- Today's Word
Mugwump
[MUG-wuhmp]
Definition
- (noun) A person who remains independent or neutral, especially in politics. It can refer to someone who is unable to make up their mind on an issue, or who refuses to align with any particular group or party.
Example
Despite pressure from both sides, Senator Johnson remained a mugwump on the controversial bill, refusing to commit to either a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote.
Fun Fact
The term “mugwump” comes from the Algonquian word “mugquomp,” meaning “important person” or “war leader.” It entered American political slang in 1884, when it was used to describe Republicans who refused to support their party’s presidential nominee, James G. Blaine, instead crossing party lines to support the Democratic candidate, Grover Cleveland. These Republicans were sarcastically called “mugwumps,” implying they thought themselves too important to follow party lines. Over time, the term has evolved to describe any political fence-sitter or independent thinker.
(verb) To criticize someone or something severely and publicly, often with harsh or scathing language.
The columnist excoriated the company’s leadership for ignoring repeated safety warnings.
Excoriate comes from the Latin excoriare, meaning “to strip off the skin,” from ex- (“off”) and corium (“hide” or “skin”). While the word originally described physical abrasion, its meaning shifted metaphorically over time to describe verbal attacks so harsh they feel skin-deep, leaving nothing protected.