18 Modern Slang Terms That Leave Gen X Scratching Their Heads

Every language has always had slang, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with. With trending sounds and challenges changing almost daily on social media, there’s also a new batch of modern slang terms to keep up with.

What’s “lit” for some is “totally groovy” for others, making connecting and staying on the same page more challenging. People are people, and we’re really not that different. Knowing a few common modern slang terms may seem silly, but it can be all it takes to open the door to a great conversation.

For Gen Xers, navigating the linguistic landscape of millennials and Gen Z can feel like deciphering an alien language—one where “on fleek” and “yeet” reign supreme. So buckle up as we journey through the linguistic abyss and uncover 18 modern slang terms that are leaving Gen Xers totally lost.

The Normalization Revolution

“Normalize” is another Millennial favorite. They use it to call attention to practices or attitudes that should be more accepted in society. While the intention might be good, Gen X is irked by it. They think not everything needs a rallying cry for acceptance, and they miss the days when actions spoke louder than buzzwords.

Living in a Toxic World

According to Millennials, toxicity is everywhere. From relationships to workplaces, Millennials have a way of labeling just about anything “toxic” if it doesn’t align with their views. Like other words on this list, overusing this dilutes the meaning of a toxic environment or relationship. It’s a lazy way to dodge accountability and responsibility.

The Grand Gatekeepers: Decoding Modern Slang Terms and Their Influence

To Millennials, anyone who enforces rules or standards is “gatekeeping.” Gen X gets tired of hearing this term each time a Millennial feels excluded. While some gatekeeping can be harmful, Gen X believes that not every form of rule enforcement is terrible. To them, overusing the term is a sign of entitlement.

The Mental Health Label Buffet

“Sorry, it’s my OCD!” or “Can’t help it, ADHD moment!” are phrases you’ll hear often from Millennials. Gen X feels this is not just disrespectful to those with actual conditions but also a way for Millennials to avoid accountability. Gen X grew up in a time when medical terms were reserved for, well, medical contexts.

Anxiety Is the New Black

When Millennials are nervous, stressed, or slightly uncomfortable, everything “is due to anxiety.” Gen X can’t stand this over-diagnosis. While anxiety is a real issue, attributing every hiccup in life to it seems like a cop-out, especially when some problems can be resolved with a bit of problem-solving.

Epic Tales of Exaggeration

Millennials are masters of making mountains out of molehills. From saying a minor inconvenience “ruined their life” to declaring a good hair day “literally amazing,” they love to amp up the drama. Gen X can’t stand this because it cheapens actual milestones and events. For them, not every meal is the “best meal ever,” and that’s okay.

The Lost Art of Saying Whatever

Remember when not every issue required a deep emotional response? Gen X does. They miss the ability to shrug off minor annoyances with a simple “whatever.” Millennials and Gen Z lack this skill, making everything an emotional saga. Most Gen Z find this exhausting, and they hope for a return to emotional moderation.

Gaslighting Gets a New Stage

In Millennial jargon, someone who disagrees with you might be “gaslighting” you. Gen X finds the liberal use of this term concerning because it trivializes the actual psychological harm that gaslighting can cause. Overusing the term takes away from the experiences of those who have genuinely been gaslighted.

The Trigger-Happy Generation

According to Millennials, triggers are lurking everywhere, ready to pounce and disrupt emotional well-being. While acknowledging that triggers can be real and harmful, Gen X is exhausted by the term’s misuse. They wish people to distinguish between what’s genuinely triggering and merely annoying.

The You Do You Mantra

While Gen X might find the sentiment behind “you do you” appealing, its overuse grates on their nerves; it’s like giving a free pass for any behavior just because it’s a personal choice to act this way. Gen X prefers accountability and specific praise or criticism over this one-size-fits-all endorsement.

Period, the Conversation Stopper

Millennials add a “period” at the end to emphasize a point. To Gen X, this feels like hitting the mute button on a meaningful conversation. It’s almost like saying, “I’m right; no further discussion needed,” which leaves no room for dialogue or understanding between each party.

When Fame Comes in Filters and Followers

The term “influencer” has become the Holy Grail for many Millennials and Gen Z folks. Of course, some influencers do bring value and genuine content. However, for Gen X, wanting to become an influencer as a life goal feels incredibly shallow. It emphasizes superficial values instead of making meaningful contributions to society.

What’s Your Mood Today? The Age of Emotional Generalizations

Millennials seem to find “moods” in everything. While it might seem cute and relatable to some, Gen X can’t make heads or tails of it. To them, not everything can represent an emotional state, and the blatant overuse of the term waters down what it means to actually “be in a mood.” They remember the days when words had specific meanings!

No Cap, but Why Though?

Say it with me: “No cap.” If you’re a Millennial or a Gen Z, you probably use this term to emphasize being 100% honest or super serious about something. But for Gen X, this phrase feels confusing. They come from an era where your word was your bond; you didn’t need to use a trendy catchphrase to signify that you were telling the truth.

When Doing Research Replaces Actual Conversation

“Hey, do your research” is a catchphrase you’ll hear often in any Millennial-led debate. It’s like their secret weapon—served with a side of self-righteousness. To Millennials, saying “do your research” is an easy way to end an argument. Gen X can’t stand this buzzphrase because it shuts down conversation. Gen X prefers facts, statistics, or anything other than vague suggestions for “research.”

Trauma Gets the Red Carpet Treatment

“Trauma” used to be a serious word for a serious situation. Thanks to Millennials, it’s used to describe anything from flat tires to unfollows on Instagram. Gen X grew up reserving the word “trauma” for deeply disturbing experiences. They’re annoyed by the cheapening of such a powerful word, which loses its gravity and importance.

Turning Everyday Language Into Therapese Jargon

Millennials have a knack for sounding like they’re fresh out of a psychology Ph.D. program. They love to sprinkle terms like “emotional labor” and “validation” into regular chats. Gen X finds this crazy because, suddenly, simple conversations become complex psychoanalysis sessions. If you’re not an actual therapist, maybe don’t pretend to be one!

The Narcissist Epidemic

Millennials have a diagnosis for everyone—especially annoying or self-centered people. The term “narcissist” is used to describe anyone from a selfish friend to a demanding boss. Gen X can’t stand this because the term loses its impact. Not every bossy person is a clinical narcissist, and the easy use of the word undermines its real significance.

16 Effective Techniques for Managing Work Stress

United States workers are experiencing record levels of workplace stress, and the American Institute of Stress (AIS) outlines the impact on workers’ wellness in a recent ComPsych survey. The outlook isn’t good — 62% of workers cited tensions due to a lack of autonomy or extreme tiredness. Moreover, work priorities are taking over citizens’ lives, with the sources of anxiety stemming from workload, coworkers, and performance improvements.

18 Gen X Trends Whose Time Has Past

Every generation has distinctive trends and behaviors – some timeless, others not so much. The Gen X cohort, those born between 1965 and 1980, definitely left their mark on the culture of the time. However, like all trends, some of this era have become outdated and should be reconsidered. Here are 18 Gen X trends that might have outlived their relevance.