Today's Word

Deleterious

del-uh-TEER-ee-uhs

Definition

(adjective) Causing harm or damage, often in a subtle or unexpected way.

Example

Prolonged exposure to stress can have deleterious effects on your health.

Word Origin

Mid 17th century: from medieval Latin deleterius, from Greek dēlētērios ‘noxious’, from dēlētērios (related to destroy or *to hurt’).

Fun Fact

Deleterious is often used when something appears harmless but turns out to be damaging—like sugary drinks, misinformation, or prolonged noise. It’s not the loud crash—it’s the slow rot. You’ll find it in medical journals, legal decisions, and HR handbooks. It’s a favorite when talking about effects that are subtle, cumulative, and serious—without sounding dramatic.

Previous Words

Tawdry

Today's Word

Tawdry

TAW-dree

Definition

(adjective) Showy but cheap and of poor quality; lacking good taste.

Example

The room was filled with tawdry decorations that looked like they came from a discount bin.

Word Origin

Mid 17th century: contraction of St. Audrey’s lace, which referred to cheap lace sold at fairs in honor of St. Audrey. Over time, the lace was seen as gaudy and tasteless, and St. Audrey became tawdry.

Fun Fact

The transformation from St. Audrey to tawdry is a classic case of how language evolves through cultural snobbery. Once a respected religious figure, St. Audrey lent her name to lace accessories sold at fairs. But as styles changed, those accessories were considered garish or outdated, and the word became an insult. Today, tawdry is used to describe anything that’s cheaply flashy, overly glitzy, or just in bad taste—from outfits to gossip.

READ MORE...

Deleterious

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Previous Words

Tawdry

Tawdry

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Tawdry

Adulation

Wend

Dogmatic

Relegate