University Publishes Banished Words List Of 2025

The 2025 Banished Words List from Lake Superior State University is out now.

• It’s a quirky tradition that dates back to 1976 at the Michigan college, highlighting the terms that are “overused, misused, or simply unnecessary.”
• They get nominations from all over the world, with this year’s entries including Canada, Australia, Denmark, Germany, India, South Africa and the U.S.

“Words matter! Old habits can be hard to break and we’re happy to serve as a resource for the court of public opinion on what should continue to be part of the English language and what needs to be put to rest,” says Lake Superior State University President Dr. David Travis.

The 2025 Banished Words List includes:

• “Cringe” - According to LSSU, this word has “now overstayed its welcome.” It tops the list because, “Ironically, using it might now cause the very reaction it describes.”
• “Game changer” - Used to describe “anything remotely innovative,” it gets used so much that “nothing is a game changer if everything is a game changer.”
• “Era” - As the name of Taylor Swift’s tour, now everything and everyone has an era. But LSSU warns that “Unless you are Taylor Swift, it might be time to leave ‘era’ behind.”
• “Dropped” - Whether referring to a new song, movie trailer or product coming out, the excessive use of “dropped” has become its downfall. “Once edgy and cool, ‘dropped’ has become more of a letdown,” the university declares.
• “IYKYK” - It means “if you know you know” and LSSU points out it’s time to let it go.
• “Sorry not sorry” - According to Lake Superior State, “A half-hearted apology masquerading as bold honesty, this phrase feels as disingenuous as it sounds.”
• “Skibidi” - Unless you’re Gen Z or Gen Alpha, you probably agree that this term is “just noise.”
• “100%” - It’s time to retire this one because its overuse has “left no room for nuance or doubt.”
• “Utilize” - “Longer is not always better,” the university explains, so why complicate things by utilizing this word when “use” works just as well?
• “Period” - As LSSU explains, “There’s no need to verbally punctuate your point. Period.”