5111

WORD OF THE DAY DETAILS

# Title Description Date
1 Ebullient

overflowing with fervor, enthusiasm, or excitement; high-spirited

04-Jun-2024
2 Deride

To deride someone or something is to subject them to usually harsh and bitter insults or criticism.

// Although derided by classmates for his insistence that he would be a millionaire by the age of 25, he achieved his goal when his Internet startup went public.

03-Jun-2024
3 Strenuous

1. taxing to the utmost; testing powers of endurance

2. characterized by or performed with much energy or force

01-Jun-2024
4 Foist

Foist, which is almost always used with on or upon, is used when someone forces another person to accept something, usually something that is not good or is not wanted. Foist can also mean “to pass off as genuine or worthy.”

// I don’t want to foist anything on you, but if you like this old quilt you’re welcome to have it.

// Faulty parts have been foisted on unwitting car owners.

31-May-2024
5 Dynasty

Dynasty refers to a group (such as a team, family, etc.) that is very powerful or successful for a long period of time. It is also often used for a family of rulers who rule over a country for a long period of time, as well as the period of time when a particular dynasty is in power.

// The team’s draft picks reflected the ownership’s strategy of building a long-term football dynasty

30-May-2024
6 Repine

to be fretfully discontented; fret; complain.

29-May-2024
7 Gadfly

In literal use, gadfly refers to any of various flies (such as a horsefly, botfly, or warble fly) that bite or annoy livestock. Gadfly is most popular in figurative use, however, where it refers to someone who provokes or annoys other people, especially by persistent criticism.

28-May-2024
8 Glean

To glean is to gather or collect something bit by bit, or in a gradual way. Glean can also be used to mean “to search (something) carefully” and “to find out.”

// Neil has a collection of antique tools gleaned from flea markets and garage sales.

// They spent days gleaning the files for information.

// The police used old-fashioned detective work to glean his whereabouts.

27-May-2024
9 Countermand

To countermand an order is to revoke it, especially by giving a new order.

// Orders to blow up the bridge were countermanded by local officials.

25-May-2024
10 Ebullient

If someone or something is appealingly lively and enthusiastic, they may also be described as ebullient.

// Akua's ebullient personality made her the life of the party.

24-May-2024
11 Spondulicks

money; cash.

23-May-2024
12 Belie

To belie something is to give a false idea or impression of it. Belie can also mean "to show (something) to be false or wrong."

// Martin's easy banter and relaxed attitude belied his nervousness.

// Their actions belie their claim of innocence.

22-May-2024
13 Neophyte

A neophyte is a person who has just started learning or doing something.

// As an acting neophyte, Femi took a while to adjust to his newfound Hollywood fame.

21-May-2024
14 futile

An effort, action, or emotion described as futile has no result or effect, and therefore serves no useful purpose.

// City officials attempted to stifle the scandal, but their efforts were futile.

20-May-2024
15 Neufchâtel

a soft, white cheese similar to cream cheese, made from whole or partly skimmed milk in Neufchâtel, a town in N France.

18-May-2024
16 Lucrative

Something described as lucrative produces money or wealth. //

The author parlayed the success of her books into a lucrative second career as a public speaker

17-May-2024
17 Impromptu

improvised; having the character of an improvisation.

16-May-2024
18 Wane

To wane is to become smaller or less, or in other words, to decrease in size, extent, or degree.

// The national scandal caused her popularity to wane.

15-May-2024
19 Appellative

designative; descriptive.

14-May-2024
20 Instigate

To instigate something is to cause it to happen or begin.

// The pair was accused of instigating a plot to oust the newly elected mayor.

13-May-2024
21 Zhuzh

To zhuzh something up is to improve its flavor or appearance by way of a small improvement, adjustment, or addition.

// He likes to zhuzh up his outfits with brightly-colored ties.

11-May-2024
22 Mid

mediocre, unimpressive, or disappointing.

10-May-2024
23 Grudging

Grudging is an adjective used to describe something that is said, done, or given unwillingly or reluctantly. It can also describe someone who is unwilling or reluctant to do something.

// Her theories have begun to win grudging acceptance in the scientific community.

// A number of his former critics have become grudging admirers.

09-May-2024
24 Reputation

A reputation is the common opinion that people have about someone or something. Reputation can also refer to a positive position that someone or something has in public esteem or regard.

// She's earned a reputation as a first-class playwright.

// Investors feared that the scandal had damaged the company's reputation beyond repair.

08-May-2024
25 Extemporize

To extemporize means to do something extemporaneously—in other words, to improvise.

// A good talk show host must be able to extemporize when interviews don’t go as planned.

07-May-2024
26 Piscine

of, relating to, or resembling a fish or fishes.

06-May-2024
27 Agrarian

Something described as agrarian has to do with farms and farming.

// Joan hopes to leave city life behind and move to a more agrarian region where she plans to raise lambs and grow heirloom vegetables.

04-May-2024
28 Melee

Melee refers to a confused fight or struggle, especially one involving hand-to-hand combat.

// What started as a verbal disagreement at the football game soon turned into a general melee involving scores of spectators.

03-May-2024
29 Preponderant

superior in weight, force, influence, numbers, etc.; prevailing.

02-May-2024
30 Haku

(in Hawaii) a crown of fresh flowers.

01-May-2024
31 Demagogue

A demagogue is a political leader who tries to get support by making use of popular prejudices, as well as by making false claims and promises and using arguments based on emotion rather than reason.

// His opponent called him a bigoted demagogue for demonizing those who don't intend to vote for him.

30-Apr-2024
32 Inviolable

Inviolable is a formal term that is used to describe something too important to be ignored or treated with disrespect.

// She considers herself a person with inviolable moral standards

29-Apr-2024
33 Nebulous

hazy, vague, indistinct, or confused.

27-Apr-2024
34 Homage

An homage is something that is done to honor someone or something. It is often used with the word pay (as in “pay homage”) to mean “to respect or honor.”

// Her latest book is an homage to her favorite city.

// The paintings in the new art gallery pay homage to women artists of the past.

26-Apr-2024
35 Firkin

a small wooden vessel or tub for butter, lard, etc.

25-Apr-2024
36 Burgeon

To bourgeon is to grow or develop quickly—in other words to flourish, blossom or sprout.

// The trout population in the stream has burgeoned since the town implemented its laws against overfishing.

24-Apr-2024
37 Exodus

An exodus is a situation in which many people leave a place at the same time—in other words, a mass departure or emigration.

// The resort town eagerly anticipated the mass exodus from the cities to its beaches as summer approached.

23-Apr-2024
38 Palpable

Something described as palpable is obvious and notable. Palpable may also be used as a synonym of tangible to describe something that can be perceived by one's sense of touch.

// The tension in the courtroom was palpable as the jury foreman stood to announce the verdict.

22-Apr-2024
39 Gingerly

An act or manner described as gingerly is very cautious or careful.

// It’s a delicate subject, and we need to approach it with gingerly care and tact.

// The antelope moved with a gingerly gait that suggested it was hurt.

20-Apr-2024
40 Tortuous

full of twists, turns, or bends; twisting, winding, or crooked.

19-Apr-2024
41 Qua

Qua is a preposition used in formal speech or writing that means “in the capacity or character of (someone or something).” It is used synonymously with as to indicate that someone or something is being referred to or thought about in a particular way.

// The artist qua artist is less interesting to me than the artist as a human being.

18-Apr-2024
42 Sparse

not dense; few and scattered

17-Apr-2024
43 Inalienable

Something considered inalienable is impossible to take away or give up.

// The American ethos is built on the belief that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are inalienable rights.

16-Apr-2024
44 Purloin

To purloin is to take something that belongs to someone else—that is, to steal it. Purloin is much more formal-sounding than steal, but is often—though not always—encountered in humorous contexts, suggesting that the theft is not serious.

// The puppy managed to purloin a few cookies from the plate when no one was looking.

// The studio stepped up security, fearing that someone might attempt to purloin a copy of the script for the show’s season finale.

15-Apr-2024
45 Brusque

A person may be described as brusque when they are talking or behaving in a very direct, brief, and unfriendly way. Brusque can also describe speech that is noticeably short and abrupt.

// We knew something was wrong when our normally easygoing professor was brusque and impatient with our class.

// She asked for a cup of coffee and received a brusque reply: “We don't have any.”

13-Apr-2024
46 Unputdownable

(especially of a book or periodical) so interesting or suspenseful as to compel reading.

12-Apr-2024
47 Discomfit

To discomfit someone is to make them confused or upset. Discomfit is a formal synonym of the also formal (but slightly less so) disconcert.

// Jacob was discomfited by the new employee’s forward, probing questions.

11-Apr-2024
48 Vicarious

A vicarious emotion or experience is one felt by watching, hearing about, or reading about someone else rather than by doing something yourself.

// He felt a vicarious thrill as his daughter crossed the stage to accept her diploma.

10-Apr-2024
49 Subterfuge

an artifice or expedient used to evade a rule, escape a consequence, hide something, etc.

09-Apr-2024
50 Fatuous

To describe something, such as an idea or remark, as fatuous is to say that it is foolish or silly rather than sensible or logical.

// Our hopes for an apology and a reasonable explanation for the error were met with fatuous platitudes.

08-Apr-2024