Narcissists love to sprinkle big words into conversations like confetti—but not the fun kind. It’s all about making you feel small, confused, or like you’re missing something. They use these terms to sound smarter or more authoritative, but once you see through the act, it’s a whole lot of fluff. Here are 16 fancy words narcissists love to toss around and why they’re less about intelligence and more about control.
1. Cognitive Dissonance
If you’ve ever been accused of “cognitive dissonance” during an argument with a narcissist, congratulations—you’ve entered their mental maze. They drop this term to make you feel like you’re contradicting yourself, even when you’re not. It’s a power move, designed to make you second-guess your logic. Most of the time, they’re the ones causing the contradiction, but they’ll use this term to flip the script and keep you questioning yourself instead of their nonsense.
2. Projection
Narcissists love accusing others of projection, which is basically their favorite hobby. They’ll say you’re dumping your issues onto them while they’re actively projecting their flaws onto you. It’s a verbal gymnastics routine that leaves you spinning. The word sounds clinical, which gives it a sense of authority, but the reality is they’re just shifting blame and dodging accountability so they don’t have to look in the mirror. If they’re quick to call you out for this, take a step back and consider who’s really projecting.
3. Irrefutable
When a narcissist wants to shut down a conversation, “irrefutable” becomes their magic word. They’ll declare with certainty their opinions or “facts” as irrefutable to make it seem like arguing is pointless. Spoiler: most of the time, what they’re saying isn’t irrefutable at all. It’s just their way of closing the door on any pushback while sounding like they’ve got the final word. Remember, if someone has to declare something irrefutable, it’s probably up for debate.
4. Gaslighting
It’s the buzzword of the century, and narcissists know it. They’ll accuse you of gaslighting them to make you question your reality. But the thing about this accusation is that it’s often the very thing they’re doing to you. By claiming you’re the one twisting facts, they muddy the waters and keep you on the defensive. It’s a classic move, and once you recognize it, their accusation loses its sting.
5. Malignant
“Malignant” is one of those words that sounds scary and official, which is why narcissists love to use it. They’ll throw it into conversations to describe someone as toxic or harmful, often with no real basis. It’s a loaded term that lets them paint themselves as the victim while demonizing someone else. If they’re quick to label others as “malignant,” it’s worth taking a closer look at their own behavior.
6. Hyperbolic
Expressing strong feelings? A narcissist might call you “hyperbolic” to make you feel like you’re totally overreacting. It’s their way of dismissing your emotions without addressing the issue. This tactic shuts down the conversation, leaving you questioning whether your feelings are valid. Just because someone throws a fancy word at you doesn’t mean your experience is any less real. Don’t let them use this to minimize your voice.
7. Arbitrary
Narcissists use “arbitrary” as a way to discredit your decisions or opinions. It’s a fancy way of saying “random” or “pointless,” but when they say it, it’s laced with a whole lot of condescension. They’ll label your choices as arbitrary to position themselves as the logical one, even if their reasoning doesn’t hold up. It’s dismissive and meant to make you feel like your perspective doesn’t matter. Don’t buy into it—your decisions are valid, no matter what they say.
8. Grandiose
This word is practically a narcissist’s trademark, but they love using it to point fingers at others. They’ll accuse someone of being grandiose to shift attention away from their own inflated ego. It’s a deflection tactic that frames them as grounded and reasonable, even when they’re the biggest showboat in the room. If someone’s constantly calling others grandiose, take a step back—they might just be describing themselves.
9. Vindictive
When narcissists feel threatened, they’ll quickly label you as vindictive to paint you as the bad guy. It’s a way to make your reactions seem extreme while downplaying their own behavior. By accusing you of being vindictive, they shift the narrative and make themselves look like the victim. It’s classic deflection, and it’s designed to keep you on the defensive. Don’t let this word trap you—it says more about them than it does about you.
10. Superficial
Narcissists love to accuse others of being superficial, which is rich coming from people who are often obsessed with appearances. They’ll use this word to tear down your interests, relationships, or values, making you feel shallow for caring about things they deem unimportant. It’s a tactic to make themselves seem deeper or more profound, but it’s really just another way to control the narrative. Don’t let them define what’s meaningful to you.
11. Dichotomy
Ever hear a narcissist talk about “dichotomies”? It’s their way of framing things in black-and-white terms, forcing you into an either-or situation that benefits them. They’ll oversimplify complex issues to make their argument seem more valid, leaving no room for nuance or middle ground. This tactic isn’t about clarity—it’s about control. If someone keeps throwing this word around, it’s worth questioning why they’re so invested in oversimplifying things.
12. Pathological
When a narcissist wants to discredit someone, “pathological” is their word of choice. They’ll call someone a “pathological liar” or accuse them of “pathological behavior” to sound like they’re diagnosing a serious issue. It’s all about adding weight to their accusations while dodging their own flaws. The truth? They’re not psychologists—they’re just using big words to make themselves seem more credible. Don’t let it fool you.
13. Empathy
Narcissists love to talk about empathy, but not because they have it. They’ll accuse you of being unempathetic to shift the focus away from their own lack of emotional awareness. It’s a classic case of “do as I say, not as I do.” They weaponize the idea of empathy so that they keep you feeling guilty or inadequate while dodging any responsibility for their own behavior.
14. Fallacy
Point out a flaw in their argument, and a narcissist might counter with, “That’s a fallacy.” They use this word to make it seem like your logic is flawed, even when it’s perfectly sound. It’s not about fostering a real discussion—it’s about shutting you down and keeping the upper hand. If someone’s quick to cry “fallacy,” take a closer look—they might just be hiding the cracks in their own argument.
15. Narcissist
Yes, narcissists love calling others narcissists. It’s their ultimate gaslighting move, they turn the tables to make you question your own behavior. By accusing you of being a narcissist, they deflect attention from their own bad actions and put you on the defensive. It’s projection at its finest, and the irony is almost laughable—if it weren’t so frustrating. Don’t let this accusation derail you. Recognize it for what it is: a classic manipulation tactic.
16. Altruistic
Narcissists love painting themselves as selfless heroes, and “altruistic” is their favorite buzzword for the job. They’ll describe their actions as altruistic to frame themselves as noble and generous, even when their motives are anything but. It’s all about building a narrative where they’re the saint and everyone else is ungrateful. If someone has to tell you how selfless they are, chances are they’re anything but.
This content was created by a real person with the assistance of AI.
