Here are the meanings of the 10 hardest words that have also been used in Times articles.
1. poinciana — a decorative tree with bright red or orange flowers:
A “healing garden” accessible from the oncology department offers sanctuary in a grove of Indian lilac, red and white frangipani trees and scarlet-blossomed royal poinciana. — 16 Global Design Concepts for an Unpredictable Future (March 28, 2021)
2. canopic — a kind of jar used by ancient Egyptians to store mummified organs:
The giant trove included 100 wooden coffins — some containing mummies interred over 2,500 years ago — 40 statues, amulets, canopic jars and funerary masks. — Egyptology Is Having a Big Moment. But Will Tourists Come? (April 24, 2021)
3. pompano — a prized fish with a forked tail:
The restaurant, Lasa, became instantly popular, a destination for whole fried pompano laced with brown butter and fish sauce, served with mustard greens and a playlist of Isaiah Rashad and Solange Knowles. — For These Brothers, the Real Thanksgiving Feast Is a Filipino Breakfast. (Nov. 19, 2018)
4. bandanna — a large handkerchief, often worn around the hair, face or neck:
At another point, they talked about the presence of pepper spray in the air, and people around them could be heard coughing on Mr. Munchel’s recording. He told his mother to cover her face with a bandanna because “it’s going to get spicy.” — ‘Zip Tie Guy’ and His Mother Get Prison Terms in Jan. 6 Riot (Sept. 9, 2023)
5. noncom — noncommissioned officer, an enlisted soldier given leadership responsibilities:
In fact, most of the noncom and middle-level officers Mr. Kaplan meets in the Philippines do not speak in terms of “saving” or “improving” the country. — U.S. on Front Lines and in Backwaters (Sept. 23, 2005)
6. cioppino — a seafood stew typically made with crab, and a San Francisco hallmark:
Other honorable mentions: San Francisco sourdough, almonds, In-N-Out Burger, Dungeness crab, Napa Valley wines, acorn flour, Santa Maria tri-tip and cioppino. (Sadly, not a single person wrote in about raisins.) — Here’s What You Picked to Be California’s State Food (April 20, 2023)
The next three words were also on last week’s list:
7. hamate — a small, wedge-shaped bone in the wrist:
Swinging a conventional bat can cause damage to the hamate bone, one of the bones on the side of the hand above the pinkie. The injury has put dozens of players out of action. — New Kind of Baseball Bat Is Tapered for Safety and Comfort (June 29, 2013)
8. bilabial — articulated with both lips:
One of the most recent sounds to win a symbol was the bilabial click, used in two African languages. The labiodental flap is much more widely used but took longer to be recognized. — With Sound From Africa, the Phonetic Alphabet Expands (Dec. 13, 2005)
9. mammon — wealth that has a corrupting influence:
In this Amazon satire, science can back up human consciousness to disk before death, allowing people to spend eternity in one of several virtual luxury resorts — for a price. (Some people still believe in a religious afterlife, but those with the cash would rather not risk it. Mammon has taken God’s market share.) — Life Is More Like a Simulation. On These Shows, So Is Death. (May 19, 2020)
And finally:
10. monomaniac — someone excessively focused on one thing:
Something about the last few weeks has made me long for a big orange monomaniac to dominate my attention. Maybe he could have a high opinion of himself despite his evident flaws. — How Garfield Helped Me Make Peace With a Culture in Decline (Feb. 16, 2021)
The list of the week’s easiest words:
Eve Washington, Josh Katz and Tom Giratikanon
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