They say that knowledge is power, but that doesn’t mean it keeps the lights on.
Regardless, for this week’s column I have compiled a list of good words to know in today’s political climate, along with their relevant Webster’s definitions.
Considering where being smart or telling the truth is liable to get you these days I would not recommend tossing these words about lightly.
But still, they are good words to know.
Please feel free to add your own in the comments.
demagogue
a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power
calumny
1 : a misrepresentation intended to harm another’s reputation
2 : the act of uttering false charges or misrepresentations maliciously calculated to harm another’s reputation
exigent
1: requiring immediate aid or action
2: requiring or calling for much : demanding
nihilism
1a: a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless
b: a doctrine that denies any objective ground of truth and especially of moral truths
2a: a doctrine or belief that conditions in the social organization are so bad as to make destruction desirable for its own sake independent of any constructive program or possibility
dysphemism
the substitution of a disagreeable, offensive, or disparaging expression for an agreeable or inoffensive one
imperious
1a: marked by arrogant assurance : domineering
pretext
a purpose or motive alleged or an appearance assumed in order to cloak the real intention or state of affairs
sleazy
1a : lacking firmness of texture : flimsy
b : carelessly made of inferior materials : shoddy
2a : marked by low character or quality
b : squalid, dilapidated
shenanigan
1a: activity or behavior that is not honest or proper : deceptive or questionable practices or conduct —usually used in plural
2: old-fashioned : a devious trick used especially for an underhand purpose
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