Why do people put 'power' in words like [insert n-word] and [insert gay f-word slur]?

I'm genuinely curious as to why people put so much 'power' into these two words. I mean if we hadn't put any meaning behind, them no one would have to be offended. We wouldn't have to care if we were called them, because at the end of the day, they're just two words said by people.

I mean sometimes in songs, there are people who would say them because it's not really directed towards anyone. However, sometimes when I've others say the [n-word] or the [gay slur] people go off on them.

Yeah, I understand that people now and of the past were called this, but if we just stopped putting meaning and 'power' behind it, it would just be a word among other words.

But just curious though: Why do people put 'power' in words like [n-word] and [gay f-word slur]?