5111

WORD OF THE DAY DETAILS

# Title Description Date
1 Hermitage

any secluded place of residence or habitation; retreat; hideaway

09-Jul-2024
2 Swole

Someone described as swole is extremely muscular. In other words, they have a physique enhanced by bodybuilding exercises.

// Her New Year’s resolution was to get swole, so she signed up with a personal trainer and committed to working out every day.

08-Jul-2024
3 Castigate

Castigate is a formal word that means "to criticize harshly."

// He was widely castigated for earning millions of dollars in bonuses as the company he was leading slid into insolvency.

06-Jul-2024
4 Glabrous

having a surface devoid of hair; smooth

05-Jul-2024
5 Patriot

Patriot refers to a person who loves and strongly supports or fights for their country.

// Addy enjoyed looking at old photographs of her grandmother, a patriot who served in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps during World War II, in uniform.

04-Jul-2024
6 Insuperable

Something described as insuperable is impossible to gain control of, solve, or overcome.

// The book tells the inspiring story of a group of people who achieved a great deal despite nearly insuperable obstacles.

03-Jul-2024
7 Feinschmecker

gourmet; a person who appreciates good food

02-Jul-2024
8 abhor

Abhor is synonymous with loathe. Something or someone who is abhorred is regarded with extreme disgust or hatred.

// Mariah is an animal rights activist who abhors any and all mistreatment of animals.

01-Jul-2024
9 Deference

Deference refers to respect and esteem that is appropriate to show to someone, such as a superior or elder. Something done in deference to, or out of deference to, someone or something is done in order to show respect for the opinions or influence of that person or thing.

// The children were taught to show proper deference to their elders.

// In deference to those who voted against the change, we'll be having another meeting to discuss how we can mitigate people's concerns.

28-Jun-2024
10 Foudroyant

sudden and overwhelming in effect; stunning; dazzling.

27-Jun-2024
11 Zero-sumplay

Zero-sum describes something, such as a game, mentality, or situation, in which any gain corresponds directly with an equivalent loss.

// Dividing up the budget is a zero-sum game.

26-Jun-2024
12 Clandestine

Clandestine describes something done secretly, or in a private place or way.

// The wedding was a clandestine affair in Las Vegas.

25-Jun-2024
13 Polemic

A polemic is a strong written or spoken attack against someone else’s opinions, beliefs, practices, etc.

// Her book is a fierce polemic against societal inequalities.

24-Jun-2024
14 Hinterland

the remote or less developed parts of a country.

22-Jun-2024
15 Hue and cry

Hue and cry refers to a clamor of alarm or protest in response to something. It can also be used as a synonym of hubbub to refer to general noise or uproar.

// After the popular professor was fired by the college, there was such a hue and cry from students that the administration was forced to reconsider its decision.

21-Jun-2024
16 Beek

to bask or warm in sunshine or before a fireplace, stove, or bonfire.

20-Jun-2024
17 Jubilee

Jubilee usually refers to a special anniversary or a celebration of such an anniversary. It can also refer generally to a season of celebration or act of rejoicing, or to a religious song of African Americans referring to a time of future happiness.

// My grandparents will be celebrating their golden jubilee this year—as Grandpa puts it, "50 years of wedded bliss and occasional blisters."

// The town is planning a year-long jubilee in celebration of its founding 200 years ago.

19-Jun-2024
18 Brainiac

A brainiac is a very intelligent person.

// Her ability to solve almost any puzzle within minutes secured her place as the brainiac of the family

18-Jun-2024
19 Paradigm

Paradigm is a formal word that refers to a pattern or example, and especially to an outstandingly clear or typical example or archetype. It can also refer to a theory or group of ideas about how something should be done, made, or thought about.

// Her latest book provides us with a new paradigm for modern biography.

// Several speakers at the conference focused their presentations on challenging what has been a dominant educational paradigm.

17-Jun-2024
20 Unbeknownst

Unbeknownst means “without being known about by (a specified person or group of people).”

// Unbeknownst to the students, the teacher had entered the room.

15-Jun-2024
21 Lodestone

When used literally, lodestone refers to the mineral magnetite, a magnetic iron ore. Lodestone is also used figuratively to refer to something that, like a magnet, strongly attracts things.

// The city is a lodestone for aspiring musicians of all genres.

14-Jun-2024
22 Efficacious

Efficacious is a formal word used to describe something—often a treatment, medicine, or remedy—that has the power to produce a desired result or effect.

// Companies like to tout the number of efficacious natural ingredients in their beauty products.

13-Jun-2024
23 Disparate

1. fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind

2. including markedly dissimilar elements

12-Jun-2024
24 Foment

To foment something, such as hostility or opposition, is to cause it, or try to cause it, to grow or develop. Foment is used synonymously with incite.

// Rumors that the will was a fake fomented distrust between the two families.

11-Jun-2024
25 Consternation

Consternation is a formal word that refers to a strong feeling of surprise or sudden disappointment that causes confusion.

// The candidate caused consternation among his supporters by changing positions on a key issue.

10-Jun-2024
26 Incognito

When you go incognito, your true identity is kept secret (as through the use of a different name or a disguise). Incognito can be used either as an adverb or an adjective with the same meaning.

// The food critic made an incognito visit to the restaurant.

// The pop star travels incognito as much as possible, using a fake name and wearing a wig and heavy makeup to avoid the paparazzi.

08-Jun-2024
27 Gossip

To gossip is to talk about the personal lives of other people.

// The two siblings often gossip with each other about their neighbors via texting.

07-Jun-2024
28 Moxie

Moxie can refer to courage and determination (aka nerve), energy and pep (aka verve), or know-how (as, say, reflected in one’s oeuvre).

// They showed a lot of moxie in questioning their company’s policy.

// She clearly doesn’t need coffee to start her day full of moxie.

// The lead actor’s musical moxie inspired the addition of a serenade at the close of the play’s first act.

06-Jun-2024
29 Affluent

Someone described as affluent has a large amount of money and owns many expensive things. Something, such as a place or institution, described as affluent is similarly rich or wealthy.

// The affluent suburb sports some of the finest public schools in the county owing to its considerable tax base.

05-Jun-2024
30 Ebullient

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

04-Jun-2024
31 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
32 Strenuous

1. taxing to the utmost; testing powers of endurance

2. characterized by or performed with much energy or force

01-Jun-2024
33 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
34 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
35 Repine

to be fretfully discontented; fret; complain.

29-May-2024
36 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
37 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
38 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
39 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
40 Spondulicks

money; cash.

23-May-2024
41 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
42 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
43 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
44 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
45 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
46 Impromptu

improvised; having the character of an improvisation.

16-May-2024
47 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
48 Appellative

designative; descriptive.

14-May-2024
49 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
50 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