December Word of the Day

Aberration (noun)

• Definition: A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome.
• Sentence: The second-quarter earnings report was an aberration; the company’s profits have been consistently high for years.

Acumen (noun)

• Definition: The ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, typically in a particular domain.
• Sentence: Her business acumen allowed her to quickly rise through the ranks of the corporation.

Aloof (adjective)

• Definition: Not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant.
• Sentence: The new student was aloof, refusing to join any of the school clubs or social events.

Anomaly (noun)

• Definition: Something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected.
• Sentence: The low test score was an anomaly for the otherwise excellent student.

Arcane (adjective)

• Definition: Understood by few; mysterious or secret.
• Sentence: The group of philosophers debated the arcane concepts of metaphysics.

Austerity (noun)

• Definition: Sternness or severity of manner or attitude; extreme plainness and simplicity of style or appearance.
• Sentence: The monastery was known for its strict austerity and simple way of life.

Belligerent (adjective)

• Definition: Hostile and aggressive.
• Sentence: The belligerent drunk was kicked out of the bar after he started a fight.

Banal (adjective)

• Definition: So lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring.
• Sentence: The movie was filled with banal dialogue and a predictable plot.

Coalesce (verb)

• Definition: To come together and form one mass or whole.
• Sentence: The small political groups decided to coalesce to form a single, more powerful party.

Conundrum (noun)

• Definition: A confusing and difficult problem or question.
• Sentence: The ethical conundrum of artificial intelligence presents many challenges for modern society.

Diatribe (noun)

• Definition: A forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something.
• Sentence: The candidate delivered a fiery diatribe against his opponent’s policies.

Dilatory (adjective)

• Definition: Slow to act; intended to cause delay.
• Sentence: The senator used dilatory tactics to postpone the vote on the controversial bill.

Disparage (verb)

• Definition: To regard or represent as being of little worth.
• Sentence: It’s wrong to disparage someone’s efforts, especially when they are trying their best.

Ennui (noun)

• Definition: A feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement; boredom.
• Sentence: A feeling of deep ennui settled over the audience as the lecture dragged on.

Eschew (verb)

• Definition: To deliberately avoid using; abstain from.
• Sentence: The doctor advised his patients to eschew processed foods for better health.

Fastidious (adjective)

• Definition: Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
• Sentence: The fastidious editor meticulously checked every sentence for errors.

Fathom (verb)

• Definition: To understand a difficult problem or person after much thought.
• Sentence: I could not fathom the true meaning of the poem’s final lines.

Goad (verb)

• Definition: To provoke or annoy (someone) to stimulate some action or reaction.
• Sentence: He tried to goad his opponent into making a mistake.

Harangue (noun)

• Definition: A lengthy and aggressive speech.
• Sentence: The CEO’s harangue about the company’s poor performance left the employees feeling demoralized.

Iconoclast (noun)

• Definition: A person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions.
• Sentence: The celebrated author was an iconoclast who challenged the traditional structure of the novel.

Impervious (adjective)

• Definition: Not allowing fluid to pass through; unable to be affected by.
• Sentence: The new roof was impervious to leaks, even during the heaviest rainstorm.

Inane (adjective)

• Definition: Silly; stupid.
• Sentence: The comedian’s inane jokes failed to amuse the audience.

Indolence (noun)

• Definition: Avoidance of activity or exertion; laziness.
• Sentence: His final grade was affected by his indolence and refusal to complete his assignments on time.

Intransigent (adjective)

• Definition: Unwilling or refusing to change one’s views or agree about something.
• Sentence: The two parties remained intransigent on the issue, making a compromise impossible.

Jubilant (adjective)

• Definition: Feeling or expressing great happiness and triumph.
• Sentence: The jubilant crowd celebrated their team’s championship victory.

Luminous (adjective)

• Definition: Emitting or reflecting light; shining.
• Sentence: The full moon cast a luminous glow on the quiet forest.

Malinger (verb)

• Definition: To exaggerate or feign illness in order to escape duty or work.
• Sentence: The employee was caught trying to malinger to avoid working on the difficult project.

Myopic (adjective)

• Definition: Nearsighted; lacking imagination, foresight, or intellectual insight.
• Sentence: The politician’s myopic focus on short-term goals caused him to ignore the long-term consequences of his decisions.

Parsimonious (adjective)

• Definition: Unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy or frugal.
• Sentence: The parsimonious old man refused to turn on the heat, even in the middle of winter.

Recondite (adjective)

• Definition: (Of a subject or knowledge) little known; abstruse.
• Sentence: The scholar’s research focused on recondite aspects of medieval literature.

Vapid (adjective)

Sentence: The conversation was so vapid that I found myself struggling to stay engaged.

Definition: Offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging; dull.