The Battle Against Language Deterioration: 2026’s Banished Words List
In a world where language constantly evolves, Lake Superior State University has maintained a 50-year tradition of identifying overused, misused, or simply worn-out expressions that deserve retirement. The university’s annual “Banished Words List” began as a New Year’s Eve party conversation in 1976 but has since transformed into a global commentary on linguistic trends. For 2026, LSSU received over 1,400 submissions from all 50 U.S. states and countries as far-flung as Uzbekistan, Brazil, and Japan, eventually narrowing these suggestions down to ten expressions they believe should be excommunicated from our everyday vocabulary.
Leading the pack of linguistic offenders is “6-7,” a term that has infiltrated Gen Alpha’s vernacular much like “LOL” and “YOLO” did for millennials. Originating as a lyric from Skrilla’s music, this expression has become so ubiquitous that educators are calling for its banishment despite (or perhaps because of) its deliberately ambiguous meaning. The LSSU team noted that submissions requesting this term’s removal were so numerous they “could have taken up the whole list, at least slots 6-7,” demonstrating a touch of humor in their criticism. As submitter Scott T. from Utah cleverly remarked, “it’s time for ‘6-7’ to be 86’ed”—suggesting that this puzzling expression needs to be eliminated entirely.
Surprisingly, “demure”—a perfectly legitimate word traditionally meaning “reserved or modest in manner”—has earned a spot on the banishment list after being hijacked and overused by social media users. The trouble began when TikTok creator Jools LeBron used it to describe her work appearance: “Very demure, very mindful.” This sparked a trend where Gen Z began describing virtually anything as “demure and mindful,” from eating chocolate cake to scrolling on phones in bed, stretching the word far beyond its original meaning. Madison C., one of many submitters advocating for its temporary retirement, noted that such overuse “waters down the real meaning” of a once-precise term.
“Cooked” represents another casualty of social media-driven meaning shifts, as it has transformed from describing properly prepared food to indicating someone who is exhausted, overwhelmed, or in serious trouble. This semantic shift occurs alongside the contradictory phrase “let him/her/them cook,” which encourages someone to perform impressively. Submitter Zac A. expressed frustration, saying that merely hearing the term makes his brain feel “cooked.” Similarly, “massive” made the list not because its meaning changed but because of its sheer overuse, often in inappropriate contexts, prompting Don and Gail K. from Minnesota to exclaim it’s “Way overused! (often incorrectly).” Meanwhile, “incentivize” was criticized as an unnecessary verbification of a perfectly good noun, with submitters comparing hearing it to “nails on a chalkboard” and questioning, “What’s wrong with motivate?”
University President David Travis identified social media as the primary culprit behind these linguistic trends, noting that digital communication strips away crucial elements of effective communication: “We’re using terms that are shared through texting, primarily, or through posting with no body language or tone context. It’s very easy to misunderstand these words.” This observation highlights a fundamental challenge in modern communication—the absence of nonverbal cues that traditionally helped establish meaning and context. The remaining expressions completing the ten banished terms include “full stop,” “perfect,” “gift/gifted” (as a verb), “my bad,” and “reach out”—each representing different aspects of overuse or semantic deterioration.
The Banished Words List serves as more than just linguistic nitpicking; it represents a cultural checkpoint that encourages reflection on how we communicate. While language naturally evolves, the initiative reminds us that thoughtful word choice still matters. As we enter 2026, the list invites speakers to consider whether they’re communicating clearly or merely parroting trending expressions. In an era when social media accelerates linguistic change at unprecedented rates, this half-century tradition of identifying linguistic fatigue provides a valuable service—helping us maintain communication that is precise, meaningful, and refreshingly free from the year’s most worn-out expressions. Whether all these terms will truly disappear is doubtful, but the conversation itself enriches our awareness of language’s power and limitations.
