Wordplay: For the Love of Language | Merriam-Webster

Popular

9 Other Words for Beautiful

Here are some additional words for calling something lovely

Why do we park in the driveway and drive on the parkway?

The answer to one of life's big questions

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

And why isn't it 'bury the lead'?

10 Words from Nahuatl, the Language of the Aztecs

Avocado, chocolate, and more

10 Words for Food with Unfortunate-Sounding Names

All of them may be delicious, but one is offal

Top 12 Sophisticated Compliments

'Urbane,' 'incisive,' and other good things to be

Ten Painless Ways to Improve Your Vocabulary

Simple but Intelligent Word Choices

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 3

Lovely, pointless, or both?

Word Choices

Gabrielle Zevin

Emily Flake

New Yorker Cartoonist

Celeste Ng

Eli Cymet

Video Game Writer/Producer, Cuphead

Emma Straub

Novelist and Children’s Book Author

Arts & Culture

'Gaslighting,' 'Woke,' 'Democracy,' and Other Top Lookups

We know you're going to look these up

Where does the phrase 'barn burner' come from?

This one's pretty exciting

Top Banana, Kingpin, and Other Nicknames for Important People

Big wigs, big enchiladas, and big shots

The Left Hand of (Supposed) Darkness

It depends on what side you're coming from.

Merriam-Webster's Short List of Gender and Identity Terms

In case you (or someone you know) has questions about what they mean

Foreign

17 English Words That Come From Japanese

Some borrowed words don't get returned

'In Vino Veritas' and Other Latin Phrases to Live By

Top 10 Latin Phrases

10 of Our Favourite British Words

Please don't whinge about being knackered, you prat.

Digging Up the Latin Roots of 14 Abbreviations

Beyond 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

All About Latin Plurals

Check your dictionary

Games & Hobbies

10 Words for Lesser-Known Games and Sports

Are you ready for some stoolball?

Winning Scrabble Words for Everyday People

You don't have to be a pro to play these words.

12 Words From Basketball

Plus a few terms that never quite made it

Popular Gaming Terms Explained

Nerfs, MMORPGs, and who the final boss really is

A Player's Guide to 'Q' without 'U' Words

Remember this and win.

Science & Nature

12 Bird Names that Sound Like Compliments

From the godwits at your favorite dictionary

12 Words for Signs of Spring

Spring is springing

'Blue Moon,' 'Wolf Moon,' and Other Moons to Look for Throughout the Year

More moons than you can shake a stick at

9 Superb Owl Words

Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all? We do!

7 Especially Fitting Common Names for Plants

So you don't mix up your Swiss Cheese plants with your Dutchman's Breeches

Word History

Why do we say 'make a beeline'?

Yes, it does involve bees

How long is a jiffy?

It depends who you ask

When do we paint the town red?

It may have begun with a literal paint job (but probably didn’t)

Why do we call it 'ides of March'?

And should we beware?

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?

Did they ever sell fleas?