Buzzwordophobia

A cognitive bias characterized by an irrational aversion to certain terms labeled “buzzwords”—such as “intersectionality,” “decolonial,” “lived experience,” “systemic racism,” “neurodivergent”—where the mere use of the word triggers dismissal, mockery, or accusation of jargon. Buzzwordophobia often serves as a form of objectivity bias: the phobic person claims that buzzwords obscure “real” meaning, while refusing to engage with the concepts themselves. It is a rhetorical shortcut to discredit ideas without addressing substance, weaponizing the label “buzzword” to avoid uncomfortable discussions. Buzzwordophobia is especially common in online debates and political discourse.

Example: “She used the term ‘systemic inequality’ in her argument, and he immediately replied ‘oh, another buzzword’—buzzwordophobia, dismissing the concept by attacking the word.”

by Abzugal April 3, 2026