Gary Martin: The worst words of the English language based on the disgusting feeling they give you

There are words that bring joy and words that inspire and then there are words that churn stomachs, prickle skin and send shivers skittering down spines.

Simply mention them and you will see faces screw up, shoulders stiffen and a ripple of revulsion spread through the room.

The fact is not all words are created equal — some arrive with their very own built-in cringe factor.

The word moist is a case in point.

It’s a word so deeply despised that a mere mention can derail an entire conversation within seconds.

Damp is not far behind, conjuring the clammy horror of cold socks, waterlogged carpet and the kind of weather that breeds mildew.

Squelch is one of those words that feels as grimy as it sounds — like stepping in something you’d rather not name.

Let’s not forget others tarred with same brush including slurp, squirt, seep, clot, ooze, gurgle, glop and plop.

These words do not simply roll off the tongue - they slither, splatter and squirm their way into conversations to leave behind a lingering sense of unease.

But it’s not always how a word sounds that makes it squirm-worthy — it’s the company it keeps.

Take “pus”: perfectly normal in a medical setting but guaranteed to spoil the mood over dinner.

Most will agree that the same goes for phlegm — a word that when spoken aloud feels like an infection in itself.

Even without context, the word maggot is enough to turn stomachs.

Then there is congealed, curdled, gristle, bulbous, blubber, rancid and festering, each one conjuring mental pictures best left unseen.

Some words do not just annoy but patronise.

There is a particular venom reserved for sweetie, dear and honey when deployed in a condescending tone.

Even with their faults, some words just seem to hang around.

They make their way into sentences, pop-up in casual conversations and dominate online chats.

Importantly, they remind us that language is more than just a vehicle for communication — it is an entire experience — an event of the senses if you like.

So the next time someone drops “moist” into a conversation, a stranger calls you sweetie with an unmistakable hint of condescension or “dribble” sneaks into an already uncomfortable exchange, take heart - you are not alone in your discomfort.

But perhaps the worst word of all has not even been mentioned yet.

What’s the one word that makes your skin crawl, your patience snap, or your body tense up — the last word anyone wants to hear on a Monday that’s already tough enough?

Go on — cough it up.

Professor Gary Martin is CEO of AIM WA and a specialist in workplace and social trends.