Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 13, 2020 is: flout • FLOUT  • verb 1 : to treat with contemptuous disregard : scorn 2 : to indulge in scornful behavior Examples: "Research shows that people who intentionally flout convention and stand out are perceived as…

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 12, 2020 is: antediluvian • an-tih-dih-LOO-vee-un  • adjective 1 : of or relating to the period before the flood described in the Bible 2 a : made, evolved, or developed a long time ago b : extremely primitive…

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 11, 2020 is: contraband • KAHN-truh-band  • noun 1 : illegal or prohibited traffic in goods : smuggling 2 : goods or merchandise whose importation, exportation, or possession is forbidden; also : smuggled goods 3 : a slave…

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 10, 2020 is: spontaneous • spahn-TAY-nee-us  • adjective 1 : proceeding from natural feeling or native tendency without external constraint 2 : arising from a momentary impulse 3 : controlled and directed internally : self-acting 4 : produced…

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 9, 2020 is: rescind • rih-SIND  • verb 1 : to take away : remove 2 a : take back, cancel b : to abrogate (a contract) and restore the parties to the positions they would have occupied…

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 8, 2020 is: paucity • PAW-suh-tee  • noun 1 : smallness of number : fewness 2 : smallness of quantity : dearth Examples: The manager overheard two customers complaining about the paucity of stylish designs in the store.…

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 7, 2020 is: lucrative • LOO-kruh-tiv  • adjective : producing wealth : profitable Examples: The author parlayed the success of her books into a lucrative second career as a public speaker.    "Over time, [Halloween] evolved into lucrative…

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 6, 2020 is: mangle • MANG-gul  • verb 1 : to injure with deep disfiguring wounds by cutting, tearing, or crushing 2 : to spoil, injure, or make incoherent especially through ineptitude Examples: "Named for the two geologic…

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 5, 2020 is: incandescent • in-kun-DESS-unt  • adjective 1 a : white, glowing, or luminous with intense heat b : strikingly bright, radiant, or clear c : marked by brilliance especially of expression d : characterized by glowing…

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 4, 2020 is: distend • dih-STEND  • verb 1 : extend 2 : to enlarge, expand, or stretch out (as from internal pressure) : swell Examples: "At the Aurora … the finest performers in Josh Costello’s cast ……