Today's Word

Mercurial

mur-KYOOR-ee-uhl

Definition

(adjective) Subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind.

Example

Her mercurial temperament made collaboration both exciting and exhausting.

Word Origin

Mid 17th century: from Latin mercurialis ‘relating to the god Mercury’, known for his speed and unpredictability.

Fun Fact

Mercurial originally referred to qualities associated with Mercury, the Roman messenger god—quick, clever, and elusive. Today, the word is often used to describe emotionally volatile people, though it can also apply to markets, creative energy, or political behavior. In psychology, a mercurial personality isn’t just moody—it’s brilliant, erratic, and hard to pin down.

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 But as styles changed, those accessories were considered garish or outdated, and the word became an insult.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.

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Mercurial

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Previous Words

Tawdry

Tawdry

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Tawdry

Adulation

Wend

Dogmatic

Relegate