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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.


whangdoodle

[wang-dood-l]

noun

a fanciful creature of undefined nature

Explanation

A whangdoodle is a creature whose appearance is left entirely to the imagination. Unlike a dragon or unicorn, there's no standard shape or defining features baked into the word. Your whangdoodle might have feathers or flippers or 300 toes, and nobody could tell you otherwise.

Example

Old sailors often tell stories about a mysterious whangdoodle lurking in the bay.

eurhythmic

[yoo-rith-mik]

adjective

characterized by a pleasing rhythm

Explanation

Eurhythmic describes something that moves harmoniously to a pleasing rhythm. A dancer's steps may feel eurhythmic when every motion flows naturally into the next. The word can also apply beyond music and dance, wherever balance and rhythm create a satisfying sense of order.

Example

The dancers performed a eurhythmic routine in sync with the steady beat of the drums.

fabricate

[fab-ri-keyt]

verb

to fake or make up

Explanation

To fabricate is to make up something, probably with the intent of passing it off as true. Unlike an exaggeration, which stretches the truth, a fabricated detail likely never existed in the first place. If you're going to fabricate an excuse, remember that made-up details can be hard to keep straight.

Example

The accomplice decided to fabricate an elaborate story to confuse the detective.

verecund

[ver-i-kuhnd]

adjective

bashful or modest

Explanation

Verecund is a rare but poetic way to describe someone who's bashful or modest. It's one of many fancy synonyms for that trait, including "diffident" and "reticent." There's nothing dull about a verecund person — they're just unlikely to make themselves the center of attention.

Example

The verecund student looked down at the floor when the teacher praised her perfect test score.

whirligig

[wur-li-gig]

noun

a toy for whirling or spinning

Explanation

A whirligig is a toy that spins or whirls. It could be set in motion by wind, a string, or just a quick twist of the hand. Pinwheels and spinning tops are familiar examples, but the word can cover all sorts of playful contraptions. You could even make your own whirligig if you're feeling creative!

Example

The toddler laughed as the colorful whirligig spun around and around.