- Abnegation
- Today's Word
Abnegation
ab-nuh-GAY-shun
Definition
- (noun) The act of renouncing or rejecting something, often for moral or selfless reasons.
Example
His abnegation of wealth in favor of charity inspired many.
Fun FactAbnegation has long been a cornerstone of religious and philosophical traditions. In Buddhism, renouncing worldly pleasures is a path toward enlightenment, while in Stoic philosophy, self-denial fosters discipline and inner strength. Historical figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa practiced abnegation in their dedication to service. Even in literature, self-sacrificing heroes—like Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities—exemplify abnegation by putting others before themselves.
Today's Popular Words
Abnegation
- Today's Word
Abnegation
ab-nuh-GAY-shun
Definition
- (noun) The act of renouncing or rejecting something, often for moral or selfless reasons.
Example
His abnegation of wealth in favor of charity inspired many.
Fun Fact
Abnegation has long been a cornerstone of religious and philosophical traditions. In Buddhism, renouncing worldly pleasures is a path toward enlightenment, while in Stoic philosophy, self-denial fosters discipline and inner strength. Historical figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa practiced abnegation in their dedication to service. Even in literature, self-sacrificing heroes—like Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities—exemplify abnegation by putting others before themselves.
Gamut
- Today's Word
Gamut
GAM-uht
Definition
- (noun) The complete range or scope of something.
Example
The festival featured a gamut of musical styles, from jazz to electronic dance music.
Fun Fact
“Gamut” originally referred to the full musical scale in medieval music notation. Over time, it expanded to describe anything that covers a broad spectrum—whether it’s emotions, experiences, or flavors on a tasting menu.
Knotty
- Today's Word
Knotty
NOT-ee
Definition
- (adjective) Difficult, complicated, or full of problems.
Example
The detective faced a knotty case with no clear leads.
Fun Fact
Originally describing wood with lots of knots, “knotty” became a metaphor for difficult problems—just like tangled string, some issues require patience and skill to unravel. The Gordian Knot, an ancient legend about an unsolvable problem, still symbolizes tricky challenges today.
Variegated
- Today's Word
Variegated
VAIR-ee-uh-gay-tid
Definition
- (adjective) Having many different colors or variations.
Example
The garden was filled with variegated leaves, their green surfaces streaked with white and yellow.
Fun Fact
Variegated patterns aren’t just for decoration—many plants develop them as a form of natural camouflage. Some scientists also believe that variegation helps deter herbivores, who may mistake streaked leaves for diseased or unhealthy plants.
Umbrage
- Today's Word
Umbrage
UM-brij
Definition
- (noun) Offense or annoyance.
- Shade, especially from trees.
Example
He took umbrage at the suggestion that his work wasn’t original.
Fun Fact
Originally, “umbrage” simply meant “shade” (from the Latin umbra). Over time, it evolved metaphorically—just as people retreat into the shade to escape the sun, they might retreat emotionally when they feel insulted.
Pert
- Today's Word
Pert
PERT
Definition
- (adjective) Lively, bold, or cheeky, especially in an endearing way.
- Small and attractively neat.
Example
Her pert response to the professor’s question made the whole class chuckle.
Fun Fact
“Pert” once meant “clever” in Middle English but evolved to describe liveliness with a hint of sass. A “pert nose” is small and upturned, while a “pert remark” has just enough spunk to be amusing, not offensive.
Top 12 Benefits of Learning New Words
Expanding your vocabulary can offer a wide range of benefits that contribute to personal, academic, and professional growth. Learn some of the advantages.
