Category: Today’s Word

Today’s Word

gargantuan

Definition: (adjective) Of immense size, volume, or capacity; gigantic. Synonyms: elephantine, giant, jumbo. Usage: He was full to capacity after polishing off a gargantuan, five-course …

dialectic

noun: A discussion employed in investigating the truth of a thesis. adjective: Relating to such a discussion.

intransigent

Definition: (adjective) Refusing to moderate a position, especially an extreme position; uncompromising. Synonyms: adamant, inexorable, adamantine. Usage: My father is an intransigent conservative opposed to …

commensurate

adjective: 1. Proportionate. 2. Having the same measure.

cantankerous

Definition: (adjective) Ill-tempered and quarrelsome; disagreeable. Synonyms: bloody-minded. Usage: I am an extremely considerate neighbor, yet the cantankerous old lady next door is constantly lodging …

constitutional

noun: A walk taken for one’s health. adjective: 1. Relating to the constitution, a set of principles governing a state, organization, etc. 2. Relating to …

panegyric

Definition: (noun) A formal eulogistic composition intended as a public compliment. Synonyms: encomium, eulogy, paean. Usage: It is traditional to deliver a panegyric to the …

irascible

Definition: (adjective) Prone to outbursts of temper; easily angered. Synonyms: hotheaded, quick-tempered, choleric, short. Usage: He was a singularly irascible man; any little thing would …

garrulous

Definition: (adjective) Given to excessive and often trivial or rambling talk. Synonyms: chatty, gabby, loquacious, talkative, talky. Usage: One day the elder Pokrovski came to …

faitour

noun: A cheat or impostor.

banality

Definition: (noun) The condition or quality of being banal; triviality. Synonyms: unoriginality, predictability, dullness, ordinariness, staleness, vapidity, triteness. Usage: My friends pursued their course with …

raconteur

Definition: (noun) One who tells stories and anecdotes with skill and wit. Synonyms: anecdotist. Usage: Dave is quite the raconteur and will no doubt keep …

clamant

adjective: 1. Loud. 2. Demanding attention; urgent.

raffish

adjective: 1. Vulgar or tawdry. 2. Unconventional; carefree; rakish.

exacerbate

Definition: (verb) Make worse. Synonyms: aggravate, worsen, exasperate. Usage: The heavy rainfall merely exacerbated the region's flood problems. Discuss

verigreen

noun: A simple or gullible person.

animadversion

Definition: (noun) Strong criticism. Synonyms: censure. Usage: I meant no animadversions against any one, and certainly intended no disrespectful allusions to your mother. Discuss

canorous

Definition: (adjective) Richly melodious. Synonyms: songful. Usage: When I sing in the shower, my off-key caterwauling takes on a surprisingly canorous tone. Discuss

dispraise

Definition: (noun) Disapproval; censure. Synonyms: disparagement. Usage: Heaven forbid that she should say a syllable in dispraise of any member of that excellent family, above …

eidolon

noun: 1. An idealized form. 2. A phantom.

harbinger

Definition: (noun) One that indicates or foreshadows what is to come. Synonyms: herald, precursor, forerunner. Usage: The grim and persistent harbinger of evil aroused the …

aquabib

noun: 1. A water-drinker. 2. A teetotaler.

alacrity

Definition: (noun) Cheerful willingness. Synonyms: briskness, eagerness. Usage: Tom gave up the brush with reluctance in his face, but alacrity in his heart. Discuss

akrasia

noun: The lack of will or self-control resulting in one acting against one’s better judgment.

abjure

Definition: (verb) To renounce under oath; forswear. Synonyms: recant, retract, resile. Usage: For nearly 21 years after his resignation as Prime Minister in 1963, he …

contrafactum

noun: A composition that makes use of an existing piece of music with different lyrics.

graybeard

Definition: (noun) A man who is very old. Synonyms: old man, Methuselah. Usage: "So, fellow-pilgrims," said he, "here we are, seven wise men, and one …

misericord

noun: 1. Compassion, pity, or mercy. 2. Something to provide support to a standing person. Typically a small projection from the underside of a hinged …

plaint

Definition: (noun) A cry of sorrow and grief. Synonyms: lament, lamentation, wail. Usage: The plaints of the bereaved widow and her young children haunt me …

braggart

Definition: (noun) One given to loud, empty boasting; a bragger. Synonyms: blowhard, boaster, bragger, line-shooter, vaunter. Usage: He was generally considered a braggart, and others …

parsimonious

Definition: (adjective) Excessively unwilling to spend. Synonyms: penurious. Usage: I had to sue my parsimonious landlord for not giving me enough heat this winter. Discuss

diplomatics

noun: The study of documents, especially historical documents, in an effort to authenticate, date, interpret, etc.

contrivance

Definition: (noun) An elaborate or deceitful plan or expedient. Synonyms: stratagem, plan, design, measure, scheme, trick, plot, dodge, expedient, ruse, artifice, machination. Usage: This "shortage" …

mamaguy

verb tr.: To tease or deceive, especially by flattery. noun: An instance of this.

abysmal

Definition: (adjective) Extremely or hopelessly bad or severe. Synonyms: dreadful, terrible, awful, appalling, dismal, dire, ghastly, hideous, atrocious, godawful. Usage: We have been having abysmal …

obviate

verb tr.: To render unnecessary; to remove, avoid, or prevent.

traipse

Definition: (verb) Walk or tramp about. Synonyms: shlep. Usage: I spent the holiday exploring the countryside, traipsing from town to town with just a knapsack …

philocynic

noun: A dog lover. adjective: Fond of dogs.

extemporaneous

Definition: (adjective) Carried out or performed with little or no preparation. Synonyms: impromptu, off-the-cuff, offhand, unrehearsed, ad-lib. Usage: Though she had not practiced for some …