Lake Superior State University releases banished words list

The words "slay," "rizz," "hack" and more should be left in 2023, according to Lake Superior State University.

Lake Superior's list comes out every year to mark the new year. According to the Upper Peninsula school, the banished words list is a compilation of "certain words that are often misused, overused, or have lost their meaning over the past year."

“The tradition provides a lighthearted opportunity to pause and reflect on the past year — our experiences, communication styles, and the phrases we commonly use. At the end of the day, it serves as a platform for considering how we can progress into the new year with a more mindful approach to language,” university spokesperson Sheridan Worth said in a news release.

The university parses through nominations from across the world every year to come up with the list. This year, it received more than 2,000 nominations, including submissions from as far as Namibia and Ukraine.

In the case of "slay," defined as a verb that means "to kill" by Merriam Webster, the university writes that the word has taken on a new slang meaning, often used as a word of praise. But people may be overusing "slay," according to Lake Superior State.

The word "rizz" is a slang word shortened from the word charisma, used to describe someone's charisma or charm, especially when it comes to sexually attractiveness. While rizz is popular right now, the university's list questions whether it's still relevant.

The full list of words:

• hack

• impact

• at the end of the day

• rizz

• slay

• iconic

• cringe-worthy

• obsessed

• side hustle

• wait for it

Contact Lily Altavena: laltavena@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lake Superior State University releases banished words list