Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think sometimes people use words without fully understanding them?

192 replies

Oodiks · 09/10/2024 22:34

There were a few examples in my previous AIBU thread. Including, but not limited to:

Genocide
Antisemitism
Zionism
Ethnic Cleansing

These are strong trigger words for many people, myself included, but I think they are often misused and/or misunderstood.

Thoughts?

Zionism, n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary

Zionism, n. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary

https://www.oed.com/dictionary/zionism_n?tab=factsheet#13691072

OP posts:
KnickerlessParsons · 09/10/2024 23:22

Normal and abnormal.

Percent, as in "I gave 110% effort"

Maria1979 · 09/10/2024 23:20

Toxic. Everyone and everything is toxic.

Daftasabroom · 09/10/2024 23:16

TheaBrandt · 09/10/2024 23:15

People frequently misuse the word mortifying. Also mixing up the words weary and wary which have very different meanings.

Wery different

TheaBrandt · 09/10/2024 23:15

People frequently misuse the word mortifying. Also mixing up the words weary and wary which have very different meanings.

ichundich · 09/10/2024 23:15

Did your last thread not go how you intended? What is happening in Gaza right now meets the definition of 'genocide'.

Original poster
Oodiks · 09/10/2024 23:14

TwattyMcFuckFace · 09/10/2024 23:13

What do you mean pacifically OP?

OMG - I had a colleague who used that to 'pacifically' wind me up!

OP posts:
Original poster
Oodiks · 09/10/2024 23:13

StudioCreate · 09/10/2024 23:12

Unique

Especially, "that's really unique" as if something could be just a bit unique.

OP posts:
TwattyMcFuckFace · 09/10/2024 23:13

What do you mean pacifically OP?

Original poster
Oodiks · 09/10/2024 23:13

Davros · 09/10/2024 23:05

These

Show quote history

Often together, "It was, like, literally decimated" when they mean it was slightly damaged.

OP posts:
StudioCreate · 09/10/2024 23:12

Unique

YourLastNerve · 09/10/2024 23:10

Average
Typical

Original poster
Oodiks · 09/10/2024 23:09

Mayorq · 09/10/2024 23:01

Mansplaining
Gaslighting

You don't think people know what these words mean when they use them?

OP posts:
Sodthebloodymealplan · 09/10/2024 23:07

Narcissism

Davros · 09/10/2024 23:05

Paisleydad · 09/10/2024 23:02

Decimated.
Literally.

These

JoanCollected · 09/10/2024 23:04

Well yeah. The majority of the world see these words only in use by others or in newspapers so often misunderstand their exact meaning. It’s hardly surprising.

Paisleydad · 09/10/2024 23:02

Decimated.
Literally.

Mayorq · 09/10/2024 23:01

Mansplaining
Gaslighting