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Words used for centuries might have new significance and meanings due to trends or societal occurrences. However, when words are overused or forced, their original meaning is lost, and they take on a comprehensive meaning. Hedonism is a prime illustration. A whopping 99% of people identify as hedonists.
The same term will mean different things to each of them. Put another way, this word’s connotation has become so encompassing that it nearly no longer has any meaning because everything unrelated to labor may be interpreted as hedonism.
Ecstatic
You just brought a pint of your favorite ice cream flavor home to munch on, and you emailed your roommate to tell them how happy you are that the grocery store finally had it. You may be feeling joyful, content, or ecstatic right now. Are you, nevertheless, overjoyed? It is defined as “a state of sudden, intense, overpowering emotion,” particularly “rapturous delight,” when someone is ecstatic.
From the sound of that term, it fits the occasion more perfectly than a pleasant surprise during a shopping trip—when the love of your life asks you to marry them or accepts your proposal. But then, more power to you if tiny things like that truly bring you such intense, euphoric amounts of joy!
Talk
The dictionary defines ” talk ” as “to communicate or exchange ideas, information, etc., by speaking.” Furthermore, it has taken on a new connotation in the digital era, even though the technical definition remains the same.
Even when communication is entirely digital, people frequently refer to it as “talking.” Are you genuinely chatting to the attractive guy you met at the party, or are you only exchanging texts with him? We might never find out. Not if you only use “talk” without providing any other context.
Laugh
When did you last laugh at anything that genuinely made you go “LOL”? Even if you use it to convey genuine laughter, you probably do it significantly less frequently than when you merely responded quickly to something that was only moderately humorous. To be fair, “LOL” has gained so much traction that it now has its meaning apart from the three words that originally defined it.
Genius
Originally used to describe individuals of “exceptional” and “extraordinary” intelligence and inventiveness, such as Shakespeare, Albert Einstein, and the like, the term “genius” is now used to praise almost anybody who solves a common problem or makes a helpful adjustment.
Whether it is deserved or not, you may have been referred to as a “genius” so frequently that it rarely even sounds like praise. Is it “good” or “bad” that the terms “genius” and the ones that follow are being used less frequently? Of course, that depends on who you ask. But it’s undeniable that words often stray further from the “correct” meaning as their prevalent, popular meanings evolve.
Hero
This word is comparable to “genius” in that it once denoted much more accomplishment and quality than it does now. A hero is defined as “a person noted for courageous acts or nobility of character” by dictionary.com. However, you’ve undoubtedly seen people dubbed “heroes” for accomplishing very modest deeds of human decency—not exactly a high standard for heroism!
Random
“If something is unpredictable and contains no recognizable patterns, we call it random,” as YouTuber Vsauce puts it best. This term dates back to the 1800s and explicitly mentions patterns and predictability.
However, since the 1970s, anything or anybody that appears strange, absurd, or out of place might be described as “random,” even if it is entirely foreseeable. Dictionary.com provides this description but adds a little linguistic color by referring to it as “slang.”
Literally
This is less a matter of a term being meaningless or overused than it is of people just not understanding the phrase’s meaning. A literal statement makes no allowances for embellishment or dramatic license, only the meaning intended by the words.
If you had lunch several hours earlier, you’re not “literally starving” while waiting for supper. However, given how frequently this word is used as an emphasis, it’s straightforward to forget what “literally” means.
Ironic
The word “ironic” doesn’t signify coincidental, unlucky, or unexpected, yet that’s how many people interpret it. It describes something completely at odds with your expectations and is more precise. Thus, no…Rain on your wedding day is just sad, not humorous. Ironically, the person who created the stop sign could not operate a vehicle.
Hacked
Here’s another whose significance has been rendered far less effective by the boom of contemporary technology. Technologically speaking, a “hack” is unauthorized, frequently nasty access to a computer or network. You’ve scarcely been “hacked” if your buddy or brother sent you a funny photo for your profile.
At the same time, you unintentionally left your Facebook open or if you took a ton of close-up selfies while posing as if you were taking a nice picture of yourself. To be fair, this was undoubtedly started as an over-the-top joke.
Actually
The definition of “actually” appears rather simple: “in point of fact; used to suggest something unexpected.” It depicts an unexpected or conflicting reality.
You only responded to the question; Actually, there was no conflict to resolve. The statement would still make sense without the word “actually,” thus there’s no need for it. “Actually” is frequently used as a useless filler word in sentences like this one when it has no place. “Really” is deserving of better!
Forever
Forever, which once had great weight and denoted an infinite, never-ending period, is becoming more widely used. “It took forever” may imply three hours, 45 minutes, or even only 10 minutes, depending on how patient you are. Not only does it mean “forever,” but it may also refer to any duration of time that seems excessively long.
Destroy
You say, “That destroyed me.” Are you referring to a crippling disease? The passing of a dear one? Or perhaps a meme that made you laugh, given how much you could connect to it? It’s become commonplace to declare that something non-destructive, like a humorous kitten video or a surprising TV program twist, “destroyed” you. This is a perfect example of exaggeration.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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