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  • Today's Word

Abject

AB-jekt

Definition

  1. (adjective) Extremely bad, degrading, or wretched; experienced or present to the maximum degree.

Example

They lived in abject poverty, with little food or shelter to get through the winter.

Fun Fact

“Abject” comes from the Latin abjicere, meaning “to throw away.” Originally referring to someone cast down or rejected, the term evolved to describe utter hopelessness or misery. It’s commonly used to emphasize emotional extremes—abject fear, abject failure, abject humiliation—highlighting situations where someone feels completely defeated or exposed.

Similar Words

Lurid

  • Today's Word

Lurid

LUR-id

Definition

  1. (adjective) Shockingly vivid, sensational, or gruesome—often in a disturbing way.

Example

The tabloid’s lurid headline exaggerated every detail of the scandal.

Fun Fact

“Lurid” originally described a pale, ghostly glow—like the eerie light of a volcano or twilight. Over time, it evolved to refer to overly dramatic or shocking content, especially in journalism or fiction. Gothic novels, horror films, and clickbait headlines all rely on a touch of lurid flair to keep audiences hooked.

Cupidity

  • Today's Word

Cupidity

kyoo-PID-ih-tee

Definition

  1. (noun) Excessive desire for wealth or material possessions; greed.

Example

His cupidity led him to embezzle millions from the company.

Fun Fact

Despite sounding romantic, “cupidity” is no love story—it comes from Cupid, the Roman god of desire. While Cupid usually represents romantic longing, cupidity refers to a more selfish craving, particularly for money or power. It’s been a central trait in classic tragic heroes and villains alike—from Ebenezer Scrooge to modern financial fraudsters.

Abate

  • Today's Word

Abate

uh-BAYT

Definition

  1. (verb) To become less intense or widespread; to reduce or diminish.

Example

The mayor promised to act swiftly to abate the rising noise complaints in the city.

Fun Fact

“Abate” traces back to Latin battere, meaning “to beat down.” Historically, it’s been used in both legal and environmental contexts—laws are “abated” when revoked, and storms “abate” when they lose intensity. Shakespeare frequently used it in phrases like “abate thy strife,” adding poetic elegance to the idea of lessening force or conflict.

Parsimony

  • Today's Word

Parsimony

PAR-suh-moh-nee

Definition

  1. (noun) Extreme or excessive unwillingness to spend money or use resources.

Example

His parsimony was so extreme that he reused paper towels to save a few cents.

Fun Fact

While often used negatively, parsimony has a place in science too—Occam’s Razor is a principle of parsimony, suggesting the simplest explanation is usually best. In everyday life, though, it’s usually a warning against being so frugal it becomes unreasonable or absurd.

Oblique

  • Today's Word

Oblique

oh-BLEEK

Definition

  1. (adjective) Not direct or straightforward; slanted or indirect.

Example

His oblique comments about the merger made everyone uneasy.

Fun Fact

In geometry, an oblique line is one that is angled—not perpendicular or parallel. In conversation, it works the same way: someone being oblique is avoiding direct language. Politicians, poets, and diplomats often speak obliquely to suggest things without stating them outright.

Malediction

  • Today's Word

Malediction

mal-uh-DIK-shun

Definition

  1. (noun) A spoken curse or expression of evil intent.

Example

The witch uttered a malediction, condemning the land to darkness.

Fun Fact

From Latin maledicere (to speak evil), maledictions are the opposite of blessings. They appear in myths, fairy tales, and religious texts—think of Sleeping Beauty’s cursed sleep, or the biblical plagues. While modern use is often metaphorical, the word still packs a dramatic punch.

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