English is a mess. Therefore, even people who read for a living end up using a few words wrong. Below are ten of the worst offenders. words most of us have absolutely butchered at some point. For the record, the dictionary still wins, so the Merriam-Webster entry on each one says what it actually means. As a result, after that, the rest is up to you.
Travesty
What you may think it means: a tragedy, an unfortunate event.
What it actually means: a mockery; a parody.
In addition, this one, frankly, is my own personal error. For the longest time, I equated travesty with tragedy. As a result, after all, the two sound almost identical in passing. It’s stupid, I know. Of course, if you knew how often I confuse fetal position with beetle position, you wouldn’t be laughing either. It’s a serious problem.
Ironic
What you may think it means: a funny coincidence.
What it actually means: contrary to what you might expect.
First off, it’s not ironic that you bumped into a talking turtle in a sweater vest right after telling your friend how cool that would be. Specifically, that’s a coincidence. Believe it or not, those two words are not related. Also, you should probably lay off the drugs. As a result, after all, animals shouldn’t be talking.
Peruse
What you may think it means: to skim or glance over something.
What it actually means: to review something carefully and in depth.
However, how this definition got flipped on its head, I’ll never know. However, I’ll be sure never to say “I’m going to go peruse my math textbook” ever again. As a result, after all, somebody might overhear and try to hold me to it.
Bemused
What you may think it means: amused.
What it actually means: confused.
Again, the words-sounding-alike issue. Therefore, I’m starting to think I just need hearing aids. Specifically, this is getting out of hand.
Compelled
What you may think it means: to willingly do something. Or to feel like you need to do something.
What it actually means: to be forced to do something, willingly or not.
Honestly, the word you’re actually looking for is “impelled.” In fact, I agree. it doesn’t get enough attention.
Nauseous
What you may think it means: to feel sick.
What it actually means: to cause nausea.
So when you eat too much ice cream and tell mom “I feel nauseous,” you’re actually saying that you cause people around you to feel sick. Thanks, jerk. For the record, “I’m nauseated” is the way to go. Of course, modern usage has softened this rule. Specifically, the purists are still out there.
Conversate
What you may think it means: to hold a conversation.
What it actually means: ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
Specifically, this word is a mash-up of conversation and converse. Frankly, it doesn’t actually exist. like unicorns or YOUR DREAMS. (I’m kidding. Unicorns are totally real.)
Redundant
What you may think it means: repetitive.
What it actually means: superfluous, able to be cut out.
For example, “including this sentence is redundant because you already mentioned your love of Santa Claus in the previous paragraph.” That’s been my entire exposure to the word. Therefore, it only makes sense that I assumed repetitive was correct. I can’t be the only one? Right? RIGHT?
Enormity
What you may think it means: enormousness.
What it actually means: extreme evil.
Honestly, I don’t know where the “extreme evil” thing came from. Probably the Devil. Still, enormity makes way more sense as enormousness in my brain.
Terrific
What you may think it means: awesome, fantastic.
What it actually means: causing terror.
Okay, “causing terror” is more of an outdated definition. However, the etymology still tracks. terrific shares the same root as terror and terrify. So next time you call your favorite camper “Terrific Tommy,” remember that a few decades ago that might have been an insult. Unless of course Tommy is a serial killer. In that case, by all means, go for it.
So there it is. Ten words that most of us have used wrong at some point. Specifically, the good news is that English is forgiving. In addition, language evolves. some of these “wrong” usages may eventually become “right” through sheer repetition. Until then, however, you can at least sound like you read books at parties.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. “Conversate” is a back-formation from “conversation” and is not recognized as a standard English verb in major dictionaries like Merriam-Webster. The accepted verb is “converse.” However, “conversate” is heard in casual speech and song lyrics, so its informal usage persists in pop culture even though it has not entered formal standard English.
Irony refers to a situation that turns out contrary to what was expected, or a contrast between appearance and reality. A funny coincidence is not, by itself, ironic — that is a common misuse popularized in part by Alanis Morissette’s 1995 song “Ironic.” True irony involves a deliberate or meaningful contrast between expectation and outcome.
Most people use “peruse” to mean a quick skim, but Merriam-Webster lists the original meaning as “to examine or consider with attention and in detail.” The misuse likely spread through context — peruse sounds casual, like “browse” — even though its etymology points the other way. Both meanings now appear in dictionary entries because of how widespread the casual sense has become.
Traditional usage says “nauseated” for feeling sick, while “nauseous” describes something that causes nausea. However, modern dictionaries including Merriam-Webster now list “feeling sick” as an accepted definition of “nauseous” because that usage is dominant in everyday speech. Purists still prefer the original distinction in formal writing.
The word entered English in the 17th century from the Latin “terrificus,” meaning “causing fear” — built from the same root as terror and terrify. By the 19th century the meaning had drifted to “extraordinary” and eventually to today’s positive sense of “very good.” This kind of meaning shift is called semantic amelioration and is common in English vocabulary.
