Category: Today’s Word

Today’s Word

insipid

Definition: (adjective) Lacking flavor or zest; not tasty. Synonyms: flavorless, bland. Usage: I'll be glad when my kids start to enjoy real food, instead of …

wanderlust

Definition: (noun) Very strong or irresistible impulse to travel. Synonyms: itchy feet. Usage: His wanderlust would not allow him to stay long in one spot. …

disinterested

adjective: 1. Free of bias or self-interest; impartial. 2. Indifferent or not interested. 3. No longer interested.

enrapture

Definition: (verb) To fill with delight. Synonyms: enchant, enthrall, ravish, transport. Usage: The Harry Potter books have enraptured millions of young readers. Discuss

construe

verb tr., intr.: To interpret, understand, analyze, or explain.

corpulence

Definition: (noun) Bulkiness or largeness of body; fatness; portliness. Synonyms: stoutness. Usage: The corpulence of the adult pig astounded those who had never seen one …

exigency

noun: An urgent need or requirement.

feral

Definition: (adjective) Of or suggestive of a wild animal. Synonyms: savage. Usage: The mugger's feral scowl was terrifying enough to make me empty my pockets …

promontory

noun: 1. A point of high land projecting into a body of water. 2. A projecting part of the body, for example, of a bone.

linchpin

Definition: (noun) A central cohesive source of support and stability. Synonyms: backbone, keystone, mainstay, anchor. Usage: Reduced spending is the linchpin of their economic program. …

approbation

noun: Approval, praise, commendation, or official sanction.

dispassionate

Definition: (adjective) Devoid of or uninfluenced by emotion or prejudice. Synonyms: unemotional, cool, collected, calm, unmoved, unfazed, unruffled, imperturbable, unexcitable. Usage: You are not impulsive, …

interpolate

Definition: (verb) To alter (a text) by the insertion of new matter, especially deceptively or without authorization. Synonyms: falsify. Usage: He interpolated a lot of …

nonplus

Definition: (verb) To put at a loss as to what to think, say, or do. Synonyms: bewilder, dumbfound, flummox, baffle, mystify, perplex, puzzle, stupefy, amaze, …

altricial

adjective: Born in an undeveloped and helpless condition and requiring parental care and feeding for some time.

airling

noun: A carefree, thoughtless person.

lather

Definition: (noun) Agitation resulting from active worry. Synonyms: fret, stew, swither, sweat. Usage: "I'm not going to get into a lather over this defeat," said …

worrywart

noun: One who worries excessively and unnecessarily.

downcast

Definition: (adjective) Filled with melancholy and despondency. Synonyms: low-spirited, gloomy, dispirited, blue, depressed, grim. Usage: He walked through the door with a glum, downcast expression, …

toplofty

adjective: Haughty; pretentious.

indiscretion

Definition: (noun) A petty misdeed. Synonyms: peccadillo. Usage: He had awakened with a terrible headache and a sense of some hideous indiscretion. Discuss

bounder

noun: An ill-bred, vulgar man.

blowhard

Definition: (noun) A very boastful and talkative person. Synonyms: braggart, line-shooter, vaunter. Usage: If I have to listen to that blowhard brag about his latest …

palliate

Definition: (verb) Lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of. Synonyms: extenuate, mitigate. Usage: There has been in the past no excuse, …

android

Definition: (noun) An automaton that resembles a human being. Synonyms: humanoid, mechanical man. Usage: I programmed the android to mimic my expressions, but something about …

hornswoggle

Definition: (verb) Deprive of by deceit. Synonyms: bunco, con, defraud, diddle, goldbrick, mulct, nobble, rook, scam, swindle, short-change, victimize. Usage: I might be a thief, …

deontology

noun: The theory or study of duty and obligation, with a focus on the right action as determined by a set of rules, irrespective of …

hardtack

Definition: (noun) Very hard unsalted biscuit or bread; a former ship's staple. Synonyms: pilot bread, sea biscuit. Usage: When we dock, the first thing I …

audiophile

adjective: One who has a keen interest in high-fidelity sound reproduction.

baffle

Definition: (verb) Be a mystery or bewildering to. Synonyms: dumbfound, flummox, mystify, nonplus, perplex, puzzle, amaze, stupefy, gravel, vex, pose, stick, beat, get. Usage: An …

polygyny

noun: The practice of having two or more female partners.

elephantine

Definition: (adjective) Of great mass; huge and bulky. Synonyms: gargantuan, giant, jumbo. Usage: As we approached the city, the silhouettes of its elephantine buildings came …

rectitude

Definition: (noun) Righteousness as a consequence of being honorable and honest. Synonyms: uprightness. Usage: We are all equally satisfied of the complete rectitude of Miss …

valuate

Definition: (verb) Evaluate or estimate the nature, quality, ability, extent, or significance of. Synonyms: appraise, assess, measure. Usage: The jewelry must be valuated by a …

afflict

Definition: (verb) Cause physical pain or suffering in. Synonyms: smite. Usage: My grandmother is afflicted with arthritis, and it makes it hard for her to …

propensity

noun: An inclination to behave in a particular way.

bric-a-brac

Definition: (noun) Small, usually ornamental objects valued for their antiquity, rarity, originality, or sentimental associations. Synonyms: knickknackery, whatnot. Usage: The realtor recommended that I pack …