Category: Today’s Word

Today’s Word

nostrum

Definition: (noun) Hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases. Synonyms: cure-all, panacea, catholicon. Usage: Stay healthy, for science is no closer to a nostrum than …

nascent

Definition: (adjective) Coming into existence; emerging. Synonyms: beginning. Usage: The nascent republic had to formulate its laws while continuing its war for independence. Discuss

mollify

Definition: (verb) To calm in temper or feeling; soothe. Synonyms: appease, assuage, conciliate, pacify, placate. Usage: She was so outraged that nothing her friends said …

besmirch

Definition: (verb) Charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone. Synonyms: asperse, calumniate, defame, slander, denigrate, sully, smear. Usage: …

gorgonize

verb tr.: To paralyze, petrify, or hypnotize.

polemic

Definition: (noun) A controversial argument, especially one refuting or attacking a specific opinion or doctrine. Synonyms: tirade, diatribe. Usage: He launched into the polemic, not …

vulcanize

verb tr.: To harden or improve, for example, rubber by application of sulfur and heat. verb intr.: To become hardened.

prattle

Definition: (verb) To talk or chatter idly or meaninglessly. Synonyms: blabber, piffle, gabble, prate. Usage: The group of tourists on the plane wouldn't stop talking, …

boreal

adjective: Northern; relating to the north, north wind, northern regions, etc.

perfidy

Definition: (noun) Deliberate breach of faith; calculated violation of trust. Synonyms: treachery, betrayal, treason. Usage: Discovering that he had sold her confidences to the tabloids, …

titanism

noun: A spirit of nonconformity, rebelliousness, or revolt, against authority, convention, etc.

paucity

Definition: (noun) Smallness of number; fewness. Synonyms: dearth. Usage: Despite the paucity of natural resources, the country was able to develop its industry. Discuss

palaver

Definition: (noun) Talk intended to charm or beguile. Synonyms: blandishment, cajolery. Usage: Then she would pounce upon me with a lot of that drivelling poodle …

occlude

Definition: (verb) To cause to become closed. Synonyms: obturate, impede, obstruct, jam, block. Usage: The excess inventory had occluded the exit, and was deemed a …

cogitate

Definition: (verb) To take careful thought or think carefully about; ponder. Synonyms: cerebrate. Usage: You must earnestly cogitate before making this decision, and not simply …

insouciant

Definition: (adjective) Marked by blithe unconcern. Synonyms: casual, nonchalant. Usage: He showed an insouciant disregard for cold weather, wearing only a T-shirt in the show. …

bimarian

adjective: Relating to two seas.

memetic

adjective: Relating to memes.

pedagogy

Definition: (noun) The art or profession of teaching. Synonyms: instruction. Usage: The true aim of pedagogy is ensuring that students learn how to learn. Discuss

refoulement

noun: The forcing of refugees or asylum seekers to return to a place where they are likely to face persecution.

carouse

Definition: (verb) To engage in boisterous, drunken merrymaking. Synonyms: roister. Usage: They were so happy to be finished with exams that they continued to carouse …

cacoethes

noun: An irresistible urge to do something, especially something inadvisable.

debacle

Definition: (noun) A sudden, disastrous collapse, downfall, or defeat; a rout. Synonyms: fiasco. Usage: The team had had high hopes before the debacle of their …

denizen

Definition: (noun) An inhabitant; a resident. Synonyms: dweller. Usage: I wandered through the empty streets, looking for a single denizen of this hamlet, but found …

lascivious

Definition: (adjective) Given to or expressing lust; lecherous. Synonyms: libidinous, lustful, lewd. Usage: Frustrated by his constant lascivious comments, she decided to report him to …

grouse

verb intr.: To complain or to grumble. noun: A complaint. adjective: Wonderful. noun: Any of various birds that are typically plump, ground-dwelling, and have feathered …

fissure

Definition: (noun) A long narrow opening. Synonyms: crevice, crack, cleft. Usage: In a narrow little fissure, just within reach of my forefinger, I felt the …

marl

noun: 1. An earthy deposit containing clay and lime. 2. Earth. verb tr.: To fertilize with marl. noun: A yarn made of differently colored threads …

incendiary

Definition: (adjective) Arousing to action or rebellion. Synonyms: inflammatory, incitive, instigative, rabble-rousing, seditious. Usage: The incendiary remarks in the pamphlet spurred the villagers to revolt. …

chum

noun: 1. A close friend. 2. A roommate. verb intr.: 1. To be a close friend or to be friendly. 2. To share a room …

fatuous

Definition: (adjective) Foolish or silly, especially in a smug or self-satisfied way. Synonyms: asinine. Usage: He made these fatuous pronouncements with such conviction that no …

taw

verb intr.: To shoot a marble. noun: 1. A large marble used as a shooter. 2. A game of marbles, also known as ringtaw. 3. …

sedulous

Definition: (adjective) Persevering and constant in effort or application. Synonyms: assiduous. Usage: Her sedulous efforts to learn French eventually enabled her to become almost fluent. …

waffle

noun: A crisp cake made by baking batter in an appliance with a gridlike pattern. American English: verb intr.: To be indecisive or evasive; to …

equanimity

Definition: (noun) The quality of being calm and even-tempered. Synonyms: calmness, composure. Usage: Because she was prepared for the news, she was able to respond …

travail

Definition: (noun) Work, especially when arduous or involving painful effort. Synonyms: effort, exertion, labor, toil. Usage: She deserved to take a vacation after her long …

squalor

Definition: (noun) A filthy and wretched condition or quality. Synonyms: sordidness, squalidness. Usage: The squalor in which the refugees lived alarmed the aid workers, who …