Shows
Word MattersThe Brothers Merriam: An IntroductionLast week we told you about our irascible forefather Noah Webster. But where does the "Merriam" factor in? Here's the story of George and Charles Merriam, the brothers who took Webster's work and brought it to the world stage.Hosted by Emily Brewster, Ammon Shea, and Peter Sokolowski.Produced in collaboration with New England Public Media.Transcript available here.Today's sponsor is BetterHelp. Listeners get 10% off their first month by visiting betterhelp.com/mattersSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice a...2021-08-1818 min
Merriam-Webster's Word of the DayalacrityMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 30, 2021 is:alacrity \uh-LAK-ruh-tee\ noun2021-03-3001 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaydiffidentMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 29, 2021 is:diffident \DIF-uh-dunt\ adjective2021-03-2901 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayexodusMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 28, 2021 is:exodus \EK-suh-dus\ noun2021-03-2801 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayreminisceMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 27, 2021 is:reminisce \rem-uh-NISS\ verb2021-03-2701 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaysesquipedalianMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 26, 2021 is:sesquipedalian \sess-kwuh-puh-DAIL-yun\ adjective2021-03-2601 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayhobbitMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 25, 2021 is:hobbit \HAH-bit\ noun2021-03-2501 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayquashMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 24, 2021 is:quash \KWAHSH\ verb2021-03-2401 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayjurisprudenceMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 23, 2021 is:jurisprudence \joor-us-PROO-dunss\ noun2021-03-2302 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayinimitableMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 22, 2021 is:inimitable \in-IM-it-uh-bul\ adjective2021-03-2201 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaycannibalizeMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 21, 2021 is:cannibalize \KAN-uh-buh-lyze\ verb2021-03-2102 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayequinoxMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 20, 2021 is:equinox \EE-kwuh-nahks\ noun2021-03-2002 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayprevaricateMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 19, 2021 is:prevaricate \prih-VAIR-uh-kayt\ verb2021-03-1901 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayfiscalMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 18, 2021 is:fiscal \FISS-kul\ adjective2021-03-1801 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayblarneyMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 17, 2021 is:blarney \BLAR-nee\ noun2021-03-1701 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayrepleteMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 16, 2021 is:replete \rih-PLEET\ adjective2021-03-1601 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaycircumlocutionMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 15, 2021 is:circumlocution \ser-kum-loh-KYOO-shun\ noun2021-03-1502 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayattitudinizeMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 14, 2021 is:attitudinize \at-uh-TOO-duh-nyze\ verb2021-03-1401 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayungainlyMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 13, 2021 is:ungainly \un-GAYN-lee\ adjective2021-03-1301 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaywilliwawMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 12, 2021 is:williwaw \WILL-ih-waw\ noun2021-03-1201 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaytutelaryMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 11, 2021 is:tutelary \TOO-tuh-lair-ee\ adjective2021-03-1101 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayfelicitateMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 10, 2021 is:felicitate \fih-LISS-uh-tayt\ verb2021-03-1002 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayluminaryMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 9, 2021 is:luminary \LOO-muh-nair-ee\ noun2021-03-0901 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaypivotMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 8, 2021 is:pivot \PIV-ut\ noun2021-03-0802 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaymeticulousMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 7, 2021 is:meticulous \muh-TIK-yuh-lus\ adjective2021-03-0701 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayimpunityMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 6, 2021 is:impunity \im-PYOO-nuh-tee\ noun2021-03-0602 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayabhorMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 5, 2021 is:abhor \ub-HOR\ verb2021-03-0501 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaysmorgasbordMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 4, 2021 is:smorgasbord \SMOR-gus-bord\ noun2021-03-0401 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaycontaminateMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 3, 2021 is:contaminate \kun-TAM-uh-nayt\ verb2021-03-0302 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayorganolepticMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 2, 2021 is:organoleptic \or-guh-noh-LEP-tik\ adjective2021-03-0201 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaygazetteMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 1, 2021 is:gazette \guh-ZET\ noun2021-03-0101 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaydeferenceMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 28, 2021 is:deference \DEF-uh-runss\ noun2021-02-2801 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayturbidMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 27, 2021 is:turbid \TER-bid\ adjective2021-02-2701 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaymegillahMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 26, 2021 is:megillah \megillah\ noun2021-02-2601 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayslipshodMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 25, 2021 is:slipshod \SLIP-SHAHD\ adjective2021-02-2501 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayfathomMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 24, 2021 is:fathom \FA-thum\ verb2021-02-2401 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the Dayhabeas corpusMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 23, 2021 is:habeas corpus \HAY-bee-us-KOR-pus\ noun2021-02-2302 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayretargetMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 22, 2021 is:retarget \ree-TAHR-gut\ verb2021-02-2202 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaycognoscenteMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 21, 2021 is:cognoscente \kahn-yuh-SHEN-tee\ noun2021-02-2101 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayperdureMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 20, 2021 is:perdure \per-DUR\ verb2021-02-2001 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayanodyneMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 19, 2021 is:anodyne \AN-uh-dyne\ adjective2021-02-1901 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaytoadyMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 18, 2021 is:toady \TOH-dee\ noun2021-02-1801 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayindissolubleMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 17, 2021 is:indissoluble /in-dih-SAHL-yuh-bul/ adjective2021-02-1702 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayunderwhelmMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 16, 2021 is:underwhelm \un-der-WELM\ verb2021-02-1601 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaydurableMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 15, 2021 is:durable \DUR-uh-bul\ adjective2021-02-1501 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayprothalamionMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 14, 2021 is:prothalamion \proh-thuh-LAY-mee-un\ noun2021-02-1401 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaylimnMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 13, 2021 is:limn \LIM\ verb2021-02-1301 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaynebulaMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 12, 2021 is:nebula \NEB-yuh-luh\ noun2021-02-1201 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayvoraciousMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 11, 2021 is:voracious \vaw-RAY-shus\ adjective2021-02-1101 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaycaveatMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 10, 2021 is:caveat \KAV-ee-aht\ noun2021-02-1002 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaybelieMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 9, 2021 is:belie \bih-LYE\ verb2021-02-0901 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayfebrileMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 8, 2021 is:febrile \FEB-ryle\ adjective 2021-02-0801 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayragamuffinMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 7, 2021 is:ragamuffin \RAG-uh-muf-in\ nounToday's podcast is sponsored by Audible. Visit audible.com/word or text "word" to 500-500 to start your free 30 day trial.2021-02-0701 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaysereMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 6, 2021 is:sere \SEER\ adjectiveToday's podcast is sponsored by Audible. Visit audible.com/word or text "word" to 500-500 to start your free 30 day trial.2021-02-0601 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayabsolveMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 5, 2021 is:absolve \ub-ZAHLV\ verbToday's podcast is sponsored by Audible. Visit audible.com/word or text "word" to 500-500 to start your free 30 day trial.2021-02-0501 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayprepossessingMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 4, 2021 is:prepossessing \pree-puh-ZESS-ing\ adjectiveToday's podcast is sponsored by Audible. Visit audible.com/word or text "word" to 500-500 to start your free 30 day trial.2021-02-0401 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayquislingMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 3, 2021 is:quisling \KWIZ-ling\ nounToday's podcast is sponsored by Audible. Visit audible.com/word or text "word" to 500-500 to start your free 30 day trial.2021-02-0301 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayesotericMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 2, 2021 is:esoteric \ess-uh-TAIR-ik\ adjectiveToday's podcast is sponsored by Audible. Visit audible.com/word or text "word" to 500-500 to start your free 30 day trial.2021-02-0202 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaygadaboutMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 1, 2021 is:gadabout \GAD-uh-bout\ nounToday's podcast is sponsored by Audible. Visit audible.com/word or text "word" to 500-500 to start your free 30 day trial.2021-02-0101 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaynostrumMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 31, 2021 is:nostrum \NAHSS-trum\ nounToday's podcast is sponsored by Audible. Visit audible.com/word or text "word" to 500-500 to start your free 30 day trial.2021-01-3101 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayretrocedeMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 30, 2021 is:retrocede \ret-roh-SEED\ verbToday's podcast is sponsored by Audible. Visit audible.com/word or text "word" to 500-500 to start your free 30 day trial.2021-01-3001 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaycategoricalMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 29, 2021 is:categorical \kat-uh-GOR-ih-kul\ adjectiveToday's podcast is sponsored by Audible. Visit audible.com/word or text "word" to 500-500 to start your free 30 day trial.2021-01-2902 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayjeopardyMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 28, 2021 is:jeopardy \JEP-er-dee\ nounToday's podcast is sponsored by Audible. Visit audible.com/word or text "word" to 500-500 to start your free 30 day trial.2021-01-2801 minWord Matters25. New Words in the DictionaryLanguage never rests, and neither do we. In January 2021, Merriam-Webster added 520 new words and definitions to the dictionary. In this special episode, editors Emily Brewster and Peter Sokolowski break down the new additions.Hosted by Emily Brewster, Neil Serven, Ammon Shea, and Peter Sokolowski.Produced in collaboration with New England Public Media.Transcript available here.Read more about this new batch of words here.Today's podcast is sponsored by Audible. Visit audible.com/wordmatters or text "word" to 500-500 to start your free 30 day trial.See Privacy Po...2021-01-2732 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayitinerantMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 27, 2021 is:itinerant \eye-TIN-uh-runt\ adjective2021-01-2701 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayobeisanceMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 26, 2021 is:obeisance \oh-BEE-sunss\ noun2021-01-2601 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayoptimizationMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 25, 2021 is:optimization \ahp-tuh-muh-ZAY-shun\ noun2021-01-2502 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayinsoucianceMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 24, 2021 is:insouciance \in-SOO-see-unss\ noun2021-01-2401 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the Dayad hominemMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 23, 2021 is:ad hominem \ad-HAH-muh-nem\ adjective2021-01-2302 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaysarcophagusMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 22, 2021 is:sarcophagus \sahr-KAH-fuh-gus\ noun2021-01-2201 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayexactMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 21, 2021 is:exact \ig-ZAKT\ verb2021-01-2101 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaygulosityMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 20, 2021 is:gulosity \goo-LAH-suh-tee\ noun2021-01-2001 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayconjectureMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 19, 2021 is:conjecture \kun-JEK-cher\ verb2021-01-1901 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaypreeminentMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 18, 2021 is:preeminent \pree-EM-uh-nunt\ adjective2021-01-1801 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaymodicumMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 17, 2021 is:modicum \MAH-dih-kum\ noun2021-01-1701 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayeffusiveMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 16, 2021 is:effusive \ih-FYOO-siv\ adjective2021-01-1601 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayvulcanizeMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 15, 2021 is:vulcanize \VUL-kuh-nyze\ verb2021-01-1501 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayservileMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 14, 2021 is:servile \SER-vul\ adjective2021-01-1401 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayrapportMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 13, 2021 is:rapport \ra-POR\ noun2021-01-1301 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaypedanticMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 12, 2021 is:pedantic \pih-DAN-tik\ adjective2021-01-1201 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaymimesisMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 11, 2021 is:mimesis \muh-MEE-sis\ noun2021-01-1101 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayhapticMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 10, 2021 is:haptic \HAP-tik\ adjective2021-01-1001 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaybaksheeshMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 9, 2021 is:baksheesh \BAK-sheesh\ noun2021-01-0901 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayamokMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 8, 2021 is:amok \uh-MUK\ adverb2021-01-0801 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaydeviousMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 7, 2021 is:devious \DEE-vee-us\ adjective2021-01-0701 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaypugilismMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 6, 2021 is:pugilism \PYOO-juh-liz-um\ noun2021-01-0601 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaycomelyMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 5, 2021 is:comely /KUM-lee/ adjective2021-01-0501 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaydissociateMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 4, 2021 is:dissociate /dih-SOH-shee-ayt/ verb2021-01-0402 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayapologiaMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 3, 2021 is:apologia /ap-uh-LOH-jee-uh/ noun2021-01-0301 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayfecklessMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 2, 2021 is:feckless /FECK-lus/ adjective2021-01-0201 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayrepriseMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 1, 2021 is:reprise /rih-PREEZ/ noun2021-01-0101 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaycontestationMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 31, 2020 is:contestation /kahn-tess-TAY-shun/ noun2020-12-3102 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayprerogativeMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 30, 2020 is:prerogative /prih-RAH-guh-tiv/ noun2020-12-3002 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayconstitutionMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 29, 2020 is:constitution \kahn-stuh-TOO-shun\ noun2020-12-2903 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DaysuffrageMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 28, 2020 is:suffrage \SUF-rij\ noun2020-12-2802 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayfranchiseMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 27, 2020 is:franchise \FRAN-chyze\ noun2020-12-2702 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayverdigrisMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 26, 2020 is:verdigris \VER-duh-greess\ noun2020-12-2602 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayIntroducing Word MattersPlease enjoy a special bonus episode, introducing the new podcast from Merriam-Webster, Word Matters!From the editors at Merriam-Webster, Word Matters is a show for readers, writers, and anyone who ever loved their English class. Hosted by Emily Brewster, Neil Serven, Ammon Shea, and Peter Sokolowski. Produced in collaboration with New England Public Media.Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.2020-08-1302 minWord MattersIntroducing Word MattersFrom the editors at Merriam-Webster, Word Matters is a show for readers, writers, and anyone who ever loved their English class. Hosted by Emily Brewster, Neil Serven, Ammon Shea, and Peter Sokolowski.Produced in collaboration with New England Public Media.Transcript available here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.2020-08-0402 minMerriam-Webster's Word of the DayjabberwockyMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 18, 2018 is:jabberwocky \JAB-er-wah-kee\ noun: meaningless speech or writingExamples:Amanda learned to ignore her critics, dismissing their attacks as the jabberwocky of minds with nothing more important to think of about."When LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh stepped into the crowded room, fashionably late, jabberwocky ceased and the only sound you heard was the whir and click of cameras." — Greg Cote, The Miami Herald, 28 Sept. 2010Did you know?...2018-06-1801 min