Merriam-Webster Adds 1,400 New Words to the Dictionary

Merriam-Webster, one of the most well-known English dictionaries, has added around 1,400 new words and definitions to its collection.

Among the new entries is looksmaxxing, a term for efforts people make to improve their physical appearance, often through skincare, grooming or exercise.

Another addition is vibe coding, which describes a style of writing computer programs where a person works closely with AI tools instead of writing every line of code alone.

The dictionary also added cuffing season, a term used for the period, usually in colder months, when people are more interested in finding a romantic partner.

Other new words include Sunday scaries, the feeling of anxiety many people get before starting a new work week, and whack-a-mole, an expression based on the arcade game.

In its newer meaning, whack-a-mole describes a situation where solving one problem quickly leads to another one appearing, similar to how moles pop up in the classic game.

Merriam-Webster regularly updates its word list to reflect how English is actually used by people today, especially online and in everyday conversation.

The dictionary's editors say new words are chosen based on how widely and how often they appear in real, published writing over time, not just short-term trends.

This latest update shows how quickly internet culture, technology and social habits can shape the language that ends up in official dictionaries.