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.
full of complaints
Someone who's querulous tends to complain (a lot!) and can turn even small inconveniences into full-blown grievances. It's not a word you hear much these days; most people would simply call a querulous person "grouchy."
The querulous customer spent the afternoon grumbling about the long lines and high prices.
superficial knowledge
Sciolism is what happens when someone knows just enough to sound informed, but not enough to go deep. It's the intellectual equivalent of reading the plot synopsis and then jumping into a lively book discussion like you read the whole thing. If someone speaks with confidence but the knowledge behind it is thin, that's sciolism in action.
The critic's sciolism was revealed when he confused the basic facts of the historical event.
yielding or diffusing an odor
If it's odoriferous, it gives off a noticeable smell — and usually not a pleasant one. Maybe it's an overflowing garbage can or a crowded subway car. Whatever the case, you can't spell odoriferous without odor.
An odoriferous trace of bleach hung in the air after they cleaned the bathroom.
appropriate, fit, or suitable
When something is idoneous, it's especially well-suited to the task at hand. The word comes from a Latin term meaning "fit" or "suitable," and it can apply to everything from a qualified job candidate to an ideal solution. If it's idoneous, it feels exactly right.
The committee found her to be an idoneous candidate for the position of head librarian.
to mock or ridicule with satire
To lampoon is to mock or ridicule using satirical humor. Think of a late-night monologue where exaggeration and humor sharpen a critique. A simple parody can be mostly innocent, but lampooning usually stings a bit.
The columnist lampooned the mayor's never-ending excuses for the city's traffic problems.
