Word of the Day

Today's word changes at midnight in your own time zone. If you want more, press the button for another word as many times as you like.

A good way to make a new word stick is to use it once the same day, in a sentence or a message. Words you use are much easier to recall than words you only read.

Below is the complete list of words, in alphabetical order, with meanings and example sentences.

Every word of the day

127 words with meanings and examples.

abundant (adj.)

existing in large quantities. “Fresh fruit is abundant in summer.”

adept (adj.)

very skilled at something. “He is adept at fixing old radios.”

aloof (adj.)

distant and not friendly or involved. “The cat stayed aloof from the visiting guests.”

ambiguous (adj.)

open to more than one interpretation. “The ambiguous ending left viewers arguing for days.”

amiable (adj.)

friendly and pleasant. “Her amiable manner put everyone at ease.”

arduous (adj.)

requiring great effort and difficult. “The climb to the summit was arduous.”

astute (adj.)

good at noticing things and judging situations. “An astute investor, he spotted the trend early.”

audacious (adj.)

showing a willingness to take bold risks. “The audacious plan surprised everyone.”

austere (adj.)

plain and severe, without comfort or decoration. “The monastery's austere rooms held only a bed and a desk.”

benevolent (adj.)

kind and well meaning. “A benevolent neighbour left soup on the doorstep.”

bolster (verb)

to support or strengthen. “New evidence bolstered her argument.”

brevity (noun)

shortness of time or of expression. “The brevity of his reply made it sound cold.”

cacophony (noun)

a harsh mixture of loud sounds. “A cacophony of horns filled the street.”

candid (adj.)

truthful and straightforward, even when it is uncomfortable. “I appreciated her candid feedback on my draft.”

capricious (adj.)

given to sudden, unpredictable changes of mood or behaviour. “The weather in the mountains is capricious.”

cogent (adj.)

clear, logical and convincing. “She made a cogent case for changing the schedule.”

conundrum (noun)

a confusing problem or question. “Choosing between two good job offers was a real conundrum.”

convivial (adj.)

friendly, lively and enjoyable. “The dinner had a convivial atmosphere.”

copious (adj.)

abundant in supply or quantity. “He took copious notes during the lecture.”

cryptic (adj.)

having a hidden or puzzling meaning. “She left a cryptic note on the door.”

daunting (adj.)

seeming difficult to deal with in a way that makes you feel afraid. “Learning three languages at once was a daunting task.”

debacle (noun)

a sudden and complete failure. “The product launch turned into a debacle.”

demure (adj.)

reserved, modest and shy. “She gave a demure smile and said nothing.”

diligent (adj.)

careful and hardworking. “The diligent student reviewed her notes every evening.”

dormant (adj.)

temporarily inactive, as if asleep. “The volcano has been dormant for centuries.”

eccentric (adj.)

unconventional and slightly strange. “Their eccentric uncle collected antique clocks.”

eloquent (adj.)

fluent and persuasive in speaking or writing. “She gave an eloquent speech that moved the whole room.”

elusive (adj.)

difficult to find, catch or achieve. “The elusive snow leopard is rarely photographed.”

empathy (noun)

the ability to understand and share another person's feelings. “A good nurse listens with empathy.”

emulate (verb)

to try to match or imitate someone you admire. “Young musicians often emulate their heroes.”

enigma (noun)

a person or thing that is mysterious and hard to understand. “The painter remained an enigma even to close friends.”

ephemeral (adj.)

lasting for a very short time. “The ephemeral beauty of cherry blossoms draws crowds each spring.”

ethereal (adj.)

extremely delicate and light, almost not of this world. “The singer's voice had an ethereal quality.”

exuberant (adj.)

full of lively energy and excitement. “The crowd gave an exuberant cheer.”

facade (noun)

the front of a building, or a false outward appearance. “Behind his calm facade, he was nervous.”

fastidious (adj.)

very attentive to accuracy and detail, hard to please. “She is fastidious about keeping her desk tidy.”

fervent (adj.)

having or showing intense and sincere feeling. “He was a fervent supporter of the local team.”

fickle (adj.)

changing often, especially in loyalty or affection. “Fashion is a fickle thing.”

flourish (verb)

to grow or develop in a healthy, successful way. “Herbs flourish on a sunny windowsill.”

formidable (adj.)

inspiring fear or respect through being powerful or capable. “They faced a formidable opponent in the final.”

frugal (adj.)

careful about spending money or using resources. “Their frugal habits let them retire early.”

futile (adj.)

pointless because it cannot succeed. “It was futile to argue with the weather forecast.”

garrulous (adj.)

excessively talkative. “The garrulous taxi driver told us his life story.”

genial (adj.)

friendly and cheerful. “Our genial landlord often brought us fresh bread.”

gregarious (adj.)

fond of company and sociable. “A gregarious host, he knew everyone at the party.”

hapless (adj.)

unlucky. “The hapless waiter dropped the entire tray.”

harbinger (noun)

a person or thing that signals what is to come. “The first robin is a harbinger of spring.”

hinder (verb)

to make it harder for something to happen or progress. “Heavy rain hindered the rescue effort.”

humble (adj.)

not proud or arrogant; modest. “Despite his fame, he remained humble.”

idyllic (adj.)

extremely peaceful and picturesque. “They spent an idyllic week by the lake.”

impeccable (adj.)

without fault or flaw. “Her manners were impeccable.”

impetus (noun)

the force that makes something happen or happen more quickly. “The award gave fresh impetus to her career.”

incessant (adj.)

continuing without pause. “The incessant rain kept us indoors.”

indolent (adj.)

wanting to avoid activity or effort; lazy. “He spent an indolent afternoon in the hammock.”

inevitable (adj.)

certain to happen; unavoidable. “Change is inevitable.”

ingenious (adj.)

clever, original and inventive. “She found an ingenious way to fix the leak.”

inquisitive (adj.)

eager to learn or know things. “The inquisitive child asked a question about everything.”

insatiable (adj.)

impossible to satisfy. “He had an insatiable appetite for books.”

intrepid (adj.)

fearless and adventurous. “The intrepid explorers crossed the desert alone.”

introspective (adj.)

inclined to examine your own thoughts and feelings. “The long walk made him introspective.”

irony (noun)

a situation where the outcome is the opposite of what was expected. “The fire station burned down, which was the cruellest irony.”

jovial (adj.)

cheerful and friendly. “The jovial shopkeeper greeted every customer by name.”

juxtapose (verb)

to place close together to contrast or compare. “The exhibit juxtaposes old photographs with new ones.”

keen (adj.)

eager, sharp or enthusiastic. “She has a keen interest in astronomy.”

labyrinth (noun)

a complicated network of paths in which it is easy to get lost. “We got lost in the labyrinth of narrow streets.”

laconic (adj.)

using very few words. “His laconic reply was simply 'Fine.'”

languid (adj.)

slow, relaxed and without energy. “They spent a languid afternoon by the pool.”

lethargic (adj.)

sluggish, tired and lacking energy. “The heat left everyone feeling lethargic.”

loquacious (adj.)

tending to talk a great deal. “The loquacious guide never stopped chatting.”

lucid (adj.)

clear and easy to understand. “He gave a lucid explanation of how the engine works.”

magnanimous (adj.)

generous and forgiving, especially toward a rival. “The winner was magnanimous in victory.”

malleable (adj.)

easily shaped or influenced. “Gold is a very malleable metal.”

melancholy (noun)

a feeling of pensive sadness. “A gentle melancholy settled over the autumn evening.”

mercurial (adj.)

subject to sudden and unpredictable changes of mood. “The director's mercurial temper kept the cast on edge.”

meticulous (adj.)

showing great attention to detail. “He kept meticulous records of every purchase.”

mundane (adj.)

ordinary and lacking excitement. “She turned a mundane commute into a time for reading.”

nebulous (adj.)

unclear, vague or ill-defined. “The plan was still nebulous.”

nimble (adj.)

quick and light in movement or thought. “The nimble goat crossed the rocks with ease.”

nonchalant (adj.)

calm and relaxed, as if not caring. “He gave a nonchalant shrug.”

nostalgia (noun)

a wistful longing for the past. “The old song filled him with nostalgia.”

obscure (adj.)

not well known or hard to understand. “She quoted an obscure poet.”

ominous (adj.)

suggesting that something bad is about to happen. “Ominous clouds gathered on the horizon.”

opulent (adj.)

rich and luxurious in appearance. “The hotel lobby was opulent.”

ostentatious (adj.)

designed to impress or attract attention, showy. “He drove an ostentatious gold car.”

panacea (noun)

a solution or remedy for all difficulties. “There is no panacea for traffic congestion.”

paradox (noun)

a statement or situation that seems contradictory but may be true. “It is a paradox that crowded cities can feel lonely.”

pensive (adj.)

engaged in deep or serious thought. “She looked pensive as she stared out the window.”

perennial (adj.)

lasting or recurring again and again over time. “Lavender is a perennial that returns every summer.”

pernicious (adj.)

having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual way. “The pernicious rumour slowly damaged his reputation.”

placid (adj.)

calm and not easily upset or disturbed. “The lake was placid at dawn.”

plethora (noun)

a large or excessive amount. “The menu offered a plethora of choices.”

poignant (adj.)

evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret. “The film's final scene was poignant.”

pragmatic (adj.)

dealing with things sensibly and realistically. “A pragmatic approach to the budget saved the project.”

prodigy (noun)

a young person with exceptional talent. “The piano prodigy played in public at age seven.”

profound (adj.)

very great or intense; showing deep insight. “The book had a profound effect on her.”

prudent (adj.)

acting with care and thought for the future. “It is prudent to back up your files.”

quaint (adj.)

attractively old-fashioned or unusual. “They stayed in a quaint cottage by the sea.”

quandary (noun)

a state of uncertainty about what to do. “She was in a quandary over which offer to accept.”

quixotic (adj.)

extremely idealistic, unrealistic and impractical. “Their quixotic plan was to sail round the world in a rowing boat.”

reclusive (adj.)

avoiding the company of other people. “The reclusive author rarely gave interviews.”

resilient (adj.)

able to recover quickly from difficulties. “The resilient town rebuilt within a year of the flood.”

reverence (noun)

deep respect and admiration. “They spoke of their teacher with reverence.”

rhetoric (noun)

the art of effective or persuasive speaking and writing. “The candidate's rhetoric inspired the crowd.”

sanguine (adj.)

optimistic, especially in a difficult situation. “She remained sanguine about the outcome.”

scrupulous (adj.)

diligent, thorough and very attentive to doing what is right. “He is scrupulous about giving credit.”

serendipity (noun)

the happy accident of finding something good without looking for it. “Meeting her old friend in a foreign city was pure serendipity.”

solitude (noun)

the state of being alone, often by choice. “She enjoyed the solitude of the mountain cabin.”

spontaneous (adj.)

happening without planning, from a natural impulse. “The crowd broke into spontaneous applause.”

stoic (adj.)

enduring pain or hardship without showing feelings or complaining. “He was stoic about the long delay.”

succinct (adj.)

briefly and clearly expressed. “Please keep your summary succinct.”

surreptitious (adj.)

done secretly or quietly to avoid notice. “She took a surreptitious glance at her phone.”

taciturn (adj.)

reserved and saying little. “The taciturn farmer nodded and said nothing.”

tangible (adj.)

clear enough to be touched or measured; real. “The team made tangible progress this week.”

tenacious (adj.)

holding firmly to a purpose or position; persistent. “A tenacious reporter, she followed the story for years.”

tranquil (adj.)

free from disturbance; calm. “They enjoyed the tranquil village.”

ubiquitous (adj.)

seeming to be present everywhere at once. “Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern life.”

vacillate (verb)

to waver between different opinions or actions. “She vacillated between two flights until the last minute.”

venerate (verb)

to regard with great respect. “Many cultures venerate their ancestors.”

verbose (adj.)

using more words than needed. “The report was too verbose to read quickly.”

vigilant (adj.)

keeping careful watch for possible danger. “Stay vigilant when walking alone at night.”

vivid (adj.)

producing strong, clear images in the mind. “He had a vivid memory of his first day at school.”

volatile (adj.)

liable to change rapidly and unpredictably. “Oil prices can be volatile.”

whimsical (adj.)

playful and fanciful. “The garden was full of whimsical sculptures.”

wistful (adj.)

having a feeling of vague, melancholy longing. “She gave a wistful smile at the old photo.”

wry (adj.)

using dry, mocking humour. “He made a wry comment about the weather.”

zeal (noun)

great energy or enthusiasm for a cause. “She tackled the project with zeal.”

zenith (noun)

the highest point reached, or the point in the sky directly overhead. “Her career reached its zenith in 2010.”

Frequently asked questions

When does the word change?

At midnight, in your own time zone.

Can I see more than one word a day?

Yes. Press the another word button as often as you like.

Where do the words come from?

They are a hand-picked list of useful English words, each with a plain-language meaning.