Catachrestic

/ˌkætəˈkrɛstɪk/ adjective

Definition

Of, relating to, or involving catachresis; characterized by the strained or improper use of words or metaphors.

Etymology

From Greek katachrestikos, the standard adjectival form of katachresis, used in English since the 1600s to describe rhetorical and linguistic phenomena.

Kelly Says

Writers intentionally use catachrestic language to create unexpected humor or depth—like calling someone's mood a 'storm' even though moods have no weather, it creates meaning through controlled rule-breaking.

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