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@MerriamWebster

Word of the Day, facts and observations on language, lookup trends, and wordplay from the editors at Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Springfield, MA
Merriam-Webster.com
Joined December 2009
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  1. Pinned Tweet
    Jan 23

    This week on Word Matters: the M-W citation files. In our office we have a file with 16 million slips of paper, some dating back to the 19th century, each containing a specific example of a word's use. Here's the story.

    Word Matters Podcast episode 72 - Inside Our Citation Files - 16,000,000 citations can't be wrong
    2 replies 29 retweets 93 likes
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  2. 4 hours ago

    'Weltschmerz': literally, "world-pain"

    4 replies 56 retweets 192 likes
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  3. 7 hours ago

    Good morning! Today's is 'intemperate'

    Word of the Day January 24 2022 - intemperate - adjective - in-TEM-puh-rut - exhibiting extreme conditions or emotions - background image: thermometer showing negative degrees in snow
    10 replies 107 retweets 361 likes
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  4. Jan 23

    Good morning! Today's is 'juggernaut'

    Word of the Day January 23 2022 - juggernaut - noun - JUG-er-nawt - something extremely large and powerful - background image: elephant running toward camera
    15 replies 152 retweets 609 likes
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  5. Jan 22

    Good morning! Today's is 'opine'

    Word of the Day January 22 2022 - opine - verb - oh-PYNE - to express an opinion - background image: speech bubble with three dots
    9 replies 120 retweets 446 likes
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  6. Jan 21

    gaffe erudite step down & more words from the week:

    2 replies 20 retweets 114 likes
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  7. Jan 21

    Introducing “Five-Word Guides.” Here's one for New York City: Glittering / Hustling / Fragrant / Raucous / Open What's a Five-Word Guide for the place where you live?

    24 replies 21 retweets 127 likes
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  8. Jan 21

    Good morning! Today's is 'derring-do'

    Word of the Day January 21 2022 - derring-do - noun - dair-ing-DOO - behavior that requires courage - background image: person bungee jumping
    17 replies 141 retweets 484 likes
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  9. Jan 20

    Plus, h/t to those who really made it their own.

    Replying to @MerriamWebster
    Marnie, who had been found on the streets by animal control officers, was first named "I've Got Corona Symptoms" by shelter workers because she smelled so badly.
    1 reply 2 retweets 112 likes
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  10. Jan 20

    Thanks everyone for joining in! And special congrats to those with lightning-fast typing/editing skills:

    Replying to @MerriamWebster
    Remove “ly” in “badly”
    3 replies 2 retweets 70 likes
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  11. Jan 20

    When a reptile goes into a state of sluggishness or inactivity during cold spells, it's called 'brumation.'

    19 replies 57 retweets 262 likes
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  12. Retweeted
    Jan 20

    This week's Word Matters podcast is about the millions and millions of citations that generations of Merriam-Webster editors have collected since the late 19th century, like this one for "hassle."

    6 replies 25 retweets 138 likes
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  13. Jan 20

    Good morning! Today's is 'non sequitur'

    Word of the Day January 20 2022 - non sequitur - noun - NAHN-SEK-wuh-ter - a statement that is not connected in a logical or clear way to anything said before it - background image: hand pulling scrap of paper from fishbowl
    11 replies 151 retweets 485 likes
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  14. Jan 19

    nepenthe reverie tintinnabulation The Vocabulary in the Rue Morgue:

    3 replies 47 retweets 228 likes
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  15. Jan 19

    Writing Puzzle #6. Remove two letters to correct the usage error in this sentence. (Bonus pts: Don’t correct it, but instead tweak the rest of the sentence to make it work.)

    Marnie, who had been found on the streets by animal control officers, was first named "Stinky" by shelter workers because she smelled so badly.
    53 replies 21 retweets 205 likes
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  16. Jan 19

    Messrs. Merriam and Webster invite you to learn more about some complicated plurals.

    4 replies 34 retweets 141 likes
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  17. Jan 19

    Hello! Today's is 'debilitating'

    Word of the Day January 19 2022 - debilitating - adjective - dih-BILL-uh-tay-ting - causing serious impairment of strength - background image: gas gauge on empty
    2 replies 121 retweets 422 likes
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  18. Jan 18

    'Defuse': 💣 to make less harmful, potent, or tense 'Diffuse': 🌬 to scatter or spread out over a large area

    9 replies 65 retweets 300 likes
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  19. Jan 18

    Happy Thesaurus Day! To celebrate, everything in our shop is 18% off—today only!

    Celebrate National Thesaurus Day - 18% off for January 18 - Merriam-Webster
    2 replies 22 retweets 136 likes
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  20. Jan 18

    Good morning! Today's is 'winsome'

    Word of the Day January 18 2022 - winsome - adjective - WIN-sum - pleasing or cheerful - background image: granddaughter and grandmother smiling
    10 replies 119 retweets 494 likes
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