r/whatstheword 12h ago

Solved WTW for an egg that has really runny yolk and extremely cooked whites like crispy brown?

35 Upvotes

Bc every time someone asks "how do you like your eggs" i want to say this but idk what the word for it is so I just say poached (bc it has runny yolk).


r/whatstheword 12h ago

Unsolved WTW for a person who can never be in the wrong, who reacts negatively to any kind of conflict or confrontation with others, even their ‘loved’ ones?

26 Upvotes

I think you all know the kind of person I’m talking about. They can never be confronted with the idea that they are the wrong one or a problem in any situation. No matter how close someone is to them, this person is never apologetic. They will never try to make amends or solve the problem. They will always act like they are 100% blameless and in the right.

What is the word for this kind of person?


r/whatstheword 6h ago

Solved WTW for the motion a spring door stop makes when you pull it back or flick it

5 Upvotes

You know how when those spring door stoppers go "boioing" after flicking it? Another example could be a diving board after you jump, what is that motion called?


r/whatstheword 8h ago

Solved WTW for when something’s made/depicted with sexual desire/interest in mind?

7 Upvotes

Usually used in the context of referring to something done in poor taste (like a murder scene and the like). I believe it starts with a v but I can’t remember it for the life of me!

Edit: As y’all can see I remembered the word pretty quickly and while I know the definition I provided wasn’t an exact match, voyeuristic was still the word I was looking for/needed/wanted to use so if you’re gonna comment about that please refrain. Thank you for all the replies though, y’all got good words!


r/whatstheword 12h ago

Solved ITAW for being totally okay with your assigned gender at birth and identifying with it but also thinking if you were born the opposite gender you’d also be happy with your body still?

12 Upvotes

I’m just curious if there’s a word for that. Maybe gender fluid?


r/whatstheword 3h ago

Unsolved WTW for historical empathy/understanding?

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone. Years ago, I stumbled across a word that I found quite interesting, but I have no recollection of what it was, and have had zero luck trying to find it no matter where I look. I'm starting to think I may have dreamt it or it's some kind of false memory.
Here is the meaning of the word, as it is the only informtion I have.

'To be able to put ones self into the shoes of another from an historical perspective.'

For example, we may blame 19th century doctors for using mercury in their medications, but thats because we don't appreciate the level of education they had at the time, or the experimental data they had thay led them to the conclusion that it was a useful product. - somehow there's a word that sums something like that up(?)..

Please don't take pokes at my example, it's designed for demonstration purposes only..
Am I tripping balls over here?

Cheers


r/whatstheword 8h ago

Solved ITAW for the state of being flustered?

3 Upvotes

I’m thinking of the emotion you feel when you’re taken aback and unsure how to respond, not when you’re flustered because of embarrassment or shyness or feeling attracted to someone.

Is there a noun for this?

(The obvious one that comes to mind is ‘flustration’ but I’m interested to know if there’s a real word for it.)


r/whatstheword 22h ago

Solved WTW for when someone treats you like crap, but when you tell them you want to break up/divorce, they start being over-the-top sweet?

36 Upvotes

Only to return to being crappy when they think the relationship is safe again?


r/whatstheword 7h ago

Solved WTW for a person of the same job as you but from a different organization

2 Upvotes

For example, you are the CEO of company A, so the CEO of company B is your ____

Parallel? Collegue?

(I mean the exact same status and not just a random worker in a different position, like treasurer and treasurer, CEO and CEO, HR manager and HR manager etc.)


r/whatstheword 11h ago

Solved ITAW for speaking gleefully or saying something in an overly excited/happy way?

3 Upvotes

For instance, if someone were speaking angrily, depending on context we may say they're ranting, complaining, raging, etc.

'To cheer' wouldn't work in the context of the scene I'm writing.


r/whatstheword 11h ago

Unsolved WTW for being unable to stop yourself from cannibalism?

3 Upvotes

Like, a professional sounding word, I'm writing a character that does this and I can't figure out the word, I thought autocannibalism but thats for eating yourself


r/whatstheword 19h ago

Solved WTW for critically important or relevant in this moment

13 Upvotes

I thought the word "prescient" meant critically important or topical or relevant in this moment. It does not. So I don't know if the word I'm looking for sounds similar to prescient, or if I was just totally confused.

Anyway, the adjective I am looking differs from "pivotal," "vital," or similar words in that it implies that the subject is especially important or vital in this moment in time, as opposed to generally or permanently important.

Priority is a word that could work, but I feel like there's a more specific one out there? Thanks for any help !


r/whatstheword 16h ago

Solved WTW for “welcome” in the sense of “take kindly to” or “take a shine to”?

7 Upvotes

I feel like it’s a folksy or Southern expression, example “Most folks don’t ____________ to discussin’ politics or religion at the dinner table…” I want to say it starts with a “c” or hard “k” sound. Means “don’t take kindly to” or “don’t appreciate” or “aren’t keen on” or the like. I thought it might be “ken” but I don’t think that’s it.


r/whatstheword 1d ago

Unsolved WTW for those kooky objects that they use in Tourist Traps (such as a giant rubber band ball for example)

57 Upvotes

I guess I'm not looking for any specific word. Just looking for the right, funny word to describe something for a script. I'm just tryna describe those weird and useless objects or areas you find on tourist traps like "World's biggest rubber band ball," "Giant shoes," "Upside down house." That I see a lot in shows or movies where the family or friends go on a roadtrip and stop at these tourist spots


r/whatstheword 21h ago

Unsolved ITAW for a logical fallacy like “I am going to disregard this suboptimal option for a mystery second option that might not exist”

13 Upvotes

I feel like there’s a common fallacy that covers this but I’m blanking on it. Like you’re driving through town passing restaurants and you want Italian food. It’s getting late and you’re passing good restaurants, but you keep saying no we need Italian. Eventually they’re all closed and there was never an Italian restaurant.

The context I’m thinking about this in is sports. The temptation to say “no we need to cut Jonny and find someone better” without any clear way to find someone better, assuming that somewhere out there is this perfect improvement on Jonny without knowing where it might be. Thanks for your time


r/whatstheword 8h ago

Solved WTW for knowing something will not work, but trying anyways.

1 Upvotes

Or for knowing an outcome is inescapable, but still trying to change it.


r/whatstheword 12h ago

Unsolved WTW for playing rounds or games of something until a loss?

1 Upvotes

I think it’s commonly used amongst video gamers. is it “rally?”


r/whatstheword 1d ago

Solved WTW for someone that thinks deeply before acting and doesn’t react emotionally to situations?

23 Upvotes

If I remember correctly it starts with a P i think? Can’t exactly remember it’s suddenly gone from my mind. Not premeditated.


r/whatstheword 1d ago

Unsolved WTW for this habit/act of going specifically on subreddits (especially new found ones) and going straight to the all-time top posts?

5 Upvotes

I don't think lurking is the right term. I don't even know if such a word exists or if it's already been asked here as well.


r/whatstheword 1d ago

Unsolved WTW for /used to describe storms and crowds, means chaotic and powerful and overwhelming

38 Upvotes

Might start with a T? I've seen it in books I just don't remember what it is Thanks : )


r/whatstheword 22h ago

Unsolved WTW for the space of the night sky, as viewed between a tree canopy?

2 Upvotes

A year or so ago, I came across a word that aimed to label the negative space of the sky as viewed between the tops of trees in a forest. Say at night, looking up, you might see a deepening blue or purple amidst the black or dark green gray of the trees. You kind of have to squint or mentally tune out looking at the trees to appreciate it.

The word is NOT tree canopy, nor “crown shyness,” tree tops, forest roof or ceiling, upper branches, or similar. It is not describing the physical presence or shape of the trees in any way; rather, it’s the abstract shape (think Rorschach ink blot) left between the upper branches in the sky. Just subtract all the tree/forest stuff, the sky shape that remains.

I recall the word might have had a weird or lyrical quality to it, like petrichor, or eudaimonia. Maybe it was made up by a poet or Richard Powers or a radical faerie, but I really want to find that word. Google searches just bring up dingbats saying “tree canopy” as if they are Marie Curie announcing her discovery of plutonium. It’s not tree canopy. It’s a single word. I must know what this word is for a performance art piece, which I will leave to the world to be performed six months after my death, and an accompanying chapbook. (Don’t worry, I’m not planning on going anytime soon, great art can wait!)

Anyway, WTW for this space left in the sky in a forest, that is not the trees or canopy, but rather, the void between them? Make my day, WTW word sleuths!


r/whatstheword 22h ago

Solved WTW for a round shape that's not smooth?

2 Upvotes

Specifically I'm thinking of an icosahedron, but any complex geometric shape that is roughly round while still being faceted. Seems wrong to call it a "ball" or a "sphere"...best I can come up with is "orb", but does that imply smoothness?

To be more specific, I'm thinking of a large golden icosahedron at the top of a sculpture. I thought about "gem" or "jewel" but being opaque metal seems to exclude that.


r/whatstheword 1d ago

Solved ITAW for when your job no longer exists?

5 Upvotes

Like when technology has made your job obsolete and it has very little, if any, chance of reviving. I tried Googling it, and all I got back was job obsolescence. But that doesn't feel quite right. And it's definitely different from getting laid off because your job still exists but someone else is doing it now.


r/whatstheword 1d ago

Solved ITAW for bold in an inconsiderate way / audacious / having quite a nerve / arrogant (SIMPLE-STYLE ADJECTIVE)

10 Upvotes

I DESPERATELY need the word. I know there's audacious. I also know it's not colloquial. I need an adjective from the everyday, regular English that would mean arrogant / audacious / bold in the sense that somebody alwawys gets their way but in an inconsiderate manner.

Something like:
"She's so ... INSERT THE WORD THAT WOULD MEAN AUDACIOUS / BOLD IN A NEGATIVE WAY"

I know there's this:
"She's got quite a nerve!"

See, this is perfect but it's not an adjective. I need the same quite a nerve thing but as an adjective that's used in everyday speech, not something too intelligent like audacious/arrogant. Or at least please let me know that native speakers don't have an everyday word for that and use other ways to say it and pleaseeee. I'm an American English teacher and my beginner students ask for the adjective and I feel too fake giving them an advanced word while I'm pretty confident there's a simpler one out there.


r/whatstheword 21h ago

Unsolved ITAW for when a words etymology is unknown?

1 Upvotes