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Few things annoy a grammar stickler more than hearing someone claim they “literally” jumped out of their skin or “literally” died laughing. These events didn’t literally occur (thankfully). Instead, they happened figuratively, as literally means “in a strict or actual sense.” However, due to its frequent misuse, literally has gained a dictionary definition as an emphatic term meaning “figuratively” or “virtually,” which frustrates many purists.
Beyond this, countless other words are misunderstood and misapplied, many of which are less obvious than literally. These words can easily slip into everyday language, even among those who pride themselves on grammatical precision.
1. Barter doesn’t mean “negotiate” or “bargain.”
In reality, it’s quite different. Haggling involves negotiating a monetary price, while bartering refers to trading goods, skills, or services directly, often without any cash exchange.
2. Bemused doesn’t mean “entertained.”
Technically, bemused and amused are not interchangeable. While bemused is often used to mean “mildly amused,” its true definition is “confused,” “perplexed,” or “lost in thought.” Despite its widespread misuse, this meaning has earned a spot in modern dictionaries.
3. Depreciate doesn’t mean “disparage.”
When something depreciates, its value decreases. On the other hand, to deprecate is to criticize or express disapproval. While there’s some overlap (e.g., being self-deprecating is similar to being self-depreciating, though the latter is far less common), depreciation focuses on reducing worth rather than expressing disdain.
4. Dilemma doesn’t mean “predicament.”
The prefix di– in dilemma signifies “two,” meaning a dilemma is a tough choice between two options. It’s not merely a problem or a quandary. For a choice involving three options? That’s called a trilemma.
5. Disinterested doesn’t mean “bored.”
Many are unaware of the distinction here. Uninterested refers to a lack of interest, aligning with terms like “indifferent” or “apathetic.” Disinterested, however, means “neutral” or “impartial,” implying no personal stake in the matter. Despite their frequent interchangeability, some speakers and style guides still emphasize the difference.
6. Electrocute doesn’t mean “to receive an electric shock.”
This one is obvious: electrocute combines “electric” and “execute,” meaning it refers to being killed or severely injured by electricity, not just experiencing a minor shock.
7. Enormity doesn’t mean “immensity.”
As Merriam-Webster notes, some argue that enormity should only describe extreme wickedness, not large size. They prefer enormousness for size-related contexts. Under this rule, enormity applies to atrocities or corruption, not to physical dimensions (unless those dimensions are particularly dreadful). It’s a nuanced but meaningful distinction.
8. Factoid doesn’t mean “a small fact.”
Norman Mailer introduced factoid in 1973, but he didn’t mean it as a trivial tidbit. Instead, he defined it as “a fabricated statement presented as fact, often through media, designed to influence public opinion.” Essentially, it’s an invented piece of misinformation that gains credibility simply by being published.
9. Flaunt doesn’t mean “defy.”
Flaunting is about displaying something proudly. While you can flout the rules, you can’t flaunt them, despite the frequent mix-up between the two terms.
10. Fortuitous doesn’t mean “lucky.”
The resemblance between fortuitous and fortunate has caused them to become nearly synonymous. However, strictly speaking, fortuitous refers to something happening by chance, while fortunate implies that the outcome is favorable.
11. Grizzly doesn’t mean “terrifying.”
The term you likely need is grisly. Interestingly, despite grizzly bears being brown, grizzly actually refers to “having gray hair.”
12. Hone doesn’t mean “to focus on.”
Hone specifically means “to sharpen,” so you can hone your skills or senses, but you can’t hone in on something. Instead, you home in on it.
13. Loath doesn’t mean “to despise.”
Just as loathe (with an e) doesn’t mean “reluctant,” being loath to do something means you’re unwilling. You might also loathe it, but loathe (with an e) is the verb meaning “to intensely dislike.”
14. Luxuriant doesn’t mean “opulent.”
Despite their frequent interchangeability, luxuriant and luxurious are not true synonyms. Luxurious describes something rich or extravagant, while luxuriant refers to something abundant, lush, or excessively flourishing.
15. Nonplussed doesn’t mean “indifferent.”
While many use nonplussed to mean “unfazed” or “calm,” it actually means “utterly confused” or “bewildered.” Originating from the Latin non plus (literally “no more”), it describes a state of being so perplexed that you’re at a loss for words or actions.
16. Oblivious doesn’t mean “ignorant.”
Originally, it didn’t. Oblivious comes from the same root as oblivion and initially meant “forgetful” or “failing to remember” when it entered the language in the 15th century. The modern, broader use of oblivious to mean “unaware” or “indifferent” evolved from this earlier definition but isn’t universally accepted.
17. Peruse doesn’t mean “skim.”
People often say they’re perusing magazines or websites, implying a casual glance. However, the per– in peruse means “thoroughly” (as in words like perturb or perfect), so perusing actually means examining something in detail. (That said, some dictionaries now include the casual reading meaning.)
18. Plethora doesn’t mean “many.”
Technically, it means “an excessive amount” or “an overabundance.” Originally, plethora was a medical term describing an excess of bodily fluids, particularly blood, believed to cause illness. In Greek, it literally means “fullness.”
19. Prevaricate doesn’t mean “to delay.”
Likely confused with procrastinate, prevaricate is sometimes used to mean “to stall” or “to postpone.” However, it actually means “to speak or act in an evasive manner.” While you might be buying time, that’s not the word’s primary meaning.
20. Refute doesn’t mean “to reject.”
Saying “I refute that!” implies you can demonstrate it’s incorrect, not just that you disagree or deny its validity.
21. Regularly doesn’t mean “frequently.”
When something occurs regularly, it happens at consistent, predictable intervals or in a systematic manner. The frequency of these intervals isn’t implied by the word itself, so regularly doesn’t equate to “frequently.”
22. Reticent doesn’t mean “uncertain.”
Reticent specifically means “reserved in speech” or “not inclined to talk.” While it’s often confused with reluctant (which simply means “unwilling”), its meaning is more precise and shouldn’t be used as a synonym for “unenthusiastic” or “disinclined.”
23. Salubrious doesn’t mean “positive.”
The term salubrious is often broadly applied to anything favorable or beneficial. However, it stems from a Latin word meaning “healthy” or “safe,” and should only describe things that promote health or well-being.
24. Tortuous doesn’t mean “agonizing.”
The correct term here is torturous (related to torture), with an extra r. Tortuous describes something that is winding, intricate, or filled with twists and turns.
25. Travesty doesn’t mean “catastrophe.”
“It was a complete travesty!” Misuse of travesty, often confused with tragedy, has led to it being used to describe any unfortunate event. However, a travesty is actually a grotesque or distorted imitation of something—so a “travesty of justice” isn’t just flawed justice, but a twisted, mockery of it. The word comes from a French term meaning “to disguise.”
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