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
facile
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 28, 2025 is: facile \FASS-ul\ adjective
Facile is a formal adjective that is used disapprovingly to describe something that is too simple, or that doesn’…
00:02:42 |
Mon 28 Jul 2025
brouhaha
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 27, 2025 is: brouhaha \BROO-hah-hah\ noun
Brouhaha is a synonym of both [uproar](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uproar) and [hubbub](https://…
00:02:05 |
Sun 27 Jul 2025
embellish
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 26, 2025 is: embellish \im-BELL-ish\ verb
To embellish something is to make it more appealing or attractive with fanciful or decorative details.
// The …
00:01:35 |
Sat 26 Jul 2025
sui generis
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 25, 2025 is: sui generis \soo-eye-JEN-uh-ris\ adjective
Sui generis is a formal adjective used to describe someone or something in a class or group of it…
00:02:06 |
Fri 25 Jul 2025
panacea
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 24, 2025 is: panacea \pan-uh-SEE-uh\ noun
A panacea is something that is regarded as a [cure-all](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cure-all)—th…
00:01:52 |
Thu 24 Jul 2025
logy
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 23, 2025 is: logy \LOH-ghee\ adjective
Like [sluggish](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sluggish) and [groggy](https://www.merriam-webster.com/…
00:01:50 |
Wed 23 Jul 2025
jettison
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 22, 2025 is: jettison \JET-uh-sun\ verb
When you jettison something, you get rid of it either because it is not needed or because it is impeding your pro…
00:01:57 |
Tue 22 Jul 2025
hubris
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 21, 2025 is: hubris \HYOO-bris\ noun
Hubris is a formal and literary word that refers to a great or foolish amount of pride or confidence.
// The projec…
00:01:53 |
Mon 21 Jul 2025
utmost
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 20, 2025 is: utmost \UT-mohst\ adjective
Utmost describes something that is the greatest or highest in degree, number, or amount.
// The safety of empl…
00:02:08 |
Sun 20 Jul 2025
devise
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 19, 2025 is: devise \dih-VYZE\ verb
To devise is to invent or plan something that is difficult or complicated in some way.
// The siblings devised a pl…
00:02:13 |
Sat 19 Jul 2025
meritorious
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 18, 2025 is: meritorious \mair-uh-TOR-ee-us\ adjective
Meritorious is a formal adjective used to describe something that is deserving of honor, praise, o…
00:01:36 |
Fri 18 Jul 2025
fugitive
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 17, 2025 is: fugitive \FYOO-juh-tiv\ noun
Fugitive refers to a person who runs away to avoid being captured or arrested.
// The FBI regularly updates a…
00:01:59 |
Thu 17 Jul 2025
abject
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 16, 2025 is: abject \AB-jekt\ adjective
Abject usually describes things that are extremely bad or severe. It can also describe something that feels or sh…
00:02:13 |
Wed 16 Jul 2025
tantalize
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 15, 2025 is: tantalize \TAN-tuh-lyze\ verb
To tantalize someone is to cause them to feel interest or excitement about something that is very attractive, …
00:01:41 |
Tue 15 Jul 2025
nuance
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 14, 2025 is: nuance \NOO-ahnss\ noun
A nuance is a very small difference in something, such as color, tone, meaning, etc.
// Amy’s musical ear makes it …
00:02:04 |
Mon 14 Jul 2025
contrite
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 13, 2025 is: contrite \kun-TRYTE\ adjective
Contrite is a formal adjective used to describe someone who feels regret for their bad behavior, or something…
00:02:04 |
Sun 13 Jul 2025
impunity
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 12, 2025 is: impunity \im-PYOO-nuh-tee\ noun
Impunity, usually used in the phrase "with impunity," refers to exemption or freedom from punishment, harm, …
00:02:06 |
Sat 12 Jul 2025
rescind
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 11, 2025 is: rescind \rih-SIND\ verb
To rescind something, such as a law, contract, agreement, etc., is to end it officially. Rescind can also mean “to t…
00:01:48 |
Fri 11 Jul 2025
boffo
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 10, 2025 is: boffo \BAH-foh\ adjective
Boffo is an informal word that describes things that are extremely good or successful.
// The most recent film in…
00:01:35 |
Thu 10 Jul 2025
simulacrum
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 9, 2025 is: simulacrum \sim-yuh-LAK-rum\ noun
A simulacrum is a superficial likeness of something, usually as an imitation, copy, or representation. The …
00:01:35 |
Wed 09 Jul 2025
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