In my opinion it's racist/racism. They've been watered down and applied to any and everything. Used in place of racial prejudice and bigotry mostly and incorrectly. Our society had chanced the meanings on recent times by this misuse. The events and times help dictate this and it's not unprecedented that social climate and events bring changes to words. Webster's and other well know dictionaries have changed the definitions of these words in the last 5 years also, but that's dictated by the change in its use.

These changes have sort of "leveled the playing field" so to speak so that now any one that dislikes or says anything negative or unpopular for example, about snyone of a different race, ethnic, culture, nationality, skin color - is labeled "racist". As distasteful as the words or actions may be they are not necessarily racist by original definition. "Prejudiced" racially or otherwise is a more fitting term as would "bigot" bf in other situations of disliking or judging based on characteristics of others who are different. Racism goes much deeper and racists have power to effect oppression abc injustice effectively on large groups of minorities.

Now anyone can be racist. Even Joe Blow down the road who doesn't have a pot to piss in and couldn't oppress a chipmunk or render and injustice on anyone or anything. But if his worthless ass doesn't like the Mexicans next door, he's a racist. Smh. It's sad because it waters down and takes the spotlight off of what true racism is and who the real racists are. Not just anyone can be an effective racist and not just any/everything can be deemed as racism.

But the ship has sailed now and these two terms have been warred down to mean basically prejudice and bigotry which anyone can be, lack of power and authority notwithstanding.

Offended. People make a career out of being offended nowadays!!

@paramite how is tolerance the most abused - I'd say it is the most under-utilised

Entitled, deserve

@jaggedlittlepill. Those in my country who cry discrimination are the ones who get everything handed to them by our government. So don't tell me they are discriminated against.

@InOtterWords
Sometimes the intolerant are the ones who advocate tolerance.

I don't question your choice, dear chap.
But for me, THE most used and abused and often WRONGLY used word would have to be ANXIETY.
"I have anxiety!' Posts EVERYWHERE!!
And the truth is many of those who post it would be SERIOUSLY in trouble if the REAL thing were to hit them!!

That's up there on my list next to "trigger"

Coffee.

@Cierzo - agree completely, if you've ever known anyone who is clinically depressed, it's much more than just unhappy

Triggered

@Picklebobble. Good point. The same could be told about depression, in my opinion.

@virginia I was just about to say entitlement

@Virginia 👏

Lol

Tolerance

Discrimination for me....

I would add culture and cultural. The most banal things get a veneer of respectability if they are hailed as 'cultural'.

@Avgeek. Great explanation.Thank you.In my opinion the word 'racist' has been watere down because it is overused to arouse feelings of guilt.

I'm saying I know a lot of pretty tolerant people who get accused of being intolerant by intolerant people.

So are you saying we shouldn't tolerate the intolerant?

@Sackisback. So right.

I find the opinions here very telling...especially when you become doctors who can diagnose if someone has anxiety or depression or not.

An overused word is a word used wrongly too many times.

Discrimination is a word used a lot because IT HAPPENS A LOT...denial and blind ignorance are really unbecoming of people.

Privilege is exactly what all of you are showing right now. Word used to describe exactly what we witness daily.