Marist Poll reveals the most annoying words of 2012

The annual Marist Poll has revealed the most annoying words or phrases used in conversation in 2012.

“Whatever” headed the list, cited by 32% of adults, and next came “like”, which 21% didn’t like.

Runners-up included “Twitterverse” and “gotcha”.

The results mirrored last year’s survey when “whatever” topped the annoying words list for a third straight year.

But “seriously”, named by 7% last year, dropped off the list entirely – really.

The annual Marist Poll has revealed the most annoying words or phrases used in conversation in 2012

Marist questioned 1,246 adults in a U.S. nationwide, telephone survey.

Results showed differences by age and regions, with people younger than 45 in the Northeast especially annoyed by “like”, while “you know” offended more of the 45-and-over set.

Men and women gave similar responses overall, but whites were twice as likely as non-whites to find “you know” irritating. And people under 45 were more than twice as likely as those over 45 to be put off by “just sayin”.