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

Merriam-Webster, one of the leading English-language dictionaries, has expanded its collection with approximately 1,400 new words and definitions, reflecting recent shifts in online culture, technology and everyday speech.

Among the additions is looksmaxxing, a term describing efforts, often discussed online, to optimize one's physical appearance through grooming, skincare, fitness or other methods.

The list also includes vibe coding, a term for a style of software development in which a programmer collaborates closely with AI tools to generate code, rather than writing it manually line by line.

Another new entry, cuffing season, refers to the period, typically during colder months, when people are said to become more interested in seeking a romantic partner to spend the season with.

The dictionary has also formally recognized Sunday scaries, a colloquial expression for the anxiety many people experience as the work week approaches, and a newer sense of whack-a-mole.

Originally referring to an arcade game in which players hit toy moles as they pop up, whack-a-mole is now also used to describe situations where resolving one problem repeatedly causes another to emerge elsewhere.

According to the report, Merriam-Webster's editors evaluate potential new entries based on how consistently and widely a term is used in published material over time, rather than including every passing trend.

The publication notes that this approach allows the dictionary to track genuine, lasting shifts in vocabulary rather than short-lived internet fads.

This latest round of additions highlights how digital platforms, workplace culture and technology, including AI, continue to influence the words that eventually enter mainstream reference works.

By formally recognizing terms that originated in casual, online contexts, Merriam-Webster illustrates the ongoing and often rapid evolution of the English language in the digital age.