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Showing posts from January, 2022

M-W Word Juggernaut The Big Ten team was horribly outplayed by this offensive juggernaut.

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Juggernaut noun jug·​ger·​naut | \ ˈjə-gər-ˌnȯt In a matchup that required Harbaugh’s team to play flawlessly against an SEC  juggernaut , the Wolverines were effectively castrated in a drubbing that was all but over by the second quarter. — Michael Cohen,  Detroit Free Press , 1 Jan. 2022 Definition of juggernaut 1 : a massive inexorable force, campaign, movement, or object that crushes whatever is in its path He created an advertising juggernaut Franklin D. Roosevelt created a political juggernaut that allowed him to win four terms. Synonyms for juggernaut Synonyms bandwagon , blitz , campaign , cause , crusade , drive , movement , push Examples of juggernaut in a Sentence there was no escaping the juggernaut of hype for the studio's biggest summer blockbuster Recent Examples on the Web In a matchup that required Harbaugh’s team to play flawlessly against an SEC juggernaut , the Wolverines were effectively castrated in a drubbing that was all but over...

M-W Word Non sequitur: One of Yogi Berra's non sequiturs is this

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Non sequitur   noun One of Yogi Berra’s non sequitur’s is this: “ I usually take a two-hour nap from 1 to 4." non se· qui· tur | \ ˌnän-ˈse-kwə-tər also -ˌtu̇r \ Definition of non sequitur 1 : an inference that does not follow from the premises  specifically : a fallacy resulting from a simple conversion of a universal affirmative  2 : a statement (such as a response) that does not follow logically from or is not clearly related to anything previously said Examples of non sequitur in a Sentence We were talking about the new restaurant when she threw in some non sequitur about her dog. Hugh Conrad Example: One of Yogi Berra’s non sequitur’s is this: “ I usually take a two-hour nap from 1 to 4." Recent Examples on the Web The resultant traces of smoke seem non sequitur as the distillery eschews the use of peat. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report , 8 Oct. 2021 When the slides on the pitch deck start to go by too fast, ask a non sequitur . — Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune ...

M-W Word Debilitating: "Polio was once a debilitating disease"

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Debilitating   adjective President Franklin D. Roosebelt was crippled by polio yet became president of the U.S de·​bil·​i·​tat·​ing | \ di-ˈbi-lə-ˌtā-tiŋ Photo of FDR Definition of debilitating : causing serious impairment of strength or ability to function a debilitating pain a debilitating fear of public speaking a debilitating illness Thirty years have passed since a vaccine wiped out polio, but some of those who conquered the debilitating disease as children are now experiencing symptoms that seem all too familiar. — Fay Knicely Several of these drugs are now in clinical testing to determine whether they can reduce or eliminate the debilitating nausea suffered by cancer patients on chemotherapy. — Ron Cowen Other Words from debilitating debilitatingly adverb Debilitatingly asthmatic as a child, Scarfe developed his talent while amusing himself and acquired the cynicism for authority that empowers his … drawings and sculpture during many frightening encounters with medica...

Edgar Allan Poe's different poetry: "Sonnet--To Science"

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  Sonnet — To Science BY EDGAR ALLAN POE Science! true daughter of Old Time thou art!     Who alterest all things with thy peering eyes.  Why preyest thou thus upon the poet’s heart,     Vulture, whose wings are dull realities?  How should he love thee? or how deem thee wise,     Who wouldst not leave him in his wandering  To seek for treasure in the jewelled skies,     Albeit he soared with an undaunted wing?  Hast thou not dragged Diana from her car,     And driven the Hamadryad from the wood  To seek a shelter in some happier star?     Hast thou not torn the Naiad from her flood,  The Elfin from the green grass, and from me  The summer dream beneath the tamarind tree? 

M-W Word Winsome: Betty White was popular because of her winsome personality

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Winsome Win·​some | \ ˈwin(t)-səm Definition of winsome 1 : generally pleasing and engaging often because of a childlike charm and innocence a winsome smile 2 : CHEERFUL , LIGHTHEARTED Synonyms blithe , blithesome , bright , buoyant , canty [ British dialect ], cheerful , cheery , chipper , eupeptic , gay , gladsome , lightsome , sunny , upbeat Antonyms dour , gloomy , glum , morose , saturnine , sulky , sullen Examples of winsome in a Sentence He had a winsome , boyish smile. She was a bright, winsome gamine who could draw a smile out of anyone Recent Examples on the Web Shirley MacLaine is the winsome elevator operator that one of those executives is toying with. — Alison Willmore, Vulture , 6 Dec. 2021

M-W Affect vs. Effect: The effect of the snow affected the moods of everyone

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  'Affect' vs. 'Effect' How to pick the right one The Tribune-Democrat, February 2010 January 2022 Example The effect of the foot of snow in Cambria County  affected everyone's moods. What to Know Affect is usually a verb meaning "to produce an effect upon," as in "the weather affected his mood." Effect is usually a noun meaning "a change that results when something is done or happens," as in "computers have had a huge effect on our lives." There are exceptions, but if you think of affect as a verb and effect as a noun, you’ll be right a majority of the time. Affect and effect are two of the most commonly confused words in English, but don’t worry—we’ll help you keep them straight. The basic difference is this: affect is usually a verb, and effect is usually a noun. ‘Affect’ as a Verb Affect , when used as a verb, means "to act on or change someone or something." the drought affected plant g...

M-W Word Sanguine: T.J. Watt is sanguine about the Steelers' chances against the Chiefs

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Sanguine san·​guine | \ ˈsaŋ-gwən Essential Meaning of sanguine formal : confident and hopeful Examples She has a sanguine disposition/temperament. He is sanguine about the company's future. Full Definition of sanguine  (Entry 1 of 2) 1 : marked by eager hopefulness : confidently optimistic Example A lot of attention also is being devoted to the development of vaccines to prevent genital herpes, although not everyone is sanguine about the outcome. — The Journal of the American Medical Association Second definition 2 : BLOODRED … the radiant heat from the cedar logs, whose sanguine colour made the silvered locks of his hair into a fantastic wreath of flames. — Elinor Wylie 4 : having blood as the predominating bodily humor An abundance of red blood was marked by a warm and sanguine temperament; whereas, an excess of yellow bile produced the choleric temperament … — Samuel Lytler Metcalfe also : having the bodily conformation and temperament held characte...

M-W Word of the Day: Euphemism -- "Saying that a politician 'spins' is a euphemism."

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Euphemism noun eu·​phe·​mism | \ ˈyü-fə-ˌmi-zəm Saying that a politician 'spins' instead of 'lies' is a euphemism. Essential Meaning of euphemism : a mild or pleasant word or phrase that is used instead of one that is unpleasant or offensive using "eliminate" as a euphemism for "kill" Full Definition of euphemism : the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant Other Words from euphemism euphemist \ ˈyü- fə- mist \ noun euphemistic \ ˌyü- fə- ˈmi- stik \ adjective euphemistically \ ˌyü- fə- ˈmi- sti- k(ə- )lē \ adverb Did you know? Euphemism comes from Greek eúphēmos , which means "uttering sounds of good omen," "fair-sounding," or " auspicious ." The first part of that root is the prefix eu- , meaning "good."  The second part is phēmos , a Greek word for "speech." How and Why We Use Euphemisms Euphemisms can take differ...

M-W Word of the Day: Meritorious -- The soldier received his medal for meritorious service.

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Meritorious   adjective mer·​i·​to·​ri·​ous | \ ˌmer-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-əs Definition of meritorious : deserving of honor or esteem honored for her meritorious service to the company Synonyms admirable ,  applaudable ,  commendable ,  creditable ,  estimable ,  laudable ,  praiseworthy Antonyms censurable ,  discreditable ,  illaudable ,  reprehensible Examples of  meritorious  in a Sentence She was given an award for  meritorious   service after she  worked all night with  meritorious  determination to get the project done on time Because of the current funding lag, the NCI can only fund about one in eight  meritorious  research applications, according to data from the nonprofit ACT for NIH. —  Scientific American , 28 Dec. 2021

MW Word of the Day: Stir-Crazy -- Charles Manson was crazy without the "stir"

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  stir-crazy adjective stir-cra·​zy | \ ˈstər-ˈkrā-zē Definition of stir-crazy slang : distraught because of prolonged confinement English learner's definition of STIR–CRAZY : unhappy and upset because you have been in a place for a long time and want to get out Example I was going stir-crazy after being stuck in the house all week. Hugh Conrad sentence Charles Manson was stir crazy after being confined in prison for more than 46 years, but he was crazy without the stir. 

M-W Word of the Day Finesse: FDR had to handle Churchill with finesse during WWII

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Finesse noun fi·​nesse | \ fə-ˈnes Essential Meaning of finesse : skill and cleverness that is shown in the way someone deals with a situation, problem, etc. Sentence example She handled the interview questions with finesse . Full Definition of finesse  (Entry 1 of 2) 1 : refinement or delicacy of workmanship, structure, or texture trinkets of an extreme finesse — Arnold Rosin 2 : skillful handling of a situation : adroit maneuvering Example She handled the interviewer's questions with finesse . Synonyms for finesse adroitness , cleverness , dexterity , sleight