“despite what you may have heard, pusillanimous does not serve as the basis for pussyfoot, pussycat, or a certain related vulgarism.” - Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Social media yes absolutely is, but so is the Internet in general. There’s always been conspiracy and other whacko websites. Social media just brings the misinformation to you, instead of previously, you had to seek out that kind of content.
Dictionaries are descriptive, not prescriptive. They explain how language has been used in the past. They do not regulate the intention of a speaker in the future.
Prescriptively, “literally” and “figuratively” are antonyms. Descriptively, they have been used synonymously.
Having learned this “pusillanimous” meaning, you are now capable of comprehending the intent of someone employing it, much as I am capable of recognizing that “literally” no longer reliably describes the concept of literality.
“despite what you may have heard, pusillanimous does not serve as the basis for pussyfoot, pussycat, or a certain related vulgarism.” - Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Social media is a misinformation engine
Social media yes absolutely is, but so is the Internet in general. There’s always been conspiracy and other whacko websites. Social media just brings the misinformation to you, instead of previously, you had to seek out that kind of content.
Well, it may not have been the basis in the past…
Dictionaries are descriptive, not prescriptive. They explain how language has been used in the past. They do not regulate the intention of a speaker in the future.
Prescriptively, “literally” and “figuratively” are antonyms. Descriptively, they have been used synonymously.
Having learned this “pusillanimous” meaning, you are now capable of comprehending the intent of someone employing it, much as I am capable of recognizing that “literally” no longer reliably describes the concept of literality.
I guarantee you that nobody is thinking of “pusillanimous” when they call someone a pussy.