Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 14, 2026 is: vacuous \VAK-yuh-wus\ adjective Vacuous is a formal word indicating a lack of thought, intelligence, or substance. // Despite a lengthy advertising campaign pitching the film as a masterwork, critics ultimately assailed it as dull and filled with self-important characters spouting vacuous platitudes. [See the entry &...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 13, 2026 is: salvo \SAL-voh\ noun In military contexts, salvo refers to various actions involving discharge or release of bombs, rockets, artillery, etc., as well to the bombs or projectiles released in such an action. In general use, salvo is usually used to refer to a strong or sudden verbal attack, but it can also refer to a sudde...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 12, 2026 is: gnomic \NOH-mik\ adjective Gnomic is a formal word that describes something cryptically said or written in few words. // The painter is notorious for offering terse, gnomic responses to questions about her work that leave interviewers and critics scratching their heads. [See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webste...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 11, 2026 is: baptism of fire \BAP-tiz-um-uv-FYRE\ noun A baptism of fire (or baptism by fire, as it is sometimes referred to in the U.S.) is an introductory or initial experience that is a severe ordeal. In military contexts, baptism of fire specifically refers to a soldier's first exposure to enemy fire. // The newly recruited play...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 10, 2026 is: pedagogical \ped-uh-GAH-jih-kul\ adjective Pedagogical is a formal word used to describe things that are of or related to teachers or education. // The new professor is known for particularly engaging pedagogical methods. [See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedagogical) Examples: “It’...