2025’s Banished Words List
Here’s the list of words we should banish! We talked about this on air this morning. Lake Superior State (yes that’s a real college) dropped their annual “banished” words list. It includes words like; “cringe,” “game changer,” “skibidi,” “sorry not sorry,” and more. They kindly request that you stop using them immediately.
It’s the 49th year they’ve done a banished words list. Here are the ten words and terms they want us to ditch in 2025 . . .
1. Cringe. It’s overused. So saying “cringe” can SEEM cringe now.
2. Game changer. Again, people use it too much, and for things that aren’t really a big deal.
3. Era. Used to describe a new phase of your life. Blame Taylor Swift.
4. Dropped. Like, “My new album just dropped.” They think words like “released” and “introduced” should make a comeback.
5. IYKYK. Short for “If You Know, You Know.” They say it’s “irritating and nonsensical.” It also just seems forced.
6. Sorry not sorry. They say it’s a “half-hearted apology masquerading as bold honesty.” Just say what you mean.
7. Skibidi. Even Gen Alpha can’t agree on it. It can mean cool, bad, dumb, or it can mean nothing. It’s just a filler word.
8. 100%. Like, “I agree with you 100%.” It’s been overused for too many years.
9. Utilize. Stop trying to sound smart. Just say “use.”
10. Period. Like, “It’s the best show on TV, period.” Quote, “overuse has turned this into a period we are ready to end.”
