Q.
It’s that time. Lake Superior State University has – for the 50^th year – gathered nominations from around the world. Their focus? English words so annoying or overused that they should be banished. Which words are rankling in 2026?

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A.

2026 Banished Words List. Lake Superior University
i.     6-7
ii.    Demure
iii.   Cooked
iv.   Massive
v.    Incentivize
vi.   Full stop
vii.  Perfect
viii. Gift or Gifted (as a verb)
ix.   My bad
x.    Reach out

🥀

The Lake Superior team have also called out previously banished words that refuse to step aside. Are you a diehard fan of any of these stubborn utterances? If so, do their original years of banishment coincide with a slang-heavy time in your life?

Repeat Offenders and their Original Year of Banishment
i.   Absolutely. 1996. 2023
ii.  At the End of the Day 🪓. 1999. 2022. 2024
iii. Awesome. 1984. 2007
iv. Game Changer. 2009. 2025
v.  Hot ✂️  Water Heater. 1982. 2015

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