The Words You Should Know to Sound Smart

by Bobbi Bly

  meliorism (mel-ee-OR-iz-um), noun

  A philosophy of optimism that says the world is gradually improving through divine intervention or human effort—or both.

  Thomas Hardy’s philosophy was distinctly MELIORIST because he believed ultimately in the goodness of humankind.

  mellifluous (meh-LIH-flu-us), adjective

  Music, speech, or other sound that is sweet and pleasant to listen to.

  The MELLIFLUOUS tones of his voice brought Martin many high-paying gigs for voice-overs.

  mendacity (Men-DAH-sit-tee), noun

  A tendency toward or habit of being a dishonest person.

  “The human condition is composed of unequal parts of courage, friendship, ethics, self-sacrifice, brutality, degeneracy, and MENDACITY.” – Harlan Ellison, American author

  mendicant (MEN-dih-kant), adjective

  A monk who does not own property or, more broadly, anyone who asks for alms and begs to support himself.

  “The woman who does her job for society inside the four walls of her home must not be considered by her husband or anyone else an economic ‘dependent,’ reaching out her hands in MENDICANT fashion for financial help.” – Mary Gilson, American economist

  mentat (MEN-tat), noun

  A human being capable of performing mental tasks with the accuracy and speed of a computer.

  Our accountant is a veritable MENTAT! Did you see how fast he determined all of our charitable deductions!

  mercurial (mer-KYOOR-ee-uhl), adjective

  Volatile, fickle, and erratic.

  Men always tolerate Natasha’s MERCURIAL nature due to her beauty and her family’s great fortune.

  meretricious (mer-i-TRISH-us), adjective

  Anything done to attract attention in an unseemly or inappropriate fashion.

  His favorite brand of beer used MERETRICIOUS ads—TV commercials showing scantily clad young women—to attract more attention.

  meridian (mer-ID-ee-en), noun

  Any line that runs from north to south on a map or globe.

  He sailed his yacht straight along a MERIDIAN to the Arctic Circle.

  meritocracy (mer-ih-TOK-ruh-see), noun

  Government or leadership by people having great merit, rather than by people with great wealth.

  Corporate leadership in a family-owned business is determined by nepotism, not MERITOCRACY.

  meritorious (mair-uh-TORE-ee-uhss), adjective

  Worthy of praise or reward.

  “Arrogance on the part of the MERITORIOUS is even more offensive to us than the arrogance of those without merit: for merit itself is offensive.” – Friedrich Nietzsche, nineteenth-century German philosopher

  metachromasis (meh-tah-CROWM-ah-sis), noun

  The phenomenon of different substances becoming different colors and shades when stained by the same dye.

  An identical cotton blend was used in the entire lot of shirts to avoid METACHROMASIS ruining the color.

  metaphor (MEH-tah-for), noun

  A sentence or phrase in which a word ordinarily associated with one thing is applied to something else, to indicate that in some way they are similar.

  “If we are a METAPHOR of the universe, the human couple is the metaphor par excellence, the point of intersection of all forces and the seed of all forms.” – Octavio Paz Lozano, Mexican writer, poet, and diplomat

  metaphysics (met-a-FIZ-iks), noun

  The study of arguments, thoughts, and principles based primarily on thinking and abstract reasoning rather than hard facts that can be demonstrated through physical evidence.

  “During my METAPHYSICS final, I cheated by looking into the soul of the person sitting next to me.” – Woody Allen, American film director, writer, and comedian

  metastasize (meh-TA-sti-size), verb

  The tendency of cancer cells to spread from a tumor throughout the body.

  Byron’s ugly nature quickly METASTASIZED in our group, as he spread lies and gossip among more and more of our social contacts.

  metallism (MEH-tah-liz-um), noun

  The belief that money must either be made of precious metal or backed by precious metal held in reserve—usually gold or silver.

  Richard Nixon abolished the gold standard for U.S. currency, and METALLISM declined as a result.

  mete (MEET), verb

  To distribute or allot.

  After Elyssia ran up several of her father’s platinum cards, he METED out substantial punishment for her by not allowing her to shop at exclusive boutiques for an entire week.

  meticulous (meh-TICK-yuh-luhss), adjective

  Extremely precise; fussy.

  The overly METICULOUS maître d’ made us self-conscious and detracted from our enjoyment of the meal.

  métier (MAY-tee-yay), noun

  One’s occupation, profession, field of work, etc.

  Since her family started one of Wall Street’s most profitable houses, it’s only natural that Ellen’s MÉTIER would be finance.

  miasma (my-AZ-mah), noun

  An unhealthy atmosphere or environment; an unpleasant feeling pervading the air.

  “These appearances, which bewilder you, are merely electrical phenomena not uncommon—or it may be there they have their ghastly origin in the rank MIASMA of the tarn” – Edgar Allan Poe, American author and poet

  microcosm (my-kruh-KAHZ-uhm), noun

  A representation of something on a very small scale.

  “Each particle is a MICROCOSM, and faithfully renders the likeness of the world.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, American poet, essayist, and transcendentalist

  mien (MEEN), noun

  A person’s look or manner.

  Dan’s country-bumpkin MIEN effectively hides his shrewd business tactics.

  milieu (mill-YOU), noun

  Surroundings, especially surroundings of a social or cultural nature.

  Poetry readings and coffee shops are not Andrew’s MILIEU of choice.

  millenarianism (mil-uh-NAIR-ee-uhn-ism)), noun

  Any apocalyptic religious, philosophical, or social movement that predicts radical disaster, particularly at the end of the current millenium or the beginning of the new one.

  As they worried about the impact of computer errors on the family fortune during the change from 1999 to 2000, the Cadburys briefly believed in MILLENARIANISM.

  millenium (mil-EN-ee-um), noun

  A period of a thousand years.

  Millicent takes a MILLENIUM to get ready for society balls, but the results, typically, are worth the wait.

  minimalism (MIN-ih-mull-iz-um), noun

  A school of art in which “less is more”—clean and uncluttered paintings; sculpture with simple lines; fiction written in a lean and spare style; and music with uncomplicated scores and minimal instruments.

  John Cage’s MINIMALIST composition 433 consists of four and a half minutes of silence.

  minion (MIN-yuhn), noun

  A follower of someone in an important position.

  “I caught this morning morning’s MINION, king- / dom of daylight’s dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon, in his riding.” – Gerard Manley Hopkins, English poet and Jesuit priest

  minutiae (mih-NOO-shuh), noun

  Small, trifling matters that one encounters on an average day.

  The MINUTIAE of golf, tennis, and spa treatments at the club can become utterly tiresome.

  misanthrope (MISS-anne-throwp), noun

  A person of anti-social nature who dislikes other people and thinks poorly of them until they give him reason not to.

  Harold has become a veritable MISANTHROPE since Anabelle refused to attend the regatta with him.

  misconstrue (miss-kuhn-STROO), verb

  To misinterpret or to take in a wrong sense.

  The disagreement over the price of the yacht was due merely to the fact that David MISCONSTRUED the terms of the offer.

  misogyny (mih-SAHJ-uh-nee), noun

  An intense hatred of women.

  A life
time of rejection had transformed him from a loving person into a rabid MISOGYNIST.

  missive (MISS-iv), noun

  An official or formal letter.

  He sent out a MISSIVE informing all employees that, henceforth, there would be no smoking in their quarters—but he forgot to remove the ashtrays.

  mnemonic (neh-MON-ik), adjective, noun

  A rhyme, sentence, or other word pattern designed to help one memorize facts.

  Roy G. Biv is the MNEMONIC for the colors of a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.

  modernism (MOD-er-nih-zum), noun

  Describes a modern avant-garde style of painting, sculpture, or architecture.

  “Post-modernism is MODERNISM with the optimism taken out.” – Robert Hewison, British historian

  modicum (MOD-ih-kuhm), noun

  A modest amount; a small quantity.

  “To be human is to have one’s little MODICUM of romance secreted away in one’s composition.” – Mark Twain

  moiety (MOY-ih-tee), noun

  A part, portion, or share.

  When I go out to dinner with my wife and kids, I don’t order a meal for myself, as my dinner is a MOIETY from each of theirs.

  monastic (moh-NAS-tik), adjective

  Relating to the practice of withdrawing from society to live a quiet, contemplative life, often dedicated to religious faith.

  Saint Pachomius founded the first organized Christian MONASTIC community.

  monistic (moh-NIS-tik), noun

  The idea that everything—including philosophy, religion, and mysticism—can be reduced to a single substance or explained by a single principle.

  Of course we believe the world is MONISTIC. Wealth is the source of everything in the universe.

  monotheism (MOH-no-THEE-iz-um), noun

  A belief in one omnipotent, omniscient God who is actively involved in the workings of both the physical universe that He created and the society of men who dwell in it.

  Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are all MONOTHEISTIC.

  moot (MOOT), adjective

  A fact or point that is uncertain or no longer relevant.

  Whether to continue injecting growth hormones became a MOOT point as Alex grew from five feet to five-nine in eighteen months.

  morass (muh-RASS), noun

  A confusing or troublesome situation from which it is difficult to disentangle oneself.

  “One idea is enough to organize a life and project it / Into unusual but viable forms, but many ideas merely / Lead one thither into a MORASS of their own good intentions.” – John Ashbery, American poet

  mordantly (MORE-dant-lee), adverb

  To behave in a negative, malicious, or damaging fashion.

  “The ocean looked dead too, dead gray waves hissing MORDANTLY along the beach.” – John Fowles, British novelist and essayist

  mores (MORE-ayz), noun

  The accepted norms of social behavior for the time and society in which you live.

  Grant learned the hard way that MORES vary from country to country when he made the faux pas of trying to shake the hand of the Thai businessman.

  moribund (MOR-ih-bund), adjective

  Lacking vigor; soon to be dead or defunct.

  Ever since its head chef left for the Food Network, that gourmet restaurant has become MORIBUND and is likely to close soon.

  morose (muh-ROHSS), adjective

  Gloomy and ill-humored.

  Now that his parents have taken away his private plane, Anthony has become positively MOROSE.

  motif (mow-TEEF), noun

  A dominant or frequently repeated theme, design, image, or idea.

  The Whittingtons’ china has a diamond-shaped MOTIF that is a testament to how the family made its fortune.

  mot juste (MOW-zshoost), noun

  The perfect word or phrase to communicate precisely what you mean to say.

  Years of elocution lessons have left Paulina capable of leavening every occasion with a suitable MOT JUSTE.

  multifarious (mull-tea-FAH-ree-us), adjective

  Varied, wide-ranging, versatile, covering many different areas or fields.

  Yvonne’s MULTIFARIOUS talents include showing horses, lacrosse, and opera singing.

  multilateral (mull-tea-LAH-terr-ul), adjective

  An agreement or accord requiring two nations or states to take the same position or action on an issue or problem.

  A pacifist, he frequently spoke out for MULTILATERAL nuclear disarmament.

  munificent (myoo-NIFF-uh-suhnt), adjective

  Characterized by great generosity.

  The Pattersons are so MUNIFICENT that they give to charity year-round rather than merely at times when giving offers tax benefits.

  muse (MEWS), noun

  The source of one’s creative or artistic inspiration, named after the mythical Greek Muses said to be patrons of the fine arts.

  “O for a MUSE of fire, that would ascend / The brightest heaven of invention.” – William Shakespeare

  mutable (MYOO-tuh-bull), adjective

  Subject to change at a moment’s notice.

  “For is the same! For, be it joy or sorrow, / The path of its departure still is free: / Man’s yesterday may ne’er be like his morrow; / Nought may endure but MUTABILITY” – Percy Bysshe Shelley, English Romantic poet

  myriad (MIR-ee-ud), noun

  An abundance of possibilities, selections, choices, or options.

  The MYRIAD possibilities inherent in selling her ex-husband’s family diamonds for $10 million boggled Elizabeth’s mind.

  “The comic spirit is given to us

  in order that we may analyze,

  weigh, and clarify things in us

  which NETTLE us, or which

  we are outgrowing, or trying to

  reshape.”

  Thornton Wilder, American

  playwright and novelist

  N

  nacelle (NAY-sell), noun

  The pod-shaped outer hull of an airplane engine.

  Bentley always has his family crest imprinted on the NACELLE of each of his private planes.

  nadir (NAY-der), noun

  Rock-bottom, the lowest of the low, the worst a thing can get or become.

  We always have to attend the Wallingtons’ Christmas party, due to their standing, but, in truth, that dreadfully boring event is always the NADIR of our social calendar.

  nanosecond (NAN-oh-sek-uhnd), noun

  A time period equal to one billionth of a second.

  Amanda’s new diamond-encrusted watch not only has a second hand but also a NANOSECOND hand.

  nascent (NAY-sent), adjective

  Having just been born or invented and still in the early stages of growth and development.

  It’s always amusing to watch the nouveau riche during the NASCENT period of their adjustment to luxury.

  nationalism (NAH-shin-ul-iz-um), noun

  The idea that citizens should take great pride in their country and support it to the hilt; extreme patriotism.

  Albert Einstein called NATIONALISM “the measles of mankind.”

  natter (NAH-ter), verb

  To talk ceaselessly; babble.

  The way Emily NATTERS endlessly about her family’s new yacht is revolting to those of us who have owned several yachts over the years.

  Nebuchadnezzar (neb-yoo-could-NEZ-er), noun

  A king mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible who destroyed Jerusalem and exiled the Israelites to Babylonia.

  “And NEBUCHADNEZZAR was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.” – Daniel 4:33

  nebulous (NEB-yoo-luhs), adjective

  An idea or plan that is vague and not well thought out; ill-defined; lacking concretes.

  Jay’s plans for what he would do when he graduated college were NEBULOUS at best.

  necessitate (nuh-SES
S-ih-tate), verb

  To make necessary; to obligate.

  “Each coming together of man and wife, even if they have been mated for many years, should be a fresh adventure; each winning should NECESSITATE a fresh wooing.” – Marie Carmichael Stopes, British scientist and birth-control pioneer

  necromancy (NEH-kroh-man-see), noun

  The ability to gain new knowledge by communicating with the dead; magic and trickery in general.

  “The so-called science of poll-taking is not a science at all but mere NECROMANCY.” – E. B. White, American author

  nefarious (nih-FARE-ee-us), adjective

  Inherently evil, malicious, and unjust.

  “You were preceded by your NEFARIOUS reputation,” the sheriff said to the gunslinger who had just sidled up to the bar.

  nemesis (nem-UH-sis), noun

  An opponent one is unable to defeat.

  “How wonderful to live with one’s NEMESIS! You may be miserable, but you feel forever in the right.” – Erica Jong, American author and teacher

  neoconservative (NEE-oh-kon-SERVE-ah-tive), noun

  A liberal who has become a conservative.

  We’ve removed Bradley from our list of social contacts because he has become such a NEOCONSERVATIVE.

  neologism (nee-AHL-uh-jizm), noun

  A new word, or an “old” word used in a new way.

  William Shakespeare coined such NEOLOGISMS as “gossip,” “swagger,” and “domineering.”

  neonatal (NEE-oh-NAY-tul), adjective

  Of, or relating to newborn children.

  Honestly, the Atkinsons treat their grown children as though they still require NEONATAL care. No wonder they never get invited to any of our galas.

  neophyte (NEE-uh-fight), noun

  A beginner or novice.

  “Like footmen and upstairs maids, wine stewards are portrayed as acolytes of the privileged, ever eager to intimidate the NEOPHYTE and spurn the unwary.” – Frank J. Prial, former New York Times wine columnist

  nepotism (NEH-poh-tiz-um), noun

  The practice of a business owner or manager giving favorable treatment to his family; e.g., hiring his son for a summer job, giving the company’s advertising work to his wife’s ad agency, etc.