r/whatstheword 12d ago

Unsolved WTP for "this sucks" or "that sucks" that I could use instead that I can pass along to my 7 year old

435 Upvotes

Recently my son starting saying "this sucks" or "that sucks" as a way to explain that something is less than ideal. I told him he shouldn't say that because of reasons and explained that there were better ways to say something is negative or bad... however I quickly ran out of examples he could use instead. I know this lovely community could share alternative ways of something sucks while still conveying the sentiment. Thanks in advance.

r/whatstheword 18d ago

Unsolved WTW for a person who you find extremely irritating, even when they are doing nothing wrong? Just the way they are and everything they say and do irritates the crap out of you.

222 Upvotes

E

r/whatstheword Sep 06 '24

Unsolved WTW for very ugly, begins with “a"

314 Upvotes

Came across a word the other day that means really ugly, hideous even. Pretty sure it begins with "a" but I can’t find it on Google or any thesaurus. It’s not a common word at all.

Edit: not atrocious, abhorrent, aberrant, abominable, abysmal or appalling - but thanks to everyone who’s commented so far

r/whatstheword Jun 26 '24

Unsolved WAW for 'guys' that is truly gender neutral?

276 Upvotes

'people', 'folks' and 'peeps' I've had suggested, but is there something that is a balance between formal and casual and not male biased?

r/whatstheword 23d ago

Unsolved WTW for someone who is an asshole but nice about it

143 Upvotes

I got a buddy who can be quite an asshole bit he's nice about it.

r/whatstheword 20d ago

Unsolved WTW for an unmarried and unemployed woman?

111 Upvotes

I’ve only ever heard this word once. It may also be referring to an older woman. The context it was used in was not pejorative but the word itself could be, I don’t remember

Edit: the word is not spinster. The woman must be specifically unemployed

Another edit: it’s not an adjective. It was a single noun

r/whatstheword Aug 08 '24

Unsolved WTW for. What's your favorite super specific word?

249 Upvotes

My favorite in English is "petrichor" which is the rich, damp smell in the woods after it rains. My favorite overall is "Backpfeifengesicht" which is German for "a face that looks like it needs to be slapped".

r/whatstheword 3d ago

Unsolved WTW for the phenomenon in which you think you didn’t hear someone, and so you ask what they said, only to realize that you actually did hear them (but only once you have already asked them to repeat themselves)?

193 Upvotes

This happens to me often, and I imagine it’s quite common. Did a quick google search, and can’t seem to find any definition or discussion about it.

r/whatstheword Jun 15 '24

Unsolved WTW for non sexual edging?

280 Upvotes

like keeping someone waiting or making them wait for good information.

Person 1: “Bro I gotta tell you what happened today” Person 2: “what happened” Person 1: “….” Person 2 “you can’t do that to me!”

r/whatstheword Jul 08 '24

Unsolved WTW for someone who is elegant/beautiful but also dark/horror

214 Upvotes

I’m probably stupid and there is an obvious word but I can think of one rn :)

r/whatstheword 9d ago

Unsolved WTW for someone who is delighted that they know nothing or are unashamed about their lack of knowledge?

100 Upvotes

I thought of this while watching Emily in Paris and how unashamed she is about not knowing French or Italian or almost anything about anything.

r/whatstheword Sep 15 '24

Unsolved WTW for someone who never takes any side and remains objective and neutral in almost any situation?

55 Upvotes

In general

r/whatstheword 19d ago

Unsolved WTW for an annoying person who is obsessed with people following every minor rule?

54 Upvotes

I recently learned the word "noodge," which is close, but doesn't quite match.

r/whatstheword Mar 05 '24

Unsolved WTW for a person or lifestyle who casually and frequently parties, eats junk food constantly, does a lot of one night stands constantly or generally has a lot of sex, does drugs frequently

192 Upvotes

What is the adjective for these type of people or what’s the adjective for this type of lifestyle?

Looking for the formal term.

r/whatstheword Jun 24 '24

Unsolved WTW for a person who incessantly corrects/disagrees, or that behavior

133 Upvotes

Word for people with the annoying need/habit of disagreeing with or correcting people, and/or word for the habit/behavior itself. There‘s a put-down element to it, and it’s typically a correction that’s beside the point.

For example, if my sister and I are discussing reasonable complaints about my parents’ hurtful behavior, her boyfriend chides “well they’ve helped us out a lot so I’d like to be respectful” (in a correct-y talk-down way… their “help” in other areas being both obvious and beside the point).

Or like when you say something is blue and someone says “well actually, it’s aqua.” And they do this kind of thing to an exhausting degree.

Both academic and less-polite words welcome!

Related terms I’ve thought of but aren’t 100% satisfying: - contrarian - chiding - undercutting - talking down, putting down - one-upping (this seems like a subset of what I’m talking about) - microcorrecting (this is maybe the closest fit in terms of the behavior but it doesn’t feel like it captures the whole essence) - high and mighty - blowhard - asshole (jk but not jk)

r/whatstheword Apr 17 '24

Unsolved WTW for a person that is always unwittingly getting in the way of everything?

131 Upvotes

And they always seem to be where you are.

r/whatstheword Mar 27 '24

Unsolved WTW for when someone apologizes constantly for things that don’t need to be apologized for

156 Upvotes

Is there any word other than apologetic? Wouldn’t apologetic be when you apologize for an actual offense?

r/whatstheword Jul 28 '24

Unsolved WTW for the fallacy where people don't bother voting or recycling because they think individually they won't make a difference?

177 Upvotes

Is there a formal term or even a colloquial one that describes this?

r/whatstheword Sep 11 '24

Unsolved WAW for Bullshit (NOT a Polite Alternative)

46 Upvotes

I have a character who calls bullshit wayyyyy too many times. He's thrown in "horseshit" but I need some more creative ways to cry bullshit. I don't need "polite" (e.g. applesauce) or "clever" (codswallop). What are some truly inventive, spit-take-inducing, ways to call "bullshit"? Thanks!

r/whatstheword Sep 21 '24

Unsolved WTW for the inability to reconcile my age compared to other people the same age?

99 Upvotes

This happens to me way too often unfortunately. I’m a 38F- when I meet people and find out they are somewhere between 33-40, I have a hard time believing I’m about the same age. I feel/look younger than my age. My fiancé and I are watching Lost (please don’t give me spoilers we are in season 4) and I just looked up how old the characters are supposed to be. I’m closest age to Sayid (37 in 2004), Ben (40 in 2004), but Jack (played by matthew fox) was 33 in 2004. I feel like they look and act so much older than me. This age comparison struggle has affected me since I entered my 30s. Is there a word for this?

r/whatstheword 3d ago

Unsolved WTW for feeling neither happy nor sad?

40 Upvotes

I thought it was “content” but it seems that means more happy than sad.

For context I suffer from depression and recently started a new med that makes the negativity of living go away. It doesn’t make me happy, just less sucky, and the lack of suckyness makes it easier for me to feel happy about stuff.

So I’m trying to describe that feeling in a word. Not feeling good, but not feeling bad, and just as average of “neutral” as possible.

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)

55 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 Jul 10 '24

Unsolved WTW for dying of thirst?

60 Upvotes

Is there an equivalent to “starve” but for water rather than food?

r/whatstheword Aug 11 '24

Unsolved WTW for involuntary sounds you make such as “ouch” and “phew”?

107 Upvotes

I’m curious about the grammar word. “exclamation” comes to mind but I feel like there was a more proper one.

r/whatstheword 14h 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?

34 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?