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Jan 25, 2026
This week’s themeBlend words This week’s words guyliner dataveillance broligarchy precariat zoodle How popular are they? Relative usage over time AWADmail archives Index Next week’s theme Is it a noun or a verb? Both! 
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AWADmail Issue 1230A Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day and Other Tidbits about Words and LanguageSponsor’s Message: ONEUPMANSHIP 3.0 is “a rollicking excuse for mad, mutually-abusive annihilation.” One Up! -- guaranteed to turn your whole family into “greedy, self-serving punks.” Wise Up! will “ruin Christmas and friendships” or your money back. All our fun and games are BOGO today only. Shop now. From: Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org) Subject: Interesting stories from the Net The Remarkable Revival of an Endangered Language in Lesotho The Guardian Permalink National Handwriting Day 2026 The Web of Language Permalink From: Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org) Subject: Blend words This week I invited readers to share blends they have coined. Here’s a selection. Trespooping reminds me of a related, and I think very useful blend for dog owners: pooportunities. Used by my husband and I while dog walking, when one of the dogs hasn’t pooped yet, despite being given lots of time to sniff around on patches of grass that seem ideal. “Let’s go home, she’s had enough pooportunities.” -Eline Van Der Veken, Leiden, Netherlands (eline.vanderVeken degruyterbrill.com) Back when I was interning at TOKYOPOP where I was helping the editorial department localize Japanese manga, proofs would come in with errors that I needed to mark up with instructions to the letterer on how to fix. Sometimes the proof would come back even worse than ever in round two as the letterer clearly misunderstood the instructions. I called this ficking something up -- when an attempt to fix something actually results in it getting f*cked up instead. -Christine Dashiell, Corvallis, Oregon (christine.dashiell gmail.com) Last week I was thinking about an acquaintance of mine, a quintessential golf bro who has many other qualities, as well: ignorance, arrogance, and pettiness. Suddenly a novel word came to mind: philibro (philistine + bro). -Paige W. Bernhardt, New Orleans, Louisiana (Paigebernhardt mac.com) A while back I offered newsea: news + nausea. -Kevin Horne, New Orleans, Louisiana (kevin.kphorne gmail.com) Furnident: A word my sister coined for when furniture leaves a dent in the rug and it’s pretty obvious. -Susan Janelle, Walla Walla, Washington (sjanelle29 gmail.com)
Email of the Week -- Brought to you buy ONEUPMANSHIP -- Are you a G?
In Jamaica, we celebrate freedom from slavery and independence from the British within days of each other, Aug 1 and 6, respectively. We have therefore coined the word, Emancipendence. During this week we commemorate the resilience and courage of our forefathers in a series of activities. -Donna McKoy, Jamaica (hiqualc yahoo.com) I spent this past weekend languishing on my couch. I turned down several invitations, for the simple reason that I felt lozy (the laziness that comes from being in a cozy environment). -Gladys Abankwa, Berlin, Germany (gmklodt yahoo.com) My dear, departed musician-singer friend Paul Jenkins often used the word demovation, when he saw a perfectly beautiful piece of architecture being badly retrofitted. -Alan Gasser, Toronto, Canada (argasser gmail.com) Asked if she wanted to go to her favorite restaurant my toddler daughter exclaimed, “Defalutely!” (definitely + absolutely). -Ray Juodis, Fribourg, Switzerland (rjuodis hotmail.com) These two blended words came from my daughter when she was little, and we still use them: the upscalator and the downscalator. -Ann Laros-Weaver, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (ann grantski.com)  
-P. Larry Nelson, Champaign, Illinois (lnelson illinois.edu) We’ve grown grapes northeast of Seattle for almost 20 years. Not for wine, but for table grapes. After a season of grape growing, the green vines and tendrils turn brown and harden into a woody substance. This makes pruning more fun. Since the tendrils are no longer tender, I refer to them as woodrils. -Betsy Cherednik, Concrete, Washington (elikapekac gmail.com) We live in Princeton, New Jersey and miss the taste of crackers we grew up eating. We cannot find a replacement for our much-favored Stoned Wheat Thins, but think Trader Joe’s has a pretty good version of Nabisco’s once great Ritz cracker, and have dubbed it the Copyritz. We use the word to refer to something we’ve found is an okay approximation of something else whose original version we miss. -Caryl Kuser, Princeton, New Jersey (carylhardinge aol.com) One morning at work there was an urgent issue that was being discussed in an email group. Thoughts, opinions, and solutions were flying back and forth with great velocity. I felt I was caught in an emaelstrom! -Thomas Schumacher, Minneapolis, Minnesota (tommyschu gmail.com) Years ago, I wanted a match for the word misogyny (the hatred of women). The alternatives for women who dislike men were out there [misandry] but didn’t have an aural match to me. Hence this: misterogyny. -Margaret Boles Fitzgerald, Boston, Massachusetts (margaretbolesfitzgerald gmail.com) Highdilutin: Overusing and thus diluting meaning qualifiers as in: “may increase the risk” “sometimes it’s possible” “can be dangerous” -Il Anso (via website comments) I’m a clinical psychologist/psychotherapist. I’ve coined the term therawear (therapist + wear) for the type of clothes we women therapists often wear when we meet with patients: Comfortable, elegant, discreet, a studied nonchalance, flowing tops, neutral colors -- no loud patterns, god forbid -- shawls draped loosely over the shoulders for a bit of color and to hide the mature neck, natural fibers, expensive but not ostentatious (think Eileen Fisher), paired with tasteful yet expensive jewelry, i.e., clothes that don’t startle or arouse, and that inspire confidence, trust, and safety. -Gigi Pagani, San Rafael, California (gigi4cats gmail.com) Before I retired, I attended meetings where a few attendees often mispronounced strategy as stragedy. It seemed the perfect combination to me because quite often our strategies were tragic. It was the 90s and strategic planning was relentless. -Brenda McCavour, Fredericton, Canada (bjmccavour rogers.com) I am heavily involved in rugby, and roaching (refereeing + coaching) is a term we use when we’re refereeing a game but, given the players’ inexperience, we’re coaching them too. “How was your game yesterday, Rob?” “One of the teams was new, so I spent more time roaching than anything else.” -Rob McKay, Cremorne, Australia (mckayrob bigpond.net.au) This evening, Jimmy Kimmel used a word to describe the current president: presidementia. -James Fothergill, Sacramento, California (jffothergill icloud.com) Nudking: The poisonous fumes pouring from a king thinking glossy clothes are on him. -Maureen Doyle, Boston, Massachusetts (momcdo gmail.com) Not coined by me but my favorite portmanteau currently comes from the fabulous Australian animated series, Bluey. Bluey’s little sister Bingo is struggling to spear grapes with a fork and dubs it trifficult (tricky + difficult). It’s now on T-shirts. -Karol Silverstein, West Hollywood, California (karolinas aol.com) I’m a retired teacher. A number of years ago, another teacher and I were venting over an especially unruly and ill-mannered cluster of students we both had. I dubbed them classholes. -Laird White, Arlington, Virginia (lairdkw gmail.com) I had friends who moved to Florida and were downsizing. They were short on storage now and had to resort to sheltering food supplies in their garage. When I visited, they happily showed me all around, and noted that while we were standing in their garage...it was no longer a garage. It was a garantry. It felt bulky to say, and I did not think the term was a keeper. I lobbied for panage. “And so it shall be” said the husband, “for now and ever” because that’s how he likes to talk. -Beverly Lucey, West Springfield, Massachusetts (beverlyc.lucey gmail.com) Accidial. Better than butt dial for sure. -Richard Green, South Pasadena, California (richard richardgreenvo.com) Spunkystrut: Doggy after leaving the groomer, walking proud and frisky, head held high, tail wagging; if you’re a Corgi, then a little extra butt wiggle. Kinda how I feel after a good haircut. -Jane Bragg, San Francisco, California (janebragg728 gmail.com) A family favorite is frustrannoying. No need to explain what it means. -Sue Bubis, Jerusalem, Israel (sueb jdc.org) From: Kathy Borst (kborst mcn.org) Subject: Broligarchy Broligarchy is a misleading term, in my opinion. It sounds like its roots -- kind of hip; not very urgent; belongs on a beach or at a party. To be a bro has usually been positive, that brother-from-another-mother kind of thing. The misguided, obscenely wealthy men running our nation and world into the ground are not hip and not positive. They are megalomaniacs wielding unnatural powers and tools. I prefer: technocracy, plutocracy, junta, despotism, tyranny, authoritarianism, totalitarianism, kleptocracy, syndicate, mob. Or, for a combined form: megalomanocracy? megalomanarchy? megalomanism? Kate Cook, Yorkville, California From: Sarah Ingram (sarah.ingram wvt.nhs.uk) Subject: precariat This is by no means a modern phenomenon: from farm labourers in the time of the Inclosure Act; to those living on the fringes of the Victorian underworld as described by Henry Mayhew, scraping just enough income each day to get through to tomorrow; to those lines of hopeful men in the Great Depression queueing for a day’s work outside factories and employment agencies. Times of social and economic upheaval always punish those at the bottom of the pile while the fat-cats at the top keep their wealth securely in their clutches (claws?) Sarah Ingram, Hereford, UK From: Uma Krishnaswami (writerwhoknits gmail.com) Subject: Zoodle When my granddaughter turned two, I began reading Sandra Boynton’s wacky, wonderful board books to her. Over the next year, she more or less memorized most of them. Silly Lullaby was a favorite with its ending that calls for the reader to belt out “Go to sleep my zoodle ...” etc. Imagine my delight at finding this yummy word in my inbox today. Thank you for honoring the stuff of life for those of us who love words. Uma Krishnaswami, Victoria, Canada From: Mark Buckrell (beechboymark hotmail.com) Subject: Zoodles When I read zoodles, I immediately thought of a different meaning: the cans of animal-shaped Heinz pasta product that my Mom would never buy for us. In those days, that was much more expensive than home-made pasta -- too much for a thrifty shopper, which she credits to her three generations-past Scots ancestry. Mark Buckrell, The Hague, The Netherlands 
Subject: guyliner and broligarchy A fairly robust online (and offline) debate has been brewing ever since JD Vance was chosen as Trump’s VP candidate, namely, does the reformed hillbilly with the smarmy grin “dip-the-switch”, or more precisely, use eyeliner (mascara) to give him that come-hither look? 
Alex McCrae, Van Nuys, California Anagrams
Make your own anagrams and animations. Limericks guyliner His eyes are so gorgeous, I swear, There’s gotta be guyliner there! Don’t you think when you see JD Vance on TV, Cosmetic advice he could share? -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Well, can you beat that? I’m amazed! My blind date has me totally fazed! What seemed like a shiner Turns out is guyliner! Just how was this weird fellow raised? -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) It is said that VP JD Vance, Wears makeup his eyes to enhance. A small touch of guyliner Will make his eye finer. It’s all the rage over in France. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) Said Pete Hegseth, “Please pass the guyliner; To make war, there’s no weapon that’s finer. When foes see my face, To be near me they race, Then I sock ‘em and give ‘em a shiner!” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Before your massage from that minor,” Said Ghislaine, “Jeff, you need some guyliner. One look at your face, And to strip down she’ll race, So you won’t have to wine her or dine her.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) dataveillance I know that the powers that be Conduct dataveillance on me. I’m not too concerned, For they’ve only learned I’m utterly boring, you see. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Dataveillance is here now to stay, Bringing lots of grief headed your way. And you might be bereft, By identity theft, When they know all about you, oy vey! -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) Said a hydrogen atom, “Covalence Would protect us from ICE’s assailants.” Shrugged two oxygens, “True, But though bonded, our view Is they still wouldn’t stop dataveillance.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) broligarchy Said Donald and Elon, “How cool! We’ll get all the rich guys to rule.” But let me be snarky: I think broligarchy Is government by the most cruel. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Said Joe Biden to Donald, “Malarkey! You’d make us a darn broligarchy. You’ve some kind of nerve; Four more years I deserve! But I need some help finding my car key.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “As the head of our new broligarchy,” Said Donald, “I love to be snarky. I also protect Wealthy friends who select A masseuse who is still pre-menarche.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) precariat Oh, how I do pity poor Harriet, Who worked as a maid at a Marriott! Since that job she lost, Her life’s tempest-tossed -- She’s stuck in the lousy precariat. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Financially, I just don’t know Where this boyfriend of mine’s gonna go -- Doesn’t know where he’s at In the precariat Lives from day to day -- not a great beau! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) The precariat problem is real, But Trump thinks it’s not a big deal. He says “Let them eat cake In the ballroom I’ll make. I don’t care if they haven’t a meal.” -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) If you’re part of our nation’s precariat, You’re caught in a Trumpian lariat. Though he promises glitz, You can’t pay for the Ritz, And must stay at the Courtyard by Marriott. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “This Jesus guy helps the precariat,” Said Ben Hur, climbing down from his chariot. “He has shown me the way; In his circle I’ll stay.” “Not for long,” replied Judas Iscariot. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Said Ozzie one evening to Harriet, “In Hollywood there’s no precariat! We’ve no need to panic; No Black or Hispanic Is on our show! White people carry it!” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) zoodle Tonight we are in for a treat! Some Parmesan pasta we’ll eat. I’ll make it with zoodles Instead of some noodles -- This healthier choice can’t be beat! -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) “You’re serving me some kind of zoodle? I want kibble and meat!” said the poodle. “You may think you’re a lord, But good food you can’t hoard; Our society’s no longer feudal!” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Said the meatball, “What’s this? You’re a zoodle! Your attempt at deception is futile! I belong with spaghetti; For years we’ve gone steady. With you I will never canoodle!” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Puns “Jeff, you’re a good guyliner up for me, will you?” said Donald about the girl he had noticed on the island. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) The gay men’s cruise ship was nicknamed the Guyliner. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “How mayest I fool Jacob that Leah is Rachel?” asked the girls’ father. “When they goeth out on a dataveillance-ereth that question,” his friend advised. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) The Christmas toy market was ruled by a group of toy makers in a Has-broligarchy. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “Perhaps someday we’ll have government by the intelligent: a cere-broligarchy,” fantasized the Mensa gathering. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “I’m still precariat the moment,” admitted Harrison Ford before beginning his extramarital affair with young Ms. Fisher. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Daddy, are the animals in the zoodle-icious like people?” asked little Hannibal Lechter. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) The explosion in the veggie-pasta factory caused damage up the wa-zoodle! -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is
a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person. -William
Somerset Maugham, writer (25 Jan 1874-1965)
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