"Austerity" was the most searched-for word of 2010. Interest in the word reached its highest point around May 1, the day the Greek government announced a series of austerity measures, but its popularity remained strong throughout the year. Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster editor-at-large, said: ""Austerity" clearly resonates with many people. We often hear it used in the context of government measures, but we also apply it to our own personal finances and what is sometimes called the new normal." Barack Obama used the word "shellacking" in November 2010, when acknowledging his party's losses in the US mid-term elections, and lookups of "ebullient" peaked in October, as thirty-three Chilean miners were successfully rescued after 69 days trapped underground.