Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Merriam-Webster Adds 1,400 Words, Led by Internet Slang
Merriam-Webster has added about 1,400 new words and meanings.
Many of the words began on the internet or social media.
Some describe online behavior, such as looksmaxxing and parasocial.
Others relate to artificial intelligence, including vibe coding and AGI.
The dictionary also added food words like bao and chili crisp.
New phrases describe feelings, such as Sunday scaries and cuffing season.
Trash panda is a playful name for a raccoon.
Merriam-Webster says words are added when people use them often and widely over time.
Merriam-Webster added roughly 1,400 words and meanings to its latest dictionary update.
New entries include internet slang such as looksmaxxing, glow-up, crashout, parasocial and meme coin.
AI-related additions include vibe coding, AGI and a noun use of “compute” for processing power.
Food terms added include bao, cake pop, superfood, chili crisp and shishito peppers.
The update also includes mood-related phrases such as cuffing season, Sunday scaries and the Mandela effect.
- Who
- Merriam-Webster, a major dictionary publisher.
- What
- Added roughly 1,400 words and meanings, including internet slang, AI jargon, food terms and expressions for modern moods.
- When
- In its latest annual update; the articles do not provide an exact publication date.
- Where
- To Merriam-Webster’s dictionary lexicon; many of the terms originated online or in social media.
- Why
- The publisher says terms qualify after showing frequent and widespread use over time.
- Words added
- Roughly 1,400 words and meanings
- Largest category
- Internet slang and youth-culture vocabulary
- AI additions
- Vibe coding, AGI and a noun use of “compute”
- Food additions
- Bao, cake pop, superfood, chili crisp and shishito peppers
- Mood-related additions
- Cuffing season, Sunday scaries and the Mandela effect
- Dictionary criterion
- Frequent and widespread use over a stretch of time
- Other notable entries
- Trash panda, California sober, whack-a-mole, rickroll, uncanny valley and yacht rock