uh-MEEL-yuh-rayt
(verb) To make something better or more tolerable.
The new policy helped ameliorate tensions between departments.
Fun Fact
Ameliorate comes from the Latin melior, meaning “better.” It’s a favorite of bureaucrats, academics, and corporate copywriters, usually when they want to say “we’re fixing it” without promising too much. It often shows up in PR language when damage control is underway—but improvement is still a work in progress.
met-uh-NOY-uh
(noun) A profound transformation or change of mindset; a spiritual or psychological conversion.
Traveling alone for a year sparked a deep metanoia, reshaping her priorities and sense of purpose.
From Greek meta- (“beyond” or “after”) + noia (“mind”), meaning “a shift of mind.”
Fun Fact
In ancient Greek philosophy, metanoia described a dramatic inner turning—a complete reorientation of how one sees the world. Today, psychologists associate the idea with breakthrough moments: sudden clarity after confusion, healing after loss, or the realization that your life must move in a new direction. Many cultures describe similar concepts—from epiphanies to spiritual awakenings—reflecting humanity’s timeless desire to grow beyond who we once were.
Today's Word Pertinacious per-tuh-NAY-shus Definition (adjective) Holding firmly to an...
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