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 Yearto 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.
a Japanese good luck statuette of a cat
You may have seen a maneki-neko perched near the entrance of a restaurant or shop, with one little paw raised. This statuette of a cat is traditionally displayed to attract good fortune, and its name comes from Japanese words meaning "beckoning cat." The next time you spot a maneki-neko, consider it a friendly invitation to good luck!
She placed a ceramic maneki-neko near the register to beckon good fortune into her store.
