Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day — "Doughty"

Date: November 11, 2025
Host: Peter Sokolowski

Episode Overview

Today’s episode features the word “doughty”, diving into its meaning, pronunciation, etymology, and possible sources of confusion. Merriam-Webster’s expert, Peter Sokolowski, guides listeners through not only the usage but also common pronunciation pitfalls and mnemonic hooks.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Definition and Usage

• "Doughty" (adjective): Brave, strong, and determined; possessing courage or persistence, often with an old-fashioned flavor.
• Modern Example Usage:

  “The film chooses to render our doughty heroes' super costumes as cerulean blue roll neck sweaters, which is a puzzling choice both aesthetically and practically. Knitwear seems literally ill fitted to derring do.”
  — Glenn Weldon, NPR
  (01:00)

• Peter explains that "doughty" is a term rarely used in everyday conversation, imparting an old-timey seriousness or strength to its subject.

2. Etymology

• "Doughty" is traced all the way back to the Old English word dotich.
• The word’s continued usage in English demonstrates its perseverance over the centuries.

3. Pronunciation Guidance

• Potential Confusion:
  Although spelled similarly to "bought" or "sought," it is pronounced like the word "doubt": /ˈdaʊ-ti/ (dow-tee).
• Historical Note:

  "Over the centuries, doughty's spelling was sometimes confused with that of the now obsolete word ‘doubty’ (d-o-u-b-t-y), meaning 'full of doubt,’ which could be the reason we have the pronunciation we use today."
  — Peter Sokolowski (01:38)

4. Doughty vs. Dowdy

• Homophone Alert:
  “Dowdy” (/ˈdaʊ-di/), unlike “doughty,” means "having a dull or uninteresting appearance."
• Memory Trick:

  "You can't spell doughty with a 't' without the letters in tough (t-o-u-g-h), meaning physically and emotionally strong."
  — Peter Sokolowski (02:00)
  This helps listeners anchor the meaning of “doughty” with the idea of toughness, both physically and emotionally.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the word’s lasting significance:

  "There's no doubt that the word doughty has persevered in the English language."
  — Peter Sokolowski (01:22)

• On pronunciation origins:

  “Over the centuries, doughty’s spelling was sometimes confused with that of the now obsolete word ‘doubty,’ meaning full of doubt, which could be the reason we have the pronunciation we use today, the homophonous ‘dowdy.’”
  — Peter Sokolowski (01:38)

• On avoiding confusion:

  “An easy way to remember the difference is that you can't spell doughty with a t without the letters in tough — meaning physically and emotionally strong.”
  — Peter Sokolowski (02:00)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:42] — Introduction of the Word and Example Sentence
• [01:00] — "Doughty" in Context (CNN/NPR quotation)
• [01:22] — Word's Endurance and Etymology
• [01:38] — Pronunciation Peculiarities and Origin
• [02:00] — Homophones and Memory Aids

Episode Tone and Style

Peter Sokolowski’s tone is friendly, engaging, and gently instructive, maintaining Merriam-Webster’s tradition of combining scholarship with accessibility.

Summary Takeaway

“Doughty” is a robust, slightly archaic word denoting bravery and grit. Its pronunciation is counterintuitive, echoing the word “doubt” rather than “dough.” Listeners are given historical, linguistic, and practical tips for distinguishing “doughty” from its lookalike and soundalike cousins, all in under 120 seconds.