Science Explains Why We Hate The Word “Moist”

Do you shudder when you hear the word "moist?"

You're not alone, and finally science has (sort of) figured out why.

Paul Thibodeau, a psychology professor at Ohio's Oberlin College, conducted a psychological study about people's disdain toward the word and published his results in the academic journal PLOS One.

Thibodeau determined that about 20% of people are averse to the word "moist."

Data from the current studies point to semantic features of the word — namely, associations with disgusting bodily functions — as a more prominent source of peoples' unpleasant experience," the abstract for the study reads.

He also found that people who had a problem with the word "moist" also had a tough time with "damp," "phlegm," and "puke."

If you'll excuse me, I'm going to put everything I own in the dryer.