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Back to Zócalo's Connecting California

Zócalo's Connecting California

New word for a new age of self-aggrandizement

If you're a Scrabble fan, here's a word to tuck away for your next spelling showdown — victoriotic.  Haven't heard of it before? Well, it's relatively new. But Joe Mathews says chances are you see examples of it all the time.

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KCRW placeholderBy Joe Mathews • Aug 18, 2016 • 4m Listen

Donald Trump is the epitome of "victoriotic." That's when a person is prone to excessive boasting and self-praise for achievements large, small and not-at-all. In short, "over-victorious" behavior. If you've never heard of "victoriotic" it's probably because it was just made up by the son of Zócalo Public Square columnist Joe Mathews. Joe says it's a fitting word for California, where everyone from Silicon Valley tech moguls and Hollywood producers to the governor and the 12-year-old down the block can't wait to tell you how great they are. And, yes, Joe admits he's also guilty of a victorioticism or two.

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    Joe Mathews

    Host, "Zocalo's Connecting California"

    NewsCaliforniaLos Angeles
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