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Word Matters is a show for readers, writers, and anyone who's curious about the English language. Join Merriam-Webster editors as they challenge supposed grammar rules, reveal the surprising origins behind words, tackle common questions, and generally geek out about the beautiful nightmare that is our language.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 27, 2024 is: propinquity • \pruh-PING-kwuh-tee\ • noun Propinquity is a formal word that typically refers to nearness in place or time, making it a synonym of proximity. It can also be used as a synonym of kinship to refer to the state of being related to others by blood. // The geographical propinquity …
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 27, 2024 is: propinquity \pruh-PING-kwuh-tee\ noun See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 26, 2024 is: fallacious • \fuh-LAY-shus\ • adjective Fallacious is a formal word that typically describes something, such as an argument or assumption, that is false or inaccurate and that tends to mislead or deceive others. // The notion that disease is caused by malign spirits was known to be fallaciou…
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 25, 2024 is: attenuate • \uh-TEN-yuh-wayt\ • verb To attenuate something is to make it weaker or less in amount, effect, or force. // The switch from the clack of typewriters to the quiet tap of computer keyboards greatly attenuated the noise level of the office. See the entry > Examples: “The food sourc…
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 25, 2024 is: attenuate \uh-TEN-yuh-wayt\ verb See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 24, 2024 is: jeremiad • \jair-uh-MYE-ud\ • noun Jeremiad refers to a long cautionary or angry rant about something. It can also refer to a similarly prolonged lamentation, or expression of great sorrow or deep sadness. // His jeremiad about trivial problems with the campsite didn’t go over well with his …
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 23, 2024 is: newfangled • \NOO-FANG-guld\ • adjective Newfangled describes something that has been recently invented or developed, and usually implies that this new thing is difficult for some to understand. // The neighbors are always showing off their new gadgets and tools, but I feel no need for those…
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 23, 2024 is: newfangled \NOO-FANG-guld\ adjective See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 22, 2024 is: dearth • \DERTH\ • noun Dearth refers to a lack or inadequate supply. It is usually followed by of. // There is no dearth of opportunities for volunteers at the fair. See the entry > Examples: “Of course, it’s one thing to survey the marketplace and acknowledge the dearth of female voices in…
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 22, 2024 is: dearth \DERTH\ noun See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 21, 2024 is: ossify • \AH-suh-fye\ • verb In general contexts, something that ossifies becomes hardened or conventional and opposed to change. In medical contexts, something that ossifies (such as cartilage) forms or is transformed into bone. // I asked if she'd reconsider her position, but her opinions …
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 20, 2024 is: propensity • \pruh-PENN-suh-tee\ • noun A propensity is a strong natural tendency to do something. // As a child, she had a strong propensity for mischief. See the entry > Examples: "The work suggests that the propensity for the cleverest AI chatbots to go off the rails isn’t just a quirk th…
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 20, 2024 is: propensity \pruh-PENN-suh-tee\ noun See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 19, 2024 is: lethargic • \luh-THAHR-jik\ • adjective Lethargic describes people who feel a lack of energy or a lack of interest in doing things. It is sometimes used figuratively, as in "a sluggish and lethargic economy." // The jet lag from their weeklong international honeymoon left them feeling lethar…
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 18, 2024 is: impugn • \im-PYOON\ • verb To impugn something, such as a person's integrity, judgment, etc., is to attack or oppose it as false or lacking integrity. // The defense attorneys did their best to impugn the motives of the prosecution’s key witnesses. See the entry > Examples: “[Singer, Grace] …
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 17, 2024 is: copious \KOH-pee-us\ adjective See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 16, 2024 is: tchotchke \CHAHCH-kuh\ noun See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 15, 2024 is: encumber \in-KUM-ber\ verb See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 14, 2024 is: gadabout \GAD-uh-bout\ noun See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 13, 2024 is: sentient \SEN-shee-unt\ adjective See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 12, 2024 is: iota \eye-OH-tuh\ noun See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 11, 2024 is: vitiate \VISH-ee-ayt\ verb See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 10, 2024 is: durable \DUR-uh-bul\ adjective See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 9, 2024 is: acumen \AK-yoo-mun\ noun See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 8, 2024 is: fusty \FUSS-tee\ adjective See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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