{"word":"tantamount","meaning":"equal to something in value, meaning, or effect","partOfSpeech":"adjective","date":"2026-04-22","example":"The pop star’s fans see any criticism of her music as tantamount to a crime.","source":"merriam-webster","sourceUrl":"https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/tantamount-2026-04-22","etymology":"The word \"tantamount\" originates from Old French \"tantamount\", which was derived from the Latin phrase \"tantum aestimare\", meaning \"to estimate as much\". The Latin phrase is composed of \"tantum\", meaning \"as much\", and \"aestimare\", meaning \"to estimate\". The word \"tantamount\" has been in use in English since the 15th century."}