r/whatstheword • • 4h ago

Unsolved WTW for colorful or vibrant

3 Upvotes

Honestly, I'm not sure quite what word I'm trying to grasp. This has been bothering me for weeks because I had an idea for a passion project with a name that was some word having to do with color. I'm pretty sure it meant very colorful or vibrant. I also could've dreamed up a word that doesn't exist... but Google isn't cutting it.


r/whatstheword • • 3h ago

Unsolved ITAW for how VFX can look good and then bad?

1 Upvotes

You know how you can watch a film and think the effects look amazing but then ten years later you could watch it again and suddenly it’s like your eyes have been opened and you can now see how fake they look?

Is there a specific word/phrase for that?


r/whatstheword • • 16h ago

Solved ITAW for when your muscles like 'melt' or relax?

10 Upvotes

Like if you're being kissed, for example, you kind of "melt", right? I need a word (if there is one which I'm pretty sure there is; I just can't seem to put my finger on it) other than melted.

Thank you to whoever responds!


r/whatstheword • • 17h ago

Unsolved WTW for something that needs renewed or more grease

10 Upvotes

​

I definitely remember hearing about this word but not being in the environment to really commit it to memory (doomscrollin probly)

And im thinking in terms of elbow grease and effort. With the circumstance i was told i needed it as a kid and how it doesnt make sense to me now that im thinking about it with an adult amount of effort and a more acutely aware brain (destructive criticism is what it boils down to for me)

Its a technical term as well, like its a whole word, not related at all to effort, i just thought it was helpfull context, its confusing in hindsight |P


r/whatstheword • • 1d ago

Unsolved ITAW for someone with a distaste for compliments?

8 Upvotes

not in a meek way but like someone who dislikes getting compliments because that means that the people who gave them said compliments know them? or have made their own opinions of them?

like someone who dislikes being told “what a strong thinker” because that means that the person who told them that holds that perception of them in their minds.

someone who doesn’t want to “be” anyone.

someone who wants to “be” someone but doesn’t know who that someone is?


r/whatstheword • • 1d ago

Unsolved ITAW for the opposite of lonely/loneliness?

6 Upvotes

Being lonely is when you're by yourself, and it sucks because you're by yourself (or feel you're by yourself). But ITAW for when you're surrounded by people, and it sucks because you're surrounded by people? The closest I can think of would probably be overstimulated, but I was wondering if there's another, more specific antonym.


r/whatstheword • • 1d ago

Unsolved ITAW for someone who finds a thrill in extreme negative emotions, like actively traumatizing themselves. But via nightmares rather than irl

4 Upvotes

Benign masochism is too tame, but emotional masochism is too extreme. Any ideas?


r/whatstheword • • 22h ago

Unsolved WAW for information economy

1 Upvotes

So technically this is a "what's another phrase for" question. Everywhere I have heard the phrase "information economy" used, I swear it's been in the context of an abstract system, in which information is shared, received, and used by a people. I've heard it during political discussions mostly, but when I was googled it just in case I was using it wrong in my research essay title, I totally was. I can't find anywhere that uses this phrase in this way. Does anyone know another word or phrase that would mean this? Or maybe another word for economy that less literal, and more so conceptually covers an area of life? I really hope this makes sense to anyone other than me lol


r/whatstheword • • 1d ago

Solved WTW for ‘secondary source’ in internet lingo?

6 Upvotes

I remember back in the day people on reddit and other Internet forums would drop a link to a backup/secondary source of a piece of media content, and there was a certain word for it.

Example - I post a website link, and I add a comment with a backup link to the same article/page on archive.org in case the primary link goes down. Or I’d post and image link and add a secondary link to the same image on a different host.

The word is like ‘second’ or ‘backup’ but it was a short word. Internet lingo people help me out please!


r/whatstheword • • 1d ago

Unsolved WTW for word for dress, gown, high fashion etc.

7 Upvotes

Looking for a word or slang that describes fancy, formal, classy dress.


r/whatstheword • • 2d ago

Unsolved WTW for the tranquility you get in a horrible situation you're helpless in?

19 Upvotes

Basically what the title says honestly, I just saw a harrowing ending of a short comic online and it just left me feeling empathetic for the protag, like I felt like I've been in their situation before but in a different way obv

What I mean is the sort of calm born from terror, like something happened that will severely impact your life and there's nothing you can do. Stillness, with anxiety and despair thinly covered beneath

Also it doesn't have to be the case necessarily, but especially if you're responsible for the situation in the first place Thank you!!!


r/whatstheword • • 1d ago

Unsolved ITAW for names that are repetitive or duplicative in a way?

14 Upvotes

Examples: Steve Stevens. Will Williams. John Johnson. Ned Nederburg. And so on.

No reason for asking, I just saw someone with a name like that and the thought entered my mind.


r/whatstheword • • 2d ago

Unsolved WTW for a situation where you’ve said something that no one else understands or thinks you’ve got wrong but you’re not

116 Upvotes

For reference: I was sitting by a campfire with some friends and mentioned putting some more tinder in. Everyone laughed as they assumed I had meant to say ’kindling’ and got confused, when in reality I was the only one who seemed to know that the word ‘tinder’ doesn’t just refer to a dating app.

I suppose you could call it a reverse faux-pas? Is there a word to describe this?


r/whatstheword • • 1d ago

Unsolved ITAW for when is trying to scheme or be cunning but ends up coming across as very stupid?

2 Upvotes

I was wondering if there was a word for when someone is trying to be cunning/smart, but instead comes across as dumb for whatever reason (like, actually being dumb, overlooking one key aspect of the problem, overthinking it to the point of ridiculousness).

I think a good example is the part in the princess bride when Vizzini overthinks the two glasses and ends up drinking poison while thinking he won.

Another example is in reality TV competitions, when someone is trying to scheme and play mind games and get other contestants on their side, but they end up alienating everyone instead.


r/whatstheword • • 2d ago

Unsolved WTW for a deep longing or need for someone else to be happy to the point it causes pain.

6 Upvotes

More specifics: like a deep internal need that this person experience the utmost joy and avoids all suffering. My little brother and I aren't close and don't see each other often but when I'm with him this is how I feel and it causes a physical pain at the idea he may ever experience suffering. I imagine this is how parents feel when they first have a baby

edit with some additional context since I don't think it's normal love:

I love my husband and it doesn't cause me pain being around him because of this feeling. It's an overwhelming feeling. I've also experienced it a few times towards people I don't know necessarily but whom I perceive as vulnerable. Like there was a kid I worked with in a church kids class who had pretty profound autism and I felt this way for him too to the point I think I cried, but I couldn't say I loved that kid. I felt that way randomly about a guy I saw in college who just seemed really universally happy, and I felt this. it tends to be towards kids, but it certainly isn't limited


r/whatstheword • • 2d ago

Solved WTW for the traditional and model form of something that people will look to replicate or practice?

6 Upvotes

If i wanna use a noun (or adjective depending On the scenario) to describe something that has traditionally served as a paradigm to be emulated or referred to. For ex: “what is the ___spell for a money working?” I’m asking what’s this traditional spell to attract money my way.


r/whatstheword • • 2d ago

Solved ITAP for how someone hating their art/skills makes you as less skilled artist feel like they are ingenuine when saying your work is good?

2 Upvotes

I am trying to search a word or phrase for how it makes you feel when someone who is advanced in something and claims they are absolutely shit at what they do, and then proceed to tell you, that your work or skills are good, and then you proceed to feel very conflicted because the person simultaneously hates their skills and work and tells you as less skilled are good.

E.g. a friend says "i suck at art, how can anyone draw" and they are objectively more skilled than me, and then tell me how i am really good at art and it makes me feel like those compliments are really ingenuine because they just shat on their own skills and work which are better.


r/whatstheword • • 3d ago

Solved WTW for being not enemies with, but not friends with somebody

27 Upvotes

Example; They used to be hostile, and they're definitely not friends, but these days they're ______ with each other.

It means casual, accepting, not actively hostile but not kind to each other either. I feel like it starts with a C. Not cool, courteous, curt...

SOLVED.. please stop commenting suggestions lol... I don't get why I'm still getting comments on a solved post two days later unless they're all from bots 😩


r/whatstheword • • 3d ago

Solved ITAW for a violent, raging determination?

8 Upvotes

Sorry for the imagery, but I think of it of the kind of determination that would make you break out of being buried alive. It's a raw, raging determination to survive. The kind of determination that makes you scratch, bite, kick, punch, scream of rage that you won't let yourself be killed. Is there a word for that? Especially to contrast from a more passive or cold determination where you would scheme or stand unphased. It's also somewhat a "victorious" determination compared to the determination where you just push through.


r/whatstheword • • 3d ago

Solved ITAW for describing somebody when you don't know their name?

7 Upvotes

Is there a word (or phrase) for when someone refers to a person by a description, before knowing the person's name?

For example, "that's blue hat guy", (but his name isn't blue hat guy)

I think this way of describing somebody may be used in teenage centered movies, sort of like mean girls, but I'm not really sure if that's relevant :)

Thank you for any help :)

(Also I posted this twice because the title was too short sorry)


r/whatstheword • • 3d ago

Solved WTW for a repeat of a title card following a commercial break

2 Upvotes

So I'm looking for this word used to describe when the show’s title card pops up following a commercial break. It seems to be done to inform people what they're watching when they tune in late. Sometimes, they would feature different music from the title card from the intro. I tend to associate this as a practice done with non-fiction shows or non-fiction cable networks (especially the Discovery Channel).

Help would be appreciated!


r/whatstheword • • 4d ago

Solved ITAW for a person who revels in the pleasures of life?

83 Upvotes

We've been watching the newest season of Great British Bake Off recently. Every time I watch Nigella Lawson as judge, I'm grasping for a word to describe the way she throws herself into enjoying all the baked treats. Something like hedonistic, but without the implication of OVERindulgence. I thought about sumptuous or lavish but those feel like descriptors for an item or place. What's the adjective like that to describe a person?


r/whatstheword • • 4d ago

Unsolved WTW for watching someone do a hobby you want to do again

28 Upvotes

I'm thinking of a very specific word; I went to the RenFair and this guy caught me looking at his pottery and said "ah you're ____" and I could tell what the word meant but I can't remember what the word is. If you have any ideas that would help.

WORD DOES NOT CONTAIN THE RE- PREFIX (NOT REMINICE OR REVIVAL)


r/whatstheword • • 4d ago

Solved WTW for the feeling of betrayal you get when someone you trust steals something from you

9 Upvotes

Not looking for a specific word. I’m writing something about a specific situation, of which the context is that I trusted someone enough to share songs that I’ve written and they not only trying to turn those songs into to their own thing but also began mistreating me so now I feel like I can’t touch those songs anymore/feel like they aren’t mine anymore. I’m trying to describe the feeling and was wondering if anyone had a word that fit this to any degree


r/whatstheword • • 3d ago

Unsolved ITAW for occurrences that always seem to happen specifically to annoy you in certain situations?

2 Upvotes

Something like, every time you go to the post office or pharmacy, the person in front of you just happens to have some problem that holds things up

Or one that happens to me, I’ll be walking up the road to my house, and there’ll be no cars, but the moment I go up this janky shortcut that makes me look like a total trespasser, that’s when a car shows up seemingly everytime