Vocabulary lesson: Flunky

 

Dressed for work, Elise Stefanik earns herself the honor of being the illustration for this dictionary entry.

Dictionary entry:  Merriam-Webster

Headline:  The Hill, 1/4/2024

Where the plural of 'flunky' is most appropriately used

Washington Post, 1/29/2024

Although Lamberth did not specify MAGA adherents, he condemned “distortions and outright falsehoods [that] seep into the public consciousness.” He continued: “I have been shocked to watch some public figures try to rewrite history, claiming rioters behaved ‘in an orderly fashion’ like ordinary tourists, or martyrizing convicted January 6 defendants as ‘political prisoners’ or even, incredibly, ‘hostages.’” (The latter came from the lips of MAGA flunkies, including Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, a contender for vice president on Trump’s ticket.) Lamberth added that though such claims are “preposterous,” he fears that “such destructive, misguided rhetoric could presage further danger to our country.”  [emphasis added]

 According to Merriam-Webster, the first-known use of 'flunky' occurred in 1782.

Other coinages from the same year include:

1. belittle
2. cacophonous
3. high horse
4. inexactitude
5. twaddle
6. wallah

More vocabulary lessons:

2024

Janky.  (2/2)

Kiddo.  (2/2)

Bonkers.  (1/31/2024)

Heebie-jeebies.  (1/31/2024)

Nudification.  (1/31/2024)

Right-size.  (1/14/2024)

2022

Dumpster fire.  (10/20/2022)

2018

Swinge.  (12/18/2018)

2017

Michael Flynn vocabulary lesson.  (2/14/2017)

2013

Yaw.  (2/28/2013)