doddering
Definition: (adjective) Infirm, feeble, and often senile. Synonyms: gaga, senile. Usage: His mother was doddering and frail, so he hired aides to care for her …
Category: Today’s Word
Today’s Word
intertextuality
noun: Interpretation of a text in relation to other texts, rather than in isolation.
ingenuous
Definition: (adjective) Lacking in cunning, guile, or worldliness. Synonyms: artless. Usage: His ingenuous delight in it was a delight to her, and a new and …
outgrabe
verb intr.: To emit strange noises, such as bellowing, whistling, and shrieking.
biennial
Definition: (adjective) Happening every second year. Synonyms: biyearly. Usage: They met at the biennial convention and lamented the fact that they would not see each …
misogynoir
noun: Hatred or prejudice directed toward Black women.
digressive
Definition: (adjective) Tending to depart from the main point or cover a wide range of subjects. Synonyms: excursive, rambling, discursive. Usage: His speech was digressive …
fractious
Definition: (adjective) Stubbornly resistant to authority or control. Synonyms: recalcitrant, refractory. Usage: The young horse was a fractious animal that would not submit to the …
facet
Definition: (noun) A distinct feature or element in a problem. Synonyms: aspect. Usage: He carefully studied every facet of the question before offering his response. …
aspersion
noun: 1. A damaging accusation: slander. 2. The sprinkling with water, as in baptism.
gutsy
Definition: (adjective) Marked by courage and determination in the face of difficulties or danger; robust and uninhibited. Synonyms: plucky. Usage: Though she lost her arm …
fulgent
adjective: Shining brilliantly; radiant.
intemperance
Definition: (noun) Excess in action and immoderate indulgence of bodily appetites, especially in passion or indulgence. Synonyms: self-indulgence. Usage: A slouching, moody, drunken sloven, wasted …
irreverent
Definition: (adjective) Characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality. Synonyms: impertinent, pert, saucy. Usage: Sally's irreverent gaiety and ease of manner drew people to …
malodorous
adjective: 1. Having a foul smell. 2. Highly improper.
complaisant
Definition: (adjective) Exhibiting a desire or willingness to please. Synonyms: obliging. Usage: In her behavior she was respectful and complaisant, even to servility: she attempted …
tenuity
Definition: (noun) Relatively small dimension through an object as opposed to its length or width. Synonyms: thinness, slenderness. Usage: She marveled at the tenuity of …
juxtaposition
Definition: (noun) The act of positioning close together (or side by side). Synonyms: apposition, collocation. Usage: The juxtaposition of the skyscraper and the brick townhouse …
admixture
Definition: (noun) An additional ingredient that is added by mixing with the base. Synonyms: intermixture. Usage: The flowers flourished in the new growing medium, a …
consummate
adjective: 1. Complete or perfect. 2. Highly accomplished or skilled. verb tr.: 1. To finish, complete, or make perfect. 2. To make a marital or …
disjunct
Definition: (adjective) Marked by separation of or from usually contiguous elements. Synonyms: isolated. Usage: The islands were like little isolated worlds, as abruptly disjunct and …
phantasmagorical
adjective: Illusory; strange; deceptive; imaginary; surreal; hallucinatory.
char
Definition: (verb) Burn slightly and superficially so as to affect color. Synonyms: blacken, sear, scorch. Usage: The fire charred the ceiling above the mantelpiece, and …
ontic
adjective: Having or relating to a real existence.
anodyne
Definition: (adjective) Capable of soothing or eliminating pain. Synonyms: analgesic, analgetic. Usage: She was in intense pain following the surgery and wondered whether the anodyne …
splendiferous
adjective: Extraordinarily impressive; magnificent.
scathing
Definition: (adjective) Bitterly denunciatory; harshly critical. Synonyms: vituperative. Usage: This scathing remark caused the Prince to hide his face for shame, and Steve to erect …
evanescent
adjective: Fading quickly; transitory.
pathos
Definition: (noun) A quality, as of an experience or a work of art, that arouses feelings of pity, sympathy, tenderness, or sorrow. Synonyms: poignancy. Usage: …
superannuated
Definition: (adjective) Retired or ineffective because of advanced age. Synonyms: over-the-hill, overaged. Usage: The company has a pension plan that provides financial assistance to some …
preponderance
Definition: (noun) A superiority in numbers or amount. Synonyms: prevalence, extensiveness. Usage: The preponderance of the evidence strongly supports his guilt. Discuss
topophilia
noun: The love or the emotional connection to a particular place.
repose
Definition: (noun) The act of resting or the state of being at rest. Synonyms: ease, relaxation, rest. Usage: The vacationer took his repose beside the …
broadbrow
noun: A person with a broad range of interests. adjective: Appealing to people with a broad range of interests.
fervent
Definition: (adjective) Having or showing great emotion or zeal. Synonyms: ardent, fervid, fiery, impassioned, perfervid, torrid. Usage: She was a fervent opponent of the death …
semelparous
adjective: Reproducing only once in a lifetime.
labyrinthine
Definition: (adjective) Resembling a labyrinth in form or complexity. Synonyms: mazy. Usage: A labyrinthine maze of sculpted bushes surrounded the estate. Discuss
bardolatry
noun: Excessive admiration of William Shakespeare.
brow
Definition: (noun) The projecting upper edge of a steep place. Synonyms: top, summit, peak, edge, tip, crown, verge, brink, rim, crest, brim. Usage: The sun …
grawlix
noun: The characters, such as @#%$*!, used to convey profanity in a comic.