Merriam-Webster’s Words of the Summer runners-up

Merriam-Webster’s Words of the Summer runners-up

The runners-up to Merriam-Webster’s 2010 Word of the Summer (refudiate), with definitions from the publisher’s dictionary and, when applicable, the news event or story that generated interest in the word:

— Inception: an act, process or instance of beginning.

A movie titled “Inception” and starring Leonardo DiCaprio was released July 16.

— Despicable: deserving to be despised; so worthless or obnoxious as to rouse moral indignation.

An animated comedy called “Despicable Me” opened in theaters July 9.

— Moratorium: a waiting period set by an authority; a suspension of activity.

The Obama administration imposed a six-month deepwater drilling moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico after the deadly Deepwater Horizon rig explosion.

— Austere/austerity: stern and cold in appearance or manner; morally strict, giving little or no scope for pleasure.

Greek officials warned they needed to impose austerity measures to overhaul the country’s economy and pull itself out of a debt crisis that nearly led to its bankruptcy.

— Cacophony: harsh or discordant sound.

Plastic horns known as vuvuzelas provided an earsplitting buzz at the World Cup soccer games, delighting some fans and infuriating others who said they couldn’t hear over the noise.

— Doppelganger: a ghostly counterpart of a living person; a double or alter ego.

Television host George Stephanopoulos referred to Elizabeth Gilbert as actress Julia Roberts’ doppelganger when Gilbert appeared on “Good Morning America” to discuss the film adaptation — starring Roberts — of her memoir, “Eat, Pray, Love.”

— Opulent: having a large estate or property; wealthy or plentifully provided, often to the point of ostentation.

The word was used in news articles and online by some to describe Chelsea Clinton’s wedding and the New York estate on which it was held.

— Vapid: lacking liveliness, tang, briskness or force.

Before her confirmation as a Supreme Court justice, a 1995 paper surfaced by nominee Elena Kagan in which the law professor called the confirmation process “a vapid and hollow charade.”

— Frugal: characterized by or reflecting economy in the use of resources.

Interest in the word’s definition jumped and has stayed constant as frugality has been discussed in several news stories. Notably, they included an Aug. 20 story in the New York Times headlined, “How to Be Frugal and Still Be Asked on Dates” and reports on California gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown’s vow to run a frugal campaign.

Source: Merriam-Webster.