Language evolves over time, but sometimes certain words and phrases outstay their welcome.From overused buzzwords to outright clichés (okay, I really want to call them “lies”), they creep into conversations, marketing materials, and social media posts. , until you can’t avoid them. Some are harmlessly annoying, while others are irritating enough to make you scream into the void, or at least your coffee cup. throw across the room.
How bad can it get? If you can get past this overblown example, you’re probably mostly asleep during the zoom calls you hate. Or there’s something else in your cup.
“Like us round back of this unprecedented our discussion synergistic strategy, come on dig down in granular details our a game changer, disruptive new product – a combined, genuine a solution that redefines luxury. Picture this: a nested indentation representing a chef’s kitchen That will take your breath away influential axis; that’s it a thought leader dream, leveraging synergy from highly scalable, added value the ingredients. We just aren’t innovative; we are empowering live! Imagine tight ROI like us future proof this next generation, bleeding edge technology. This is more than a product. that’s it a paradigm shift. So come on smooth out, leversand: take it to the next level– Because people, this is where it is the magic happens. Come on master the narrative and: disturb market until our competitors don’t even know what hit them. Win-winis it true?
Here’s a word salad so bad it could fail a PowerPoint presentation.
As we march into 2025, it’s time to shed some linguistic dead weight. Here’s a list of words and phrases that should disappear forever, along with why they’re driving us all crazy.
1. “Invested”
Realtors, we’re looking at you.Not every home is “nested” somewhere. A lot of houses just sit there, like all the other houses. Is it really “situated in a cul-de-sac” when there is a freeway 50 feet away? Just say it has an address.
A better option. Found. (See? It’s simple and honest.)
2. “Round Back”
Ah, the corporate classic. “Let’s get back to this” roughly translates to “I don’t want to deal with this right now, but I will later.” It’s the colloquial equivalent of a dead end. Stop pretending your procrastination seems productive :
A better option. Let’s set aside time to revisit this— or just admit you don’t care.
3. “Pivot”
Used by startups, politicians, and everyone in between, “pivot” is the word when someone needs to explain a sudden, ill-conceived change in direction. , it has struggled to survive because the first one was wrong.
A better option. Adapt. It’s honest and doesn’t sound like a euphemism for blowout.
4. “Unprecedented”
Of course, things were really unprecedented in 2020. But after five years of hearing it every day, the word has become meaningless. Really these cuts? unprecedented? This is the weather unprecedentedor just? annoying? Anyway, we finished it.
A better option. Drop the word if it doesn’t actually apply. Now that would be unprecedented.
5. “grainy”
No one asked to “go into detail” on anything, especially in a meeting that’s already long. Just say “specific” like a normal person.
A better option. Details:. Shorter, simpler and doesn’t make you sound like a tech bro with a thesaurus.
6. “Real”
When everything is marketed as “authentic”, everything starts to look fake. Authentic connections. Authentic Laundry Detergent If you have to claim you’re authentic, chances are you’re not.
A better option. Let the matter speak for itself. Real authenticity needs no label.
7. “Disruptive”
Used by self-important tech companies and CEOs, the word has lost all meaning. Uber wasn’t “disrupting” the taxi industry; it was just creating a more fancy way to overload. And stop acting like a “disruption” in the first place. isn’t always the innovation you think it is.
A better option. Innovative. But only if it’s true.
8. “Thought Leader”
It’s a two-for-one punch of ambition and emptiness. If you’re not personally solving global crises or curing diseases, stop calling yourself a “thought leader.” You’re not a thought leader, you’re just posting LinkedIn statuses and hoping someone likes them.
A better option. Expert. But only if you really are one. If you think you are one, chances are you aren’t.
9. “Game Changer”
Unless your product literally changes the world (unlikely), it’s probably not a “game changer.” Adding avocado to a sandwich isn’t a game changer. Neither is your slightly faster app.
A better option. Improvement. It’s more honest and a lot less obnoxious.
10. “Luxury”
Real estate agents, car manufacturers, and vacation marketers have beaten this word into the ground. It’s not “luxury” if it’s in every apartment listing, every car ad, and every AirBnB description. At this point, luxury means “overpriced and likely mediocre.”
A better option. Describe the actual features, because calling everything “luxury” just seems lazy.
11. Curated
Oh, your restaurant has a “coordinated menu.” You mean you’ve chosen dishes like any other restaurant, which is fatally overused, especially in retail, where it often means “ overrated.”
A better option. None. Just say what it is. Some s**t you’ve collected.
12. “Synergy”
The granddaddy of corporate words. Synergy is used to describe the vague, mysterious magic that happens when two mediocre ideas come together. It’s nonsensical, annoying, and makes people roll their eyes.
A better option. Cooperation. It’s simple, straightforward, and doesn’t make people sink in. Or maybe just say who you work with.
13. “Influential”
It wasn’t your PowerPoint presentation influential. It was just a PowerPoint. Not everything mildly interesting is “influential,” and overuse of the word cheapens it when it really is.
A better option. Meaningful. But use it sparingly. Like when it’s accompanied by a six-figure check. It’ll be meaningful, even compelling.
14. “Chef’s Kitchen”
Realtors, let’s get one thing straight. not every kitchen is a “chef’s kitchen.” Unless it’s equipped with a walk-in refrigerator, an industrial-grade oven, and a chef named Pierre chopping shallots in the corner, it’s just a regular kitchen.
When you slap a “chef’s kitchen” on a trailer with a laminate floor and a microwave older than TikTok, it makes no sense. No, Brenda, that sad four-burner stove with one broken handle isn’t where Gordon Ramsay soufflés are. would prepare
A better option. Be specific. Say updated kitchen or spacious kitchen— or, better yet, just describe the features without pretending it isn’t. If it has a gas stove, dishwasher, and oven, that’s great. Just don’t insult our sanity with delusions of grandeur.
Pro Tip for Realtors. Stop trying to make everything look like an Instagram lifestyle post. Some buyers just want to know if the fridge works.
Let’s talk like humans in 2025
As we ring in the new year, let’s resolve to ditch meaningless jargon and tired clichés. Whether you’re in business, real estate, politics, or everyday conversation, remember that simple, honest language never goes out of style.
So let’s raise a glass (but not “coordinated”) to 2025, a year where we stop looking smart and start communicating like real people
* The main image is generated by AI.