Merriam-Webster went full “beast mode” this year, adding 690 words to their dictionary — nearly double the amount added last year.
Several of the additions are slang that has somehow invaded our conversations. Words like “simp” (which means “to show excessive devotion to or longing for someone or something”), “rizz” (romantic appeal or charm), “bussin'” (extremely good) and “mid” (meh) have become so common we don’t question their absurdity until we’re looking at an actual definition.
Social media lingo got a big update this year, with gems like “thirst trap” (for those desperately seeking attention), “‘grammable” (suitable for your Instagram feed) and “finsta” (an undercover Instagram account) making the cut.
When it comes to talking about favorite past times, there’s some new words you may want to make sure you know. Roughly a dozen new sports terms were added, from “bracketology” (the practice or study of predicting the outcome of elimination tournaments or competitions especially in NCAA college basketball) to “beast mode” (an extremely aggressive or energetic style or manner temporarily adopted by someone, like an athlete).
Additionally, foodies now have a full definition of a “chef’s kiss” (a gesture of satisfaction or approval, accompanied by a fingertip kiss and dramatic hand flourish) to make sure they’re not giving praise to just any old “smashburger” (a hamburger patty that is pressed thin onto a heated pan or griddle at the start of cooking).
“We’re very excited by this new batch of words,” said Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster’s editor in chief. “We hope there is as much insight and satisfaction in reading them as we got from defining them.”
