It has a nice ring to it, though. Like "harmonious."

Harmony: "Cacophony. That's pretty. What's it mean?"

and you're not going to think about the cunt part until you're about 12 when it's suddenly hilarious.

I think about it fairly often because Carlene Carter didn't realize her parents Johnny Cash and June Carter were in the audience one night when she introduced a song by saying, "This'll put the cunt back in Country" and June turned all red and upset.

I'm not taking a hard stand on "niggardly" and indeed just acknowledged that the sound association is a factor in word choice. However, I am not willing to bow to offended sensibilities in all instances and insist on retaining the word. People that say that there are available synonyms are - to me - are incorrect. There are less nuanced choices.

I am not removing "gypped" from my vocabulary anytime soon, either, despite its cultural baggage.

I think there is a danger bending language constantly towards its least offensive, most ameliorated, endlessly qualified word choices.

But I'm not being disingenuous either, or ignorant of cultural context. I know historically how language has been used to demean and restrict. But I think that the deciding factor in word choice is always fluid and balances the vigor of the language against offending people.

Taking offense is quite literally censorious. It's a necessary and useful social pressure but people shouldn't do it lightly.

It doesn't have a negative connotation. It has a homonymic association.

fine, it has a homonymic association that is negative. Fact is, that you will make people do a doubletake when they hear it even if they know what it means. If using the word is that important to you, fine. Just don't be surprised if people think that you're being pedantic (and not in a good way) for insisting on using the word even though you know that it might be misintepreted, even for a second.

Quote The Princess bride book at him.

Or the movie.

Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who tells you differently is selling something.

IMHO the "niggardly" thing is parallel to the debate about swastikas and Confederate battle flags: it's been ruined by popular association so suck it up and find another word/symbol.

Interesting. I've always read it with a negative connotation.

As have I.

How about "miserly?"

I am not removing "gypped" from my vocabulary anytime soon, either, despite its cultural baggage

Do you jew people down in negotiation too?

I honestly had no idea the word even existed until it was brought up yesterday and it totally made me double and wonder WTH?

Chocolate, glazed donut and coffee:

I am not removing "gypped" from my vocabulary anytime soon, either, despite its cultural baggage.

How about its synonym, "jewed?"

I hear you on your frustration, Hec, but I tend towards eliminating culturally offensive words. On a related note, anyone got a good term for "wifebeater" that isn't "ribbed tank top?"

eta xpost with ita

Also, I like to use the word asinine because it sounds like ass, but I can say it in polite company. I imagine some users of niggardly use it like that. It just isn't worth it.

I don't think I realized that the expression wasn't "chew someone down" until I was over 25. The one I am trying to strike is "jerry-rigged". Especially since it is supposed to be "jury-rigged".

In a related note, anyone got a good term for "wifebeater" that isn't "ribbed tank top?"

I believe the proper name is "A shirt", at least that is what we call them in the costume shop. Of course, I grew up calling them "guinea t's", so what do I know!