Top Ten Words

Miriam Webster has posted the top ten words - the words looked up most often in 2005.

1. integrity
2. refugee
3. contempt
4. filibuster
5. insipid
6. tsunami
7. pandemic
8. conclave
9. levee
10. inept

It's understandable that words in the news like tsunami, pandemic, levee and filibuster would be looked up a lot. But integrity? Has that been in the news much lately? And contempt. What's up with that? And why last year were a lot of people wondering just what insipid means?

Check out the words for 2003 and 2004. I'm sure some will surprise you.

Wouldn't it be cool if the dictionary kept track of the words you look up for you? Then at the end of the month you could quiz yourself.