Questions tagged [pejorative-language]
This tag is for questions about pejorative language. Pejorative language is any language that portrays someone or something in a negative light, no matter whether it is intended to be disparaging and derogatory, contemptuous or disapproving, belittling or offensive, or even abusive. It’s anything that makes someone or something look bad.
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Word for someone quick to blame others
What is a single word to describe a person who is quick to blame others or the system in almost any situation, regardless of whether that is legitimate or not?
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Is there a word that means 'Skeptic Hatred'?
Is there a word for the phenomenon where people have extreme emotional distress towards others who ask for evidence or question the validity of a popularly accepted claim, where the distress commonly ...
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Is there a word that describes a person who constantly exaggerates?
Is there a word that describes a person who constantly exaggerates? Exaggerating both facts and their emotions?
Edit: the word should have a negative connotation, as if you are criticizing someone ...
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Why are nouns sometimes pejorative when used attributively?
Certain nouns can often be used as noun adjuncts in place of a corresponding adjective, with no change in literal meaning, where:
The noun is not pejorative when used nominatively by itself.
Nor is ...
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Are there any common informal terms for referring to corrupt politicians? [closed]
I’m Brazilian and I’m curious to know of common English expressions use to refer to corrupt politicians. Here we use the idiomatic expression ficha suja, which literally translated would be something ...
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Word to describe one who loves friends more than family
Is there a word to describe someone who loves his friends more than his family?
For example, my brother is a sort of person who seems to be only interested in his friends (not me nor the rest of the ...
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More formal synonyms of "snob"
To me, the word snob seems rather informal, although it appears in dictionaries, and I am unable to find anywhere on the internet a more formal word than snob.
Are there any sophisticated synonyms ...
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A word for someone always defaming people whilst constantly trying to affirm their own uprightness
Consider the extreme example of a person exerting all efforts to defame people around them, whether in work or their own social group, collecting innocent emails and letters from people and later ...
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Word for “only caring about oneself ”
I was trying to convey my opinion about a person I knew, when I faced this question. I had to describe a person who cared only about himself: his personal well-being, wealth, luxury, happiness are his ...
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A term or phrase expressing the cheapening of a quality by measuring it in monetary terms
I am looking for a term that expresses something along the lines of to measure something of value (especially an abstract, often positive quality such as bravery or effort) in monetary terms in a ...
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Is "Yankee" derogatory?
I have heard of the term "Yankee" often referring to people in the Northern U.S. by Southerners. My question is: is this term considered derogatory or offensive and should it be avoided in workplace ...
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Single word to describe someone who is overly sensitive
I'm looking for a word to describe someone who is sensitive to the point that other have to tiptoe around her. In other words, someone who can't handle routine jokes, normal criticism, or a comment ...
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Does *tourist* have a derogatory connotation of *inexperienced* or any other meanings in the clip of Ice Age3? [closed]
As a major in tourism, I've already acknowledged that tourists' notoriety among the destination dwellers by taking pictures of anything,disregarding the unwritten rules ... Here I will not go on to ...
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What is the more serious version of 'pet peeve'?
A "pet peeve" is something minor that annoys you. What is the term for a major annoyance?
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Is there a word, preferably a verb, that means to exaggerate a point, or idea, to the detriment of the point?
It seems that if such a word exists it would be rather useful. Often, whether listening to to certain people or talking with friends, I feel that certain ideas are willingly exaggerated for a certain ...
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Is there a word for "querulism"?
I find I often need a word such as this. Some people are just relentless querulants and I want to be able to refer to that aspect of them, e.g. "John's relentless querulism". Doesn't seem like that's ...
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Have definition; searching for matching word [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Other expressions for “to be the devil's advocate”?
Given the definition: "the adoption of an ostensibly defensible position, less because one actually ...
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What do you call it when a name/word is better known by a pejorative?
A while back, the US Congress passed a bill called the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act”. The bill quickly became known as “Obamacare”. During the time prior to when cannabis was made ...
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What is a good term for someone who refuses to debate an issue ab initio? [closed]
A neologism would be fine. I was thinking of “ruglifter”, as in someone who is wont to sweep dirt under the rug.
edit: I was aware that using "from first principles" would render the question ...
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A word for "to claim a position or place above something or someone else"
The verb I seek is defined as: to claim a position above something, to position oneself higher than something or someone.
The important aspect is the claim of superiority over something, without ...
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What is the word(s) for someone who is very particular about the small details of something? [closed]
I am looking for a word or multiple words to describe someone who is very (perhaps even 'overly') concerned about the fine details of something. It could be describing someone who is a perfectionist, ...
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How can you describe someone who gives up too easily?
A friend of mine said that he was a cynic. I had told him that he was giving up too easily. In this situation, the worst case outcome was rejection, which logically speaking, was equivalent to not ...
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What do you call someone who has extensive knowledge but won't share it?
What do you call a person that has a lot knowledge/information but decides to not share it?
Is it really the classic know-it-all or enlightened?
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What do you call a person who is regionally biased?
What do you call a person who is regionally biased and has an unreasonable hatred/dislike for people from other regions of the country/world? Something like a racist, but the point of discrimination ...
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Word for person who became rich by cheating others [closed]
Is there a word for a person who became rich by cheating others? I want to use it in formal language.
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Word for person unwilling to share information [closed]
What do you call a person who is unwilling to share information?
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Adjective meaning "argumentative for argument's sake"?
Quite often, the phrase "x for x's sake" is used in English, and so one could describe someone as being "argumentative for argument's sake" to describe someone who is arguing for the sake of arguing. ...
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Is there a term for pejorative parody names of people or places?
I recently saw someone refer to Michele Bachmann as Michele Botchman [emphasis added] and was wondering what the term for such a parody name would be? Obviously it was intended as pejorative, so I'm ...
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What is the single word that describes a person who always gossips?
What is the single word that describes a person who always gossips? (For example, telling things about others which are not true.)
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British slang for "being reassigned to the unsophisticated and remote regions or villages"
I am stumped in trying to remember the British expression used as a derogatory slant on being relegated, demoted, assigned to a lower position, reduced in rank, or (quite literally) being reassigned ...
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How can I describe a person who does not get to the point?
When a person talks about something, s/he doesn't get to the point but starts with a pun, intending to let us figure out its purpose.
Someone told me I could use reserved to describe that person, but ...
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What would you call a person who is always confused? [closed]
It struck me today what would be the word for confused people. One of my friends is always confused in her daily life, she just can't decide what to do. If I call her, saying "you're a confused person"...
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Where does the pejorative meaning of "shower" come from?
shower British informal
a group of people perceived as incompetent or worthless
I think this term is becoming obsolete. It's certainly not something I've heard in the street recently. The first ...
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Is there a word for "a person who hardly understands things"?
I have one friend who has a hard time understanding things other people say. While everyone except him understands what someone tried to say, this guy still understands nothing. We always have to ...
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What word would you use to describe someone who tries to one up everything you say?
What word is appropriate for someone who tries to one up everything you say? For example:
Me: "You are a great friend"
Person: "Well, you are my best friend"
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A single word describing a person who is impossible to live with
Is there a single word describing someone who is impossible to live with because of their bad manners?
Such as in the example:
'John, my housemate, has terrible manners; he's an awful person and ...
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A single word for someone who is quick to hate others
What is a single word to describe someone who is quick to hate others?
With anger we can say quick-tempered, but what about quick in hating other people/easily hates others.
Hateful means full of ...
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What would you call a person who doesn't like questions being asked of them?
My sister says I ask too many questions, such as "What have you been up to lately?" She is the only person who says that.
What do you call a person who doesn't like questions being asked?
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Is there a word for a "promise breaker"?
I'm somewhat vexed in that I cannot think of a word that means a "promise breaker" or "person who breaks a promise". There are words that may subsume that, such as "miscreant" or "liar", but I cannot ...
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Term for person who forgets directions or routes
What do we call a person who easily forgets directions or routes?
I googled but couldn't find any appropriate term.
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How did "Jew" become pejorative?
For some reason, the word Jew often carries a pejorative or offensive connotation, which the related adjective Jewish does not carry. This is most obvious when either word is used as an attributive:
...
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What is an idiom/slang for "someone who pretends to be good when they're not"?
This is not from real life, but from a movie on my local TV. A character in the movie is really bad, but when she talks with others, she pretends to be an innocent/ good woman. I want to know how to ...
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Word for person who is always dizzy or high
What is a single word for a person who is always dizzy or high? I am sure it is not the same as a person who drinks a lot.
Here Always means without an end.
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What would you call a person who farts a lot?
I came across one word that is "gas-bag." Are there any other specific (not slang) words?
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Is there a pejorative word for an ethnic appeal?
When ultra-conservative Jesse Helms ran against Congressman Nick Galifianakis in 1972, he is considered to have gained ground with the slogan, "Jesse Helms: He's One of Us," presumably referring to ...
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Words to describe a semi-literate person
I once had a manager whose level of literacy was lacking to the extent that he would nearly always return my technical reports with sections rewritten such that they became either ungrammatical, or ...
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A single word for someone who is not pleased no matter how hard you try
I'm looking for a word that means
someone (especially a boss) who is not pleased (with your work, attitude etc.) no matter how hard you try.
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Get a life | You have no life
I saw this as a mild insult on the Internet, one person tells another: "get a life" or "you have no life".
What does it mean literally and what is its meaning as an insult?
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What does "X his way out of a paper bag" mean?
What do they mean when they say "He can't find his way out of paper bag", or "He couldn't manage himself out of paper bag"?
Also, what is the history of this phrase? What is its origin?
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