Episode Overview

Podcast: Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day
Episode: Multitudinous
Date: December 14, 2025
Host: Peter Sokolowski (for Merriam-Webster)

This episode explores the word "multitudinous," delving into its definitions, usage, nuances, and etymological significance. The host, Peter Sokolowski, provides insightful examples and notable literary references to illustrate the richness of the word.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Definition and Spelling

• [00:42]
  • "Today's word is multitudinous, spelled M-U-L-T-I-T-U-D-I-N-O-U-S. Multitudinous is an adjective."
  • The word is formal and directly relates to multitudes.

2. Meanings of "Multitudinous"

• Multitudinous has three core meanings, all involving concepts of vastness or abundance:
  • "It can mean existing in a great multitude—that is, very many."
  • "Or including a multitude of individuals."
  • "Or existing in or consisting of innumerable elements or aspects."

3. Example of Usage in Context

• [01:18]
  • Quote from Forbes by Natasha Gural:
    "Launched as Holton's artistic inquiry into his own Chinese heritage, the project has evolved into a profound examination of family dynamics, modern migration and cultural hybridity in contemporary New York, where the American identity is multitudinous."

4. Literary Reference – Walt Whitman

• [01:39]
  • Host references Walt Whitman to explain the emotional and conceptual scope of the word:
    • "I am large, I contain multitudes. So wrote Walt Whitman."
    • Whitman expresses the idea of holding contradictory elements within oneself—a theme summarized with the word "multitudinous."
    • "Another, if less poetic way of saying 'I contain multitudes' might be 'I am multitudinous.'"

5. Usage Notes

• [02:15]
  • "Multitudinous doesn't have a lot of meanings, three to be exact, but each one concerns, well, a lot. In addition to serving Whitmanesque purposes...multitudinous is the kind of highly expressive word that you can rely upon when you want something a little more emphatic than plain old numerous, as in 'multitudinous possibilities.'"
  • Its original sense: "a synonym of the word populous, meaning including a multitude of individuals, as in 'the multitudinous city.'"

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:39] Peter Sokolowski:
  "I am large, I contain multitudes. So wrote Walt Whitman."

• [01:55] Peter Sokolowski:
  "Another, if less poetic way of saying 'I contain multitudes' might be 'I am multitudinous.'"

• [02:23] Peter Sokolowski:
  "Multitudinous is the kind of highly expressive word that you can rely upon when you want something a little more emphatic than plain old numerous, as in 'multitudinous possibilities.'”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:42 – Introduction to "multitudinous": spelling and essential meanings.
• 01:18 – Literary and real-world usage example (Forbes article).
• 01:39 – Walt Whitman quote and its connection to the word.
• 02:15 – Discussion on the expressiveness of "multitudinous" and its original, still-used meaning.

Summary

This episode offers an accessible yet thought-provoking exploration of "multitudinous." The host walks listeners through its definitions—emphasizing its usefulness when a more emphatic alternative to "numerous" is needed. By quoting Walt Whitman and referencing contemporary usage, the episode demonstrates the word's historical depth and its ability to evoke the complexity and abundance of both ideas and populations. Throughout, the tone is engaging and educational, providing listeners with both practical examples and inspiration for adopting the term in their own vocabulary.