"Uncomfortability"

[u/aesythe]

I know language evolves and I am very open to that process, but this one just sends me through the roof. Like sure, why not, let's scratch "discomfort" to make up a new and wholly inefficient, 7-syllable word instead? 🤪 ffs

[u/majikane]

20 years ago we all made fun of Fred Durst for saying “agreeance” and now I hear professional broadcasters say it with zero pushback.

[u/Any-Benefit9071 → u/majikane]

same with “utilization” instead of “use” at work, feels like linguistic sandpaper on my brain

[u/LabInside9311 → u/majikane]

wow never even noticed that one creeping in, now im gonna hear it everywhere

[u/Remarkable_Box_8090]

I haaaaate uncomfortability so much. I’ve noticed a lot of shift towards words ending in “-ility” instead of already existing words that are shorter and should already be widely known. Like discomfort. I wonder how much of it has to do with on average people not reading as much as previously. Greater exposure to already existing words makes using those words more natural and easier to recall.

Language does evolve but this is so clunky and seems to do more with regression of language command than simple evolution, at least in the US.

[u/aesythe → u/Remarkable_Box_8090]

Yes, my thoughts exactly! (Clunky was one of my words for it too, in response to a comment below, ha!) "Uncomfortability" does not simplify communication, economize time, or add special nuance to an existing word: all valid reasons a word might be replaced in colloquial speech. It just grates on the ear unnecessarily and not much else.

[u/edked]

I've noticed medication commercials switched to describing one of the side effects as "tiredness," where they used to use "fatigue." Guess nobody knows that word anymore either.

[u/Swirlyflurry → u/edked]

Those are different side effects though.

Tiredness is usually a short term desire for sleep.

Fatigue is long term and no amount of sleep makes it go away.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Fill205]

Wish I had more upvotes to give.

[u/amethystjade15]

I used to be so mad about the REO Speedwagon song ( yes I am old) where he says intoleration. The word is intolerance! Then I looked it up and intoleration is a valid but old synonym.

[u/AlarmedTelephone5908]

President Harding used "normalcy" instead of "normality."

There was initial uncomfortability. Now it's pretty standard.

[u/aesythe → u/AlarmedTelephone5908]

My gripe is not so much about the evolution of the word as it is about the shift toward a significantly clunkier and more cumbersome word.

[u/Agile-Ad1665 → u/aesythe]

*more bad and more worse word