Merriam-Webster Dictionary Schools Donald Trump on Use of the Word ‘Braggadocious’

Merriam-Webster Dictionary Schools Donald Trump on Use of the Word ‘Braggadocious’

Who says when Donald Trump speaks, nobody listens? In addition to the many millions of Americans who tuned in to the first 2016 presidential debate, the Merriam-Webster folks had their eyes on the TV set, ears to the ground, and fingers on the keyboard last night.

And the dictionary ripped the GOP nominee for his use of “braggadocious,” a word he’s debated with before.

“I have tremendous income, and the reason I say it is not in a braggadocious way,” Trump said Monday. He was rebutting Hillary Clinton’s criticism over those still-secret tax returns.

Also Read: Presidential Debate Reporters Get Nasty: 'Thanks a Lot, B---!' (Video)

Merriam-Webster’s official Twitter account was swift to criticize, tweeting out, “He was trying for braggadocio.”

But here’s what Vocabulary.com’s executive editor had to say about the usage last year, when Trump invoked it during the Republican debates:

“So braggadocious, it’s an adjective formed from the noun braggadocio, which can mean vain and empty boasting,” he told NPR. “In 1853, there was something in The Boston Investigator referring to a swaggering, braggadocious piece of egotism. So it was being used all the way back in the mid-19th century, and it’s popped up from time to time since then. It still sounds like a very sort of funny, made-up word. And the Oxford English Dictionary suggests it’s influenced by other words, like ferocious, precocious and atrocious, or that super-long word from ‘Mary Poppins,’ perhaps.”

Also Read: 7 Debate Gaffes Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton Will Regret

You word-nerds can debate that out amongst yourselves.

Here’s the popular “correction” tweet in question:

Also Read: Why Rudy Giuliani Thinks Donald Trump Should Skip Next Debate

And then there was these interesting ones from Tuesday morning:

Related stories from TheWrap:

Donald Trump Thinks Lester Holt Asked Him 'Very Unfair Questions' During Debate (Video)

Donald Trump Blames Debate Performance on 'Defective' Microphone

Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton's Best Presidential Debate Zingers, Ranked

Donald Trump Supporters in a Fury Over Lester Holt's Debate Performance

Hollywood Liberals Blast Donald Trump for His Debate Sniffle – And Factual Claims