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  1. 💤 Sleeping Symbol emoji

    The Sleeping Symbol emoji 💤 depicts three, generally blue Z's increasing in size as they rise to the right. It is variously used to represent sleeping, dreaming, snoring, tiredness, exhaustion, or boredom.
  2. 💙 Blue Heart emoji

    The Blue Heart emoji 💙 depicts a classic representation of a heart, colored blue. It can be used to express love, support, admiration, happiness, and excitement—particularly toward various things that have some relation to the…
  3. “Dissent” vs. “Protest”: Why Choosing The Right Word Matters

    Demonstrations against racism and police brutality have put the words dissent and protest at the center of our vocabulary this year. Dictionary.com has seen a surge of interest in these words, which speak to their relevance to our current times. The death of George Floyd—a Black man who was killed after a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes—has inspired worldwide protests that continue …

  4. long-hauler

    A long-hauler is a person who suffers from symptoms of COVID-19 for longer than two weeks, and generally for several months. The experience of such persistent symptoms of COVID-19 are sometimes referred to as long…
  5. headshot of Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, green filter.

    “Infamous” vs. “Notorious”: Which One Is Better?

    Thanks to clicks, likes, and verified blue checkmarks, a person’s reputation can extend far beyond those who know them personally. For example, it’s widely known that Chris Evans is a real-life Captain America who holds doors open for people, and we all acknowledge that Beyoncé is a goddess among us mere mortals. Speaking of superpowers, before she passed away on September 18, 2020, Supreme Court …

  6. What’s Wrong With The Word “Addict”?

    The word addict has been around in English since at least the 1500s, adapted from the Latin addictus, meaning “assigned, surrendered.” But the way we talk about people with addiction is changing, and here at Dictionary.com, we’re changing along with it. In a major update to Dictionary.com, our lexicographers have replaced all instances of addict used as a noun with “a person addicted to” or …

  7. sickening

    Originating in and popularized by drag culture, sickening means “amazing,” “wonderful,” or “excellent.” It is especially used to compliment a drag queen as looking “extremely attractive" or "flawless."
  8. Are These COVID-19 Words The Worst To Come Out Of The Pandemic?

    What a year 2020 has been—and it’s not even over yet! With any new global event, new words tend to pop up, for better or worse, and the COVID-19 pandemic is no exception. We know many of the world’s greatest debates are held forth, of course, on Twitter. What color was that dress: blue or gold? (Definitely blue.) After watching Tiger King, did you realize …

  9. Light green background with dark green centered text that reads lavendar ceiling

    lavender ceiling

    Lavender ceiling is a glass ceiling specifically imposed on LGBTQ people: an unofficial upper limit to their professional advancement. Lavender ceilings are the result of systemic bias and discrimination against LGBTQ people in the workplace…
  10. rim job

    A rim job is sexual slang for performing oral sex on someone's anus.
  11. Patriot Prayer

    Patriot Prayer is a small, right-wing political group most active in the Pacific Northwest. Frequently showing up to demonstrations armed, Patriot Prayer has been involved in inciting violence with left-wing activists, notably in Portland, Oregon.…
  12. The Signature Words Of President Trump