nervous Nelly
noun: One who is unusually nervous, timid, or fearful.
Category: Today’s Word
Today’s Word
nosegay
Definition: (noun) A small bunch of flowers. Synonyms: bouquet, corsage, posy. Usage: The wedding was informal and intimate, with the bride wearing a simple white …
Hooray Henry
noun: A young, upper-class man who behaves in a loud, obnoxious, and often pretentious manner.
inebriant
Definition: (noun) An intoxicant. Synonyms: alcoholic beverage, intoxicant, alcohol. Usage: He guzzled the inebriant like a thirsty man would water and promptly dropped to the …
redolent
Definition: (adjective) Having or emitting fragrance. Synonyms: aromatic. Usage: The whole atmosphere was redolent with the savory fumes of roast meat. Discuss
exothermic
Definition: (adjective) Releasing heat. Synonyms: heat-releasing, exothermal. Usage: Scientists use a calorimeter to measure the amount of heat released during an exothermic reaction. Discuss
fiddle-faddle
noun: Nonsense. verb intr.: To trifle.
shutout
Definition: (noun) A defeat in a game where one side fails to score. Synonyms: skunk. Usage: The coach knew that if his team could score …
boogie
verb intr.: 1. To move, go, or depart quickly. 2. To dance in an energetic manner, especially to rock music. noun: 1. A style of …
walloping
Definition: (noun) A sound thrashing or defeat. Synonyms: debacle, drubbing, thrashing, trouncing, whipping, slaughter. Usage: The tournament was an embarrassment, with our team receiving a …
downbeat
noun: 1. The downward stroke of a conductor indicating the first or an accented beat of a measure. 2. The first beat of a measure. …
pauperism
Definition: (noun) A state of extreme poverty or destitution. Synonyms: indigence, penury, need. Usage: Two children begged for money on the subway, and their pauperism …
apostasy
Definition: (noun) Abandonment of one's religious faith, a political party, one's principles, or a cause. Synonyms: defection, renunciation. Usage: He had been very devoted to …
pitch-perfect
adjective: 1. Perfect in every way, especially in being sensitive to a particular situation. 2. Right tone, pitch, mood, etc.
vestige
Definition: (noun) A visible trace, evidence, or sign of something that once existed but exists or appears no more. Synonyms: tincture, trace, shadow. Usage: He …
arduous
Definition: (adjective) Demanding great effort or labor; difficult. Synonyms: backbreaking, grueling, laborious, toilsome, punishing, hard, heavy. Usage: The roofer's work was so arduous that he …
maverick
Definition: (adjective) Being independent in thought and action or exhibiting such independence. Synonyms: unorthodox, irregular. Usage: He was a maverick politician and refused to align …
Pygmalion
noun: A mentor, especially a man who mentors a woman. adjective: Describing a word considered offensive, such as a swear word.
bonhomie
Definition: (noun) A pleasant and affable disposition. Synonyms: affability, affableness, amiableness, geniality, amiability. Usage: The good humor and bonhomie called up by this last evening …
alastor
noun: An avenger.
formicary
Definition: (noun) A nest of ants. Synonyms: anthill. Usage: Hours after accidentally stepping on a formicary, she was still picking stray ants off of her …
maecenatism
noun: Patronage, for example, the support or financial sponsorship provided to artists, musicians, or writers.
escritoire
Definition: (noun) A writing table; a desk. Synonyms: secretaire, writing table, secretary. Usage: In the large shining mahogany escritoire Mr. Osborne had a drawer especially …
stan
noun: An extremely zealous or obsessive fan. verb tr., intr.: To be or act as such a fan.
galvanic
adjective: 1. Stimulating; energizing; shocking. 2. Relating to electric current, especially direct current.
plexor
Definition: (noun) A small hammer with a rubber head used in percussive examinations of the chest and in testing reflexes. Synonyms: percussor, plessor. Usage: When …
athirst
Definition: (adjective) Extremely desirous. Synonyms: hungry, thirsty. Usage: The young, enthusiastic student was athirst for knowledge. Discuss
quagmire
Definition: (noun) Land with a soft muddy surface. Synonyms: mire, morass, quag, slack. Usage: We had some difficulty in reaching the point, owing to the …
graymail
noun: 1. A defense tactic in an espionage trial where the accused threatens to reveal secrets to avoid prosecution. 2. Email that the recipient no …
pasquinade
Definition: (noun) A satire or lampoon, especially one that ridicules a specific person, traditionally written and posted in a public place. Synonyms: parody, put-on, sendup, …
mailed fist
noun: A threat or show of force to maintain control.
pincer
Definition: (noun) A grasping structure on the limb of a crustacean or other arthropods. Synonyms: chela, nipper, claw. Usage: The front pair of legs terminate …
postal
adjective: 1. Relating to the mail or the post office. 2. Very angry, insane, or violent.
scissure
Definition: (noun) A split or opening in an organ or part. Synonyms: crack, crevice, fissure, cleft. Usage: The surgeon explained that the stitches he had …
greenmail
noun: The practice of buying a large quantity of a company’s stock as a means of hostile takeover, then selling it back to the company …
surreptitious
Definition: (adjective) Marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed. Synonyms: furtive, stealthy, sneaky. Usage: She stole a surreptitious glance …
snail mail
noun: The physical delivery of letters and other material. Also, a piece of such mail. verb tr., intr.: To send a letter or other material …
ferrule
Definition: (noun) A metal ring or cap placed around a pole or shaft for reinforcement or to prevent splitting. Synonyms: collet. Usage: The walking stick …
plexus
Definition: (noun) A structure in the form of a network, especially of nerves, blood vessels, or lymphatics. Synonyms: rete. Usage: The bullet missed his cardiac …
asymptote
noun: 1. Something or someone that gets closer and closer but never touches. 2. A straight line whose distance to a curve approaches zero as …