Literally Ironic: Words We Keep Getting Wrong
English is a wonderfully flexible language. That’s one of the reasons it’s spoken (and sometimes mangled) by so many people worldwide. But its flexibility also creates confusion: words that once had precise meanings slowly morph through casual use, media influence, or sheer exaggeration. Before long, the “wrong” meaning becomes so widespread that it starts to feel normal.
Here are a few words you’ve almost certainly seen misused—and maybe even slipped into using yourself.
Literally
If there’s one word that grammar purists love to complain about, it’s literally. Traditionally, it means in a literal, non-figurative sense. If someone said, “The house was literally on fire,” that meant there were actual flames—not just a warm atmosphere at a party.
But in modern usage, literally has become an intensifier. “I was literally dying of laughter,” “That roller coaster literally blew my mind,” or “She literally ran a million errands today.” None of these are true in the strictest sense—but the speaker uses literally to add drama.
So is it wrong? Strictly speaking, yes. But dictionaries (including Merriam-Webster) now acknowledge the figurative use because it’s so common. In other words, literally now also literally means its opposite.
Ironic
Poor ironic—it’s been misunderstood since Alanis Morissette’s 1995 hit song “Ironic” (most of her examples, famously, weren’t irony at all). True irony is when the outcome is contrary to what you’d expect.
Irony: A fire station burns down.
Not irony: Two people wear the same shirt to work.
Irony: The marriage counselor files for divorce.
Not irony: It rains on your wedding day.
The confusion often comes from mistaking coincidence or bad luck for irony. While language does evolve, keeping the distinction clear helps writers capture the sharp twist that makes irony so powerful.
Decimate
In Roman times, to decimate meant to kill one in every ten soldiers as punishment for cowardice or mutiny. Brutal, yes—but very specific. Over the centuries, the word shifted to mean “destroy a portion of something,” and today it’s commonly used to mean “annihilate” or “wipe out entirely.”
For example, headlines might say, “The storm decimated the town,” even though the original sense would imply that only a tenth of the town was destroyed. While few readers will call you out, it’s worth knowing the history: the next time you write decimate, you can decide whether you mean damage severely or obliterate completely.
Awful and Awesome (Bonus Round)
Once upon a time, both of these words came from awe—a feeling of reverence and fear. Something awful inspired dread or terror. Something awesome filled you with overwhelming wonder. Fast-forward to today, and awful just means really bad, while awesome is casually tossed around as a synonym for “great.”
This pair shows just how dramatically meanings can flip.
Why It Matters
Some people roll their eyes at these shifts and say, “Language changes—who cares?” And it’s true: words evolve with culture. But for writers, knowing the original and current meanings gives you more control. You can choose whether to stick with precision, lean into popular usage, or even play with both for effect.
Next time you hear someone say they “literally can’t even,” or you catch yourself calling a coincidence ironic, remember: you’re part of the grand story of English in motion. And while grammar nerds may twitch, your words are also keeping the language alive and evolving.
Word nerd challenge: What’s your favorite example of a word that doesn’t mean what people think it means? Share it in the comments—we’ll “literally” love to see them!