Bigot, The All-Purpose Insult

Bigot, The All-Purpose Insult Bigot, The All-Purpose Insult Bigot, The All-Purpose Insult By Maeve Maddox Bigot, a word usually associated with religion, has expanded its meaning considerably. Its original sense was â€Å"a person who shows excessive religious zeal, a religious hypocrite.† Here are some (unedited) examples of its current use: Obama: Close-Minded Economic Bigot Sailor Calls Romney a ‘narrow-minded bigot’ Jehmu Greene: Portrait of Black Bigotry Liberals are some of the most bigoted people in America There are simple minded bigots on both sides of the isle. Kirstie Alley Slams Leah Remini as a Bigot After Anti-Scientology Remarks Elisabeth Hasselbeck flung a hefty tar ball in the direction of Joy Beharon Tuesday mornings The View Hot Topics segment, calling the carrot-topped co-host a bigot. [Arne] Duncans a bigot, a bully, an elitist and a foot-in-mouth fool all rolled into one The word bigot has been in the language since the Middle Ages. Of uncertain origin, it entered the language from French and quickly became a term of abuse. In modern usage, bigot, together with its other forms, bigotry and bigoted, is not confined to religious contexts. These definitions from the OED and Merriam-Webster illustrate the expanded usage. bigot: noun. a fanatical adherent or believer; a person characterized by obstinate, intolerant, or strongly partisan beliefs. OED bigot: noun. a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially: a person who regards or treats the members of a group (such as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance. Merriam-Webster Bigot is a strong word, especially useful in today’s close-minded social and political climate. Its force is diluted by speakers who employ it as a knee-jerk term of abuse to fling at anyone who merely voices a different opinion on some matter. opinion: a view held about a particular issue; a judgement formed or a conclusion reached; a belief; a religious or political conviction. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:5 Uses of InfinitivesTry to vs. Try andNeither... or?