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
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Bae
“Oh my god i miss my bae so much🥺🥺🥺”
STFU.
Or when 'Bro' is pronounced as 'Bra'. I'm old. I don't need this kind of stress.
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.
Hate it when people shorten things needlessly, like saying "preesh" instead of "I appreciate it". Lazy m**********r, just say "thanks".
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.
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.
Vacay. I’m overcome with an urge to destroy every time I hear it.
What in gods name is wrong with me?
It's the inflatable yard decorations that bring my stabbiness to the fore.
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.
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.
Toxic. It seems everything is toxic these days: relationships, bosses, employees, teachers, books and friends; everything except actual poisons.
Furbaby, away and sh*te it’s a dog or cat (I adore both).
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.
Every time someone says INITIATIVE in a work meeting a baby seal dies.
Rizz.
Because I don't want to be associated with that word.
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!
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.
Orientate - just seems like one too many syllables.
I like "orient ", but I'm lazy. It means find the east when the sun rises.
"Utilize." Please just say "use" and save some syllables.
And when did 'price' become 'price point'?? I mean what the hell? Sorry, I meant what the hell point?
Hubby 🤢.
Naughty, waifu, husbando. i feel SO gross just saying it.
Niblings.
Agreed! It's descriptive and funny sounding. Pleasant to say.
Load More Replies...Niblings is a term cannibals use to refer to feed stock that is still young and tender. /J But for real I had to google because I've never heard this used. -=-- "A nibling is a gender-neutral term for the child of one's sibling, such as a niece or nephew. The word is a combination of the "n" in "niece" and "nephew" with "sibling". Linguist Samuel Martin coined the term in the early 1950s, but it was relatively obscure for many decades. It has become more widely used in recent years. "
I don't like it, but I also don't like repeatedly saying "my niece and nephew".
I agree but I still wouldn’t use it, because I’d have to spend too long explaining it.
Load More Replies...I've noticed this has become popular since an episode of Young Sheldon.
This is a term used a lot for non-binary kids of your siblings, like niece and nephew, but gender neutral. It's an actual word, not slang.
it sounds like nibblings to me. But it's better than someone I know - she uses sibling-spawn.
i don't think this one should be on here because it's the gender-neutral term for niece or nephew. i hate getting referred to as "______'s niece" and i don't use those pronouns anymore. i also HATEHATEHATE it when people still call me by my deadname.
Potty has got to be the SINGLE worst word on the planet.
Agenda. What's on your agenda today? God I get so irrationally annoyed.
People who use the word literally constantly. Got an email from someone yesterday complaining that they are "literally freezing" while at work. You are cold and figuratively freezing. If you were literally freezing you would be dead.
And sentences containing "basically, like, totally" every third word or so. My peeve is "bubbly" as in she/he/they were so bubbly. No idea why, it just makes me grrrrr!
Load More Replies...Not really a word, but for me it's the D*s. DH, DD, DS, DW, etc. Just say who they are.
Instant rage-closing of the article! If I see it in the thumb, I downvote without opening.
Load More Replies...I'm going to sound like an old person for this one, I promise I'm a teenager, but the current slang makes my spine want to exit my body at rapid speeds. I don't know why, but any time I hear someone say 'you ate with that' or 'you cooked' I want to defenestrate myself.
Snowflake. When people use the word they're usually the ones getting upset. Often for being called out for spewing bs.
"Depressed / depression". As in "I'm depressed because my team lost a game".....no you are not. You might be sad, you might be angry but you are *not* depressed. It makes it harder for people ( like me) really struggling with depression.
Its hard for me to explain how belittled this type of use of the word makes me feel.
Load More Replies...Impact. One thing physically striking another produces an impact. One thing compressed into another is impacted. A bullet will impact a tree. A wisdom tooth can become impacted. The word you are looking for is "affect". The divorce affected the children badly. Sales were affected by a product recall. The two words "impact" and "affect" are NOT synonyms!
Something I hear at work occasionally, makes my eye twitch: mandatory requirements.
Unclear: are the mandatory requirements compulsory?
Load More Replies...I hate people say on accident instead of by accident. It drives me nuts
Think of it as the past tense of “skunk.” Ie, “I passed a skank on the side of the road, and boy did it stink”
Load More Replies..."Karen" as an insult. I have friends called Karen who are nothing like the stereotype. It would be good if BP stopped using it as a lazy shorthand.
No one who uses Karen in this way thinks actually being called Karen infers Kareness.
Load More Replies...I have trouble pronouncing "vegetables," so veggies it is for me.
Load More Replies...The word unique cannot be modified. Something is either unique (stands alone; one of a kind) or it is not. I cringe when I hear very unique etc. OBTY - to quote Weird Al: irony is not coincidence.
I've always thought "onomatopoeia" would make more sense if it was used as an exclamation of frustration if someone named Matthew urinated in an inappropriate place. I imagine Italian people saying it. (With massive respect to Italian people who I LOVE. Salve!)
It took me a few seconds, but I got to where you were leading me.
Load More Replies...Idk why people hate on "moist" so much when "damp" is objectively so much worse
Knew a guy, a real grown a*s man who, when he meant "specific," actually said "pacific." Made my skin crawl.
Banana. Or to be more specific, " Banana for scale". Whenever there is a pic or story here on BP that so much as hints about the size of something, some idiot here will come out going " I neEd BanaNa fOr ScAlE! 🤡" or " That Iphone/coin/animal/human/whatever is not a real measurement. OnLy WiTh BanAnaS cAn I recOcNiZe tHe SiZe! 🤡". I downvote all comments like that on principle.
"Journey". Everyone has to be on a journey these days, no matter what it is. Companies always have commercials about "we're on this journey together" and "start your journey now." And then there is "hydrate/hydration." It has become all the rage. You're just drinking water, chill.
Poop. This american BS has infiltrated the UK now, I loathe it. Nobody says good ol' poo anymore.
Jeremy Clarkson is holding out. Or maybe holding it in.
Load More Replies...I hate "proactive". My previous boss used it all the time and I straight up hated her guts.
Exactly, I never say "proactive"; however, to sarcastically joke, if I want to designate something opposite of "proactive", I completely seriously say "contrapassive".
Load More Replies...See you next Tuesday sounds absolutely disgusting coming out of anyones mouth. I can never see them as worth a second of my time when I hear that.
I have literally spoken that word three times in my life, every time justifiable, and I completely agree with you
Load More Replies...Most of these are just petty personal grievances. We deserve better, BP.
It was specifically a list of petty personal grievances. Nobody twisted your eyes and forced you to read it.
Load More Replies...I’m sick of managers at work saying “leverage” and “circle back”. I’ll never be leadership material because I could never talk like that and live with myself
"Obsessed"...it's on EVERY online ad. "I'm obsessed with this lipstick!" "Ever since I tried this deodorant I'm obsessed!"
"You know". Some speakers seem to use it over and over as a filler instead of "Uhh" or as a prompt for validation. I want to grab them by the ears and shout "I don't know. If I knew, I wouldn't be talking to you."
'Let's massage this initiative with our teams. " at the closing of a work meeting. ARGHHH!!
The term "lunch time" as a meeting up time makes me irrationally angry. Oh, you wanna meet up around lunch time? Well great, I'll leave my schedule open between 10 and 2 so I don't miss you whenever the hell it is you're deciding to show up! Just choose any number on a clock and set a decisive time ffs!
Why do people have such intense feelings about words? Words are just like names - you only dislike them (usually) because you associate them with a person, situation, or other memory that bothers you. You assume things about ther person using the word you dislike based on preconceived notions. With additional context, you may and may often be right. But let’s keep our minds open and love what words tell us!
IDK why, but the word OSCILLATE just sounds, "dirty" for some reason. Yet MOIST has no affect on me at all.
For me it is when people say they flicked someone the finger, or they flicked the bird, or they flicked someone off. It is flipped. You flipped someone off--you didn't flick them off. I get irrationally angry when I see or hear flicked used. I guess technically both are acceptable. But I grew up hearing it as flipped. Flicked just sounds wrong.
And, a header on this website, "They got gifted." According to a native speaker friend of mine, the word "to gift" doesn't even exist as a verb. When I did some online research, I found out that only God or people such as Bill Gates are in any position "to gift".
Bro or sis set my teeth on edge and I simply cannot take you seriously. Also, baby mama/daddy is so unbelievably disrespectful. Don't stoop to their level.
I hate the word "aggravating". No idea why, I'm okay with aggravate. Also "new normal". I had major surgery in 2018 and afterwards everyone was asking how I was adjusting to my "new normal." I hated it but thought I heard the last of it...until COVID!
I hate the word "chesterfield" for no apparent reason. My parents used to say that instead of "sofa" or "couch" when I was a kid, and it just makes my skin crawl.
Ever met someone who says text terms out loud. Like LOL or BRB. "That was so LOL" "I gotta go get something BRB" What the f--k is wrong with people?
I cannot stand the phrase "hunker down". I live in hurricane country so I hear it a lot.
To grab. Why is it so popular? Why do people feel the urge to use it in every other sentence. What a violent word. Because we all have the urge to snatch at things all the time. To grab to grab to grab to grab to grab. Food, of course, but also body parts, clothes, and I recently found out that the truth can be grabbed. Probably while someone else was about to grab a car.
Can't believe that Moist wasn't on the list. Over half the women I know hate the word.
It seems to be falling in favor but for a while I hated Amazing when it was so overused
I can't stand the word, "audacity." My dad used it way too much when I was little. Apparently, I had a lot of it.
Surprised this one wasn't on the list - "Merica.... OMG it's AMERICA - I cringe every time I hear it
Pronouncing any (English) word with double Ts removed, as if they are silent. Button is now Bu-En, kitten is Ki-En. Also, adding the "sh" sound to words beginning with "S." Now roads are shtraight, you cross the shtreet, she shcreamed his name. In one generation, English is being mangled beyond repair. And yes, I'm referring to American pronunciation. Bonus: "Straighten" is now "Schtrai-En!"
The glottal stop is not new in UK English "bu'on", "bo'lle"
Load More Replies...People who use the word literally constantly. Got an email from someone yesterday complaining that they are "literally freezing" while at work. You are cold and figuratively freezing. If you were literally freezing you would be dead.
And sentences containing "basically, like, totally" every third word or so. My peeve is "bubbly" as in she/he/they were so bubbly. No idea why, it just makes me grrrrr!
Load More Replies...Not really a word, but for me it's the D*s. DH, DD, DS, DW, etc. Just say who they are.
Instant rage-closing of the article! If I see it in the thumb, I downvote without opening.
Load More Replies...I'm going to sound like an old person for this one, I promise I'm a teenager, but the current slang makes my spine want to exit my body at rapid speeds. I don't know why, but any time I hear someone say 'you ate with that' or 'you cooked' I want to defenestrate myself.
Snowflake. When people use the word they're usually the ones getting upset. Often for being called out for spewing bs.
"Depressed / depression". As in "I'm depressed because my team lost a game".....no you are not. You might be sad, you might be angry but you are *not* depressed. It makes it harder for people ( like me) really struggling with depression.
Its hard for me to explain how belittled this type of use of the word makes me feel.
Load More Replies...Impact. One thing physically striking another produces an impact. One thing compressed into another is impacted. A bullet will impact a tree. A wisdom tooth can become impacted. The word you are looking for is "affect". The divorce affected the children badly. Sales were affected by a product recall. The two words "impact" and "affect" are NOT synonyms!
Something I hear at work occasionally, makes my eye twitch: mandatory requirements.
Unclear: are the mandatory requirements compulsory?
Load More Replies...I hate people say on accident instead of by accident. It drives me nuts
Think of it as the past tense of “skunk.” Ie, “I passed a skank on the side of the road, and boy did it stink”
Load More Replies..."Karen" as an insult. I have friends called Karen who are nothing like the stereotype. It would be good if BP stopped using it as a lazy shorthand.
No one who uses Karen in this way thinks actually being called Karen infers Kareness.
Load More Replies...I have trouble pronouncing "vegetables," so veggies it is for me.
Load More Replies...The word unique cannot be modified. Something is either unique (stands alone; one of a kind) or it is not. I cringe when I hear very unique etc. OBTY - to quote Weird Al: irony is not coincidence.
I've always thought "onomatopoeia" would make more sense if it was used as an exclamation of frustration if someone named Matthew urinated in an inappropriate place. I imagine Italian people saying it. (With massive respect to Italian people who I LOVE. Salve!)
It took me a few seconds, but I got to where you were leading me.
Load More Replies...Idk why people hate on "moist" so much when "damp" is objectively so much worse
Knew a guy, a real grown a*s man who, when he meant "specific," actually said "pacific." Made my skin crawl.
Banana. Or to be more specific, " Banana for scale". Whenever there is a pic or story here on BP that so much as hints about the size of something, some idiot here will come out going " I neEd BanaNa fOr ScAlE! 🤡" or " That Iphone/coin/animal/human/whatever is not a real measurement. OnLy WiTh BanAnaS cAn I recOcNiZe tHe SiZe! 🤡". I downvote all comments like that on principle.
"Journey". Everyone has to be on a journey these days, no matter what it is. Companies always have commercials about "we're on this journey together" and "start your journey now." And then there is "hydrate/hydration." It has become all the rage. You're just drinking water, chill.
Poop. This american BS has infiltrated the UK now, I loathe it. Nobody says good ol' poo anymore.
Jeremy Clarkson is holding out. Or maybe holding it in.
Load More Replies...I hate "proactive". My previous boss used it all the time and I straight up hated her guts.
Exactly, I never say "proactive"; however, to sarcastically joke, if I want to designate something opposite of "proactive", I completely seriously say "contrapassive".
Load More Replies...See you next Tuesday sounds absolutely disgusting coming out of anyones mouth. I can never see them as worth a second of my time when I hear that.
I have literally spoken that word three times in my life, every time justifiable, and I completely agree with you
Load More Replies...Most of these are just petty personal grievances. We deserve better, BP.
It was specifically a list of petty personal grievances. Nobody twisted your eyes and forced you to read it.
Load More Replies...I’m sick of managers at work saying “leverage” and “circle back”. I’ll never be leadership material because I could never talk like that and live with myself
"Obsessed"...it's on EVERY online ad. "I'm obsessed with this lipstick!" "Ever since I tried this deodorant I'm obsessed!"
"You know". Some speakers seem to use it over and over as a filler instead of "Uhh" or as a prompt for validation. I want to grab them by the ears and shout "I don't know. If I knew, I wouldn't be talking to you."
'Let's massage this initiative with our teams. " at the closing of a work meeting. ARGHHH!!
The term "lunch time" as a meeting up time makes me irrationally angry. Oh, you wanna meet up around lunch time? Well great, I'll leave my schedule open between 10 and 2 so I don't miss you whenever the hell it is you're deciding to show up! Just choose any number on a clock and set a decisive time ffs!
Why do people have such intense feelings about words? Words are just like names - you only dislike them (usually) because you associate them with a person, situation, or other memory that bothers you. You assume things about ther person using the word you dislike based on preconceived notions. With additional context, you may and may often be right. But let’s keep our minds open and love what words tell us!
IDK why, but the word OSCILLATE just sounds, "dirty" for some reason. Yet MOIST has no affect on me at all.
For me it is when people say they flicked someone the finger, or they flicked the bird, or they flicked someone off. It is flipped. You flipped someone off--you didn't flick them off. I get irrationally angry when I see or hear flicked used. I guess technically both are acceptable. But I grew up hearing it as flipped. Flicked just sounds wrong.
And, a header on this website, "They got gifted." According to a native speaker friend of mine, the word "to gift" doesn't even exist as a verb. When I did some online research, I found out that only God or people such as Bill Gates are in any position "to gift".
Bro or sis set my teeth on edge and I simply cannot take you seriously. Also, baby mama/daddy is so unbelievably disrespectful. Don't stoop to their level.
I hate the word "aggravating". No idea why, I'm okay with aggravate. Also "new normal". I had major surgery in 2018 and afterwards everyone was asking how I was adjusting to my "new normal." I hated it but thought I heard the last of it...until COVID!
I hate the word "chesterfield" for no apparent reason. My parents used to say that instead of "sofa" or "couch" when I was a kid, and it just makes my skin crawl.
Ever met someone who says text terms out loud. Like LOL or BRB. "That was so LOL" "I gotta go get something BRB" What the f--k is wrong with people?
I cannot stand the phrase "hunker down". I live in hurricane country so I hear it a lot.
To grab. Why is it so popular? Why do people feel the urge to use it in every other sentence. What a violent word. Because we all have the urge to snatch at things all the time. To grab to grab to grab to grab to grab. Food, of course, but also body parts, clothes, and I recently found out that the truth can be grabbed. Probably while someone else was about to grab a car.
Can't believe that Moist wasn't on the list. Over half the women I know hate the word.
It seems to be falling in favor but for a while I hated Amazing when it was so overused
I can't stand the word, "audacity." My dad used it way too much when I was little. Apparently, I had a lot of it.
Surprised this one wasn't on the list - "Merica.... OMG it's AMERICA - I cringe every time I hear it
Pronouncing any (English) word with double Ts removed, as if they are silent. Button is now Bu-En, kitten is Ki-En. Also, adding the "sh" sound to words beginning with "S." Now roads are shtraight, you cross the shtreet, she shcreamed his name. In one generation, English is being mangled beyond repair. And yes, I'm referring to American pronunciation. Bonus: "Straighten" is now "Schtrai-En!"
The glottal stop is not new in UK English "bu'on", "bo'lle"
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