The year in words. The ones we can print

And now, back by no popular demand whatsoever, it’s my annual words of the year column. (Wait for applause to die down.)

First, the top lexicographers around the globe have made their selections.

Over at good old Merriam Webster the 2023 word of the year is “authentic.”

It’s a good, woody word. And, of course, it’s being searched and used more frequently thanks to the increasing prevalence of artificial intelligence. And in a world filled with fakery, chicanery and skulduggery, authenticity stands out. Taylor Swift is considered authentic. Donald Trump, not so much.

“Authenticity embodies the genuine, unadulterated essence of something or someone. It resonates with honesty, truthfulness, and integrity, reflecting a pure expression that aligns with one’s true beliefs, values, and identity. Authenticity isn’t about perfection but rather about sincerity, transparency, and being true to oneself, fostering connections through raw, unfiltered sincerity. It’s the unapologetic embrace of imperfections, quirks, and uniqueness that makes something or someone truly authentic, standing apart in its realness amidst a world often veiled in facades.”

That last paragraph about “authentic,” by the way, was written by the AI app ChatGPT. Yeah, my journalism days are numbered.

Across the pond, Oxford Languages’ word of the year is “rizz.” I’ll let the brits explain.

“2023 marked the era of personal — and professional — PR. And what does it take to command attention? A whole lot of charisma, or the shortened form, ‘rizz’.”

“Rizz” was entirely new to me. Maybe that’s because I have an extreme deficiency of charisma. Maybe “ori,” short for boring, will catch on next year.

Dictionary.com picked “hallucinate” as its 2023 word of the year. Again, it’s in the context of a world increasingly filled with falsehoods. See also, lies.

The hallucinate definition Dictionary.com had in mind is “(of artificial intelligence) to produce false information contrary to the intent of the user and present it as if true and factual.”

Iowa words

Here at home in Iowa, like any red state, and especially one hosting a battalion of Republican presidential wannabes, the word “woke” came up plenty.

What does “woke” mean?

I opined that “woke” is about “acknowledging that racism and bigotry continue to permeate our society and institutions, spawning economic inequality, racial disparities in our criminal justice system and lack of access to housing, quality health care and civil rights … And don’t forget about targeting transgender kids for political gain.”

But, really, you can make up any definition for “woke.” To many Republicans, it’s an easy label to slap upon anything they don’t like. This tofu casserole is “woke.”

“This woke ideology represents a war on truth itself,” said Florida governor and GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis. He based his whole campaign on curing America of the “woke mind virus.”

But then a funny thing happened. In June, Republican front-runner and former President Donald Trump poked fun at DeSantis for using “woke” so often. At a campaign event near Des Moines he said, “half the people can’t even define it … and don’t know what it is.” Never mind that Trump had repeatedly used the term.

But as DeSantis’ presidential prospects faded, the use of “woke” became less frequent. And why did DeSantis, once seen as Trump’s strongest challenger, falter? I’d say it’s a lack of “rizz.”

Under the Golden Dome of Wisdom, the word of the year was “sex.”

Republicans who run the joint were obsessed with “sex.” They accused public schools of pushing pornography on kids, while teachers indoctrinated them with rainbow flags. So they approved legislation ordering schools to remove all books with a description or depiction of a “sex act.” It turns out a lot of books describe sex acts, so schools have been pulling them off the shelves by the dozens.

Burt Republicans were really going after books describing “sex” by LGBTQ authors. They also banned the teaching of LGBTQ themes in grades K-6. They reduced the lives and identities of thousands of Iowans to sex acts they find shameful. GOP lawmakers are the ones who should be ashamed. They’re hallucinating.

But if you question these policies, you get to learn another word. “Groomer.” Ah, the hellscape that is social media.

Republicans also called a special session to pass a six-week abortion ban. During the debate, Rep. Brad Sherman, R-Williamsburg, told critics of the bill they should stop having sex.

“Everyone is free not to have sex. Maybe they shouldn’t have sex; it’s that simple. I will stand for everyone’s rights to practice abstinence,” Sherman said.

My word of the year

But my word of the year was a surprise. It came out of nowhere. It drifted into our vernacular on a fall day like a falling leaf.

The word? “Vexatious.”

Oxford defines vexatious as “causing or tending to cause annoyance, frustration or worry.” It came up in Iowa when the Iowa Public Information Board delved into the idea of penalizing “vexatious requesters,” or people who make repeated, time-consuming requests for public records that are basically a form of harassment.

Anyone labeled as “vexatious” would be denied access to public records. The board hasn’t taken formal action on the measure. It was a great word and a bad policy idea.

But you can see how, in the world we live in, on the timeline we’re stuck on, “vexatious” could come in handy. Vexatious governing. Vexatious politics. Vexatious drivers who won’t leave the left lane. The list is virtually endless.

The first reference to “vexatious” was in 1534, according to Merriam-Webster. So, it’s classic with staying power. It’s “authentic” with plenty of “rizz.”

Try using it in a sentence: “I’m so glad this vexatious column is at an end.”

(319) 398-8262; todd.dorman@thegazette.com

Opinion content represents the viewpoint of the author or The Gazette editorial board. You can join the conversation by submitting a letter to the editor or guest column or by suggesting a topic for an editorial to editorial@thegazette.com