PsychologyJuly 31, 2026

drivel

DRIV-uhl

Definition

Nonsensical, foolish, or worthless talk or writing.

Etymology

Originating from Middle English 'drivelen', the word originally meant to let saliva flow from the mouth, likely an imitation of the sound of such an action. It evolved figuratively in the 19th century to describe speech that was just as messy and incoherent as saliva.

In the news

In this article, the word is used to describe the low-quality, misleading, or offensive content within a specific report that the author deems unworthy of serious intellectual engagement.

Pan Am Highway Blues

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