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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.

-4 votes
0 answers
60 views

What scientific literary English term describes a person who makes money from the misfortunes of others? [closed]

I forgot the scientific term in English that describes a person who makes money from the misfortunes/problems of other people. «Nineteen Eighty-Four» (1984) mentioned the term "prole", which ...
0 votes
2 answers
204 views

Is there a word in English specifically for any dream during sleep? [closed]

The word dream have two main dictionary meanings: a series of events or images that happen in your mind when you are sleeping something that you want to happen very much but that is not very likely ...
4 votes
5 answers
3k views

What do you call someone who likes things specifically because they are bad or poorly made?

I’ve noticed many people who seem to take pleasure in poorly made or the lowest quality things. There’s a certain level of humor to it, but is there a word that would specifically describe this kind ...
3 votes
5 answers
730 views

Word for 'of or related to division'

I'm writing a program with a numeric parser. The operations involved are multiplying, dividing, squaring, and cubing. In order to define what kind of objects can be multiplied, divided, etc with what,...
0 votes
3 answers
6k views

Something that sounds good but has no true meaning

I am looking for a single word to describe this case. Lets say someone makes a claim and tries to back it up but fails at doing so. These words do sound pleasurable perhaps filled with platitudes, ...
23 votes
10 answers
10k views

Name that fallacy: If it's more expensive it must be better

Is there a name for the logical fallacy that more expensive goods must be better than less expensive alternatives? Often times people make this assumption without looking at the actual design or ...
0 votes
1 answer
44 views

What is the general term for terms that end in -ian, -ist etc.?

All the terms with a definition starting with 'One who... ', what is the term to describe these terms? Like, Occupation is the general term for a particular line of work; Mechanic, Doctor, Dentist, ...
0 votes
0 answers
32 views

Slang words describing the persons in the "Distracted Boyfriend" meme? [closed]

¿Are there slang words describing each of the three persons in the "Distracted Boyfriend" meme:
2 votes
3 answers
2k views

Is there a word for "collection of related elements"? [closed]

I'm trying to use this word to describe elements like: Artist's (filmmaker, musician, writer) filmography/discography/corpus, collection of works Albums (collection of songs) Record label ...
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

What category includes "document" and "video"?

I want a common word that could categorise both document (like presentation/portfolio etc.) and video. Any good ideas? I need something simple enough that everyone can understand & not just the ...
8 votes
2 answers
3k views

Group of elevators in a building

If we assume a large building with multiple elevators, what would be the name of a group of elevators? Consider a group all those in close vicinity to each other, in the same hall but not necessary ...
0 votes
0 answers
52 views

Whats is a word to describe a (non-food) product that has an expiry date in a technical/system documentation context?

I'm currently writing up documentation for an internal computing system that manages medical products. These products have a shelf-life or expiry date that is set by the manufacturer but they tend not ...
0 votes
6 answers
3k views

What is a word that describes when someone requires a certain quality of another person in order for them to be a possible dating option?

This has been bugging me for the past 30 minutes. It's basically some sort of specific criteria you hold in order to even consider dating someone, like "My girlfriend has to like Star Wars," or "My ...
4 votes
8 answers
32k views

Is there a word for someone who makes others better?

One quality or trait that many employer looks for in a leader is the ability to not only perform well yourself but to also elevate the performance of others around you. For example, Steve Nash was ...
2 votes
6 answers
644 views

I’m looking for a word that describes a decision being imposed on you unwillingly [closed]

A word that implies a decision has been imposed on you against your will and perhaps accepted against your better judgment.
1 vote
5 answers
105 views

Is there a better word for 'anonymity' here? [closed]

This is the sentence: The Festival was the reason he had chosen this place to enter the country, the safety and 'anonymity' it provided would make his further travels much smoother. Some context: ...
1 vote
7 answers
16k views

What is the word that means an "unanswerable question"?

This is not a rhetorical question (because no one knows the answer). It is kind of like a dilemma in that it's difficult to answer; however, it does not quite fall under a "what is the meaning of ...
10 votes
11 answers
2k views

What is a proper word for (almost) identical products?

In my language we say "these products are analogues (of each other)" meaning they are similar to be point of being identical. For example, when procuring equipment, one may argue that we can ...
5 votes
7 answers
2k views

What is a verb for "to be identical"?

What is a verb for the meaning "To be identical"? identical adjective Things that are identical are exactly the same. Collins For instance, instead of saying "Diamonds are never ...
3 votes
4 answers
6k views

Adjective meaning "that can be tied"

What is the most common adjective used to describe objects that can be tied. I would think of tieable but it does not seem to exist in the wiktionary.
0 votes
2 answers
2k views

Word for morally negative sexual behavior

I'm searching for a broad word that is summarized by sexual transgression. Is there a single word to describe a type of behavior of those that pursue rape, pedophilia, adultery, incest, or molestation?...
9 votes
10 answers
3k views

An adjective for something peaceful but sad?

I need an adjective for that please, is about the energy of the room feeling both sad but quiet and peaceful. There was a ____ atmosphere in the room.
7 votes
7 answers
21k views

What's the word / way to describe the sound we make when we get irritated?

What's that sound called which we make when we are irritated or disgusted, when we press both our lips together and make a sucking sound, with our teeth closed. It's similar to a kissing sound, but in ...
0 votes
1 answer
48 views

Word for the dust carried by wind

Is there a word for the dust that is carried by the wind and gradually accumulates? In US English 'silt' almost fits: earthy matter, fine sand, or the like carried by moving or running water and ...
0 votes
4 answers
429 views

Antithesis of "international"

If "international" is the generic word for anything that is global, what is its generic antithesis? As in: This is an international affair/This is an __ affair. And please, don't give me national, ...
-2 votes
2 answers
127 views

Is there a name for someone who always talks about their bodily functions?

I know someone who is always talking about when they poop. They have no problems talking about when they have diarrhea, when they have accidents, or when they soil their underwear. And it almost seems ...
2 votes
1 answer
74 views

A word or phrase that means "picky about something they can't have"

I'm searching for a word, phrase, or even an idiom to describe someone who is very picky about things out of their reach. For example, they may love Lamborghinis but think Ferraris are too overstyled ...
1 vote
2 answers
15k views

What do we call a person who does shoe polishing?

In many countries, there are people in the streets who do shoe polishing on the go. Please refer to the attached image. What is the word for such a person?
3 votes
7 answers
13k views

A word for someone who feigns ignorance

There's a word I remember looking up but can't remember. Something like: When someone says something that's insulting but when you call them out on it, they pretend they don't know what was said was ...
1 vote
3 answers
828 views

How to express 'to some degree' and 'excessively' meaning exactly using 'rather'?

How can I know that the word "rather" is meaning to some degree or excessively in a sentence? They seem make sense to understand as any one of those two meanings in some examples below. eg: It'...

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