Thread by @MerriamWebster

As a gift to our friends (you) in a time of crisis, we’ll be keeping a thread here of beautiful, obscure, and often quite useless words.

(Compiled by our in-house expert in pointless vocab @ammonshea.)

1. 'Solivagant': rambling alone : marked by solitary wandering
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sol…

2. 'Filipendulous': suspended by or strung upon a thread
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fil…

3. 'Flingee': one at whom anything is flung
(Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd Ed., 1989)

4. 'Jentacular': pertaining to breakfast
(Webster’s New International Dictionary, 2nd Ed., 1934)

5. 'Cacography': bad handwriting
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cac…

6. 'Deipnosophist': a person skilled in table talk
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dei…

7. 'Scripturient': having a strong urge to write
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scr…

8. 'Penultimatum': a demand or proposal approaching an ultimatum
(Webster’s New International Dictionary, 2nd Ed., 1934)

9. 'Matutinal': of, relating to, or occurring in the morning
rhymes.merriam.com/r/matutinal

Here are some words that rhyme with it.

10. 'Makebate': one that excites contentions and quarrels
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

11. 'Acersecomicke': one whose hair was never cut
(Henry Cockeram, English Dictionarie, 1623)

12. 'Empleomania': a mania for holding public office
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

13. 'Bêtise': an act of foolishness or stupidity
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bet…

14. 'Patrizate': to imitate one's father or forebears
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pat…

15. 'Catillate': to licke dishes
(Henry Cockeram, English Dictionarie, 1623)

This one gets bonus points for having an obsolete spelling in the definition of the obsolete word.

16: 'Tongue-hero': a self-professed hero; a braggart
(Webster’s New International Dictionary, 2nd Ed., 1934)

17. 'Noctivagant': going about in the night : night-wandering
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/noc…

18. 'Agathokakological': composed of both good and evil
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

19. 'Cachinnate': to laugh loudly or immoderately
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cac…

20. 'Peristeronic': of or relating to pigeons
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

21. 'Abligurition': a prodigal spending in Belly-Cheer
(Nathan Bailey, An universal etymological English dictionary, 1724)

22. 'Bellycheer': gratification of the belly : gluttony
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bel…

23. 'Sarcast': an adept in sarcasm : a sarcastic person
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sar…

24. 'Shot-clog': a bore tolerated only because he pays the charge for others
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sho…

25: 'Philostorgie': the love of parents towards their children”
(Thomas Blount, Glossographia, 1656)

26: 'Frivol': to act frivolously : trifle
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fri…

27. 'Smell-feast': one given to finding out and getting invited to good feasts; a parasite, sponger
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

28. 'Sialoquent': that spits much in his speech
(Thomas Blount, Glossographia, 1656)

29. 'Murmuration': the utterance of low continuous sounds or complaining noises merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mur…

30. 'Redame': to love in return
(Webster’s New International Dictionary, 2nd Ed., 1934)

31. 'Opsimath': a person who begins to learn late in life
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ops…

32. 'Pessimum': the least favorable environmental condition under which an organism can survive
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

33. 'Ucalegon': a next-door neighbor, or a neighbor whose house is on fire
(Webster’s New International Dictionary, 2nd Ed., 1934)

This one kinda goes from zero to sixty.

34. 'Manuductive': leading by or as if by the hand
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/man…

35. 'Conjubilant': shouting together with joy
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

36. 'Nastify': to make nasty; to spoil
(Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd Ed.)

37. 'Objectee': one that is objected to
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obj…

38. 'Debacchate': to revile one after the manner of drunkards
(Henry Cockeram, English Dictionarie, 1623)

39. 'Recogitate': to think over again
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rec…

40. 'Pot-valiant': bold or courageous under the influence of alcoholic drink
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pot…

41. 'Cacozealous': ill affected, or badly imitating
(Edmund Phillips, The New World of English Words, 1658)

42. 'Peccability': capability of sinning
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pec…

43. 'Apatheia': freedom or release from emotion or excitement
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apa…

44. 'Acnestis': the part of the back (or backbone) between the shoulder blades and the loins which an animal cannot reach to scratch
(Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd ed.)
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

45. 'All-overish':
1. vaguely uneasy
2. slightly indisposed
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all…

46. 'Routineer': one that adheres to or insists on routine
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rou…

47. 'Perpotation': ordinarie drunkenesse
(Henry Cockeram, English Dictionarie, 1623)

#NationalBeerDay

48. 'Saeva indignatio': ‘Savage indignation’, a feeling of contemptuous rage at human folly.
(Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd ed.)

49. 'Backfriend': a seeming friend who is secretly an enemy
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

50. 'Pernoctate': to stay up or out all night
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/per…

51. 'Novercal': of, relating to, or characteristic of a stepmother
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nov…

52. 'Roorback': a defamatory falsehood published for political effect merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roo…

53. 'Ultracrepidarian': one who is presumptuous and offers advice or opinions beyond one’s sphere of knowledge
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

54. 'Nidorosity': eructation (an act of belching) with the taste of undigested roast-meat
(Samuel Johnson, A Dictionary of the English Language, 1755)

55. 'Antithalian': opposed to festivities
(Webster’s New International Dictionary, 2nd Ed., 1934)

56. 'Anecdotage': garrulous old age
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ane…

57. 'Abirritate': to decrease the irritability of
(Webster’s New International Dictionary, 2nd Ed., 1934)

58. 'Amatorculist': a little insignificant lover; a pretender to affection
(Samuel Johnson, A Dictionary of the English Language, 1755)

59. 'Job's comforter': a person who discourages or depresses while seemingly giving comfort and consolation
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Job…

60. 'Fleshment': excitement associated with a successful beginning merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

61. 'Capitulant': one that capitulates
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cap…

62. 'Accismus': the pretended refusal of something one keenly desires
(Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd ed.)

63. 'Mundivagant': wandering over the world
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

64. 'Barbermonger': a man who is devoted to or vain about his appearance or dress merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bar…

65. 'Prefestinate': to make too much haste
(Henry Cockeram, English Dictionarie, 1623)

66. 'Jackassery': a piece of stupidity or folly
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jac…

67. 'Maritality': excessive fondness of a wife for her husband
(Webster’s New International Dictionary, 2nd Ed., 1934)

68. 'Serendipitist': one who finds valuable or agreeable things not sought for merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ser…

69. 'Snickersnee'
- to engage in cut-and-thrust fighting with knives
- a large knife
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

70. 'Paracme': a point or period at which the prime or highest vigour is past; (in early use) spec. - the point when the crisis of a fever is past.
(Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd ed.)

71. 'Spanghew': to throw violently into the air; especially, to throw (a frog) into the air from the end of a stick merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

72. 'Neighborstained': stained with the blood of neighbors
(Webster’s New International Dictionary, 2nd Ed., 1934)

73. 'Apiculate': ending abruptly in a small distinct point
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

74. 'Smaragdine': yellowish green in color like an emerald
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

75. 'Consopition': a lulling to sleep
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

76. 'Sloomy': sleepy, sluggish
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

77. 'Psittaceous': like a parrot
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psi…

78. 'Pennyweighter': a thief that steals jewelry by substituting a fake for a valuable piece merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

79. 'Alluvium': clay, silt, sand, gravel, or similar detrital material deposited by running water merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

80. 'Chevelure': a head of hair
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

81. 'Backspang': a trick or loophole that enables one to retreat from a bargain
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bac…

82. 'Slantindicular': somewhat oblique
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

83. 'Raucity': the state of being raucous
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rau…

84. 'Lip-worshiper': one that worships in utterance only : one affirming devotion or fidelity without corresponding action
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lip…

85. 'Happify': to make happy
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hap…

86. 'Antipelargy': “the reciprocal love of children to their Parents, or (more generally) any requital or mutual kindness”
(Thomas Blount, Glossographia, 1656)

87. 'Infelicific': productive of unhappiness
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inf…

88. 'Hircine': resembling a goat in smell
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

89. 'Averuncate': “to take away that which hurts, to weed”
(Henry Cockeram, English Dictionarie, 1623)

90. 'Anonymuncule': an insignificant anonymous writer
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

91. 'Artophagous': bread-eating
(Webster’s New International Dictionary, 2nd Ed., 1934)

92. 'Backslide': to lapse morally or in the practice of religion
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bac…

93. 'Barbatulous': having but a small beard
(Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed.)

94. 'Agelast': a person who never laughs
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

95. 'Ambitionist': one excessively ambitious
(Webster’s New International Dictionary, 2nd Ed., 1934)

96. 'Satisfice': to pursue the minimum satisfactory condition or outcome merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

97. 'Yeuky': itchy
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

98. 'Apricitie': “The warmenes of the Sunne in winter”
(Henry Cockeram, English Dictionarie, 1623)

99. 'Ramulose': having many small branches
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ram…

100. 'Gaincope': to meet or intercept by a short cut
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gai…

101. 'Ugsome': frightful, loathsome
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ugs…

102. 'Malobservation': erroneous observation or interpretation merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mal…

103. 'Calefaction': the state of being warmed
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cal…

104. 'Leucocholy': a state of feeling that accompanies preoccupation with trivial and insipid diversions
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

105. 'Quasquicentennial': a 125th anniversary
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/qua…

106. 'Mordacious': biting or sharp in manner or style : caustic merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mor…

107. 'Insurgescence': tendency to make insurrection
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ins…

108. 'Desticate': “To cry like a rat”
(Henry Cockeram, English Dictionarie, 1623)

109. 'Hamartia': a defect of character : error, guilt, or sin especially of the tragic hero in a literary work
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ham…

You've had three months to prepare for this quiz. The cheat sheet is right in front of you. Can you ace it?
merriam-webster.com/word-games/use…

110. 'Gobemouche': a credulous person; especially: one who believes everything he or she hears
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

111. 'Impedimenta': things that impede or hinder progress or movement; especially : baggage, equipment, or supplies
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

112. 'Jocoserious': mingling mirth and seriousness
(Webster’s New International Dictionary, 2nd Ed., 1934)

113. 'Mediocrist': a person of no outstanding distinction
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/med…

114. 'Forplaint': wearied with complaining
(Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed.)

115. 'Homodox': having the same opinion
(Webster’s New International Dictionary, 2nd Ed., 1934)

116. 'Imparadise': to make supremely happy, transport with delight or joy
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

117. 'Logomachist': one given to dispute over or about words merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

118. 'Backlotter': one who raises poultry or rabbits on a small lot, usually a back lot merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

119. 'Lowery': gloomy, lowering merriam-webster.com/dictionary/low…

120. 'Natation': the action or art of swimming
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nat…

121. 'Malversation': misbehavior and especially corruption in an office, trust, or commission merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mal…

122. 'Inhesion': the condition of being inherent in something merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inh…

123. 'Estivo-autumnal': relating to or occurring in the summer and autumn merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

124. 'Unclubbable': having or showing a disinclination for social activity : unsociable merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

125. 'Abactor': one who steals cattle
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

126. 'Father-waur': worse than one's father
(Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd ed.)

127. 'Antipathize' - to feel or show antipathy
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ant…

128. 'Groak': to look on silently—like a dog—at people while they are eating, hoping to be asked to eat a bit
(P. W. Joyce, English as We Speak it in Ireland, 1910)
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

129. 'Mussitate': to speak through the teeth
(Henry Cockeram, An English Dictionarie, 1623)

130. 'Pandiculation': a stretching and stiffening especially of the trunk and extremities (as when fatigued and drowsy or after waking from sleep) merriam-webster.com/medical/pandic…

131. 'Satisdiction': the condition of having said enough
(Webster’s New International Dictionary, 2nd Ed., 1934)

132. 'Corruptionist' - one who practices or defends corruption especially in politics merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cor…

133. 'Cicatrizant' - promoting the healing of a wound or the formation of a cicatrix merriam-webster.com/medical/cicatr…

134. 'Macrologie': Long and tedious talke
(John Bullokar, An English Expositor, 1616)

135. 'Réclame': public attention or acclaim not necessarily based on or proportionate to real value or achievement
(M-W Unabridged)

136. 'Beneficence': the quality or state of doing or producing good merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ben…

137. 'Ballon d’essai' - trial balloon; a project or scheme tentatively announced in order to test public opinion merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bal…

138. 'Callosity': lack of feeling or capacity for emotion
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

139. 'Anedged': Of teeth: set on edge; acutely irritated or discomforted
(Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd Edition)

140. 'Disobligation': an act that purposely inconveniences or offends merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dis…

141. 'Emporte': Irritated beyond self possession
(Webster’s Second International Dictionary, 1934)

142. 'Vulpinate': to play the Fox; to deceive with crafty wiles or deceits
(Thomas Blount, Glossographia, 1656)

143. 'Emporte': Irritated beyond self possession
(Webster’s Second International Dictionary, 1934)

144. 'Pestiferous': dangerous to society; pernicious
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pes…

145. 'Supperasitate': to flatter one for a meales meat
(Henry Cockeram, The English Dictionary, 1623)

146. 'Singularitie': Private opinion, a desire to be odde from other men
(John Bullokar, An English Expositor, 1616)

147. 'Spoilsmonger': one who promises or distributes public offices and their emoluments as the reward of services to a party or its leaders
(Merriam-Webster Second International Dictionary, 1934)

148. 'Grudgeful': harboring a grudge; full of resentment merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gru…

149. 'Inaffable': unpleasant in conversation
(Nathan Bailey, Dictionarium Britannicum, 1730)

150. 'Evagation': a wandering of the mind
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eva…

151. 'Connivance': corrupt or guilty assent to wrongdoing that involves knowledge of and failure to prevent or oppose it but no actual participation in it merriam-webster.com/dictionary/con…

152. 'Circumforaneous': going about from market to market
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cir…

153. 'Crapulence': sickness occasioned by intemperance (as in food or drink) merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

154. 'Blatherskite': voluble nonsensical or inconsequential talk or writing merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

155. 'Pie-counter': a political patronage or spoils especially when regarded as venal or corrupt merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pie…

156. 'Psychrophilic': thriving at a relatively low temperature
merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/…

157. 'Unparadiz'd': brought from joy to miserie
(Henry Cockeram, The English Dictionary, 1623)

158. 'Epicharikaky': a joy for the misfortune of others

(Joseph Nicol Scott, A New Universal Etymological English Dictionary, 1755)

159. 'Quiddity': the essential nature or ultimate form of something : what makes something to be the type of thing that it is

(Merriam-Webster Unabridged)

160. 'Fantod': a state of irritability and tension
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fan…

161. 'Jovialist': one having a jovial disposition
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jov…

162. 'Juberous': doubtful and hesitating
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jub…

163. 'Ebriosity': habitual intoxication
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ebr…

164. 'Jubilize': to rejoice
merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jub…

165. 'Gollar': (*chiefly Scottish*) : an outburst of hasty words merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gol…

177. 'Podsnappery': an attitude toward life marked by complacency and a refusal to recognize unpleasant facts

merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pod…