The US dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster has come up with a list of the top words of 2010, with ‘austerity’ gaining the top spot.
AUSTERITY
The word captures the cost cutting phenomenon that had gripped people following The Great Recession.
PRAGMATIC
What people want their leaders to be in tough times
...followed by words like
MORATORIUM
SOCIALISM
BIGOT
DOPPLEGANGER
DISSIDENT
and
FURTIVE