Annoying words

Quicksearch

Blog Administration

RSS Readers

Tuesday, January 3. 2023

There is a list of words that make me cringe. I can't think of them now, but generally they seem to be inflated or pretentious. Here's a few:

- curate (it means pick and choose)
- utilize (it means use)
- medication (it means "medicine")
- bespoke

What words make you cringe?

Posted by The Barrister in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 13:06 | Comments (51) | Trackbacks (0)

Trackbacks

Trackback specific URI for this entry

No Trackbacks

Comments

Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)

In the context of business communication
-leverage
-ideate
-equitable
-economic headwinds

#1 Fneris on 2023-01-03 13:25 (Reply)

- medicine (it means "drug")

#2 CapitalistRoader on 2023-01-03 13:40 (Reply)

"Deserve." Used in ads, such as the recent Medicare supplement ads.

"I called the number to get what I deserve."

Yeah, you'd better hope you don't lady.

#3 bobby b on 2023-01-03 13:41 (Reply)

I'm still fighting old wars: struggling against "awesome," "issues," and "massive" as an indicator of size instead of density

#4 Estoy Listo on 2023-01-03 13:43 (Reply)

Cringe ad cringey.

They both make me cringe.

#5 Bill Adams on 2023-01-03 14:02 (Reply)

Diversity equity inclusion multiculturalism micro-aggression cultural enrichment historical debt white privilege reparations hate speech racism racist white supremacist climate change speed of science

#6 Robert Moffett (Link) on 2023-01-03 14:11 (Reply)

"At the end of the day"
Equity
Hate crime
Fairness
"won't you please help by sending $11 a month to..."
Hwite!
Colonizer

#7 OneGuy on 2023-01-03 14:12 (Reply)

>> Hwite

First time I've ever seen this.
Googled it, but maybe real meaning is a little more pejorative,

As-In: "Half-Wit"

#7.1 AlphaOmega on 2023-01-03 18:57 (Reply)

Tactical: This word is everywhere in outdoor publications, advertising, product descriptions, ad nauseam. I haven't seen tactical underwear yet but I'll bet it's out there. I'll check my Cabelas catalogue....

Classic: One of the most overused, meaningless words in the past 50 years. May have started with Coke Classic.

#8 Snowgoose on 2023-01-03 14:15 (Reply)

Empower.
The phrase I hate the most: “raise awareness of”.
We’re aware, trust me.

#9 Shortpigeon on 2023-01-03 14:40 (Reply)

We-I-They "reached out"

& "tactical" as stated above - and there is "most assuredly" tactical underwear easily found on the innertube

#10 slm on 2023-01-03 14:59 (Reply)

Powerful, as in that was a powerful speech.
Feelings, the misuse of which is mind boggling.
Saddened, as in, everyone is saddened that George's hangnail was so painful.
Enervate, grrrr.
Sustainable.
Two words, scientists agree, polls confirm, everyone knows.

#11 Capt Craig (Link) on 2023-01-03 15:19 (Reply)

two words... still: "Be Advised" Always redundant

#12 Jim Burton on 2023-01-03 15:24 (Reply)

artisanal, authentic, home-made, original, old-fashioned, herb-crusted, hand-rubbed

#13 Mike Anderson (Link) on 2023-01-03 15:24 (Reply)

Unprecedented
Racist
Omnibus and Comprehensive
Social justice (in fact, any modifier that's put in front of justice)
Federal government
Experts
"They say..."
He/him (or any reference to what a person's pronouns are. if we can't figure it out ourselves, you're the one with the problem)
Bill and Monica "share" a child (like what? for dinner?)
Equity (unless it's applied to a stock or how much of my house i own)

#14 mike on 2023-01-03 16:12 (Reply)

Any word used as a modifier for "unique", as in:
- "...more unique than..."
- "...somewhat unique..."

A thing is either unique, or it is not. Much like "a little bit pregnant".

#15 Blackwing1 on 2023-01-03 16:17 (Reply)

The first priority

#16 Bird Dog on 2023-01-03 16:21 (Reply)

Impact as a verb
Grow as a transitive verb; as in "raise."
Gift as a verb.

I'm with Capt Craig on "enervate." Grrr....

#17 Lee Also on 2023-01-03 16:21 (Reply)

Agreed on these -- and more generally, all terms in what I call Business English.

#17.1 PubliusII on 2023-01-10 21:45 (Reply)

multicultural... a sure sign that the melting pot is obsolete along with behavior.

#18 indyjonesouthere on 2023-01-03 17:39 (Reply)

Agree that 'utilize' is offender #1. I prefer to use rather than utilize anything. As Mark Twain always said "Never use a big word when a diminutive one will do."

#19 Alaska Bob (Link) on 2023-01-03 17:41 (Reply)

The entire compendium of AP's style book/copy book and every word uttered by an NPR drone.

#20 Tallywhagger on 2023-01-03 17:46 (Reply)

Going forward

#21 snopercod on 2023-01-03 18:05 (Reply)

Heck, I'm so old I still get an involuntary eye-twitch when I hear the word "literally" used as a synonym for "figuratively" even though that fight has been lost for 20 years at least.

#22 Jerryskids on 2023-01-03 19:33 (Reply)

Out of an abundance of caution.

#23 Galway Boy on 2023-01-03 20:45 (Reply)

A made-up word: 'impactful.' It isn't a word. 'Effective' is what is meant. The misuse of 'impact' rather than 'effect' is agonizing.

#24 Susan in Seattle on 2023-01-03 22:08 (Reply)

Also, the confusion of "effect" for "affect" and vice-versa.

As well as "insure" and "ensure", "principle" and "principal", "disinterested" and "uninterested", and "capital" and "capitol".

People who make these errors in writing are advertising the fact that they haven't read very much.

#24.1 Hairless Joe on 2023-01-04 14:02 (Reply)

Begs the question
is comprised of

#25 rhhardin on 2023-01-03 22:16 (Reply)

'Hone' in on an objective. What, are you going to sharpen its edge? Home in on it.
'Terrifying' anything - are we all supposed to be scared of our shadows?

#26 Martin on 2023-01-03 22:49 (Reply)

I despise the word penis. Sounds like shattered glass. Sounds like trash and something broken busted and worthless. Say DICK and get real.

#27 Tom Hyland on 2023-01-03 22:49 (Reply)

"Surreal." Especially when actors (over)use it to describe pretty much everything.

#28 Rick1 (Link) on 2023-01-03 23:41 (Reply)

Icon and iconic

Every stupid product has to be an icon if it is recognizable, that applies to celebrities as well

#29 Ed on 2023-01-04 07:56 (Reply)

"Community" since I just know a fact free over generalization for political leverage is coming next.

#30 Dan Hayes on 2023-01-04 08:05 (Reply)

"Orientate" for "orient." Right up there with utilize.
"Passed" for "died."
"The _ space" for a cognitive or managerial area.

#31 Texan99 on 2023-01-04 09:04 (Reply)

"Curate" is one of those words that hipsters ruined.

Women who describe other ordinary women as "amazing."
I think Martha Stewart started this nonsense.

#32 LS (Link) on 2023-01-04 09:06 (Reply)

From Ol' Remus. RIP

Words they use when you are being lied to.

a hand up
a new study shows
a poll by the highly respected
a positive step
are speaking out
arguably
arsenal
at some level
at-risk communities
best practices
broader implications
challenge
climate change
collectively
commonsense solutions
comprehensive reform
cycle of poverty
cycle of violence
demand action
denier
disenfranchised
disparate impact
disproportionately
diverse backgrounds
divisive
economically disadvantaged
embattled
emerging consensus
empower
enhance
evidence shows
experts agree
extremist
fair share
fiscal stimulus
fully funded
give back
giving voice to
greater diversity
growing support for
gun violence
hater
have issues
high capacity magazine
history shows
impacted by
impactful
in denial
inappropriate
inclusive environment
insensitivity
investing in our future
linked to
making a difference
making bad choices
marginalized
marriage equality
mean spirited
most vulnerable
mounting opposition to
multicultural
non-blaming
nonjudgmental
non-partisan, non-profit
not value neutral
not who we are
nuanced
off our streets
on some level
oppressed minorities
our nation's children
outreach
people of color (sometimes, colour)
poised to
poor and minorities
positive outcome
potentially
progressive
public/private partnership
raising awareness
reaching out
reaffirm our commitment to
redouble our efforts
research tells us
root cause
sends a message
shared values
social justice
solidarity with
sow discord
speaking truth to power
stakeholders
statistics show
sustainable, sustainability
the American People
the bigger issue is
the failed ...
the larger question is
the more important question is
the reality is
the struggle for
too many
too often
touched by
underserved populations
undocumented immigrant
unpack
value neutral
vibrant community
voicing concern
war on ...
working families

#33 Rob n AZ on 2023-01-04 09:30 (Reply)

"Woke" and "be" (instead of "is" or "was").

With on the order of 10E^5 words in the English language, there is never a reason to resort to black ghetto dialect in speech or writing.

Also, from corporate-speak:

Actionable (instead of feasible)-- another fake word
Synergies-- refers to layoffs after a merger or acquisition
Vision-- short for "vague wish-list"
Diversity-- a policy of anti-white prejudice

And let's not forget "irregardless".

#34 Hairless Joe on 2023-01-04 09:37 (Reply)

"gather together"
"agency"
"on a going forward basis"
"absolutely"
"and I" vs "and me" or vice versa
"the science has spoken"

#35 b-C on 2023-01-04 09:38 (Reply)

"racialized persons"
"preferred pronouns"
"self-identified"

#36 b-C on 2023-01-04 09:48 (Reply)

"unexpected" change
"the new Hitler"
"worse than expected"

#37 b-C on 2023-01-04 10:20 (Reply)

iconic
athleticism
physicality

#38 Damien Howard (Link) on 2023-01-04 10:27 (Reply)

"Wheelhouse" and "optics."

#39 Missy on 2023-01-04 10:47 (Reply)

I've never been fond of "normalcy"

#40 Rivetjoint on 2023-01-04 12:50 (Reply)

"purchase" = buy
"navigate" = learn the way / figure out

And maybe y'all can help me: What's the real word for "random"? I met a random stranger, a random song came on...no, it was not "random"...

#41 foxmarks on 2023-01-04 14:22 (Reply)

"challenge" used as a noun, meaning contest of the stupid

#42 foxmarks (Link) on 2023-01-04 14:29 (Reply)

When people use "in spite of..." when "despite" is what would be correct. But the all-time worst: "could care less" instead of "couldn't care less".

#43 Johnny Taopi on 2023-01-04 21:46 (Reply)

"Tons" when used to express quantity instead of weight.
As in "they have tons of items!"
They mean a lot, not 2000 pounds of items!

"no worries" instead of "you're welcome"

#44 Phil taylor on 2023-01-05 01:35 (Reply)

Game-changer
Eclectric

#45 John Coles on 2023-01-05 23:59 (Reply)

Game-changer
Eclectic

#46 John Coles on 2023-01-06 00:00 (Reply)

orientate (it means to orient)
competency (it means competence)
and all their derived forms.

My favorite was a ballot argument by a candidate for school board in which he used both these so-called words, thus showing his incompetence.

#47 jdgalt1 on 2023-01-06 11:26 (Reply)

historical when it should be historic.

#48 itsatax on 2023-01-07 14:53 (Reply)

Add Comment

Name
Email	(Your e-mail will not show in your comment)
Homepage
In reply to
Comment	By commenting on this site you agree to the site rules listed here. Email addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for email notifications. Quick reference guide: [i] italics [/i], [b] bold [/b], [u] underline [/u], [url] (web address) [/url]. More tips here. Enclosing asterisks marks text as bold (word), underscore are made via _word_. E-Mail addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for E-Mail notifications. To prevent automated Bots from commentspamming, please enter the string you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly. Enter the string from the spam-prevention image above: BBCode format allowed
	Remember Information? Subscribe to this entry

Maggie's Farm

Our Recent Essays Behind the Front Page

Categories

Quicksearch

Links

Blog Administration

RSS Readers

Tuesday, January 3. 2023

Annoying words