Questions tagged [single-word-requests]
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. INCLUDE A SAMPLE SENTENCE demonstrating how the word would be used. Click on "Info", or "View Tag" and "Learn more..." for more information. Please use the [phrase-requests] tag if you seek a phrase and the [terminology] tag if you seek a term in a specialized subject also.
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Term for a response whose true intention is to make the responder look good?
At one time or another, you've probably inquired about something (perhaps online) and been met with the curt (perhaps condescending) response of someone who wants to show off. They offer a response, ...
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How are these kinds of classifications called?
While browsing EL&U I sometimes see people pointing out in their answer that some words have been used in an unusual way (or should I call it structure?), producing sentences like "the writer ...
- 509
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3
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What word do you use to describe higher/lower being 'Better'?
Let's say I have a list of exam results: we would intuitively view higher positive values as being better. There are instances however, where lower values would be more desirable (eg number of ...
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12
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Word to describe someone who is ignorant of societal problems
I need a word that describes someone who advocates for harmful laws or policies; it would describe someone who writes policy without listening to the people it affects or someone who doesn't pay ...
- 119
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9
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Verb for "ceasing to like someone/something"
I am looking for a verb with the meaning of ceasing to like something/someone.
To dislike is not fitting here, as it means the opposite of like, not going back from liking something to having a ...
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5
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Adjective to describe a 'hurtful kind of art/music' [closed]
What is the proper adjective that describes some kind of music or art that is considered very inferior and not appealing to the ear (for music) or to the eye (for art)?
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I need a word for a Noun that has only one function or use [duplicate]
Let's say that an AI was created to toast bread. That is its only function, and only use. How would I describe such a thing in one word?
For instance: Like a _____, it executed its task.
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4
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77
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Ways to describe partially functional phones in a single word
I have several phones that I am currently describing as “partially dysfunctional”, or “functionally impaired”.
What are some alternative terms (single words only) that are still formal and neutral ...
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Is there a phrase that means "too important"?
I'm having trouble finding a good phrasing to describe a component of a system that is too important -- in a sense that it distracts a person from all the other components, that should have been, or ...
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What is a word or phrase for student of the year? [closed]
I’m looking for a word/phrase similar to student of the year. I’m not using valedictorian, as I think it means student who has highest academic grade. I want to mean something that would mean like ...
- 107
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Is there a term to describe indirect/higher-order decision-making or guessing?
I’m referring to situations where you might make a guess or decision based on factors not directly applicable to the situation, such as context. For example, if you were guessing a multiple choice ...
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What do you call a situation in which to obtain something, you would need to already have that thing? [closed]
I wish to distinguish this from the catch-22/chicken-and-egg idea/trope — of two things which appear to be causally linked via a cycle, therefore the one begets the other, meaning it appears if not ...
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Expression for the awkward situation when you see an acquaintance and debate whether to acknowledge their presence
Is there any expression in English that refers to the situation when someone who is just an acquaintance (not a close friend) happens to be present around you at a social gathering (be it at a house ...
- 951
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4
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70
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Is there a word similar to "romanticize" but with the opposite polarity?
To romanticize is
to deal with or describe in an idealized or unrealistic fashion; to make (something) seem better or more appealing than it really is
I am looking for a word that describes a ...
- 103
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Word to describe happy, proud, and sad all at the same time- but the sadness almost outweighs the happiness [duplicate]
What's a word to describe feeling happy, proud, and sad all at the same time when the sadness almost outweighs the happiness?
I'm feeling this right now - my son has played baseball with the same ...
3
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5
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981
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A word to cover meanings of religion, mysticism, occult, and philosophy
Is there a word (or maybe a metaphor) to cover the idea of religion, mysticism, occult, and philosophy all together?
In other words, how would you name a bookshelf with books and other texts by or ...
- 149
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Better word for after + if? [closed]
I wish to communicate the following idea:
Please include it in your ticket after and if the decision has been made to proceed with the changes.
Is there a better phrasing for "after and if"...
- 1,543
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Word for an intentionally high bid on a job
When you're soliciting bids for a project, it's not unusual to get two bids that are fairly close and one that's way way higher. That company doesn't really want the job, but will happily take the ...
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Is 'storestep' a word? [closed]
As in doorstep.. what can we use for shops?
ex "we brought the best customers at your storestep"
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1
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46
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Breaking the Wittgenstein limit: is there a term for the practice of keep asking your interlocutor to "further define" aspects of their statement? [duplicate]
In common parlance, we say "s/he pretends s/he doesn't understand", for people who ignore the context of the conversation and require hyper-specific definitions to keep the conversation ...
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What is a good word for the "human thought of the era"? [duplicate]
What is a good word for the "human thought of the era"?
For example, I want to say that art is dependent on the human thought during its respective era.
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Word to describe metal tablets that have bevelled edges?
Especially in digital graphic design (I want to describe 2-dimensional images, not the real-life objects they depict).
For some reason I thought that could be called an "embossed" square.
...
- 3,250
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10
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Designation for the behaviour of a person that acts in a club-like manner
I would like to find a proper term for designating club behaviour, that is, when people of some team/club are favorable to anything associated with their team simply because it is their team and ...
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What were scientists called in England before the word "scientist" entered the vernacular?
T.H. Huxley famously complained that the word "scientist" was a "vulgar Americanism." This was in the 19th Century!
Query: what did they call Sir Isaac Newton in the 18th Century?
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Word for the loss of one parent
When one has lost both parents due to death the word orphan is used. This word is generally but not always used for children. It can in spoken English also be used for adults.
My question is what ...
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68
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Is there a name for a known untruth being used as a defense or antagonistic tool?
Is there a word for the perpetuation of a known lie as a plausibly deniable excuse for objectionable beliefs?
I'm thinking of the Lost Cause of the Civil War, which is an argument that the Civil War ...
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4
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General word for where an employee carries out office work
In an office, there are typically various different kinds of environments in which each employee carries out their work. Some have their own rooms, some have cubicles, some only have a desk in an open ...
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Word to explain how you feel when your expectations are subverted
Context: I would like to talk about how a book questions the reader's traditional, conservative values about family structures. I want to say we are introduced to a shared household wherein there isn'...
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451
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A word or a phrase for aphorism-like rules?
I'm writing something about sets "life rules" like The Rules - The Way of The Cycling Disciple. I want to relate a proposed "set of rules" to existing "rules/sets of rules&...
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2
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What describes a person who is extremely carefree to the point of risking their life? [duplicate]
What word describes someone who is extremely carefree to the point of risking their lives. The person is not even bad or annoying; in fact, they are vibrant & outgoing. Except they don't extremely ...
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53
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Word for alcoholic or nonalcoholic drinks or smokes that guests might bring to a party [closed]
I’m hosting a party and a guest asked if they could bring anything. I want them to bring whatever they’ll enjoy drinking (alcoholic or not) or smoking, but don’t want them to particularly go out of ...
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Single word for lack of community spirit
I was reading an article about high density housing and/or constantly being online and came across a single word I had to check the dictionary for and it was used to mean "the absence of a ...
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Correct term for a “distraction car”
I’m looking for the term used to indicate a car when it is used to “distract” possible ill-intentioned people from committing a crime.
For instance when a President (or an important politician) ...
- 3,331
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Can you please give a name to this type action by kids? [closed]
I asked my son to write few sentences; instead he tried to do naughty things like below. What do I call this type of action by kids in English?
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Is there a word in English to describe "the pain of watching somebody else perform an action incorrectly"?
For example, watching somebody use the wrong tool for a task, organizing items in the wrong order, etc. A perfect example of a scenario that may elicit this emotion is the "wrong block" meme....
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Word for something (rule, law, etc) that is bad for or overly punitive towards poor people?
I find myself constantly trying to talk about laws, rules, regulations, etc that I find to be bad for or overly punitive towards poor people, but I can't think of a word to describe it. For instance, ...
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How to describe this gadget in English? ("בית מנורה עם מתג")
How would you describe this gadget in English?
In Hebrew, I would say "בית מנורה עם מתג", that is, "a lantern house with a switch"- perhaps English has a better way to put it.
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What's the right word for someone who shows they can't do something so no one will ever ask them? [duplicate]
What is a word for someone who deliberately proves or shows they can't do something, so that no one ever asks them to do it?
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Property that cutting mats with grids have that cutting mats without grids don't?
What's an adjective that describes cutting mats that also have grids drawn on them, and specifically distinguishes them from cutting mats that don't have grids on them?
I guess if there's no cutting-...
- 3,250
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Is there an obscure word for a collector of obscure words?
I was reading a list on Mental Floss of "Obscure words for Collectors" with words like "Deltiologists" for people who collect postcards and "Arenophiles" for people who ...
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Word that sounds like 'stircus,' means 'frenzied/frenetic
There's a word people around me used to use a lot, phonetically it would spell 'stercus' or 'stircus', I think.
It was used in a context meaning excitable, frenzied, frenetic, that kind of thing. Like,...
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Term for the outer skin of an airplane [closed]
I'm looking for a seven-letter word beginning with NA that means the outer covering of an airplane or engine.
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Is there a good word that means "dishonest charges" or "dishonest fees"?
I'm looking for the right term for when a company charges you for something, knowing full well that they are not giving you what you are paying for.
Some background: My power company is charging me ...
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How to say that something is not a matter of order?
In its attempts agains depopulation, the government issues new
rules to encourage people to have more child. But childbearing is
not —————— .
I want to say that childbearing is not a matter of order, ...
- 3,183
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66
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What is the term for a word/name that describes the function?
What is the term for a word/name that describes the function?
One example is dishwasher, which is a machine that does exactly what the name suggests- it washes dishes.
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Is there a word for a "diverse amount of knowledge"?
Is there a word for "a diverse amount of knowledge"?
I would be used in a sentence like this:
Trying to give a diverse amount of knowledge covering many fields and genres of text.
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3
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What do you call the protrusion that slides into a socket to retain it in place?
In many objects in daily life, for example a remote control battery cover, there's usually a protrusion that slides into a socket to retain the object.
What do you call this protrusion?
A word used ...
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Is there a term describing an arrest made for an alternative motivation?
Suppose Bob is a news reporter who honestly reports bad things about the police chief. The police chief doesn't like it, and he wants to arrest Bob for it, but he knows he can't legally do so because ...
Truth
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What to call something that is an example of its class and stands out? [duplicate]
What can I call a publication that is very well-known in its genre, that set the tone thenceforth for what that genre should look like? To the extent that it is known by everyone who takes an interest ...
- 3,250
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A word for untrue innovation/invention/discovery
This company publicized ————— as inventions and discoveries.
What they propose as an invention is just a —————.
I am looking for a word/phrase meaning unfounded view/idea/claim or untrue innovation/...
- 3,183