Cringe, era and other Gen Z slang banned in 2025, university declares: Words matter!

It’s time to leave your cringe word era behind.Period.Every year, Lake Superior State University releases its Banished Words List, a tradition that dates back to 1976, highlighting words and terms that are overused, misused or simply unnecessary.Nominations were submitted from all over the world: the US, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Germany, India and South Africa.The university noted that “the fact that some of the same banished word suggestions came from different parts of the world underscores the universal struggle of dealing with challenging words and phrases.”“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,” Lake Superior State President Dr.

David Travis said in a statement.The 2026 Banished Words List will be the university’s 50th edition, and anyone can nominate a word for banishment.Submissions are due by 8 a.m.

ET on Nov.1, 2025.Here are the words and phrases that the university declared banned for 2025:“Cringe” is so cringe.The word topped the university’s banished words list, saying that it “has now overstayed its welcome.”LSSU noted that overuse of the word diminished its impact and meaning, and “ironically, using it might now cause the very reaction it describes.”“Hearing someone say ‘someone is so cringe’ makes me cringe!” Ash from Newton, Alabama, wrote to the university.Describing something as a “game changer” describes “anything remotely innovative,” saying that it is “as tired as a well-worn cliché.”The university noted that nearly everything has been labeled a “game changer” these days — and “nothing is a game changer if everything is a game changer,” Patrick of Washington, DC, added.“Unless you are Taylor Swift, it might be time to leave ‘era’ behind,” LSSU declared.“Thanks to the name of Taylor Swift’s tour, now t...