Buzzwords are irritating—plain and simple. Even the term buzzword is cringe-worthy. Overuse and misapplication has made these terms tiresome. Instead of just bashing them though, we’re offering more unique and precise alternatives. Whether you’re writing up an event program, e-blast, blog post or even just a Tweet, it’s time to showcase a fresh vocabulary.
Buzz Word |
Why Not? |
Alternatives |
| Thought leader | There’s no concrete way to achieve this status. | Influencer, expert or authority |
| Hyperlocal | When you tack on “hyper”, no value is added and it’s no longer a word. | Local, regional or characteristic |
| Authentic | The word has devolved into the most inauthentic word. | Genuine, legitimate, bona fide or natural |
| Synergy | Used too frequently, yet exclusively, in business settings. | Collaboration, team effort or combined effort |
| At the end of the day | What other point in time matters? | Ultimately, after all or fundamentally |
| Utilize | The shorter form “use” can almost always take its place. | Use, apply, consume or exercise |
| Storytelling | Although it’s a fun term, many use it too loosely to describe other types of information sharing. | Narrative, writing, style or content |
| Innovative | It’s muddled by over-representation. The word no longer has a spark. | More specific adjectives, depending on the specific case, words such as artistic, stylish or advanced |
| Holistic | An appropriate term for an approach to health care, but ambiguous when applied to much else. | Comprehensive, universal or balanced |
