The dictionary describes "Amirite" as "an informal variant spelling of the phrase 'am I right' used to elicit agreement or solidarity at the end of an observation.” It can also be used humorously to undermine or deride the preceding observation. At some point, we’ve all been guilty of using this word, amirite?
2. Battle Royale
The word "Battle royale" can be used both as a noun or an adjective. As a noun, it means “a fight, in which more than two combatants are engaged and the victor is the last surviving participant.” However, its new variant is used as an adjective and is described as “of or relating to a genre of fiction, television show, movie, or video game that features this kind of elimination fight to the death.” You will find many contemporary books, movies, and TV shows having battle royale as its main premise.
3. Dunning-Kruger Effect
The Dunning-Kruger effect is described as a form of cognitive bias that makes people believe that they are smarter and more competent than they actually are. In other words, these people don’t possess the ability to understand or see their own incompetence. You are likely to have met many people suffering from the Dunning-Kruger effect.
4. Ecoanxiety
These days, genuine concern for the climate is affecting a lot of people across all age groups. These people might be suffering from "ecoanxiety" which is described as an “anxiety caused by a dread of environmental perils, especially climate change.” This type of anxiety also makes a person feel helpless over the possible consequences of climate change for the people living currently and for future generations. The last news about the hurricane or cyclone might have caused you real anxiety. But don’t worry. You’re not the only one who feels that way.
5. GOAT
“GOAT” is a word generally used for eminent or distinguished sports personalities who have achieved a lot throughout their career. It is an acronym for the phrase, "greatest of all time." Michael Jordan, Pelé, and Mohammad Ali, for instance, are called GOAT for obvious reasons.
6. Hodophobia
"Hodophobia" is described as "an irrational or disproportionate fear of traveling." Also referred to as travel phobia or fear of travel, hodophobia might sound odd to many, but it’s a genuine condition that plagues numerous people. In the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, especially, many people have experienced a genuine fear of traveling and the world needs to be compassionate with them.
7. Information Bubble
Have you carefully curated your social media feeds to read, hear, or see news and information that support what you already believe and like? Then you may have created an "information bubble" which is another way of saying "media bubble”. It is defined as "an environment in which one's exposure to news, entertainment, social media, etc., represents only one ideological or cultural perspective and excludes or misrepresents other points of view."
It is also known as a “filter bubble” and the habit of staying in an information bubble is often criticized by experts who say that because of this tendency, we simply assume that everyone thinks like us, and easily forget that other perspectives might exist, too.
8. Janky
"Janky" is something which is “inferior in quality” or “not working or operating properly”. It’s an adjective that is commonly used as slang and can also mean someone “untrustworthy or disreputable”. For example, you might want to warn your child against getting in a janky old car or you may not like some of their weird and janky friends.
9. Sharent
You might have seen many parents these days who go a little overboard while sharing all details, including countless videos and photos, of their children on social media. Those parents are described to be “sharenting”. The dictionary describes it as a verb which means “to frequently use social media to share photos or other details and information about one’s child”. It is also used as a noun where it means “a parent who frequently shares such personal information on social media”. If you know someone who is sharing all day, then maybe ask them to take some time off social media.
10. Social Distance
We don’t even need to explain this, do we? In the year of the coronavirus pandemic, the word ‘social distancing’ has been used overwhelmingly across the world for obvious reasons. However, this phrase and concept existed before the new virus was active and the verb means “to maintain a safe or appropriate distance from other people, especially to slow the spread of a contagious illness or disease”. With the coronavirus refusing to go away anytime soon, it looks like we will have to maintain social distance from each other for a long time to come.
11. Techlash
Remember that time when you lost your cool at your telecommunications service provider for the constant call drops? Or when you were seriously unhappy with the recent Facebook or WhatsApp update and were complaining at your phone? You might have been experiencing "techlash" which is a blend of "technology" and "backlash”. This noun is defined as “a strong negative reaction or backlash against the largest technology companies, or their employees or products”.
12. World-Building
"World-building" is "the process of developing a detailed and plausible fictional world for a novel or story, especially in science fiction, fantasy, and video games." If you’ve read the Lord of the Rings or the Game of Thrones series, you would be aware of how the authors of those books have developed an amazingly detailed fantasy world.
13. Zhuzh
“Zhuzh” (pronounced ZHOOZH, with the “OO” as in “good”) is a contemporary word that is usually followed by the word “up” and is defined as "to make (something) more lively and interesting, stylish, or appealing, as by a small change or addition”. It is generally used as a verb but can also be used as a noun where it means “the act of giving something lively interest, style, or appeal. So, the next time you feel you want to change the look of your house, you may start by trying to zhuzh up your drawing room first.
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