New York: Merriam-Webster, America’s oldest dictionary publisher, has added 1,400 new words and meanings to its dictionary, reflecting changes in language, culture, technology and everyday life.
The latest additions include terms such as glow-up, looksmaxxing, meme coin, trash panda and cuffing season. “The new entries reflect words and meanings that have demonstrated widespread use over time, offering a window into the world today,” Merriam-Webster said in a blog post.
Newly added words and meanings:
- Glow-up: A significant improvement in someone’s appearance, style or overall image.
- Looksmaxxing: Efforts to improve one’s physical appearance, often through grooming, fitness or other appearance-focused practices.
- Meme coin: A cryptocurrency associated with an internet meme, joke or online trend.
- Trash panda: An affectionate nickname for a raccoon.
- Cuffing season: The period when single people seek romantic partners to spend the colder months with.
- Superfood: A food considered especially rich in nutrients.
- Bao: A stuffed bread bun popular in Asia.
- Cake pop: Cake and icing formed into a ball and served on a lollipop stick.
- Whack-a-mole: A situation in which a new problem appears as soon as a similar existing problem has been addressed.
- Mandela effect: The experience of many people collectively having the same false memory.
- California sober: A practice involving the use of marijuana and/or alcohol while abstaining from other drugs such as cocaine or methamphetamine.
Other additions reflect online culture and technology
- Rickroll: To prank someone by directing them to listen to Rick Astley’s song Never Gonna Give You Up.
- Uncanny valley: The unsettling feeling caused by something artificial that looks almost, but not quite, human.
- Parasocial: Describing a one-sided emotional connection, often between an audience member and a public figure.
- Vibe coding: Using an artificial intelligence system to generate computer code.
- Chili crisp: A spicy, crunchy condiment made with oil and fried pieces of peppers, garlic or shallots.
- Yacht rock: A genre of soft rock music that emerged in the 1970s.
- Neckbeard: A beard covering the chin and throat, as well as the culture associated with the term, which can sometimes be used disparagingly to describe misogynistic people or computer enthusiasts.
- Shapewear: Tight clothing designed to shape and smooth the body.
- Sunday scaries: Feelings of anxiety or sadness caused by the approaching end of the weekend.
- Crashout: A dramatic ending, loss or defeat, or an emotional breakdown.
The latest additions highlight how internet culture, artificial intelligence, food, entertainment and changing social habits continue to influence the English language.
Merriam-Webster is expected to announce its Word of the Year in the coming months. In 2025, the dictionary selected’slop’ as its Word of the Year after expanding the definition to include digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.
DON’T MISS IT | Saudi Arabia issues warning after Houthi drone interception
