21 Fabulous but Forgotten Words That Should Make a Comeback

Fellow logophiles, while you may be familiar with some of the words on this list, how many do you actually use in everyday conversation? I can’t say that I use any of them fairly often, but if we begin now, maybe they’ll start #trending. If it can happen with yolo, GOAT, Gucci, and yeet, why can’t we make these outdated, but incredible words cool again?

Scurryfunge

This is probably my favorite and the one that I would use most often. A scurryfunge is when one rushes around to clean when guests are on their way over. Or as we do in my house, grab all the things that are cluttering the visible rooms, only to throw them in my bedroom and close the door.

Thrice

Meaning “three times”, it sounds very concise and wise. Not to mention in a generation that loves to abbreviate things, this would fit right in.

Blithering

The first phrase that comes to mind is “blithering idiot!”. Meaning “to talk foolishly” or “a foolish person”, this word would quickly make its way into our daily vocabulary.

Snollyguster

A very relevant word in today’s world, a snollyguster is a person, especially a politician, who makes decisions based on their personal advantages rather than morals and values. You wouldn’t be able to watch the news without yelling, “Snollyguster!”, which I’m sure is much more appropriate than what we usually call them.

Cattywampus

Growing up in the Southern U.S., I have actually heard this quite a bit. Meaning “crooked” or “wonky”, cattywampus should make a comeback far and wide! From the plains of Minnesota…to the hills of Tennessee…across the plains of Texas…ok, I’ll stop.

Callipygian

“I like callipygians and I cannot lie!” Well, it doesn’t have the same ring to it, but a callipygian should be well-liked since they are a person with a well-shaped butt.

Bumfuzzle

Meaning “to confuse or perplex”, bumfuzzle needs to make a comeback as I know several people who seem to be in a constant state of bumfuzzlement.

Curmudgeon

While it may sound familiar, it isn’t used nearly as much as it should be. Look at me complaining about the sporadic use of this word that means “someone who complains a lot.” I know that you already have someone in mind!

Barbigerous

For all my bearded man friends (and women, I’m not judging), how would you like to be described as a towering, exquisite, barbigerous hunk of human? Even if you weren’t exactly tall and handsome, at least you could keep the barbigerous (bearded) part.

Collywobbles

Do you or someone you know have a nervous stomach? As in when you get stressed or nervous, you immediately have to run to the restroom? Well, then you’ve had a case of the collywobbles. Sounds better than an anxiety poo.

Shackbaggerly

Meaning “disorderly” or “messy”, I will say that being shackbaggerly is not my favorite, but it’s fun to say.

Crapulous

This is an absolute must for all my all-you-can-eat buffet lovers, as crapulous means “to feel ill from excessive eating or drinking.” I feel crapulous after almost every meal. It can also describe how you feel on those hungover mornings.

Fudgel

I know several people who are professional fudgelers, meaning they pretend to do something without actually doing anything. This is when people spend more energy doing things to get out of doing work than they would if they just did the work.

Sluberdegullion

What we refer to now as chilling or relaxing, in the 1600s, was called being a sluberdegullion, or lazy for a time.

Twattle

While it sounds profane, it actually just means “to gossip”, as in “me and the girls were twattling up a storm.”

Nizzle

Meaning “slightly intoxicated”, this would be really fun to say while inebriated! Not to be confused with “Fo’ shizzle, my nizzle.” Not the same thing.

Termagant

Instead of “Karen”, since I happen to know several super nice Karens, can we refer to them as termagants instead? A termagant is a “harsh tempered or overbearing woman”, which is perfect for the personalities of women deemed as “Karens”.

Hornswaggle

We must trick the 1820s into believing they are the 2020s so that we can use this term again! Meaning “to fool or deceive someone” it would fit right in with all of this “fake news” floating around.

Ultracrepidarian

If you so much as glance at social media, you will happen across an ultracrepidarian, who is someone that loves to give opinions on things that they know nothing about. All of the people who gained Facebook doctorates during the pandemic are perfect examples.

Slugabed

My fellow slugabeds unite! I would be a slugabed every day if it wasn’t for that pesky “work” thing, as it means “a person who stays in bed after the usual or proper time to get up.” I love my bed!

Curmuring

Ever been in a meeting and as soon as everyone stopped talking, your stomach decided to make it known that you skipped breakfast that morning? Well, that rumbling was known as curmuring!

I hope you reveled in perusing this catalogue of vintage verbiage!

Please comment with your favorite from this list or another that you wish would become mainstream again!

***Story previously published on Medium.com by the author***