even being pedantic, it's literally bullshit:

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/bullshit

bullshit

noun

nonsense, lies, or exaggeration.

It's a correct use of literally, but I think the change to the dictionary definition is in error. It's simply an example of hyperbole, which is a thing you can do with any word.

Lmao, you got caught erroneously trolling somebody and now double down?

Did you respond to the wrong comment, or confuse me for someone else? The comment you replied to was my only one in this thread, so if neither of those then I have (ahem) literally no idea what you're on about.

It's not a hyperbole lmao. Now you get to be the one who is pedantically corrected for no reason

I wasn't correcting you. I was agreeing with you. I was correcting the dictionaries that have (IMO) got it wrong. Now, in this paragraph, I am correcting you. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

> It's not a hyperbole lmao.

I disagree, obviously, but perhaps an explanation is in order so that we can be sure we're talking about the same thing (and give you something more specific to argue against if you still disagree).

The difference between "X is Y" and "X is literally Y", when both expressions are figurative, is that the latter is meant to be strengthened by overstating the degree to which X is in fact Y. I contend that this is a hyperbolic use of "literally".

I’m loving this.

Happy to entertain! Obviously some people are annoyed by the whole thing but I find it interesting picking apart what's going on with our words.

I’m not making a claim that it is “objectively incorrect”. I am merely attempting to discourage this kind of usage, because I this it is a better course for language for it to not be used in this way.

(Also, whether it is included in dictionaries doesn’t really matter as to “correctnesss”. All words are real words.)

I wish you the best of luck tilting at that windmill

Your comment made my day, literally!

This discussion really brightens my day. Only on HN.

Edit: I remember I’m (literally) supposed to be annoyed at this. You all dare to question my intelligence, don’t you?

I think it makes some sense to avoid this specific thing though because it can cause confusion

It confused nobody, it's not actually confusing it just triggers a certain type of person to be pedantic and annoying

It makes sense to avoid it when there's any chance of confusion, much like any other construction. I don't see that that meaningfully motivates avoiding it in circumstances where there is no chance of confusion.

Defending an obviously incorrect usage by pointing to “the” “dictionary” is rather more pedantic.