Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 12, 2026 is: gauntlet • \GAWNT-lut\ • noun Gauntlet originally referred to a double file of men facing each other and armed with clubs or other weapons with which to strike at an individual made to run between them. It later gained an expanded sense referring to a line, series, or assemblage of people or things that poses some sort of ordeal, as in...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 11, 2026 is: valorous • \VAL-uh-russ\ • adjective Someone or something described as valorous is courageous or brave.// For carrying three wounded members of his squadron out of harm's way, the lieutenant was presented with an award that recognized his valorous actions in the heat of battle.See the entry > Examples: "... a Texas native who was...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 10, 2026 is: defer • \dih-FER\ • verb To defer something is to put it off or delay it, to choose to do it at a later time. // We decided to defer the offer so that we could explore other options. See the entry > Examples: “Amelie plans to defer college for a year to attempt a mostly solo thru-hike of the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail.” — Justin...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 9, 2026 is: wabi-sabi • \WAH-bee-SAH-bee\ • noun Wabi-sabi refers to a philosophy of Japanese origin that emphasizes the aesthetic value in imperfect, impermanent, and simple things. This word can also refer to the qualities of imperfection, impermanence, and simplicity considered as beautiful.// Over the years, the gardener learned to let go of his...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 8, 2026 is: cockamamie • \kah-kuh-MAY-mee\ • adjective Cockamamie describes something that is ridiculous, silly, or incredible.// Instead of being honest, he came up with a cockamamie excuse about why he didn’t turn in his assignment. See the entry > Examples: “As my wife and I plotted our annual family road trip, I made my pitch: A cemetery tour...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 7, 2026 is: abandon • \uh-BAN-dun\ • noun Abandon refers to a feeling or attitude of wild or complete freedom. // The two friends spent the work week looking forward to hitting the clubs together on Friday night and dancing with total abandon. // After years of contemplating, he finally decided to make a career pivot and pursue his passion with...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 6, 2026 is: quondam • \KWAHN-dum\ • adjective Quondam is an adjective that means “former” or “sometime.”// Many people were surprised to learn that the quondam professor has since become a dancer.See the entry > Examples: “… quondam soccer legend David Beckham and his wife Victoria, formerly known as Posh Spice of the Spice Girls …” — Alex Beam,...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 5, 2026 is: effrontery • \ih-FRUN-tuh-ree\ • noun Effrontery is a formal word that refers to bold shamelessness, or in other words an attitude or way of behaving that is both confident and shocking or rude.// Holly could not believe the sheer effrontery of the student who asked that her grade be changed even though she had completed little of the...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 4, 2026 is: fulsome • \FULL-sum\ • adjective Fulsome describes someone or something that is generous in amount, extent, or spirit. // They were fulsome in their praise of her efforts to raise money for the new wing of the children’s hospital.// A day after offering a weak non-apology for instigating a bases-clearing brawl, the pitcher expressed more...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 3, 2026 is: candidate • \KAN-duh-dayt\ • noun A candidate is someone who aspires to or is nominated or qualified for an office, membership, or award. Candidate may also refer to someone likely or suited to undergo or be chosen for something specified (as in "a candidate for surgery"), or to a student in the process of meeting final requirements for a...