Use Fancy Words: picayune

Fancy word Everygirls should know: picayune

Why we chose this fancy word: Chloe List, our graphics intern, has been known to use some pretty fancy words. One day during lunch break, Chloe was telling us how “picayune” she thought calorie counting was. She would rather enjoy her food while still being conscious of what she puts into her body. We all agreed….after she told us what picayune meant!

Definition: picayune (adj.) pronunciation: pik-ee-yoon
1.    of little value or account; small; trifling
2.    petty, carping, or prejudiced

Use this word in a sentence: Some people may think that $20 is a picayune amount, but there are many things I could do with that amount of money!

Have you been using past fancy words?

risible = causing or capable of causing laughter; laughable; ludicrous.
parvenu = someone who has recently acquired wealth or importance but has not yet developed the appropriate manners
usurious = charging illegal or exorbitant rates of interest for the use of money
blandishment = something that flatters or coaxes
innocuous = not harmful
fruition = attainment of anything desired; realization; accomplishment
libation = a pouring out of wine or other liquid in honor of a deity
ubiquitous = existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time
chimerical = highly unrealistic; wildly fanciful
pithy = brief or forceful
euphemism = nice way of saying something unpleasant
loquacious = talkative, babbling
osculation = a kiss
resplendent = having a splendid appearance
pedantic = ostentatious in one’s learning
compendium = summary or account of a subject

definition via dictionary.reference.com

illustration by Jessica Durrant

mary mullen