Most underused words these days

Inspired on the overused words thread.

There are some words that we should be using more often.

“Turd” is high on the list. I would add busturd and turdelicious but those are just made up :slight_smile:

But the top word in my list of words being lost to underuse is “Buffoon”. What a wonderful word. What a pity to see it lost because it is being ignored by ignorant buffoons.
What words do you think we should be using more?

I knew that I would turn into my parents one day:

Please and thank you.

“Obtunded.” You can accuse someone of being obtunded and they have no idea what you mean.

Defenestrate. A rather complex action distilled down to four syllables.

“Heel” and “drip” are underused. I mean, we use them all the time, as in the heel of a shoe and a dripping faucet. But we don’t use them enough to describe people.

From dictionary.com:
Heel: a contemptibly dishonorable or irresponsible person
Drip: unattractive, boring, or colorless person

Remember when cartoon character’s faces turned into a heel when they did something bad?

“Pardon[excuse] me”

Prat. No one gets called a Prat any more :slight_smile:

From m-w.com
Pronunciation: 'prat
Function: noun
Etymology: probably from argot prat buttocks
British : a stupid or foolish person

I have a few words I seek to revive:
-Blatherskite
-mandragon
-plug-ugly
-forsooth
-smite

In business environments, “problem”.

Surmounting a challenge somehow isn’t as satisfactory as solving a dang big problem, for me.

Hitherto.

Forthwith.

it’s ok. Just don’t do it again

Impeachment.

“I made a mistake and I’m sorry”

“What is your opinion?”

“How can I help you?”

Coprolite. I agree with John Ciardi that it makes a great insult.

“I don’t know but I’ll find out for you”

Procrustean
Sisyphean
Fatuous
Puerile

“friggin”.

Since characters can’t say “fuck” on TV, I don’t know why they don’t say “friggin” all the time.

I think sometimes Eliot says it on Scrubs. Or she’ll say “frig”.

we used “coprophage” quite a lot among some friends. Great word as it translates directly into a very common Cuban insult.

“Nosegay”

“Incompossible” – I learned that one from Ambrose Bierce, and resolved to use it frequently. Unfortunately, I rarely find occasions to do so.