Dictionary - Merriam-Webster for Android

Featuring a comprehensive word database, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary searches words not only by text, but also by voice. It comes up with all the essential information you need for quick reference, including definitions, examples, word origins, and synonyms.

Pros

Favorites: This new feature introduced in this version allows you to store words you like for later use. You can quickly access the Favorites page, either from the favorites menu or by swiping left or right in the main results page.

Offline operation: When on the move, we were delighted with Merriam-Webster's offline functionality. We said goodbye to the tiresome search for a Wi-Fi connection and just got on with our work.

Cons

Poor in features: We find Merriam-Webster to be poor in features relative to its competitors. Results are limited to only basic word definitions and a small number of synonyms, and include absolutely no reference to idioms and geographical variations.

Upgrade trap: The removal of ads at the bottom of the screen is the only benefit of paying to upgrade from the free version that we tested. However, the app is usable even with the ads.

Bottom Line

Merriam-Webster Dictionary works well online as well as offline, but the developer's desire to keep the size of locally stored data to a minimum has limited the diversity of search results and the number of available features. In the end, we recommend this dictionary if you work in areas where Internet accessibility may be a problem, but otherwise we suggest you look at dictionary apps with more features.