The act of using terms, especially, but not limited to, ones that are more unfamiliar and “intellectual” sounding, in order to give a stance more clout, and make an opposing stance feel less valid. It often times makes the user of the term feel superior, and “objectively” correct.

This is usually seen when person A is trying to make an opposing argument against person B, and they try to solidify their stance as the one true stance by ending their argument with something like, “what you’re talking about is called insert word-washing term, and it’s actually a insert descriptive term fallacy.
Don’t generalize the way that I think about this situation with some 10 dollar word. It’s far more complicated than that. You’re just trying to word-wash me.
by Walter Greene March 6, 2022
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