Semantic collapse

Semantic collapse occurs when different words or concepts that once had distinct meanings start to merge and become indistinguishable. Over time, this can lead to confusion, as people may no longer clearly differentiate between similar ideas. It often happens due to common usage, cultural shifts, or language change, causing subtleties in meaning to fade. For example, words like "literally" are often used figuratively now, blurring their original precise sense. In essence, semantic collapse diminishes the richness of language, making it harder to communicate nuanced ideas clearly.