This tag is for questions seeking a single word that fits a meaning. If you actually seek a phrase, or don't care, see the "phrase requests" tag too.
98
votes
9answers
8k views
Is there a word or phrase for the feeling you get after looking at a word for too long?
(Perhaps this only happens to me, but I doubt it.)
Sometimes after looking at a word for a while, I become convinced that it can't possibly be spelled correctly. Even after looking it up, sounding ...
6
votes
8answers
4k views
What do you call somebody who asks a question and somebody who answers a question?
What do you call somebody who asks a question and somebody who answers a question?
I have exhausted the thesaurus with no real luck... any ideas?
EDIT: It is in reference to this - or any other ...
8
votes
10answers
1k views
What is a word/phrase for using a term for a popular special case instead of a generic term?
Some people use a term for a popular special case in place of a generic term. (Often this popular special case is a particular product in that category.) I think that this is a common phenomenon. ...
15
votes
1answer
3k views
Words pertaining to the senses and the corresponding disabilities
I need help on finding words relating to the senses/perception. I mean this in a neuronic/biological or philosophy-of-mind kind of way.
A word for...
pertaining to the senses (Is it sensory?)
...
16
votes
4answers
1k views
Is there a term for words that have a single meaning or are only used in a single context?
Certain words you hear in English are only ever heard in a single context. For example, skirl is used to describe the sound a bagpipe makes. Etymonline generously says the word is "rarely" heard ...
6
votes
1answer
530 views
What is a catchy word that means (non-)self-descriptive
I'm having fun with paradoxes, and I'm trying to come up with a catchy word for non-self-descriptive. Maybe "autosemantic" fits the bill for self-descriptive (definitely open to other suggestions!), ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
How can I form a word like “quadruple” for any number I want?
I'm not sure what these are called, but how can I form a word like "quadruple" for any number I want? Like 5× as much is quintuple, what is 31× as much or 147× as much? I want to know how they are ...
12
votes
2answers
1k views
What do you call words that look like a negation but are not?
I can be nonplussed (in fact that is practically the ground state of my existence), but not plussed. I can also be indifferent; but if you are different, that doesn't mean you care, either. What do ...
16
votes
4answers
2k views
What word means what many people think 'ironic' means?
'Ironic' is often used to mean an unusual coincidence rather than its true meaning which is closer to sarcastic. That being said, is there a word that would be a good replacement for what many people ...
10
votes
6answers
5k views
Non-offensive substitute for a swear word
What term describes a non-offensive substitute for a swear word?
For example, Battlestar Galactica used frack instead of fuck. Another example is the use of snap instead of shit.
I think I may have ...
7
votes
3answers
506 views
Is there a name for inverting word order to accomplish a different meaning?
There are many sayings that invert the word order to convey a different meaning.
e.g.
"Do you live to work or do you work to live?"
"He who fails to plan, plans to fail"
Is there a name for this ...
6
votes
2answers
360 views
Terms for duplicated words
I can't recall term used for duplicating extraneous words e.g. VIP person (Very Important Person Person), first question what is this term?
Second question, is the same term used when the duplicated ...
0
votes
4answers
572 views
One that is holding a conversation [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Shorter way to say “conversational partner”
What's a good word for something or someone who is holding a conversation? Or perhaps a bit broader, someone who knows how to ...
16
votes
4answers
9k views
Is there a word that contains all the vowels? [closed]
"Jealousy" contains most of the vowels but lacks 'i'. Is there a word in the English language that contains every vowel (and preferably 'y')?
13
votes
5answers
9k views
What do you call a person who does/thinks the opposite of the crowd for just that reason?
Such a person does not hold in high regard the decisions taken by a group (not a team) of people. She believes that groups tend to be anarchic and don't serve their purpose.
An example would be - for ...
10
votes
4answers
336 views
What is the word that denotes the words preceding these nouns?
What word describes/denotes the words that precede vision in the following two words: computer vision and machine vision?
8
votes
5answers
3k views
What's the antonym for Schadenfreude?
Schadenfreude is the joy or pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others. What is the word for joy or pleasure derived from the happiness of others?
2
votes
0answers
281 views
How do you say this in English? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicates:
Framing a question to which the answer is an ordinal number
How to phrase an asking sentence that must be answered with an ordinal number (e.g., the third prime) ?
It ...
47
votes
2answers
2k views
Is there a single term for “nieces and nephews”?
I find it handy when talking about my sons and daughters I can just say my children. It's nice to say nieces instead of sibling's daughters. I wonder if there is a similar term for nieces and nephews ...
20
votes
17answers
2k views
Noun for “person with intermediate skill”
I'm looking for the noun form of "person with intermediate skill". For example, in the context of a particular activity, "person with no skill" might be designated a novice, and "person with much ...
38
votes
10answers
5k views
“Eat” is to “feed” as “drink” is to what?
I can say "I feed someone". Am I forced to say "I give someone a drink", or is there a single word for this (as in "I [verb] someone")? Unfortunately my thesaurus can't really help me.
39
votes
13answers
2k views
Is there another way of saying 'user-unfriendly'?
Is there another way of saying something is 'user-unfriendly'?
15
votes
8answers
3k views
Longest word in English without repeated letter [closed]
What is the longest word you can come up with that is a real English word that doesn't use any individual letter more than once?
4
votes
8answers
9k views
What's a big-vocabulary word for someone with a big vocabulary?
What's a big-vocabulary word for someone with a big vocabulary?
I'd like to say I'm looking for a "_____".
4
votes
5answers
1k views
What word means “to speak something into existence”?
If someone says "the Yankees are going to lose", and everyone starts believing it, including the players, and it actually happens — what is the word for that?
8
votes
1answer
762 views
UK English: Is “dived” a valid word?
Proofing a manuscript, I found this in the middle of a chase scene:
Spotting an opening, I dived into it and was horrified to find it was a dead end.
Is “dived” a valid past tense of the verb ...
4
votes
3answers
468 views
Shorter way to say “conversational partner”
I'm looking for a proper English word to say "conversational partner".
Is "interlocutor" a word an average person would understand?
Are there any other words or shorter expressions which could ...
32
votes
20answers
2k views
What is the word for an action that is “considered to be frowned upon”?
I'm looking for an adjective to describe a behavior or action that is considered to be a faux pas, or is frowned upon.
Picking your nose is [word].
Wearing socks with sandals is [word].
...
21
votes
14answers
19k views
What would you call a person who doesn't want to learn anything new?
What would you call a person who doesn't want to learn new things and even maybe thinks that this is unnecessary since he knows enough already? An ignorant person?
26
votes
7answers
1k views
Single word for people who are like “a frog in the well”
Is there a single word describing someone who is like a frog in a well? The frog believes the well is the entire world. How can I describe people who think that their own small environment is the ...
19
votes
2answers
7k views
Is there a word for four times as much, analogous to once, twice, and thrice?
Is there a word for 'four times as much', analogous to once, twice, and thrice?
12
votes
4answers
896 views
crisscross, dillydally, riffraff, etc
Some English words only differ in their vowels: crisscross, dillydally, riffraff, etc. Is there a name for them?
5
votes
6answers
1k views
Is there a term for a word that defeats its own purpose?
There are a few words that can possess an oxymoronic or paradoxical meaning that tend to defeat the entire purpose of the word. The most obvious example:
This sentence is indescribable.
...
39
votes
9answers
6k views
You quench your thirst. What do you do with your hunger?
What is the equivalent of "quench" when speaking of hunger? Is it appropriate to say you quenched your hunger?
14
votes
5answers
3k views
Term for something that appears complex but is actually very simple
The Japanese have a term for something that appears simple but is actually very complex in detail: Shibui. It should be said that this is only one aspect of Shibui, as with many Japanese ...
11
votes
5answers
867 views
What is the adjectival form of “nemesis”?
If I have a non-person object or idea that I consider to be my nemesis1, how could I refer to the object as a noun but use an embellishing adjective to emphasize that the object is my nemesis?
For ...
6
votes
4answers
538 views
Term for “constantly unsatisfied soul”
Is there a single word or phrase which can describe a person who is always slightly unsatisfied?
Update: To provide more context, This person is slightly unsatisfied with all things of life. Does too ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the opposite of “to stink” (v)? Is there one at all?
Specifically I'm looking for an antonym of the infinitive rather than the noun. For example, "fragrance" is an antonym of "stink" (the noun), but you can't say "Wow, that fragrants" or "Wow that ...
10
votes
7answers
5k views
Word for partner you are living with but not married to
What is a word for a person you live with but are not married to? I do not mean a room mate, but rather someone you are romantically involved with. From what I understand, spouse is someone you are ...
8
votes
7answers
516 views
Term for poetry that mimics what it describes
I'm blanking on the term for when a verse mimics that which it describes - for example, a poem talking about a confusing encounter would become confusing itself - each time I search for it I keep ...
8
votes
11answers
2k views
A word for clothes, shoes, accessories?
I'm looking for a word that applies to all the things a person can wear, e.g. clothes, shoes, accessories, etc. It musn't be too generic, e.g. product, item, etc.
7
votes
2answers
317 views
What is XLNC an example of?
XS sounds like excess, B4 sounds like before, XLNC sounds like excellency, etc. What are these wordplays called?
7
votes
5answers
341 views
What is it called when a non-verb is used as a verb?
This is in very common use on the internet. I just read this:
"[The] hotel employee walks in, I say "uh, puppy" and she just NOPEd the [heck] out of the room."
This is often done by adding 'd to ...
7
votes
1answer
718 views
One word for the ta-daa! pose?
I can hardly describe this, which is why I need the one word. When you shout "Ta-daa!" and throw your arms out at your sides, does anyone have a one-word description for what you're doing? Argh.
6
votes
7answers
480 views
Word to refer to the person who creates something that gets reused or remixed?
I am looking for a noun to describe the role of "Person A" in the following scenario.
Person A makes a digital project (e.g. a video game, animation, video, etc).
Person B creates a digital project ...
5
votes
2answers
482 views
5
votes
3answers
721 views
A word for two very different things juxtaposed?
Is there a word for when, say, in an artwork, there are various items that are completely different to each other, or anachronistic? Like, for example, a watch from the 1800s and a Snoopy figurine?
4
votes
3answers
789 views
A word for something you didn't know you'd like
I need a noun that succinctly describes the enigmatic concept of something that, based on your tastes, you would probably like, but didn't know you'd like. Anyone game?
Edit: If it can be understood ...
3
votes
3answers
154 views
A word for being troubled at others' potential schadenfreude against me
Schadenfreude is "enjoyment obtained from the trouble of others." I'm not looking for the antonym of that, but instead if there is a similar word for the object of schadenfreude. For instance, is ...
3
votes
4answers
1k views
More than an intermediate but less so than an expert
What is a word for a person with more expertise (in certain field) than an intermediate but less so than an expert?
