Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 9, 2026 is:





wabi-sabi • \WAH-bee-SAH-bee\ • noun

Wabi-sabi refers to a philosophy of Japanese origin that emphasizes the aesthetic value in imperfect, impermanent, and simple things. This word can also refer to the qualities of imperfection, impermanence, and simplicity considered as beautiful.

// Over the years, the gardener learned to let go of his perfectionism and embrace wabi-sabi.

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Examples:

"Traditional Japanese homes often follow the philosophy of wabi-sabi, an appreciation for imperfection and asymmetry. If elements are flawed, worn out or unbalanced, rather than scrambling to fix them, the theory goes, it's better to not only accept but celebrate a place's peccadillos." — Robin Roberts, The Vancouver (British Columbia) Sun, 9 May 2026





Did you know?

Wabi-sabi followed a simple path to English: it was borrowed directly from Japanese in the early 1960s. The philosophy this word refers to, however, is much older. In the mid-16th century, Japanese tea master Sen Rikyū firmly established simple or unadorned beauty, known as wabi, and an aged appearance or rustic patina, known as sabi, as integral aesthetic elements of the ceramics used in tea ceremonies. A popular expression of wabi-sabi is seen in kintsugi, the traditional Japanese art of repairing broken pottery using a lacquer and metal powder (such as gold, silver, or platinum) to draw attention to, rather than hide, the repair. Kintsugi is another Japanese borrowing, from kin, meaning "gold" and tsugi, meaning "patch."

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 8, 2026 is:





cockamamie • \kah-kuh-MAY-mee\ • adjective

Cockamamie describes something that is ridiculous, silly, or incredible.

// Instead of being honest, he came up with a cockamamie excuse about why he didn’t turn in his assignment.

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Examples:

“As my wife and I plotted our annual family road trip, I made my pitch: A cemetery tour of the Midwest! It would be fun! … ‘It’s cemetery summer,’ I whispered and pumped my fist. A few days after my wife agreed to the plan, I found an even more willing audience for my cockamamie scheme.” — Will McGrath, The New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026





Did you know?

By the look and sound of it, cockamamie (also spelled cockamamy) could have something to do with a rooster and the outrageous sound it makes. But in fact, cockamamie is believed to be an altered form of the term decalcomania, which refers to the process, invented in the mid-19th century, of transferring pictures and designs from specially prepared paper to surfaces such as glass or porcelain. (The word referring to the picture or design itself, decal, is a shortening of decalcomania.) The word decalcomania comes from French, with décalcomanie combining the verb décalquer, meaning “to trace" or "to transfer by tracing,” and -manie, meaning “-mania.” Starting in the 1930s, painted strips of paper with images capable of being transferred to the skin were called decals or—in children’s slang—cockamamies. Those familiar with today’s temporary tattoos will understand quickly that these were regarded by many as silly novelties, lending the word cockamamie the necessary leeway for application to anything ridiculous.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 7, 2026 is:





abandon • \uh-BAN-dun\ • noun

Abandon refers to a feeling or attitude of wild or complete freedom.

// The two friends spent the work week looking forward to hitting the clubs together on Friday night and dancing with total abandon.

// After years of contemplating, he finally decided to make a career pivot and pursue his passion with reckless abandon.

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Examples:

“That experience didn’t just provide her the freedom to fail; it pushed her to take risks with abandon and follow her instincts. Even if that movie wasn’t well-received, it was an ambitious project that she had an obvious passion for.” — Coleman Spilde, Salon, 5 July 2026





Did you know?

Given the familiarity of the verb abandon, you may associate the noun with the act of leaving and never returning. But despite being a relative newcomer to English, the noun abandon, with its more pleasant connotations of freedom, is likely here to stay. It only entered the English language in the early 1800s, as a borrowing from French that goes back to an Old French word meaning “surrender.” (English had borrowed the verb abandon centuries before from the French speakers living in medieval England.) Louisa May Alcott recognized the word’s utility; she used it of Jo in Little Women, writing that “when the writing fit came on, she gave herself up to it with entire abandon, and led a blissful life, unconscious of want, care, or bad weather ...”

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 6, 2026 is:





quondam • \KWAHN-dum\ • adjective

Quondam is an adjective that means “former” or “sometime.”

// Many people were surprised to learn that the quondam professor has since become a dancer.

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Examples:

“… quondam soccer legend David Beckham and his wife Victoria, formerly known as Posh Spice of the Spice Girls …” — Alex Beam, The Boston Globe, 31 July 2026





Did you know?

Looking for an unusual and creative way to say “former”? Quondam (which came to English in the 16th century from Latin quondam, meaning “at one time” or “formerly”) certainly fits the bill. Or maybe you’d prefer whilom, ci-devant, or preterit. Or you could really go wild with umquhile, a word that is extremely rare even in its more natural Scots English setting. Quondam itself isn’t exactly ubiquitous, but it’s used more than any of the other words above. If you’re looking for something a bit more pedestrian, you might try erstwhile. Despite its wonderfully archaic flavor, erstwhile is a highly favored alternative.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 5, 2026 is:





effrontery • \ih-FRUN-tuh-ree\ • noun

Effrontery is a formal word that refers to bold shamelessness, or in other words an attitude or way of behaving that is both confident and shocking or rude.

// Holly could not believe the sheer effrontery of the student who asked that her grade be changed even though she had completed little of the coursework.

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Examples:

“Big Nose kicks up a loud fuss when a squirrel, chipmunk or bird has the effrontery to cross on the deck while he is lazily laying with his eyes peeking out the patio door glass.” — Barry Ellsworth, The Trenton (Ontario) Trentonian, 4 June 2026





Did you know?

A bald-faced liar (or barefaced liar, if you prefer) is one who has no shame about their dishonesty. Is it possible to be so shameless, so bald or bare of face as to be completely without a forehead? If this strikes you as an odd question (it is), consider the history of effrontery, a formal synonym of such informal words for shamelessness as nerve, cheek, and gall. The word traces back to the Medieval Latin adjective effrons, formed by combining the Latin prefix ex-, meaning “out” or “without,” with frons, the Latin word for “forehead.” Medieval Latin users didn’t use it to mean “without forehead,” however, but “shameless.” While the connection between the word’s literal origins and figurative meaning is unclear, some theorists have noted frons was sometimes used for the ability to blush, suggesting that someone acting with effrontery betrays no embarrassed feelings (visibly, at least) about their mendacity.