Gen Z shuns everyday words as cringe: the terms falling out of favor

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A recent Preply survey shared with VICE shows Gen Z is increasingly turned off by a handful of online slang terms — and that shift matters because the language you use can change how others see you in social, professional and online spaces. The poll captures which expressions have already crossed from playful to eye-roll territory and highlights how quickly internet lingo can lose its cachet.

Which words topped the cringe chart

The study, involving 1,502 U.S. adults ages 18–64, found that the phrase 6-7 ranks as Gen Z’s most disliked bit of slang, with about 40 percent naming it their biggest linguistic annoyance. Close behind were Skibidi (around 38 percent) and Sigma (roughly 32 percent), according to Preply’s results shared with VICE.

Below are the terms Gen Z called the most cringeworthy in the survey:

6-7

Skibidi

Sorry, Not Sorry

Pookie

Wifey

Rizz

Nom Nom Nom

My Bad

YOLO

Why some phrases grate

Part of the irritation comes from meaninglessness. Expressions like 6-7 and Skibidi carry little literal content and spread rapidly through memes and short-form videos, so they can quickly feel worn out. Linguists and observers trace 6-7 to a viral track and point to internet animation trends as the origin for Skibidi, illustrating how pop-culture moments can manufacture words that burn bright and fade fast.

There’s also a social layer: cringe isn’t just about the word itself, but how it’s used and what it signals about the speaker. A Preply spokesperson told VICE that context and identity shape whether language lands as charming, neutral or embarrassing.

Behavior and perception

Survey findings show a gap between judgment and behavior. About 42 percent of respondents admit they still use terms they describe as cringey—often only in an ironic way. That irony functions like a social shield: people participate in trends while trying to keep some distance from full endorsement.

Perception matters: 55 percent of Gen Z respondents say the way someone speaks influences how intelligent they seem, and 51 percent said they’ve made judgments about someone based solely on the words they use. Those are meaningful figures for anyone who communicates publicly or professionally.

Why readers should care

Language choices affect impressions in real situations—job interviews, dating apps, client emails and public profiles. Using a phrase perceived as out-of-touch or overly meme-driven can shift attention from what you say to how you’re perceived. For creators and brands, the speed at which slang becomes stale raises a tactical question: when to adopt, when to mock, and when to avoid certain phrases altogether.

Ultimately, the rise and fall of these terms is a reminder that internet-driven vocabulary moves fast. What feels fresh today can sound off-putting tomorrow, and understanding that lifecycle helps explain why so many people oscillate between using a term and publicly disdaining it.