A recent poll declares that the most annoying word or phrase used in casual conversation in America is whatever.
A Marist College poll released last week indicates the word irritates 38% of Americans. The December survey involved 1,005 adults.
Marist College is a private liberal arts college in New York state. The school is home to the Marist Institute of Public Opinion, a survey research center known for measuring public opinion. Students there conduct polls on topics including politics, entertainment, family, money, spirituality, and sports.
Pollsters offered up five options for most annoying word or phrase: "Whatever," ''No offense, but," ''Ya know, right," ''I can't even" and "huge."
"No offense, but" is second with 20% finding the phrase irksome. In third place is "You know, right," which is irksome to 14% of people. That phrase tied with "I can't even." ''Huge"—which got attention this year from President-elect Donald Trump’s overuse of the word—grates on the nerves of 8% of the population.
Although it still tops the list, "whatever" is losing some steam. Last year it garnered 43% of the irritating votes.
Pollsters also found that age matters. Almost half of Americans over 45 find “whatever” the most annoying. Among Americans under 30, "I can't even" takes top honors.
What word or phrase would you have nominated as the most annoying?
