apologist
Definition: (noun) A person who argues in defense or justification of something, such as a doctrine, policy, or institution. Synonyms: vindicator, justifier. Usage: English youth …
Category: Today’s Word
Today’s Word
vitriol
Definition: (noun) Abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will. Synonyms: invective, vituperation. Usage: At first, she patiently …
rutilant
adjective: Glowing, shining, or glittering with a red or golden light.
soapbox
Definition: (noun) A platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it. Synonyms: dais, podium, pulpit, rostrum, stump, ambo. Usage: …
pelagic
adjective: Relating to or living in the open ocean, far from land.
tableland
Definition: (noun) A flat, elevated region; a plateau or mesa. Synonyms: plateau. Usage: The hikers climbed all morning, planning to stop for lunch when they …
nidus
noun: 1. A nest. 2. A source or the central point, especially of infection where bacteria or other pathogens breed.
cutoff
Definition: (noun) A route shorter than the usual one. Synonyms: shortcut, crosscut. Usage: My father claimed he knew a great cutoff, but it turned out …
cherubic
adjective: Having a sweet, innocent appearance.
tambour
Definition: (noun) A small wooden embroidery frame consisting of two concentric hoops between which fabric is stretched. Synonyms: embroidery frame, embroidery hoop. Usage: She was …
perfidious
Definition: (adjective) Of, relating to, or marked by perfidy; treacherous. Synonyms: punic, treacherous. Usage: After Frank betrayed him, James swore he would never forgive his …
recidivist
Definition: (noun) Someone who is repeatedly arrested for criminal behavior, especially for the same criminal behavior. Synonyms: habitual criminal, repeater. Usage: After his third arrest …
dromomania
noun: 1. A compulsive desire to travel. 2. An excessive enthusiasm for running.
bellicose
Definition: (adjective) Warlike in manner or temperament; pugnacious. Synonyms: battleful, combative, contentious. Usage: She had always found him to be bellicose and was not surprised …
prodrome
noun: An early symptom that indicates the onset of a disease or an episode of something such as a migraine.
hovercraft
Definition: (noun) A craft capable of moving over water or land on a cushion of air created by jet engines. Synonyms: ground-effect machine. Usage: The …
interlope
verb intr.: To intrude or interfere.
frowzy
Definition: (adjective) Unkempt; slovenly. Synonyms: slovenly. Usage: Between his frowzy clothes and late arrival, he made a decidedly bad first impression. Discuss
troche
noun: A small tablet or lozenge, typically round and sweetened.
trenchant
Definition: (adjective) Having keenness and forcefulness and penetration in thought, expression, or intellect. Synonyms: searching. Usage: His trenchant criticism redirected the debate and gave everyone …
marathon
noun: 1. A footrace of 26 miles, 385 yards (42.195 km). 2. Any long-distance race, for example, a swimming marathon. 3. An endurance event or …
phytophagous
Definition: (adjective) Feeding on plants, including shrubs and trees. Synonyms: plant-eating, phytophilous. Usage: The dot moth is phytophagous, feeding on a wide variety of plants. …
physic
Definition: (noun) A medicine or drug, especially a cathartic. Synonyms: aperient, cathartic, purgative. Usage: "Affery, woman," said Mr. Flintwinch, with a friendly grin on his …
phagocyte
Definition: (noun) A cell, such as a white blood cell, that engulfs and absorbs waste material, harmful microorganisms, or other foreign bodies in the bloodstream …
nitch
noun: A notch or a small cut. verb tr.: To make a small cut or notch.
beebread
Definition: (noun) A brownish substance consisting of a mixture of pollen and honey and used by bees as food. Synonyms: ambrosia. Usage: The worker bees …
whinge
verb intr.: To whine or to complain. noun: A whine or complaint.
djinni
Definition: (noun) In Muslim legend, a spirit often capable of assuming human or animal form and exercising supernatural influence over people. Synonyms: genie, jinnee, jinni. …
tomcat
noun: 1. A male domestic cat. 2. A womanizer. verb intr.: To pursue women promiscuously.
hirsute
Definition: (adjective) Covered with hair; hairy. Synonyms: hairy. Usage: The hirsute man used to joke that he looked like a grizzly bear. Discuss
scunner
verb intr.: 1. To disgust or sicken. 2. To feel disgust or to flinch. noun: 1. Dislike or disgust. 2. A rascal; nuisance.
swellhead
Definition: (noun) A person regarded as arrogant or conceited. Synonyms: egoist, egotist. Usage: He was dismissed by many as a swellhead, but his ridiculously high …
truffle
verb intr.: To search, rummage, dig up, etc.; verb tr.: To stuff or to intersperse with something.; noun: 1. Any of various edible fungi that …
hodgepodge
Definition: (noun) A mixture of dissimilar ingredients; a jumble. Synonyms: patchwork, jumble. Usage: Paul's screenplay was a hodgepodge of comedy, drama, slapstick, and tragedy. Discuss
necropolis
Definition: (noun) A cemetery, especially a large and elaborate one belonging to an ancient city. Synonyms: cemetery, burial ground, graveyard, memorial park. Usage: A guardian …
abiogenesis
Definition: (noun) The supposed development of living organisms from nonliving matter. Synonyms: spontaneous generation, autogenesis, autogeny. Usage: Early notions of abiogenesis, now considered incorrect, held …
casuist
noun: One who employs deceptive or excessively subtle reasoning, especially on moral issues.
cat’s-paw
Definition: (noun) A person used by another as a dupe or tool. Synonyms: pawn, instrument. Usage: He was humiliated to learn that he had been …
temporizer
noun: One who delays, waiting for a favorable time, or to avoid making a decision.
sybarite
Definition: (noun) A person devoted to pleasure and luxury; a voluptuary. Synonyms: voluptuary. Usage: This official sybarite dressed, dined, and visited a dozen or fifteen …