Gen Zers and Gen Alphers in Maryland might be unhappy to learn the popular phrases “6-7” and “demure” top the 2026 list of banished words.
lake superior State University in Michigan recently released the list, a tradition spanning 50 years.
“What began as a whimsical New Year’s Eve party idea in 1976 has grown into a global reflection on words that wear out their welcome. Since former public relations director W.T. (Bill) Rabe showcased the first ‘List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English becuase of mis-, mal-, over-use, or general uselessness,’ LSSU has carried the torch,” the university stated in a press release.
This year’s list came from over 1,400 submissions from all 50 U.S. states, plus countries including Uzbekistan, Brazil, japan, and the United Kingdom.
The phrase “67,” a current youth trend, has been heavily analyzed by those outside of Gen Z and Gen Alpha trying to understand its meaning.
Some believe it originated from a song, while others say it means “so so.” A Google search for “What is 67” even causes the screen to shake in a way that mimics the hand gesture used with the phrase.
Lake Superior shared feedback on words people want to see disappear.Here are the top five:
6-7: “There are six or seven reasons why this phrase needs to stop,” says Paul E. from WI. Scott T. from UT adds, “it’s time for “6-7” to be 86’ed.” The sheer number of submissions for this phrase almost filled the entire list.
Demure: “It’s said more than done, and we’re all done hearing it!” remarks Tammy S. Madison C. notes the overuse “waters down the real meaning.”
Cooked: “Hearing it…my brain feels ‘cooked,’” groans Zac A. from VA. Some feel this banishment isn’t enough. James C. from WA suggests banning “all forms of the word cook,” hoping they’ll become rare.
Massive: “Way overused! (frequently enough incorrectly),” exclaim Don and Gail K. from MN. This word’s overuse earned it a spot on this year’s list.
Incentivize: This is another example of turning a noun into a verb. Two submissions compared hearing the word to “nails on a chalkboard.” Patricia from TX asks, “What’s wrong with motivate?”
Here’s the full list of the top 10 banished words for 2026:
- 67
- Demure
- Cooked
- Massive
- incentivize
- Full Stop
- Perfect
- Gift/Gifted (as a verb)
- My Bad
- Reach Out
Lake Superior also released a list of repeat offenders – words that refuse to stay banished:
- Absolutely (1996, 2023): A favorite nomination in 1996, and still appearing in 2023. A 2023 submission called it “the current default to express agreement.”
- ultimately (1999, 2022, 2024): Used by “political pundits” in 1999 and “hollywood types,” this phrase has been banished three times.
- Awesome (1984, 2007): Initially banished for being overused, it returned in 2007 with complaints from as far as Thailand that it was “overused and meaningless.”
- Game Changer (2009, 2025): A 2009 banishment called it a cliché. In 2025, someone commented, “nothing is a game changer if everything is a game changer.”
- Hot Water Heater (1982, 2018): An anonymous listener questioned why hot water needs to be heated in 1982. Decades later, a banishment reminded people that a “water heater” is sufficient.
Lake Superior is now accepting nominations for its 2027 list.
