Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

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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.

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brandish

08.19.2019

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 19, 2019 is: brandish \BRAN-dish\ verb 1 : to shake or wave (something, such as a weapon) menacingly 2 : to exhibit in an [ostentatious](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ostentatious) or aggressive manner Examples: Michael appeared before the ...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day episodes:

08.19.2019 brandish Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 19, 2019 is: brandish \BRAN-dish\ verb 1 : to shake or wave (something, such as a weapon) menacingly 2 : to exhibit in an [ostentatious](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ostentatious) or aggressive manner Examples: Michael appeared before the ...
08.18.2019 hiatus Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 18, 2019 is: hiatus \hye-AY-tus\ noun 1 a : a break in or as if in a material object : [gap](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gap) b biology : a gap or passage in an anatomical part or ...
08.17.2019 tortuous Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 17, 2019 is: tortuous \TOR-chuh-wus\ adjective 1 : marked by repeated twists, bends, or turns : [winding](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/winding#h2) 2 a : marked by devious or indirect tactics : [crooked](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crooked), [tricky](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tricky) b : [circuitous](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circuitous), [involved](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/involved) ...
08.16.2019 satiate Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 16, 2019 is: satiate \SAY-shee-ayt\ verb : to [satisfy](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/satisfy) (a need, a desire, etc.) fully or to excess Examples: After eating three pieces of pie and one of cake at the potluck, Jamie's ...
08.15.2019 miscible Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 15, 2019 is: miscible \MISS-uh-bul\ adjective : capable of being mixed; specifically : capable of mixing in any ratio without separation of two phases Examples: Oil and water are not miscible—if you pour ...
08.14.2019 garniture Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 14, 2019 is: garniture \GAHR-nih-cher\ noun 1 : [embellishment](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embellishment), [trimming](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trimming) 2 : a set of decorative objects (such as vases, urns, or clocks) Examples: "Above the fireplace: a scene of a cow jumping ...
08.13.2019 smite Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 13, 2019 is: smite \SMYTE\ verb 1 : to strike sharply or heavily especially with the hand or an implement held in the hand 2 a : to kill or severely injure by ...
08.12.2019 plaintive Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 12, 2019 is: plaintive \PLAYN-tiv\ adjective : expressive of suffering or woe : [melancholy](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melancholy) Examples: "Dean Nicholson was pedaling up a hill in Bosnia … when he heard a plaintive meow. He looked ...
08.11.2019 démarche Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 11, 2019 is: démarche \day-MARSH\ noun 1 a : a course of action : [maneuver](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maneuver) b : a diplomatic or political initiative or maneuver 2 : a petition or protest presented through diplomatic ...
08.10.2019 balkanize Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 10, 2019 is: balkanize \BAWL-kuh-nyze\ verb 1 : to break up (a region, a group, etc.) into smaller and often hostile units 2 : [divide](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/divide), [compartmentalize](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compartmentalize) Examples: "Tech companies and civil rights advocates ...
08.09.2019 omnium-gatherum Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 9, 2019 is: omnium-gatherum \ahm-nee-um-GA-thuh-rum\ noun : a miscellaneous collection (as of things or persons) Examples: "Muldoon's Picnic—the critically acclaimed omnium-gatherum of music, storytelling, poetry, and more—has become a staple of New York's ...
08.08.2019 aggregate Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 8, 2019 is: aggregate \AG-rih-gut\ noun 1 : a mass or body of units or parts somewhat loosely associated with one another 2 : the whole sum or amount : [sum total](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sum%20total) Examples: ...
08.07.2019 ransack Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 7, 2019 is: ransack \RAN-sak\ verb 1 : to look through thoroughly in often a rough way 2 : to search through and steal from in a forceful and damaging way : [plunder](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plunder) ...
08.06.2019 totem Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 6, 2019 is: totem \TOH-tum\ noun 1 a : an object (such as an animal or plant) serving as the emblem of a family or clan and often as a reminder of its ...
08.05.2019 passim Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 5, 2019 is: passim \PASS-im\ adverb : in one place and another : [here and there](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/here%20and%20there) Examples: The old cookbooks that once belonged to Michael's grandmother had some of her own recipes and ...
08.04.2019 faze Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 4, 2019 is: faze \FAYZ\ verb : to disturb the composure of : [disconcert](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disconcert), [daunt](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daunt) Examples: My grandfather was a [stolid](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stolid) individual who was not easily fazed by life's troubles. "The heat didn't ...
08.03.2019 silly season Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 3, 2019 is: silly season \SIL-ee-SEE-zun\ noun 1 : a period (such as late summer) when the mass media often focus on trivial or frivolous matters for lack of major news stories 2 ...
08.02.2019 clarion Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 2, 2019 is: clarion \KLAIR-ee-un\ adjective : brilliantly clear; also : loud and clear Examples: "The guitars take off like fighter planes and [Stef Chura] delivers a clarion, country-steeped vocal, somewhere between Kitty ...
08.01.2019 luftmensch Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 1, 2019 is: luftmensch \LOOFT-mensh (the "OO" is as in "foot")\ noun : an impractical contemplative person having no definite business or income Examples: "People like Luftmenschen, and they've liked them for a ...
07.31.2019 importune Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 31, 2019 is: importune \im-per-TOON\ verb 1 a : to press or urge with troublesome persistence b archaic : to request or beg for urgently 2 : [annoy](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/annoy), [trouble](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trouble#h2) Examples: "[Sarah] Polk feigned ...
07.30.2019 phalanx Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 30, 2019 is: phalanx \FAY-lanks\ noun 1 : a body of heavily armed infantry in ancient Greece formed in close deep ranks and files; broadly : a body of troops in close array ...
07.29.2019 addlepated Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 29, 2019 is: addlepated \AD-ul-pay-tud\ adjective 1 : being mixed up : [confused](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confused) 2 : [eccentric](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eccentric) Examples: "Her addlepated mind flitted butterflylike from one often unrelated subject to another." — Tessa Harris, The ...
07.28.2019 evince Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 28, 2019 is: evince \ih-VINSS\ verb 1 : to constitute outward evidence of 2 : to display clearly : [reveal](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reveal) Examples: "Randall Park is solid, handsome, capable, and utterly charming—a leading man whose ...
07.27.2019 bildungsroman Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 27, 2019 is: bildungsroman \BIL-doonks-roh-mahn\ noun : a novel about the moral and psychological growth of the main character Examples: "It's a thoroughly contemporary bildungsroman in which the protagonist is the Vietnamese-born son ...
07.26.2019 motley Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 26, 2019 is: motley \MAHT-lee\ adjective 1 : [variegated](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/variegated) in color 2 : made up of many different people or things Examples: Many of the jesters at the medieval festival were dressed in ...
07.25.2019 undergird Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 25, 2019 is: undergird \un-der-GERD\ verb 1 archaic : to make secure [underneath](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underneath) 2 : to form the basis or foundation of : [strengthen](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strengthen), [support](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/support) Examples: "The organ tones that undergirded much of ...
07.24.2019 hapless Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 24, 2019 is: hapless \HAP-lus\ adjective : having no luck : [unfortunate](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfortunate) Examples: "Whatever your view of Team USA's rout over Thailand or the way they celebrated every goal over that hapless opponent, ...
07.23.2019 desideratum Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 23, 2019 is: desideratum \dih-sid-uh-RAH-tum\ noun : something [desired](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desired) as essential Examples: "The strength of his class depended to some extent on sound money management—but depended to a much larger extent on marriages ...
07.22.2019 whinge Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 22, 2019 is: whinge \WINJ\ verb British : to complain fretfully : [whine](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whine) Examples: "I was angry, I went home to my wife and I complained. I was whinging an Olympic level of ...
07.21.2019 redaction Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 21, 2019 is: redaction \rih-DAK-shun\ noun 1 a : an act or instance of preparing something for publication b : an act or instance of obscuring or removing something from a document prior ...
07.20.2019 cogent Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 20, 2019 is: cogent \KOH-junt\ adjective 1 a : appealing forcibly to the mind or reason : [convincing](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convincing) b : [pertinent](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pertinent), [relevant](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relevant) 2 : having power to [compel](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compel) or [constrain](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constrain) Examples: At the ...
07.19.2019 gnomic Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 19, 2019 is: gnomic \NOH-mik\ adjective 1 : characterized by [aphorism](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aphorism) 2 : given to the composition of aphoristic writing Examples: "That narrative power is real, as in the case of Shireen, but ...
07.18.2019 speculate Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 18, 2019 is: speculate \SPEK-yuh-layt\ verb 1 a : to meditate on or ponder a subject : [reflect](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reflect) b : to review something idly or casually and often inconclusively 2 : to assume ...
07.17.2019 provender Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 17, 2019 is: provender \PRAH-vun-der\ noun 1 : dry food for domestic animals : [feed](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feed#h2) 2 : [food](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/food), [victuals](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/victuals) Examples: The restaurant's chef-owner prides himself on creating dishes from local provender. "While these ...
07.16.2019 auxiliary Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 16, 2019 is: auxiliary \awg-ZILL-yuh-ree\ adjective 1 a : offering or providing help b : functioning in a [subsidiary](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subsidiary#h1) capacity 2 of a verb : accompanying another verb and typically expressing person, number, ...
07.15.2019 nosegay Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 15, 2019 is: nosegay \NOHZ-gay\ noun : a small bunch of flowers : [posy](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/posy) Examples: "On arrival, the Queen was presented with her traditional nosegay of fresh spring flowers…." — Robert Hardman, The ...
07.14.2019 embezzle Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 14, 2019 is: embezzle \im-BEZZ-ul\ verb : to appropriate (something, such as property entrusted to one's care) [fraudulently](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fraudulently) to one's own use Examples: The company's senior accounts manager embezzled thousands of dollars from ...
07.13.2019 torrid Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 13, 2019 is: torrid \TOR-id\ adjective 1 a : parched with heat especially of the sun : [hot](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot) b : giving off intense heat : [scorching](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scorching) 2 : [ardent](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ardent), [passionate](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passionate) Examples: "There are ...
07.12.2019 dearth Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 12, 2019 is: dearth \DERTH\ noun 1 : [scarcity](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scarcity) that makes [dear](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dear#h1); specifically : [famine](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/famine) 2 : an inadequate supply : [lack](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lack#h2) Examples: "In an age of extreme polarization and dearth of good ...
07.11.2019 ostentatious Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 11, 2019 is: ostentatious \ah-stun-TAY-shus\ adjective : attracting or seeking to attract attention, admiration, or envy often by gaudiness or obviousness : overly elaborate or conspicuous : characterized by, fond of, or evincing ...
07.10.2019 lionize Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 10, 2019 is: lionize \LYE-uh-nyze\ verb : to treat as an object of great interest or importance Examples: While her name was not attached to her books in her lifetime (she published anonymously), ...
07.09.2019 flair Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 9, 2019 is: flair \FLAIR\ noun 1 : a skill or instinctive ability to appreciate or make good use of something : [talent](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/talent); also : [inclination](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inclination), [tendency](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tendency) 2 : a uniquely attractive quality ...
07.08.2019 metathesis Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 8, 2019 is: metathesis \muh-TATH-uh-sis\ noun : a change of place or condition: such as a : transposition of two [phonemes](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phonemes) in a word b : a chemical reaction in which different kinds ...
07.07.2019 churlish Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 7, 2019 is: churlish \CHUR-lish\ adjective 1 : of, resembling, or characteristic of a [churl](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/churl) : [vulgar](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vulgar) 2 : marked by a lack of civility or graciousness : [surly](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surly) 3 : difficult to ...
07.06.2019 planet Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 6, 2019 is: planet \PLAN-ut\ noun 1 a (1) : any of the large bodies that revolve around the sun in the solar system (2) : a similar body associated with another star ...
07.05.2019 inkhorn Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 5, 2019 is: inkhorn \INK-horn\ adjective : [ostentatiously](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ostentatiously) [learned](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/learned) : [pedantic](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedantic) Examples: Richard's use of inkhorn terminology in his essay didn't impress his professor, whereas simple language demonstrating a clear understanding of the ...
07.04.2019 girandole Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 4, 2019 is: girandole \JEER-un-dohl\ noun 1 : a radiating and showy composition (such as a cluster of [skyrockets](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skyrocket) fired together) 2 : an ornamental branched candlestick 3 : a [pendant](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pendant) earring usually ...
07.03.2019 sedulous Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 3, 2019 is: sedulous \SEJ-uh-lus\ adjective 1 : involving or accomplished with careful perseverance 2 : diligent in application or pursuit Examples: "To start: a black screen, her name in white. As the ...
07.02.2019 burgeon Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 2, 2019 is: burgeon \BER-jun\ verb 1 a : to send forth new growth (such as buds or branches) : [sprout](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprout) b : [bloom](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bloom#h3) 2 : to grow and expand rapidly : [flourish](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flourish) ...
07.01.2019 afflatus Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 1, 2019 is: afflatus \uh-FLAY-tus\ noun : a divine imparting of knowledge or power : [inspiration](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inspiration) Examples: "Allmusic lists quite a few tunes called 'Crystal City,' like this smooth-jazz number by André Ward ...

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