Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 28, 2024 is: ken \KEN\ noun Ken refers to someone’s range of perception, knowledge, or understanding, and is most often used in phrases like “beyond/outside/within one’s ken.” // The author advised the aspiring writers in the crowd to develop an authoritative voice by sticking to subjects within their ken. [See the entry ](https:/

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 27, 2024 is: assail \uh-SAIL\ verb Assail has a number of meanings relating to violent or powerful confrontations. It can be a straightforward synonym of [assault]( https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assault), as in "assailed by armed robbers," or it can mean "to oppose, challenge, or criticize harshly and forcefully," as in "citi

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 26, 2024 is: homage \AH-mij\ noun An homage is something that is done to honor someone or something. It is often used with the word pay (as in “pay homage”) to mean “to respect or honor.” // Her latest book is an homage to her favorite city. // The paintings in the new art gallery pay homage to women artists of the past. [See the

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 25, 2024 is: tendentious \ten-DEN-shus\ adjective Tendentious is a formal word used disapprovingly to describe someone or something expressing a strongly biased point of view in a way that may cause argument. // The book proved to be a tendentious account of the town's history, written to rescue the reputation of one of its less scrupulou

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 24, 2024 is: burgeon \BER-jun\ verb To burgeon is to grow or develop quickly—in other words to [flourish](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flourish), [blossom](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blossom) or [sprout](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprout). // The trout population in the stream has burgeoned

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 23, 2024 is: exodus \EK-suh-dus\ noun An exodus is a situation in which many people leave a place at the same time—in other words a mass departure or [emigration](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emigration). // The resort town eagerly anticipated the mass exodus from the cities to its beaches as summer approached. [See the en

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 22, 2024 is: palpable \PAL-puh-bul\ adjective Something described as palpable is obvious and notable. Palpable may also be used as a synonym of [tangible](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tangible) to describe something that can be perceived by one's sense of touch. // The tension in the courtroom was palpable as the jury forema

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 21, 2024 is: noblesse oblige \noh-BLESS-uh-BLEEZH\ noun Noblesse oblige refers to the idea that people who have high social rank or wealth should be helpful and generous to people of lower rank or to people who are poor. // As the inheritor of a great fortune, he was raised to have a strong sense of noblesse oblige, not only volunteering

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 20, 2024 is: gingerly \JIN-jer-lee\ adjective An act or manner described as gingerly is very cautious or careful. // It’s a delicate subject, and we need to approach it with gingerly care and [tact](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tact). // The antelope moved with a gingerly gait that suggested it was hurt. [See the entry ](h

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 19, 2024 is: underwhelm \un-der-WELM\ verb To underwhelm someone is to fail to impress or excite them. // Despite the hype, the movie underwhelmed most reviewers, who criticized its slow pace and poor special effects. [See the entry ](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underwhelm) Examples: "Wake me up when NBA All-Star Weekend en