zugzwang: n. a situation, such as in a chess match, where you are obligated to take a turn even though it’s going to hurt your position. I take it to mean roughly “between a rock and a hard place.” You have to do something, but everything that you could do is going to make matters worse. What a horrible place to find oneself!
squidgy: adj. (British) soft, wet, and easy to squish. It means roughly the same as “squishy,” but it sounds even grosser.
missive: n. a letter, especially a long and formal one. I get e-mails, and sometimes cards and notes, but I never get missives. I would like a missive, please!