Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 10, 2025 is: griot • \GREE-oh\ • noun The term griot refers to any of a class of musician-entertainers of western Africa whose performances include tribal histories and genealogies. The term is also used broadly to refer to a storyteller.// Tracing her family lineage back to West African griots inspired the singer to focus on storytelling through...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 9, 2025 is: insinuate • \in-SIN-yuh-wayt\ • verb To insinuate something (especially something bad or insulting) is to say it in a subtle or indirect way. Insinuate can also mean "to gradually make (oneself) a part of a group, a person's life, etc., often by behaving in a dishonest way."// When the teacher questioned the students about their...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 8, 2025 is: sanguine • \SANG-gwin\ • adjective Sanguine is a formal word that today almost always describes someone who is confident and hopeful, or something that shows confidence and hopefulness. Sanguine can also describe something that is bloodred in color, something involving or relating to bloodshed, or a person’s reddish complexion. // The...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 7, 2025 is: behest • \bih-HEST\ • noun Behest can refer either to an authoritative order or an urgent prompting.// The committee met again at the senator’s behest.// At the behest of her friends, Marcie read the poem aloud.See the entry > Examples: “... Raymond Carver and I were selecting stories for our American Short Story Masterpieces. When...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 6, 2025 is: mollify • \MAH-luh-fye\ • verb To mollify someone is to make them less angry. Mollify can also mean "to reduce in intensity."// The celebrity's statement was intended to mollify critics.// Time mollified her anger.See the entry > Examples: "The philanthropic move is likely meant to mollify angry residents who are protesting against...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 5, 2025 is: histrionic • \hiss-tree-AH-nik\ • adjective Histrionic is a word used disapprovingly to describe someone or something that is too emotional or dramatic.// The head chef had a penchant for dish throwing, door slamming, and other histrionic displays of temper whenever a dish was sent back to the kitchen.See the entry > Examples: “‘Where...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 4, 2025 is: abeyance • \uh-BAY-unss\ • noun Abeyance is a formal word that is almost always used in the phrase “in abeyance” to describe something in a temporary state of inactivity—that is, something in a state of suspension. // The legal case is now being held in abeyance while the parties attempt to find a mutually acceptable solution.See the...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 3, 2025 is: trivial • \TRIV-ee-ul\ • adjective Something described as trivial is of little worth or importance.// Although her parents initially dismissed her love of pop music as a trivial matter, it became clear as she applied to colleges with strong popular music programs that much of her life was going to be dedicated to it.See the entry >...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 2, 2025 is: carp • \KAHRP\ • verb To carp is to complain in an annoying way.// They’re always carping about their boss. See the entry > Examples: “David Fincher and Brad Pitt are together again with the sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood—written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by David Fincher. ... And while I hear people carping about the...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 1, 2025 is: epitome • \ih-PIT-uh-mee\ • noun Epitome means "a perfect example." It is usually used in the phrase "the epitome of," as in "the epitome of elegance."// In his tailored suit and fashionable haircut, he was the very epitome of style.See the entry > Examples: "The image of Diana standing on a polo field in a white British Lung...