"Never enter into a battle of wits with an unarmed person".
Not all people have the vocabulary you possess. Many, myself included, are limited to the words which come to mind at any moment in time. It can be a narrow set. I believe this then forces a redefinition of a known and familiar word to fit the situation and the intent of the user. This can enhance or soil the standing meaning.
Conversely, as one identifies with a word, but is limited in options, they must change the definition to fit their self-image instead of finding a more accurate choice.
Yeah, I don't think the leaders of the ruling political parties in America, being the recipients of advanced degrees from some of the most prestigious universities in the world, are saddled with this lack of options you describe.
Academics provide education, not necessarily the aptitude to apply knowledge, tact, or intellect wisely.
We're talking about vocabulary and you insinuated that perhaps the people I was referring had vocabularies that were somehow lacking, but if you look at the terms I was referring to, they're not that complicated.