Episode Overview

Podcast: Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day
Episode Title: Titanic
Date: January 4, 2026
Host: Peter Sokolowski

This episode delves into the word "titanic," exploring its meaning, usage, and fascinating etymology. The host illustrates how “titanic” is used in modern contexts and traces the word’s roots back to Greek mythology.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Definition & Usage

• Titanic (adjective):
  “Something described as titanic is very great in size, force, or power.”
  [00:16]

• Contemporary Usage Example:
  The term is used in a scientific context relating to geology and ancient climate events.

  “as the land bounced back from underneath the weight of the now vanished ice sheets, and the gravitational pull of these titanic ice sheets on the oceans disappeared… the seas might have appeared to some Rodinian beachgoers to instead retreat from the coast…”
  (Excerpt from Peter Brannan's "The Story of CO2 is the Story of Everything: How Carbon Dioxide Made Our World")
  [00:25]

Historical and Mythological Origins

• Before “titanic” described the famous ship, it referred generally to something of enormous scale, originally linked to the Greek Titans.

  “Before becoming the name of the most famous ship in history, the word 'titanic' described that which resembled or was related to the Titans, the family of giant gods and goddesses in Greek mythology who were believed to have once ruled the Earth.”
  [00:55]

• The legacy of the Titans, mythic beings of immense power who were supplanted by Zeus and the Olympians, is preserved in the adjective “titanic.”

  “They were subsequently overpowered and replaced by the younger Olympian gods under the leadership of Zeus. The size and power of the Titans is memorialized in the adjective 'titanic' and in the noun 'titanium,’ a chemical element of exceptional strength that is used especially in the production of steel.”
  [01:08]

Linguistic Connections

• The episode briefly links “titanic” to “titanium,” a strong chemical element named for the legendary Titans, reinforcing the association between linguistic meaning and material substance.
  [01:20]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mythology Meets Modern Language

  “The size and power of the Titans is memorialized in the adjective 'titanic' and in the noun 'titanium,’ a chemical element of exceptional strength that is used especially in the production of steel.”
  — Peter Sokolowski [01:12]

• Scientific Illustration

  “As the land bounced back from underneath the weight of the now vanished ice sheets, and the gravitational pull of these titanic ice sheets on the oceans disappeared...”
  — Quoted from Peter Brannan [00:25]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:16] — Definition of "titanic"
• [00:25] — Example use from Peter Brannan’s scientific book
• [00:55] — Etymology: Relationship to Greek mythology and the Titans
• [01:12] — Connection to “titanium” and its symbolic strength

Tone & Style

• The host’s tone is clear, informative, and slightly conversational, blending linguistic rigor with engaging storytelling.
• The brief episode provides a full journey from definition through etymology and relevant modern examples, making it accessible and memorable.

Summary

This episode provides an insightful look at the word “titanic”—from its dictionary definition (“very great in size, force, or power”) through an illustrative scientific usage, to its mythological roots in the Greek Titans. The host, Peter Sokolowski, ties the word’s literal and figurative magnitude to its mythic origins and its modern offshoot, “titanium,” showing how language preserves history and the qualities we continue to find ‘titanic’ today.