A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact

Home Today's Word Yesterday's Word Archives FAQ

Feb 1, 2026 This week’s theme Therejs a word for it This week’s words despotocracy verbicide agnotology antithalian renitent How popular are they? Relative usage over time AWADmail archives Index Next week’s theme Is it a noun or a verb? Both! Send a gift that keeps on giving, all year long: A gift subscription of A.Word.A.Day or the gift of books AWADmail Issue 1231 A Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day and Other Tidbits about Words and Language Sponsor’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: Charles Harp (texzenpro yahoo.com) Subject: A Thought for Today A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: I stand for honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you want to be treated, and helping those in need. To me those are traditional values. -Ellen DeGeneres, comedian, TV host, actor, and writer (b. 26 Jan 1958) A perfunctory online search for Ellen DeGeneres and her television commercials hawking the line of her skincare products might disqualify her in a more discerning deliberation as to A Thought for Today status. Watch the commercials and reach your own conclusions as to whether or not she still merits her once-iconic status and if she embodies “honesty” and the “traditional values” expressed in the selected quote. Charles Harp, Victoria, Canada From: John Carver (john.carver obloketure.ca) Subject: verbicide From the National Security Strategy of the US of A, Nov 2025: President Trump’s foreign policy is pragmatic without being “pragmatist,” realistic without being “realist,” principled without being “idealistic,” muscular without being “hawkish,” (source, pdf) John Carver, Duncan, Canada Email of the Week -- Brought to you buy ONEUPMANSHIP -- Are you a G? From: Terry Stone (cgs7952 bellsouth.net) Subject: Verbicide Equals Retraining I recently lost my eldest son to a devastating disease at only 45 years of age. We held his memorial service a few days ago, and my youngest son, his wife, and their infant child had to fly in to Minneapolis to attend. My daughter-in-law is from India, though she has been a naturalized citizen for over a decade, and my grandson, like his mother, is dark-skinned. Needless to say, they were all fearful of recent deadly events, and tried to make sure their little family had all the requisite paperwork with them in case ICE stopped them at the airport. They arranged to have a car waiting for them at the curb so they could rush out of the concourse immediately upon arrival while my Caucasian, American-born son separately collected their bags in what he hoped was relative safety and anonymity. They then reversed the process when they left and, thankfully, made it back home safely. My son’s family took these precautions because, for the first time in their lives, they were terrified of an encounter with federal law enforcement, whose officers in the last year have apparently developed a penchant for stopping anyone with the wrong skin color or a foreign accent, something the Fourth Amendment to our Constitution is supposed to prohibit absent reasonable, articulable suspicion of a crime. It doesn’t seem to matter to these people that someone is a citizen, and even when presenting papers, ICE officers may simply claim those documents are fake and take that person anyway, perhaps even spiriting them off to a state on the other side of the country, holding them in abysmal conditions--or worse. It is deeply offensive to me that my family was compelled to mourn our son’s death while cowering in terror, feeling the constant, overarching angst of living in what increasingly feels like an autocracy. When government models indifference to its obligations under the Constitution, especially against disfavored groups, it is not just changing decades of enforcement standards that protected its citizens. It is unabashedly attempting to inure the public to a country in which the law is no longer a shield, but instead some twisted, contrived imprimatur of unconstrained authority, a cudgel used against decent citizens who dare to peacefully resist. That should trouble us all. Terry Stone, Goldendale, Washington From: Rob McKay (mckayrob bigpond.net.au) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--agnotology This one has a street version, FUD: fear, uncertainty, and doubt. All from the same cigarette/anti-vax/climate-deniers/guns-don’t-kill groups’ playbook. Rob McKay, Sydney, Australia From: Brad Wheeler (doggedman777 gmail.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--antithalian Didn’t have “antithalian” at hand, but when I saw this article, I realized why Trump and company really hate Minneapolis. Why Minneapolis is one of the world’s happiest places (BBC) Brad Wheeler, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania From: Barron Hall (barronhall hotmail.com) Subject: antithalian Thalia Hall in Chicago has been a vibrant venue for culture for a hundred years. It is located in a neighborhood now targeted by government antithalians. Barron Hall, Fairfax, Virginia From: Dan Gertiser (gertiser.dan gmail.com) Subject: Thank you Your words this week are so important. It lets me know that while our country is losing sight of its ideals, the principle of human kindness and freedom still flows. Dan Gertiser, Commerce, Michigan From: Josef Beautrais (jbeautrais gmail.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--renitent You wrote: “Not everyone can shout. Everyone can refuse to slide.” You can also “hit the slide”. See slaterism (background). Josef Beautrais, Wellington, New Zealand From: Alex McCrae (ajmccrae277 gmail.com) Subject: despotocracy and antithalian With a spineless Congress, a Supreme Court heavily stacked to favor Trump at almost every turn, and sycophantic incompetents heading up the DOJ, the FBI, the CDC, etc., there seem to be no checks or balances to Trump’s power. Frankly, his administration has devolved into a despotocracy, in which he pursues a blatant imperialist agenda, threatening to annex Greenland and Canada and kidnapping Venezuela’s Maduro, while giving short shrift to the economic woes of working-class Americans. George Washington must be rolling in his grave. I suspect Grant Wood’s American Gothic couple is firmly rooted in the Protestant work ethic, where the strict religious principles of diligence, self-discipline, faith, frugality and perchance antithalianism guide their everyday lives. I would argue that even marital sexual relations would be seen as a sacred duty to God’s Old Testament directive to be fruitful and multiply, rather than as a source of pleasure or expression of mutual affection. Alex McCrae, Van Nuys, California Anagrams This week’s theme: There’s a word for it Despotocracy Verbicide Agnotology Antithalian Renitent = Dictatorship i.e. he retires the vote To twist the word Analyse crank ignorance Be gloomy Defiant -Julian Lofts, Auckland, New Zealand (jalofts xtra.co.nz) = A tyrant’s hold Eerie 1984 coinage Wittingly not heed; skip Act ever morose To bear, withstand force, hit = Control by decree Oh, look, he tampered with a word! Instigate ignorance Hate festivity Resistant -Shyamal Mukherji, Mumbai, India (mukherjis hotmail.com) -Dharam Khalsa, Burlington, North Carolina (dharamkk2 gmail.com) This week’s theme is “There’s a word for it” Despotocracy Verbicide Agnotology Antithalian Renitent = Dictatorship Semantic distortion Deliberate sleeky creation of others’ naivete How eggy Thrawn -Robert Jordan, Lampang, Thailand (alfiesdad ymail.com) Make your own anagrams and animations. Limericks despotocracy Despotocracy, it would appear, Has upended democracy here! With a madman in charge And ICE agents at large, Many innocents now live in fear. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Democracy hangs by a thread. For Trump now is king, in his head. Despotocracy rules By incompetent fools, So that nothing awaits us but dread. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) When Homer was writing The Odyssey, Ancient Greece was not yet a democracy. Then they figured things out, Yet today Repubs shout, “All hail Donald! Bring back despotocracy!” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Said Stormy, “Though lacking in modesty, I still have a talent for prophecy. The way that you bully, Not pleasing me fully, Will lead to a Trump despotocracy.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) verbicide We really must have a new guide, Not someone who often has lied. Trump and his team Constantly stream Nothing but pure verbicide. Peter V. Weston, Houston, Texas (pvweston2 gmail.com) Though a positive meaning it had, Being woke is now thought of as bad. Awareness once cheered, Republicans smeared, And such verbicide makes me feel sad. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) A most bellicose fellow is he, Who is craving a peace prize, you see. If peace now means war, Perhaps he will score -- But that’s verbicide, don’t you agree? -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Says the Trump team, “Renee Good was bad.” And their twisting of words makes me mad. For I cannot abide, All the verbicide tried, When it changes the meanings, egad! -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “If elected, I’ll crack down on verbicide, As president casting no word aside!” Promised Anu. “My pen Will make speech great again!” But illiterates couldn’t that nerd abide. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) agnotology This official who cultivates doubt I believe is abusing his clout. Agnotology means Some refuse the vaccines, And no longer is measles wiped out. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Trump has captured the media, hence It’s farewell now to all common sense. Agnotology took Over chapter and book; The downfall was quick and immense! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) “Nancy Reagan once ruled with astrology, While James Garfield believed in phrenology,” Said RFK Junior. “But I’m even loonier: No science! Instead, agnotology!” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) antithalian Antithalians hate having fun, And their company most people shun. Take a word from the wise -- Here’s what I would advise: Don’t you ever get married to one. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) There once was a cheerful Australian, Whose spouse was a grim antithalian. While one would have fun, The other had none, Despising affairs bacchanalian. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) “G’day mate, no one here’s antithalian,” At the footie match said the Australian. Here we live to ’ave fun! Fancy outfits? Got none! We wear jeans till they’re tatterdemalion!” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) renitent Despite all the experts’ advice, Our leader thinks tariffs are nice. He’s a renitent guy, And his attitude’s why The world is now paying the price. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) What a renitent guy is our Jess! So principled! Hard as you press If he feels that he’s right And he’s in a fair fight Not for anything will he digress! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) The minister lectured his flock, “Don’t answer when Satan does knock. Be resolute, renitent, Honestly penitent, Letting your faith be your rock.” -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) The protestors up against ICE, Should follow this crucial advice. Stay renitent, strong, Like the Bruce Springsteen song, So democracy won’t pay the price. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) Minnesotans, keep on being renitent! On Judgment Day, ICE will be penitent! You’ve lost two we hold dear, But the midterms are near, And we’ll soon be impeaching the president! -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Puns Famous for its healing waters, the town became even more popular when the weed cartel moved in, establishing a Lour-despotocracy. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Nothing wrong with dropping an f-bomb now and then, but let’s set the verbicide in favor of adjectival forms such as -ing, -ed, etc.,” said the linguistics professor. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) She was an expert in n-agnotology, the practice of constantly criticizing lazy husbands. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “Positive to positive repels, but positive to negative attracts,” explained the professor of m-agnotology. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “With antithalian to our species, I would consider a career other than dentistry,” the colony’s guidance counselor told the youth. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “For poor child-renitent is plenty,” said Donald’s Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Let America be America again. / Let it be the dream it used to be. ... / Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed - / Let it be that great strong land of love / Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme / That any man be crushed by one above. -Langston Hughes, poet and novelist (1 Feb 1902-1967)

We need your help Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere Donate