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If you think the word “cringe” is cringe, well, you might want to rethink that because it’s officially on the chopping block this year!
Lake Superior State University kicked off 2025 with their annual list of words and phrases they’d like us to banish from our vocabulary. (They actually released it on January 1st, but it’s just starting to make the rounds now.)
This year marks the 49th time they’ve called out the words we’re collectively overusing or misusing. Here are the top ten they’d love for us to leave behind:
- Cringe: Overused to the point where calling something “cringe” is now, ironically, cringe.
- Game changer: It’s supposed to describe something truly transformative, but we’ve watered it down by using it for everything from apps to avocado toast.
- Era: Taylor Swift fans might have made this popular, but using it to define every new phase of life? It’s getting old.
- Dropped: As in, “My new album just dropped.” Lake Superior State says it’s time to go back to “released” or “introduced.”
- IYKYK: Short for “If You Know, You Know.” They’re calling it irritating and forced. If you know, you know… and apparently, they’re over it.
- Sorry not sorry: They’re not wrong on this one. It’s a half-hearted apology pretending to be bold honesty. Just say what you mean!
- Skibidi: Even Gen Alpha can’t decide what this means. Cool? Bad? Dumb? Nothing? It’s a filler word that’s confusing everyone.
- 100%: “I agree with you 100%.” They say it’s been overused to death for years now.
- Utilize: Stop trying to sound like a business email. Just say “use.”
- Period: As in, “It’s the best show on TV, period.” The overuse has made this a period we’re ready to end.
Do you agree with their list? Or are some of these staying in your vocabulary no matter what? (Sorry not sorry!)
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