Free daily dose of word power from Merriam-Webster's experts
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Word Matters is a show for readers, writers, and anyone who's curious about the English language. Join Merriam-Webster editors as they challenge supposed grammar rules, reveal the surprising origins behind words, tackle common questions, and generally geek out about the beautiful nightmare that is our language.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 27, 2025 is: decimate • \DESS-uh-mayt\ • verb Decimate can mean both “to destroy a large number of (plants, animals, people, etc.)” or “to severely damage or destroy a large part of (something).” // The bay’s lobsters have been decimated by disease. // Budget cuts have decimated public services throughout…
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 27, 2025 is: decimate \DESS-uh-mayt\ verb See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 26, 2025 is: nonchalant • \nahn-shuh-LAHNT\ • adjective Someone described as nonchalant is relaxed and calm, either because they do not care about something or because they are not worried about something. Nonchalant can also be used to describe something, such as demeanor or behavior, that expresses such…
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 26, 2025 is: nonchalant \nahn-shuh-LAHNT\ adjective See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 25, 2025 is: travail • \truh-VAIL\ • noun Travail is a formal word, usually used in plural, that refers to a difficult experience or situation. // The book describes the political travails of the governor during her first year in office. See the entry > Examples: "Written by Samy Burch, the film [Coyote v…
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 24, 2025 is: ostensible • \ah-STEN-suh-bul\ • adjective Ostensible is used to describe something that seems or is said to be true or real, but is possibly not true or real. In other words, it is plausible rather than demonstrably true or real. // The ostensible purpose of a filibuster is to extend debate,…
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 24, 2025 is: ostensible \ah-STEN-suh-bul\ adjective See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 23, 2025 is: slough • \SLUFF\ • verb Slough is a formal verb used for the action of getting rid of something unwanted. It is usually used with off. Slough can also mean "to lose a dead layer of (skin)" or "to become shed or cast off." // The editorial urges the mayor not to slough off responsibility for t…
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 23, 2025 is: slough \SLUFF\ verb See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 22, 2025 is: liaison • \lee-AY-zahn\ • noun Liaison refers to a person who helps organizations or groups work together and provide information to each other, or to a relationship that allows such interactions. Liaison can also refer to an illicit sexual relationship. // The new position involves acting as…
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 22, 2025 is: liaison \lee-AY-zahn\ noun See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 21, 2025 is: bodacious • \boh-DAY-shuss\ • adjective Bodacious is used as an informal synonym of remarkable and noteworthy, as well as sexy and voluptuous. In some dialects of the Southern and Midland US, bodacious is used by its oldest meaning: "outright, unmistakable." // The bodacious decor of the bout…
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 21, 2025 is: bodacious \boh-DAY-shuss\ adjective See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 20, 2025 is: resurrection • \rez-uh-REK-shun\ • noun In Christian theology, Resurrection (typically capitalized in this use) refers to the event in which Jesus Christ returned to life after his death. In general contexts, resurrection refers to the act of causing something that had ended or been forgotten…
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 20, 2025 is: resurrection \rez-uh-REK-shun\ noun See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 19, 2025 is: fastidious • \fass-TID-ee-us\ • adjective Someone described as fastidious is extremely or overly careful about how they do something. Fastidious may also describe someone who is difficult to please, or someone who always wants to be clean, neat, etc. // Our parents taught us to be fastidious …
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 19, 2025 is: fastidious \fass-TID-ee-us\ adjective See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 18, 2025 is: collaborate • \kuh-LAB-uh-rayt\ • verb To collaborate is to work with another person or group in order to do or achieve something. Collaborate can also be used disapprovingly to mean "to cooperate with or willingly assist an enemy of one's country and especially an enemy who occupies it durin…
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 18, 2025 is: collaborate \kuh-LAB-uh-rayt\ verb See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 17, 2025 is: uncouth \un-KOOTH\ adjective See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 16, 2025 is: adversity \ad-VER-suh-tee\ noun See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 15, 2025 is: pugnacious \pug-NAY-shus\ adjective See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 14, 2025 is: druthers \DRUH-therz\ noun plural See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 13, 2025 is: reminisce \rem-uh-NISS\ verb See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 12, 2025 is: gustatory \GUSS-tuh-tor-ee\ adjective See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 11, 2025 is: kitsch \KITCH\ noun See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 10, 2025 is: chary \CHAIR-ee\ adjective See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 9, 2025 is: vouchsafe \vowch-SAYF\ verb See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 8, 2025 is: apparatchik \ah-puh-RAH-chik\ noun See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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