Word of the Day
Learn a new word every day! The Dictionary.com team of language experts carefully selects each Word of the Day to add some panache to your vocabulary.
excessive enthusiasm for gaining knowledge
Infomania describes an intense craving for knowledge, or just for staying constantly updated. It might start with a single search and spiral into hours of research. Curiosity is healthy, but infomania can blur the line between interest and obsession.
The professor's infomania caused him to stay up late reading articles instead of sleeping.
to wander or stray
To divagate is to drift away from the main path. Maybe you branch off onto a new hiking trail, lose your train of thought mid-sentence, or suddenly decide on a new career trajectory. If you think you need a new direction, there's always the option to divagate.
The speaker began to divagate from the main topic, confusing the audience.
having or showing great warmth or enthusiasm
When a person feels fervent about something, their passion comes through loud and clear. The word traces back to Latin roots meaning "to boil," and over time it came to describe emotions that feel like they're bubbling up from deep within. If you advocate for something with fervent energy, listeners feel the intensity.
The entire crowd erupted in fervent cheers when the lead singer appeared onstage.
inactive or motionless
Quiescent describes a state of temporary calm or inactivity, more like a pause than an end. Group chats, social movements, and even volcanoes can enter quiescent phases, marked by silence but not absence. After all, not everything that's still is stagnant.
The brown bear remained quiescent in its den throughout the long, cold winter.
a violent squall that blows in near-polar latitudes
A williwaw is a sudden, violent squall that whips down from coastal mountains toward the sea in near-polar regions like Alaska or Tierra del Fuego. These fierce gusts can arise without warning, often under clear skies, making them a hazard for ships and small aircraft. A williwaw can test the mettle of even experienced captains.
The sailors quickly prepared for the williwaw that tore across the cold waters.
