Common spam trigger words by category
| Category | Examples to avoid or soften |
|---|---|
| Money and price | 100% free, big bucks, cash, cash bonus, cheap, earn money, extra income, fast cash, free money, lowest price, make money, million dollars, pure profit, save big |
| Urgency and pressure | act now, act immediately, apply now, final notice, limited time, offer expires, once in a lifetime, open immediately, urgent, what are you waiting for |
| Too good to be true | 100% guaranteed, guaranteed, miracle, no catch, no strings attached, risk-free, satisfaction guaranteed, winner, you have been selected |
| Shady or misleading | this is not spam, not spam, dear friend, Re: or Fwd: on a first email, hidden charges, no credit check, eliminate debt |
| Calls to action | click here, click below, buy now, order now, call now, sign up free today |
| Health and adult | lose weight, weight loss, miracle cure, anti-aging, viagra, xxx, casino |
Check a full email with the spam word checker or a subject line with the subject line tester.
Do spam words still matter?
Less than they used to. Gmail, Yahoo and Outlook use machine learning that looks at hundreds of signals. One “free” in a newsletter from a trusted sender is fine. Problems start when an email looks like a typical spam message: ALL CAPS, lots of exclamation marks, money promises, pressure to act, misleading “Re:” subjects and a link-heavy body with little real text.
What really decides whether you reach the inbox
- Authentication. Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC for your sending domain. Since 2024, Gmail and Yahoo require them for bulk senders, and Microsoft began enforcing similar rules for high-volume senders to Outlook.com in 2025.
- Low complaint rate. Keep spam complaints well under 0.3% (ideally under 0.1%). Only email people who asked to hear from you.
- Easy unsubscribe. Include a clear unsubscribe link and support one-click unsubscribe for marketing emails.
- Engagement. Opens, replies and “not spam” clicks help. Remove people who have not opened in months.
- Consistent sending. Sudden big spikes in volume from a new domain look suspicious. Warm up new domains slowly.
- Clean content. A good balance of text and images, working links to trusted domains, and no URL shorteners.
Better alternatives to spammy phrases
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| FREE!!! | Free shipping on orders over $35 |
| Act now | Sale ends Sunday at midnight |
| Guaranteed results | Rated 4.8/5 by 2,000 customers |
| Click here | See the new collection |
| Make money fast | How to earn from your skills |
| Dear friend | Hi Sam, |
| Re: your order (on a first email) | Your order update from Everydaily |
Cold email tips
- Keep it short, personal and plain text, with one clear question.
- Do not attach files or add many links in a first email.
- Send from a real person’s name, and warm up new mailboxes.
- Respect opt-outs immediately and check the rules for your country.
Questions
What are the worst spam trigger words?
Phrases that promise money or prizes (“you’re a winner”, “free money”), create fake urgency (“urgent”, “final notice”) or deny being spam (“this is not spam”) are among the most suspicious.
Can one spam word send my email to spam?
Usually not. Filters look at the whole message and your sender reputation. But many trigger words together, plus caps and exclamation marks, add up.
Is the word “free” a spam word?
It is fine in a normal context, such as “free shipping over $35”. Avoid “FREE!!!” or “100% free” in subject lines.
How do I check my email for spam words?
Paste the text into our spam word checker. For a full test, send to a seed list or use your email platform’s deliverability report.