# Words you hate and why **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 15, 2005, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709 "2005-12-15T09:49:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Rhinocerous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f14d63/32.png) [@Rhinocerous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhinocerous)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709/61 "2005-12-15T23:42:52Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > I third pink taco–I can’t even bear thinking of it. Not the romantic type, eh? ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709/62 "2005-12-16T02:33:16Z")
[QUOTE=Rhinocerous] > [@Shagnasty](#): > > I actually don’t understand how the word is remotely sexist, either. But I do find the word arousing . . . it evokes images . . . hardly original, but yes, the cheerleader sleepovers, pillow fights, naughty schoolgirls. All of my favorite fantasies include panties. Errr…that’s pretty much why it’s sexist. Taking something WE’RE wearing for practical purposes and making it all about YOUR sexual fantasies. It’s not alway all about you. That said, underwear that’s worn with the intention of engendering sexual fantasies can certainly be called panties 🙂 . And since I’m here…“boobies”. And “titties”. Have some respect for the dignity of the human female body! They’re tits, damn it!!! And since I’m still here, “pussy”. It’s such a pussy word. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709/63 "2005-12-16T02:41:58Z")
Seven. (If you know why, then you understand) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709/64 "2005-12-16T12:13:42Z")
> [@Duke of Rat](#): > > Seven. > > (If you know why, then you understand) ?? Maybe because, having two syllables, it ruins the meter of many potential songs or poems that run down the list of numbers? ?? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709/65 "2005-12-16T14:18:57Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > And since I’m here…“boobies”. And “titties”. Have some respect for the dignity of the human female body! They’re tits, damn it!!! [steve martin] And I BELIEVE that it is disrespectful to refer to a woman’s breasts as “jugs,” “bazooms,” “winnebagos,” or “golden bozos,” but you should only refer to them as “hooters.” [/sm] ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709/66 "2005-12-16T17:09:34Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > And “loan” is not a verb. “Loan” is a noun. “Lend” is a verb. FWIW, [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=loan) partially disagrees with you. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709/67 "2005-12-16T17:31:37Z")
Put me down as one more person who cannot stand the word “utilize” and has banned it from all her business writing, including resumes. Also, if I see your resume has the word “utilize” on it when “use” would work just as well and I have any say in the matter, you will not be as well regarded as someone who merely used “use”. My father, on the other hand, has a pet peeve about people who use “technological” when “technical” is the appropriate form. CJ ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709/68 "2005-12-16T17:33:33Z")
“bourgeoisie” Drives me up the wall. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709/69 "2005-12-16T17:38:46Z")
Aside from any word that is prounounced our used incorrectly, the words that bug me for the simple fact that they are not pleasing to my ear are Erudite Gravitas replete. (I will go to great lengths to avoid using this word) penis vagina scheme bladder ---
**Author:** ![Mint\_Julep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc79bd/32.png) [@Mint\_Julep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mint_Julep)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709/70 "2005-12-16T17:45:38Z")
Moist. (Just gross.) ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709/71 "2005-12-16T17:46:46Z")
> [@Larry Borgia](#): > > Masturbate. It’s my favorite hobby, so I hate that it’s called such a squicky name. [Billy Connolly (waxing eloquent on the word “wank”)] You can travel the world over and never find a bedspring that goes “masturbate” [/BC] ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709/72 "2005-12-16T17:51:46Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > I must say that I’m surprised at the vote for **poignant** , though. What alternative would you suggest? I don’t know, I have never had occasion to use the word so I guess there are ways around it. But perhaps “moving” or “touching” would do. Count me as another “panty”-hater. Little girls wear panties. I much prefer “knickers,” which sounds sexy-dirty instead of pervy-dirty. (The British have a real knack for good names for dirty things. Or maybe it was one Englishman in particular that has made me somewhat biased on this point …) In the business-speak category, I would like to nominate “solutions” when used in any context other than that of specific problems. ---
**Author:** ![Rhinocerous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f14d63/32.png) [@Rhinocerous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhinocerous)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709/73 "2005-12-16T18:33:23Z")
[QUOTE=betenoir] > [@Rhinocerous](#): > > Errr…that’s pretty much why it’s sexist. Taking something WE’RE wearing for practical purposes and making it all about YOUR sexual fantasies. It’s not alway all about you. But what about _my_ needs? ---
**Author:** ![deadeyesdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@deadeyesdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deadeyesdad)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709/74 "2005-12-16T18:45:55Z")
“and whatnot” I can’t stand it when somebody says it. It does not add anything at all. It is just a crutch utilized(ha) to end a sentence. Worse yet is when somebody writes it. What are you thinking? ---
**Author:** ![Rhinocerous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f14d63/32.png) [@Rhinocerous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhinocerous)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709/75 "2005-12-16T19:07:46Z")
> [@deadeyesdad](#): > > “and whatnot” I can’t stand it when somebody says it. It does not add anything at all. It is just a crutch utilized(ha) to end a sentence. Worse yet is when somebody writes it. What are you thinking? Oh yeah, I hate “and whatnot!” ARRRRRRARRRRRRRGHHHHHHH! ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709/76 "2005-12-16T19:15:22Z")
**Discipline.** This is the second most criminally misused word in the English language, next to _love._ ---
**Author:** ![Elret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Elret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elret)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709/77 "2005-12-16T19:20:08Z")
I am still sticking up for utilize, but I wanted to add that I hate the word nostril. Don’t know why, it’s just awful. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709/78 "2005-12-16T21:27:41Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > “bourgeoisie” > > Drives me up the wall. Impatience with Marxist rhetoric I could understand, but what’s wrong with “bourgeoisie” as a **word?** ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709/79 "2005-12-17T01:13:09Z")
**eclectic**. arghh! Why does every restaurant that opens lately describe themselves as ‘eclectic’? If you don’t know what to say, how to describe yourself, then don’t! Don’t use this word anymore! **’moving forward’** My boss overuses this to the nth degree. I counted one time how many times he used this in a 1 hour meeting. 6 times! Every 10 minutes! As we move forward…moving forward, we’ll… Give it a rest bossman. another vote for how dumb ‘ **panties** ’ sounds. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709/80 "2005-12-17T01:43:01Z")
**Fondle**. It just sounds sleazy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-and-why/335709.md?page=5)