemoth (usually capitalized) is also the na…
00:01:44 |
Sat 09 Aug 2025
winsome
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 8, 2025 is: winsome \WIN-sum\ adjective
Winsome describes people and things that are cheerful, pleasant, and appealing.
// Though a relative newcomer…
00:01:46 |
Fri 08 Aug 2025
adjudicate
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 7, 2025 is: adjudicate \uh-JOO-dih-kayt\ verb
To adjudicate a dispute between two parties is to make an official decision about which party is right; t…
00:01:42 |
Thu 07 Aug 2025
largesse
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 6, 2025 is: largesse \lahr-ZHESS\ noun
Largesse is a somewhat formal word that refers to the act of giving away money or the generosity of a person who…
00:02:12 |
Wed 06 Aug 2025
contentious
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 5, 2025 is: contentious \kun-TEN-shuss\ adjective
Contentious describes something that is likely to cause people to argue or disagree or that involves …
00:01:55 |
Tue 05 Aug 2025
tapestry
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 4, 2025 is: tapestry \TAP-uh-stree\ noun
A tapestry is a heavy textile characterized by complicated pictorial designs and used for hangings, curtains, …
00:02:20 |
Mon 04 Aug 2025
egregious
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 3, 2025 is: egregious \ih-GREE-juss\ adjective
Egregious is a formal word used to describe things that are conspicuously bad.
// Leaving one’s phone …
00:01:48 |
Sun 03 Aug 2025
palimpsest
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 2, 2025 is: palimpsest \PAL-imp-sest\ noun
Palimpsest in its original use refers to writing material (such as a parchment manuscript) used one or more …
00:02:11 |
Sat 02 Aug 2025
dissociate
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 1, 2025 is: dissociate \dih-SOH-shee-ayt\ verb
To dissociate is to separate oneself from association or union with someone or something; in contexts re…
00:02:16 |
Fri 01 Aug 2025
petulant
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 31, 2025 is: petulant \PET-chuh-lunt\ adjective
Petulant describes a person who is angry and annoyed, or an attitude or behavior showing the emotions of …
00:02:06 |
Thu 31 Jul 2025
doppelgänger
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 30, 2025 is: doppelgänger \DAH-pul-gang-er\ noun
A doppelgänger is someone who looks very much like another person. In literary use, doppelgänger refers …
00:01:51 |
Wed 30 Jul 2025
quibble
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 29, 2025 is: quibble \KWIB-ul\ verb
To quibble is to argue or complain about small, unimportant things. Quibble can also mean "to evade the point of an a…
00:01:54 |
Tue 29 Jul 2025
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