Most Loved Words

I recently read something and immediately exclaimed, “What! I HATE that word!” Something about it struck me almost angrily. So, I decided to write a blog listing my most loved and hated words. It ended up being too long, so I had to split it up so I didn’t lose your attention. Without further a due, a very abbreviated list of my most loved words: 

Extravaganza-not to be confused with “extravagant,” because extravaganza is just so much better. Say it out loud. Extravagaaaaanza!

Peace- it’s so simple in its one-syllable format; yet, there is such debate about the phrase “world peace.” Let’s just leave it at peace. It almost relaxes me just to read it. Peace. Also, I love its association with hippies and the whole hippie culture.

Robust-I love the way this looks and sounds, and it’s a very powerful adjective.

Brilliant-just a great descriptor and I think it’s association with awesome things and people  (Steve Jobs, for example) help give it meaning.

Raunchy-although this word describes less than desirable things, it’s very raw and effective at doing so.

Paramount- I like this word in copy and writing.

Putrid-ewwwwww. Perfect. Just like raunchy.

Seldom-I feel very smart when I use this word, I think because my grandpa used it a lot and I feel very old-fashioned and cultured when I use it. Not to mention, it’s pretty easy to work into a sentence and not make it sound like you’re trying too hard.

Hippopotamus-visually, this word is just awesome. So are hippos.

Charlatan-I learned this word in freshman English. Its kind of flashy in terms of day-to-day use, but for some reason I never forgot it or it’s meaning. It’s fun to say out loud, but the number of syllables makes it generally unrealistic to use commonly.

Dabble- visually fun and is so flexible in it’s use.

Filthy-I use this word a lot, and after seeing it written, I don’t like the way it looks. But when I told a friend I was writing a blog on most loved and hated words, she immediately reminded me I loved this word. And I do. But I don’t think I’ll ever use it in writing.

Bat-shit crazy-this is for Ronii. She likes this term and I have to say it rolls really well off the tongue. Plus, I like using swear words in writing because it kind of startles the reader (and hopefully doesn’t insult them. Because let’s face it. Swear words are swear words and we’ve all said them, heard them, or seen them. Unfortunately they are a part of our culture and they really are the perfect word to express your situation sometimes). I don’t recommend the use of this phrase in professional writing (that’s my being diplomatic to appease both of my bosses).

Diplomatic-I very much am diplomatic and it’s a very sophisticated and stout word. It’s sound and look are so much more powerful than it’s meaning, I feel. I also think it’s a good trait to have.

Capture-I feel like this word is seldom used (see what I did there?) and frequently replaced with words like “caught” or associated with bad things like being arrested or kidnapped or seized. I like it for describing things like photography, or used in terms of being bewitched or enchanted. (both also great words)

Lastly,I love every word and everything about the following excerpt from my favorite book, A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, where captured (did it again!) my soul in describing music:

 “The trombones crunched redgold under my bed, and behind my gulliver the trumpets three-wise silverflamed, and there by the door the timps rolling through my guts and out again crunched like candy thunder. Oh, it was wonder of wonders. And then, a bird of like rarest spun heavenmetal, or like silvery wine flowing in a spaceship, gravity all nonsense now, came the violin solo above all the other strings, and those strings were like a cage of silk around my bed. Then flute and oboe bored, like worms of like platinum, into the thick thick toffee gold and silver. I was in such bliss, my brothers.”

~Coco