Does this hurt my ATS keyword match?

It can help. Replacing filler with tool names and outcome language usually improves keyword alignment with the job description.

How many filler words are too many?

Zero is ideal. Even two or three weak phrases in a one-page resume are worth fixing — recruiters notice them in seconds.

What exactly counts as a filler word?

Any phrase that describes effort or intention instead of a result — duty openers, weak modifiers, empty intensifiers, and clichés. The detector's list covers the 30 most common offenders in resumes.

Will removing filler words make my resume too short?

Usually the opposite — replacing vague phrases with outcome language lets you add the details recruiters want, and the resume reads denser, not thinner.

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Resume Filler Word DetectorFree — No Signup Required

Filler words and clichés dilute your resume. Paste it here to find every weak phrase — and get a stronger alternative for each one.

Last updated August 11, 2026

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Quick Answer

This tool scans your resume for 30+ common filler words, clichés, and weak phrases — like 'responsible for,' 'utilized,' 'team player,' and 'detail-oriented' — showing how many times each appears and what to write instead. Replacing them with outcome-first language makes your resume stronger for both ATS keyword matching and human readers.

Words That Dilute Your Resume

Weak phrase	Why it hurts	Use instead
Responsible for	Describes duty, not impact	Led, Built, Delivered, Owned
Worked on	Vague scope	Built, Shipped, Implemented
Utilized	Jargon filler	Used
Team player	Claim, no evidence	Describe the collaboration result
Detail-oriented	Claim, no evidence	Show the outcome
Very / really	Empty intensifier	Remove or quantify
Proven track record	Cliché	List the actual results

Common filler words and stronger alternatives

How to Fix Filler Words

1Run the detector after every resume update
2Replace each weak phrase with the suggested alternative
3Add a metric to every rewritten bullet
4Re-check with the bullet strength checker

Filler Words by Category

Category	Examples	Use instead
Duty openers	responsible for, worked on, helped with	Led, Built, Delivered, Owned
Weak modifiers	very, really, quite, extremely	Remove or quantify the claim
Empty intensifiers	highly, effectively, successfully	Show the metric or outcome
Clichés	team player, self-starter, go-getter	Describe the result you achieved

Weak phrases and their replacements

Before and After: Rewriting Weak Phrases

Filler-heavy bullet

Before

Was responsible for helping with a lot of projects and really supported the team effectively.

After

Delivered 14 projects on schedule and mentored three junior analysts through onboarding.

Cliché opener

Before

Highly motivated team player with a proven track record of success.

After

Cut onboarding time 25% by building a 40-step training playbook used by 60 new hires.

Frequently Asked Questions

No — context matters. 'Supported' is fine when a bullet shows the outcome. The detector flags overuse so you can decide where a stronger verb adds impact.

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