Every vocabulary fan loves updating their personal thesaurus with new words every day. They have a routine to keep in touch with the happenings in the vocabulary world and get an update on the latest additions. Over the past decade (2010-2019), the Merriam Webster dictionary also added several words that trended that year.
With an open-minded selection of words, some are even slangs used by the generations that ruled social media. Such words became such a trend that they received a place in this renowned collection of words. Clothes, festivals, technical terms, etc. are among the other view categories that took significant places in the Merriam-Webster dictionary.
Let’s take a look at one interesting word added every year, starting from 2010.
10 Interesting New Words
1. 2010- Ebullient (Adjective)
Derived from the Latin language, ebullient means boiling or agitated in the most real sense. But, it also has another meaning that people now use more commonly as agitated. The term also refers to something/someone bubbling with enthusiasm and energy. The addition of this word widens the scope of expressing enthusiasm with novelty.
Example: When I last spoke to her, she sounded very ebullient and happy. I wonder what is keeping her now.
2. 2011- Vitriol (Noun)
Vitriol is a word that the people of today would love to use often if they knew the meaning. The reason is simple- we all find some platforms very harsh or critical in their tone. Vitriol means the use of such abusive or critical language. The word also is a substitute for sulphuric acid!
Example: The principal’s sudden rage and vitriol surprised every student in the assembly.
3. 2012- Malarkey (Noun)
Being one of the most interesting of the new words added in the dictionary, Malarkey, had to be on this list. It means nonsense, rubbish, or foolish talk. Instead of using longer phrases like “nonsense talk” or “rubbish talk,” use this word that is one fine-sounding substitute.
Example: The old lady declared that everything politicians say is pure malarkey.
4. 2013- Visceral (Adjective)
Added in the year 2013, the word visceral also has more than one meaning. The most interesting usage of this word is to express strong emotions or feelings, far from logic or intellect. It was simple to branch this word into this definition since viscera refer to the internal organs in the body.
Example: Her visceral reaction was to curse at the other driver.
5. 2014- Surreptitious (Adjective)
Any writers here? Writers are always on the lookout for synonyms for commonly used adjectives. Surreptitious solves that purpose. Also hailing from the Latin language, it means to do something secretly because it wouldn’t get approval. This word fits well to denote actions performed clandestinely.
Example: Low wages were supplemented by surreptitious payments from tradesmen”.
6. 2015- Photobomb (Verb)
Here’s a word inspired by our social media culture- photobomb. Honestly speaking, a lot of us have already used the term in our social media posts. Little did we know that the Merriam-Webster made it official on their list. For those who do not know, photobombing means to move into the frame when someone is clicking their picture. It is a fun word & action, wherein one person intentionally or unintentionally moves into the frame to ruin someone else’s photo.
Example: Tourists in the background photobombed almost all of our honeymoon pictures.
7. 2016- Misophonia (Noun)
From the many new words on this list, Misophonia will be one that every reader will remember and reuse. It is the feeling of agitation, disgust, or anger that one feels by familiar sounds like someone chewing, the ticking of a clock, etc. One who related or feels this is a misophonic.
Example: Can you sure some of your misophonic stories to add as examples, please?
8. 2017- Pareidolia (Noun)
The dictionary defines pareidolia as the tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern. Some people see faces in random objects or identify a shape in the clouds. This very tendency is pareidolia.
Example: This photo is just the latest in a long list of odd objects that have caused excited viewers to fall foul of the phenomenon of pareidolia.
9. 2018- Haptics (Noun)
The word haptics will excite those who revel in video games and 5D visuals. It means the use of electronically or mechanically generated movement that a user experiences through the sense of touch as part of an interface. Remember those vibrations you feel on your smartphone when you give a wrong answer? Or, the sense of flying or falling when you watch a 5D or 10D movie? All these are examples of haptics. They create a sensation through touch or interface, even though it is just machinery.
Example: Their research is centered on human-computer interaction specifically focusing on wearable computing, haptics, and video games.
10. 2019- Stinger (Noun)
We have all seen stingers, but do not know this is what the dictionary calls it. After learning this word, you can sound much cooler among people. A stinger is a short episode or text that appears before or after a movie, usually along with credits. Now, that is a word we are going to use frequently, isn’t it?
Example: “Wait, we have to watch the stinger at the end. It will tell us a lot about the next part.”
We are sure that you found the words on this list very interesting. Why not add them to our personal thesaurus to get a ten-year upgrade? The best way to remember these words is to keep reading them frequently. Try using them in more sentences to get a hold on its usage. You can begin with two words in a day; gradually, you can increase the number.
Click here to read about some famous Poetic Devices with simple explanations.
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