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Spam Trigger Words for Email
A list of 60 words and phrases that make emails look like spam, grouped by why they hurt, plus a checker that flags them in your subject line or copy. And the honest part: what actually decides whether you land in spam.
Check your subject line or email
Act now! 100% guaranteed results, risk-free. Click here.
5 spam triggers found: act now, 100%, guaranteed, risk-free, click here
Do spam words still matter?
Less than they used to. Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo decide mostly on authentication (SPF, DKIM and DMARC, which Google and Yahoo made mandatory for bulk senders in 2024), sender reputation and engagement: do people open, reply, delete unread or hit “report spam”?
Words still matter in two ways. Content filters such as SpamAssassin score some phrases, so stacking them adds up. And people have learned the same patterns: a line that reads like a scam gets skipped or reported, which damages reputation for every future send.
So treat this list as a list of habits to avoid, not a list of banned words.
The spam trigger words list
Money and price claims (15)
- free money
- cash bonus
- earn $
- make money fast
- extra cash
- double your
- million dollars
- lowest price
- best price
- cheap
- no cost
- no fees
- $$$
- pure profit
- prize
False urgency and pressure (15)
- act now
- urgent
- limited time only
- expires today
- apply now
- order now
- call now
- do it today
- don't delete
- don't hesitate
- last chance!!
- now or never
- instant
- immediately
- hurry
Too-good-to-be-true claims (15)
- 100%
- guaranteed
- risk-free
- risk free
- no catch
- no strings attached
- miracle
- amazing deal
- once in a lifetime
- winner
- you have been selected
- congratulations
- as seen on
- this isn't spam
- not spam
Shady or overused patterns (15)
- click here
- click below
- open immediately
- re: re:
- dear friend
- increase sales
- work from home
- be your own boss
- lose weight
- weight loss
- viagra
- casino
- credit card offers
- pre-approved
- no credit check
Say it better
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| Act now! | Offer ends Friday at midnight |
| 100% guaranteed | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| FREE!!! | Free shipping on orders over $50 |
| Click here | See the new collection |
| Make money fast | How Lena grew her shop to 200 orders a month |
| Once in a lifetime deal | Our only sale this season |
Frequently asked questions
What are spam trigger words?
Words and phrases associated with unwanted or fraudulent email, such as “act now”, “100% guaranteed” or “risk-free”. Content filters can weigh them, and readers recognise them as pushy or suspicious.
Will one spam word send my email to spam?
Almost never on its own. Modern filters look at authentication, sender reputation and recipient engagement far more than individual words. Many trigger phrases together, plus ALL CAPS and symbols, still add risk.
Is the word “free” a spam word?
Not by itself. “Free shipping over $50” is clear and common in legitimate mail. “FREE!!! Click here” combines several patterns that filters and readers distrust.
How do I keep my emails out of spam?
Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC, send only to people who opted in, remove inactive and bouncing addresses, include a one-click unsubscribe, keep complaint rates low (Google asks bulk senders to stay under 0.3%), and write like a person.