Ask a large enough group of English speakers what their least-favourite English word is, and the most common answer you’ll probably receive is moist.
I’ve never quite understood the hatred for that word. I mean, I do understand why people don’t like it. It makes people think of their genital area, but it’s a word we also associate with food, especially desserts, or meat, and those aren’t things people always want to think of at the same time. And there’s something about the letter m: it’s too soft, too, vague, too, well, moist.
Despite all those solid reasons for disliking moist, I can’t really get behind the hatred of the word. I think that’s because the meaning of the word isn’t negative. I find it hard to separate a word from its meaning, so I can’t really get mad at moist. If I had to choose a word I hate most, I’d probably choose specific, simply because I find it hard to pronounce the sp. What words do you hate, and why?
English-Language Thoughts 
Iconic is the word I dislike most, probably because I’ve seen it overused (abused?) in business/marketing speak
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, it’s basically lost all meaning. I think it should be only possible to use for something at least fifty-years old, give it time to earn that status.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh, may I tell you my favorite word?! Laborious or laboratory!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, they’re nice actually! They’ve got a great rhythm due to the alternating stressed and unstressed syllables, very iambic!
LikeLike
“Utilize” is a perfectly innocent word that I’ve heard misused so often that it now makes my teeth grind.
I also get illogically annoyed by the word “Caucasian” when used about someone who’s from nowhere near the Caucasus. Just say “white” if you really need to use that distinguisher.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, “Caucasian” always stands out for me. Whenever I hear it I have to stop and think “What?” for a second before the word registers with me.
LikeLike
Epic. It too, is being used too much to describe common things.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly, it’s so common now that it barely means anything anymore, which is a pity, as it was such a powerful word. Strictly it should apply to very few things, making it special.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Moist, Moist, Moist! (imagine me hopping up and down shouting this)
Lol.. I don’t have a problem with this word. I can’t think of a particular (every day) word that bothers me. I am, however, quick the queue in on people who use a certain word way too much, at which point it begins to bother me.
Ending on a positive note, my FAVORITE word is: Hooliganism!! (Followed by chicanery, and shenanigan)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic words all, and could probably all be used in the same sentence to refer to the same person! “Hooliganism” is a great word, it really sounds exactly as it should!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome is my most hated word, I associate it with “jocks” in American “stupid” movies with young people who get a script that make them sound really stupid, on purpose. Although, I paradoxically love the word “douche bag” that they use just as much! Ha ha. 🙂 👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hate “awesome” too, particularly because it’s so overused. You should only come across something truly awesome, giving you a sense of awe, a few times in your life! Recently while on a bus tour in Northern Ireland, I was sitting in front of a guy who loudly declared everything said by the tour guide as “awesome!” It was a long journey…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! I love, and agree with, your description! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Moist: I think half of the people who viewed this were a little disappointed as they were looking for […]
LikeLike