Mortified

[SquashedSquashess]

I am on a single woman crusade this morning, for no particular reason other than annoyance, to correct the common misuse of this word.

When using the word “mortified” to describe a feeling, it means you felt toe-curlingly embarrassed.

Too often, I see people using this word to mean they were “horrified” by something.

To feel horrified by something, is not to feel mortified.

To feel highly embarrassed, is to feel mortified.

YANBU = I am also irritated, not mortified, by others’ misuse of this word

YABU = the English language is always subject to change, and I’m fine with words being misused to the point that they develop new meaning

I haven't noticed it being used in this way, at least not enough to be irritated by it. It's a common word and I think most people use it correctly.

A rough translation would be that you wish you were dead? Mort?

I totally agree. Maybe you would enjoy the Pedants Corner board?

No, I really haven’t read or heard it being used this way. Might be a regional difference?

When I saw this thread I mentally rolled my eyes because I thought it would be someone using it as you described. It irks me too, almost as much as I could care less.

Another that's only ever seen it used for embarrassment. Are you sure you're on the right crusade?

Never seen the word used in this way

Can't vote due to your options. However, I've never noticed it used wrongly.

Never heard of it used like that

Interesting that across some online dictionaries, horrified is listed as a similar word. If you aren't well educated and use a thesaurus, then horrified will come up. Way back in 1710 when mortified was first used to mean shame etc, there was probably outrage by some because it meant death. So, yes, language evolves and meanings change.

Maybe it is a regional thing as my wife uses it this way (we live in the midlands), I’ve told her so many times it doesn’t mean shocked, it means dying of embarrassment, but she still continues, so I’ve given up!

I've often seen it misused. It's up there with should/would/could of on my annoyingometer.

I have never seen it misused in this way. Are you on a crusade after witnessing one person misused a word..?

Surely you can accept that some people get words wrong sometimes and it’s not in any way a moral failing.

I haven't noticed it being used incorrectly. Sometimes a bit ott for the situation.

where are you hearing/seeing this so often it's causing you this much upset?

YANBU OP, I’ve seen it misused this way too a few times recently. I get that language evolves, but it’s still annoying at this stage!

Me too! I wondered if OP felt embarrassed or was raging.

I only clicked on this thread in order to see how it was being misused this time.

I'm totally with you op!

I see it misused often on mumsnet. I agree!

I've certainly seen it used incorrectly on MN. More so on Nextdoor, where the general level of literacy is shocking. I'm happy to get behind any campaign!

I’ve never seen anyone use it to mean ‘horrified’.

Like others, I clicked on this thread to see if it was being used incorrectly. YANBU