- Today's Word
Razzmatazz
[RAZ-muh-taz]
Definition
- (noun) Exciting action or impression intended to attract and impress people. It often describes elaborate or showy display, fanfare, or flashy technique used to dazzle an audience.
Example
The new Broadway show was full of razzmatazz, with dazzling costumes, spectacular dance numbers, and over-the-top special effects that left the audience in awe.
Fun Fact
The word “razzmatazz” (also spelled “razzamatazz”) first appeared in American English in the early 20th century. Its exact origin is unclear, but it’s thought to be an elaborate variation of the word “razzle-dazzle,” which has a similar meaning. The term gained popularity in the world of entertainment, particularly in describing the flashy, attention-grabbing aspects of vaudeville and musical theater performances.
(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.