For the third year in a row, "whatever" has topped the Marist Poll's year-end list of the most annoying words.
It's not hard to see why. "Whatever" has become the apathetic rallying whimper of anyone who doesn't get their way. It's also become a kind of shield that absolves the (usually sullen) utterer against personal responsibility. Admit it -- you've said it, probably under your breath, to make yourself feel better when you were proven wrong.
But "whatever" is also a very dull, double-edged sword. It serves to make you feel better by covering someone else's victory in a soggy blanket of "meh." Anyone who's been on the receiving end of a "whatever" knows the word is spoken to make you feel like your issue is not even worthy of the slightest interest ... it's just "whatever." And that can be infuriating, especially when accompanied by an epic eye-roll.
Of course "whatever" also has a campy, fun side, too. "Ryan Gossling is NOT the sexiest man alive? What. EVEERRRRRR!" Made even more campy and fun by 'singing' the EVEERRRRR part -- maybe even while making the "W" hand gesture.
Also on the list: "like," "you know," "just sayin'," and "seriously."
'Like' was also #2 on the list last year. The Marist Poll describes it as a "verbal filler."
"You know," "just sayin'" and "seriously" are all newcomers to the list. If you ask HLN Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen, "just sayin'' is the worst of the bunch. He especially hates the use of it on Twitter, where people use it to absolve themselves for their lack of courtesy. "@BobVanDillen's hair looks terrible 2day. Just sayin." Just because you tack a 'just sayin'' on the end of your insult doesn't make it any less insulting. You know? Seriously.
Get the full breakdown on the poll numbers at maristpoll.marist.edu.
What is the word or phrase you'd like to see banished from the English language?
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