There's nothing like a word of the day calendar to make you feel completely stupid. I only know about 200 words that I use in various combinations. I've done fine with that many words. I know what you're thinking. "Dude, you're a writer. You should know words." Do you really want me to use obsequious and pusillanimous? You don't. No one wants that.
When people ask me what my favorite book is I tell them that it's the Dictionary. When they look annoyed and demand me to tell them the real answer, I tell them it's the Thesaurus. I'm very fun at parties. I just haven't been to one in a while... what's up with that. The invites stopped coming after that last party I went to where I did my dictionary/ thesaurus bit. I thought everyone loved it.