True intelligence is often understated, but some people are so desperate to seem smart that they basically vomit out a thesaurus every time they speak.
They overcomplicate even the most basic conversations, thinking using big words and phrases will prove that they’re total geniuses. What they don’t realise is that this tends to have the opposite effect — it makes them look insecure, unintelligent, and a bit pretentious. Here are a few of the things people like this tend to say.
1. “Utilise” is just a fancy way of saying “use”.
This word is a favourite among corporate types and academic paper-padders. It doesn’t add any meaning that “use” doesn’t already cover. When someone says they’re going to “utilise” something, they’re probably just trying to sound important. Unless you’re in a very formal setting, stick with “use” — it’s clearer and doesn’t make you sound like you’re trying too hard.
2. “Plethora” is often misused to mean “a lot”.
While it technically means “an excessive amount”, people often throw “plethora” around to describe any quantity more than two. “There’s a plethora of options on the menu” — no, mate, there are just a lot of choices. It’s the kind of word that screams, “I’m trying to impress you with my vocabulary!” when a simpler term would do the job just fine.
3. “Aforementioned” is unnecessary in most contexts.
This word is a staple in legal documents, but in everyday speech, it’s just clunky. If you’ve already mentioned something, chances are your listener remembers it. There’s no need to say “the aforementioned issue” when “the issue” or even “it” would suffice. Using “aforementioned” in casual conversation is like wearing a three-piece suit to a pub — it’s overkill.
4. “Quintessential” is often just a pompous way to say “typical”.
While it can be useful in specific contexts, “quintessential” often pops up when people are trying to sound cultured or sophisticated. “This is the quintessential British pub” — is it really the perfect embodiment of all British pubs, or is it just a nice local boozer? Unless you’re discussing the essence of something in a philosophical sense, “typical” or “classic” usually does the job without the pretentious aftertaste.
5. “Ergo” makes you sound like you’re in a courtroom drama.
Unless you’re actually in a courtroom (or maybe a philosophy seminar), “ergo” is likely to make you sound like you’re putting on airs. It’s the Latin word for “therefore”, but in modern English, it often comes across as needlessly formal. Most of the time, “so” or “therefore” work just as well without making you sound like you’re trying to channel your inner Sherlock Holmes.
6. “Paradigm” is overused jargon that rarely adds value.
This word has been beaten to death in corporate speak and academic writing. It’s meant to describe a typical example or pattern, but it’s often used vaguely to sound intelligent. “We need a paradigm shift in our approach” — do we really, or do we just need to change how we do things? Unless you’re discussing scientific theories, there’s usually a clearer way to express your point.
7. “Juxtapose” is often just a showy way to say “compare”.
While it has its place in literary analysis, “juxtapose” often crops up in everyday speech when someone’s trying to flex their vocabulary muscles. “I like to juxtapose different flavours in my cooking” — mate, you’re just combining ingredients. Unless you’re specifically talking about placing things side by side for dramatic effect, “compare” or “contrast” will usually do the job without sounding pretentious.
8. “Pretentious” ironically made the list.
Yes, it’s a bit meta to include this word in a list about pretentious words. But it’s worth noting that constantly calling things or people “pretentious” can itself come across as, well, pretentious. It can make you sound like you’re trying to prove you’re above it all. Sometimes, it’s better to just say something is “showy” or “over-the-top” instead of reaching for the p-word.
9. “Plethora” makes a second appearance because it’s that annoying.
This word is so overused by people trying to sound smart that it deserves a second mention. It’s often used incorrectly to mean “a wide variety” when it actually means “an excessive amount”. Unless you’re specifically talking about an overabundance of something, there are clearer ways to express yourself without sounding like you’re trying to impress your English teacher.
10. “Whom” is often misused by people trying to sound formal.
While “whom” has its place in formal writing, it’s often shoehorned into speech by people attempting to sound sophisticated. The problem is, it’s frequently used incorrectly. “Whom should I speak to?” is wrong — it should be “who”. Unless you’re absolutely sure you’re using it correctly, sticking with “who” is usually safer and less likely to make you sound like you’re putting on airs.
11. “Peruse” is commonly misused to sound scholarly.
Many people use “peruse” to mean “skim” or “glance over”, when it actually means to read or examine something carefully. “I’ll just peruse this document quickly” — that’s not what peruse means, mate. It’s the kind of word that can make you sound like you’re trying too hard to impress, especially if you’re using it incorrectly.
12. “Essentially” is often just a filler word.
While not inherently pretentious, “essentially” is often overused by people trying to sound more authoritative. “It’s essentially just a fancy sandwich” — is it really essential to use “essentially” here? In many cases, you can drop this word entirely without losing any meaning. Overusing it can make you sound like you’re trying to add weight to your statements unnecessarily.
13. “Literally” is ironically used figuratively by pretentious speakers.
The misuse of “literally” has become so common that it’s now often used by people trying to emphasise their points in a supposedly clever way. “I literally died laughing” — no, you didn’t. Unless something actually, literally happened, using this word can make you sound like you’re trying too hard to be dramatic or funny.
14. “Myriad” is often misused to sound poetic.
While it’s a perfectly good word, “myriad” is often used incorrectly or unnecessarily. “There are myriad options” is correct, but “There are a myriad of options” is not. It’s the kind of word that can make you sound like you’re trying to write poetry in everyday speech. Unless you’re actually discussing an uncountable number of things, “many” or “numerous” usually work just fine.
15. “Profoundly” is overused for emphasis.
This word is often thrown around to make something sound more important or deep than it actually is. “I was profoundly moved by the advert” — really? Was it truly a deep, life-changing experience, or did you just find it touching? Overusing “profoundly” can make you sound like you’re trying to add gravitas to every little thing, which ironically makes everything you say less impactful.
16. “Indeed” can make you sound like a Victorian gentleman.
Source: Unsplash While it has its uses, peppering your speech with “indeed” can quickly veer into pretentious territory. It’s the kind of word that, when overused, makes you sound like you’re trying to channel a 19th-century professor. “Indeed, I find this tea quite refreshing” — unless you’re actually in a period drama, there are usually more natural ways to agree or emphasise a point without sounding like you’ve time-travelled from another era.
