As one of the most authoritative and longest-running dictionary publishers in the United States, Merriam-Webster has just unveiled its latest round of updates, adding 1,400 fresh words and meanings to its catalog that capture how language evolves alongside modern life, pop culture, technology, and societal shifts. Among the most eye-catching new entries is “trash panda” — the affectionate, viral nickname for raccoons that emerged from online communities, inspired by the animals’ well-known habit of foraging for food in human household trash and their passing resemblance to small pandas.
The publisher explained in an official blog post that every new entry included in this update has been tracked and vetted over years of widespread use across different contexts, making these additions more than just new spellings — they are a snapshot of how people communicate and what matters to them in the current era.
The new entries span a wide range of categories, from food and culture to technology, internet slang, and social trends. Food-related terms figure prominently in this update, reflecting growing global culinary exchange and changing eating habits. These include “superfood”, the widely used term for nutrient-dense foods linked to health benefits; “bao”, the fluffy, stuffed steamed bun that has grown popular far beyond its East Asian origins; “cake pop”, the handheld portable treat that combines cake and icing on a lollipop stick; and “chili crisp”, the spicy, crunchy oil-based condiment packed with fried peppers, garlic, and shallots that has become a pantry staple for many home cooks.
Internet and pop culture slang also makes up a large share of the new additions, capturing decades of viral trends and shared online experiences. Long-time internet users will recognize “Rickroll”, the iconic prank that tricks people into clicking a link leading to Rick Astley’s 1987 hit *Never Gonna Give You Up*. Other widely recognizable terms added include “glow-up”, meaning a dramatic positive transformation in one’s appearance or confidence; “looksmaxxing”, the practice of making intentional changes to maximize one’s physical attractiveness; “meme coin”, the cryptocurrency created as a joke or viral trend rather than as a serious financial investment; and “the Mandela effect”, the widely shared phenomenon where large groups of people collectively hold the same false memory of a past event or detail.
Terms describing common social and emotional experiences also earned a spot in the dictionary: “cuffing season”, the annual trend of single people seeking a steady romantic partner to spend the colder fall and winter months with; “Sunday scaries”, the anxiety or unease many people feel as the weekend ends and the work week approaches; “parasocial”, describing the one-sided emotional bond audiences form with public figures, influencers, or celebrities; “whack-a-mole”, which now also describes the frustrating pattern of solving one problem only for an identical new issue to pop up immediately elsewhere; and “crashout”, a term referring to a sudden emotional breakdown, a dramatic defeat, or an abrupt collapse of a situation.
Technology has also left its mark on this update, with “vibe coding” joining the dictionary — defined as the practice of using artificial intelligence tools to generate full blocks of computer code based on informal user prompts. Other notable entries include “Uncanny valley”, the unsettling feeling people get when viewing an artificial creation (such as a robot or CGI character) that is almost indistinguishable from a real human but has subtle off qualities; “neckbeard”, a term that refers both to a specific style of beard covering the chin and neck and is often used as a disparaging label for misogynistic, socially awkward online hobbyists; “California sober”, a distinctly American term describing the practice of abstaining from hard drugs like cocaine or methamphetamine while continuing to use marijuana and/or alcohol; “yacht rock”, the mellow soft rock music genre that originated in Southern California in the 1970s; “shapewear”, tight-fitting clothing designed to smooth and contour the body’s silhouette.
Following this update, Merriam-Webster is preparing to announce its annual Word of the Year in the coming months. Last year’s pick, “slop”, was selected after its definition was expanded to encompass low-quality digital content mass-produced using artificial intelligence, a reflection of growing conversations around AI-generated media today.