Your Smart Vocabulary Companion
Discover, understand, and master new words with intelligent definitions, contextual synonyms, and personalized learning tools.
Word of the Day
sonder
The profound realization that every random passerby has a life as vivid and complex as your own, filled with their own struggles, dreams, and routines.
Etymology
Coined by John Koenig in his project "The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows" (2012). While not in traditional dictionaries, it has gained widespread recognition for capturing a unique emotional experience.
Usage Examples
"Sitting in the airport terminal, she experienced sonder watching hundreds of travelers rush past, each with their own destination and story."
"The documentary about ordinary people's lives gave viewers a deep sense of sonder."
"He felt sonder while stuck in traffic, realizing each car contained someone with a full life he'd never know."
Synonyms
- Empathetic awareness (closest approximation)
- Human interconnectedness
- Existential empathy
Fun Facts
- This is a neologism (newly coined word) that went viral on social media.
- It captures a feeling many people experience but never had a word for before.
- The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows creates words for emotions that lack names.
Related Terms
- Opia: The ambiguous intensity of eye contact
- Chrysalism: The amniotic tranquility of being indoors during a thunderstorm
- Kenopsia: The eerie, forlorn atmosphere of a place that's usually bustling but is now abandoned
Explore Features
Dictionary Lookup
Lightning-fast search with comprehensive definitions and examples
Featured Collections
Curated word lists organized by theme to expand your vocabulary
Vocabulary Builder
Save words, create custom lists, and track your learning progress
Word Explorer
Visualize semantic connections and discover related words
Recently Viewed
Boost your vocabulary routine
When you need inspirational prompts to explore alongside WordWell, the creative collections inside PromptCraft pair beautifully with our Word of the Day. For deeper synonym dives, the contextual comparisons on SynonymPro help you refine tone before you save new favorites here.