What Does “Demure” Say About Us

What Does “Demure” Say About Us?

Each year, Dictionary.com announces a word of the year, a single word meant to capture the spirit, priorities, or defining moments of the past twelve months. This year, that word is “demure.” At first glance, it might seem like an odd choice. After all, “demure” implies modesty, reserve, even shyness — concepts that feel almost foreign in our loud, hyper-connected, and attention-seeking world. But perhaps what’s more striking than the word itself is the reason it was chosen: a TikTok trend.

For all the world’s upheaval and breakthroughs this year, the word chosen to represent it is tied not to a global event or cultural movement but to a social media platform. That fact alone raises questions. What does this choice reflect about our society? Have we grown so preoccupied with fleeting trends that they now shape our understanding of the world? Or does this reveal something deeper about what people are yearning for?

The Surface of Things

In an age where we document everything for public consumption, modesty feels almost countercultural. Perhaps the rise of “demure” signals a pushback against the relentless demands of self-promotion. Or perhaps it’s just a temporary fascination — another fleeting aesthetic that will disappear as quickly as it appeared.

What stands out, though, is how much weight we place on the ephemeral. With all that happened in a year — wars, movements for justice, scientific breakthroughs, and personal reckonings — why did we land on a word tied to a TikTok trend? Are we losing our ability to engage with the deeper stories of our time?

Finding Depth in a Shallow World

This isn’t just a critique of Dictionary.com or TikTok. It’s a moment to examine where we’re placing our attention. Are we, as individuals, letting our lives be shaped by what’s trending? Are we trading substance for aesthetics?

Think about the past year. What moved you? What challenged you? What changed you? Would you describe any of those experiences as “demure”? If not, then what word would you choose? What word reflects the true essence of your year — not the surface of it, but the heart of it?

Your Word of the Year

Instead of relying on a dictionary or social media to sum up your life, why not take the time to choose your own word? Reflect on your experiences, your growth, and your challenges. What word captures who you’ve become — or who you want to be?

And while you’re at it, ask yourself: Is there something missing in how we tell the story of our collective year? What do you wish the world paid more attention to?

We have the power to shape the narrative — not just for ourselves, but for our communities. The words we choose to highlight, the ideas we choose to share, they matter. They reflect our priorities and shape our future.

A Challenge to the Reader

So here’s the question: What’s your word of the year? Is it bold or quiet? Does it reflect action or contemplation? And if you feel like sharing, how might your word encourage others to think differently, act differently, or live differently?

Don’t wait for someone else to define your year for you. Look inward. Choose your word. And let it guide you toward the kind of life — and the kind of world — you want to see.