Battle of the Annoying Words: Who Wins?

October 8, 2009

There's a battle brewing for the title of Most Annoying Word.

According to CNN, "absolutely" is overused, and thus, absolutely obnoxious. But some people have decided to get all scientific in their quest to find out which word should be crowned the most annoying. Following their nationwide poll, Marist has declared that "whatever" is officially the most annoying word. Forty-seven percent of Americans cannot stand the word. Cher from Clueless would be like totally bummed!

Which word gets under your skin more: "whatever" or "absolutely." Write-in votes are welcome in the comments.

38 Comments

3 years 30 weeks

Hello from Russia! Can I quote a post in your blog with the link to you?

ali321 3 years 31 weeks

AMP 3 years 31 weeks

"totally" ugh!

AMP 3 years 31 weeks

"totally" ugh!

betty kraker 3 years 31 weeks

i think i hate shut up the most

michlny 3 years 31 weeks

Obviously!

michlny 3 years 31 weeks

Obviously!

Autumns_Elegy 3 years 31 weeks

Like. Correct (instead of saying yes). And on occasion Totally grates my nerves. I love saying Fail though, but only when necessary.

Autumns_Elegy 3 years 31 weeks

Like. Correct (instead of saying yes). And on occasion Totally grates my nerves.I love saying Fail though, but only when necessary.

VicVicVictooriaa 3 years 31 weeks

I chose whatever, because I dislike how dismissive it is in an argument. Literally is also extremely agitating. I must confess I have used obvi, and abbreviations in general (a phase my freshman year roommate and I went through that stuck for 5 years now) But the grammar that causes me the most anxiety is when people do not use words correctly. I cannot give an example right now (it's a little early), but it hurts my soul when they do.

VicVicVictooriaa 3 years 31 weeks

I chose whatever, because I dislike how dismissive it is in an argument. Literally is also extremely agitating. I must confess I have used obvi, and abbreviations in general (a phase my freshman year roommate and I went through that stuck for 5 years now)But the grammar that causes me the most anxiety is when people do not use words correctly. I cannot give an example right now (it's a little early), but it hurts my soul when they do.

vanitypot 3 years 31 weeks

i choose 'like'.. i swear it annoys me to hell :( i have acquaintances who moved abroad when they were little and when they came back home, they couldn't stop using that word in every sentence! it kills me just listening to it! D:

3 years 31 weeks

It's Whatever, but only because absolutely doesn't bother me at all. Whatever only slightly. The most overused words are any "words" that are intentionally spelled incorrectly.

fashionplate525 3 years 31 weeks

I chose "whatever" but I agree CaterpillarGirl, literally is so annoying. "I was literally so mad" Umm, as opposed to what, being figuratively so mad?

merie33 3 years 31 weeks

I voted whatever, but if I could nominate any word, I'd have to say fierce. As in, "that eyeliner is fierce!" "wow, she looks fierce with that new haircut!" "fall fashion is fierce this year!" Ugh. It irritates me SO much!

merie33 3 years 31 weeks

juicebox07 3 years 31 weeks

I voted for whatever, but what I really hate is when my boyfriend and I are arguing and he says "whatever yo". The yo attached at the end makes it way more annoying. He's the farthest thing from gangsta, so I don't know why he says it. It gets under my skin so bad.

3 years 31 weeks

I HATE when I hear "Obvi" or 'O.M.G.' say the whole word or phrase for the love of god. And I agree with "fail." But the worst is when people actually say "O.M.G., it's obvi! You fail."

themodus 3 years 31 weeks

I can't stand it whenever someone says "it is what it is." It's a completely useless statement, simply substituting nonsense with what could have been an actual idea of one's own. It doesn't have any relevant or helpful meaning at all. IT IS WHAT IT IS. ....OKAY. Thanks a lot. You've really cleared things up for me. This whole time I was under the impression that it was what it isn't.

themodus 3 years 31 weeks

I can't stand it whenever someone says "it is what it is." It's a completely useless statement, simply substituting nonsense with what could have been an actual idea of one's own. It doesn't have any relevant or helpful meaning at all. IT IS WHAT IT IS.....OKAY. Thanks a lot. You've really cleared things up for me. This whole time I was under the impression that it was what it isn't.

hypnoticmix 3 years 31 weeks

LOL, how in the world did I spell wor(d) as wor(k) and twice in one paragraph. Now that's annoying, lol.

hypnoticmix 3 years 31 weeks

I hardly ever hear absolutely maybe it's a regional thing. My most annoying work is (LIKE). I swear that work drives me nuts. It either is or it isn't it's not (LIKE).