Robust Mirror

Yes but not widely, and the point is, most people don’t even know awful had a different definition. Argue all you want but the fact there’s any controversy over literally shows we’re living through the main transition of it having one main definition to two.

Here’s a bunch of words that either didn’t exist at all, or didn’t exist in their current form/meaning when you were growing up:

smartphone, app, emoji, meme, livestream, crowdfunding, cryptocurrency, blockchain, NFT, ransomware, selfie, vlog, podcast, cloud computing, Al, algorithmic bias, social distancing, contact tracing, microaggression, cancel culture, virtue signalling, gamification, enshitification, deepfake, influencer, cybersecurity, carbon footprint, microplastic, drone, smart home, loT, cryptocurrency, biohacking, wearable, crowdsourcing, clickbait.

But I bet you could understand someone that used most if not all of those words right? Because you learnt them, even after adulthood? You can learn and understand these new words too.

Also I find it incredibly hard to believe they couldn’t understand you. Even if the young generation uses a ton of slang with each other, they interact with teachers, parents, grandparents, media such as TV and movies etc I could go on. Unless you were intentionally using very old or foreign slang heavily I find it near unthinkable they actually couldn’t understand you.

Edit: I just noticed you’re the same person I replied to in another comment. I wanna be clear I wasn’t seeking you out or something, I barely look at user names, it was coincidence.

So why do people only get up in arms over literally? Because it’s the one they lived through? Here’s a bunch of words I’m sure you’re mostly, if not entirely fine with the dictionary listing their “new”, opposite meaning, and probably use them the new way too. That’s just off hand. There will be more if you google it.

You can’t force the entire world to strictly follow a book on how words should be used. People are going to talk how they like. You can document how people are using words. That’s what makes sense to do.

Awful

Original: Full of awe or inspiring reverence.

Now: Very bad or unpleasant.

Terrific

Original: Causing terror or fear.

Now: Excellent or great.

Egregious

Original: Remarkably good or distinguished.

Now: Shockingly bad.

Disinterested

Original: Unbiased, impartial.

Now: Uninterested, not caring.

Nonplussed

Original: Bewildered, perplexed.

Now: Unfazed or unimpressed.