# Does anyone else dislike "cromulent"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 26, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818 "2013-11-26T14:40:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818/41 "2013-11-26T21:24:49Z")
“Fashion” has been a cromulent word for quite some time. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818/42 "2013-11-26T21:25:29Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > 😕“Whilst” is perfectly cromulent, or, if you prefer, well established, common usage. > > I am not too happy with “off-pissing”, though. Agreed on both points. As to your first though, being a valid word doesn’t make it any less obnoxious. What’s wrong with “while”? ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818/43 "2013-11-26T21:53:12Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > The frequency of its usage and the context thereof, even on this forum leads me to believe that for some part of the english speaking world, cromulent has lost its simpsons-specific connotation. Cromulent debuted on The Simpsons when I was a lad of 15. I giggled and giggled at the made-up word. When I was a lad of 16, I threw it into an English paper for an English teacher who used to describe herself as “an old battleaxe.” Needless to say, I doubt she watched The Simspsons… but she thought my use of cromulent was quite… well, cromulent. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818/44 "2013-11-26T23:07:05Z")
I save up all my dislike for language change all year and only talk about it during the month of Smarch. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818/45 "2013-11-26T23:28:26Z")
Saying cromulent makes me feel all embiggened. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818/46 "2013-11-27T01:24:35Z")
> [@Silver\_Fire](#): > > Agreed on both points. As to your first though, being a valid word doesn’t make it any less obnoxious. What’s wrong with “while”? I don’t know. I am not getting why “whilst” upsets you. Are there other common, well-established words that upset you? Are synonyms to be outlawed? ---
**Author:** ![Archeonomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Archeonomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archeonomist)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818/47 "2013-11-27T01:40:36Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Nuts. Mmmmm. Nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818/48 "2013-11-27T01:53:38Z")
> [@vontsira](#): > > but people tend at times to be irrational, and “with their gut”, react negatively and with great irritation, to stuff which “with their head”, they see is trivial and harms nobody. So you’re saying they act out of truthiness? ---
**Author:** ![Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pine_Fresh_Scent)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818/49 "2013-11-27T03:24:02Z")
You can’t believe everything you read on the internet. –Abraham Lincoln ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818/50 "2013-11-27T03:31:12Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > This thread is just wallowing in its own crapulence. Crapulence is a perfectly legitimate word, if a bit archaic. It’s been around a very long time. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818/51 "2013-11-27T05:39:37Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > I don’t know. I am not getting why “whilst” upsets you. If you type “whilst is” into google, the suggestions are “pretentious”, “not a word” (I disagree with that one), “archaic”, “a stupid word”, etc. It’s not just me, not at all, so your confusion about it surprises me. It’s particularly jarring when found with a bunch of other words that aren’t practically designed to make you sound like a dick. Here’s a Not an Actual Example, but it gives you the idea: “I was eating Cheetos whilst reading a funny pit thread and petting my cat, Mr. Snuggles, and I laughed orange spit all over the keyboard. What’s the best way to give a cat a bath? Need answer fast.” Maybe it doesn’t bother you. Cool. It makes me want to set fire to the whole internet. > [@](#): > > Are there other common, well-established words that upset you? “Methinks”, though I’m not sure how common that really is. It’s rampant here. And I get that people use it, you know, “ironically” or whatever. It makes them sound retarded. There are more but I’ve had some wine and don’t feel like thinking enough to remember everything that annoys me. I’d maybe give a pass to non-Americans for “whilst” because I understand it’s more common around the world than it is where I’m at. I have no patience at all for “methinks” though. ---
**Author:** ![JWT\_Kottekoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@JWT\_Kottekoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JWT_Kottekoe)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818/52 "2013-11-27T05:59:20Z")
I’ve only heard cromulent on this message board and don’t like it either, but maybe that’s because I’m too old to have ever watched The Simpson’s. If it came from Rocky and Bullwinkle, I’d probably love the word. ---
**Author:** ![JWT\_Kottekoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@JWT\_Kottekoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JWT_Kottekoe)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818/53 "2013-11-27T06:02:31Z")
Words from Shakespeare are OK though, methinks. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818/54 "2013-11-27T06:12:34Z")
i have no desire to defend “methinks”. I agree that, these days, it is almost always used just to be precious, but I suspect this > [@Silver\_Fire](#): > > it’s more common around the world than it is where I’m at. is the entire basis of your problem with “whilst”. Possibly, when Americans use it (or Americans from certain regions), it is sometimes because they are trying to sound English and patrician, but a lot of people on his board are not American. Do you have the same problem with “among” and “amongst” or “further” and “farther”? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818/55 "2013-11-27T06:15:09Z")
“Methinks” and “whilst” come off as pretentious because they are old words that were associated with speaking “properly.” For the same reason, “whom” comes off as pretentious to quite a few people. By using it, you come across as a prescriptivist, someone who tells other people what is right or wrong. (Or, these days, you can also come across as a hipster, saying uncool things to illustrate elitism.) “Cromulent,” on the other hand, seems to be the exact opposite. I find it interesting that anyone finds both sets of words annoying. Though, if I think about it, I am starting to join that group. Cromulent is starting to get on my nerves in the same way that your unfunny, forgetful uncle repeats the same joke in the same circumstances all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818/56 "2013-11-27T07:02:51Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Do you have the same problem with “among” and “amongst” or “further” and “farther”? No. Well… yes? I never (or seldom enough that I don’t recall) see “amongst” but I think I’d be annoyed by it, maybe? And further and farther are two different words in my mind. They don’t bother me. I agree that it’s likely a problem for me because I’m in the US. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818/57 "2013-11-27T07:42:07Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Cromulent is perfectly acceptable when used in the context of the quote. As in, when someone questions a word you just used, you can say, “What? It’s a perfectly cromulent word.” > I’ve never heard anyone use it outside of that context, to be honest. Are people describing things as cromulent in general? Like, “That was a perfectly cromulent movie.” Because that would just annoy me. > [@drewtwo99](#): > > I’ve only heard people to use the word cromulent in the way you describe, steronz. It’s a synonym for acceptable, ok, useful, or something like that, but ONLY in the context that a word or a thing is perfectly cromulent. Even though I could say that the movie I had seen was acceptable, or ok, I wouldn’t ever describe it as cromulent. An idea might be cromulent. A word can definitely be cromulent. I confess to not having been alert to the word’s relatively narrow application as explained above (and I was told only relatively recently, about its “Simpsons” origin). I failed to get past being intensely annoyed by the word; and picking up the general sense that its connotation was something positive. > [@CalMeacham](#): > > Yeah! "Creating a word like that, with an “in” crowd exploiting a popular joke, long after its time should have gone. How could you expect a word to be created and catch on that way? It’s not the way a word comes into use! > > Okay? > [What does “OK” stand for? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/503/what-does-ok-stand-for) And Ike Witt wrote: “Just curious, but how do you assume that language grows and develops?” For sure, words come into being and people like them and they catch on; and it’s so much the worse for fuddy-duddies who dislike a particular new word. I do consider, though, that many people harbour very strong “peeves” about particular aspects of the use of language; and that they’re entitled to feel thus. I’m sure that many folk who are curmudgeonly in this way, are well aware that these feelings on their part, are not very rational; and if something is going to become part of the language and standard procedure, it will do so whether they like it or not. > [@BigT](#): > > Cromulent is starting to get on my nerves in the same way that your unfunny, forgetful uncle repeats the same joke in the same circumstances all the time. This excellently sums up my sentiments about the word; except that I started feeling that way, approximately the second or third time that I encountered it. Likely because I’m British, I have no problem with “whilst” – use it now and again, though I more frequently use “while”. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818/58 "2013-11-27T07:45:52Z")
> [@JWT\_Kottekoe](#): > > Words from Shakespeare are OK though, methinks. I’d be willing to bet that 400-odd years ago, a fair few people were griping about assorted odious, flashy new words which that Shakespeare dork had thought up, and popularised by putting them in his accursed plays… ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818/59 "2013-11-27T08:13:49Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I think there’s a difference between a callout to a popular line from a show and [usages](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14262191&postcount=21) [like](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16255092&postcount=20) [these](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14067277&postcount=15) [examples.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16062775&postcount=90) [More](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16857805&postcount=52) [examples.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16701947&postcount=16) The problem is that there’s no way for people to know it’s a callout, unless they’re already familiar with it. I saw the word ‘cromulent’ in use (here on the SDMB), accepted it as a real word and probably used it once or twice before ever learning its origin. ---
**Author:** ![Dickerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@Dickerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dickerman)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818/60 "2013-11-27T08:47:38Z")
I don’t like it either, but it’s not as bad as another (apparently) made up word: copacetic Makes me want to hurt the utterer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-dislike-cromulent/674818.md?page=4)