vertiginous • / ver-TIJ-uh-nus / • adjective

Vertiginous is a formal adjective used to describe something that causes or is likely to cause a feeling of dizziness especially because of great height.

• As a window washer for some of the city’s tallest skyscrapers, Victor had to quickly master working at vertiginous heights.

Goldilocks • / GOHL-dee-lahks / • adjective

Goldilocks describes something that has or produces an optimal balance usually between two extremes. In astronomy, it specifically designates an area of planetary orbit neither too hot nor too cold to support life.

• The couple, undecided between country and city living, took the Goldilocks option and moved to a bustling college town surrounded by nature.

syllogism • / SIL-uh-jiz-um / • noun

Syllogism refers to a formal argument in logic that is formed by two statements and a conclusion which must be true if the two statements are true.

• An example of a syllogism is “All men are mortal; no gods are mortal; therefore no men are gods.”

umpteen • / UMP-teen / • adjective

Umpteen is an informal adjective meaning "very many" or "indefinitely numerous."

• The artist has painted the same subject umpteen times, yet each piece has its own unique quality.

nettle • / NET-ul / • verb

To nettle someone is to make them angry or annoyed.

• Though he tried to maintain a friendly tone, the town official was clearly nettled by the reporter's suggestion that the town was at fault.

congruous • / KAHNG-groo-us / • adjective

Something described as congruous is in agreement, harmony, or correspondence with something else. Congruous can also describe something that is appropriate for a particular circumstance or requirement, or a thing that is marked or enhanced by harmonious agreement among its constituent elements.

• Their professional achievements were congruous with their academic abilities.
• The low bookshelf forms a congruous barrier between the spaces.
• It is a congruous, plausible story, consistent in all its details.

paean • / PEE-un / • noun

Paean is a literary word that refers to a song of joy, praise, or victory. It can also be used as a synonym of tribute for a work that praises or honors its subject.

• Her retirement party featured many paeans for her long years of service to the company.
• Critics considered the movie both a thrilling Western and a paean to the natural beauty of the Rockies.

exhilarate • / ig-ZIL-uh-rayt / • verb

Exhilarate means "to cause (someone) to feel very happy and excited." It is usually used in the passive voice as (be) exhilarated.

• She was exhilarated by the prospect of attending her dream school.

vaunted • / VAWN-tud / • adjective

Vaunted describes someone or something that is often spoken of or described as very good or great.

• The team’s vaunted defense faltered in the second half of the game.

libertine • / LIB-er-teen / • noun

A libertine is in broad terms a person who is unrestrained by convention or morality. More narrowly, the word describes someone who leads an immoral life.

• The legend of Don Juan depicts him as a playboy and libertine.

hector • / HEK-ter / • verb

To hector someone is to criticize or question them in a threatening way.

• The judge ordered the attorney to stop hectoring the witness.

mea culpa • / may-uh-KOOL-puh / • noun

The noun mea culpa is used for a formal acknowledgment of personal fault or error.

• The podcast host's mea culpa did little to satisfy those who found the episode deeply offensive.

immure • / ih-MYOOR / • verb

To immure something is to enclose it within or as if within walls. Immure is also sometimes used synonymously with imprison.

• Scientists at the research station in Antarctica are immured by the frozen wild that surrounds them.

tranche • / TRAHNSH / • noun

Tranche refers to a division or portion of a whole.

• A tranche of leaked documents was delivered to the newspaper anonymously, with more promised to come.

Erin go bragh • / air-un-guh-BRAW / • phrase

Erin go bragh is an Irish phrase that means “Ireland forever.”

• They proudly waved the Irish flag during the parade, shouting “Erin go bragh!”

eureka • / yoo-REE-kuh / • adjective

As an interjection, eureka is used to express excitement when a discovery has been made. When used as an adjective, eureka describes something (typically a moment) that is characterized by a usually sudden triumphant discovery.  See the entry > 

• After years of trying to piece together a concrete business idea, I had a eureka moment and everything made sense.  

dross • / DRAHSS / • noun

Something referred to as "dross" is of low value or quality. Dross may also be used as a technical term to refer to unwanted material that is removed from a mineral to make it better.

• He's a skilled editor who has a talent for turning literary dross into gold.

fiscal • / FISS-kul / • adjective

Fiscal is used to describe things relating to money and especially to the money a government, business, or organization earns, spends, and owes.

• The recent change in leadership was essential for addressing the fiscal health of the university.

cadge • / KAJ / • verb

To cadge something is to persuade someone to give it to you for free. Cadge can also mean “to take, use, or borrow (something) without acknowledgment.”

• I don’t know how, but my brother always manages to cadge an extra scoop of ice cream on his sundaes.
• The last line of the poem is cadged from Shelley’s “Ozymandias.”

adroit • / uh-DROYT / • adjective

Adroit describes someone or something that has or shows skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations.

• We marveled at how adroit the puppeteers were, the marionettes responding to each precise shift of their hands, each flick of their wrists.

wiseacre • / WYZE-ay-ker / • noun

A wiseacre is someone who says or does things that are funny but annoying. Wiseacre is an informal and old-fashioned word, as well as a synonym of smart aleck.

• Some wiseacre in the audience kept heckling the comedian throughout the performance.