Looksmaxxing, Cuffing season, vibration coding and more: Merriam-Webster’s American dictionary shines with 1,400 new words | Today’s news
From “looksmaxxing” to “cuffing season” to “glow up,” the internet is filled with some words that only Gen Z and Alpha can decode. But don’t worry. The meanings of these words are now available in America’s oldest dictionary. Merriam-Webster has officially added 1,400 new words to the American dictionary, including “shapewear,” “lookmaxxing,” and “meme coin.”
“The new entries reflect words and meanings that have expanded over time and offer a window into today’s world,” the report said, as cited by NBC News.
Cuffing season, vibration coding, superfood
Other internet buzzwords and definitions now available in the dictionary include “parasocial”, “computing”, “vibe coding” and “superfood”.
Before the end of the year, Merriam-Webster also added “cuff period” to its dictionary. He defines the word as “the time of year when people who are not married or in a relationship start looking for a short-term romantic partner to spend the colder months of the year with.”
Nod to the AI
Amidst the rise of artificial intelligence and its terrifying impact on humans, the company has added the “uncanny valley” to the collection. He defines the term as “that eerie feeling that results from something artificial that looks almost—but not quite—human.”
Last year, Merriam-Webster added the word “slop,” which it described as “low-quality digital content that is produced, usually in large quantities, using artificial intelligence.” It was last year’s word.
Sunday ghosts, cake pop, chili crisps
The list of new words also included “Sunday haunts”. It refers to the feeling of anxiety, dread or restlessness that people often experience towards the end of the weekend.
In addition, several words to describe food have also gained ground this year. Words like “superfood”, “cake pop”, “shishito”, “bao” and “chili crisp” are now part of the vocabulary. “Superfood”, another IG hit, is also part of the list. This usually refers to foods that are packed with nutrients.
Word of the year
Meanwhile, Merriam-Webster has yet to announce the word of the year for 2026. Usually, the company announces it in the last quarter of the year.
The company updated on its website that it continues to add new words and phrases to its repertoire depending on the frequency, popularity and meaning of the words.
“The definer must judge whether there is sufficient evidence to insert a new word; that judgment will be reviewed by senior colleagues as the dictionary moves through the editorial process, but there is no committee, no advocacy, no meetings to include the new word,” it said.
