Anechosis

Cover image for the Anechosis word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Anechosis

n.
a state of exhaustion with continually being told what you want to hear, whether by marketers pandering to you or acquaintances afraid of causing offense; the longing for someone to have the heart to finally call you out on your bullshit, challenge your long-held assumptions, and push you to become a better person—which would be a far deeper kindness than trying to live and let live.

From an-, against + echoes. Pronounced “an-uh-koh-sis.”

Volander

Cover image for the Volander word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Spinning Playback Head

silhouette of a person looking out a window

Elosy

a blurry image of a person in a subway car

Offtides

close-up of a chromed metal object

Grayshift

a spiral staircase from above

Occhiolism

Cover image for the Occhiolism word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows