Category: Today’s Word

Today’s Word

hidebound

Definition: (adjective) Stubbornly conservative and narrow-minded. Synonyms: traditionalist. Usage: It is no use trying to reason with your grandfather, he is a hidebound old man …

Poplarism

noun: The policy of giving generous compensation, benefits, unemployment relief, etc.

excrescence

Definition: (noun) Something that bulges out or is protuberant or projects from its surroundings. Synonyms: extrusion, gibbosity, hump, jut, bulge, protrusion, protuberance, swelling, bump, prominence. …

borstal

noun: A reformatory for young offenders.

reverential

Definition: (adjective) Feeling or manifesting veneration. Synonyms: venerating, respectful. Usage: A pilgrimage is a reverential act, performed by reverent people. Discuss

Queenborough mayor

noun: A position involving pomp and show, but no real power or authority.

eldritch

Definition: (adjective) Suggesting the operation of supernatural influences. Synonyms: uncanny, weird, unearthly. Usage: An eldritch screech from someone—or something—in the distance sent chills down my …

one-horse

Definition: (adjective) Small and remote and insignificant. Synonyms: jerkwater. Usage: I am leaving this one-horse town and heading into the big city to seek my …

cornucopia

Definition: (noun) The property of being extremely abundant. Synonyms: profuseness, richness. Usage: The cornucopia of job opportunities overwhelmed the immigrants, who had come from a …

body blow

noun: A severe setback or disappointment.

billet

Definition: (verb) Provide housing for (military personnel). Synonyms: canton, quarter. Usage: The citizens who were forced to billet soldiers in their own private homes were …

roughhouse

verb tr.: To handle roughly, but in a playful manner; verb intr. To engage in boisterous play; noun: Boisterous play.

involution

Definition: (noun) The act of involving or complicating or the state of being involved or complicated. Synonyms: intricacy, elaboration. Usage: The tale itself is a …

gold-digger

noun: One who forms a romantic relationship with a rich person for money.

perpetrate

Definition: (verb) Perform an act, usually with a negative connotation. Synonyms: commit, pull. Usage: Only a sadistic, depraved person could perpetrate a crime like this. …

journeyman

noun: A worker, athlete, performer, etc. who is competent and reliable, but undistinguished.

unavailing

Definition: (adjective) Producing no result or effect. Synonyms: futile, ineffectual, otiose. Usage: Immediately conscious how unavailing any struggle against such an overwhelming force must prove, …

merchant prince

noun: A merchant or businessman with sufficient wealth to wield political power.

prescience

Definition: (noun) Knowledge of actions or events before they occur. Synonyms: foresight, clairvoyance, precognition, second sight, foreknowledge, prevision. Usage: Did she realize in a flash …

demure

Definition: (adjective) Affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way. Synonyms: coy, overmodest. Usage: Lowering her glance unexpectedly till her dark eye-lashes …

boondocks

Definition: (noun) A remote and undeveloped area. Synonyms: backwoods, hinterland. Usage: I have fond memories of my childhood home, but I would never trade city …

sialoquent

adjective: Spraying saliva when speaking.

gravitas

Definition: (noun) Formality in bearing and appearance. Synonyms: lordliness, dignity. Usage: Our national father figure needs gravitas, he's pitched himself as the kid brother. Discuss

perlage

noun: The assemblage of bubbles, in a glass of champagne, for example.

wretch

Definition: (noun) A person pitied for his misfortune. Synonyms: poor devil. Usage: If the poor wretch waked in the flames and perished, no one cared. …

pensum

noun: A task given, especially as a punishment.

contrarious

Definition: (adjective) Difficult to deal with. Synonyms: cross-grained. Usage: I do not know how people tolerate teenage girls; they are the most contrarious creatures ever …

blackball

Definition: (verb) Expel from a community or group. Synonyms: banish, cast out, ostracize, shun, ban. Usage: They must not know about my sordid past, because …

confection

Definition: (noun) A food rich in sugar. Synonyms: sweet. Usage: One of the perks of working in a candy shop is getting to try all …

paladin

Definition: (noun) Someone who fights for a cause. Synonyms: champion, fighter, hero. Usage: Like the ancient paladins, he has only undertaken this war to obtain …

guileless

Definition: (adjective) Free of deceit. Synonyms: transparent. Usage: She was so guileless that he had no option but to believe her. Discuss

vandalize

verb tr.: To willfully damage another’s property.

rambunctious

Definition: (adjective) Noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline. Synonyms: boisterous, robustious, unruly. Usage: I can hardly believe that the staid businessman standing before me …

dunce

noun: A person regarded as dim-witted or foolish.

analgesic

Definition: (noun) A medicine used to relieve pain. Synonyms: anodyne, painkiller. Usage: An over-the-counter analgesic is not going to suffice for this pain. Discuss

gallionic

adjective: Indifferent or uncaring.

squirm

Definition: (verb) To move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling). Synonyms: twist, worm, wriggle, writhe, wrestle. Usage: He tried to squirm free, …