M-W Word of the Day @[email protected]

Class: verb | Syllables: SEN-sher

Definition: To censure someone is to formally criticize or reprimand them for an act or failure, especially from a position of authority.

Example(s):
// He was censured by the committee for his failure to report the problem.

Class: noun | Syllables: ZEFF-er

Definition: A zephyr is a breeze blowing from the west. More loosely, a zephyr can be any gentle breeze.

Example(s):
// We were relieved when a zephyr blew in just as the heat of the day was peaking, allowing us to remain comfortably on the beach for a little while longer.

Class: adjective | Syllables: RAIR-uh-fyde

Definition: Something described as rarefied is understood or appreciated by only a small or select group of people; the word is a synonym of esoteric. Rarefied can also be used technically to mean “being less dense,” a use that is typically applied to air that has less oxygen in it because of high elevation.

Example(s):
// She has never been comfortable in the rarefied world of art dealers.
// The climbers knew that breathing in the rarefied air near the mountain's peak would be difficult.

Class: noun | Syllables: dis-ap-ruh-BAY-shun

Definition: Disapprobation refers to the act or state of disapproving or of being disapproved of.

Example(s):
// There was widespread disapprobation of the city's plan to slash educational funding.

Class: adjective | Syllables: MAUD-lin

Definition: Maudlin describes someone or something that expresses sadness or sentimentality in an exaggerated way.

Example(s):
// The class had a hard time taking the maudlin poetry seriously.

Class: verb | Syllables: in-JEN-der

Definition: Engender is a formal word that means “to produce; to cause to exist or to develop.” It is used especially when feelings and ideas are generated.

Example(s):
// The annual company picnic featured activities, such as a scavenger hunt, meant to engender a sense of teamwork and camaraderie among employees.

Class: noun | Syllables: flor-ESS-unss

Definition: Florescence refers to a state or period of being in bloom or of flourishing.

Example(s):
// She remarked in her lecture on the florescence of Renaissance art and technology.

Class: adjective | Syllables: KOR-jul

Definition: Cordial means “politely pleasant and friendly.” It also means “showing or marked by warm and often hearty friendliness, favor, or approval” and “sincerely or deeply felt.”

Example(s):
// Despite past conflicts, the two nations now maintain cordial relations.

Class: noun | Syllables: AF-ter-math

Definition: Aftermath refers to the period of time shortly following a destructive event, or to a negative consequence or result.

Example(s):
// It was almost noon before I felt ready to clean up the mess that remained in the aftermath of the previous night’s festivities.

Class: adjective | Syllables: LAY-dun

Definition: Laden describes things that are heavily loaded with something, literally or figuratively.

Example(s):
// Airline passengers laden with luggage inched slowly through the gate.
// His voice was heavily laden with sarcasm.

Class: adjective | Syllables: UNK-chuh-wus

Definition: Unctuous is a formal word used to describe someone who speaks and behaves in a way that is meant to seem friendly and polite but that is unpleasant because it is obviously not sincere. It can also mean “fatty,” “oily,” and “smooth and greasy in texture or appearance.”

Example(s):
// Politicians are often at their most unctuous during election years, full of empty promises made solely to win over certain voters.
// Braising chicken thighs with their skins on creates a rich, unctuous sauce that can be spooned back over the finished dish.

Class: noun | Syllables: DEEP-fayk

Definition: Deepfake refers to an image or recording that has been convincingly altered and manipulated to misrepresent someone as doing or saying something that was not actually done or said.

Example(s):
// The leaked video incriminating the school's dean was discovered to be a deepfake.

Class: verb | Syllables: SAY-shee-ayt

Definition: Satiate is a formal word that means “to satisfy (something, such as a need or desire) fully.”

Example(s):
// My curiosity about Nicole’s Spring Fling costume, which she promised would be “corny,” was finally satiated when she arrived at the party dressed as an incredibly lifelike cob of corn, complete with tassels.

Class: noun | Syllables: FULL-krum

Definition: In technical use, fulcrum refers to the support on which a lever moves when it is used to lift something. In figurative use, fulcrum refers to a person or thing that makes it possible for something to function or develop, or in other words, one who plays an essential role in something.

Example(s):
// Although the lead actor was phenomenal, critics believe that the supporting cast was the real fulcrum of the show.

Class: adjective | Syllables: ih-PAH-nuh-mus

Definition: Eponymous is used to describe something named for a person or group (as in “Merriam-Webster, an eponymous publishing company named for George and Charles Merriam and Noah Webster”), or a person or group whose name is used for something (as in “the company's eponymous founders”).

Example(s):
// The band's eponymous debut album received critical acclaim.

Class: noun | Syllables: SHIV-ul-ree

Definition: Chivalry refers to the qualities of the ideal knight, such as honor, generosity, and courtesy—in other words, an honorable and polite way of behaving toward others. It is used especially to refer to such behavior as expressed by men toward women.

Example(s):
// Some believe that holding doors open for others is an act of chivalry, but doing so only for women is considered patronizing by many.

Class: verb | Syllables: im-per-TOON

Definition: To importune someone is to annoy or pester them with repeated questions or requests.

Example(s):
// Several students importuned the professor to extend the deadline of the lengthy essay assignment until she finally relented.

Class: adjective | Syllables: PLAW-zuh-bul

Definition: Plausible means "seemingly fair, reasonable, or valuable but often not so" or "appearing worthy of belief."

Example(s):
// One problem with the horror movie is that the plot is barely plausible—there was no good reason for the kids to enter the abandoned mansion to begin with.

Class: noun | Syllables: BEL-tayn

Definition: Beltane refers to the Celtic May Day festival.

Example(s):
// She looks forward to the festivities and traditions her town has kept alive to celebrate Beltane each year.

Class: noun | Syllables: SYE-nih-kyoor

Definition: Sinecure is a noun that refers to a usually paid job or position that requires little or no work.

Example(s):
// The king was in the habit of rewarding his loyal supporters with sinecures.