Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 9, 2024 is: aegis \EE-jus\ noun Aegis is a formal word that refers to the power to protect, control, or support something or someone. It is often used in the phrase under the aegis of. // The issue will be decided under the aegis of an international organization. [See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aegis) Examples: “French President Emmanuel Macron visited Notre Dame Cathedral on Friday, one year before its...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 8, 2024 is: fatuous \FATCH-oo-us\ adjective 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. [See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fatuous) Examples: "... when I was first admitted to the emergency room at Swedish's hospital...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 7, 2024 is: conjecture \kun-JEK-cher\ verb Conjecture is a formal synonym of the verb [guess](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guess) that means “to form an opinion or idea without proof or sufficient evidence.” // Some scientists have conjectured that Jupiter’s moon Europa could sustain life. [See the entry >](https://bit.ly/49uH2J1) Examples: “In the week since the news of the thefts broke, the case has been the subject...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 6, 2024 is: redoubt \rih-DOUT\ noun Redoubt can refer specifically to a small building or area that provides soldiers with protection from attack, or more broadly to any safe or protected place, whether literal or figurative. // A massive stone redoubt at the entrance of the bay guarded the city. // The refugees gathered in a hilly redoubt several miles from the outskirts of town. [See the entry...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 5, 2024 is: meticulous \muh-TIK-yuh-lus\ adjective Something or someone described as meticulous shows extreme or excessive care in the consideration or treatment of details. // He is meticulous about keeping accurate records. [See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meticulous) Examples: "In a press release, the company touts its meticulous approach to the sandwich's creation—testing pickles with eight variations...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 4, 2024 is: praxis \PRAK-sis\ noun Praxis is a formal word referring to the practical application of a theory—in other words, what one does to act on a theory (such as feminist theory) to which one is committed. Praxis is also used synonymously with action or practice to refer to the exercise of an art, science, or skill, or to customary conduct within a given sphere. // Many gardeners promote composting as being good environmental praxis....

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 3, 2024 is: lambaste \lam-BAYST\ verb To lambaste something or someone is to criticize them very harshly. Lambaste is also sometimes used as a synonym of [beat](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beat) meaning “to assault.” // The coach lambasted the team for its poor play. [See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lambaste) Examples: “They come and go like pop songs and can make your head spin. Boiled...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 2, 2024 is: ethereal \ih-THEER-ee-ul\ adjective Ethereal means "of or relating to the regions beyond the earth" or "of or resembling heaven." It can also mean "lacking material substance" and "relating to, containing, or resembling a chemical [ether](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ether)." // The windows give the church an ethereal glow. // The images of the underwater cave show a strange world of ethereal beauty. [See the entry...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 1, 2024 is: shambles \SHAM-bulz\ noun Shambles refers to a place or state in which there is great confusion, disorder, or destruction. // The house party they had over the weekend left the entire living room in shambles. [See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shambles) Examples: "In this film, three friends … reconnect and find themselves attempting to relive the glory days after suffering several defeats that...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 31, 2024 is: expiate \EK-spee-ayt\ verb Expiate is a formal word that typically means “to atone or make amends for something, such as a sin or offense.” // Although the editorial had characterized the mayor's failure to disclose the details of the meeting as a lapse that could not be expiated, many of the city's citizens seemed ready to forgive all. [See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expiate) Examples: ...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 30, 2024 is: haphazard \hap-HAZZ-erd\ adjective Something haphazard has no apparent plan, order, or direction. // Considering the haphazard way you measured the ingredients, it's a wonder the cookies came out this good. [See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/haphazard) Examples: "It felt like winter for the first time that year, and Theo remembered how much she preferred the dark, the secrecy, of the season....

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 29, 2024 is: braggadocio \brag-uh-DOH-see-oh\ noun Braggadocio refers to brash and self-confident boasting—that is, the annoying or exaggerated talk of someone who is trying to sound very proud or brave. // His braggadocio hid the fact that he felt personally inadequate. [See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/braggadocio) Examples: “In total, Lil Wayne has sold more than 120 million albums, making him one of...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 28, 2024 is: flout \FLOUT\ verb To flout something, such as a law or rule, is to treat it with contemptuous disregard. A teenager flouting a curfew, for example, will not hide the fact that they are out past the time they are required to be home. // The court found that the company had continued to flout the law despite multiple warnings. [See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flout) Examples: "Bringing a...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 27, 2024 is: auxiliary \awg-ZILL-yuh-ree\ adjective In general use, auxiliary describes someone or something available to provide extra help, power, etc., when it is needed. In linguistics, an auxiliary verb (also called a “helping verb”) is used with another verb to do things like show a verb’s tense or form a question. In [nautical](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nautical) contexts, auxiliary can describe a sailboat equipped with a...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 26, 2024 is: kismet \KIZZ-met\ noun Kismet refers to a power that is believed to control what happens in the future. It is synonymous with both [fate](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fate) and [destiny](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destiny). // From the moment we met, we felt connected; we knew it was kismet. [See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kismet) Examples: "I'd been a fan of...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 25, 2024 is: genuflect \JEN-yuh-flekt\ verb To genuflect is to kneel, or nearly kneel, on one knee and then rise again in worship or as an act of respect. In figurative use, genuflect means "to be humbly obedient or respectful." // Churchgoers genuflected before the altar. // The politician was criticized for genuflecting to corporate interests. [See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/genuflect) Examples: "Many...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 24, 2024 is: megillah \muh-GHIL-uh\ noun Megillah is slang for a long, involved story or account. Megillah can also refer to a complicated sequence of events, or it can be used as a synonym of [ball of wax](https://bit.ly/3Ub1BWv) meaning “everything involved in what is under consideration.” All three senses of megillah are often preceded by the adjective whole. // Don’t worry about reciting the whole megillah from last night’s game; just give...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 23, 2024 is: pedantic \pih-DAN-tik\ adjective Pedantic describes someone or something that exhibits the characteristics of a [pedant]( https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedant)—that is, a person who often annoys other people by correcting small errors and giving too much attention to minor details. Pedantic also means “narrowly, stodgily, and often [ostentatiously](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ostentatious)...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 22, 2024 is: dragoon \druh-GOON\ verb [When used with into](https://bit.ly/4bJRIFD), dragoon means "to force or convince someone to do something." Without into, dragoon means "to subjugate or persecute by harsh use of troops." // Employees complained that they had been dragooned into working overtime without adequate compensation. [See the entry >](https://bit.ly/3uKjWQ0) Examples: "Half of the workforce was laid off, but those...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 21, 2024 is: scurrilous \SKUR-uh-lus\ adjective Scurrilous is a formal adjective that most often describes language that contains obscenities, abuse, or, especially, slander—that is, a false statement that damages a person’s reputation. Scurrilous can also describe someone who uses or tends to use scurrilous language, or it can describe a person or thing as evil or vulgar. // The press secretary made a point at the briefing not to address the...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 20, 2024 is: flora \FLOR-uh\ noun Flora refers to all the plants that live in a particular area, time, period, or environment. It can also be used broadly to refer to plant, bacterial, or fungal life. // Lisa admired the aquatic flora in the pond as she gazed out at the horizon. [See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flora) Examples: “South Africa is endowed with a rich wealth of flora and is often acclaimed as...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 19, 2024 is: allege \uh-LEJ\ verb To allege something is to assert it without proof or before proving it. // Consumer advocates allege that the company knew about the faulty switches but sold the product anyway. [See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allege) Examples: "The lawsuit alleges violation of her 4th Amendment rights, false imprisonment, negligent hiring, assault and battery, among other charges." —...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 18, 2024 is: tawdry \TAW-dree\ adjective Something described as tawdry is cheap and gaudy in appearance or quality. Tawdry is also often used to describe something considered morally bad or distasteful, as in "a tawdry tale of political [skulduggery](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skulduggery)." // Tawdry decorations cluttered the tiny house. [See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tawdry) Examples: ...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 17, 2024 is: blarney \BLAR-nee\ noun Blarney refers to false but charming talk that often flatters the listener. // The bartender laughingly asked her [gregarious](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gregarious) patron if anyone ever believed his blarney. [See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blarney) Examples: “Some tales are mundane, like the song about Molly Malone: ‘In Dublin fair city, the girls...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 16, 2024 is: querulous \KWAIR-yuh-lus\ adjective Someone described as querulous is constantly or habitually complaining. Querulous can also be used synonymously with fretful or whining when describing something, such as a person's tone of voice. // She shows an impressive amount of patience when dealing with querulous customers. [See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/querulous) Examples: "Everyone has a theory...