In this previous post, I pointed out the absurdity of the overuse of the virtually meaningless word “amazing”. It’s everywhere and serves as a putdown as easily as it does a buildup. Case in point:
In a very bad movie I recently watched (yeah, I watch a lot of bad movies), the following line was delivered by a person who had just learned of a loved one’s acceptance into a prestigious college:
“That’s amazing! I’m not surprised, though.”
She was amazed but not surprised. How does that work? To add to the inanity, another character, upon hearing the same news, says, “That’s incredible!”
The same news is incredible and amazing but not surprising. Furthermore, it’s also a nasty, though thinly disguised insult. If someone is amazed and/or surprised at your success, it means they weren’t expecting it, i.e. you’re a loser.
Who writes, and worse, who approves these scripts???
[As a follower of Jesus, I’m even more disheartened by the devaluation of the word “amazing”. The classic and wonderful hymn “Amazing Grace” loses much of its impact when the adjective is rendered impotent.]
Scribbling in the Sand 
Have you written a blog post about the use of “literally”?
Literally amazing…
Carol
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I haven’t devoted an entire post to “literally”, although there are a few references to that particular brand of stupidity in the aforementioned “Amazing Post”. I dedicated a paragraph to the transgression way back in 2013 in this post in my old blog.
When that inevitable day arrives when I take over the world (or at least the country; if a moron like Trump can do it, it’ll be a cakewalk for an average intellect like me) I’d fine anyone who uses the word opposite the way it’s defined. I mean, when did “literally” become a synonym for “virtually” or “metaphorically”?
Always good to hear from you, Carol. Keep those comments coming!