ADVERTISEMENT

We humans are so interesting to ourselves that we have plenty of sciences studying us from our biology to our behavior and speech. Due to these studies, nearly everything we do or think has a certain name.

For example, did you know that disliking certain words is called word aversion? Well, if you didn't, you do now. Plus, you have a full list of examples of the words people feel averse to, which were shared on one of the r/ask threads. So, let's jump into this list and see if we also feel gross about these words!

More info: Reddit

#3

"Panties. Just Say Underwear": 31 Words People Hate But Can't Explain Why Bae

“Oh my god i miss my bae so much🥺🥺🥺”


STFU.

Smiletron1 , Hamann La Report

Add photo comments
POST
LizzieBoredom
Community Member
6 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or when 'Bro' is pronounced as 'Bra'. I'm old. I don't need this kind of stress.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Many of those who spend at least a part of their time online know that the internet hates the word “moist.” Funnily enough, it doesn’t appear on our list, but we have many others that people despise. 

But why do people hate “moist” so much? Scientists say it’s because of the word’s associations with bodily functions and parts. Some people argue they don’t like its phonics, but then they don’t have the same reaction to the words that sound kind of similar, like “foist” or “rejoiced.” Plus, when “moist” is paired with food words, people aren’t as disgusted by it. 

ADVERTISEMENT


#5

"Panties. Just Say Underwear": 31 Words People Hate But Can't Explain Why Hate it when people shorten things needlessly, like saying "preesh" instead of "I appreciate it". Lazy m**********r, just say "thanks".

THElaytox , ELEVATE Report

Add photo comments
POST
Glix Drap
Community Member
6 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And there's me thinking that is was short for precious. Thinks of Gollum saying "Preesh, my preesh".

View more commentsArrow down menu

Some Redditors say that the hate for this word is either a cultural or internet joke, which has been referenced in TV shows like “How I Met Your Mother” or “Dead Like Me.” People aren’t as bothered by the word as they claim to be for attention or the joke’s sake. After all, the word itself is normal; it doesn’t even have a negative connotation, just unpleasant associations. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Interestingly, the phenomenon of people’s hatred towards certain words has a name – word aversion. In some sources, it is also called logomisia. Basically, it’s when people feel distaste for the sound or sight of a word because it feels redundant, overused, or simply unpleasant to them. 


#7

"Panties. Just Say Underwear": 31 Words People Hate But Can't Explain Why Vacay. I’m overcome with an urge to destroy every time I hear it.

What in gods name is wrong with me?

Les_Ismore , Asad Photo Maldives Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

"Panties. Just Say Underwear": 31 Words People Hate But Can't Explain Why Panties.

Something about it sounds so skeevy. JUST SAY UNDERWEAR 🤢🤢🤢

Eta I had no idea so many people were so passionately devisive about this word lol.

nightmaretheory , Kaboompics.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ripley
Community Member
5 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I also loathe "panties" as a word. I agree with the OP - it sounds skeezy. As an Aussie, we say "undies", which is definitely the superior term. 😁

Charlie C
Community Member
6 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Knickers are women's underwear. Pants/boxers for male. Underwear refers to any kind of undergarment.

Ace
Community Member
6 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Weird one this, given that underwear is a generic term for a whole plethora of different undergarments designed for any gender. Panties refers to a particular type of female-orientated underpants, so is simply more specific and accurate. I cringe when I see someone write "a pair of underwear".

LakotaWolf (she/her)
Community Member
6 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a female, I have no issue with "panties". I don't feel demeaned or anything using the word. Because if OP is gonna have an issue with "panties", they ought to also have an issue with "boxers", "jockies", "tighty-whities", and "briefs". And "thong" and "g-string". (Hey, why do men get so many more terms for their underwear?! XD )

Load More Replies...
Glix Drap
Community Member
6 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Underwear also includes vests, whereas panties is more specific.

KittyGaming
Community Member
4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me, I can not for the life of me say rag when talking about a wash cloth, it feels so dirty to me idk why

Dorothea Stovall
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think a washrag is for washing your car or something kind of dirty outside. Washcloth is the term for the one you wash your face or body with. There. That settles that.

Load More Replies...
Diana Schlafer
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I literally opened this article JUST so I could upvote this one. I hate that word - more than people hate "moist".

Mark Stewart
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For some reason it gives me the ick and it's nice to know I'm not the only one it does that to.

Beth Wheeler
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep, it's underwear don't care if it's for us women, for men or kids, it's underwear!

Joanne Mendonza-Earle
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't stand that word. Ugh. Underwear, underbritches, grundies, undies....just anything but the p word! hahaha Although I do call men's underwear 'manties'.

ί𝔫CίŦᵃт𝐔𝐬
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do too! Usually though I tell my family that their man panties are clean and ready for them. They don't mind it now though, so it takes the fun out.

Load More Replies...
Mia Black
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Similar German Word is: Unterhose. Unter =under hose=trousers so it's the piece you wear under your trousers.

Load More Replies...
Catherine Hutt
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was a teenager, we referred to underwear as “gotchies”. My kids’ generation shortened it to “gitch”.

Cal Jones
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In UK, underwear also includes bras, camisoles, mens' vests, briefs or boxers etc. But we tend to say pants or knickers rather than panties. There's something rather filthy about panties, like it's some dirty old man saying it.

Loudawg76
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

“Gruts” - thats what we call them in New Zealand 🤣🤣🤣

Ivona
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To me, "undies" sounds childish. I just call them by their names - "bikinis" and "briefs".

Jack Hannon
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But wait... Aren't panties a subset of underwear... Like panties, thongs, boxers, hipsters, briefs, etc. are all underwear... So one is generic (dog) and one is specific (Lab)

BS Detector
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pan...tieeeees!!!! - It has to be said in a fun way, it's the only way to say it.

Livingwithcfs
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love all the different words for underwear, tells a lot about a person by which they use

Damned_Cat
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I knew a guy that called them under-fittings. Sounds like a car part.

Cathy Lemay
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like the term " pantaloons" or "undercrackers". I usually call them underwear.

Roxy222uk
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The word sounds infantile (like saying 'doggy' instead of 'dog) and belittling and, I agree, also skeezy. Underwear is too generic as it includes vests and socks. I think the word knickers fits the bill nicely.

Patrick H
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Originally, I only hated it out of the mouths of guys. Now, I just hate it all around.

David Morgan
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For me, the word has a childish ring to it, and since I am an adult, if I am talking about underwear it's either mine or a partner's, probably in a sexual context. I definitely don't want to be mentally associating my partner with anything childlike - that feels deeply unpleasant.

Sunny Day
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like the word "underpants". It just sounds silly and makes me giggle to myself.

Andi
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if Americans called pants 'trousers' then pants can be called pants and that would get rid of that. Possibly the worst sentence I've ever written 😊

Magpie
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"undies" please, anyone can wear undies. Its short from underwear._______ I really don't need to know what you have got under your undies! Either I already know you are male / female / trans / inter...etc Or I don't need to know.

n75mk9nk2n
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pants. Underwear is 'pants' regardless of gender. Overwear is 'trousers'. Why mess with what works?

Slap Shot
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Panties sounds like you are trying to be sexy. Sorry it’s just underwear.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

A professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Chicago, Jason Riggle says that logomisia is similar to phobias – people with word aversion are disgusted by certain words instead of being simply annoyed by them, basically having a visceral reaction. 

Apparently, words like the mentioned “moist,” “vomit,” “mucus” and “phlegm,” to mention a few, gross quite a lot of people out. Again, most of the time this is because they have associations with something gross, like bodily fluids.

Here, people on Reddit were discussing how the word “phlegm” might be even grosser than the infamous “moist,” because the latter at least has some positive connotations, while the former doesn’t. 


#10

"Panties. Just Say Underwear": 31 Words People Hate But Can't Explain Why Toxic. It seems everything is toxic these days: relationships, bosses, employees, teachers, books and friends; everything except actual poisons.

Silly-Resist8306 , Davide Baraldi Report

#11

"Panties. Just Say Underwear": 31 Words People Hate But Can't Explain Why Woke being used in a professional setting.

Taiyella , LinkedIn Sales Navigator Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ace
Community Member
6 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Woke being used in any setting to mean anything other than the past tense of waking up from sleep.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

"Panties. Just Say Underwear": 31 Words People Hate But Can't Explain Why Furbaby, away and sh*te it’s a dog or cat (I adore both).

wazbang , Chevanon Photography Report

Add photo comments
POST
Magpie
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I adore my pets. They are part of my family. I never wanted children. My beautiful pets are NOT babies. Furbaby is creepy somehow. Does the human child have some sort of severe Hirsutism? Do I need to know about it, in order to support this adult?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

That’s why people working in journalism and especially marketing have to be wary that some people simply can’t stand certain words and it influences their behavior as consumers. For instance, they might be inclined to not purchase a product if its description, packaging, or marketing includes a word they feel averse to. 

For a second, let’s come back to the notorious “moist.” Research has found that if this word is featured on hygiene products, consumers are less likely to buy them because it repels them. At the same time, if the same word was on food packages, people wouldn’t be as repulsed by it, because in this context the word has a non-repulsive meaning.  

Again, it proves that while sometimes word aversion is real, in other cases it is more context-based. 


#13

"Panties. Just Say Underwear": 31 Words People Hate But Can't Explain Why Every time someone says INITIATIVE in a work meeting a baby seal dies.

csizsek , fauxels Report

Add photo comments
POST
Gaius214
Community Member
6 days ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I keep an old D20 in my pocket for this reason. Either toss it to them & say nothing happens until you roll or post a image & say same thing. I'll not mention what happens if they roll a 1.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

"Panties. Just Say Underwear": 31 Words People Hate But Can't Explain Why Rizz.

Because I don't want to be associated with that word.

rizurper , kat wilcox Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ace
Community Member
6 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm lucky enough to have never encountered it, no idea what it means.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

Still, it’s normal for people to have words they dislike, even if it’s seemingly for no proper reason. This list is full of examples of them, from kind of weird ones to completely understandable ones.

Knowing that a lot of aversion to words comes from context, it’s quite likely that these people heard/saw these words being used in an unpleasant context and it drove them to hatred, which is absolutely normal. After all, without it, this entertaining list wouldn’t have been possible, so at least some goodness was put into the world with them, right? 

Do you have a word you hate seemingly for no reason? Share with us in the comments! 


#16

"Panties. Just Say Underwear": 31 Words People Hate But Can't Explain Why Synergy.

As a company that word for us is a deal breaker. We have a rule where once uttered during any meeting we get up and leave.

sashalav , Diva Plavalaguna Report

Add photo comments
POST
Glix Drap
Community Member
6 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let's replace it with collaboration or partnership or teamwork (so last year). Mmh, perhaps not. How about boogie on down.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#18

"Panties. Just Say Underwear": 31 Words People Hate But Can't Explain Why Orientate - just seems like one too many syllables.

OttabMike , Valentin Antonucci Report

#19

"Panties. Just Say Underwear": 31 Words People Hate But Can't Explain Why "Utilize." Please just say "use" and save some syllables.

Manifest_something , Kaboompics.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
LizzieBoredom
Community Member
6 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And when did 'price' become 'price point'?? I mean what the hell? Sorry, I meant what the hell point?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

"Panties. Just Say Underwear": 31 Words People Hate But Can't Explain Why Ick, gives me the ick.

d*ckmandoo , Polina Zimmerman Report

Add photo comments
POST
Angela C
Community Member
6 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I assume anyone who says something "gives them the ick" is actually 5 years old because it sounds like something a child that age would say.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#25

"Panties. Just Say Underwear": 31 Words People Hate But Can't Explain Why Mouthfeel.

get-tha-lotion , Rodolfo Clix Report

Add photo comments
POST
MoMcB
Community Member
5 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We absolutely use it to describe a product we are testing, mouth feel is important, from everything from sausages to cakes.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

"Panties. Just Say Underwear": 31 Words People Hate But Can't Explain Why Potty has got to be the SINGLE worst word on the planet.

DEFLARGEN , senivpetro Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ace
Community Member
6 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it's ever used by an adult except when referring to young children then yes.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

"Panties. Just Say Underwear": 31 Words People Hate But Can't Explain Why Agenda. What's on your agenda today? God I get so irrationally annoyed.

NotAnotherAmerican , Startup Stock Photos Report

#30

"Panties. Just Say Underwear": 31 Words People Hate But Can't Explain Why Ointment, I hate that word!

iS**tSkittles , Lina Kivaka Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ben Aziza
Community Member
5 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Salve is the cooler cousin! (I just wanna use the vocabulary I learned from RPG games XD)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#31

"Panties. Just Say Underwear": 31 Words People Hate But Can't Explain Why Entrepreneur.

JCarr110 , PICHA Stock Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ace
Community Member
6 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's always had a negative connotation to me, as in the person who adds no value to a product, a project, a system, a company. When my employer started using "Entrepreneurial Mindset" as one of its core values for employees I knew the writing was on the wall.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu