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.
Check out the Word of the Yearwell-deserved; fitting
When a consequence is well-deserved, it might be described as condign. This adjective means "well-deserved or fitting," and it's especially associated with punishment that matches an offense. Condign comes from a Latin root meaning "worthy," reflecting the idea of something being appropriate or justified.
After years of deceit, the corrupt official finally received condign punishment for his actions.
to subject to two opposing forces at the same time
When you're caught between two competing demands, you can say you're being whipsawed. The word originally referred to a type of saw operated by two people pulling it back and forth, an apt image for feeling pulled in different directions. If you're being whipsawed, it may leave you unsure of which way to turn.
Conflicting orders from both managers continued to whipsaw the team throughout the frantic week.
red; crimson
A sunset can paint the sky, turning it a dramatic incarnadine shade. You might also find this color in the jewel-like seeds of a ripe pomegranate, the velvet folds of a theater curtain, or the bright plumage of a cardinal. Wherever you see an incarnadine hue, it's bound to be a showstopper.
The sky turned a rich incarnadine color as the sun dipped below the horizon.
to frequently use social media to share photos and information about one's child
Parents might sharent when their kids take their first steps or head off to their first day of school, posting photos on social media for friends and family to see. The word blends "share" and "parent" to capture a distinctly modern way of documenting family life. When parents want to celebrate big milestones or capture small everyday moments, they can sharent.
Proud parents often sharent, posting updates and photos of their growing toddler.
a brief increase, as in business activity or political popularity
Not every surge is big enough to qualify as a full-blown boom — and that's where boomlet comes in. A boomlet is a brief increase, particularly in business activity or political popularity. The word is a diminutive form of "boom," giving it a sense of a smaller or more temporary burst of enthusiasm. A boomlet shows that even a short-term boost can make an impression.
Local retailers enjoyed a brief boomlet in sales during the holiday weekend.
