When meeting a person or persons for the first time you invariably leave an impression of who you are with them. Thus, first impressions are extremely important as they set the tone for future interactions. This isn’t anything new as everyone is acutely aware of this fact. However, not everyone uses this information to their advantage. You can literally change the way you are seen by making slight upgrades to your current habits and by doing so others will see you as brilliant, entertaining, insightful, and/or whatever other adjective you would like attributed to you.
The purpose of this article is to teach you ten words which, when used sparingly and appropriately, will make you seem smarter than you probably are. This isn’t because these words are necessarily complicated, but rather their usage often leads the listener to conclude that the speaker is educated, well-read, and the ever-curious adjective: deep. Practice theses words until they flow from you naturally. The easiest way to do this is to basically choose one word that you abuse all day long so that it sinks into your brain. Then, when needed, it will pop right out of your mouth and you will be able to immediately feel the conversation shift ever so slightly in favor of you. So let’s get started!
The Genius Starter Kit
Indeed
Function: adverb
1 : without any question : truly, undeniably —often used interjectionally to express irony or disbelief or surprise
2 : in reality
3 : all things considered : as a matter of fact
Used sparingly, indeed is a delightful nugget of a word which isn’t jarring and doesn’t require any real thought from the listener. Indeed, it makes the listener feel validated in whatever they were jabbering about and has the added benefit of making anything you say afterward – whether for or against whatever was said – seem more valid. Don’t be afraid to use it sarcastically; it is perfectly suited to that particular task.
Juxtaposition
Function: noun
1 : the act or an instance of placing two or more things side by side; also : the state of being so placed
There are two excellent aspects of the word juxtaposition. First, everyone has learned this word in high school at some point. Whether in art, geometry, English, architecture, or nearly any subject you can name this word had to have come up explicitly in at least one class. The second excellent aspect is that almost no one uses this word in casual conversation so that it’s usage almost always has an impact on the listener. For the dim, they often have to tease apart the meaning of the term from the context in which it was used, for the bright it makes you seem brighter. It can be used in reference to the physical positioning of objects but you might find it more useful when comparing two ideas.
Fallacy
Function: noun
1 a obsolete : guile, trickery b : deceptive appearance : deception
2 a : a false or mistaken idea <popular fallacies> b : erroneous character : erroneousness
3 : an often plausible argument using false or invalid inference
This is a tricky one and can trip you up embarrassingly if your audience catches you off guard. It is one of those words that generally people have heard but haven’t taken the time to actually pin down its definition. For fallacy then you want to make good and sure that you know the definition of the term but in your own words, not the dictionary’s.
Also, when referring to logical fallacies, there are actually lists of them with their own definitions (for example, a negative proof fallacy occurs when someone states that something is true because it cannot be proven false [or vice-versa]). You can read up on a list of fallacies here. Yes, this word comes with some homework but you only need to learn a few fallacy definitions every day. Plus, you will be pleasantly surprised by how many fallacies you will find in people’s arguments. An excellent word for promoting your superior intelligence!
Paradox
Function: noun
1 : a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth
2 : a self-contradictory and false proposition
3 : any person, thing, or situation exhibiting an apparently contradictory nature
4 : an opinion or statement contrary to commonly accepted opinion
Ah, paradox! Such a powerful word! This is a term which requires people to think. Not about the meaning of the word (most people know what it means) but because it forces them to reevaluate the two points being argued with an eye towards the possibility that, although seemingly at variance with one another, both might very well be equally valid, or true. Say you are speaking about the relationship between the Sun and the Earth. One person might say the Sun rises and falls in the sky, and another would argue that the Earth revolves around the Sun. Well you then can say that they are both paradoxically true (which is true, of course).
Although, be wary about misusing this term. Because of its popularity, you can look like a quintessential doofus if you throw it out at the wrong time. A word to the would-be wise: Do not confuse this word with oxymoron!
Superfluous
Function: adjective
1 : being more than is sufficient or required; excessive.
2 : unnecessary or needless.
3 : Obsolete . possessing or spending more than enough or necessary; extravagant.
Superfluous (like juxtaposition) is an nice but none-to-lengthy multi-syllable word that flows nicely when spoken. Try it now: superfluous… Feels good doesn’t it? The best way to use this term is as an interjection while someone else is speaking, usually when they are listing points against doing something that they or both of you want to do. You may want to go camping with a friend yet they are listing all the supplies they do not have. “Superfluous!” you might say, “All we need are two eyes, a bowie knife, and a willingness to do what it takes when it needs taking.” Nearly everyone stops in their tracks when they hear this term giving you a nice pause to pounce on and so direct the conversation to where you want it to be.
Final Points
Keep in mind that many of these words can be used in all sorts of forms: as adjectives, adverbs, nouns, etc. You can also add suffixes and prefixes to qualify your term and add more syllables, just make sure you can pronounce the words intelligently. You don’t want to be sounding anything out like a fourth grader, so practice in front of the mirror and do not release untested words or phrases on the spur of the moment (a general guideline, not a set-in-stone rule). There is also the backdoor usage of these words where you may state that something isn’t something else so that you get credit even if you say that an argument is not fallacious, or that an item is not superfluous.
For those wanting to go beyond the five listed above, here are a few more terms you may want to add to your repetoire: specious, marginalize, and odious.
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