Not only do we define anyways (gasp!), we give the word multiple senses (look away, children!). Is the English language dead and have we killed it? No.
If the English language was dead these pedants would have something of more substance to talk about.
Like you’re singing the praises of a language whose plural for deer is deer and for mouse is mice. It’s not pretty, the rules don’t work, it’s constantly evolving. Saying a word isn’t a word ain’t nothin but classism.
“That word doesn’t exist! Someone just made it up!” – “Well, that’s how words come into existence…”
If you are disappointed to hear that anyways is indeed real, perhaps we might supply you with a genuine fake word as consolation (we don’t want you to feel sad). How about spuddlegruncher? It means “the first glimmers of what will undoubtedly turn out to be a massive headache when one realizes that one is having an argument with someone who is basing their entire position on a dim memory of what a former English teacher told them long ago and a strong desire to tell someone else that they are wrong about something.”
That’s incredible