Banished Words for 2025
Cringe
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“As great minds have the faculty of saying a great deal in a few words, so lesser minds have a talent of talking much, and saying nothing.” — Francois de la Rochefoucauld
Hello, fellow word nerd.
Well, it’s that time of the year once again. The glorious season of the release of the Banished Words List.
This annual tradition, started by a fellow Baker Street Irregular and kinsprit Bill Rabe at Lake Superior State University, is now in its 49th year.
If you’d like some history of this list and Bill’s creative brain, we have an exclusive interview with his son John:
The Fascinating Origins of the Banished Word List
Welcome to “Off the Clock,” a little something that lands somewhere between Timeless & Timely. I send out this fun look at language and words every other Saturday, exclusively for our community of paying subscribers called the Ampersand Guild. If someone sent this to you, please consider subscribing.
Meanwhile, for the rest of us who want to know which of our friends require needling, here’s the 2025 version of the annual List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-Use, Over-Use, and General Uselessness, complete with the editors’ commentary.
And as usual, I’ll make an attempt to use all of these in a sentence or two — although to be transparent, some of these will be a challenge.
1. Cringe
While “cringe” once packed a punch, it has now overstayed its welcome. Overuse has dulled its impact, and ironically, using it might now cause the very reaction it describes. “Saying someone ‘caused you to cringe’ or stating that ‘you cringed at something’ is a pretty easy and proper way to use the word,” writes Ash from Newton, Alabama. “Hearing someone say ‘someone is so cringe’ makes me cringe!”
2. Game Changer
How many times can a game change before it is no longer recognizable? This phrase, often used to describe anything remotely innovative, is as tired as a well-worn cliché. “Nothing is a game changer if everything is a game changer,” writes Patrick of Washington, DC.
3. Era
Unless you are Taylor Swift, it might be time to leave “era” behind. The term’s overuse has made every fleeting moment feel like it demands a historical marker. Leah of Holland, Michigan submits, “Thanks to the name of Taylor Swift’s tour, now there is an ‘era’ for everyone and everything! ‘He’s in his fatherhood era’, ‘She’s in her pottery-making era,’ etc., etc.. It’s overused and tiring.”
4. Dropped
Once edgy and cool, “dropped” has become more of a letdown. Whether it is an album, a trend, or a product, this term has fallen flat. “Books, music, and all kinds of unnecessary things are currently being ‘dropped’ rather than introduced, released, or offered for sale. Banished for overuse, misuse, abuse, and hurting my head when all that “dropping” stuff lands on me!,” laments Susan of Littleton, CO.
5. IYKYK (If You Know, You Know)
Internet slang and texting abbreviations are often fan-favorites of Banished Word submitters each year. Cryptic and exclusionary, this phrase offers little clarity or substance. If you know, you might agree it is time to let this one go. Amy from Redford, MI feels this phrase should go for being both irritating and nonsensical.
6. Sorry Not Sorry
A half-hearted apology masquerading as bold honesty, this phrase feels as disingenuous as it sounds. Banished Word enthusiasts recommend just saying what you mean or in at least one case showing a little kindness. Sabrina from Wrenshall, MN writes, “It is really tiring to hear, and it is giving people another reason to be jerks to one another.”
7. Skibidi
This viral word may have resonated with a younger crowd, but for many it is just noise. Agatha from Denmark explains, “Nobody cares about a Skibidi toilet, Skibidi fizz, or Skibidi Ohio fanum tax. At this point, nobody even knows what it means and it just annoys people.”
8. 100%
Is it possible to be over-enthusiastic about retiring the phrase “100%”? Absolutely! Its overuse has left no room for nuance or doubt. A phrase predominantly nominated for its overuse, some felt it was simply not applicable. “Since when should a percentage be used to describe your agreement in a conversation?” asked Stephen from Sudbury, Ontario.
9. Utilize
A classic offender, “utilize” proves that longer is not always better. Why complicate things when “use” works just fine? Everett from Cumby, Texas encourages readers to “Write like you talk,” and added, “Lord, I hope you don’t talk like that.”
10. Period
Yes, we understand your point—no need to verbally punctuate it. Overuse has turned this into a period we are ready to end. Theresa from Detroit, MI, recommends that we banish this word by putting it in a bottle and sending it out to sea.
The original list and release from LSSU can be found here.
And, as is our tradition, here’s the list of words, used together in a couple of sentences:
Sorry not sorry, but we are 100% in the cringe era, period. This is a game changer: the Banished Words List has dropped — a list we utilize every year — and is a game changer, with Skibidi (IYKYK ) included.
There’s so much to learn,
I see the word kill too much and dead- some project is dead or someone killed some project. It takes away from the words.
Being a laggard, I was just about caught up and ready to drop all these words in my writing and conversation. So much for trying to be cool. Sorry if I make you cringe.