Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 19, 2026 is:





fervid • \FER-vid\ • adjective

Fervid is used to describe people or things that express or are expressive of strong feelings.

// The core of the book is the fervid letters the friends exchanged during the years they were apart.

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Examples:

“Fervid superfans of high-profile groups often pore over members’ appearances, performances, and private lives. Perceived ‘bad’ behavior such as smoking or drinking can earn widespread public backlash, forcing stars to live under strict rules.” — Jessie Yeung, CNN, 16 Jan. 2026





Did you know?

The metaphor of strong emotions bubbling over simmers in the roots of fervid, which comes from the Latin verb fervēre, meaning “to boil.” In English, this root gave us not only fervid but the similar-sounding and sometimes synonymous word fervent. But while fervid usually suggests warm emotion that is expressed in a spontaneous or feverish manner (as in “fervid basketball fans”), fervent is reserved for a kind of emotional warmth that is steady and sincere (as in “a fervent belief in human kindness”). Fervid fans of kimchi or sauerkraut (or fervent followers of anything fermented), may appreciate that fervēre is also the root of ferment.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 18, 2026 is:





bon vivant • \bahn-vee-VAHNT\ • noun

A bon vivant is a sociable person who has refined tastes especially with respect to food and drink.

// She has become something of a bon vivant since moving to Paris, going out most nights and delighting in the city's many restaurants.

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Examples:

“The vineyard is named for the exiled French aristocrat Charles de Saint-Évremond, a symbol of hedonistic Anglo-French cooperation. The bon vivant introduced champagne to England and party-loving Charles II made him governor of Duck Island in St James’s Park.” — Phoebe Taplin, The Guardian (London), 12 Sept. 2026





Did you know?

In French, bon vivant literally means “good liver”—that is, one who lives well. English speakers have used bon vivant since the late 17th century to refer specifically to those who subscribe to a particular kind of good living—one that involves lots of social engagements and the enjoyment of fancy food and drink. This puts the term very much in the company of some other French words. Gourmet, gourmand, and gastronome all refer to those who love a fancy meal, though gourmand often carries the connotation of a tendency to overindulge.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 17, 2026 is:





syncretic • \sin-KRET-ik\ • adjective

Syncretic describes things that are characterized or brought about by a combination of different forms of belief or practice.

// We were raised with a syncretic religion that combined practices from various faiths.

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Examples:

"Traditional medicine, wellness rituals, and spiritual practices reflect the island’s complex cultural history and diverse ethnic origins—a syncretic blending of Taíno Indigenous, African, and Spanish traditions." — Tiana Randall, Forbes, 20 Aug. 2026





Did you know?

Syncretic has its roots in an ancient alliance. The word is a descendant of the Greek noun synkrētismos, referring to a federation of cities on the island of Crete (syn means "together, with," and Krēt- means "Cretan"). The adjective first appeared in English in the mid-19th century, the related noun syncretism having debuted over 200 years earlier. Syncretic retains the idea of coalition and appears in such contexts as "syncretic religions," "syncretic cultures," and even "syncretic art," all describing things influenced by two or more styles or traditions.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 16, 2026 is:





zenith • \ZEE-nith\ • noun

Zenith refers to the strongest or most successful period of time for a person or thing.

// At its zenith in the 1980s, the company employed more than 300 people.

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Examples:

“The opening 40 minutes of Trần Anh Hùng’s dreamy romance set in the 1889 French countryside are the zenith of food preparation on the big screen. ... Food is a love language for many, and watching Pauline prepare a Baked Alaska in the hot French summer without a freezer expresses her affection better than any sonnet could.” — Kevin Slane, Boston.com, 15 Aug. 2026





Did you know?

When you reach the zenith, you’re at the top, the pinnacle, the summit, the peak. Zenith developed from a Spanish modification of an Arabic phrase meaning “the way over one’s head,” traveling through Medieval Latin and Middle French before arriving in English. As long ago as the 1300s, English speakers used zenith to name the highest point in the celestial heavens, directly overhead. By the 1600s, zenith was being used for other high points as well. The celestial term is often contrasted with nadir, which refers to the point that is vertically downward from the observer (imagine a line going through the Earth from the observer’s feet and out the other side into the sky). Figuratively, nadir simply means “the lowest point.”

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 15, 2026 is:





outlandish • \out-LAN-dish\ • adjective

Outlandish can describe things that are strikingly strange or unusual; in this use, it’s a synonym of bizarre. Outlandish can also describe things, such as claims, rumors, and accusations, that go beyond reasonable limits or standards.

// One of the author’s greatest strengths is her ability to write outlandish characters whose quirks remain lodged in readers’ minds long after they’ve finished the book.

// When asked to back up his outlandish claims, the mayor quickly changed the subject, all but admitting that he had no proof for his allegations.

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Examples:

“In a successful book for children, no matter what outlandish stuff might be happening on the page, young readers will see their real emotions faithfully represented there ...” — Caroline Carson, Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026





Did you know?

For some, the grass isn’t necessarily greener on the other side of the fence—it may also be very, very strange. The side-eye that skeptical sorts cast toward visitors from parts yonder is embedded in the history of the ancient word outlandish. In Old English someone described as “outlandish” came from an outland, i.e., a foreign land. Within a few hundred years, outlandish had broadened in use to describe anything unfamiliar or strange. It’s now commonly applied to things—especially things people do, wear, or say—that are strikingly out of the ordinary, or even just beyond reasonable or proper limits or standards. But lest you mistake us for equating outlandish with wrong or bad, consider this line from a review of a Dr. Seuss book once published in Time: “Its illustrations are properly outlandish, and its verses are zany and catchy enough for many rereadings.”