Expand your vocabulary one word at a time
/ɪnˈvɪdiəs/
Invidious means something is likely to make people feel resentment or unhappiness because it's unfair. It's interesting because it captures that specific feelin…
Friday 15th May 2026
/rɪˈvæntʃɪst/
This word, "revanchist," describes someone obsessed with getting back lost territory or national pride, usually after a defeat. It's interesting because it explains why some countries harbour long-term grudges and are willing to go to war to redraw borders, making it a key concept for understanding
Thursday 14th May 2026
/ˌdɛlɪˈkwɛs/
Deliquesce means to melt away into liquid by absorbing moisture, or metaphorically, to fade into your surroundings. It's an interesting word because it describes a specific kind of dissolving, whether it's a chemical reaction or a person losing their usual composure, suggesting a quiet and inevitabl
Wednesday 13th May 2026
/ˈpɑrləs/
Parlous means something is full of danger or uncertainty, suggesting a shaky and unstable situation. It's interesting because it describes a more deep-seated, systemic type of danger than just immediate risk, often used for things like economies or political climates on the brink of collapse.
Tuesday 12th May 2026
/vəˈliːɪti/
Velleity means having a slight wish or desire for something, but not enough ambition or energy to actually do anything about it. It's interesting because it perfectly describes those fleeting wants we all have, like wanting to learn a new skill but never starting, and it can help us be more honest a
Monday 11th May 2026
/ˌpɪkiˈjuːn/
Picayune describes something so insignificant or trivial that it's barely worth considering. It's an interesting word because it goes beyond simply meaning "small" and instead implies a lack of importance or even a pettiness associated with something.
Sunday 10th May 2026
/ˌkætəˈkriːsɪs/
Catachresis means using a word in a way that's a bit odd or incorrect, often to name something that doesn't have a precise word for it, like the "face" of a clock or the "leg" of a table. This is interesting because it shows how language creatively fills gaps, helping us describe things efficiently
