The answer may lie in how many of these 'cringeworthy' words you're still using. While it seems like only recently it was being thrown around, 'skibbidi' was deemed the most cringeworthy word by Gen Z respondents. Meaning 'cool' or 'bad', this word made more than a third (37 per cent) of Gen Z squirm. According to Ms Del Peso, language is a marker of identity and belonging for Gen Z. 'Words move from "cool" to "mainstream" to "uncool" faster than ever before, reflecting how digitally connected and culturally responsive Gen Z is.'

Source: Daily Mail February 28, 2026 12:30 UTC