Wordplay: For the Love of Language | Merriam-Webster

Popular

Ten Kinds of Happiness

Joyful words from around the world

‘Fascism’: The Word’s Meaning and History

17 Words for Dog Breeds

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

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words (or Phrases) Birds Seem to Be Saying

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

Skibidi! Mog!! Rizz!!!

Words That Turned 100 in 2025

Happy Birthday to our Centenarians

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

We just can’t bananaquit them

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

Your day is the worst. Your vocabulary is the best.

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

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

From Private to General of the Army

9 Other Words for Beautiful

Here are some additional words for calling something lovely

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Here's how all this nonsense started

What does 'eighty-six' mean?

We won't refuse you service

The Changing Meaning of 'Elope'

Read this before you elope. Or 'elope.'

Foreign

10 of Our Favourite British Words

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

All About Latin Plurals

Check your dictionary

10 English Words from Dutch

Learn how to tell your caboodle from your caboose

'Disinformation,' 'Parka,' and Other Common Words from Russian

10 Words from Nahuatl, the Language of the Aztecs

Avocado, chocolate, and more

Games & Hobbies

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

Remember this and win.

19 Palindromes You Might Not Know

Learn some fun vocabulary with these palindromes!

12 Words From Basketball

Plus a few terms that never quite made it

Why 'Love' Means "Nothing"

In tennis. This is about tennis.

The Scoop on 'The Proof Is in the Pudding'

A delicious question

Science & Nature

7 Luscious, Fruit-Based Idioms

For a touch of sweetness or acidity

Fruit vs. Vegetable

Are you sure you know which is what?

7 Especially Fitting Common Names for Plants

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

12 Words for Signs of Spring

Spring is springing

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Words for uncommon fears

Word History

Quick: Read This!

'Quick' once had a very different meaning

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

Heads up: one is 'vulgar'

'Handsome,' 'Geek,' and 8 More Words That Changed Their Meanings

Language evolves

Where does 'hello' come from?

Don't answer the phone with 'ahoy'

13 New Words for Old Things

When did 'mail' become 'snail mail'?