Merriam-Webster Adds 1,400 New Terms, Including ‘Looksmaxxing’ and ‘Vibe Coding’

Keeping up with the ever‑evolving internet glossary can feel overwhelming, but Merriam‑Webster is here to help. The famed dictionary added 1,400 new words and meanings on Wednesday, many of which capture the nuances of online culture, technology, food, fashion and community. “The new entries reflect words and meanings that have demonstrated widespread use over time, offering a window into the world today,” Merriam‑Webster said in a statement, calling the additions a “glow‑up” to its historic lexicon. 

The latest batch spans topics such as shapewear, looksmaxxing, meme coin, parasocial, promposal, vibe coding, cuffing season, Sunday scaries, crashout and California sober. Other entries include Rickroll, compute, yacht rock, whack‑a‑mole and uncanny valley. 

Merriam‑Webster has a long history of updating its dictionary to reflect modern phrases and terms introduced in pop culture and digital spaces. According to its public guidelines, editors choose new additions based on three criteria: frequent use, widespread use and meaningful use. 

With many of the new entries touching on technology and communication, Merriam‑Webster may be providing early clues to its upcoming Word of the Year. Past winners have included “slop,” “polarization” and “authentic,” though the 2024 selection has not yet been announced. 

“New words like hashtag and selfie get a lot of attention, but many of the new words we add are new meanings of words that are already staples in our language,” the company says. Examples include updated senses of mouse and cookie, as well as the internet‑specific meanings of lurk, browse and access, which have evolved since their original entries. 

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