catachrestical

9.9

Using words in a wrong or forced way that confuses people

adjective
/ˌkætəˈkrɛstɪkəl/

Literature

: catacrético

The author's use of catachrestical phrases made the text difficult to understand.

Examples

The critic described the novelist's frequent use of catachrestical metaphors as distracting rather than innovative.
Scholars debated whether the poem's catachrestical expressions enriched or undermined its impact.
Her explanation was so catachrestical that it left the audience confused about her actual meaning.
Isn't it catachrestical to say that the sun rises in the east?
Her explanation was so catachrestical that it left the audience confused about her actual meaning.
Scholars debated whether the poem's catachrestical expressions enriched or undermined its impact.
The critic described the novelist's frequent use of catachrestical metaphors as distracting rather than innovative.

Synonyms

catachrestic

vscatachrestical

Literature

1 9.9

To use words in a wrong or forced way that sounds odd

means the same but uses the adjective form spelled with -al ending

Surface Forms

catachrestical positive

Morphology

catachrestical = catachrestic (transparent) = catachrestic + al

Formed by regular suffixation from the adjective 'catachrestic' with the productive suffix '-al', giving 'relating to catachresis'.

Etymology

Catachrestical comes from Greek parts cata- ('against' or 'down') and -chresis ('use'), so it originally meant a 'wrong use'. That's why we call language 'catachrestical' when it uses words in an improper or awkward way.