Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [duhb-uh l-speek]
- /ˈdʌb əlˌspik/
- /ˈdʌb.l̩.spiːk/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [duhb-uh l-speek]
- /ˈdʌb əlˌspik/
Definitions of doublespeak word
- noun doublespeak evasive, ambiguous language that is intended to deceive or confuse. 1
- noun doublespeak Deliberately euphemistic, ambiguous, or obscure language. 1
- uncountable noun doublespeak If you refer to what someone says as doublespeak, you are criticizing them for presenting things in a way that is intended to hide the truth or give people the wrong idea. 0
- noun doublespeak the practice of using ambiguous language regarding political, military, or corporate matters in a deliberate attempt to disguise the truth 0
- noun doublespeak obscure or ambiguous language, esp. if meant to deceive 0
- noun doublespeak Any language deliberately constructed to disguise or distort its actual meaning, often by employing euphemism or ambiguity. Typically used by governments or large institutions. 0
Information block about the term
Origin of doublespeak
First appearance:
before 1950 One of the 5% newest English words
1950-55; double + speak, by analogy with doublethink
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Doublespeak
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
doublespeak popularity
A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 54% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
doublespeak usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for doublespeak
noun doublespeak
- jargon — a colorless to smoky gem variety of zircon.
- slang — a specialized dictionary covering the words, phrases, and idioms that reflect the least formal speech of a language. These terms are often metaphorical and playful, and are likely to be evanescent as the spoken language changes from one generation to another. Much slang belongs to specific groups, as the jargon of a particular class, profession, or age group. Some is vulgar. Some slang terms have staying power as slang, but others make a transition into common informal speech, and then into the standard language. An online slang dictionary, such as the Dictionary.com Slang Dictionary, provides immediate information about the meaning and history of a queried term and its appropriateness or lack of appropriateness in a range of social and professional circumstances.
- argot — An argot is a special language used by a particular group of people, which other people find difficult to understand.
- cant — a salient angle.
- phraseology — manner or style of verbal expression; characteristic language: legal phraseology.
verb doublespeak
- pussyfoot — to go or move in a stealthy or cautious manner.
- feign — to represent fictitiously; put on an appearance of: to feign sickness.
- dissimulate — to disguise or conceal under a false appearance; dissemble: to dissimulate one's true feelings about a rival.
- hide — Informal. to administer a beating to; thrash.
- conceal — If you conceal something, you cover it or hide it carefully.
adj doublespeak
- worthless — without worth; of no use, importance, or value; good-for-nothing: a worthless person; a worthless contract.
- insignificant — unimportant, trifling, or petty: Omit the insignificant details.
- trivial — of very little importance or value; insignificant: Don't bother me with trivial matters.
- senseless — destitute or deprived of sensation; unconscious.
- inconsequential — of little or no importance; insignificant; trivial.
adjective doublespeak
- worth — good or important enough to justify (what is specified): advice worth taking; a place worth visiting.
- meaningless — without meaning, significance, purpose, or value; purposeless; insignificant: a meaningless reply; a meaningless existence.
Antonyms for doublespeak
noun doublespeak
- standard — something considered by an authority or by general consent as a basis of comparison; an approved model.
- quiet — making no noise or sound, especially no disturbing sound: quiet neighbors.
- silence — absence of any sound or noise; stillness.
- sense — any of the faculties, as sight, hearing, smell, taste, or touch, by which humans and animals perceive stimuli originating from outside or inside the body: My sense of smell tells me that dinner is ready.
- listening — to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear.
verb doublespeak
- disclose — to make known; reveal or uncover: to disclose a secret.
- divulge — to disclose or reveal (something private, secret, or previously unknown).
- uncover — to lay bare; disclose; reveal.
- unmask — to strip a mask or disguise from.
- let out — (of fur) processed by cutting parallel diagonal slashes into the pelt and sewing the slashed edges together to lengthen the pelt and to improve the appearance of the fur.
adj doublespeak
- valuable — having considerable monetary worth; costing or bringing a high price: a valuable painting; a valuable crop.
- worthwhile — such as to repay one's time, attention, interest, work, trouble, etc.: a worthwhile book.
- consequential — Consequential means the same as consequent.
- useful — being of use or service; serving some purpose; advantageous, helpful, or of good effect: a useful member of society.
- rational — agreeable to reason; reasonable; sensible: a rational plan for economic development.
Top questions with doublespeak
- what is doublespeak?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with d
- Words starting with do
- Words starting with dou
- Words starting with doub
- Words starting with doubl
- Words starting with double
- Words starting with doubles
- Words starting with doublesp
- Words starting with doublespe
- Words starting with doublespea
- Words starting with doublespeak