mehr-ih-TOR-ee-us
(adjective) Deserving of praise, recognition, or reward.
Her years of meritorious service were recognized with a public award.
Fun Fact
Meritorious is often seen in formal settings like military commendations, academic scholarships, and public service awards. But it also shows up in HR evaluations, theater reviews, and grant proposals—anywhere someone has done work that isn’t just good, but exceptionally worthy of notice.
soo-SUR-us
(adjective) Characterized by soft, whispering, or rustling sounds.
The susurrous murmur of wind through the leaves made the forest feel alive yet utterly peaceful.
From Latin susurrare — “to whisper.”
Fun Fact
Writers use susurrous to evoke atmosphere—especially scenes filled with gentle natural sound. In poetry, it often describes leaves, grasses, or water moving softly enough to feel intimate, as though nature is whispering secrets. The word is onomatopoetic, meaning its sound imitates its meaning: the repeated “s” mimics the very hush it describes.
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