Merriam-Webster has announced its Word of the Year for 2025: “slop.” This term is defined as “digital content of low quality produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” This choice underscores the overwhelming presence of low-quality online materials, including absurd videos, off-center advertising images, cheesy propaganda, and AI-generated text that populate social media feeds.
The dictionary comments on the phenomenon, stating, “All that stuff dumped on our screens, captured in just four letters: the English language came through again.” Additionally, Merriam-Webster highlighted other significant words and phrases that gained attention, such as “gerrymander,” “touch grass,” “performative,” “tariff,” “six seven,” and “conclave.”
Among the more unusual mentions was the lengthy alternative name for Webster Lake in Massachusetts: Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg. This name surged in online searches, particularly due to its presence in the gaming platform Roblox.
Merriam-Webster selects its Word of the Year based on spikes in search data, often correlating with significant events. For example, in 2020 and 2021, the terms “pandemic” and “vaccine” reflected pressing global circumstances. Last year, “polarization” was chosen, capturing the American quest to comprehend the complexities of the political landscape amid the presidential election.
In contrast, Oxford University Press has recently shifted its approach to selecting its Word of the Year through public input and data analysis. This year, they chose “rage bait,” which refers to online content crafted to provoke anger or outrage. The decision followed a voting process that saw over 30,000 participants.
Oxford’s editorial team noted that the current discourse around social unrest and digital content regulation reflects a change in how society engages with online materials, focusing on the nature of attention and ethical considerations. Last year, Oxford’s selection was “brain rot,” addressing the potential decline in mental engagement due to excessive consumption of trivial online content.
The choices made by both dictionary authorities highlight a growing concern about the quality of digital content and its impact on public dialogue, particularly in an era marked by social media influence and increasing reliance on artificial intelligence in content creation. As society navigates these challenges, there is hope that awareness of such issues will inspire a shift towards higher-quality content, encouraging thoughtful engagement in an ever-evolving digital landscape.