Precise words used thoughtfully help you communicate more clearly. Consider three words that most people use interchangeably: moron, imbecile, and idiot. Most everyday usage suggests these three words are just synonyms for stupid. A little research reveals that moron, imbecile, and idiot are clinical definitions of intelligence, or the lack thereof. These definitions are considered obsolete; the words are now used mostly with derogatory connotations. Being a stupidity aficionado, I exercise these words frequently, mostly to describe my own actions. I use them not as synonyms but rather to focus my thoughts on just how stupid I was. Here are their precise definitions: (more…)