This tag is for questions seeking a single word that fits a meaning. To ensure that your question is not closed as off-topic, please be specific about the intended use of the word. YOU MUST INCLUDE A SAMPLE SENTENCE demonstrating how the word would be used. Click on "Info" or "View Tag" and "Learn ...
2
votes
3answers
37 views
Military term or maneuver that describes focusing all your efforts on one enemy at a time
I can't recall the name of a term used to bring all of your assets to bear against one of many foes/problems at a time, instead of all of them at once.
As I recall, it was a military maneuver (could ...
0
votes
3answers
26 views
A better alternative to 'segment' denoting the part of daily academic routine
The definition of 'segment' from English Oxford Living Dictionaries:
segment (noun)
1. each of the parts into which something is or may be divided.
I hope we can say "segments of the ...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
A simple and common word probably with rare definition
I am pretty sure I saw this rare definition in Wiktionary, which might not be 100% accurate with the wordings, but it goes like "put the male genital from one side to another in trousers". At the ...
0
votes
5answers
54 views
Single word meaning “becoming lost”?
I'm looking for a word that means "becoming lost," much like how obsolescent means "becoming obsolete" or how moribund means "approaching death; dying." I want to use it in the sense that certain ...
0
votes
0answers
9 views
What do you call a project which is tossed up as a very plump & has potential but is just creating busywork for some people's existence?
What do you call a project which is tossed up as a very plump & has potential but is just creating busywork for some people's existence. The potential project will eventually end up losing its ...
1
vote
3answers
37 views
What should I name such a to-do list?
I'm confused about the name of one list in my to-do lists. In this list, I want to include important things that belong to quite different categories and happen irregularly or only once. For example, ...
1
vote
2answers
32 views
What is another word for perspective? [on hold]
In the sentence:
This experience gave me a new [perspective].
What would be an eloquent word (or short phrase) that I could use instead of "perspective"?
0
votes
1answer
31 views
What is a word for “someone to whom you pledge loyalty”
I'm looking for a single word that behaves almost like an antonym for "follower" or "constituent", but that doesn't carry the "official-ness" of "leader."
He felt betrayed by his [person to whom ...
12
votes
14answers
2k views
Word similar to 'insidious' or 'pernicious', with a non-negative connotation
I'm looking to describe an effect caused by using a particular construction in English, and the fact that it affects the listener and the whole of their thought processes whithout the listener being ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Verb for “friction”
Many languages have a verb to describe friction between two objects e.g. The door xxxx the carpet. Is there a similar way to say so in English rather than "There is friction between the door and the ...
0
votes
6answers
298 views
Word for something that has a legal and illegal use
Certain tools and substances (some fertilizers, nuclear technology, among others) can have both a legal peaceful application, or an illegal destructive use. What's the word for describing this type of ...
0
votes
3answers
58 views
What would you call a person pejoratively who enjoys perks of a job post but responsibility of a lower rung assistant
What would you call a person pejoratively who is on a professional privileged position such as Engineer, geologist, senior engineer etc (earning what the post demands) but chooses to do a job of a ...
0
votes
4answers
30 views
Term used for a feeling or dream of events happening in the short or near term.
They say Nostradamus could see the future. While not being so bold but what is the term used to describe when some people at times are able to dream or know what is going to happening in the short-...
0
votes
4answers
26 views
What's the single word for “if not for intervening circumstances”
The sentence I'm trying to make is,
She would have done [this] without interceding circumstances;
or,
[this] is what she would have done if not for intervening circumstances.
The circumstances ...
7
votes
7answers
3k views
Word for the sound of keyboard typing
Is there any word or phrase denoting the sound of typing on the keyboard?
I made my research, through which I found two words from Quora — a Q&A site; those two words are: "clicking" and "tac tac....
8
votes
6answers
5k views
What's the verb for “cooking” pizza?
If you make pizza from scratch and put it in your oven, what's the most natural/predominant verb for what you're doing to the pizza? Cooking? Baking? Firing? Something else? None of these sounds ...
2
votes
3answers
62 views
Single word for “able to blend in”
I am writing about an analogy that is made in a text that I am reading between a substance that blends in to the point of being incapable of being identified as a distinct object (like a certain type ...
0
votes
0answers
29 views
Is there a word that describes people who invalidate themselves by offering conflicting advice on the same topic?
Is there a single word that describes people who contradict themselves in the same sentence? A bunch of words come to mind, but none that I think really describe this type of person in a single word; ...
-1
votes
1answer
30 views
A word for something/somebody that gets others make mistake/commit error?
Some humans, methods, things, attitudes, etc. act so that make people commit mistake. What are those called? I want an adjective, and a noun for being like that.
Examples:
If you ...
1
vote
0answers
26 views
What is “stall attender” called
I would like to put in my resume that I have voluntarily attended a particular stall to promote a social section in the university and introduce that to the new students.
But what is the title for ...
14
votes
2answers
3k views
Fake job given as appeasement?
I want to describe: a job-position that is given to someone as a way to appease the person, but the position holds no real function.
Context:
He was, due to his importance to the secret project, ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
What do you call a person who does everything and doesn't let anyone get a part in the experience?
What do you call a person who does everything and doesn't let anyone
get a part in the experience?
For example, you have a group project and they're your partner and they don't let you do anything, ...
4
votes
1answer
62 views
Word for the direction of written words
English moves left to right. Hebrew moves right to left. Both then move top to bottom. Mongolian moves top to bottom, and some Philippine languages move from bottom to top.
Is there a word that ...
0
votes
0answers
18 views
Using different works instead of “Pursue” [on hold]
How can I say "... I wanted to pursue the graduate school as I enjoyed ...." in different way? I have already used "pursue" in my essay several times. That's why I want to use different different word ...
0
votes
2answers
27 views
I need a word that is for when something implies another thing will happen [on hold]
Basically, I have a sentence that says something that happened and the following sentence explains what happens in response. The response is inevitable so the occurrence implies the response. I need a ...
0
votes
2answers
48 views
Word that describes shortening of a single “string” [on hold]
In programming, the word “concatenation” is often used for combining multiple individual strings into one. Is there a reverse of this? For dropping a piece of a string, or number?
For example, in ...
0
votes
0answers
24 views
Is there a word for a person that can only been seen by one person or in specific circumstances?
Almost like an imaginary friend, but more like characters such as Ryuk from Death Note and Maurice (The hormone monster) from Big Mouth.
0
votes
2answers
62 views
Is there a word for a person who officially “takes over” for someone after they die?
For example I want to write "Professor Neville died, but I am going to ask his wife Virginia Neville, who is acting as is _____, to forward you his confidential letter of reference that he wrote for ...
5
votes
5answers
691 views
Is there any word, alternative to the idiom, “rack one's brain”
What word can I use in place of the idiom "rack one's brain," which means to strain in mental effort, esp to remember something (from Collins)?
For instance, a teacher put a chalk box in the ...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
Word for “disliking something at first but then eventually liking it”
Single word for "disliking something at first but then eventually liking it."
-2
votes
0answers
24 views
1
vote
0answers
52 views
Word to describe “quick-witted streetchild”
I'm talking of a certain wit that is characteristic of streetboys and streetchildren in general. I'm not sure if streetchildren is the best way to describe these kids. That might not be very common in ...
5
votes
5answers
836 views
Is there a phrase for “I cast a glance” but as in an accident?
I want to say
"I accidentally cast a glance at my watch... shoot! It's 10:30"
except I don't want to use the word "accidentally" (or cast for that matter...). Is there a way to maybe combine ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
Generalize tournament/championship “capacity”?
How can I describe tournament/championship "capacity" in one word?
Like "tournament word is 10 players max" or "championship word is 5 teams max" or even "game word is 5 teams max".
Can I actually ...
1
vote
2answers
65 views
Term for a syndrome where someone falls in love with their rescuer?
Think of a scenario similar to your classic fairytale, where a damsel in distress is rescued by the prince, and she falls in love with him. Is there a name for this as a syndrome or similar? ...
0
votes
2answers
61 views
Word for a woman who manipulates a man?
Is there a single word other than manipulator for a woman who uses her sexuality to get a man to crush on her and then act as her champion for idiosyncratic reasons that have no basis in fact?
4
votes
3answers
98 views
Missing part of an idiom or expression I heard “Have you lost the [something] you were born with”
I am writing a story and my character is being scolded for doing something stupid. I have an expression on the tip of my tongue, but part of it keeps evading me! "Have you lost the [thing that keeps ...
0
votes
0answers
37 views
Equivalent of “weights” for things you divide by
If you're taking the weighted average of a list of numbers, you would multiply each number by its corresponding "weight". In this instance, higher weights mean the number has more influence in the ...
1
vote
2answers
53 views
A word for someone who falsely believes that a danger is no threat [on hold]
I am looking for a succinct single word that sums up the following definition:
A person who falsely believes that an impending danger is of no real threat
To add some context - I have frequently ...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
Word for “flexible in size”
Some things can only have certain sizes ("inflexible size"), for example Lego Duplo are a multiple of about 16 mm (I think). Other things are "flexible in size", as they don't have a restriction, or ...
3
votes
2answers
91 views
Adjecive that means overgrown by alien life
I'm looking for a word to describe terrain which is occupied by native alien life.
On Earth, I might talk about a lush valley in need of environmental protection or verdant hills that would be ...
1
vote
1answer
45 views
What is a person who owes you a favour called? [closed]
First of all, English is not my mother tongue. Secondly, I was wondering if there is such a word in the English language that describes a person, who owes you some favour (not really money tho).
Like,...
0
votes
0answers
23 views
A synonym for one subsidiary of a group (accounting software)
We're a subsidiary company who develops software solutions for a group of other subsidiaries. The latter specialize in the same business process (iron ore mining/dressing).
In our projects we use '...
0
votes
0answers
26 views
is there a single word for 1/3rd of a given time period? [closed]
While 1/3rd of an year is called "trimester", is there a single word for 1/3rd of a given time period?
0
votes
3answers
55 views
Word for specific people [closed]
What is the word for specific people with whom we just interact in day to day life?
They aren't friends, colleagues, relatives or customers etc.
0
votes
3answers
88 views
What is a single wry “laugh” called? [closed]
I put laugh in quotes because the thing I'm referring to is less a laugh and more a short burst of sound, for lack of a term I hope answerers can come up with. I'm looking for a word meaning a single ...
2
votes
1answer
33 views
Internationally recognized synonym/term for 'technical passport'?
What's the common, internationally recognized term for such a document:
A technical passport is a document intended for the customer. It contains the most important technical data of the machine or ...
1
vote
1answer
33 views
Is there a word or phrase when there occurs two sad events in tandem
Is there a word or phrase when there occurs two sad/traumatic events in tandem; Like Double whammy is when two-fold blow or setback. But I think i cannot use double whammy. Like in this example:
...
2
votes
1answer
57 views
A question on “she” vs “her”
So, I was reading this book titled 'Word Power Made Easy', and encountered a question in the exercise as:
We thought the actress to be (she, her), but we weren't sure.
From natural intuition, I ...
0
votes
2answers
27 views
I can’t figure out which word to use to describe fluid matter which never stops changing in shape [closed]
Which word would you use to describe fluid matter which never stops changing in shape?
