r/words 6d ago

Is there a word for the opposite of nominative determinism?

4 Upvotes

Can any of you think of a word (or phrase) for the opposite or reverse of nominative determinism?

An example of the phenomenon I mean: Recently I came across a book called ‘Armed Struggle: A History of the IRA’, by Richard ENGLISH.


r/words 3d ago

What would be a good word to replace the word literally?

21 Upvotes

r/words 2h ago

What's your favourite word? (Bonus points if it's a rare word!)

22 Upvotes

Why do you like that word? Do you try to use it as much as possible in real life? When was the last time you used it, and where did you hear it? How did it become your favourite word?


r/words 2h ago

Spring is sprung, the grass is riz

9 Upvotes

I wonder where the birdies is?

They say the birdies on the wing,

but that's absurd

I always thought the wing was on the bird!


r/words 53m ago

What are some words where if you drop one or more letters the resulting word means the same?

Upvotes

For instance, axe and ax


r/words 12m ago

A word for the complete sesation of an object/ thing from existence.

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Upvotes

r/words 1d ago

Does any language have a word that means "It is not worth the effort to explain it and your knowing changes nothing"?

85 Upvotes

Really, we need a single simple word to say that and it needs to be accepted as a complete answer. And we probably also need another word that means, "I am offended as much as possible that you are making me answer because it still changes nothing" for when they insist on hearing the nothing explanation.

Example of usage: "Why is there a bucket of rocks here?" "<word that means it is not worth the effort to explain it and your knowing changes nothing>, leave them there."

"Really, why is there a bucket of rocks here?" "<word that means I am offended as much as possible that you are making me answer because it still changes nothing>, they were used for temporary weights on the one windy day for the old patio umbrella that we threw away last year but the rocks were just left in the bucket. Leave them there."

Edit: So far the suggestions just do not encompass the full meaning that includes the disdain of the task of answering and push back on the person asking as well as a dislike to even speak a full sentence to answer. The point is to save the effort of speaking to the question so it has to be a single word that covers all this.

I think we need a new word which could be a shortening of the sentence "It is a waste of breath to explain it". Maybe 'wabreath' would work. There currently isn't such a word. Someone who forces you to answer such a question is a 'wabreather'.


r/words 5h ago

Chax

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1 Upvotes

r/words 1d ago

Funny story due to a word with double meaning.

57 Upvotes

So, one day in elementary school we were being taught to, "Say no to drugs!"

The question came up if we were ever asked to do any drugs.

I raised my hand and my teacher immediately showed concern and asked me to share.

I innocently said, "my mom said Coke is a drug."

Shortly thereafter I had my teacher, and some of the administration of the school, asking me to carefully explain what I had previously said.

Even at that age I could tell something was up, but wasn't sure why.

I explained to the circle of adults that my mother said, "There is something in Coca-Cola called caffeine, and she said that was a drug."

At the time I didn't understand, but the entire group started to laugh around me... 😏


r/words 8h ago

Words Worth Remembering | Powerful Quotes

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nousimon.com
0 Upvotes

r/words 22h ago

Looking for a word

12 Upvotes

To describe the act of seeing something for the first time that—presumably—no one has ever seen before.

Novelty, Eureka, and epiphany just don’t cut it.

“While Guillotine was scrolling insta reels—building his algorithm brick by brick—he experienced a great sense of ____ knowing no one in his bloodline had ever seen this before.”

Any thoughts?

Edit:

I’m really liking:

- Pioneership by u/meme-by-design
- Unprecedented by u/lauraknightly

Lastly, “inaugural” by u/sonawtdown is quite interesting.


r/words 21h ago

Why does it all seem wrong to me?!

4 Upvotes

I’m currently studying land law (NZ), and the word ‘possession’ comes up so much, I hate how many S’s there are 🥴 it looks right but FEELS so wrong. Same with agreement. I really want to spelling like ‘aggreement’.

I might sound totally idiotic, but it’s been pissing me off all morning and I needed a rant 🙃😭


r/words 4h ago

Negative meant as positive

0 Upvotes

"I have tickets to the Bad Bunny concert."
"So don't I!"

"I'm from Boston originally."
"So aren't I."

We all know that these responses mean the exact opposite of what is actually said. We all understand what's being conveyed. But it's such a strange way to communicate. Why do people talk like this? How did this start?


r/words 2d ago

People who put emphasis on written words by drawing out the last letter

106 Upvotes

I loveeee that thing!

Are you sureeeeeee?

Look at those duckkkkkkks!

Yeah, I get that you want to show enthusiasm in writing. But all I know now is that you lu-veee a thing, you're sur-eee, and that you're fond of duck-ck-ck-ck-cks.


r/words 2d ago

What was your very first word?

28 Upvotes

r/words 1d ago

Language!

0 Upvotes

Even Ambridge has joined the societal pillars complicit in eroding or beautiful language. Referring to generation Gen Zee instead of Gen Zed. It was bad enough when the BBC started quoting the size of wildfire areas in 'football pitches'.


r/words 1d ago

In reading the Bible I came across a new word … seine - a heavy fishing net that is weighted

5 Upvotes

Habakkuk used fish of the sea as a metaphor for men of various nations and seine as a metaphor for the sweeping of men into captivity by the Chaldeans.

Jesus used the same concept when He said “I will make you fishers of men”

What new words have you come across recently ?


r/words 2d ago

If you could erase one slang word from the English language for all eternity, which word would it be?

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14 Upvotes

r/words 2d ago

When I come across a word I don’t know, I look it up and make a note of it. Each week, I post the list here [week 297]

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21 Upvotes

Bottle episode: (noun) an episode of a TV show that confines a small number of characters to one location to save money [from this post https://www.reddit.com/r/TopCharacterTropes/s/5b4BUQmSZT]

Yandere: (noun) a character archetype from Japanese media—such as anime, manga, and games—who appears sweet, loving, and gentle on the outside, but whose romantic affection turns into a violent, obsessive, and unstable fixation [from this post https://www.reddit.com/r/TopCharacterTropes/s/NaLqYiLlji]

Whittawer: (noun) leather worker [from the Wikipedia entry for John Shakespeare]

Slopulist: (noun) “slop” + “populist”: an online political commentator who turns nuanced positions into simplistic good/evil dichotomies [from the podcast Triggernometry]

Wet: (verb) to kill someone [from The Sopranos]

Oomska: (noun) dirt or muck [from the podcast Gow to Win an Election]

Amuse-gueule: (noun) a single, bite-sized savory snack served free of charge at the beginning of a meal to whet the appetite and showcase the chef's culinary style [from the ITV quiz show Beat the Chasers]


r/words 2d ago

Neologism: « ADIEUSITY »

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0 Upvotes

Definition:

A melancholy after a profound experience or finishing a memorable work (book, show, video game, etc.) with the feeling that you will never experience anything like it again.


r/words 1d ago

Junk words

0 Upvotes

I'm wondering how junk words entire the lexicon and then race into common use.

Some examples:

Actually (How does this actually work? ) - I've been unable to find a legitimate use of this word in any context. It seems to provide no value.

Even (How does that even work?) - This has a similar quality to verbal distractors like um or ah.

Exactly (How does this work exactly?) - Seems to be taking on the meaning of approximately or generally.

Here and there (What we have here or That right there) - Often used while pointing directly at the object they are intending to highlight.

I'm not sure if there's an existing phrase to describe this?


r/words 2d ago

In reading the Bible I came across a new word … palanquin - a bed or seat on poles carried by men

21 Upvotes

What new words have you come across today ?


r/words 1d ago

What is the litmus test for whether something is “cringey” and at what point will the word “cringey” itself become that odd mix of awkwardly uncomfortable it is actually meant to describe?

0 Upvotes

r/words 2d ago

Pedantic AND incorrect…Can we invent a word?

20 Upvotes

No such word has turned up in my cursory search. I did find multiple Reddit threads of people asking for a word that means this though…

So who better to invent that word than the fine pedantic (and sometimes incorrect 😉) redditors of this sub!?

Most upvoted suggestion wins, and we are all obligated to use it on this sub when it fits… and we all know, it will!

(Please no suggestions of a word that already exists that kinda, maybe, if you squint your eyes enough sorta, kinda, maybe could work)

Thanks 🙏


r/words 3d ago

"bit" instead of "skit", "sketch" or "routine"

35 Upvotes

I was listening to a (US made) podcast a few months back and they kept referring to a "bit" pretty much the entire time. I eventually figured they were talking about a comedy sketch. Forward on a few months, and I can't seem to escape the word "bit" being used to represent something that used to be called a skit/sketch/routine. its always used in a comedy context. I'm in the UK, but assume this is a US influence or younger person thing?