Awesome is not a word

“Awesome” is not cool. It is not outré. It is not out-of-the-box. It is mindless, shallow, slothful, ersatz, and, ultimately, disrespectful of anyone you are speaking to.

Is it awsome or awesome?

adjective. a frequent misspelling of awesome.

Is awesome a proper word?

The oldest meaning of awesome is of “something which inspires awe”, but the word is now also a common slang expression. Consequently, as the word popularly became an expression for anything superb, in its original meaning it has tended to be replaced by the related word, awe-inspiring.

How do you use awesome?

Awesome sentence example

1. I’ve got an awesome wife.
2. She’d never heard such awesome words!
3. Isn’t this an awesome view?
4. There’s an awesome taco shack an hour away.
5. I tried to remember names on buildings but just being there was so awesome it was difficult to concentrate.

Does terrible mean awesome?

terrible adj. Wonderful; great; the best; the most.

Why is terrific good but terrifying bad?

Terrible and terrific are both formed off the same root: terror. Both started out a few hundred years ago with the meaning of terror-inducing. But terrific took a strange turn at the beginning of the 20th century and ended up meaning really great, not terrible or terror-inducing at all.

Is negative a bad word?

The word terrible is very common. It’s usually used negatively.

What is the word miserable?

1 : being in a pitiable state of distress or unhappiness (as from want or shame) miserable refugees. 2a : wretchedly inadequate or meager (see meager sense 2) a miserable hovel. b : causing extreme discomfort or unhappiness a miserable situation miserable weather his miserable childhood.

Is being miserable a choice?

Misery is a choice so you should choose not to be miserable, and anyone who is miserable has no one to blame but themselves, is the impression it creates. Further, there are a lot of times in life when misery is the best, healthiest and most honourable choice you can make. You can only be hurt in so far as you care.

How can I change my miserable life?

How To Change Your Miserable Life: 7 Ways

1. Success from the Outside.
2. Focus on abundance.
3. Become a chronic rejoicer.
4. Become a medium.
5. Create balance.
6. Establish boundaries.
7. Be fluid.
8. Separate fact from opinion.

Is it your choice to be happy?

Yes! Many happy people realize happiness is a choice and it’s up to them to intentionally choose it every single day. Happy people are not held hostage by their circumstances and they do not seek happiness in people or possessions. Fully experiencing it still requires a conscious decision to choose happiness each day.

How can I be unhappy?

How To Be Unhappy

1. Buy things you can’t afford or don’t want.
2. Compare yourself to others.
3. Take no joy in the journey.
4. Respond instead of initiate.
5. Allow other people to determine your values and priorities.
6. Refuse to challenge yourself.
7. Whine and complain to anyone who will listen.
8. Focus only on yourself.

Is it OK to be unhappy?

When you’re feeling down, just remember there’s a lot of people who have it much worse than you do. Really, you’ve got nothing to feel bad about. …

What makes a person miserable?

Miserable people feel that life has somehow done them wrong – more wrong than it has done other people – so when people disappoint them or neglect to follow their rules or a policy (the same rules and policies that they themselves break all the time), they appear overly aggrieved and feel justified in completely …

How do you live with someone who is miserable?

Make suggestions you think might help or just offer support to ride out the pain with them.

1. Be present.
2. Listen.
3. Realize unhappiness can lead to positive change.
4. Vent to friends.
5. Set boundaries.
6. Protect yourself.
7. Don’t neglect your own happiness.

Can you be happy single?

You Can Be Happy Single, and Live Your Best Life Being single is not a bad thing. You have to start seeing singlehood as something other than the absence of a partner and start seeing it as a phase of personal rediscovery and self-love.

What makes you happy when your sad?

A major factor in happiness is social contact and support. Talking to a friend about your sadness or the situation that has caused your sadness can help lessen the pain because you will know that someone cares about you and your feelings. You may also learn something from talking to a friend.

How can I lift my mood?

If you’re looking for ways to turn a bad mood around, here are seven ways to improve your mood in less than ten minutes.

1. Listen To Upbeat Music.
2. Get A Good Laugh.
3. Walk Around The Block.
4. Declutter.
5. Give Someone A Hug.
6. Think About What Went Well.
7. Allow Yourself To Vent.

Last Update: Jan 03, 2023

This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested!

Asked by: Prof. Jevon Cruickshank Jr.

Score: 4.4/5
(2 votes)

Usage notes

The oldest meaning of awesome is of “something which inspires awe”, but the word is now also a common slang expression. … Consequently, as the word popularly became an expression for anything superb, in its original meaning it has tended to be replaced by the related word, awe-inspiring.

When did awesome become slang?

The earliest use of awesome comes in the late 16th century, and the word had the meaning of “filled with awe.” The problem with saying that this is the same meaning that kids today should intend when they say the word is that awe had a somewhat different meaning back then; it generally referred to feelings of severe …

Is awesome an informal word?

The general consensus is that “awesome” in the example may be a bit informal for this situation because it is business. You have to evaluate though how well you know these people. It may be better in a more formal setting to say something like “great.”

Is awesome a bad word?

«Awesome» is not cool. It is not outré. It is not out-of-the-box. It is mindless, shallow, slothful, ersatz, and, ultimately, disrespectful of anyone you are speaking to.

What are slang words?

Slang is very informal language or specific words used by a particular group of people. You’ll usually hear slang spoken more often than you’ll see it put in writing, though emails and texts often contain many conversational slang words.

45 related questions found

The suffix -some indicates the characteristic of the root word. So, “awesome” would be “characterized by awe/awe-inspiring”. The suffix -ful means “full of/having the qualities of”.

What is the correct meaning of awesome? causing or inducing awe; inspiring an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, or fear: an awesome sight. exhibiting or marked by awe; showing reverence, admiration, or fear. Slang. very impressive: That new white convertible is totally awesome.

Likewise How do you use the word awesome?

the awesome sight of an erupting volcano It was an awesome responsibility. We had an awesome task ahead of us. We had an awesome time at the concert. You did an awesome job on that project.

Is awesome a new word? The earliest use of awesome comes in the late 16th century, and the word had the meaning of u201cfilled with awe.u201d The problem with saying that this is the same meaning that kids today should intend when they say the word is that awe had a somewhat different meaning back then; it generally referred to feelings of severe …

What is wrong with saying awesome?

It gives us a context to see the forest as well as the trees. So, the use of awesome as a default word for just about everything is a killer of business accuracy and clarity. It bespeaks imprecision, inaccuracy, comfort with noncommunication, and impoverishment of imagination. “Awesome” is not cool.

Can you call someone awesome? If you describe someone or something as awesome, you are emphasizing that you think that they are very impressive or extraordinary. Melvill called the flight “mind-blowing” and “awesome.”

Is it OK to say awesome?

Do you hear the word “awesome” used all the time in English? … The truth is that a word like “awesome” is perfectly fine between friends. It means that everything is great or that this is cool.

What can I say instead of awesome? awesome

• amazing,
• astonishing,
• astounding,
• awful,
• eye-opening,
• fabulous,
• marvelous.
• (or marvellous),

Does Awesome mean cool?

Because to many people in many contexts — especially young people in any context — the word awesome means pretty good, great, cool, excellent, fine, exciting, quite interesting, not terrible, etc. It is often preceded by totally, or followed by dude, or both; and new variations arise constantly.

Is it unprofessional to say awesome? The general consensus is that “awesome” in the example may be a bit informal for this situation because it is business. You have to evaluate though how well you know these people. It may be better in a more formal setting to say something like “great.”

Is awesome a positive word?

It is used as a positive expressive exclamation to agree or show something is good. For example: Awesome! I love that song, play it again. So while both ‘awful’ and ‘awesome’ are adjectives used to describe something full of wonder, inspiring awe or respect, the usage of these words is usually quite different.

Is it correct to say your awesome? In the U.S. you could say this. It would mean “You are amazing!” I think it might be safer to simply say “You are amazing!”

Is awesome considered slang?

Usage notes

The oldest meaning of awesome is of “something which inspires awe”, but the word is now also a common slang expression. … Consequently, as the word popularly became an expression for anything superb, in its original meaning it has tended to be replaced by the related word, awe-inspiring.

Is awesome still used? “Awesome” started with the California surfer crowd and was popularized by Sean Penn’s character in the movie “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” Now, however, “awesome” is no longer in fashion and only pathetic middle-agers in their 40s like yours truly still use it.

Is awesome and cool the same?

As adjectives the difference between cool and awesome

is that cool is having a slightly low temperature; mildly or pleasantly cold while awesome is .

Why do people use awesome? You can use awesome to mean “great” or, with the right inflection, to mean “terrible.” But use of the word is half-ironic even when it’s meant to express approval: for my self-conscious, retro generation, it’s a perfect word.

Is awesome bad?

Answer. In their most common uses, these two adjectives have nearly opposite meanings. Awful means “extremely bad or unpleasant,” and awesome means “extremely good,” as shown in the examples below. The music was awful.

When a guy calls you awesome What does that mean? It means he thinks you are amazing. It is a compliment, he really really likes you at least as a friend and there is a good chance he might like you very strongly on more than a friends level.

What is the plural of awesome?

The noun awesome is uncountable. The plural form of awesome is also awesome.

Is Bummer a bad word? The definition of a bummer is slang for something undesirable, unpleasant or annoying, or is slang for a bad reaction to a drug, or is a lazy person who hangs around all day without a job or purpose. Getting detention and having to stay after school is an example of a bummer.

Is it still cool to say cool?

Cool is still cool. The word, the emotional style, and that whole flavor of cultural cachet remains ascendant after more than half a century. It is, according to linguistic anthropologist Robert L. Moore, the most popular slang term of approval in English.

Why are awesome and awful opposites? Both “awful” and “awesome” are based on this “awe.” The “some” suffix of “awesome” means “causing or characterized by,” and the “ful” of “awful” originally meant “full of” or “characterized by, inspiring.” The transformation of “awful” from meaning “inspiring awe” to “really bad” came in the 18th century, probably from …

How do you respond to you’re awesome?

For instance if you just told your friend about an accomplishment you’re proud of and in reply they say “that’s awesome!” You could respond with Thanks, Thank you, or a hug if you have that type of closeness in the friendship.

What do you say when someone says your amazing? Say “Thankyou” and “you are amazing too in your own way” as a sign of good personality character. Originally Answered: What should I answer if someone says you are amazing? Whatever you say, make sure to say “And so are you.”

What does it mean when a girl calls you amazing?

She means “Your awesome.” It does not mean anything else. If you are a man it does not mean she wants to date you. It simply means your awesome. She likes you as a person and nothing more.

Is awesome a superlative?

Superlative form of awesome: most awesome.

Is awesome an American word? Awesome. Here’s another word whose meaning has changed a great deal over the years. Originally this word meant to cause awe or terror, to inspire wonder or excitement. Nowadays it has been accepted into American and British English slang as a word that means excellent, exciting or remarkable.

When was awesome added to the dictionary?

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “awesome” meaning “inspiring reverential awe” goes back to 1598. The meaning of “overwhelming” goes to 1961, and the current weaker meaning of “great” dates from 1980.

Typo, medieval, slang, or just cultural; the old-age dilemma of Awesome vs. Awesome is one for the books. Stick around to discover the truth behind the confusion. Or if there’s even confusion at all.

Few can agree on whether «Awsome» is a word in disuse, an unintended mistake, an intentional idiomatic expression, or simply another funny spelling from our fellow Brits. The truth is that, to this day, Awesome is the most broadly accepted adjective to express extraordinary wonder.

Let’s dive right in and shed some light on this frequent (yet relatively simple) source of doubt.

What’s The Meaning?

When doubting the correct spelling or use of a word, it’s best to go straight to the most reputable sources. In this case, we’ve chosen; first, general definitions found in standard thesaurus; and then, The Merriam-Webster, Oxford Language, and Cambridge, which we’re sure will clarify this matter while properly explaining how, when, and why, to use both or either word.

Awesome’s most common use is as an adjective (both formal and informal); with definitions ranging from: «causing or inducing awe»; to «inspiring an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, or fear»; to «exhibiting or marked by awe»; «showing reverence, admiration, or fear»; «very impressive,» among others.

Merriam-Webster is probably one of the most -if not THE most-, reliable source when it comes to US English language reference texts and dictionaries, with a reputation dating as far back as 1831. It defines «awesome,» the adjective, as «inspiring awe»; or as an informal word meaning «terrific and extraordinary.» Alternatively, it also means «expressive of awe.»

Now let’s move on to our second relevant source. Oxford Languages, the world’s leading publisher in dictionaries throughout the globe, defines «awesome» (adjective) as «extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring awe.» On the other hand, in a more informal setting, «awesome» can mean «extremely good or excellent.» As an adverb, it is used (also informally and more frequently in the United States) to indicate «extremely well or excellently.»

Yet, a quick search for the word «awsome» does not bring back as eloquent and broad results. Both Merriam-Webster and Cambridge return a blank query, explaining that «the word you’ve entered isn’t in the dictionary.» In the case of Oxford Language, we’re redirected to «awesome» as the correct spelling for the word and reiterating the definitions we mentioned above.

But in order to be thorough, let’s try crossing the pond to see what our good fellows in Great Britain have to say on the matter. We decide to embark on this quest, given that some sources report that the use of the spelling «awsome» can be traced down to Olde-English and, more precisely, to scots language. The Scots Language is the group of languages commonly spoken in Scotland, full of idiomatic expressions and idioms. On this matter, The Cambridge Dictionary informs us that «awsome» is nothing but a «common misspelling of ‘awesome.'» «Awesome,» on the other hand, is described as «causing feelings of great admiration, respect, or fear,» as well as something that is «extremely good.»

Where Does It Come From?

A word’s origin or source is called its etymology. In the case at hand, «awesome» is a word form from the union of two separate words: awe and some, both from the English language. Its use dates back from the 16th century (with first recorded evidence between the years 1590 and 1600), meaning «filled with awe.»

But it’s also reasonably easy to determine the correct spelling of a word by using its origin and formation. In the word «awesome,» as stated above, the term «awe» is followed by the suffix «some.» Therefore, «awsome» would not be a correct spelling as «aw» is not a word. Yet, there are exceptions to this rule of thumb.

Awful is a word or negative context, an extreme opposite to the word awesome we’re here to analyze. Awful also originates in the word «awe,» followed by the suffix «full,» both words having letters eliminated to form a term that is now considered correctly spelled. And not only this, awful is a word that, even if initially was defined as «full of awe,» now means something wrong or unpleasant, even terrible and damaging. So what’s the situation in this case?

There are two versions to this story. The first being that awe was, in fact, a word of negative connotation some centuries ago, used to convey a spiritual or even metaphysical meaning, or even dread or terror. Therefore, «aweful,» as it was allegedly spelled about a century ago, was a negative word from a negative origin. The second version claims that «aweful» did not, in fact, start as having a negative connotation at all, simply changing with use and ultimately becoming what we know and use today, giving space to «awesome» to represent all the positive, joyous meanings we now apply it for.

Same, Different, Similar, and Opposite

Albeit a versatile word, there is quite a list of words that can be used alongside or in place of this one in order to not sound too repetitive on how, well, awesome whatever you saw or felt really is. From as common as amazing, incredible, extraordinary, and stunning; to others more poetic as breathtaking, astounding, astonishing, magnificent, stupendous, mesmerizing, extraordinary, or staggering, the list is long. You can even go as literal as awe-inspiring, which is also planted in the same awe-some root.

If aiming for something a tad more informal, street jargon has got your back. Whether you choose to call it dope, lit, sick, or snatched, or be cooler than the next guy calling it GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) or Gucci, awesome is awesomely making itself felt in spirit.

If something is not awesome, you ask? Later on, we’ll discuss in length the curious case of the word awful, which should, in theory, be awesome, but really isn’t. Nevertheless, suppose you were to encounter something that is most definitely not awe-inspiring. In that case, you’d find it to be terrible, frightful, horrific, nasty, abominable, unspeakable, horrendous, atrocious, dreadful, direful, and, most likely, unspeakable. However, hopefully, you encounter nothing of the sort in your path.

When To Use Each?

Well, technically, «awsome» should not be used. Even as an archaic form of the currently accepted word «awesome,» the truth is that, in modern days, «awsome» is just considered a misspelling or a typo. «Awsome» is frequently found in message boards, collaborative websites, social media comments, and informal communications and usually denotes a lower education or socio-economic class of the writer or simply part of the so-called «text culture.»

So, How Should I Use The Right One?

That is indeed an AWESOME question! (see what we did there?). Awesome can be used in a myriad of ways, from formal communications to friendly chatter. For example:

The view from the lake was awesome (adjective: inspiring awe). It is an awesome (adjective: extraordinary) way to appreciate the scenery. Visiting this place was awesome (adverb: extremely well, excellently); we should definitely make this awesome (adjective: terrific) trip again very soon!

Awesome is such a word that can be dressed up or down; can be formal or colloquial; conveys a lot of emotion and joy, as well as beauty and excitement. It is present in the best and most incredible times of our lives, in the ones that become most memorable and most remembered. Awesome is there when you don’t want to answer much or talk a lot yet really say it all. And should always, with no exception, be spelled right, at risk of looking ignorant, uneducated, or just plain dumb.

Asked by: Prof. Jevon Cruickshank Jr.

Score: 4.4/5
(2 votes)

Usage notes

The oldest meaning of awesome is of “something which inspires awe”, but the word is now also a common slang expression. … Consequently, as the word popularly became an expression for anything superb, in its original meaning it has tended to be replaced by the related word, awe-inspiring.

When did awesome become slang?

The earliest use of awesome comes in the late 16th century, and the word had the meaning of “filled with awe.” The problem with saying that this is the same meaning that kids today should intend when they say the word is that awe had a somewhat different meaning back then; it generally referred to feelings of severe …

Is awesome an informal word?

The general consensus is that “awesome” in the example may be a bit informal for this situation because it is business. You have to evaluate though how well you know these people. It may be better in a more formal setting to say something like “great.”

Is awesome a bad word?

«Awesome» is not cool. It is not outré. It is not out-of-the-box. It is mindless, shallow, slothful, ersatz, and, ultimately, disrespectful of anyone you are speaking to.

What are slang words?

Slang is very informal language or specific words used by a particular group of people. You’ll usually hear slang spoken more often than you’ll see it put in writing, though emails and texts often contain many conversational slang words.

45 related questions found

Many words have been wasted on the subject of when adulthood starts. Some hold that it comes about with the right to drink alcoholic beverages or vote in an election. For particularly stringent grammarians of a certain generation, the rite of passage that marks the official start of adulthood is the point at which one becomes annoyed at hearing someone say that something is awesome, when they don’t actually mean that it produces awe.

These people feel that this use of the word awesome is a sign of sloppiness in language, or something that they never did when they were young, or a portent of the continual and concomitant decline of our language and the moral turpitude of our youth. Before we decide whether or not the modern sense of awesome is indeed the hereto unknown fifth horseman of the apocalypse, it is worth examining some of the word’s history. When did this noble word begin getting stripped of its meaning, and forced into servitude as the vapid exclamation of slack-jawed teenagers? It began before most of the people reading this were born.

The earliest use of awesome comes in the late 16th century, and the word had the meaning of “filled with awe.” The problem with saying that this is the same meaning that kids today should intend when they say the word is that awe had a somewhat different meaning back then; it generally referred to feelings of severe fear or dread. So people in the 17th century who were saying that something was awesome did not necessarily mean “that is a thing of great beauty”; chances are, they might have meant “that is a thing that sends shivers of terror down my spine.”

This began to change in the middle of the 20th century, as the word broadened to mean “very impressive.” By 1977 people were already complaining about this – a woman named Lynne Bronstein wrote to the Los Angeles Times asking “Has anyone besides myself noticed the current rage for the term ‘awesome’?” Bronstein took a dim view of the fact that “now everything is ‘awesome,’” and asked “aren’t we overdoing it a little?”

The word has continued to broaden itself, and now can be found used as a general purpose exclamation of approval. In doing so, it is following in the footsteps of another very similar word: awful. Awful had a very similar meaning as awesome for much of our history: inspiring dread. However, its meaning started changing quite a bit earlier (at the beginning of the 19th century), and so we’ve had a couple of hundred years to get used to it. If you are one of the people who use awesome to refer to something that is merely pleasing, and someone tells you that your language is awful, you can take pride in the fact that you have inspired in them extreme feelings of dread and terror.

—

Ammon Shea is the author of Bad English: A History of Linguistic Aggravation and Reading the OED: One Man, One Year, 21,730 Pages. He lives in New York City with his wife (a former lexicographer), son (a potential future lexicographer), and two non-lexical dogs.

English

Etymology

From awe +‎ -some; compare Old English eġeful (“fearful; inspiring awe”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɔː.səm/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɔ.səm/
• (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /ˈɑ.səm/

Adjective

awesome (comparative more awesome or awesomer, superlative most awesome or awesomest)

1. (dated) Causing awe or terror; inspiring wonder or excitement. [from 1590–1600.]

   Synonyms: awe-inspiring; see also Thesaurus:awesome

   The waterfall in the middle of the rainforest was an awesome sight.

   The tsunami was awesome in its destructive power.

   • 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:

     And now it appeared that there was a mysterious Queen clothed by rumour with dread and wonderful attributes, and commonly known by the impersonal, but, to my mind, rather awesome title of She.

   • 1913 January–May, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “The Gods of Mars”, in The All-Story, New York, N.Y.: Frank A. Munsey Co., →OCLC; republished as “The Eyes in the Dark”, in The Gods of Mars, Chicago, Ill.: A[lexander] C[aldwell] McClurg & Co., 1918, →OCLC, page 227:

     I think that the most fearsome attribute of these awesome creatures is their silence and the fact that one never sees them—nothing but those baleful eyes glaring unblinkingly out of the dark void behind.

   • 1984 February 14, John Corry, “Birth Curb in China”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN:

     Certainly it is awesome to think of a nation that brings its powers of persuasion against a woman’s right to conceive.

2. (colloquial) Excellent, exciting, remarkable.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:excellent

   That was awesome!

   Awesome, dude!

   • 1982, Cameron Crowe, Fast Times at Ridgemont High‎^[2], spoken by Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn):

     Awesome! Totally awesome! All right, Hamilton!

Usage notes

The oldest meaning of awesome is of “something which inspires awe”, but the word is now also a common slang expression. It was originally so used in the United States, where it had featured strikingly in the 1970 film Tora! Tora! Tora!, as used by Japan’s Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto to describe the «awesome» industrial potential of the United States. Consequently, as the word popularly became an expression for anything superb, in its original meaning it has tended to be replaced by the related word, awe-inspiring.

The comparative and superlative forms awesomer and awesomest are generally regarded as nonstandard.

Antonyms

• aweless

Derived terms

• awesome sauce (slang)
• awesomely
• awesomeness
• awesomenessness (nonce word, rare, nonstandard)
• awesometastic

• awe-inspiring
• awful

Translations

Noun

awesome (uncountable)

1. (slang) Short for awesomeness: the quality, state, or essence of being awesome.

   Synonym: (slang) awesome sauce

   Antonyms: (slang) fail, (vulgar) shit, (slang) weaksauce

   pure awesome

   made of awesome

   • 2011, Gwen Hayes, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Samhain Publishing, Ltd., published 2011, →ISBN, page 6:

     Plus, her patent leather boots were made of awesome. They made her legs look longer and leaner.

   • 2011, Kevin Seccia, Punching Tom Hanks: Dropkicking Gorillas and Pummeling Zombified Ex-Presidents—A Guide to Beating Up Anything, St. Martin’s Press, published 2011, →ISBN, page 189:

     Swayze, of course, is the being of pure awesome who has by now conquered all of Heaven.

   • 2013, Carrie Jones, Captivate, Bloomsbury, published 2010, →ISBN, page 150:

     “Your grandmother,” he mumbles into my hair as we cuddle on the couch, “is made of awesome.”

Further reading

• awesome (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia