Word of the day: Over 170,000 English words exist today. Yet “hornswoggle” is trending in vocabulary searches. The hornswoggle meaning is simple. It means to trick or deceive someone. Pronunciation: HORN-swog-uhl. The word dates back to 19th-century American English. Writers use it for strong impact. Learning rare verbs improves communication skills and credibility. Add this Word of the Day to grow vocabulary smartly and naturally.