Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 18, 2026 is: hiatus • \hye-AY-tus\ • noun In general contexts, hiatus usually refers to a period of time when something, such as an activity or program, is suspended. In biology, hiatus describes a gap or passage in an anatomical part or organ, and in linguistics, it refers to the occurrence of two vowel sounds without pause or intervening consonantal...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 17, 2026 is: postulate • \PAHSS-chuh-layt\ • verb Postulate is a formal word used to mean “to suggest something, such as an idea or theory, especially in order to start or continue a discussion.”// Scientists have postulated the existence of water on the planet’s largest moon.See the entry > Examples: “Based on their findings, researchers postulate...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 16, 2026 is: brazen • \BRAY-zun\ • adjective Brazen describes someone who is acting, or something that is done, in a very open and shocking way without shame or embarrassment.// The opposition party’s campaign has not been shy in assailing the brazen corruption of the incumbent for funneling public funds into private coffers. See the entry >...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 15, 2026 is: mayhem • \MAY-hem\ • noun Mayhem refers to needless or willful damage or violence, and especially to a scene or situation that involves a lot of violence. In figurative use, it may refer to any instance of excited activity. // The director's newest thriller is brimming with murder and mayhem.See the entry > Examples: "The storage space...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 14, 2026 is: enjoin • \in-JOIN\ • verb Enjoining is about requiring or prohibiting. To enjoin a person is to direct or order them to do something. To enjoin an act or practice is to prohibit it; in legal contexts, that prohibition is by way of a judicial order.// Our guide enjoined us to take great care as we began our journey.// The court has enjoined...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 13, 2026 is: kibitzer • \KIB-it-ser\ • noun A kibitzer is someone who watches other people and makes unwanted comments about what they are doing.// It wasn't long after they bought their house that the couple heard from neighborhood kibitzers offering tips on landscaping and remodeling.See the entry > Examples: "During the chess games, the telegraph...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 12, 2026 is: recondite • \REK-un-dyte\ • adjective Recondite is a formal word used to describe something that is difficult to understand or that is not known by many people.// The text addresses a technical subject using recondite vocabulary, which makes it very difficult to read.// The candy has the perfect balance of sweet and tart, but what delights...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 11, 2026 is: subterfuge • \SUB-ter-fyooj\ • noun Subterfuge is a formal word that refers to the use of tricks to hide, avoid, or get something.// They obtained the documents by subterfuge.See the entry > Examples: “Despite her difficult childhood, Mavis [Gallant] persevered, through grit, bloody-mindedness, an absence of self-pity, and an ironic...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 10, 2026 is: glaucous • \GLAW-kus\ • adjective Glaucous as a color word can describe things of two rather different shades: a light bluish-gray or bluish-white color, or a pale yellow-green. It can also mean "having a powdery or waxy coating that gives a frosted appearance and tends to rub off." // His glaucous eyes grew wide with curiosity. // The...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 9, 2026 is: decry • \dih-KRY\ • verb To decry something is to express strong disapproval of it.// The editorial decried the shuttering of the movie theater, which has been a local landmark for many years.See the entry > Examples: “Twenty years ago, I wrote a book about the branding of youth culture called Branded: The Buying and Selling of Teenagers....