Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 20, 2024 is: amiable \AY-mee-uh-bul\ adjective Someone or something described as amiable is friendly and agreeable. // Both children have amiable dispositions, which makes them easy to travel with. [See the entry ](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amiable) Examples: "An amiable, Honda Civic–driving, bird-watching [Everyman](htt

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 19, 2024 is: nonplus \nahn-PLUS\ verb To nonplus someone is to perplex them, or in other words, to cause them to be at a loss as to what to say, think, or do. // The stranger's odd question about the town where my grandfather was born nonplussed me. [See the entry ](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonplus) Examples: "Motherhood

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 18, 2024 is: tomfoolery \tahm-FOO-luh-ree\ noun Tomfoolery is a word with an old-fashioned sound to it that refers to playful or silly behavior. // The antics in the play itself apparently inspired tomfoolery behind the scenes as well, as cast members constantly played practical jokes on one another. [See the entry ](https://www.merriam-we

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 17, 2024 is: otiose \OH-shee-ohss\ adjective Otiose is a formal word typically used to describe either something that serves no useful purpose, or something that has no use or effect. // I enjoyed the storyline, but was bothered by the otiose punctuation. // The new zoning regulations rendered their proposal for the empty lot otiose. [See

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 16, 2024 is: harry \HAIR-ee\ verb To harry someone or something is to harass or torment them by or as if by constant attack. // The visiting team harried the home team relentlessly during the first quarter. [See the entry ](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harry) Examples: “His side played like a team who understood the magnitu

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 15, 2024 is: limpid \LIM-pid\ adjective Limpid describes things that are perfectly transparent or clear, or that are simple in style. // Though the stream was deep, flecks and shimmers in the sand shone up through its limpid water. // The author is known for her limpid, [exacting](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exacting) prose.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 14, 2024 is: coterie \KOH-tuh-ree\ noun Coterie refers to an intimate and often exclusive group of people with a unifying common interest or purpose. // The mayor arrived at the meeting with a coterie of advisors. [See the entry ](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coterie) Examples: "By day I was exposed to third-wave-feminist tex

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 13, 2024 is: eclectic \ih-KLEK-tik\ adjective Something described as eclectic, such as a collection or a person's tastes, includes things taken from many different sources. // The collection includes an eclectic mix of historical artifacts. [See the entry ](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eclectic) Examples: “Known for its ecl

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 12, 2024 is: bilk \BILK\ verb Bilk is typically applied in contexts relating to fraud and deceit. It can mean "to cheat out of something valuable," or "to evade payment of or to," or "to obtain something by defrauding someone." // Prosecutors contend that the defendant bilked hundreds of investors out of their life savings. // Some vendors

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 11, 2024 is: fountainhead \FOUN-tun-hed\ noun Fountainhead is a word usually encountered in literary contexts that refers to the origin or source of something. // [Ragtime](https://www.britannica.com/art/ragtime), popularized by such performers as [Scott Joplin](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Scott-Joplin) and [Eubie Blake](https://w