Flagrant, Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 23, 2025, describes something conspicuously bad and impossible to ignore. The word's origins are rooted in the Latin word flagrāre, meaning "to burn." Initially, in the 16th century, flagrant meant "flaming" or "fiery," similar to its Latin ancestor flagrans. However, by the 18th century, its meaning evolved to "conspicuously bad or offensive." An example illustrates this when someone commits a flagrant violation of a family's ethics by leaving an empty ice cream container. In sports, a flagrant foul is also noticeably bad, warranting attention from referees. Experts caution against using flagrant and blatant interchangeably. While both words denote noticeable flaws, blatant typically refers to something attracting disapproving attention, such as a grammatical error. Flagrant, on the other hand, carries a stronger sense of offense, often associated with violations of morality. This distinction is highlighted by the example of flagrant abuse of public office. Ultimately, flagrant signifies a transgression so obvious it cannot be overlooked due to its offensive nature.