I am a wordsmith, but I am at a total loss here. What word best decribes the emotion one has for the ability of people like Timothy McVeigh, the 9/11 hijackers, and Norwegian terrorist Anders Behring Breivik to devise and carry out their evil plans. I hate saying I “admire” people like this, cause I don’t.
Any one got a better idea?
Your answer is in the thread title. You admire the plan, not the person. You might also say you have a grudging respect for the evil genius.
How about “astonished by their deadly success.”
I would call the feeling “perverse admiration”, though admittedly that’s two words rather than one.
You could be astonished by the plan’s success without thinking it was well-crafted. If the plan seemed (or was) stupid, and succeeded only by luck, it would not be admirable.
Grudgingly respecting the plan, or “admitting” or “confessing” respect for the plan are the standard forms I recall hearing. Note: still won’t work if it’s Hitler.
ETA: Also, “tragically (or horribly) well-planned”
Not really. I do admire their abilities to devise and carry out such an amazing plan. It isn’t easy.
If only they would have used their talents for good.
I think the more traditional senses of ‘awe’ are close to this meaning - terrible admiration.
I would definitely avoid admire, even with clarification, simply because it implies some level of approval or whatever. Instead, what I’d probably use is “acknowledge” or “recognize” as in you acknowledge their a genius and success with the plan. That’s a term I’ll use when, for instance, hearing music from a genre I don’t like but clearly has talent.
“Cadmiration.”
Giving the Devil his due.
Appreciate?
I appreciate the effort and planning that went into this.
I think respect is appropriate (or “grudging respect”). Respect doesn’t have the same positive connotation as admire. You can, for instance, respect the nerve of someone, even if you oppose their actions.
Is “ingenious” supposed to cover such a scenario? Even if it is, cartoons over the years have given that word a fairly whimsical air to it that probably renders it inappropriate for something serious.
Actually scrap that, “ingenious” comes from the same root as “ingenuity” doesn’t it. I was thinking it compared to “genius” like infamous compares to famous.
I’m not sure there’s a single word for it, it probably requires a longer description to convey the sentiment.
Neutral phrases like “clinical in its execution” can convey that a plan is well carried out without carrying any connotations of approval.
You could also describe their plans as “diabolical”, which conveys a certain level of evil scheming.
How about “respect their capabilities”?
Someone call Rich Hall. We have a new sniglet for him.
And you, sir, win the thread.
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