# Words I can't bear to hear **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 8, 2000, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366 "2000-11-08T21:29:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MonkeyMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@MonkeyMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/1 "2000-11-08T21:29:32Z")
This is the opposite of the “Words I like to say” thread. Does anybody else just cringe when they hear these words: - Paradigm - Orientalism - Other (used as a verb) - Derivitive - Binarism - Dualism - Dichotomy - Imperialist - Colonialist - Essentialist I’m a college student so I have to hear these things all the time. I don’t necessarily have a problem with talking about these things, btw, but PLEASE at least try to use your own words. ---
**Author:** ![Ivar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ivar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ivar)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/2 "2000-11-08T23:09:45Z")
Oh, I agree. Paradigm is so overused, and I don’t think most people really even know the definition. (and no, I’m not telling you. you’re smart, look it up) ---
**Author:** ![shimmery](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@shimmery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shimmery)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/3 "2000-11-08T23:46:24Z")
Decrepit. It just sounds so … I don’t know but I just don’t like it! ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/4 "2000-11-08T23:54:47Z")
Silver Fire would like to add: **irregardless**. Hi Silver! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![sk8rixtx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@sk8rixtx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sk8rixtx)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/5 "2000-11-08T23:56:56Z")
“Overrated” STOP SAYING THIS FUCKING WORD! And yes, the word “overrated” actually fucks. Wierd huh? ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/6 "2000-11-08T23:57:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rasa \* > \*\*Silver Fire would like to add: **irregardless**. > \*\* “Irregardless” is not a word, unlike the others. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/7 "2000-11-08T23:57:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MonkeyMan \* > \*\* > > - Other (used as a verb)\*\* I’m having a blonde moment. Can I have an example? ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/8 "2000-11-09T00:00:03Z")
Hello, Rasa. 😃 I agree with Trixie on “overrated”. Taken from #straightdope. \ ugh karynn, please dont ever say anything is overrated in front of me \ Trixie, you’re overrated. \ 🙂 \ ::d&r:: \ there was this girl in my art class last year, and everything that popped up in conversation was overrated \ Getting you liscense is SO overrated \ Going to college is SO overrated \ Living is So overrated \ LOL \ The internet really is SO overrated. 😉 \ Getting good grades is SO overrated \ This chatroom is overrated. \ Life is overrated. \ Canine ass licking is SO overrated \ Being overrated is overrated. \ ROFL !!! \ OMG I told her that being overrated is SO overrated \ she shut up after that Hehehe… ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/9 "2000-11-09T00:05:55Z")
One phrase I hate, which I hear over and over again during NFL telecasts: “That was a very key play.” Argh. Either something is “key” or it isn’t. It’s like being “unique” or being “pregnant” – nothing can be “slightly key” or “very key” or “partially key”. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/10 "2000-11-09T00:10:19Z")
Back in the '80’s, sportcasters completely wore the word “momentum”. My boss uses the word “actually” WAAAAYYYYY too much. ---
**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/11 "2000-11-09T01:21:59Z")
Words I don’t want to hear? “License and registration, please.” I am sick of hearing: empowered confab touch base do lunch totally millenium ---
**Author:** ![Nacho4Sara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Nacho4Sara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nacho4Sara)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/12 "2000-11-09T01:23:39Z")
I hate the word cunt. It makes my toes curl…yuck. Also…zeitgiest (sp?) I kind of know what it means, but I have never actually encountered it in anything I’ve ever read or heard (and I read a lot). Minus the c-word, these are words that people use to make themselves seem smart. I always dangle them in my essays, along with “totalitarianism,” “zenith,” “Halcyon,” and “crux.” I always get A’s. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/13 "2000-11-09T01:26:40Z")
The word “so” used instead of “very,” or used in places where an intensifier is inappropriate: “I am SO going out to the club tonight!” ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/14 "2000-11-09T01:38:16Z")
Any use of a noun as a verb or a verb as a noun. E.g. “to bobdole”. Exception noted for common participles. ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/15 "2000-11-09T01:47:46Z")
I hate it with a passion whenever teachers say that they’re “facilitators”. YOU’RE A FRICKING TEACHER. Educator. Whatever. Come to think of it, the word in any context is annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/16 "2000-11-09T06:59:28Z")
“Proactive” The road to hell is paved with words like these. ---
**Author:** ![nevermore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a587f6/32.png) [@nevermore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevermore)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/17 "2000-11-09T15:01:40Z")
“Pus.” AGGHHHHHHHHH!!! IMMEDIATE gag reflex. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@MonkeyMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMan)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/18 "2000-11-09T15:19:43Z")
Definition: Other (vb)- To categorize a person or group of persons in such a way that the person or persons are seen as alien or unapproachable. Example: “Do we find that the filmmaker is ‘othering’ the arabs?” (actual quote from one of my professors) Fear- I forgot about proactive. There’s a Simpsons quote that goes like this: Krusty: So he’s proactive, huh? Lady: Oh, God, yes. We’re talking about a totally outrageous paradigm. Writer: Excuse me, but “proactive” and “paradigm”? Aren’t these just buzzwords that dumb people use to sound important? [backpedaling] Not that I’m accusing you of anything like that. [pause] I’m fired, aren’t I? Myers: Oh, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/19 "2000-11-09T15:33:37Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by KellyM_ > **"Irregardless" is not a word, unlike the others.** I know, I know… but it still makes Silver go batshit when she hears it! ---
**Author:** ![jeel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71e660/32.png) [@jeel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeel)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/20 "2000-11-09T15:43:50Z")
I can’t stand when you’re in a meeting and somebody uses the word “champion” in place of “lead” “We need somebody to champion this cause.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366.md?page=2)