Wordplay

 For the love of language

Why do we say 'wear your heart on your sleeve'?

The answer may come from medieval jousts

Obscure Words for Everyday Feelings

There has to be a word for it.

A List of The U.S. Military Ranks in Order

From Private to General of the Army

Popular

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

A list we hope you don't find 'insipid'

‘Fascism’: The Word’s Meaning and History

Ten Kinds of Happiness

Joyful words from around the world

Word of the Year 2025 | Slop

Merriam-Webster's 2025 Word of the Year is 'Slop'

17 Words for Dog Breeds

If you love dogs and words, you’re barking up the right tree

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

Skibidi! Mog!! Rizz!!!

Words That Turned 100 in 2025

Happy Birthday to our Centenarians

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

"I bow to you"

Word Choices

Gabrielle Zevin

Novelist

Emily Flake

New Yorker Cartoonist

Celeste Ng

Novelist

Eli Cymet

Video Game Writer/Producer, Cuphead

Emma Straub

Novelist and Children’s Book Author

Arts & Culture

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If You Like to Complain About 'Decimate'...

You'll love to hate these other words!

What exactly is a 'liberal'?

No one wants a 'servile arts' degree

Stay Woke

Tracing the history of 'woke'

7 Words from Political Scandals

Behind the smoke-filled rooms

10 Phrases from Shakespeare

Where the "wild goose chase" comes from
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Obscure & Fun

Obscure & Fun

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 1

Some may be more useful than others.

Foreign

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10 English Words from Dutch

Learn how to tell your caboodle from your caboose

10 of Our Favourite British Words

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

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

Top 10 Latin Phrases

10 Words from Nahuatl, the Language of the Aztecs

Avocado, chocolate, and more

A Guide to the Names of French Sauces

17 saucy terms (and how to say them)
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Games & Hobbies

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

Remember this and win.

These Are Fighting Words

Common terms that come from boxing and wrestling

Winning Scrabble Words for Everyday People

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

Know Your Baseball Idioms

'Southpaw,' 'can of corn,' and other phrases

Are You Ready for Some Football (Words)?

So you can do more than smile and nod when talking about the big game
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Insults

Insults

Rare and Amusing Insults, Volume 2

Sometimes a 'cacafuego' can be a real 'slubberdegullion'

Science & Nature

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7 Luscious, Fruit-Based Idioms

For a touch of sweetness or acidity

7 Common Idioms That Come from Chickens

Don't ask us which came first

12 Bird Names that Sound Like Compliments

From the godwits at your favorite dictionary

Amber, Auburn, Crimson and Other Colorful Words for Autumn Foliage

Peep these leaves.

Possum vs. Opossum: Is There a Difference?

On a marsupial with various names
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Word History

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Quick: Read This!

'Quick' once had a very different meaning

What does it mean to 'endorse' a presidential candidate?

It's kind of like "endorsing" a check

Funner, Stupider, and Other Words That Are in Fact Real

Don't argue with the dictionary

Etymologies for Every Day of the Week

The sun, the moon, four gods, and a goddess.

'Ganef,' 'Galoot,' and More Historical Slang Terms We Love

'Hella' is in hella good company
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