Welcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday, a meme perfect for word nerds like me. For links to more interesting words, visit Kathy over at Bermudaonion.net.
My word today is inspired by comment from last week’s Word Nerd Workout. I asked for synonyms for bellicose, and Nicole gave me truculent, a truly awesome word. I remember the first time I heard it, in the movie Jerry Maguire.
For those of you who are too young to know, Jerry Maguire tells the story of a sports agent who grows weary of the vicious ambition in his business and decides it would be better to have fewer clients and better relationships. When this philosophy gets him fired, he ends up running his own company with one very demanding client.
By the way, this flick is the only Tom Cruise movie that I’ve ever liked because he plays a bit of a loser, instead of a hot-shot. And Cuba Gooding, Jr., as the bombastic Rod Tidwell, makes me laugh.
Rod Tidwell always has truculent confrontations with the media; he often shakes his fist and shouts at reporters.
truculent \’trek-yə-lənt\ adj, from the Latin truc-, trux, meaning fierce; feeling or displaying ferocity; cruel, harsh; aggressively self-assertive (this fits Rod Tidwell the best)
Word Nerd Workout
Think of a truculent character from movies or literature. My suggestion: Tybalt, from Romeo and Juliet.
Thanks for getting your nerd on with me today!
Julia
I love that word, Julia! I remember hearing that in the movie, and figured it out based on context. Now that I know the real definition I’ll be using it 🙂
Huge Jerry Maguire fan. In fact, last night I told my husband we should watch it again! I love the word truculent. Not a movie…but on the tv show Nashville, Rayna James has an extremely truculent father I cannot stand!
TV characters are allowed! (Even though I don’t know this one.) Hey, I thought you were giving up T.V.? 😉
You had me at Jerry Maguire. Thanks for reminding me what truculent meant!
LOL! Great movie reference, Jen! Love it. Another favorite of mine: “Show me the money!”
I like the word truculent Julie. I wish I’d had it in my vocabulary back in my business days. I certainly knew plenty of managers and other employees who fall clearly in the category of truculent. It would have felt good to say, “Stop being so truculent.”
I’m sure I’ve encountered plenty of truculent characters in books and movies but I’m drawing a blank right now.
Thanks for the shout out Julia! Love this post! Need to noodle on the challenge for bit, but you nailed it with Rod Tidwell.