Here is a TBR New Year’s Special, courtesy of Lake Superior State University (LSSU):
It’s LSSU’s Annual List of Overworked Words and Phrases that have become Meaningless and Should be Banished for 2026:
It’s time for a golden anniversary. Celebrating five decades of linguistic commentary, Lake Superior State University (LSSU) presents the 50th annual Banished Words List, a tradition highlighting the importance and evolution of language.
What began as a whimsical New Year’s Eve party idea in 1976, has grown into a global reflection on the words that wear out their welcome. Since former public relations director W.T. (Bill) Rabe showcased the first “List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English because of mis-, mal-, over-use, or general uselessness,” LSSU has carried the torch.
The entries continue a tongue-in-cheek commentary on language, catchphrases, and corporate jargon. Over 1,400 submissions were entrusted to LSSU this year, pouring in from all 50 U.S. states, and as far as Uzbekistan, Brazil, Japan, the United Kingdom, and many more.
Here are this year’s golden class of banishments and rationale:
1. At Sixes and Sevens, or 6-7 (Six-Seven),
“At sixes and sevens” means a state of confusion, disorder, disarray, or disagreement, describing someone or something disorganized, uncertain, or chaotic, originating from medieval dice games where throwing a six or seven was risky, or a dispute between London livery companies.
Also, being called “67” (or “six-seven”) is a new slang term, named Dictionary.com’s 2025 Word of the Year, that often means something is meaningless, so-so, a bit of both, or just a nonsensical filler
“There are six or seven reasons why this phrase needs to be stopped,” says Paul E. from WI. The volume of submissions for this one could have taken up the whole list, at least slots 6-7. The top banishment this year, Scott T. from UT, adds, “it’s time for “6-7” to be 86’ed.”
2. Demure: “It’s very said more than very done, and we’re all very done hearing it!” remarks Tammy S. Often used in the phrase ‘very demure, very mindful,’ Madison C. shares that the overuse “waters down the real meaning.”
3. Cooked: “Hearing it…my brain feels ‘cooked,’” groans Zac A. from VA. Parents and guardians led the charge on this one, with some feeling this isn’t enough. James C. from WA suggests a ban of “all forms of the word cook,” hoping that hearing them will become rare.
5. Incentivize: In the longstanding effort to turn nouns into verbs, this is another culprit. Two separate submissions likened hearing this word to “nails on a chalkboard.” Patricia from TX asks, “What’s wrong with motivate?”
7. Perfect: “There are very few instances when the word actually applies,” notes Jo H. from CA. Often heard during customer service interactions, Char S. from OH wonders: “How do they know it’s perfect…what does that mean?”
8. Gift/gifted (as a verb): “I found this on the 1994 list, but it will make me feel better to recommend that it be included once again,” reveals James S. from OK. Another case of a noun being used as a verb.
10. Reach Out: First banished in 1994, this saying has strayed from the positive message it once intended to deliver. “What started as a phrase with emotional support overtones has now become absurdly overused,” asserts Kevin B. from the United Kingdom.
That concludes this year’s banishments. However, 50 years of lists have shown one thing: sometimes one placement just isn’t enough. To commemorate this golden milestone, LSSU looks back at some “Repeat Offenders” that received multiple banishments.
Repeat Offenders: Words That Refused to Stay Banished
1. Absolutely (1996, 2023): A favorite nomination of WXYT listeners in 1996. That proved not to be enough. A 2023 submission called the word “The current default to express agreement.” Will it try for a hat-trick? Absolutely.
3. Awesome (1984, 2007): Elnora V. set the tone for the initial banishment, sharing “I find it preposterous to believe that all these writers are observing truly awesome events on such a widespread scale.” It returned to the list in 2007, with folks from as far as Thailand calling it “overused and meaningless.”
5. Hot Water Heater (1982, 2018): An anonymous listener nominated this phrase to Rob Westaby with WOWO Radio in 1982, asking “Since when does hot water need to be heated?” Decades later, the 2018 banishment reminded folks that a “water heater” would keep them out of linguistic hot water.
For half a century, the Banished Words List has served as a reminder that language is always evolving. Lake Superior State University remains grateful to the thousands of participants who share their linguistic frustrations year after year to keep this tradition alive.
To nominate a word or phrase for 2027, or for more information on the tradition, visit: www.lssu.edu/traditions/banishedwords.
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I would like to stop using these words and word segments. And some of these words should never have been coined in the first place. But for some, I sure wish whoever doesn’t want me to use some of these words would provide the word replacement I should use in their place. Till then, me thinks I’ll keep saying and writing what seems best in me head . . .
Thanks Bill!
Criticism of “hot water heater” predates 1982 – it goes back to the 1970s as part of a George Carlin monologue.
Carlin was a master at analyzing the English language – however I beg to differ in his critique if the compound word “hot water heater”.
The concept of what constitutes a “water heater” is very general. An example of such a device are those used in increasing the temperature of a swimming pool. Such a device may raise it several degrees without making the water “hot”. There are also a class of devices for ensuring that pipes are kept warm so they do not freeze in cold weather. While these clever machines do raise water temperatures to desired levels, they do not render the water “hot” in most instances. Thus, the term “hot water heater” came to differentiate water heaters into a subset of such heaters that made water “hot” – usually for personal use of the water (e.g. bathing, cooking, washing etc.).
Hence the term “hot water heater” is neither redundant nor particularly humorous – it is proper grammar.
I’ve observed that many people use the word “like” way too often. “It was like…..”. And I’m like….And he was like…..
I suggest we soul-search our choice of words. I have four grandcnildren under 11 years old-3 grandsons. I do NOT want them walking around saying “Fix the damn roads” nor do I want them walking into a movie theater and yelling “fire” or ” F— Off” We have better vocabularies than that . I was in College 9 years, plenty of Locker Rooms and I was an RA in a Jock Dorm for 3 1/2 years. Shame on the fan who was removed from the MSU basketball game at Breslin.
In Law School, we were taught to have a “seismographic sensitivity” to each and every word.
Recently, a State Representative was reprimanded for voicing the “F-bomb” on the microphone, on the Floor of the Michigan House of Representatives. This resulted in a Public School teacher from Hudsonville, walking her 4th. grade Class out of the Gallery of the State Capitol.
We can do better-COME CLEAN, BE CLEAN AND LIVE CLEAN.
Getting back to George Carlin again – indecent, but not obscene language has been countenanced and analyzed in several notable court forums:
(A) the U.S. Supreme Court in Cohen vs California in 1970 analyzed whether a jacket worn in a courthouse by a teen that had “F– the Draft” on the back could be deemed a criminal disturbance of the peace;
(B) Cohen’s appellate defense counsel was advised prior to oral argument by Justice Warren Burger that the facts of the case were well known to the Court and need not be recited and this was a way Burger tried to let the attorneys know that they did want the F-bomb being used in the chamber – however that counsel did quote the words of the jacket – much to the chagrin of Burger
;
(C) a George Carlin monologue was analyzed in FCC vs. Pacifica Foundation in which the high court held that the monologue was not obscene but indecent and the broadcaster could be punished by the FCC for playing it over the airwaves – the SCOTUS opinion had a transcript of the Carlin word-by-word monologue attached as an appendix to the actual court opinion – thus ensuring the verbatim monologue became a part of the Supreme Court’s opinion history – Carlin was later interviewed by the same station regarding his indirect contribution to First Amendment jurisprudence;
(D) Judge Justin Ravitz dismissed a criminal disorderly conduct case decades ago where a citizen had been arrested for saying “F— you” to a police officer – Ravitz relied upon the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment in throwing out the criminal charge – to which the officer replied to Ravitz “F— you, your Honor” – to which Ravitz responded “Touche!” for the witty comeback;
(E) in 2007, an attorney displayed a political placard using the F-bomb during public commentary at an Ann Arbor City Council meeting and was ordered removed by Mayor John Hieftje – the City Attorney however declined to press charges.
Sheeesh, you lawyers! I luv’ ya’s. Reminds me of my hillbilly boyhood days when one couldn’t use the term “a _ _”, unless they were referring to the animal resembling a donkey. But one could use the term “arse” all day, every day, in any ol’ way one would want.
Also reminds me of the first time I ever used the F—- bomb myself. I was just turning 8 and just signed up to play little league baseball. I did extra chores in order to convince my dad to shell out some money for a ball glove. While shopping, I fell in love with a black plastic glove that was about half the price of the other leather ball gloves, $2.98 as I recall, versus about 5.50 for the next least expensive glove. I immediately took my glove out for a try against the group of neighborhood kids who were quite a bit older than me and quite good at the game. Their mouths were filthy and introduced me to the F— word I had never heard before. I knew it was a bad word although I didn’t know what it meant.
After playing ball for a while we broke up and began playing 500. About the 3rd hit from one of the older boys was a line drive that came my way. I reached up high and snagged the ball, but my glove literally ripped apart into several pieces. F— I roared! The other boys broke out in uproarious laughter. And I cried all the way home and started new chores to get a leather glove after admitting to my parents how I broke my glove. Wouldn’t dare tell them what I said though.