📚✨ Thesaurus Day — January 18 - Because words, but make them ✨fancier✨.
Some holidays celebrate big things—love, freedom, pie. Today? Today celebrates better wording. On January 18, we honor the glorious book that helps us stop saying “nice” for the 400th time and start saying splendid, delightful, or downright dazzling.
Whether you’re a writer, student, Scrabble champion, or someone who just really enjoys sounding smart in emails, Thesaurus Day is your moment. Let’s get wordy. 🖊️
🔗 Affiliate Disclosure (a.k.a. Let’s Be Honest)
This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy a thesaurus because of me, I may earn a few cents—which I’ll immediately spend on coffee and even better words to describe that coffee. ☕📖
📜 The History of Thesaurus Day
Thesaurus Day celebrates the birthday of Peter Roget, born on January 18, 1779.
Roget was a doctor, scientist, and all-around intellectual powerhouse—but his true legacy came in 1852 when he published Roget’s Thesaurus. Instead of listing words alphabetically like a dictionary, he grouped them by ideas. Revolutionary.
Basically, Roget said: “Words are better when they hang out with their friends.” And writers everywhere said, “Bless you, sir.”
🤓 7 Delightfully Wordy Fun Facts
Thesaurus comes from Greek meaning “treasure.” Accurate.
Roget worked on his thesaurus for over 50 years. Talk about commitment.
The first edition had only 1,000 copies printed. Instant classic.
There are thesauruses for emotions, rhymes, and even emoji meanings.
Using a thesaurus too much can lead to… let’s say enthusiastic word choices.
Writers love thesauruses. Editors fear them.
“Very” is still overused. The thesaurus has opinions about that.
🎉 12 Creative Ways to Celebrate Thesaurus Day
Replace every boring word you say today with a synonym.
Host a Synonym Swap—everyone gets a word and must act it out.
Rewrite a text message using the fanciest synonyms possible.
Make a “Retire These Words” list (looking at you, awesome).
Play Scrabble or Bananagrams with a thesaurus twist.
Create a word-of-the-day chalkboard or whiteboard.
Write a short story using zero common adjectives.
Label household items with upgraded names.
Challenge kids to a synonym scavenger hunt.
Redesign your resume with power verbs.
Make synonym flashcards just for fun (yes, really).
Celebrate by finally learning the difference between affect and effect.
🍽️ A Thesaurus-Themed Dinner Menu
Because dinner should also be eloquent.
🥘 Entrée: Magnificent Mac & Cheese
Make classic mac and cheese.
Add smoked paprika and sharp cheddar.
Describe it as sumptuous before serving.
🥗 Side: Elevated Everyday Salad
Mixed greens, cucumbers, tomatoes.
Lemon vinaigrette.
Call it verdant and refreshing.
🍹 Drink
Cocktail: The Verb Enhancer
Vodka, cranberry juice, splash of lime.
Mocktail: Synonym Spritz
Sparkling water, grape juice, citrus slice.
🍰 Dessert: Exceedingly Excellent Brownies
Box mix or homemade.
Sprinkle powdered sugar.
Use at least five adjectives when serving.
🏫 Classroom Activities
Elementary:
Synonym matching games.
“Upgrade This Sentence” worksheets.
Middle/High School:
Rewrite song lyrics using synonyms.
Thesaurus poetry challenge (no repeated words!).
🏢 Workplace Celebration
Host a Buzzword Ban Day.
Every time someone says “synergy,” they owe a synonym—or coffee for the group. ☕📊
🎬 Movie Pick - Dead Poets Society
A love letter to language, expression, and the power of exactly the right word.
📺 TV Episode Pick - Friends – “The One Where Ross Is Fine”
Because words matter… and sometimes they absolutely do not.
📣 Hashtags
#ThesaurusDay #WordNerd #SynonymLove #WritersLife
#LanguageLovers #WordPlay #GrammarHumor
#CelebrateEveryDay #JanuaryHolidays #BookishFun
