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.
a bitter, sharply abusive denunciation, attack, or criticism
A diatribe is a forceful and bitter verbal attack. From Greek roots meaning "to spend time," it originally referred to prolonged discourse. Ready to channel your inner orator and let those diatribes fly? We're already feeling sorry for the listeners.
to look about or stare with great curiosity
When you rubberneck, you stare with curiosity, often at something out of the ordinary. This fun term conjures images of heads turning on stretchy, rubbery necks that go the distance to catch a glimpse of something or hear other people's conversations.
a Spanish opera having spoken dialogue and often a satirically treated, topical theme
A zarzuela is a Spanish theatrical genre blending music, dance, spoken word, and often a good dose of humor. Ready to chuckle through the zarzuela’s delightful antics?
drowsy; sluggish; apathetic
When you're lethargic, you feel sluggish and unenergized. We get the word from Greek mythology, where Lethe was the river of forgetfulness. Can you make that connection with a state that is sleepy, slow, and lazy? Yawn...
to confuse or fluster
To "bumfuzzle" means "to confuse or fluster." This charmingly perplexing word has an unknown origin, but its quirky sound makes it unforgettable. Let's embrace the confusion and enjoy the bumfuzzling fun!
