Kill / Murder

Even words related to death can be used positively!

If someone does something very well or performs a task very skillfully, we can say that they “killed” or "murdered" it.

“Slay,” which is another way to say “kill,” is now popular slang with the same meaning. 

It is often used in more specific situations, such as when talking about comedy or fashion.

Killer

This is obviously related to our previous words on the list. However, this “killer” is used as an adjective for describing something great.

Also, the expression “All killer, no filler” is commonly used to describe something that has no flaws or mistakes and is consistently excellent. We use it when referring to things in a collection such as a musical album, a television series or a group of films.

Obsessed

In its original usage, “obsessed” is a very negative word that is similar to “addicted.” If you are obsessed, you are focused on a particular thing in an unnatural and unhealthy way.

Used casually, however, it means you are a very big fan or are really interested in something or someone. You may even see people on social media respond to a post with simply “Obsessed!”

Devastating

“Devastating” is an adjective describing something that has a very strong, negative effect. It can be used to talk about physical things or abstract ideas such as emotions.

On the other hand, it can also be used to refer to a strong emotional impact, even if it is not negative.

Outrageous

“Outrageous” is the adjective form of “outrage,” which is a noun for public anger or shock. While the noun form is mostly used negatively, outrageous is more flexible.

Outrageous can have the nuance of “very inappropriate,” “surprising” or “wild and unusual” depending on the circumstances.

Crazy / Mad / Mental

While its original meaning is “mentally unwell,” “crazy” is casually used more flexibly in ways that are similar to outrageous.

In British English, crazy is often substituted for “mad” or “mental.”

Fanatic

The word “fan” is actually a shortened form of “fanatic.”

While fan has become a common way to describe someone who likes a particular person or thing, fanatic often refers to someone whose interest is unhealthy because it is too intense. In this way, it is similar to “obsessive” (a noun version of “obsessed,” explained above).

However, people sometimes use fanatic instead of fan to emphasize how much they like something.