jaundiced

Summary

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Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: "jaundiced" — June 25, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Merriam-Webster explores the adjective "jaundiced," discussing its meaning, origins, and interesting usage. The word is unpacked both in its contemporary figurative sense and its historical, medical background.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Definition and Usage

• "Jaundiced" is an adjective describing someone "showing or influenced by feelings of distrust, distaste, hostility."

  • [00:43] “Someone described as jaundiced or as possessing jaundiced opinions or views is typically understood to feel that way because of negative past experiences.” — Peter Sokolowski

• Example in Context:

  • A quote from a local New Jersey retrospective illustrates the term:
    • “Now I’m not accusing the mayor of anything. I’m saying that all of these actions were highly inappropriate for an elected official. I voted for her, but will forevermore look at her actions with a jaundiced eye.” [01:13]

Playful Wordplay

• The host encourages not to judge the word "jaundiced" unfairly:

  • “Cast not a jaundiced eye on the word jaundiced. And by that we mean don’t dislike or distrust the word jaundiced just because of past experiences with the word or others like it.” [01:30]

• He extends the usage to everyday personalities:

  • “Jaundiced is handy for describing the grumps among us who tend toward envy, aversion, or hostility. And who doesn’t know a few of those?” [01:44]

Etymology and Historical Roots

• The word’s journey through history:

  • “This useful 17th century adjective comes from an also useful 14th century noun, jaundice, that still refers to a medical condition in which excess biopigments in the bloodstream and body tissues cause a person's skin to turn yellow.” [01:50]

• Explains the figurative connection:

  • “The connection between the physical condition and the bad attitude lies in the physiological theory of the bodily humors, which holds that a hostile, irritable temperament is caused by excess yellow bile in one's body.” [02:09]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [00:43] “Jaundiced is an adjective. It means showing or influenced by feelings of distrust, distaste, hostility.”
• [01:13] “I voted for her, but will forevermore look at her actions with a jaundiced eye.” — Usage example from Collingswood retrospective
• [01:30] “Cast not a jaundiced eye on the word jaundiced.”
• [02:09] “The connection between the physical condition and the bad attitude lies in the physiological theory of the bodily humors…”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:43] — Introduction of “jaundiced” and definition
• [01:13] — Real-world sentence example
• [01:30] — Encouragement to embrace the word playfully
• [01:50] — Etymology, historical and medical roots
• [02:09] — Bodily humors and figurative connection

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Language & Tone

The episode is concise, informative, and lightly playful, mixing scholarly insight with friendly encouragement to enrich listeners’ vocabularies:
“Who doesn’t know a few of those?” — A gentle nudge to apply the word "jaundiced" to everyday life.

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With your word of the day, I’m Peter Sokolowski.

Transcript

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

It's Merriam Webster's word of the day for June 25th.

[C]

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[B]

today's word is jaundiced. Spelled J A U N D I C E D. Jaundiced is an adjective. It means showing or influenced by feelings of distrust, distaste, hostility. Someone described as jaundiced or as possessing jaundiced opinions or views is typically understood to feel that way because of negative past experiences. Here's the word used in a sentence from the retrospect of Collingswood, New Jersey. Now I'm not accusing the mayor of anything. I'm saying that all of these actions were highly inappropriate for an elected official. I voted for her, but will forevermore look at her actions with a jaundiced eye. Cast not a jaundiced eye on the word jaundiced. And by that we mean don't dislike or distrust the word jaundiced just because of past experiences with the word or others like it. Jaundiced is handy for describing the grumps among us who tend toward envy, aversion, or hostility. And who doesn't know a few of Those? This useful 17th century adjective comes from an also useful 14th century noun, jaundice, that still refers to a medical condition in which excess biopigments in the bloodstream and body tissues cause a person's skin to turn yellow. The connection between the physical condition and the bad attitude lies in the physiological theory of the bodily humors, which holds that a hostile, irritable temperament is caused by excess yellow bile in one's body. With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski.

[A]

Visit Merriam Webster.com today for definitions, wordplay and trending. Word lookups.