Lake Superior State University is out with its annual Banished Words List.
It’s a tradition that dates back to 1976, when former LSSU Public Relations Director Bill Rabe and his colleagues delighted word enthusiasts with the first “List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness.” They wanted to identify the most annoying words and phrases commonly heard throughout the past year.
Topping this year’s list is “cringe.” While the university says “cringe” once packed a punch, “overuse has dulled its impact, and ironically, using it might now cause the very reaction it describes.”
Coming in second place is “game changer,” with LSSU asking, “How many times can a game change before it is no longer recognizable?”
Third place is “era,” which the university says everyone except perhaps Taylor Swift ought to leave behind.
Other banished words include “dropped,” like an album drop, and the internet slang, “IYKYK,” meaning “If you know, you know.” Rounding out the list are “Sorry Not Sorry,” “Skibidi,” “100%,” “utilize,” and “Period.”